BlackRock Income and Growth Investment Trust Plc - Portfolio Update

The information contained in this release was correct as at 31 August 2025. Information on the Company's up to date net asset values can be found on the London Stock Exchange Website at:

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-home.html .

BLACKROCK INCOME & GROWTH INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (LEI:5493003YBY59H9EJLJ16 )

All information is at 31 August 2025 and unaudited.

Performance at month end with net income reinvested

BlackRock took over the investment management of the Company with effect from 1 April 2012.

At month end

Sterling:

Commenting on the markets, representing the Investment Manager noted:

Market Summary:

August delivered another strong month for global equities. The   S&P 500   notched multiple record highs, extending its monthly winning streak with a return of over   2%   for the fourth consecutive month. The   MSCI ACWI   rose by   2.5%, reflecting broad-based optimism across developed markets. Investor sentiment was buoyed by the   extension of US-China trade talks   and inflation data that increased expectations for   a Federal Reserve rate cut in September. However, optimism was tempered by a   hotter-than-expected Producer Price Index (PPI)   and geopolitical tensions, notably the   Trump-Putin summit, which failed to produce a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The month began with a   disappointing US July non-farm payrolls report, showing job growth of just   +73,000, alongside significant downward revisions to prior months. The   unemployment rate   rose to   4.2%, although remains low by historical standards. Bond markets responded with the   2-year Treasury yield   falling   20bps to 3.74%   and the   10-year yield   dropping   12bps to 4.24%. Political uncertainty intensified after the payrolls report, as   President Trump dismissed the head of the Bureau of Labour Statistics. The market reaction was muted: long-end Treasury yields rose slightly, and the dollar weakened. Despite this, equities remained resilient, led by   mega-cap tech stocks   benefiting from secular   AI growth. The earnings season was robust, with   82% of S&P 500 companies beating (admittedly muted) estimates.   Housing stocks   rallied mid-month, supported by improved rate cut expectations, as global small-caps outperformed their large-cap counterparts.

In European markets, growth remained sluggish amid delays in the   US-EU trade deal, which weighed on equity performance.   Banks outperformed given strong results during the month. The   European Central Bank (ECB)   held rates steady at   2%, following eight consecutive cuts as inflation is near target, but policymakers remain open to further easing if growth deteriorates. Political risk rose in   France, where the   Prime Minister called a vote of no confidence   (scheduled for 8 September) after failing to secure support for budget cuts, triggering volatility in French markets.

In the UK, the   FTSE All-Share   underperformed global indices in August, returning +0.92%, with domestic conditions remaining challenging. The   Bank of England   cut the base rate -its fifth cut this year-as inflation hovered around   3.8%. The decision was narrowly split (5-4), suggesting a more cautious outlook for the rest of the year as expectations for a November rate cut are cast in doubt. Unemployment   edged up to   4.7%, while   CPI   remained elevated.   Stagflation concerns   grew later in the month, as long-term UK borrowing costs surged. The   30-year gilt yield   hit   5.64%, its highest since   1998, before easing to   5.6%. This rise, driven by global bond pressures alongside domestic fiscal uncertainty, has increased scrutiny on   Chancellor Rachel Reeves   ahead of the   Autumn Budget. Sector-wise,   telecommunications   and   health care   led returns, while   technology   and   consumer services   lagged. Domestic and rate-sensitive shares continue to struggle as expectations for interest rate cuts are pushed to the right, particularly housebuilders and the related supply chain given what this likely means for mortgage affordability and availability in the near-term.

Stock comments

Detractors for the month were due to stock specific and macro factors, including detractors around broader market concerns for the future of AI, and ongoing pressure on UK domestic earnings. The top detractor was WH Smith , which sold off following the announcement that the company has identified an `overstatement' in trading EBIT of c.£30m in its North American division, accounting for around half of the division's expected profitability. The shares were down c.40% on the day, and we have subsequentially sold the position.

RELX was the second largest detractor from performance over the month. RELX was hit following a negative read across from Gartner, a research and advisory firm, which was down as much as c.40% after the growth of its Research segment slowed from 7% to 4%. Gartner cited weaker demand for IT advisory subscriptions and tighter tech budgets amid macro / tariff uncertainty, which hurt RELX's shares. We do not believe there is read across, and we view RELX as a demonstrative beneficiary to AI - it is seeing more efficient and faster product development, and the organic growth of Legal & STM is already accelerating. This was highlighted in the most recent interim results in July which saw faster growth in both divisions.

Great Portland Estates, a property company, has underperformed in recent months as concerns over the fiscal deficit in the UK continues to put pressure on government bonds. Howden Joinery , a kitchen supplier, and Derwent , a property development business, are also top 10 detractors over the period as growth concerns were exacerbated following the government U-turn over welfare reform in July, and the resulting expectations of further tax rises in the Autumn budget.

