The Merchants Trust - UK equity valuations providing many opportunities

The Merchants Trust (MRCH) manager, Simon Gergel at Allianz Global Investors, has been at the helm for the last 17 years during a variety of market environments. He has remained true to his investment process, seeking high-quality companies with solid fundamentals that are trading on reasonable valuations. The manager is very encouraged by the current valuation backdrop as, in aggregate, the UK market is trading at the low end of its 20-year range and within the market there is a wide dispersion

The Merchants Trust - UK market is ‘a stock picker’s dream’

The Merchants Trust (MRCH) has been managed by Simon Gergel at Allianz Global Investors for the last 17 years. He describes the valuation backdrop in the UK market as ‘a stock picker’s dream’, as in aggregate, UK stocks are trading at the low end of their 20-year range, and company valuations vary significantly, thereby affording the manager opportunities to identify reasonably priced businesses that have strong fundamentals and are operating in industries with favourable dynamics. Gergel’s stra

UK Equities: Overlooked, oversold, and over here

In this note we look at the gap between perception and reality in the UK equity market, the opportunities and threats in the economic and market outlook, and the emerging consensus that the valuation discount versus other major markets is at or close to an inflection point. We consider the benefits of UK equity strategies both for income investors and for those seeking exposure to the higher growth potential of smaller and mid-cap companies.

The Merchants Trust - Higher dividends for the last 41 years

Simon Gergel at Allianz Global Investors has managed The Merchants Trust (MRCH) for the last 17 years. His disciplined fundamental investment process has proved to be a successful strategy as MRCH is ahead of its benchmark over the last one, three, five and 10 years. The trust’s NAV total returns also rank top out of 20 funds in the AIC UK Equity Income sector over the last three years. MRCH has a commendable dividend track record, having increased its annual payments for the last 41 consecutive

The Merchants Trust - Higher gearing to take advantage of opportunities

The Merchants Trust (MRCH) is managed by Simon Gergel, chief investment officer of UK equities at Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI). He highlights that the remaining £16m of the trust’s £42m credit facility has recently been drawn down, taking gearing from c 13% to c 15%. This indicates that the manager, and MRCH’s board, see good value in the UK market, particularly in the type of stocks that fit Gergel’s disciplined investment criteria. The manager continues to seek undervalued companies wi

The Merchants Trust - Performance shining brightly

The Merchants Trust (MRCH) is actively managed by Allianz Global Investors’ highly experienced chief investment officer of UK equities/UK income, Simon Gergel. He highlights that the portfolio is very different to what it was a couple of years ago, but the manager continues to adhere to his disciplined investment process, seeking undervalued companies with solid fundamentals, aiming to generate a high and growing level of income and long-term capital growth. MRCH’s portfolio is differentiated fr

The Merchants Trust - Successfully navigating market uncertainty

The Merchants Trust (MRCH) is managed by Allianz Global Investors’ chief investment officer, UK equities, Simon Gergel. He is very pleased by how the trust’s income has recovered as companies have returned to paying dividends. With an uncertain economic and investment backdrop, which has been exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the manager stresses the importance of focusing on companies’ long-term prospects. Gergel considers MRCH’s balanced portfolio of attractively valued cyclical

The Merchants Trust - Firing on all cylinders

The Merchants Trust (MRCH) is managed by Simon Gergel, who is chief investment officer, UK equities, at Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI). This firm has been engaged in environmental, social and governance (ESG) research since 2000, and a consideration of ESG factors is deeply embedded in MRCH’s disciplined investment process. While the manager is very encouraged by the trust’s improved performance following a tough period in early-2020, he is not complacent, and continues to seek high-qualit

The Merchants Trust - Finding high-quality, well priced opportunities

The Merchants Trust (MRCH) is managed by Simon Gergel who is chief investment officer, UK equities, at Allianz Global Investors. He stresses that being a value investor does not mean buying bad businesses, and the polarised UK market is enabling him to invest in high-quality companies at reasonable prices. While the manager experienced a tough period of relative performance during the coronavirus-led market sell-off in early 2020, he adhered to his long-term, high-conviction process, which was t

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

LIBERUM: NewRiver: Q4 trading update: Continued operational momentum

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

Witan

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

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.

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