Blackrock I&g Regulatory News (BRIG)

BlackRock Income and Growth Investment Trust Plc - Portfolio Update

PR Newswire

London, April 23

The information contained in this release was correct as at 31 March 2021. Information on the Company’s up to date net asset values can be found on the London Stock Exchange Website at:

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-home.html.

BLACKROCK INCOME & GROWTH INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (LEI:5493003YBY59H9EJLJ16)

All information is at 31 March 2021 and unaudited.

Performance at month end with net income reinvested

BlackRock took over the investment management of the Company with effect from 1 April 2012.

At month end

Sterling:

Commenting on the markets, representing the Investment Manager noted:

Performance Overview:

The Company returned 3.9% during the month, underperforming the FTSE All-Share which returned 4.0%. 

Market Summary:

Global equity markets rose in March on the approval of further fiscal support and the restart to come. The UK and US continued the rollout of successful vaccine programmes while many European countries tightened lockdown restrictions again due to struggles with rising infection rates and a sluggish vaccination campaign.

Fiscal stimulus continued in the US with the approval of a COVID relief bill of $1.9 trillion. US Treasury yields climbed close to one-year highs with the 10-year yield near 1.5% early in the month. The FOMC meeting indicated the Fed’s higher tolerance for inflation and that tapering bond purchases remains a distant prospect.

On Budget Day in the UK, the Chancellor revealed several initiatives; one key positive included the 130% ‘super deduction’ tax incentive to promote near-term investment, and one key negative included a proposed increase in corporation tax to 25% pre-announced for April 2023, lifting the overall UK tax burden to its highest in 50 years. Progression of the roadmap out of lockdown continued late in the month with the permittance of 6 people or two households meeting outside. The FTSE All Share rose 4.0% during the month with Telecommunications, Consumer Goods and Utilities outperforming while Basic Materials and Oil & Gas underperformed.

Stocks:

Hiscox was a top detractor during the period; the company issued a poor trading statement that highlighted further investments needed within its retail business. Following recent floats and strong performance from Moonpig and The Hut Group earlier in the quarter, the share prices fell back during March; both companies were top detractors during the month.

Taylor Wimpey was a top positive contributor; the company had significant upgrades at the FY results owing to higher expected margins. Reckitt Benckiser benefitted as market optimism increased around the improved sales execution and Standard Chartered benefitted from the value rotation and rising interest rates; both companies were top positive contributors.

Portfolio Activity:

We remain constructive on economic growth and the tailwind to cyclical areas of the stock market while remaining cognisant of more defensive companies’ increasingly attractive free cash flow generation.

During the month we added to Ferguson where the strength in the macro and their ability to take share gave us confidence to further increase the position. We reduced Hiscox after the release of a disappointing trade statement where our investment thesis has been challenged in the short term. We sold our position in Rightmove as we see better opportunities in other parts of the Company.

Outlook:

Despite the continuation of COVID-19 lockdowns globally, economic activity has been less impacted as consumers and corporates have adapted their behaviours since the development of effective vaccines. Looking ahead, the focus is firmly on the cyclical recovery buoyed by ongoing monetary and fiscal support overwhelming concerns around virus variants.

As economic activity rebounds this has caused some strains on supply chains with specific industry shortages as well as building inflationary pressures including significant increases in commodity prices versus 12 months ago. The prospect of higher inflation has driven bond yields higher with central bankers indicating their willingness, for now, to stay on the side-lines. We are also cognisant of the evolution of relationships between China and the West and the potential impact on industries and shares.

Turning to the UK specifically, we have, finally, got a Brexit deal that provides increased clarity on the UK’s trading relationship with the EU. This is against a backdrop of UK valuations that have been extreme, trading at multi-decade lows versus other international markets with a recent flurry of M&A deals highlighting the dispersion and value on offer in the FTSE. We continue to believe that this dispersion should narrow given the increased certainty and reduced risk regarding Brexit in addition to the UK’s strong vaccination effort. 

We view the dividend outlook for the UK market with renewed optimism as we expect dividends, in aggregate, to be more resilient and to grow faster in the future as those companies that had been overdistributing for a number of years reset their dividends during the pandemic. Resilience was a crucial feature of the Company and its underlying holdings in 2020 and while this will still be important in 2021, we are excited by the approaching economic recovery and the opportunity to deliver strong capital and dividend growth for our clients over the long-term.

23 April 2021