Fund Managers Tout Disney, ASML Amid AI Sell-Off
At the Sohn Hearts & Minds conference in Queenstown, New Zealand, managers urged buying select stocks as AI regulation fears rattled markets.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Stock Picks
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Fund managers at the 10-year anniversary Sohn Hearts & Minds conference in Queenstown, New Zealand, advised buying specific stocks during a violent Wall Street sell-off fueled by fears of stringent AI regulation that wiped trillions from global sharemarkets. The picks included Disney, ASML and LPL.
Why it matters
The sell-off erased trillions in market value, and the conference pitches show fund managers seeing selective buying opportunities in companies tied to AI-driven trends. Readers weighing individual stocks may find the valuation and growth arguments useful context.
Disney trades at 14.5 times earnings, a level consistent with a decade ago, after delivering 10 per cent earnings growth, while ASML, which holds a 90 per cent share of high-end chip lithography equipment, fell 10 per cent during the technology sell-off. The presenters' forward return figures are projections, and the article does not show how the valuations will hold if AI regulation tightens.
The players
Vihari Ross
Vihari Ross is a portfolio manager at Antipodes Partners, an investment firm known for its global equity strategies.
Andrew Curtayne
Andrew Curtayne is a fund manager at Milford Asset Management, a New Zealand investment firm.
Ravi Chopra
Ravi Chopra is a fund manager at Azora Capital, an investment firm focused on financial services holdings.
The details
Vihari Ross of Antipodes Partners argued Disney is shifting toward direct-to-consumer streaming and expanding its cruise operations, and projected up to a 20 per cent annual return opportunity. Andrew Curtayne of Milford Asset Management called ASML a crucial player in the AI supply chain, while Ravi Chopra of Azora Capital defended LPL against fears that AI could erode its profits.
Timeline
The Sohn Hearts & Minds conference, marking its 10-year anniversary, convened in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Market Dynamics
The Sohn Hearts & Minds conference has run for a decade as a forum where managers present stock ideas, and this year's edition placed those pitches against a sell-off driven by AI regulation fears. The recommendations sit within a broader market where investors are weighing AI-linked growth against regulatory risk.
Investors holding or considering Disney, ASML or LPL face valuation and growth arguments that depend on the companies' ability to offset AI-related regulatory and profit risks. Individual stock decisions carry risk, and the presenters' projected returns are not guarantees.
The takeaway
Conference stock pitches reflect one set of manager views during a volatile stretch, so readers should compare valuation claims against their own research before acting on them.
Further reading
For more on individual equity recommendations, see Stock Picks.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Finance News Network.
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