Fund Profile

BlackRock Income & Growth 07 January 2021

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Disclosure – Non-Independent Marketing Communication

This is a non-independent marketing communication commissioned by BlackRock Income & Growth. The report has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on the dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.

Overview
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Overview

BlackRock Income & Growth (BRIG) targets growth in both income and capital over the long term. BRIG has been run by the well-resourced UK Income team at BlackRock since 2012.

Whilst there is significant overlap between BRIG and its better-known open-ended counterpart, the managers Adam Avigdori and David Goldman are keen to use the advantages of the closed-end structure for the trust. This includes the ability to incorporate smaller less liquid companies, and a lesser requirement to consider short-term underlying income generation.

As discussed under Portfolio, the managers tend to place stocks into one of three ‘buckets’. The trust structure, and this approach, allows them to invest in lower yielding names – which they believe to have significant growth or turnaround potential – and focus primarily on generating income growth rather than a high yield. The managers report that they see significant opportunities in the UK market currently.

BRIG has a historic yield of c. 3.8% (as at 25/11/2020). The board has remained supportive of growing the trust’s dividend, which has risen every financial year since 2012. As discussed under Dividend, the board has historically looked to accrue additional revenue reserves in benign conditions whilst distributing these reserves in more challenging environments. As a result, BRIG has strong revenue reserves which could be deployed to help support dividends in the current challenging backdrop. The managers note that their underlying dividend generation has been substantially more resilient than the market.

As discussed under Gearing and Performance, the managers tactically reduced gearing and derisked BRIG at the start of 2020 over concerns about market sentiment. They have subsequently started to increase gearing again. The Discount has again widened in recent weeks to levels wide relative to its own history (c. 8.3% as at 18/12/2020).

Analyst's View

BRIG currently holds substantial revenue reserves. The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that followed have clearly proven a substantial challenge to dividend generation globally, as a vast swathe of companies found their operations either impeded or forced to stop entirely. Secondary impacts to resources demand (energy) and interest rates (banks and insurers) further affected many significant contributors to UK dividends. Whilst there are signs that impairments may not be as substantial or permanent as first feared, the revenue reserves BRIG boasts and previous willingness of the board to deploy them lend support to the appeal of this trust as a source of income for investors. The managers’ comments on the relative resilience of BRIG’s underlying revenue generation over this period offer further comfort.

With a reserve buffer and the support of the board, BRIG’s managers have retained flexibility to access the best opportunities from a total return perspective. Given the recent bifurcation in UK equity markets, and the significant valuation opportunity which seemingly exists in the UK market writ-large compared to global peers, greater flexibility to invest where the managers identify the best opportunities could be more important than ever in the coming months. Short-term fluctuations in line with wider sentiment towards the UK remain likely, and could especially have a follow-through to discount volatility. However, the managers retain further gearing capacity to take advantage of any market falls.

bull bear
Reasonable yield which is very well supported by revenue reserves
Likely to trail in rally led by cyclicals
Closed-ended structure allows access to attractive mid and small cap opportunities without impinging on overall portfolio liquidity
Gearing can amplify downside as well as magnify upside
Discount is currently wide relative to trust’s history
Small size of trust may make harder to build a position for institutional investors
Continue to Portfolio

