Four reasons to hold trusts in your ISA (and four portfolios to consider)

Most people who invest in funds do so via an ‘OEIC’ – an open-ended investment company or a unit trust. But there is another vehicle that is very similar, called an investment trust.

We take a look at the four distinguishing attributes of investment trusts and suggest four for your consideration.

Why should I buy an investment trust?

1. Dividend smoothing

An investment trust can hold back up to 15% of its generated income for a rainy day – this is known as holding ‘revenue reserves’.The reason for doing this is known as ‘dividend smoothing’ or, in other words, being able to pay out a steady and rising level of income to investors, regardless of the investment backdrop.

2. Gearing

Another feature investment trusts have is the ability to gear, or borrow money to invest on behalf of shareholders. This can boost returns during rising markets or if the trust’s underlying portfolio does well. The greater the conviction a manager has in their holdings or the more confident they are on the backdrop, the more likely they are to use gearing. However, investors should be aware that gearing can also leave the investment trusts susceptible to greater losses during falling markets or periods of difficulty.

3. Discounts and premiums

Trusts can trade on either discounts or premiums to their net asset value. Essentially, this means they can be either cheaper or more expensive than the face value of their portfolio of investments.
Discounts can be attractive buying opportunities for investors because, when the discount narrows or even becomes a premium, the investor will get an even better return than the performance of the trust’s underlying portfolio. However, investors should note that premiums can also become discounts and discounts can widen further, which will have the opposite effect on the value of the investment trust.

4. Independent boards

Another defining feature of investment trusts is that they have independent boards, which act on behalf of shareholders in order to protect their best interests. This should provide investors with an extra layer of protection; it is a board’s responsibility to ask a trust’s management team difficult questions if the vehicle isn’t behaving as it is supposed to, for instance.

Which trusts should I consider?

1. Baillie Gifford Japan Trust

First up is the Elite Rated Baillie Gifford Japan Trust, which is one of the oldest in the IT Japan sector and has a track record spanning more than 36 years.

Baillie Gifford Japan aims for three to five-year growth through a portfolio of small-to-medium sized companies. It will hold between 40 and 70 stocks at any one time; these are chosen for their innovative business models, their multiple sources of growth or because they are disrupting traditional Japanese practices.

2. Fidelity Special Values

Closer to home, Alex Wright’s Fidelity Special Values trust could also present itself as a good option for investors. Alex aims for long-term growth through a portfolio of predominantly smaller companies which, despite having undergone a rough patch, he believes have the capability to turn their performance around for the better. While the trust doesn’t have an income mandate, Alex has managed to increase its dividends every year since taking to its helm in 2012.

3. Jupiter European Opportunities

Headed up by Alexander Darwall, the Jupiter European Opportunities trust holds a highly concentrated portfolio of companies, with its top 10 holdings accounting for three-quarters of the overall portfolio. Alexander adopts a patient and value-aware approach to company selection which, over his 17-year track record, has proven to be successful and repeatable.

4. Schroder Oriental Income

Schroder Oriental Income, which has been managed by Matthew Dobbs since its launch in 2005, aims to provide both growth and income through holding Asia Pacific companies (excluding Japanese equities) which offer both attractive and growing dividend pay-outs. It currently has a diversified portfolio of 85 holdings which, combined with its income focus, gives the trust relative stability compared to many of its peers that invest in the same region.