My haven’t you grown!

Like childbirth, we think 2020 will be remembered for what it produced rather than the agony of the experience. Events have conspired that, rather than the sickly and unpopular child it once was, sustainability as an investment theme has become a thriving, healthy teenager which seems destined for great things (note the torturous lack of gender specifics in this sentence, another thing we can thank 2020 for). As with many trends that were already in progress at the start of 2020, the speed at w

Pacific Assets Trust - Overview

Pacific Assets (PAC) invests in equity markets in Asia with a long-term, conservative approach, aiming to identify high-quality businesses with high-quality management teams, which can compound wealth over the long run while minimising serious losses of capital. PAC is managed by David Gait of the Sustainable Funds Group at Stewart Investors, and sustainability is at the heart of the investment process. David views the sustainability of a company’s attitudes to its community and environment to

All change: a closer look at the AIC’s revised sectors

This spring the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) overhauled its sector classifications, adding 13 new sectors and renaming 15 others. This decision was made in an attempt to more accurately reflect the shape of the industry, and help offer investors greater clarity when comparing peers. Several of the changes came in the alternative asset spaces and these are very welcome. Alternative assets have been an area of increased popularity in recent years, making a rationalisation of the secto

Push-me pull-you

Since the start of 2018, investors in Asian equities have had a torrid time, with the region underperforming global stock markets. Perhaps reassuringly for investors, the drivers of this underperformance have not been economic fundamentals but more unpredictable factors, which are external to the economies and markets of the region – namely, the ongoing trade dispute between the US and China, and expectations for the US federal funds rate (the global economy’s risk-free rate). However, this does

ESG: Impact

“Active ownership” is one part of this strategy that crops up across all three of the broad ESG strategies and is an increasingly “hot topic”. Traditionally, many institutional investors have neglected to engage with corporates, but with a growing awareness that owners of businesses have responsibilities not only to the ultimate underlying investors, but also to other stakeholders. As described above, it involves the use of shareholder rights to support good practices, normally through proxy vot

Best in class

Today, we introduce our investment trust ratings. According to the quantitative screens we have selected in an attempt to highlight the best performers in the closed-ended universe, the trusts discussed here have been the best in their classes over the last five years. We have selected trusts using two different sets of criteria, aiming to identify the top performers for capital growth and for achieving a high and growing income. There are many rating systems for open-ended funds, but no quantit

Asian specialist with differentiated approach

Pacific Assets Trust (PAC) is a specialist Asia ex-Japan investment trust with a differentiated investment process, seeking to invest in companies that contribute to, or benefit from, the sustainable development of the Asian region. It has recently passed its fifth anniversary under its current manager, and has outperformed the MSCI AC Asia ex-Japan index in the past four discrete years in terms of both share price and NAV total return. The trust has low exposure to China, does not use gearing a

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

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: PensionBee: Strong start to the new financial year

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