The Board has approved a fourth dividend of 1.5 pence per share, bringing the total dividend for the period ending 31 March 2024 to 7.5 pence per share as per the dividend target of 7% of average NAV over the reported period. Based on the 31 March 2024 share price, this dividend was equal to a 11.6% yield.
The ex-dividend date will be 27 June 2024, and the record date is 28 June 2024. The dividend will be paid on or around 15 July 2024.
Subject to the applicable requirements and restrictions contained in the Companies Law, the Company may consider making interim dividend payments to Shareholders, having regard to the net income remaining after the potential reinvestment of cash or other uses of income, at a level the Directors deem appropriate, in their sole discretion, from time to time. There is no fixed date on which it is expected that dividends will be paid to Shareholders.
It is the intention of the Company to continue to pay a stable quarterly dividend with the potential for additional payments if investment returns permit
Murray International versus JPMorgan: Which global equity income trust should you pick?
Experts discuss the differences between the two global equity income trusts and share their preference.
By Jean-Baptiste Andrieux
Reporter, Trustnet
Murray International and JPMorgan Global Growth & Income have built a strong following over the years and are, as such, the two largest investment trusts in the IT Global Equity Income sector.
However, the two trusts built their reputations under very different circumstances.
Murray International is managed by abrdn’s Bruce Stout, who will retire at the end of this month and is being replaced by Martin Connaghan and Samantha Fitzpatrick. Stout made a name for himself during the global financial crisis, its peers and the broader market by focusing on high-quality companies and valuations.
Since 2014, however, Murray International’s performance has been subdued, placing it in the bottom quartile of its sector over the past 10 years.
JPMorgan Global Growth & Income has established its reputation through consistency; it has outperformed its benchmark in nine of the past 10 calendar years and is by far the best-performing global equity income investment trust of the past decade. This strength has enabled the trust to absorb several competitors in recent years, such as Scottish Investment Trust, JPMorgan Elect and JPMorgan Multi-Asset Growth & Income, and to issue new shares at a premium.
Performance of trusts over 20yrs and 10yrs vs sector and benchmark
Source: FE Analytics
These contrasting experiences imply a different approach to investing: Murray International operates as a conventional income portfolio, while JPMorgan Global Growth & Income takes a more flexible approach. In the event of an income shortfall, the trust’s capital reserves are used to top up the dividend – a practice that enables JPMorgan to invest in companies with a lower yield but greater prospects for long-term capital growth.
David Johnson, analyst at QuotedData, said: “Because of their different approaches to dividends, JPMorgan Global Growth & Income is able to invest in a much broader range of lower-yielding companies such as tech firms. Therefore, it has been able to offer investors exposure to non-dividend payers while still offering a 4%-ish yield.
“Murray International, on the other hand, has a more conventional income portfolio, investing in high-dividend payers. This means that it has historically had a strong bias to value stocks, while JPMorgan Global Growth & Income has been much more malleable, currently having a growth-stock bias, including a large allocation to US technology.”
He warned, however, that JPMorgan Global Growth & Income’s flexibility to invest broadly may make the constituents of its portfolio – and therefore its performance – less predictable.
Its shares have been less volatile than Murray International’s, but that may be because JPMorgan Global Growth & Income tends to trade fairly close to NAV, Johnson added.
According to FE Analytics, JPMorgan Global Growth & Income is currently trading at a 0.9% discount and has had a volatility of 15.4% over the past five years. By comparison, Murray International’s discount stands at 7.7% and it has experienced a volatility of 19% over the same period.
Although the aforementioned factors may seem to favour JPMorgan Global Growth & Income, investors should note that it currently has a lower yield of 3.2%, compared to Murray International’s yield of 4.7%.
Moreover, the fact that JPMorgan Global Growth & Income tends to trade close to NAV or even at a premium means it is particularly exposed to derating risk, according to Mick Gilligan, head of managed portfolio services at Killik & Co.
“Because of the derating risk (the discount was as wide as 15% back in 2016) investors should take an extra-long term view with this one,” he cautioned.
Which trust should you pick?
Albeit belonging to the same sector, the two investment trusts are distinct propositions that cater to different types of investors.
For instance, JPMorgan Global Growth & Income has a stronger track record of providing a balanced combination of capital growth and income. Therefore, it would be a more suitable option for investors seeking a blend of these two elements.
Gilligan added: “JPMorgan Global Growth & Income has more of a growth bias and should be attractive to investors that believe interest rates have peaked and are likely to decline in the months ahead.”
Conversely, Murray International is likely to be a better fit for investors who prefer a value-focused approach and a more conventional income strategy, where dividends directly reflect portfolio income generation, according to Emma Bird, head of investment trusts research at Winterflood.
“In addition, Murray International trades on a considerably wider discount, so is more likely to appeal to investors looking for a value opportunity,” she added.
Source: FE Analytics
Nonetheless, Bird’s preference is for the JPMorgan investment trust, due to its “impressive long-term performance record”, which she expects to continue.
“With a market cap of £2.7bn, the fund offers a large, liquid, low-cost vehicle, with an ongoing charges ratio of just 0.50%, the lowest in the Global Equity Income peer group,” Bird said.
“In our opinion, the fund’s enhanced dividend policy, which targets an annual payment of at least 4% of the previous year-end NAV, makes good use of the investment trust structure, and the fund currently provides an historical yield of 3.4%.”