Fund History

18 Oct 2024 How BlackRock provides dividends alongside capital growth
UK companies have a lengthy history of paying dividends, which makes UK equities a fertile hunting ground for those investors looking for long-term growth in their income and capital. However, a perennial criticism of income investing in the UK market is that dividends are concentrated in a handful of companies and sectors, leaving income-seeking portfolios unbalanced. We have designed the investment process on the BlackRock Income & Growth Investment Trust to avoid this pitfall...
05 Sep 2024 Flash update: BlackRock Income & Growth
BRIG’s balanced, style-agnostic approach could fare well in a ‘goldilocks’ environment…
19 Jul 2024 It pays to be patient: why dividend growth stocks are worth a look
The FTSE 100 may have hit new highs in recent weeks, but there is a tougher reality behind the jubilant headlines. Until recently, the UK stock market had been in the doldrums, unloved by domestic and international investors. However, a combination of merger and acquisition activity, share buy back activity and an improving domestic economy may be helping it revive...
17 Jul 2024 Balancing act
We ask why trusts with a more flexible approach have outperformed…
21 Jun 2024 BlackRock Income & Growth Investment trust: A Look Ahead for 2024
David Goldman, manager of the BlackRock Income & Growth Investment Trust gives his perspective on the year ahead...
07 Feb 2024 Range anxiety
We look at what context we can gain from ten years of discount analysis…
02 Jan 2024 Results analysis: BlackRock Income and Growth
BRIG is trading at a wide discount versus its five-year history which could be an attractive entry point for long-term investors…
20 Dec 2023 Fund Analysis
BRIG is trading at a wide discount versus its five-year history which could be an attractive entry point for long-term investors…
06 Dec 2023 Fool's gold
Cash would have been a poor investment through this period of high inflation…
26 May 2023 The outlook for dividends as bond yields rise
Bond yields are now at their highest level in a decade, pushed up by rising interest rates. What does this mean for the relative merits of dividend-paying equities? David Goldman, manager on the BlackRock Income & Growth Investment Trust, looks at why they may still have appeal...
12 Apr 2023 Fund Analysis
(LON:BRIG) BRIG is an attractive long-term total return option…
10 Feb 2023 Results analysis: BlackRock Income and Growth
BRIG has proved resilient to market wobbles and is a differentiated income proposition with the discount close to double digits…
29 Sep 2022 Fund Analysis
BRIG provides the assurance of a solid income to see you through the short-term uncertainty...
02 Sep 2022 Dividends: a friend for tough times
At a time of higher inflation and interest rates, investors may start to prioritise dividends, says David Goldman, co-manager on the BlackRock Income & Growth Investment Trust plc. However, selectivity is vitally important…
17 Jan 2022 Results analysis: BlackRock Income & Growth
BRIG’s managers are seeing a faster recovery in dividends than they expected…
24 Dec 2021 Fund Analysis
BRIG’s long term dividend attractions remain undiminished…
28 Sep 2021 Fund Analysis
BRIG’s substantial revenue reserves should continue to support dividend growth…
21 Sep 2021 Does the UK market still have potential?
The UK has had a strong start to the year, a welcome relief after a tough few years. David Goldman, Co-Manager on the BlackRock Income and Growth Investment Trust says that there is more to come from UK companies.
06 Apr 2021 The UK post-pandemic revival
The UK is back on its feet after a tough pandemic and protracted Brexit negotiations, says David Goldman, Co-Manager of the BlackRock Income and Growth Investment Trust plc.
05 Feb 2021 Results analysis: BlackRock Income and Growth
BlackRock Income and Growth has delivered strong returns since its year end and is well placed to perform in 2021 with a resilient, high quality portfolio and solid reserves supporting its 4% yield…
20 Jan 2021 Kepler's top-rated investment trusts for 2021
We update our annual quantitative ratings for investment trusts…
07 Jan 2021 Fund Analysis
BRIG has substantial revenue reserves to support dividend growth...
04 Aug 2020 Resilient income in tough times
David Goldman and Adam Avigdori, Co-Managers of the BlackRock Income and Growth Investment Trust plc, believe these are tough times for dividend seekers in the UK, but active management can help navigate this difficult environment...
30 Jul 2020 Fund Analysis
BRIG aims to provide investors with a rising dividend, as well as capital growth over the long term...
15 Apr 2020 Hold fast
Investment trusts' revenue reserves could make them a vital stronghold for investors facing UK dividend cuts of as much as 47%....
03 Feb 2020 Sustainable financial returns for long-term growth
