Investment Trust Dividends
I’ve sold yesterdays purchase of FGEN for a profit of £341, as a weekend can be a long time when markets are falling also it’s three months before their next dividend and the SNOWBALL’s only interest is to earn dividends to buy more shares that pay a dividend.
Activist investor Saba Capital Management has launched an exchange-traded fund that offers exposure to discounted UK investment trusts
By Dan McEvoy
News
Boaz Weinstein, founder and chief investment officer of Saba Capital Management
Saba Capital Management (Saba), the New York-based activist hedge fund that has shaken the UK’s investment trust sector over the last year and a half, has launched a product enabling investors to buy into its strategy.
Saba, in partnership with exchange-traded fund (ETF) white-labeller HANetf, launched the Saba Capital Investment Trusts UCITS ETF (LON:UKIT).
This actively-managed ETF will hold UK-domiciled investment trusts trading at a discount to net asset value (NAV), similar to those that Saba has targeted since November 2024.
“Saba brings deep expertise in the investment trust and closed-end fund universe, with a long track record of identifying opportunities created by discounts to NAV and corporate actions within the sector,” said Hector McNeil, co-founder and co-CEO of HANetf.
As an activist investor, Saba’s strategy revolves around building a stake in discounted closed-ended funds and then pushing for corporate actions that will narrow the trust’s discount in the short term. This is known as closed-ended fund arbitrage.
The ETF will be managed by Saba’s founder and CIO Boaz Weinstein as well as partner and portfolio manager Paul Kazarian.
“The £250 billion-plus UK investment trust sector is undergoing a fundamental realignment, with renewed attention on narrowing discounts creating an ideal environment for a trust-focused active ETF,” said Weinstein. “We designed UKIT to help investors capitalise on this shifting landscape – empowering investors to profit from discounts to NAV, rather than suffer from them.”
Which investment trusts does Saba’s ETF hold?
As of 5 March, the top three non-cash holdings in Saba’s investment trust-focused ETF were IP Group PLC (LON:IPO), an investment company that invests in technologically and scientifically innovative businesses; biotech-focused investment trust Syncona (LON:SYNC); and private equity investment trust Harbourvest (LON:HVPE).
UKIT’s fourth-largest holding was Edinburgh Worldwide (LON:EWI), the growth-focused investment trust whose board Saba attempted to displace earlier this year, as well as at the start of 2025.
The ETF also holds Allianz Technology Trust (LON:ATT), in which Saba disclosed a 4.9% stake on 5 March, as well as Unite Group (LON:UTG), Pantheon International (LON:PIN), Henderson Smaller Companies (LON:HSL), Montanaro European Smaller Companies (LON:MTE), Polar Capital Technology (LON:PCT), Baillie Gifford Japan (LON:BGFD), Brown Advisory US Smaller Companies (LON:BASC), Bankers Investment Trust (LON:BNKR), Scottish American (LON:SAIN) and Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (LON:SCP).
As of 5 March, 55% of UKIT’s assets were held in cash.
The SNOWBALL has sold RESI for a loss of £137.00.
On line dealing was switched off yesterday for sales, although you could buy online. If interest rates have stopped falling for the foreseeable future, the yield on the Trust does not compensate for the market risk.
Perspective is powerful, even amid heightened uncertainty.
By Sean Williams
MotleyFool
When examined as a whole, the iconic Dow Jones Industrial Average (, benchmark S&P 500 , and growth-driven Nasdaq Composite have thrived with President Donald Trump in the White House. The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq gained 57%, 70%, and 142%, respectively, during his first, non-consecutive term, and they’ve all rallied by double digits since his second term began in January 2025.
But these gains have also been accompanied by several roller-coaster rides on Wall Street. For instance, the five-week COVID-19 crash (February-March 2020) and Trump’s Liberation Day tariff and trade policy announcement in April 2025 both led to a broader market dive.