Johnson favours JPMorgan Global Growth & Income as well. He also mentioned sector peer Invesco Global Equity Income, which he said now follows a very similar approach, following a recent restructuring.
However, Gilligan picked Murray International, which is his preferred trust in the sector. His choice is primarily due to the larger discount, but also partly because value stocks look particularly cheap relative to growth stocks.
“Murray International has a value style and so is better suited to investors that are less optimistic about the path of interest rates. It is also attractive for investors that need a growing income, given its record of dividend increases and scope to continue them,” he concluded.
However, Gilligan picked Murray International, which is his preferred trust in the sector. His choice is primarily due to the larger discount, but also partly because value stocks look particularly cheap relative to growth stocks.
Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo Provided by The Motley Fool
Investing in the stock market can seem daunting. But by turning to Warren Buffett for some inspiration, I think many issues that seem complex can be simplified.
Buffett is one of the most successful investors of all time. Starting with a tiny sum aged just 11, the ‘Oracle of Omaha’ has gone on to build a fortune above $120bn.
Now, unfortunately, the chances of me amassing a fortune similar to Buffett’s are slim. However, that’s not to say I should ignore what he says and the actions that he’s taken. His advice can help retail investors starting out with small sums to try and beat the market.
If I were to start from scratch today, here are the three Buffett tips I’d follow.
Be consistent
Beginning without any existing capital may be demotivating. But investors can still build up large sums starting with minimal outlay. The key to this is consistency. I’m aware that putting money aside at the end of every month and investing it is vital to growing my pot.
I’d also take steps such as always reinvesting my dividends. From this, I’d benefit from compounding, which means I’d be earning interest on my original investment as well as my returns. With this, I can build my nest egg up more quickly. On multiple occasions, Buffett has pinpointed the power of compounding as a key reason for his wealth accumulation.
Long-term vision
Coupled with consistency is investing for the long run. It’s easy to be tempted by online advertising promoting quick gains in the stock market via methods such as day trading. But the market has proved time and time again the best way to see rewards is to buy stocks and hold them for years and decades.
We’ve experienced major volatility in the last few years. And I’m certain 2024 will be similar. From interest rates to conflicts and elections, there are plenty of events that will impact the market this year. However, by remembering my goal, I can ignore short-term peaks and troughs in favour of long-term gains.
Buffett once said: “If you don’t feel comfortable owning a stock for 10 years, you shouldn’t own it for 10 minutes”. I factor this into every investment decision I make.
Ready to pounce
Buffett also said it’s good to “be greedy when others are fearful”. And this is another piece of advice I think is important.
What he essentially means when he says this is to capitalise on opportunities that other investors may be turning their backs on. While 2024 may be volatile, with that comes the opportunity to buy cheap shares.
See the tree, how big it’s grown But friend it hasn’t been too long It wasn’t big I laughed at her and she got mad The first day that she planted it Was just a twig Then the first snow came and she ran out To brush the snow away So it wouldn’t die Came runnin’ in all excited Slipped and almost hurt herself And I laughed till I cried
She was always young at heart Kinda dumb and kinda smart And I loved her so And I surprised her with a puppy Kept me up all Christmas Eve two years ago And it would sure embarrass her When I came in from workin’ late ‘Cause I would know That she’d been sittin’ there and cryin’ Over some sad and silly late, late show
And honey, I miss you and I’m bein’ good And I’d love to be with you if only I could
She wrecked the car and she was sad And so afraid that I’d be mad But what the heck Though I pretended hard to be Guess you could say she saw through me And hugged my neck I came home unexpectedly And caught her cryin’ needlessly In the middle of a day And it was in the early spring When flowers bloom and robins sing She went away And honey, I miss you and I’m bein’ good And I’d love to be with you if only I could
One day while I was not at home While she was there and all alone The angels came Now all I have is memories of honey And I wake up nights and call her name Now my life’s an empty stage Where honey lived and honey played And love grew up And a small cloud passes overhead And cries down on the flower bed That honey loved And see the tree how big it’s grown But friend it hasn’t been too long It wasn’t big And I laughed at her and she got mad The first day that she planted it Was just a twig
Writer/s: Bobby Russell Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind
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Also there are more important things in life than investing.
Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust plc, the company investing in European growth cities and regions, announces its half year results for the six months ended 31 March 2024.
Portfolio indexation underpins earnings growth and 109% covered dividend, supported by low-cost, fixed-rate debt profile
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Underlying EPRA earnings increased 3% to €4.3 million on the prior six month’s EPRA earnings of €4.2 million (31 March 2023: €3.8 million), primarily due to rental growth offsetting the impact of higher interest costs
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Two quarterly dividends of 1.48 euro cents per share (‘cps’) declared, bringing the total dividends relating to the period to 2.96 euro cps, 109% covered by EPRA earnings
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Net Asset Value (“NAV”) of €165.3 million, or 123.6 cps, (30 September 2023: €171.4 million or 128.2 cps), largely driven by continued outward yield movement of the underlying portfolio
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NAV total return of -1.3% based, in part, on an IFRS loss of €2.2 million (31 March 2023: -4.7% total return/€8.7 million IFRS loss)
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Strengthened balance sheet with completion of all near-term refinancings on attractive terms, with no further debt expiries until June 2026 and a low average interest cost of 3.2%
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Low Loan to Value of 24% (net of cash), and €26 million of available cash, provides significant flexibility