The Fund’s A3 share class returned -0.9%* in euro terms in April. This Fund’s target benchmark, the MSCI Europe Small Cap Index, returned 1.6%.
Investor sentiment recovered swiftly from March’s banks-led sell-off, allowing European markets to set aside persistently high inflation and the growing prospect of another US bank failure to register a solid gain for the month. European equities are now in an uptrend as measured by the market regime indicators deployed within the Cashflow Solution process. With aggregate market valuations looking fair in Europe, our current outlook is fairly constructive, albeit tempered by the presence of somewhat concerning levels of aggressive corporate cash flow expenditure. Within this environment, we expect both value and momentum investment factors to continue to perform well, while growth stocks still look expensive.
Style and sector considerations largely took a back seat in April as European market gains were relatively broad based. Real estate (+7.3%) was the largest riser, bouncing back from its position as March’s biggest faller as fears over banking crisis contagion and rising borrowing costs abated. Healthcare (+4.8%), energy (+4.6%) and consumer staples (+4.3%) all participated strongly in a relatively broad based market recovery. Only IT (-4.4%) and materials (-0.3%) lost ground over the month.
Mirroring this pattern, BPER Banca (+12%) was the Fund’s largest gainer for April as investor sentiment recovered, having been one of its heaviest fallers in March. The portfolio leaderboard for April was otherwise bookended by companies releasing first quarter updates.
At the bottom end, French market research group Ipsos (-14%) lost ground as it announced a 2.9% year-on-year decline in first quarter revenues to €532m. The company blamed a strong comparable figure in Q1 2022, which was boosted by a post-pandemic rebound in the Americas, and a “cliff-edge” end to large Covid pandemic contracts which were still a major revenue stream this time last year. Excluding these factors, Ipsos says that sales grew by 0.6%. In addition to these base effects, the recent quarter was also held back by some clients – particularly major US tech companies – delaying spending decisions due to macroeconomic uncertainty. While business in China has recovered following the end of its zero-Covid policy, revenues (+3.9%) are lagging order book growth (+13%). Ipsos remains confident of hitting its full-year targets, noting that its order book is about 50% of its annual sales targets, in line with historical trends.
In a better-received update, online gaming group Betsson (+11%) revealed first quarter organic sales growth of 38% year-on-year to €222m despite active customers decreasing by 11% to 1.15m. The figure came in ahead of consensus analyst forecasts of €215m. The strong start to the year looks to have continued in to the second quarter, with average daily revenue from 31 March to 23 April running 26% higher than a year earlier.
Positive contributors to performance included:
BPER Banca (+12%) , Betsson (+11%) and Freenet (+7.8%).
Negative contributors to performance included:
Ipsos (-14%), Norwegian Air Shuttle (-7.2%) and 4imprint Group (-6.5%).
Discrete years' performance** (%), to previous quarter-end:
Past performance does not predict future returns
|
|
Mar-23 |
Mar-22 |
Mar-21 |
Mar-20 |
Mar-19 |
|
Liontrust GF European Smaller A3 Acc EUR |
-2.6% |
7.9% |
70.2% |
-21.6% |
-2.3% |
|
MSCI Europe Small Cap |
-9.1% |
1.9% |
61.2% |
-18.1% |
-1.3% |
|
|
Mar-18 |
|
Liontrust GF European Smaller Companies A3 Acc EUR |
1.2% |
|
MSCI Europe Small Cap |
8.3% |
*Source: Financial Express, as at 30.04.23, total return (net of fees and income reinvested).
**Source: Financial Express, as at 31.03.23, total return (net of fees and income reinvested). Discrete data is not available for ten full 12-month periods due to the launch date of the portfolio (01.02.17). Investment decisions should not be based on short-term performance.
A Performance Fee for each Performance Period shall be equal to 10% of the amount, if any, by which the Net Asset Value before Performance Fee accrual of the Fund exceeds the Indexed Net Asset Value of the Fund on the last Business Day of the Performance Period. The Performance Period of the Fund is every 12 months ending on the last business day of each calendar year. Details of the Fund's performance fee in the last financial year can be found in the Key Investor Information Document (KIID) which can be obtained free of charge from the Liontrust website.
Key Features of the Liontrust GF European Smaller Companies Fund
KEY RISKS
Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of an investment and the income generated from it can fall as well as rise and is not guaranteed. You may get back less than you originally invested.
The issue of units/shares in Liontrust Funds may be subject to an initial charge, which will have an impact on the realisable value of the investment, particularly in the short term. Investments should always be considered as long term.
The portfolio is invested in smaller companies - these stocks may be less liquid and the price swings greater than those in, for example, larger companies. Investment in the Fund involves a foreign currency and may be subject to fluctuations in value due to movements in exchange rates.
DISCLAIMER
This is a marketing communication. Before making an investment, you should read the relevant Prospectus and the Key Investor Information Document (KIID), which provide full product details including investment charges and risks. These documents can be obtained, free of charge, from www.liontrust.co.uk or direct from Liontrust. Always research your own investments. If you are not a professional investor please consult a regulated financial adviser regarding the suitability of such an investment for you and your personal circumstances.
This should not be construed as advice for investment in any product or security mentioned, an offer to buy or sell units/shares of Funds mentioned, or a solicitation to purchase securities in any company or investment product. Examples of stocks are provided for general information only to demonstrate our investment philosophy. The investment being promoted is for units in a fund, not directly in the underlying assets. It contains information and analysis that is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but is subject to change without notice. Whilst care has been taken in compiling the content of this document, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Liontrust as to its accuracy or completeness, including for external sources (which may have been used) which have not been verified. It should not be copied, forwarded, reproduced, divulged or otherwise distributed in any form whether by way of fax, email, oral or otherwise, in whole or in part without the express and prior written consent of Liontrust.