President Trump overseeing Operation Epic Fury. Image source: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok.
The newest event, which has seen the U.S. and Israel conduct military operations against Iran, has investors on edge. However, 86 years of history, coupled with a hearty dose of perspective, make clear what comes next for stocks.
Wars are tragic events that can cost lives and adversely impact families. But major geopolitical events, such as the Iran war, can also disrupt economies and stock markets far from where the fighting is taking place.
As an example, the spot price of crude oil has surged in the wake of this conflict. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, approximately 20 to 21 million barrels of oil, condensate, and petroleum products pass through the Strait of Hormuz daily, and Iran has largely halted exports since the war began. This represents around 20% of the world’s petroleum liquids consumption.
A shortage of petroleum products and/or higher prices can lead to a meaningful uptick in domestic and global inflation. It certainly throws a monkey wrench into investors’ expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue cutting interest rates.
S&P 500 Shiller PE Ratio hits 2nd highest level in history 🚨 The highest was the Dot Com Bubble 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Lx634H7xKa— Barchart (@Barchart) December 28, 2025
The Iran war can also increase short-term uncertainty at a time when the stock market is historically expensive. According to the S&P 500’s Shiller Price-to-Earnings Ratio, the stock market has been pricier only once in the last 155 years (the dot-com bubble).
Although no metric or correlated event can ever guarantee a short-term directional move in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, or Nasdaq Composite, historical precedent does have a way of calming nerves on Wall Street.
While major geopolitical events are known to increase short-term volatility, history shows that they rarely, if ever, have a lasting adverse impact on the U.S. economy or the stock market.
Carson Group’s Chief Market Strategist, Ryan Detrick, took a step back and widened the lens by examining the performance of the S&P 500 after major geopolitical and historical events over the last 86 years (since the start of 1940).
Here’s a list of major geopolitical events since WWII.
Up a median of 5% six months later. All of them felt really bad at the time. pic.twitter.com/Jb3QXL0L05— Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) February 28, 2026
Out of these 43 major events (40 of which occurred over a year ago), the benchmark index was higher 65% of the time 12 months later by an average of 3%.
On the one hand, a 3% average one-year return following a major geopolitical or historical event is well below the S&P 500’s long-term annualized return. However, observed gains in roughly two-thirds of all instances confirm that geopolitical and major event uncertainty rarely has a lasting impact on businesses or the U.S. economy.
Perspective is powerful, even amid heightened uncertainty.
Story by Temie Laleye
Thousands of people approaching retirement may have far less pension income than they expect, with some over-60s potentially seeing their private pension savings run out just four years into retirement.
New analysis released ahead of International Women’s Day has highlighted a stark gap between men and women’s retirement savings.
Research from investment platform interactive investor found that women nearing retirement have pension pots sufficient for just four years of expenses, while men of the same age have savings expected to last around 14 years.
The calculations are based on Department for Work and Pensions data and assume retirees need £20,000 a year to live on, combining the full state pension of about £12,000 with £8,000 withdrawn annually from defined contribution pension savings.
The projection also assumes withdrawals rise by two per cent each year to reflect inflation while pension investments grow by five per cent annually after fees.
DWP data shows women aged 62 with defined contribution pensions hold an average of £28,500, compared with £90,000 for men of the same age, more than three times as much.
Camilla Esmund, Senior Manager at interactive investor, said: “It’s extremely concerning, but sadly not surprising, to see the scale of pension divide among those nearing retirement.
“Our calculations, based on this new DWP data, are consistent with the findings from our Great British Retirement Survey; many women are facing significant financial hardship with barely enough to cover a few years’ worth of spending in retirement. Something needs to change.”
The gender gap extends to defined benefit schemes too, where men receive average annual pension income of £13,900 versus £7,500 for women.
Older couple and pension pot | Source: GETTY© GB News
Ms Esmund added: “Retiring with an inadequate pension means that thousands of women will be completely reliant on the state pension which, already for most people won’t be enough for a comfortable retirement.
