BlackRock Income & Growth

BRIG is trading at a wide discount versus its five-year history which could be an attractive entry point for long-term investors…

The Hardman & Co Monthly: September 2023

Feature article: Equity Income – UK or Global? Should investors widen their horizons? Introduction: ► The UK Equity Income sector (UKEI) is the fourth-largest investment company (IC) sector in the Association of Investment Companies’ (AIC) universe, with £12.5bn of assets (as at August 2023), and is the traditional home for investors looking for income in the equity market. ► The UKEI not only provides investors with a better dividend yield than the ge

Hardman & Co Insight: Equity Income – UK or Global? Should investors widen their horizons?

Introduction ► The UK Equity Income sector (UKEI) is the fourth-largest investment company (IC) sector in the Association of Investment Companies’ (AIC) universe, with £12.5bn of assets (as at August 2023), and is the traditional home for investors looking for income in the equity market. ► The UKEI not only provides investors with a better dividend yield than the general UK market, but also has a strong track record of dividend growth. Indeed, many funds feature on the AIC’s “dividend heroes”

BlackRock Income & Growth

BRIG is an attractive long-term total return option…

BlackRock Income & Growth

BRIG provides the assurance of a solid income to see you through the short-term uncertainty...

BlackRock Income & Growth - Overview

BlackRock Income & Growth (BRIG) offers a focussed portfolio of companies, picked for their ability to pay a solid and growing dividend income over the long term. In March 2021, the board increased the proportion that can be invested overseas from 5% to 20%, providing an even greater opportunity for stock picking. The majority of the Portfolio (c. 70%) will typically be invested in ‘income generators’, those companies which generate sustainable free cash flow with a balance between re-investing

Brighter - Termination of coverage

Edison Investment Research is terminating coverage on AdAlta (1AD), Acorn Income Fund (AIF), GCP Student Living (DIGS) and Brighter (BRIG). Please note you should no longer rely on any previous research or estimates for this company. All forecasts should now be considered redundant.

BlackRock Income & Growth - Overview

BlackRock Income & Growth (BRIG) is an all-cap strategy which seeks to balance its stylistic exposure whilst looking to grow both capital and income over the long term through investment in UK equities. BRIG has been run by the UK equity income team at BlackRock since April 2012. Whilst the managers, Adam Avigdori and David Goldman, utilise a consistent stock analytical approach across BRIG and their open-ended products, they look to utilise the closed-ended structure of BRIG to incorporate les

Brighter - Poised for revenue momentum

Brighter recently reported its results for the first quarter of 2021 and continues to be poised for revenue momentum at the end of the year. Actiste has market approval in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand, as well as a five-year distribution agreement in Qatar and five-year agreements in both Nigeria and Ghana. Once registrations are in place in Nigeria and Ghana, Brighter expects to receive €2.3m (SEK23.4m) and €1.2m (SEK12.2m), respectively, in initial orders in those

Brighter - Progress in multiple regions

Brighter has been making progress in multiple regions for Actiste, which now has market approval in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand, as well as a five-year distribution agreement in Qatar and five-year agreements in both Nigeria and Ghana. Once registrations are in place in Nigeria and Ghana, Brighter expects to receive €2.3m (SEK23.4m) and €1.2m (SEK12.2m), respectively, in initial orders in those countries. The approval processes in Nigeria and Ghana are expected to b

BlackRock Income & Growth - Overview

BlackRock Income & Growth (BRIG) targets growth in both income and capital over the long term. BRIG has been run by the extensive team at BlackRock since 2012 which also runs a successful open-ended UK equity income product. The open-ended fund has successfully increased its distribution every year for the past 30 years. Whilst there is significant overlap between BRIG and its better-known open-ended counterpart, the managers of BRIG, Adam Avigdori and David Goldman, are keen to take advantage

Hold fast

A long, long time ago, I can still remember how, that election had us all talking about sterling (well, some of us). Instead now we are hard put not to talk about mass dividend cuts, with Link Group estimating dividend cuts of 47% or more in the UK equity market. Way back in those distant epochs of early December 2019, we appeared to be approaching a greater degree of certainty about the shape of the future in the UK: an election was in the offing which promised to help resolve the outlook for o

BlackRock Income and Growth Investment Trust - Overview

BlackRock Income & Growth (BRIG) targets growth in both income and capital over the long term. With an extensive team that also runs a successful open-ended UK equity income product, BlackRock have been running BRIG since 2012; the open-ended fund has successfully increased its distribution every year for the past 30 years. Whilst there is significant overlap between the trust and its open-ended relation, the managers, Adam Avigdori and David Goldman, are keen to take best advantage of the trust

Regime change: how manager changes impact performance

All leaderships come to an end at some point. With investment trusts, however, it is rarely the electorate (aka shareholders) who initiate the change in manager. In some cases it is the board. In others, it is the management company itself recognising the need for a new manager, and replacing them before the board feels the need for more decisive action. A change instigated by the board will often result in a transformative outcome for a trust, perhaps with a change in management house as well a

