Middlefield Canadian Income

MCT: stable income from an overlooked equity market…

Middlefield Canadian Income

MCT: stable income from an overlooked equity market…

Middlefield Canadian Income

A long track record of steady dividends and unique exposure to Canadian equity income stocks makes MCT an ideal income portfolio diversifier...

Ingredients for success

This year has been full of surprises, and not many of them good ones. Inflation figures surpassing expectations and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have been key drivers of tumultuous markets. Prior to 2022 investors were well rewarded for simply following trends, and the volatility this year is perhaps a painful reminder of the necessity for good portfolio diversification. Diversification of asset classes is important, but so is diversification within asset classes. Simply buying growth or buyi

Middlefield Canadian Income

Middlefield Canadian Income (MCT) offers exposure to the high dividend and growth potential in Canadian equities. Canada is a net energy exporter and its market has a high weighting to energy stocks, as well as to companies producing some key hard and soft commodities that are currently in high demand. The market is heavily weighted to financials, which benefit from a rising interest rate environment, and MCT has a structural overweight to REITs, which offer decent inflation protection. As a res

Finding value in a haystack

Non-income value strategies are becoming increasingly scarce, but the holdouts represent attractive near-term opportunities

Exposure to high-yielding North American equities

Middlefield Canadian Income (MCT) is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. It aims to invest in a diversified portfolio of Canadian and selected US companies that are able to pay high sustainable or growing dividends and have the potential to generate long-term capital growth. On a sector basis, the trust currently has high exposure to the pipelines, power & utility and real estate sectors. MCT is benchmarked against the S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index, which it has outpe

Equity income from diversified portfolio

Middlefield Canadian Income (MCT) invests in a broad selection of primarily Canadian and selected US equities, aiming to generate a high level of sustainable dividends and long-term capital growth. The fund is traded on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. MCT is benchmarked against the S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend index, but the managers are not constrained by its composition. The fund currently has significant exposure to the pipelines, power & utilities, real estate, financials an

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.

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.

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

LIBERUM: Speedy Hire: Weakness in FY 24 but recovery in FY 25

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 22 April 2024

22nd April 2024 * A corporate client of Hybridan LLP ** Arranged by type of listing and date of announcement *** Alphabetically arranged **** Potential means Intention to Float (ITF) has been announced Dish of the day Admissions: Delistings: What’s baking in the oven? ** Potential**** Initial Public Offerings: Reverse Takeovers: 16 April 2024: Electric Guitar (ELEG.L) Concurrent with its Admission to trading on AIM, Electric Guitar is proposing to acquire the entire issued share capital of 3radi