Prices and Markets

Over September, we published notes on India Capital Growth, Jupiter Emerging & Frontier, International Biotechnology Trust, JPMorgan Russian Securities, Civitas Social Housing, Montanaro European Smaller Companies and JLEN Environmental Assets. We also launched a monthly real estate roundup, beginning with reviews of August and September. In this issue Performance data – Appetite for risk increased to a degree over September. Gold gave back some of its gains while long-term government bond yields increased in the UK and US (pushing prices lower). After leading the sector in price returns last month (see QuotedData’s...

The month of September was a bumper month for many property companies’ share price, dominated by retail focused companies, who in general have taken a hammering over the past 18 months or so. Top of the list was Capital & Regional. Shares in the shopping centre landlord bounced after it announced it was in talks with South African REIT Growthpoint Properties to sell a majority stake in the company. In the year to date, Capital & Regional’s share price has...

India Capital Growth – Discounted value India Capital Growth (IGC)’s portfolio was trading at just 12x estimated earnings for the year ended 31 March 2021 at the end of August. The manager says that when it last hit that level, in August 2013, IGC delivered a 197% return in sterling over the following three years. Indian stocks have begun to rebound since the end of August but there could be much more to go for and there is scope for IGC’s discount...

In recent months, Jupiter Emerging and Frontier Income (JEFI)’s discount has widened. This seems somewhat at odds with JEFI’s good relative performance over this period and since launch (a 14.7% return on NAV for the period to 19 September 2019 versus 11.4% for the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, 10.4% for the MSCI Frontier Markets Index and 8.2% for the average of JEFI’s peer group – see page 9). It also seems strange given JEFI’s sector-leading dividend yield.... Read more The...

The managers of International Biotechnology Trust (IBT) have focused its portfolio in oncology (cancer), diseases of the central nervous system and rare diseases – areas where pricing pressure on drugs and other therapies is less of an issue. This should cushion IBT as we approach election year in the US and (as is usually the case in the US political cycle) threats to intervene in drug pricing create volatility in the biotech sector.... Read more In an environment where concern...

Since QuotedData’s last note on JPMorgan Russian Securities (JRS), Russia has been among the best-performing equity markets globally, despite being out of favour with international investors. The RTS Index has climbed above its 2014 pre-Crimea levels, before sanctions were imposed. Although economic growth has disappointed in 2019, earnings and dividend pay-out ratios continue to grow. At a trailing price-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 6x, the Russian market remains extremely cheap.... Read more JRS’s underlying portfolio has a 7% dividend yield,...

Civitas Social Housing (CSH) has secured a new £60m debt facility that it will use to buy new properties. This will increase its rental income and move CSH very close to full dividend cover. CSH has the option to extend the new loan by another £40m and is also in advanced negotiations to secure a separate £70m loan. QuotedData estimates that, if CSH moves to a fully invested position, which it expects to by the end of March 2020, it...

In an environment of slowing growth in Europe, a looming ‘no deal’ Brexit, a US/China trade war spiralling into a currency war and negative bond yields/inverted yield curves (where the cost of borrowing for the short-term is more expensive than the cost of borrowing for the long-term – usually a predictor of recessions), it might be tempting to hide, ‘ostrich-like’, in cash. Montanaro European Smaller Companies (MTE) offers an alternative solution. Its managers see little reward in trying to game...

A collation of recent insights on markets and economies taken from the comments made by chairmen and investment managers of investment companies – have a read and make your own minds up. Please remember that nothing in this note is designed to encourage you to buy or sell any of the companies mentioned.... Read more Roundup Equity markets weakened in August as the trade war and Brexit rumbled on. The Chinese have been allowing their currency to slide. Fears about...