“Or they’ll be completely reliant on a partner’s pension, which we can also see in this DWP data. This means less financial independence, less agency, less flexibility.”
The generation of women captured in the DWP statistics faced systemic disadvantages throughout their working lives.
When they returned to employment, the system remained weighted against them.
Crucially, this cohort largely missed the introduction of auto-enrolment in 2012, which brought workplace pensions to most employees.
Lower lifetime earnings also translated into reduced pension contributions, diminished tax relief, and smaller employer top-ups.
Even modest additional contributions can accumulate significantly over time – putting an extra £50 monthly into a pension could generate an additional £74,000 by retirement, based on 40 years of saving with five per cent investment growth and two per cent annual contribution increases.
Pensions remain among the most tax-efficient vehicles for building wealth, with investment returns shielded from capital gains and dividend taxes.
I’ve bought back the shares in FGEN 13933 for 10k.
With the current volatile markets, I’ve sold FGEN for a short term profit of £964.00, including the earned dividend but not yet received.
If you look back to the last oil shock in 2022, it was a positive for Renewables.
UK households are being warned that their annual energy bills could increase by £500 because of the war in the Middle East.
After the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, the conflict in the region has dramatically unfolded, raising fears over the supply of oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) from the Gulf.
QatarEnergy has stopped its production of LNG, taking one of the world’s top suppliers off the market indefinitely. Meanwhile, oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has mostly ground to a halt.
As a result, latest figures show the price of UK wholesale gas almost doubled since the start of the war – a situation described as “scary” by consumer champion Martin Lewis. Brent crude, the global benchmark oil price, has gone up more than 10 per cent.
Why Electricity Is Linked to the Cost of Gas.
To answer the question “why is the cost of electricity fixed to the price of gas”, we need to look at the UK’s energy market.
The UK uses a lot of energy. And to meet the energy needs of everyone, we need to pull from gas, renewables, nuclear and oil.
Since 2005, the UK has run its energy market as one large market that covers Scotland, England and Wales. So there’s just one market price for the whole of Great Britain. As a result, we fix the price to the most expensive form of energy, which is currently gas.
This means that we link the price of electricity to the price of gas. As gas is extremely expensive, this commodity heavily drives up the market price of energy.
If we’re running low on wind energy during certain months, we’ll have to make up the shortfall somewhere. And if gas is always the first port of call during shortages, it will continue to dominate the market price for energy and drive up the overall cost of electricity.
So, regardless of whether wind energy is cheaper to
produce, it continues to match the price of gas and explains why the overall cost of energy is so high.
Mar. 02, 2026
Steven Cress, Quant Team
SA Quant Strategist
Coordinated U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iran, the blacklisting of Anthropic’s (ANTHRO) artificial intelligence, and January wholesale inflation have prompted a spike in market volatility.
Last week, economic data showcased hotter-than-expected core wholesale prices, up 0.8%. U.S. Treasuries rallied Friday morning, driving yields lower across the curve, as the 10-year Treasury yield dipped below 4% for the first time since November 28, 2025. Overall, the PPI news sent Wall Street tumbling, with the S&P 500 notching its worst month since March 2025.
Historically, when PPI (2.9%) outpaces CPI (2.4%), it puts S&P 500 margins under pressure, contributing to the volatility we’ve seen in tech, along with AI-driven and credit fears. Companies can only absorb so much price pressure before passing it on to the consumer. Over the last five years, some of the CPI price increases include:
January’s 3.6% year-over-year increase in wholesale prices likely reinforces that the central bank is unlikely to cut rates soon. This is likely to create opportunities for investors to diversify beyond past tech winners amid a shift away from concentrated large-cap growth stocks.