Admiral Group was the top contributor following strong H1'25 results with both UK Home and UK Motor beating expectations as UK Home showed a step-up in profitability. The undiscounted loss ratio remains conservative, suggesting that current underwriting remains at strong levels. The company continues to retain significant reserves which they will likely release over the next few years to smooth the cycle. This, alongside EPS and Dividend beats, caused the shares to perform strongly following the results.

The shape of market returns this month has meant that performance has been driven more by what we do not own than what we do. Companies such as National Grid , Barclays and SSE underperformed during the period given a more risk-on environment in markets, and hawkish BoE messaging saw Experian fall over concerns for ongoing mortgage affordability. Coke bottler Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) also missed volumes as weak consumer sentiment and concerns over the impact of trade tensions weighed on their annual revenue forecasts. In addition, CCEP has, over the past year, faced backlash from consumers in Indonesia as consumers shied away from U.S. brands due to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Melrose Industries was the next overweight contributor as the company reported strong 2025 half year results on the first day of August against a backdrop of tariff disruption. Revenue growth in the Engines business was strong at +11%, driven primarily by aftermarket as well as continued original equipment (OE) growth. Revenue was also higher in Defence, where increased build rates are seen through the period. The company maintained its full-year margin guidance as well.

Rio Tinto was the third overweight contributor during the period, which performed well following a sell-off into results in July as H1'25 results were not as bad as market expectations. The company is focused on the strategic update under their new CEO, which is likely to come in later in 2025, or early 2026.

Changes

We have sold Derwent as we have continued to focus our positioning in Great Portland where we added further to the position. We believe Derwent to be inexpensive but without the required change in strategy, the current market conditions will continue to overwhelm the shares. We also sold WH Smith given the disappointing update from the company during the month, which came as a surprise and fundamentally breeches the investment case in our view.

We have added to Unilever given our underweight to the staples sector more broadly and as the company is starting to execute well. We also added to RELX on recent weakness, where we believe fears have been overblown.

Outlook

The outlook for investment markets continues to be driven by a complex interplay of elevated geopolitical uncertainty, easing monetary policy and resilient demand. 1H25 saw global markets fall sharply as tariffs were threatened only to be followed by an impressive recovery as proposed tariff levels were lowered and their implementation delayed. However, tariffs remain a key source of market volatility with the potential for outsized impacts on specific industries and companies. Expectations of Fed rate cuts have consistently been pushed out this year with two cuts now expected in 2H25. US President Trump's deliberate unpredictability, whether tariff related or more generally, suggests volatility in both equity and bond markets is likely to remain elevated. These factors have also driven weakness in the US Dollar impacting companies with USD earnings. Our response is to focus on those companies that have strong and sustainable competitive advantages alongside sufficient pricing power to navigate these uncertain times while seeking opportunities that may result from elevated volatility in markets.

The outlook for Europe is buoyed by a combination of rate cuts by the ECB (from 3.0% to 2.0%) and significant fiscal expansion from Germany with an emphasis on defence and infrastructure spending. This has already led to the significant outperformance of European defence exposed companies though the question is whether this spend stimulates economic activity more broadly in Germany and then Europe as a whole. In our conversations with corporates, those exposed to highlighted industries, such as defence, are very optimistic, yet the outlook more generally suggests stabilisation rather than anything more for now. Meanwhile, China continues to fight weak domestic demand and deflationary pressures with a broad range of fiscal and monetary tools with limited success to date; the uncertainty created by US tariffs clearly hampering their efforts.

In the UK, the Labour government seeks to thread the needle of stimulating growth while preserving fiscal credibility and adhering to its election pledges, a challenge not helped by external pressures such as US tariffs. Meanwhile, UK savings rates remain elevated and real wages continue to grow highlighting the potential for UK economic recovery when consumer and business confidence improves. Whilst the UK's hard data has showed stability, the lack of visibility ahead of the Autumn budget restrains business confidence and risk appetite.  

The UK stock market remains very depressed in valuation terms relative to other developed markets offering double-digit discounts across a range of valuation metrics. This valuation anomaly saw further reactions from UK corporates who continue to use excess cashflows to fund buybacks. Combining this with a dividend yield of 3.5% (FTSE All Share Index yield as at 30 th June 2025; source: FT), the cash return of the UK market is attractive in absolute terms and higher than other developed markets. This valuation anomaly has also been evidenced by the continuation of inbound M&A for UK listed companies. Although we anticipate further volatility ahead, we believe that risk appetite will return and opportunities are emerging. We have identified several potential opportunities with new positions initiated throughout the year in both UK domestic and midcap companies.

We continue to focus the portfolio on cash generative businesses that we believe offer durable, competitive advantages as we believe these companies are best placed to drive returns over the long term. Whilst we anticipate economic and market volatility will persist throughout the year, we are excited by the opportunities this will likely create; by seeking to identify the companies that strengthen their long-term prospects as well as attractive turnaround situations.

23 September 2025