Which were the 20 most viewed investment companies in 2018?
60% increased their dividends for 10+ years and eight companies yield over 4%.
The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) today published the list of companies which were most viewed on its website, www.theaic.co.uk, in 2018.
The list of 20 investment companies reflects investors’ high demand for income with half of the most viewed companies yielding more than 3% as at 1 January 2019 and eight yielding over 4%. Companies with long track records of dividend growth were also popular. 12 entries (60% of the list) have raised their dividends for 10 or more years consecutively. Nine of the top 20 are dividend heroes, investment companies that have increased their dividends for more than 20 consecutive years, and three are next generation dividend heroes, raising their dividends for between 10 and 19 years consecutively.
The top 5
Scottish Mortgage was the most viewed investment company for the second year in a row. The FTSE 100 company has returned 647% over the ten years to 31 December 2018.
Independent Investment Trust was second. Propelled by its very strong performance in 2017 where it returned 71%, it was the biggest riser in the top 20 having gained eight places from the 2017 list.
Murray International from the Global Equity Income sector was third. The company, managed by Bruce Stout, was the most viewed investment company in 2015 and 2016 and placed second in last year’s list.
Completing the top five are City of London (4th) and F&C Investment Trust (5th) which swapped their places from 2017.
New entries
Technology’s strong performance was a key theme in the new entries to the list with Allianz Technology (8th) and Edinburgh Worldwide (14th), which invests in businesses prospering from technological growth, featuring for the first time. Invesco Perpetual Enhanced Income (17th) also featured for the first time and RIT Capital Partners (20th) returned having not appeared since 2016.
Increasing traffic
Traffic to the AIC website was 18% higher than in 2017, a significant jump from 2017 which saw 11% more traffic than 2016.
Annabel Brodie-Smith, Communications Director of the Association of Investment Companies said: “It’s clear that the desire for income is still playing a big part in investors’ decisions and this is an area where investment companies have unique benefits. 60% of the most viewed companies have impressive records of dividend growth and half of the list have healthy yields above 3%. It’s pleasing that traffic to the AIC website continues to grow, increasing by 18% from 2017. The AIC website contains a wealth of information such as investment companies’ performance, portfolios, costs and more, which can help inform investors’ decisions.”
Top 20 most viewed investment companies in 2018
|
Company |
AIC sector |
Most viewed on AIC website |
Yield at 1 January 2019 (%) |
SPTR (%) 01/01/2018 - 31/12/2018 |
SPTR (%) 01/01/2013 - 31/12/2018 |
SPTR (%) 01/01/2008 - 31/12/2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Scottish Mortgage* |
Global |
1 |
0.66 |
4.63 |
136.49 |
646.69 |
|
Independent Investment Trust |
Global |
2 |
1.22 |
-24.20 |
100.30 |
474.45 |
|
Murray International# |
Global Equity Income |
3 |
4.55 |
-6.79 |
34.32 |
189.81 |
|
City of London* |
UK Equity Income |
4 |
4.73 |
-8.48 |
24.73 |
185.24 |
|
F&C Investment Trust* |
Global |
5 |
1.71 |
-0.57 |
84.28 |
247.53 |
|
European Assets |
European Smaller Companies |
6 |
13.04 |
-23.52 |
32.22 |
272.56 |
|
Finsbury Growth & Income |
UK Equity Income |
7 |
2.03 |
-0.91 |
61.34 |
411.89 |
|
Allianz Technology |
Sector Specialist: Tech Media & Telecomm |
8 |
0 |
4.36 |
132.82 |
542.11 |
|
Merchants* |
UK Equity Income |
9 |
5.53 |
-3.12 |
16.12 |
181.25 |
|
Edinburgh Investment# |
UK Equity Income |
10 |
4.67 |
-11.29 |
19.33 |
181.36 |
|
Bankers* |
Global |
11 |
2.52 |
-9.06 |
52.10 |
230.09 |
|
Alliance Trust* |
Global |
12 |
1.96 |
-6.14 |
71.06 |
206.70 |
|
JPMorgan Global Growth & Income |
Global Equity Income |
13 |
4.39 |
-10.11 |
72.69 |
274.25 |
|
Edinburgh Worldwide |
Global |
14 |
0 |
-3.40 |
82.67 |
414.79 |
|
Temple Bar* |
UK Equity Income |
15 |
3.82 |
-9.67 |
9.90 |
181.97 |
|
Witan* |
Global |
16 |
2.32 |
-8.09 |
61.57 |
251.56 |
|
Invesco Perpetual Enhanced Income |
Global High Income |
17 |
6.99 |
-7.34 |
42.88 |
460.83 |
|
Henderson Far East Income# |
Asia Pacific - Excluding Japan |
18 |
6.49 |
-3.42 |
47.06 |
193.70 |
|
BMO Global Smaller Companies* |
Global |
19 |
1.22 |
-10.77 |
51.57 |
351.70 |
|
RIT Capital Partners |
Flexible Investment |
20 |
3.46 |
-1.01 |
66.30 |
152.26 |
Source: AIC/Morningstar. SPTR is share price total return.
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Notes
- *Denotes dividend hero investment company – 20 or more years of consecutive dividend growth.
- #Denotes next generation dividend hero investment company – between 10 and 19 years of consecutive dividend growth.
- 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 356 members and the industry has total assets of approximately £178 billion.
- 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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