Top performing investment trust ISAs over the last 25 years
18 trusts returned over £100,000 from a one-off £7,000 investment.
As we approach the 25th anniversary of ISAs on 6 April, the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has revealed the 25 best performing investment trusts since ISAs were launched.
The table below shows the best performing AIC member investment trusts from a single investment of the full £7,000 ISA allowance on 6 April 1999, the day ISAs came into existence, with dividends reinvested until 5 March 2024 (nearly 25 years). The table also includes the performance of these 25 companies with an initial investment of £20,000, the current ISA limit.
The top three performers, Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies, HgCapital Trust and abrdn Asia Focus would all have generated a tax-free pot of over £250,000 from a £7,000 ISA investment. Eighteen of the investment trusts have returned over £100,000.
The 25 top performers
Rank | Trust name | AIC sector | Return on £7,000 06/04/1999 to 05/03/2024 (£) | Return on £20,000 06/04/1999 to 05/03/2024 (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Scottish Oriental Smaller Cos | Asia Pacific Smaller Companies | 289,213 | 826,324 |
2 | HgCapital Trust | Private Equity | 280,799 | 802,284 |
3 | abrdn Asia Focus | Asia Pacific Smaller Companies | 273,758 | 782,166 |
4 | Pacific Horizon Investment Trust | Asia Pacific | 182,740 | 522,115 |
5 | Worldwide Healthcare Trust | Biotechnology & Healthcare | 153,246 | 437,846 |
6 | Allianz Technology Trust | Technology & Technology Innovation | 152,250 | 435,000 |
7 | International Biotechnology | Biotechnology & Healthcare | 138,301 | 395,146 |
8 | Fidelity European Trust | Europe | 133,258 | 380,737 |
9 | JPMorgan Indian | India/Indian Subcontinent | 133,143 | 380,408 |
10 | JPMorgan European Discovery | European Smaller Companies | 129,030 | 368,656 |
11 | Polar Capital Technology | Technology & Technology Innovation | 127,570 | 364,486 |
12. | BlackRock World Mining Trust | Commodities & Natural Resources | 125,123 | 357,494 |
13 | Rights & Issues Investment Trust | UK Smaller Companies | 119,836 | 342,388 |
14 | Fidelity Special Values | UK All Companies
| 117,153 | 334,724 |
15 | AVI Global Trust | Global | 111,000 | 317,144 |
16 | TR Property Investment Trust | Property Securities | 108,227
| 309,220 |
17 | Biotech Growth Trust | Biotechnology & Healthcare | 105,946 | 302,703 |
18 | Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust | Global | 104,021 | 297,203 |
19 | JPMorgan Emerging Markets | Global Emerging Markets | 93,793 | 267,980 |
20 | Schroder AsiaPacific Fund | Asia Pacific | 93,290 | 266,544 |
21 | JPMorgan US Smaller Companies | North American Smaller Companies | 92,348 | 263,851 |
22 | Mid Wynd International | Global | 91,417 | 261,190 |
23 | BlackRock Throgmorton Trust | UK Smaller Companies | 90,795 | 259,415 |
24 | Mercantile Investment Trust | UK All Companies | 90,382 | 258,234 |
25 | Invesco Perpetual UK Smaller Companies | UK Smaller Companies | 86,733 | 247,810 |
Source: theaic.co.uk / Morningstar. Includes AIC member investment trusts. Returns are share price total returns for a single lump sum invested on 06/04/1999, with dividends reinvested and held until 05/03/2024.
Three out of the four top performing investment trusts invest in the Asia Pacific region. Both the top performer Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies and the third best performer abrdn Asia Focus are from the Asia Pacific Smaller Companies sector and they returned £289,213 and £273,758 respectively. The fourth best performer, Pacific Horizon Investment Trust from the Asia Pacific sector, returned £182,740.
The second best performer, HgCapital Trust, is from the Private Equity sector and has returned £280,799.
Smaller companies are a key theme, with seven investment trusts from smaller companies sectors amongst the top performers. Two trusts are from the Asia Pacific Smaller Companies sector, one is from the European Smaller Companies sector – JPMorgan European Discovery – and one is from the North American Smaller Companies sector – JPMorgan US Smaller Companies.
“As we approach the 25th anniversary of ISAs, the strong performance of these investment trusts demonstrates the long-term benefits of a diversified tax-free portfolio. These investment trusts cover a variety of companies, countries and sectors.”
Annabel Brodie-Smith, Communications Director of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC)
It has been a difficult time for the UK Smaller Companies sector but three of these trusts feature in the list of best performers: Rights & Issues Investment Trust, BlackRock Throgmorton Trust and Invesco Perpetual UK Smaller Companies.
For those looking for international exposure, there are three investment trusts from the Global sector on the list: AVI Global Trust, Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and Mid Wynd International. There are also three trusts from the Biotechnology & Healthcare sector: Worldwide Healthcare Trust, International Biotechnology and Biotech Growth Trust.
Annabel Brodie-Smith, Communications Director of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC), said: “As we approach the 25th anniversary of ISAs, the strong performance of these investment trusts demonstrates the long-term benefits of a diversified tax-free portfolio. These investment trusts cover a variety of companies, countries and sectors. Smaller companies are a prominent theme, with over a quarter of the top performing trusts investing in them."
“It’s clearly worth investing your ISA allowance before the end of the tax year. Of course, sadly we don’t know what the future best performers will be, but investors need to build a diverse portfolio of investments that meets their long-term financial needs. If you have any doubts about the suitability of investment trusts for you, please speak to a financial adviser.”
- ENDS -
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Notes to editors
- The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) represents a broad range of investment trusts and VCTs, collectively known as investment companies. The AIC’s vision is for closed-ended investment companies to be understood and considered by every investor. The AIC has 334 members and the industry has total assets of approximately £272 billion.
- For more information about the AIC and investment trusts, visit the AIC’s website.
- 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.
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