After a string of disasters, is it time to give up on Neil Woodford?

Can Neil Woodford ever come back from the brink?

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Neil Woodford just can’t catch a break. After several high profile failures in his portfolio last year, the pain has only continued in 2018.

This week, Woodford faced one of his most significant setbacks in history when shares in early-stage biotech firm Prothena collapsed following the failure of a major clinical trial. Woodford has long been a supporter of Prothena, even as the business has faced considerable criticism from other fund managers across the City and Wall Street. 

Unfortunately, it now looks as if his belief in the business is misplaced. The shares lost more than two-thirds of their value in just one hour of trading after the disappointing news was announced.

This disaster might have gone unnoticed if it were not for the fact that nearly a fifth of Woodford Patient Capital Trust‘s assets were invested in Prothena (although recently it’s gone down to just 8%). 

A string of failures 

Prothena’s failure follows the collapse of Circassia, which suffered a failure in a cat allergy drug trial in 2016 and Allied Minds, which wrote off $146m worth of investments last year. Together, these two investments alone have cost the Patient Capital trust nearly £50m. The Prothena losses are likely much worse considering the size of the position

Still, following these losses Neil Woodford remains convinced that the portfolio will come good over time. Nearly two-thirds of the portfolio is invested in early-stage biotech businesses working on world-changing breakthroughs. The returns from just one of these start-ups could be enough to erase all losses for good.

But it’s not just at the Patient Capital Trust where Woodford is struggling. The Woodford Equity Income and Income Focus funds are also losing supporters.

Losing fans 

Earlier this month, assets in his flagship Equity Income Fund dropped below £7bn for the first time to £6.6bn, far below the all-time high of £10.2bn although still a sizeable figure. 

Investors have become disappointed by Woodford’s lack of returns since setting out on his own. For the three years to the end of February, his flagship offering returned just 3.9%, compared to the FTSE All-Share index return of 18.8%. High profile company failures, such as Capita and Provident, have weighed on returns, while his preferred investments, which are mainly income stocks, have struggled to win favour with investors.

Time to avoid Woodford?

The former star fund manager faces an uphill battle to rebuild his performance and reputation, but I don’t believe it’s time to give up on his equity income strategy just yet. 

Over the long term, particularly in periods of market volatility, dividend stocks have proven themselves to be the perfect harbours in stormy waters, although in bull markets, performance tends to lag behind the broader market. 

With this being the case, I continue to believe there is a place for Woodford’s equity income offerings in every portfolio. That being said, as I have written before, I am not interested in the Patient Capital trust due to its high-risk nature.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Rupert Hargreaves owns no share mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

A person holding onto a fan of twenty pound notes
Investing Articles

A high-yield dividend ETF and an investment trust to consider this November!

Investors wanting to boost their passive income could benefit from investigating these high-yield funds and trusts, says Royston Wild.

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 of my favourite, cheap FTSE 100 growth shares this November!

These FTSE 100 growth shares could be great long-term picks to consider, reckons Royston Wild. At current prices he thinks…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Up 26%, can the BT share price really push higher still?

The BT share price has surged on several catalysts in 2024, but there’s evidence to suggest that the stock could…

Read more »

Man writing 'now' having crossed out 'later', 'tomorrow' and 'next week'
Investing Articles

What are the best dividend shares to buy right now?

As shares in B&M European Value Retail have fallen, the dividend yield has reached a 10-year high. Should investors be…

Read more »

Surprised Black girl holding teddy bear toy on Christmas
Investing Articles

My favourite FTSE 100 passive income stock that keeps the Christmas coffers full

The holiday season is expensive and can leave many consumers struggling to make ends meet. Here’s how I use a…

Read more »

Investing Articles

The latest growth forecasts suggest the Glencore share price will hit 555p!

Harvey Jones has been disappointed by the performance of the Glencore share price since he bought the commodity stock last…

Read more »

Dividend Shares

A closer look at the 11% dividend yield forecast for Phoenix Group shares

Phoenix Group shares have one of the highest dividend yields in the FTSE 100 index today. Could this be a…

Read more »

Investing Articles

If I’d put £25,000 into the FTSE 350 at the start of 2024, here’s how much I’d have today!

Many FTSE shares have rebounded this year as interest rates look set to keep heading lower and market appetite for…

Read more »