If 2020 was the year of tech stocks then 2021 has been all about the value recovery. For the first five months of the year that trend has held, but a dramatic comeback for high growth stocks in June has upended our list of the best and worst performing investment trusts in the second quarter. At this point of 2021 we have investment trust performance data for June, Q2 and for the first half of the year. The data shows the tug-of-war between growth and value trusts, and between those focused on Asia and the United States. To illustrate the mixed nature of this year, two trusts with very contrasting styles occupy the number one and four slots in 2021 so far: value-focused Fidelity Special Values and tech growth trust Scottish Mortgage, which was last year's top performer.
Top Rated Trusts
In the year to date, Gold-rated Fidelity Special Values (FSV) is top of the leaderboard with a gain of nearly 22%, whereas Silver-rated JPMorgan Japan (JFJ) is off more than 8%. In the second quarter, Scottish Mortgage (SMT) came out on top with a gain of 15% after a stunning performance in June, while Baillie Gifford Japan (BGFD) was at the bottom of the pile with a very modest dip of -0.46%. The Fidelity trust has benefited from the swift rotation back into value and recovery stocks this year. Alex Wright also manages the open-ended fund, Fidelity Special Situations, which has gained around 17% in 2021, but has lost ground in June after the growth comeback.
Top 10 Best Performing Investment Trusts
Morningstar upgraded the trust (and fund) earlier this year to Gold, with analyst Fatima Khizou praising Wright’s insight, portfolio construction and contrarian approach. After a very strong run, Japanese markets have dipped following a rise in coronavirus cases and muddled messages over the Tokyo Olympics. JPMorgan Japanese has a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Silver and gained 44% last year. “JPMorgan Japanese Investment Trust continues to benefit from an impressive lead manager, a well-resourced supporting team, and a time-tested investment process,” says Morningstar’s Samuel Lo.
Bottom 10 Performing Investment Trusts
Looking in detail at the top 10 for 2021, there's a decent mix in terms of regions, styles and cap bias. Russia, Europe, America and Asia focused trusts all make the grade. JPMorgan America (JAM), whose top holdings include Microsoft and Apple, also rubs shoulders with two small-cap focused trusts, BlackRock Smaller Companies (BRSC) and Standard Life UK Smaller Companies (SLS). JPMorgan Russian Securities (JRS) holds the number three spot so far in 2021, as the country’s stocks have been helped by booming oil prices.
In terms of quarterly performance, Silver-rated Scottish Mortgage (SMT), the best performing trust under Morningstar coverage in 2020, was the star performer in Q2 with a gain of 15%, while Bronze-rated Baillie Gifford Japan (BGFD) was at the bottom of the pile with a 0.46% fall in the last three months.
- To make it on to our list of leaders and laggards, the investment trust needs to have a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Negative and Above. Returns are based on share price changes rather than net asset value (NAV)
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