Then, consider the latest geopolitical shocks from the escalation of war in Iran and risk-off sentiment. The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the world’s most important oil transit points. Following the U.S.-Israel airstrikes, the likelihood of supply chain and oil disruption has increased, creating a surge in oil prices and potential inflationary and economic growth impacts. The impact on inflation and other macroeconomic drivers boils down to the duration of the conflict: the shorter the duration, the more acute the impact; the longer the duration, the broader the economic impact, which could drive yields lower. For now, it’s likely to have little effect on U.S. monetary policy. So keep calm and carry on. Agar Capital also highlights, “Disciplined patience is prudent amid uncertainty, as the true market impact will emerge after initial volatility subsides,” which is why REITs that offer income and AI infrastructure qualities may offer ways to hedge against macro and geopolitical headwinds.
Geopolitical headwinds, tariffs, and “sticky” costs of living (food, healthcare, and shelter, to name a few) have created uncertainty for investors. The markets—especially growth and tech stocks—are also sensitive to rates, especially as they pertain to investment in the AI infrastructure race, which impacts companies’ growth and profits. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are unique opportunities in the AI infrastructure “arms race.” As hyperscalers spend hundreds of billions on AI development, REITs act as the pick-and-shovel landlords and infrastructure providers for the physical hardware required to run these models. REITs aren’t just leasing space; they’re at the center of access for AI infrastructure buildout—opportunities delivering income and a hedge against inflation and some of the latest macro headwinds.
Using the Seeking Alpha stock screener, I filtered for top real estate stocks with Strong Buy Quant Ratings and solid forward earnings growth estimates and profitability. Seeking Alpha Quant Ratings are generated by a proprietary model that analyzes over 100 metrics for each stock relative to sector peers and grades them across five factors: Growth, Value, Profitability, Earnings Revisions, and Momentum.
One of my top REITs for 2025 and one of the largest owners of freestanding convenience and automotive retail properties, Getty Realty, offers an attractive opportunity for long-term dividend investors. With over 1,174 properties, 27 consecutive years of dividend payments, and 13 consecutive years of dividend growth, the net-lease REIT specializes in acquiring automotive and single-tenant real estate.
Getty’s 5.91% forward dividend yield is driven by earnings growth and a stable business model that relies heavily on traditional gas stations and recession-resilient services like collision centers, express tunnel car washes, oil changes, and tire shops, which offer steady cash flow and consistent growth.
Interest rate cuts can benefit the company’s model long-term by freeing up capital. The company finished 2025 strong and well-positioned for 2026. As highlighted in its Q4 2025 earnings, GTY’s 2025 Fiscal Year AFFO earnings were up 8.1% to $141.M. The company showcases a strong balance sheet, 99.7% occupancy, and nearly 100% YTD rent collections. Getty is highly profitable, as showcased by its A- Profitability Grade.
The company’s annual rent increased by nearly 12% in 2025, while AFFO per share was up 5% for Q4 and 3.8% for the full year at the high end of their guidance. While GTY trades at an attractive valuation, the company also maintains bullish momentum to outperform the sector median quarterly over the past year. REITs perform well in lower-rate environments due to cheaper debt costs and more attractive yields relative to bonds, helping boost demand and share prices. As such, my next stock is a diversified REIT.
One of the largest net lease REITs in the U.S. and Europe, W. P. Carey Inc. is diversified with a focus on mission-critical assets like warehouses used for its tenants’ essential operations. Through portfolio diversification and record investment in activity in 2025, WPC has capitalized on successful rent escalations and rising real estate values.
WPC has a portfolio of 1,682 properties, 371 tenants, and a 98% occupancy rate in geographically diverse locations and industries. Some of its top net lease tenants include Extra Space Storage, Dollar General, and Life Time Fitness, with a weighted-average lease term of 12 years.