Holding something in reserve

It used to be said that in central London you were never more than six feet from a rat. Nowadays, the saying has been updated: you are never more than six feet from a Pret-aManger. Before Pret came McDonald’s, serving the same burgers in the same buns from London to Tokyo. Such was the ubiquitous nature of the fast food giant that in 1986 The Economist launched the ‘Big Mac Index’. Presently, this famous index of relative currency strength suggests sterling is seriously undervalued [1] . Sterlin

Morning Note – 22 April 2024

Benefits of scale set to materialise

Frenkel Topping - Resilient with strong growth potential

FY 2023 was a challenging year for Frenkel with higher interest rates encouraging clients to place money into lower margin money market funds. Despite this, sales grew +32% (supported by recurring revenue +9% and +51% in non-recurring), EBIT margins remained strong at 22% and adj. EPS grew +17% (taking into account the higher number of shares). FY 2024 has seen a solid start to transactional business and there is a strong pipeline of new FUM opportunities both of which support further growth. Wi

Bluefield Solar Income Fund – Fundamentals shine despite discount

The manger comments that, in common with the other trusts in the renewable energy sector, the last six months have continued what has been a challenging period for the Bluefield Solar Income Fund (BSIF). It adds that the trust’s ongoing fundamental performance has failed to reverse a steady slide in its share price which began back in May 2023. Despite this, it says the company has continued to deliver solid NAV growth and market-leading shareholder distributions thanks to a range of contractual

LSL Property Services (LSL LN) - Transformation & market recovery

2023 results are, as indicated in its February pre-close update, “slightly ahead of market expectations”. Current trading continues to improve, with 1Q24 underlying operating profit up yoy, “reflecting the benefits of the Group’s transformation programme completed in 2023 as well as improving market conditions.” With net cash of £35m at end 2023, the Board approved 7.4p final DPS and £7m buy back.

Henderson Far East Income - Repositioning to raise total returns

Henderson Far East Income (HFEL) has consistently delivered on its objective to provide a rising dividend. However, like many investors, HFEL’s managers overestimated the potential for a post-pandemic rebound in China. The trust’s resultant overweight to Chinese consumer and other cyclicals led to a fall in portfolio revenues and underperformance in the financial year ended 31 August 2023 (FY23). With a view to improving future returns, HFEL’s board has since indicated an increased willingness t

S&U - PBT ahead, encouraging volume trends

S&U reported FY24 PBT of £33.6m, down from £41.4m in FY23 on higher funding and regulatory costs and higher impairments in Advantage in H2. PBT was 2% ahead of our forecast as stronger revenues – up 12% to £115.4m – and better costs offset higher-than-expected impairments. Net receivables grew to a record at both Advantage and Aspen and management noted particular strength in Q4 and a good trading environment in the current year. Having absorbed a significant rise in funding cost as well as addi

Hardman & Co Insight: 2023 was an annus horribilis for Quoted UK Infrastructure and Renewable Energy

The focus of Hardman & Co Research is on the nine quoted Infrastructure Investment Companies (IICs) and on the 22 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Funds (REIFs): the stocks analysed are all members of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). We are updating our publication of January 2023, assessing both the lacklustre share price performances during 2023 and the key issues, including interest rates, inflation and power prices. As a 31-strong group, its combined market capitalisation is no

Foresight Solar Fund - Termination of coverage

Edison Investment Research is terminating coverage on ABC Arbitrage (ABCA), paragon (PGN), Foresight Solar Fund (FSFL), Kendrion (KENDR), Lithium Power International (LPI), Triple Point Energy Transition (TENT), 4iG (4IG), e-therapeutics (ETX), Pharnext (ALPHA) and Shield Therapeutics (STX). Please note you should no longer rely on any previous research or estimates for this company. All forecasts should now be considered redundant. Previously published reports can still be accessed via our web

LIBERUM: PensionBee: Strong start to the new financial year

International Public Partnerships - Consistently and responsibly delivering

International Public Partnerships’ (INPP’s) FY23 results show that it continues to deliver consistent and predictable returns for investors, while delivering environmental and social benefits for the individuals and communities that are served by its assets. Despite this strong performance and a substantial need for private infrastructure funding, the macroeconomic environment has weighed on INPP’s share price, in common with the wider sector. Regardless, attractive returns are available from th

LIBERUM: NewRiver: Q4 trading update: Continued operational momentum

Regional REIT - Performing as expected ahead of refinancing

In a challenging market, Regional REIT’s (RGL’s) FY23 operational and financial performance was robust, in line with expectations and previous guidance. Investor focus remains on the company’s loan to value (LTV) reduction and bond refinancing plans, explored in detail in our previous note and RGL will provide an update on this in due course.

Witan

Business as usual for WTAN’s executive team, while the board reviews investment management arrangements…

LIBERUM: PayPoint: On track for £100m of EBITDA in FY 26