US technology stocks are easily the best-performing stocks of the year so far, largely due to the likes of Tesla and Apple shares. Their standout performances mean that UK investors are now rushing to buy the stocks.
Tesla and Apple shares soaring
Since the beginning of the year, the Tesla share price has more than tripled. In fact, during the summer, the price doubled in the space of two months. The Apple share price may not have risen as sharply as Tesla’s, but it’s still up 60% since the end of last year, and its performance is equally as impressive. Apple has now become the first US company to be valued at $2trn.
This kind of performance from the major US companies is enough to give UK investors a bit of a headache. Missing out on US tech giants has long been a drag on UK investors returns. But that needn’t be the case. The UK stock market is home to several large investment trusts that own shares in the Teslas and Apples of this world. For UK investors who would like to buy Apple and and Tesla shares, I think this is the perfect way to go.
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UK-listed investment trusts
The largest of these is Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (LSE: SMT). Listed on the FTSE 100, this trust invests in the biggest companies from all over the world. The majority of the trust’s portfolio comprises listed companies. But 20% of its portfolio is made up of non-quoted companies, which are often tech start-ups.
SMT isn’t limited to the technology sector, but its focus on size and growth means that most of its holdings are well-known tech companies. At the end of July, Tesla shares made up 13% of its entire portfolio. Amazon shares made up almost 10%. The trust also has sizable stakes in Alibaba, Netflix, Alphabet and Zoom. This high conviction strategy seems to be paying off, the trust’s share price has risen by a whopping 55% since the end of last year.
For those looking for exposure to the Apple share price, the Allianz Technology Trust looks a good option. Apple is the trust’s largest holding, making up almost 7% of its portfolio. After Apple, its top four holdings are rounded out by Amazon, Facebook and Tesla.
The trust is a play on global tech stocks and this is reflected in both its recent and historical performance. In the first half of the year, its net asset value rose by 36%, with the trust’s share price rising by an almost identical amount. In the last 10 years, its share price has risen by an eye-watering 735%.
My final pick is the JP Morgan American Investment Trust. Unlike the other two, this one invests solely in US companies. Together, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Alphabet and Tesla shares make up nearly a quarter of its portfolio. The trust isn’t restricted to the technology sector. This means it’s more diversified, but also means that it’s exposed to areas that have been hit hard by Covid-19. The trust’s airline holdings have been a drag on this year’s performance, but net assets grew by 21% last year.
It just goes to show, it’s never been easier for UK investors to buy Apple and Tesla shares, and lots of others too.
