1 of the best investment trusts to buy now!

Markets have been wobbling and this Fool has been buying. Paul Summers highlight one investment trust he’s picked up over the last week.

| More on:

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.

Last week’s inflation-related market wobble has provided yet another opportunity for me to snap up shares to hold for the long term. Among these has been an investment trust that’s been on my shopping list for some time.

Diversified investment trust

As it sounds, the Pacific Horizon Investment Trust (LSE:PHI) is focused on increasing investors’ wealth through buying what its managers consider to be the best growth shares in the Asia-Pacific region and Indian Sub-continent.

Understandably, stocks from big markets such as Hong Kong and China take up roughly a third of the trust’s assets. Another 20% is invested in India. Further down, holders get to own shares from economies such as Vietnam and Indonesia. 

This suits my own investing objectives. While most of my cash remains invested in developed nations, I do want some exposure to those that have very attractive prospects going forward thanks to the rising affluence of their populations. 

With between 40 and 120 holdings at any one time, the trust isn’t overly dependent on a few companies succeeding either. Based on its most recent factsheet, its biggest position is in Singaporean internet giant SEA Limited. Indian carmaker Tata Motors and base metals miner MMG Limited take second and third spots respectively. 

Opportunity?

Up until very recently, PHI has been knocking the ball out of the park. From the March 2020 market crash to mid-February 2021, the share price rocketed roughly 250%. That’s the sort of performance I might get from small-cap companies! Since then, however, it’s lost momentum. 

As much as I see this as an opportunity, buying now is not devoid of risk. Past performance is, after all, no guide to the future. It’s quite possible that the recent weakness seen in the share price will continue for a while if, for example, the pandemic continues to ravage India.

There’s also the 0.92% management fee to consider. Pacific Horizon Investment Trust’s recent returns might dwarf those of an emerging markets index fund but the latter is a far cheaper alternative.

Worth the risk

I think these risks are worth the potential rewards. Timing the market sounds great in theory. However, it’s difficult to do consistently in practice. So, I’ll drip-feeding money into PHI. That may not be the optimum strategy if its share price rises from here. However, it makes the buying process less challenging psychologically. 

With regard to the fees, I’m content to assume that the investment trust’s managers know this part of the global market better than I do. Backing this up, PHI has an active share of 91%. This means its managers are actively picking stocks rather than just tracking one or more indexes. The higher this active share percentage, the more confident I can be that the managers are at least attempting to generate better returns.

As well as offering geographical and sector diversification, PHI can also buy in to private companies like its hugely popular Baillie Gifford peer Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. This is something passive funds won’t be able to replicate and could make a big difference to performance. 

Long-term hold

The Pacific Horizon Investment Trust is unlikely to generate the same performance in 2021 as it did last year. Even so, I see this as another solid ‘buy-and-forget’ addition to my portfolio. I hope buying now could still lead to great returns over the next 10 years.

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.

Paul Summers owns shares in Pacific Horizon Investment Trust and Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended Sea Limited. 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

Investing Articles

Here’s how I’d use a £20k Stocks and Shares ISA to help build generational wealth

Discover how our writer would aim to turn a £20k Stocks and Shares ISA into a sizeable nest egg by…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Billionaire Warren Buffett just bought shares of Domino’s Pizza. Should I grab a slice?

Our writer takes a look at a few reasons why Domino's Pizza stock might have appealed to Warren Buffett's Berkshire…

Read more »

Yellow number one sitting on blue background
Investing For Beginners

My number 1 tip for Stocks and Shares ISA investors

This strategy has improved Edward Sheldon’s ISA returns dramatically and he thinks it could help other investors have more financial…

Read more »

White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Down 20% in a year, is the BP share price simply too cheap to ignore?

After sliding for months, is the BP share price as low as it'll go? Even with the risk of more…

Read more »

Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Investing Articles

4,123 shares of this UK dividend stock could get me £206 a month in passive income

Despite cutting its dividend significantly over the past five years, I think this FTSE 100 stock could be a good…

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 champion investments to beat the stock market in 2025

Looking for alpha? Dr James Fox details three investments that look destined to outperform the stock market in 2025 and…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2025 stock market recovery: a once-in-a-decade chance to get rich?

Zaven Boyrazian explains how he'd use the ongoing stock market recovery to his advantage, creating long-term wealth.

Read more »

Smiling family of four enjoying breakfast at sunrise while camping
Investing Articles

£20,000 in an ISA? Here’s how I’d aim to make £1,250 a month in passive income

Our writer thinks one rare FTSE 100 stock could help drive an ISA portfolio higher, resulting in a sizeable passive…

Read more »