Last checked at 
12 May 2023 07:15
London, UK, 12 May 2023
Edison issues update on Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust (HSL)
Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust (HSL) has been managed by Neil Hermon for the last 20 years. He explains that small-cap stock price weakness in 2022 was due to valuation compression and was not a reflection of lower earnings; in essence macroeconomic events outweighed business trends at the micro level. However, the manager believes the interest rate cycle is close to peaking given that inflation is rolling over and the UK economy is relatively weak. Hermon considers the valuations of small-cap UK growth stocks to be 'very appealing' and believes that there could be a significant pickup in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in a more robust economic environment when credit is more freely available.
HSL's 13.5% share price discount to cum-income NAV is wider than the 9.0% to 12.7% average range of discounts over the last one, three, five and 10 years. However, once the trust's performance is back on track and investor risk aversion declines, there is scope for HSL to be afforded a higher valuation, more befitting of its strong long-term pedigree.
Click here to view the full report or here to sign up to receive research as it is published.
All reports published by Edison are available to download free of charge from its website
www.edisongroup.com
About Edison: Edison is a leading research and investor relations consultancy, connecting listed companies to the widest pool of global investors. By focusing on the volume and quality of investors reached - across institutions, family offices, wealth managers and retail investors - Edison can create and gauge intent to purchase, even in the darkest pools of capital, and then make introductions via non-deal roadshows, events or virtual meetings.
Having been the first in-market 17 years ago, Edison now has more than 100 analysts covering every economic sector. Headquartered in London, Edison also has offices in New York, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Tel Aviv and a presence in Athens, Johannesburg and Sydney.
Edison is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Edison is not an adviser or broker-dealer and does not provide investment advice. Edison's reports are not solicitations to buy or sell any securities.
For more information, please contact Edison:
Mel Jenner +44 (0)20 3077 5700 investmenttrusts@edisongroup.com
Learn more at www.edisongroup.com and connect with Edison on:
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/edison-group-/
Twitter www.twitter.com/Edison_Inv_Res
YouTube www.youtube.com/edisonitv