WPC maintains a large, well-capitalized balance sheet with $22.8B in total enterprise value. Its diverse tenant holdings and locations have benefited from the rising rate environment. Not only has WPC beat earnings for several quarters, but its recent Q4 2025 adjusted FFO per share of $1.27 beat by $0.03, and revenue of $444.55M topped by a whopping $11.27M. In the Q4 earnings call, WPC President & CEO stated:
“2025 was a standout year for W. P. Carey, reflecting successful execution across our business producing strong performance for the year and laying the foundation for attractive, sustainable growth that supports long-term value creation. The 5.7% AFFO growth we generated for the year was among the best in the net lease industry, reflecting our record investment activity, sector-leading rent growth and strong portfolio performance. The dividends we paid, combined with the appreciation of our stock price, provided our shareholders with a total return of 25% for the year, placing us in the top tier of publicly traded REITs.”
With persistent inflation and WPC’s track record of increasing rents, leases that include CPI-linked rent increases and scheduled quarterly rent adjustments offer positive tailwinds for the organization. In addition to ranking among our top-rated diversified REITs, WPC offers a 4.93% dividend yield FWD and has consecutively paid a dividend for 27 years, demonstrating its strength and commitment to shareholders. Not only does the company’s balance sheet look great, but WPC also trades at a relative discount and offers strong momentum.
WPC has a C+ valuation rating. With a trailing P/AFFO of 15.02x, a 2.41% difference to the sector, we believe WPC is trading at a discount with ample room for continued growth. Quarterly, the stock’s price-performance has outperformed the sector median, as evidenced by its momentum grade below.
Given WPC’s strong characteristics and discounted price, we believe it will capitalize in the current environment, along with my final REIT pick.
I wrote about Alpine Income Property Trust in a January article titled Top Dividend Stocks for Uncertain Times. The stock is up 13.5% over the past month and recently raised its dividend by 5.3% following strong Q4 2025 earnings. Offering a strong track record of growth and a diverse portfolio of 128 properties across 34 states and a 99% occupancy rate, top tenants include Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (LOW), DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS), and Walgreens.
The high-quality, retail net-lease portfolio offers sector-leading AFFO growth, a 50% increase in the quarterly dividend since 2020, and a stronger margin of safety given its stickier tenants.
John Albright, President and CEO, reported “a strong fourth quarter highlighted by 22.7% growth in AFFO per common share and $142.1 million of investments to complete an annual record of $277.7 million of investments for 2025.”
PINE’s all-around fundamentals include exceptional Growth, Momentum, and EPS Revisions, complemented by solid profitability while trading at a relative discount. Like WPC, rent escalations and higher interest have driven revenue and earnings growth to support its attractive dividend yield FWD of 6.09% vs. the real estate sector median. PINE’s dividend has a 5Y growth rate of 6.81% and has been paid out consistently for six years since its 2019 IPO.
Despite its bullish momentum, PINE maintains an attractive valuation, with a forward P/AFFO of 9.33x, a 34% discount to the sector. As investors monitor the latest developments amid geopolitical headwinds, inflation, and the AI Infrastructure investment, consider three top REITs as hedges that are offering a track record of income.
Global conditions and companies offering unique exposure to income production and AI infrastructure spending may offer investors an edge. SA Quant identified three fundamentally Strong Buy REITs with an average dividend yield FWD of 5.64% and diversified offerings.
In this volatile environment, it’s crucial to consider the fundamentals when selecting stocks. We have many stocks with strong buy recommendations, and you can filter them using Stock Screens to suit your specific investment objectives. Alternatively, Alpha Picks might be ideal if you’re interested in two monthly stock picks of the top ‘strong buy’ quant stocks. Seeking Alpha’s quant ratings and investment research tools help to ensure you are furnished with the best resources to make informed investment decisions while taking the emotion out of investing.
If you’re looking for more frequent investment ideas, we launched the PRO Quant Portfolio in June. It’s a weekly rebalanced selection of our Top 30 Quant Strong Buy stocks, spanning multiple regions and market caps. Happy Investing!
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