This page is quite old hence its rather spartan appearance.
Why not check out our Latest Stories page for our newest articles or search our site for anything.
VALUE INVESTING
By
This is the latest regular two-monthly review of my high-yield portfolios, of which the first, HYP1, is now over three years old. The newcomer, HYP2, is just nine months old. I stress that their primary aim is growth of income not capital, although many people use the concept as a growth vehicle by reinvesting dividends, which in my view is an excellent idea. Note that these are merely demonstration portfolios to illustrate a high-yield approach with no dabbling. They are not a recommended set of shares, nor would I necessarily choose the same portfolios today. The strategy is intended for the very long term, eternity as a minimum, and it follows that short-term fluctuations are of little importance. It is worthwhile emphasising the highly attractive tax situation of dividend income compared with other types such as interest, rents or pension annuities. Dividends are tax free to a basic rate or lower-rate taxpayer and liable to tax at only 25% on a higher rate payer. The portfolios should be considered in total as regards capital and income, as if they were funds. The HYPs have the distinct advantage of no charges. Investors in HYPs should not pay much attention to individual share movements, which can be dramatic. Here are the latest figures. Cost includes all purchase expenses. HYP1 The portfolio is down about 2% but remains substantially ahead of the market, which is down some 29%. The relative performance is even better with income accumulated, since its yield is much higher than the index. In fact with dividends reinvested, it would be showing a small profit by now. I estimate the profit would be around 12%, similar to cash. Compare this with a tracker fund which would be showing a loss of over 20%, even with reinvested income. The familiar pattern of large individual movements continues with the unchanged losers Royal and Britannic down 76% and 73%, while the top gainer is Gallaher up 45%. HYP2 This portfolio remains well ahead of the market in its very short life to date, up about 26% against a rise of 18% for the latter. It is too early to estimate meaningful figures that include accumulated income but since the start yield on the portfolio is expected to be around 6%, well above the market, it follows that the outperformance on a reinvested dividend basis must be way better than a tracker. It is worth noting too that the portfolio has, in its short life, beaten cash by a very large margin. Even after only nine months, the typical diversified portfolio phenomenon of large individual share fluctuations has already asserted itself powerfully with Dixons up 75% whilst loser United Utilities is down 13%. General Comment Cash is an important target to beat over the long term, for which these portfolios are designed. I would not be too pleased if they beat the market yet failed to beat cash. Equities, to justify investment in them, should deliver a handsome premium over cash through long periods in return for the risks. Calculating on the reinvested income basis, HYP2 has so far done the business in this respect whilst HYP1 is about equal to cash. However, if you look at the portfolios on an income withdrawn basis, as if a person was having to live on that income, then both are producing greater returns than cash, HYP2 much more so than HYP1 because it was launched when the market was much lower and obtainable yields consequently much higher. It will be very interesting to compare the progress of HYPs 1 and 2 because they were launched respectively at what seems to be, with hindsight, around a market top and bottom respectively. Many people have asked about timing HYPs but I have always claimed that the right time is now. Now yesterday, now now and now tomorrow. In other words, when you have the cash available and you are convinced this is the strategy for you, you should go in at that point. Its not for waverers though, you must be prepared to hold for the very long run and be immune to short-term comment and events. I believe this strategy will leave trackers behind. The early evidence, though too soon to draw any long term conclusions, is highly encouraging. Given the lack of investor involvement required, indeed advised, and the similar long-term timescales, this makes HYPs eminently suitable alternatives for those considering tracker funds in my opinion. In my new value newsletter, I feature a long-term hold high-yield selection each month to show readers how to construct an HYP by purchasing suitable shares at regular intervals. Try it today for free for 30 days. The author holds shares in Lloyds TSB.HYP1 start date 13 November 2000
£ orig. no. price val move
invest price shs. now now %
Un. Util. (LSE: UU.) 1 5000 620 807 476 3841 -23.2
Gallaher (LSE: GLH) 5000 416 1190 610 7259 +45.2
Scot. & New. (LSE: SCTN) 5000 490 1010 406 4101 -18.0
Royal & Sun (LSE: RSA) 2 5000 393 1271 96 1220 –75.6
All. & Leic. (LSE: AL.) 5000 645 768 882 6774 +35.5
Britannic (LSE: BRT) 5000 1020 485 282 1368 –72.6
Lloyds TSB (LSE: LLOY) 5000 705 702 465 3264 -34.7
Intercon. Hotel (LSE: IHG) 3 2500 380 658 526 3461 +38.1
Mitchells & But (LSE: MAB) 3 2500 356 702 223 1565 -37.4
Boots (LSE: BOOT) 5000 575 861 702 6044 +20.9
Land Sec. (LSE: LAND) 4 5000 771 651 998 6497 +29.9
Ass. Br. Ports (LSE: ABP) 5000 321 1542 436 6723 +34.5
Hilton (LSE: HG.) 5 5000 232 2275 227 5164 +3.3
Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) 5000 1120 442 1446 6391 +27.9
Anglo American (LSE: AAL) 5000 942 526 1263 6643 +32.9
Shell (LSE: SHEL) 5000 572 865 366 3166 -36.7
Totals 75000 73481 -2.0
FTSE100 6274.8 4443.1 -29.2
Income Yield on capital invested %
Year ended 13/11/01 £3,451 4.6
13/11/02 £3,474 4.6
13/11/03 £3,197 4.3
Notes
1. United Utilities cost per share and total holding amended following rights issue.
2. Royal & Sun cost per share and total holding amended following rights issue.
3. Intercontinental Hotels and Mitchells & Butlers were acquired as a result of the
division of the former Six Continents holding into these two new shares.
4. Land Securities reorganised in September 2002 resulting in a cash payment which
was used to purchase additional shares in the company.5. Hilton replaced Blue Circle which was taken over for cash at a profit over the
£5,000 cost, the whole of the proceeds being reinvested. This is why the total
original cost of Hilton derived from the above table is more than £5,000. The
start investment of £5,000 has though been retained here so as to maintain the
original cost of the portfolio at its true figure of £75,000.
HYP2 start date 02 April 2003
£ orig. no. price val move
invest price shs. now now %
Lloyds TSB (LSE: LLOY) 5000 338 1479 465 6877 +37.5
Scot. & New. (LSE: SCTN) 5000 348 1436 406 5830 +16.6
Dixons (LSE: DXNS) 5000 87 5762 152 8758 +75.2
Un. Util. (LSE: UU.) 1 5000 546 915 476 4355 -12.9
Hays (LSE: HAS) 5000 78 6435 130 8366 +67.3
Legal & Gen. (LSE: LGEN) 5000 75 6696 100 6696 +33.9
BA Tobacco (LSE: BATS) 5000 580 862 767 6611 +32.2
Brad. & Bing. (LSE: BB.) 5000 297 1685 320 5392 +7.8
Hanson (LSE: HNS) 5000 320 1563 404 6315 +26.3
Land Sec. (LSE: LAND) 5000 736 680 998 6786 +35.7
The BOC Group (LSE: BOC) 5000 795 628 880 5526 +10.5
BAA (LSE: BAA) 5000 465 1075 504 5418 +8.4
Shell (LSE: SHEL) 5000 394 1271 366 4652 -7.0
AMVESCAP (LSE: AVZ) 5000 311 1609 421 6774 +35.5
Anglo American (LSE: AAL) 5000 970 516 1263 6517 +30.3
Totals 75000 94873 +26.5
FTSE100 3753.4 4443.1 +18.4
Notes
1 United Utilities cost per share and total holding amended following rights issue.