The cyclical opportunity in UK small and mid-cap shares with the Rights and Issues Investment Trust
Nov 29, 2023
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Dan Nickols, Head of strategy at Jupiter Asset Management and manager of the Rights and Issues Investment Trust, highlights the cyclical opportunity in UK small and mid-cap shares. He discusses the current environment for UK small and mid-cap's from a macro-economic perspective and shares specific companies in their portfolio. The portfolio has a highly concentrated nature with just 23 high-conviction selections. Dan also explores the potential for a recovery in UK small and mid-caps and catalysts for that recovery.
The UK small and mid-cap sector offers deep historical value due to attractive valuations resulting from a significant de-rating over the past few years.
The Rights and Issues Investment Trust follows a balanced approach of top-down and bottom-up analysis, targeting businesses with strong growth prospects and earnings recovery.
Deep dives
Introduction to Rights and Issues Investment Trust
Dan Nichols, head of strategy at Jupiter Asset Management, provides an introduction to the Rights and Issues Investment Trust. The trust, managed by Simon Nott for 39 years, has a current net asset value of approximately £125 million and focuses on a highly concentrated portfolio of around 23 holdings. Nichols highlights the trust's long-term success and distinctive approach, and emphasizes the importance of stock selection and thematic trends in portfolio construction.
Challenges and Opportunities in the UK Small Cap Market
Nichols discusses the challenging macro environment for UK small and mid-cap stocks, including global inflationary forces, rising interest rates, and uncertainties surrounding Brexit. However, he also highlights the attractive valuations in the UK small cap space, resulting from a significant de-rating over the past few years. He points out that the UK's performance is broadly in line with other developed economies, and as the perception of the UK improves, there is potential for the small cap market to re-rate positively over time.
Investment Strategy and New Additions to the Portfolio
Nichols explains that the Rights and Issues Investment Trust follows a balanced approach of top-down and bottom-up analysis. He discusses new additions to the portfolio, such as Telecom Plus, Gamma Communications, and Marshalls. Nichols highlights the structural growth potential and attractive valuations of these companies. He also mentions the importance of targeting businesses with strong growth prospects and an opportunity for earnings recovery, such as Ma-Shos. The trust's highly concentrated portfolio of 23 holdings allows for a focused and high conviction investment strategy.
Dan Nickols, head of strategy, UK small and mid-cap at Jupiter Asset Management and manager of the Rights and Issues Investment Trust delivers a compelling case for UK growth companies at a time when many stocks within the sector offer deep historical value.
Dan explains the current environment for UK small and mid-cap’s from a macro-economic perspective before outlining the specific companies he and his team have been adding to their portfolio in preparation for the cyclical recovery.
Jupiter Asset Management took over the Rights and Issues mandate last year and has since moulded the portfolio to their way of thinking while staying true to the investment philosophy that produced a 144% return over the past ten years.
We explore the trust’s positioning and blended top-down, bottom-up approach to stock selection. Dan highlights the highly concentration nature of the portfolio with just 23 high-conviction selections.
We finish with Dan’s outlook for UK small and mid-caps and catalysts for a recovery.