When there is so much uncertainty about inflation, interest rates and the economy, investors could be experiencing paralysis in picking ASX shares to buy.
This is a situation when it could be worthwhile to block out all the macroeconomic noise and try to spot businesses that are earning patronage because of long-lasting, immovable global themes.
Here are two examples from the Wilson Asset Management team that are already rising:
Amazing facilities doing amazing work
Close The Loop Inc (ASX: CLG) is in the recycling game.
The company collects materials such as printer toners and batteries for recycling, while its OF Pack arm produces sustainable packaging.
With environmental concerns coming to the fore in recent years, it goes without saying that reuse of discarded materials is a growth sector.
The share price has already rocketed more than 25.6% so far this year.
Equities dealer Will Thompson revealed that he and his senior analyst colleague Shaun Weick recently toured Close The Loop's United States locations.
"We went to Cincinnati and Dallas. The Dallas facility is amazing," Thompson said on a Wilson video.
"They essentially take HP Inc (NYSE: HPQ) computers and refurb them and resell them."
For Close The Loop's clients, there is a dual benefit: one is the direct environmental merit, and the other is the ability to market its green credentials to consumers.
"So there's a massive opportunity for the company to grow… It's a buy."
The $250 million small-cap stock is not widely covered by analysts but, according to CMC Markets, at least Shaw and Partners agrees with Thompson that it's a buy.
Small player growing quickly in a huge market
Cettire Ltd (ASX: CTT) operates an online platform for consumers to buy luxury fashion items.
It has taken its shareholders for a wild ride since listing on the ASX in late 2020.
In November 2021, just before the market turned on growth stocks, the Cettire share price peaked at $4.32.
It then spiralled down more than 90% to hit as low as 34 cents in the middle of last year.
But since then, over just 12 months, it has become an 8-bagger. The stock closed 5.07% higher on Friday at $3.11.
Despite the meteoric rise, Thompson reckons Cettire is still a buy.
"They're quite a small player in a big market, and they're growing quickly."
The big global theme that the Melbourne company is riding on is the still bricks-and-mortar nature of high-end fashion.
"There's not a big amount of luxury brands that sell online. So they're getting the benefit of that."
Again, the stock is sparsely covered in the professional world. But CMC Markets indicates that Bell Potter analysts concur with Thompson's team that Cettire is a buy.
