AIC website investment company rankings 2017

Dividend heroes remain in demand.

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has today published a list of the 20 most-viewed member investment companies on its website, www.theaic.co.uk, over 2017.

Investment companies from the Global, Global Equity Income and UK Equity Income sectors dominate this year’s list (17 out of 20). With interest rates remaining low and inflation creeping up, it is perhaps unsurprising that income is a strong theme. 10 investment companies featured had a dividend yield above 3% at the end of December and 13 have increased their dividends for 10 or more consecutive years.

The top five

Topping the list is Scottish Mortgage. This investment company from the Global sector, jointly managed by James Anderson and Tom Slater, was the most viewed investment company every month of 2017, reflective perhaps of its impressive 41% return over the year. Scottish Mortgage was also the only investment company to join the FTSE 100 in 2017, a notable feat that received much attention.

In second place is Murray International from the Global Equity Income sector. Managed by Bruce Stout, Murray International took the top spot in 2015 and 2016 and this year marks the fifth consecutive year it has been in the top five of the rankings.

Hot on its heels is Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust which celebrates the 150th anniversary of its launch in 2018. The investment company delivered a strong 21% return in 2017 and is one of 10 dividend heroes in the list, having increased its dividend for 46 consecutive years. In fourth place is City of London, which has consecutively increased its dividend for 51 years and been managed by Job Curtis for the last 26 of those years. Completing the top five is Finsbury Growth & Income, managed by Nick Train, which has a concentrated portfolio and a particularly low portfolio turnover.

New entries and biggest risers

A fifth of the entries are appearing in the list for the first time. These are JPMorgan Global Growth & Income (8th), Independent Investment Trust (10th), Caledonia Investments (16th) and Monks (20th).

Investment companies that received more views than in 2016 and therefore were placed higher in the rankings include Bankers (9th) and European Assets (7th) which gained five and six places respectively. However, the biggest gain was by F&C Global Smaller Companies (11th), which rose nine places.

Annabel Brodie-Smith, Communications Director of the Association of Investment Companies, said: “It’s revealing to look back over the past year to see which investment companies have been most popular on the AIC website. There are a number of well-known investment companies featuring on this year’s list but it’s apparent that the search for income is still strong amongst investors, as half of the list is made up of dividend heroes – investment companies that have consecutively increased their dividends each year for 20 years or more.

“In 2017, member companies’ profile pages on the AIC website were updated to include enhanced dividend information, including the investment company’s dividend history, whether each dividend was paid from income or capital, as well as revenue reserve and dividend cover information. The AIC website is a useful research tool for investors and we hope these added dividend features help to further inform investors.” 

Top 20 most viewed investment companies on the AIC website in 2017

Company

AIC sector

Most viewed on AIC website

% SPTR over 1yr to 31/12/2017 

Dividend yield (%) at 29/12/2017

Scottish Mortgage

Global

1

41.07

0.67

Murray International

Global Equity Income

2

11.04

3.90

Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust

Global

3

21.05

1.61

City of London

UK Equity Income

4

12.56

3.92

Finsbury Growth & Income

UK Equity Income

5

21.48

1.83

Edinburgh Investment

UK Equity Income

6

1.72

3.66

European Assets

European Smaller Companies

7

35.95

5.43

JPMorgan Global Growth & Income

Global Equity Income

8

24.10

3.68

Bankers

Global

9

28.89

2.10

Independent Investment Trust

Global

10

71.34

0.76

F&C Global Smaller Companies

Global

11

13.06

0.91

Alliance Trust

Global

12

19.19

1.84

Temple Bar

UK Equity Income

13

10.98

3.17

Merchants

UK Equity Income

14

15.72

4.96

Witan

Global

15

22.09

1.76

Caledonia

Global

16

14.83

1.96

Aberdeen Diversified Income & Growth

Flexible Investment

17

21.20

4.77

Henderson Far East Income

Asia Pacific excl. Japan

18

16.86

5.49

Perpetual Income & Growth

UK Equity Income

19

7.21

3.62

Monks

Global

20

35.02

0.16

Source: AIC and Morningstar

-Ends-

Follow us on Twitter @AICPRESS

Notes

  1. Performance data is % share price total return at 31 December 2017. No expenses taken into account. Source: Morningstar.
  2. The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) was founded in 1932 to represent the interests of the investment trust industry – the oldest form of collective investment. Today, the AIC represents a broad range of closed-ended investment companies, incorporating investment trusts and other closed-ended investment companies and VCTs. The AIC’s members believe that the industry is best served if it is united and speaks with one voice. The AIC’s mission statement is to help members add value for shareholders over the longer term. The AIC has 347 members and the industry has total assets of approximately £174 billion.
  3. Disclaimer: The information contained in this press release does not constitute investment advice or personal recommendation and it is not an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity. You should seek independent financial and, if appropriate, legal advice as to the suitability of any investment decision. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of investment company shares, and the income from them, can fall as well as rise. You may not get back the full amount invested and, in some cases, nothing at all.