ESG considerations are becoming more important for investors. Adam Avigdori, Co-Manager of the BlackRock Income and Growth Investment Trust plc, discusses how they draw ESG analysis into their investment process...
12 Dec 2019 Regime change: how manager changes impact performance
Does a change in manager result in improved trust performance?
11 Dec 2019 Fund Analysis
BRIG aims to provide investors with a rising dividend, as well as capital growth over the long term...
05 Dec 2019 Holding something in reserve
A sterling bounce poses a threat to UK dividends - we look at how UK equity income investment trust managers stand prepared…
17 Jul 2019 Ready for action
In the second part of our active management series, we assess the most active managers across the major closed-ended equity sectors…
05 Jun 2019 Fund Analysis
BlackRock Income & Growth (BRIG) aims to provide investors with a rising dividend, as well as capital growth over the long term...
28 Dec 2018 Ingredients for change
The UK market has only been cheaper twice in the last century; and on both occasions the world was at war...
03 Oct 2018 We can be heroes
Our analysis has uncovered the trusts which have generated a solid income through thick and thin - without compromising other aspects of performance...
03 Oct 2018 Fund Analysis
BlackRock Income & Growth (BRIG) aims to provide investors with a rising dividend, as well as capital growth over the long term...
13 Jun 2018 Still waters run deep
UK equity income trusts trade at a discount to their global-equity-income-focused counterparts, yet our research suggests this could be unjustified...
23 May 2018 Fund Analysis
A UK equity income trust that uses a total return investment philosophy, aiming to consistently grow the dividend...
29 Nov 2017 Fund Analysis
An income focused investment trust with solid dividend cover with a popular OEIC counterpart managed by the same team...
20 Nov 2017 Thin ice...
Our analysis shows the extent to which funds in the UK equity income sector are concentrated on just a few dividend paying stocks…
13 Sep 2017 Big Issue(rs)
We highlight the UK equity trusts that have issued and bought back the most shares over the course of 2017 so far and how these actions have affected shareholders...
03 Jul 2017 2017: A level head in testing times
The BlackRock Income & Growth team explain how they view the world given the uncertain backdrop…
27 Jun 2017 What's driving frontier markets?
Can political and economic reforms make a difference when it comes to looking for growth?
15 Jun 2017 Signs of continental shift
BlackRock's Stefan Gries explains what's driving opportunities in Greater Europe...
12 Jun 2017 MAYDAY!
As the Conservative party founders, we examine the impact of last week’s disastrous election on trusts...
08 Jun 2017 The long game
Highlights from BlackRock Income & Growth's annual general meeting...
07 Jun 2017 Omnishambles...
Given the huge levels of political-induced uncertainty, we analyse recent drivers and themes within the UK equity market ahead of the upcoming election
30 May 2017 Income funds in focus
We introduce a new rating system designed by us to identify trusts which generate a real, dependable income without sacrificing capital....
11 May 2017 Storm proofing...
Our research shows dividend cover among UK equity income trusts is at its highest level in decade...
20 Apr 2017 The quest for income and growth
BlackRock’s Mark Wharrier discusses how he selects companies with the ability to overcome the dual challenges of growing a portfolio and enjoying sustainable income in the current environment...
29 Mar 2017 Good things come in small packages...
Mike Prentis, BlackRock’s portfolio manager for smaller companies, explains his rationale for picking companies...
15 Mar 2017 Never mind the ballots
Despite political uncertainty in Europe, the continent remains home to some of the world's strongest brands and companies...
10 Mar 2017 The long and short of it
BlackRock's Dan Whitestone explains how 'shorting' a company can make money for investors on a falling share price...
25 Jan 2017 Frontier markets can give you the edge…
Gordon Fraser, portfolio manager for frontier markets at BlackRock, highlights everything investors need to know about high growth frontier markets...
06 Jan 2017 Confidence returns to commodities
Tom Holl, co-manager of BlackRock’s Commodities Income Investment Trust, discusses the future for this diverse sector...
19 Dec 2016 Salvation for Latin America?
BlackRock’s portfolio manager for Latin America, Will Landers, assesses the region’s potential for growth....
10 Dec 2015 AIC Flexible Investment: A closer look
We examine the AIC's new sector, and take a closer look at each of the ten funds that will sit in it
01 Dec 2015 Investment trusts without the discount volatility
A new breed of investment trusts operates a 'zero discount' policy, meaning they are effectively priced like OEICs...
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