Miton UK MicroCap

MINI’s managers aim to exploit extreme value in UK micro-caps…

UK Equities: Overlooked, oversold, and over here

In this note we look at the gap between perception and reality in the UK equity market, the opportunities and threats in the economic and market outlook, and the emerging consensus that the valuation discount versus other major markets is at or close to an inflection point. We consider the benefits of UK equity strategies both for income investors and for those seeking exposure to the higher growth potential of smaller and mid-cap companies.

Miton UK MicroCap

MINI’s portfolio is unusually cheap…

Miton UK MicroCap

MINI’s share price discount could offer a long-term entry opportunity…

Perfectly formed

Our research suggests that investment trusts really are a better way to gain exposure to smaller companies

Miton UK MicroCap - Overview

Miton UK MicroCap (MINI) was launched in 2015 to invest in the UK’s smallest listed companies, typically AIM-listed stocks with market capitalisations of less than £150m. The strategy focusses on generating capital growth, the managers Gervais Williams and Martin Turner looking for companies that are positioned to generate substantial surplus cash in excess of market expectations in the near term. As discussed in Portfolio, the trust itself was launched to take advantage of major global economi

Great expectations

Once upon a time I was lucky enough to spend a few days on a junket to Morocco, where I stayed at a hotel in Marrakech called La Mamounia, occupying the grounds of a former royal palace built by Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah in the 18th century and described by Winston Churchill as ‘the most lovely spot in the whole world’. On my last night at the hotel I won approximately 52 million dirhams1 in the hotel casino and, feeling somewhat groggy the following morning after celebrating my victory unti

Don’t fear the reaper

With market direction hard to call, we consider the case for taking a long- term view in the investment trust sector...

Vive la revolution

‘Quality’ investing styles have enjoyed structural tailwinds for around 40 years. Over this period, cyclical variances have happened, but the trend towards bigger companies, increased concentration, greater ease of movement of capital across borders, and economies of scale has ultimately always prevailed. Quality has consistently won out. As we discuss below, the improvement to the relative return profile of quality factor investments has been greater than any other, whilst value as a style has

Miton UK MicroCap - Overview

Miton UK MicroCap (MINI) aims to provide shareholders with capital growth over the long-term. Managed by Gervais Williams and Martin Turner, MINI typically focusses on investment in companies with market capitalisations of less than £150m, usually listed on the AIM market. As discussed under portfolio, MINI was launched in 2015 with a view to positioning an investment vehicle for the longer-term cycle that the managers perceived to be in the offing at the time. There is a deep underlying theme

Shoot to Thrill: ISA targets for long term growth

In times of crisis, the Romans would consult the Sibylline Prophecies. Contained therein was a prophecy that the 12 vultures seen by Romulus as he founded Rome (despite founding a start-up he still had time left for birdwatching, living before the modern-day culture of investors demanding updates) represented a signal that the primacy of Rome would last 12 saecula, a saeculum being a period taken as something between 85-100 years. With Rome and the Western Roman Empire falling to the Visigoths i

Eye of the Pfizer

It is often considered axiomatic in investment markets that smaller companies offer greater pricing inefficiencies, and thus greater opportunities to active managers to generate outperformance. In the UK Small Cap space, we have certainly seen suggestions over the long term that this is true, with the Morningstar UK Small Cap sector producing an average NAV return of c. 173.4% over the ten years to 05/02/2021, compared to a return of c. 115.2% from the Numis Small Cap including AIM excluding Inv

This time next year Rodney...

I once sat through a three-hour performance of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot at the Theatre Royal which, despite the best efforts of Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart – both of whom I like very much – to this day remains one of the dreariest experiences of my life. It is on that note that we welcome 2021, with all the promise it holds, and return to our ‘top picks’ for 2020, a year which is probably best summarised (for those of us lucky enough to have been not directly impacted by the virus

Strong H1'23 results; forecasts upgraded

Strategic progress drives robust growth

H1 interims are in line. Argentex has delivered strong growth (+28% yoy revenue) by driving growth initiatives. New technology-enabled products have been launched, including Alternative Transaction Banking, which are already delivering compelling growth ahead of expectations. Pressing into Europe via the Netherlands is also delivering strong growth. At the core, client KPIs remain strong. We leave our forecasts unchanged, with revenue momentum continuing into Q3. We believe the current 12.4x Dec

Inflection point - fleet growth coming

H1 23: focusing on capital generation

Promising results for M&G in H1 23. The new CEO, Andrea Rossi, continues to execute the company’s new strategy, and we have confidence that he is positioning M&G to surpass its financial targets for the 2022-24 plan. The H1 23 operating capital generation results significantly outperformed expectations, exceeding the consensus by more than 50%. This substantial capital accumulation is poised to deliver strong returns to shareholders, rewarding them for their patience during this transitional per

Equals Group (EQLS LN) - Interims justify rise in forecasts

What’s new: Equals Group has delivered outstanding interims, which have exceeded even the positive commentary at the Capital Markets Day in May and the trading update on 5 July. With trading “ahead of expectations”, we raise our 2023E revenue forecast by 7% to £95m and adj EBITDA forecast by 11% to £20m, as well as nudging up our forecasts for 2024E and 2025E.

LIBERUM: Alpha Group International: Underlying strength

Gore Street Energy Storage + (GSF, House Stock, 84p) - Steady NAV growth

LIBERUM: Real Estate Investors: Further profitable sales reduce leverage

Taking the Upper Brand: Brands Sector Overview

The earliest dated brand has long been contested; the majority point to Kongō Gumi, a family run construction company that specialised in Buddhist temples in Japan; its documented record of ownership goes back to 578 AD. Like Kongō Gumi, several different brands have withstood the test of time, albeit without then same degree of longevity. The term brand originates from the 1500s and means "to burn" in Ancient Norse and was initially used to mark cattle for ownership. This practice can be consid

Morning Note – 26 September 2023

Debt reduction plan in face of higher interest rates

FY23 results were well flagged but the focus is likely to be on the outlook, where high interest rates continue to impact buyer confidence and therefore private sales rates, as well as increasing Springfield’s own cost of debt. This leads us to reduce our adj. EBIT forecast for FY24 by 24%, with a greater 48% reduction in our adj. EPS forecast. We expect net debt exc. leases of £55.1m in FY24. Management’s focus is on cash generation, with the dividend paused and a plan to sell c.£50m of land ov

SP Angel Morning View: Hawkish Fed statement weighs on market risk sentiment as dollar hits metal prices

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 29 Sep 23

29th September 2023 @HybridanLLP Status of this Note and Disclaimer This document has been issued to you by Hybridan LLP for information purposes only and should not be construed in any circumstances as an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any security or other financial instrument, nor shall it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract relating to such action. This document has no regard for the specific investment ob

LIBERUM: Forward Partners: Resilient H1, focus on cash

Avation - Full year results – substantial progress in repositioning the fleet in the year

Avation, a lessor of 36 commercial aircraft, has today released full year results for the year to 30 June 2023, reflecting a period in which substantial progress was made in transitioning its last remaining off-lease aircraft and paying down existing borrowings. Importantly, the Group is now positioned strategically for growth as a green low CO2 lessor of modern aircraft, where it also owns one of the world's largest order books comprising 28 purchase rights for new low CO2 ATR 72-600s. With a n