Edison issues review on Standard Life UK Smaller

London, UK, 23 November 2020

Edison issues review on Standard Life UK Smaller Companies (SLS)

Standard Life UK Smaller Companies (SLS) manager Harry Nimmo is very bullish on the outlook for UK small-cap stocks, with the proviso that Brexit presents a near-term risk. He notes that despite current challenges due to the coronavirus, many companies are trading above expectations and there are now only a handful of SLS's portfolio companies that are not paying dividends. The manager is comfortable with the trust's ability to maintain its own dividend payments and is hopeful its valuation will improve given its very strong performance record. SLS's NAV has outperformed its benchmark over the last one, three, five and 10 years; however, Nimmo cautions that given the trust's focus on quality businesses, if there is a cyclical recovery in the UK market with a 'dash for trash', SLS is likely to underperform during this period.

SLS aims to achieve long-term capital growth through investment in a diversified portfolio mainly consisting of UK-quoted smaller companies. SLS started life as Edinburgh Smaller Companies in 1993, with Standard Life Investments (now Aberdeen Standard Investments) assuming management from 2003. The trust merged with Dunedin Smaller Companies Investment Trust in October 2018 and with Gartmore Smaller Companies Trust in 2009.

Click here to view the full report.

All reports published by Edison are available to download free of charge from its website

www.edisongroup.com

About Edison: Edison is an investment research and advisory company, with offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East and AsiaPac. The heart of Edison is our world-renowned equity research platform and deep multi-sector expertise. At Edison Investment Research, our research is widely read by international investors, advisers and stakeholders. Edison Advisors leverages our core research platform to provide differentiated services including investor relations and strategic consulting.

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 5720

Sarah Godfrey, +44 (0)20 3681 2519

[email protected]

Learn more at www.edisongroup.com and connect with Edison on: 

LinkedIn        https://www.linkedin.com/company/edison-investment-research 

Twitter           www.twitter.com/Edison_Inv_Res 

YouTube       www.youtube.com/edisonitv