BrilliantWithMoney

When assessing the performance of an investment fund, it is preferable to look back over longer than a year.

A one year investment track record is rarely long enough to establish how consistent a fund manager is. Three years is an improvement, but five years is far better.

Here we look at twelve of the most popular IMA investment sectors and reveal the top performing fund over the past five years. The results are a combination of popular funds that are widely available on the main investment platforms and more obscure choices that investors would struggle to access.

Here are the 12 sector topping funds from the past five years.

Sterling Corporate Bond – M&G Strategic Corporate Bond

Managed by Richard Woolnough, who joined the M&G retail fixed interest team in January 2004, M&G Strategic Corporate Bond fund aims to maximise total return (the combination of income and growth of capital). Over the past five years, the fund has returned 40.65% compared to a sector average of 11.14%.

Active Managed – Neptune Global Alpha

This fund aims generate a positive total return, from investment predominantly in equities and bonds. It has certainly acheived that investment objective over the past five years, with returns of 91.14% compared to a sector average of 34.16%. Neptune Global Alpha is managed by the award-winning Robin Geffen who has over 30 years’ investment experience.

Asia Pacific Excluding Japan – Fidelity South East Asia

This fund aims to achieve long term capital growth from a portfolio made up of the shares of companies throughout the Pacific Basin, but excluding Japan, with a bias towards larger companies. It is managed by Allan Liu, who took control of this fund in July 2003. Fidelity South East Asia has returned 188.89% over the past five years, compared to a sector average return of 119.06%.

Balanced Managed – CF Ruffer European

Whilst not a household name fund, CF Ruffer European has managed to deliver a return of 129.32% to investors over the past five years, compared to a sector average of 30.86%. Sitting perhaps unfairly in the Balanced Managed sector, this fund invests in a diversified portfolio of pan-European equities, although it may also invest in fixed interest securities.

Cautious Managed – CF Ruffer Total Return

Another appearance from CF Ruffer, with their Total Return fund which aims to achieve low volatility, positive returns from an actively managed portfolio of different asset classes, including equities, bonds and currencies. Managed by David Ballance and Steve Russell, this fund has returned 66.20% over the past five years, compared to a sector average of 19.85%.

Europe Excluding UK – Neptune European Opportunities

This fund aims to generate capital growth by investing predominantly in a concentrated portfolio of securities selected from European markets, excluding the UK. Over the past five years, Neptune European Opportunities has returned 108.84% compared to a sector average of 51.90%.

Global Emerging Markets – Baillie Gifford Emerging Markets Growth

Managed by Richard Sneller and William Sutcliffe, over the past five years this fund has returned 187.45% compared to a sector average of 137.61%. The fund aims to maximise the total return through investment, whether direct or indirect, primarily in emerging markets worldwide and in any economic sectors of such markets.

Japan – Neptune Japan Opportunities Retail

Chris Taylor has managed this fund since joining Neptune in June 2004 as Head of Research, with 28 years’ investment experience. The fund aims to generate consistent capital growth by investing predominantly in a concentrated portfolio of Japanese securities. It has returned 115.59% over the past five years, compared with a sector average of just 7.92%.

North America – Neptune US Opportunities

This fund has been managed by Felix Wintle for six years, and over the past five years it has returned 83.84% compared to a sector average of 21.08%. Neptune US Opportunities aims to generate capital growth by investing predominantly in a concentrated portfolio of Northern American securities which may include Canada as well as the US.

Property – SWIP Property Trust

The SWIP Property Trust aims to provide investors with a total return consistent with a balanced commercial property portfolio. Managed by Gerry Ferguson for just over five years, this fund has just about acheived a positive return with performance of 0.14% over the past five years, compared to a sector average of -1.74%.

UK All Companies – Rensburg UK Mid Cap Growth Trust

This fund aims to achieve capital growth from medium sized UK companies, specifically to exceed the capital growth achieved by the FTSE 250 Index. Over the past five years (to 1st December 2009) this fund has returned 92.90% compared to a sector average of 28.48%. The fund is managed by Paul Spencer who joined the Rensburg team in March 2006 from TD Waterhouse where he was Head of Research.

UK Equity Income – Schroder UTL Income

Whilst Neil Woodford is the big name in this IMA sector, it is Ian Lance and Nick Purves from Schroder who have the best track record over the past five years. Their fund, which aims to provide a growing income, predominantly from investment in UK equities, has returned 51.16% over the past five years, compared to a sector average return of 24.32%.

Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future investment returns. The value of these funds may go down as well as up. Performance figures are correct as at 15th January 2010 unless stated otherwise. Sources: Financial Express and Morningstar.