Investment Masterclass: Nick Train on the case for investing in UK shares
Nov 7, 2023
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Investment manager Nick Train discusses the case for investing in UK shares, emphasizing the potential for unloved UK companies to bounce back. He shares his strategy of investing in self-evidently excellent companies with strong brands and discusses the presence of digitally interesting businesses in Britain. Train also highlights the importance of financial literacy and encouraging young people to invest in the stock market instead of sports betting.
Investing in undervalued UK stocks can generate superior long-term returns.
Nick Train follows a buy-and-hold strategy, focusing on unique and excellent companies with reliable products.
Deep dives
Investing in Undervalued UK Stocks
Nick Train, a well-known fund manager, believes that investing in undervalued UK stocks can generate superior returns in the long term. He focuses on building holdings in self-evidently excellent companies with high returns on equity or capital, and a durable competitive advantage. While the UK stock market looks cheap compared to the US, Train acknowledges that it could stay undervalued for some time. Despite recent underperformance, Train emphasizes the importance of a long-term investment approach and patient investing.
Sticking with Excellent Companies
Nick Train follows a buy-and-hold investment strategy and holds highly concentrated portfolios. He looks for unique and excellent companies with reliable and timeless products or services. Train's investments include Diageo, the owner of brands like Johnny Walker and Guinness, whose long-term growth potential and profitability outweigh short-term share price fluctuations. He also believes in the value of globally significant UK companies, such as the London Stock Exchange Group, which has attracted interest from investors like Microsoft.
Lessons from a Long-Term Investor
Though Nick Train's UK funds have faced recent underperformance, he draws inspiration from legendary investors like Warren Buffett and Sir John Templeton. Train emphasizes the importance of long-term returns and adds that he personally invests in the strategies he manages. He recognizes the challenges faced by active managers and the rise of passive investing but believes that a distinctive investment approach, taking calculated risks and seeking undervalued opportunities, can still deliver excess returns in the long run.
Are UK shares a bargain or a basket case? Nick Train has been an investment manager for more than 40 years and is renowned for sticking with his choices even if markets go against him. The man who’s been dubbed the UK’s answer to Warren Buffett tells host Claer Barrett why he has faith that shares in unloved UK companies will bounce back, even after years of underwhelming performance. Plus, he reveals why he seized the chance to secure a significant stake in Manchester United and why he’d like more young people to ditch sports betting in favour of having a flutter on the stock market.
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Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Philippa Goodrich and Mischa Frankl-Duval. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.