Majedie, First State, MFS, Veritas and M&G are among the winners of individual fund awards announced by Morningstar UK today, while ETF provider iShares beat its active management peers to scoop the award for best large fixed interest fund house and First State picked up the award for best large equity fund house.
The Morningstar UK Fund Awards 2012 recognise retail funds and fund houses that added the most value for investors within the context of their relevant peer group in 2011 and over the longer term. Winners are selected using a quantitative methodology with a qualitative overlay developed by Morningstar that considers the one-, three-, and five-year performance history of all eligible funds, and adjusts returns for risk.
Individual Fund Awards
For investors seeking UK equity exposure, the award for the best UK large-cap equity fund went to Majedie Asset UK Equity, whose flat performance in 2011 belies the FTSE 100's 5.6% fall over the year. The fund outperformed its category peers by 5% in 2011 and has achieved a 3-year annualised trailing return of 20.4%, securing it a 5-star Morningstar rating.
The award for best global large-cap equity fund was picked up by Veritas Global Focus Retail, which, under the management of Charles Richardson and Andrew Headley, has achieved a three-years annualised trailing return of 19.3%. Commenting on their win, the managers attributed the fund's success to "excellent stock picking (which is done by a team of analysts working in an iterative way) together with a disciplined implementation our process." Morningstar analysts have a Gold rating on Veritas Global Focus Retail.
For investors interested in European equity exposure, the winner of the best Europe large-cap equity fund award may not instantly recognise the name but it's certainly a fund paying attention to. MFS Meridian European Value has quietly amassed one of the best records among its Europe Large-Cap Value Equity peers over the past five years. In 2011, a heavy overweight to consumer defensives and healthcare and an underweight to consumer cyclicals and financial services helped it limit losses to 2.5%, compared to a 13.3% loss for the peer group average.
Looking further afield, emerging markets equities have already staged something of a rebound in 2012 but the category suffered a tough year in 2011. Nevertheless, First State Global Emerging Markets Leaders has won Morningstar UK's best GEM equity fund award, thanks in part to its impressive 14% outperformance of the category average in 2011. Morningstar analysts rate the fund Gold.
Switching our focus away from equity investments, the prize for best GBP corporate bond fund went to M&G Strategic Corporate Bond. Under the management of Richard Woolnough, this fund has achieved three-years trailing returns of 13.3% and returned close to 8% to shareholders in 2011. Morningstar analysts rate the fund Silver.
Fund House Awards
At the broader level, the fund house award for best large fixed interest fund house was not picked up by an active management fund house but rather by a passive investment specialist. ETF provider iShares won the accolade in what was a very challenging year for fixed income investors in particular. "It is precisely in challenging times, as an increased number of active managers underperform, when the merits of passive investment strategies come right to the fore," commented Morningstar ETF analyst Jose Garcia-Zarate. "This award to iShares is testament not just to its comprehensive offering of fixed income ETFs, but to the basic premise underpinning ETF investing," he added.
First State was awarded the best large equity fund house award. The firm, which has enjoyed considerable success in the management of equity funds investing in the Asia-Pacific region, global emerging markets and the resources sector, has consistently produced excellent returns for investors.
Full List of Winners
Fund Awards
Best UK Large-Cap Equity Fund: Majedie Asset UK Equity
Best UK Mid-Cap/All-Cap Equity Fund: AXA Framlington UK Select Opportunities
Best UK Small-Cap Equity Fund: Marlborough Special Situations
Best Asia Pacific Equity Fund: Newton Asian Income
Best Global Emerging Markets Equity Fund: First State Global Emerging Markets Leaders
Best Europe ex-UK Large-Cap Equity Fund: Threadneedle European Select Retail
Best Europe Large-Cap Equity Fund: MFS Meridian European Value
Best Global Large-Cap Equity Fund: Veritas Global Focus Retail
Best GBP Corporate Bond Fund: M&G Strategic Corporate Bond
Best US Large-Cap Equity Fund: Julius Baer Multistock-US Leading Stock-USD
Fund House Awards
Best Large Equity Fund House: First State Investments
Best Large Fixed Interest Fund House: iShares
Best Multi-Asset Fund House: Threadneedle Investments
Best Specialist Equity Fund House: MFS Investment Management
Best Specialist Fixed Interest Fund House: M&G Investments