In this video, Laura Foll, Co-Portfolio Manager of Lowland Investment Company, discusses the Trust’s performance over the last financial year, highlighting key drivers of performance and dividend trends in the UK. Laura also touches on how businesses are dealing with higher cost pressures.

Key takeaways

• Lowland Investment Company has outperformed the benchmark over the financial year, benefitting from strong performance within cyclical areas of the market, particularly industrials and financial stocks.
• UK dividends have been much stronger-than-expected in 2021, with the banking, mining, and energy sectors accounting for two-thirds of the total dividend increase.
• Businesses are experiencing cost pressures from higher prices for raw materials, labour, and freight. However, due to strong consumer demand, companies are currently able to pass on these costs to consumers.

Cyclical Expand

A cyclical stock is a stock that’s price is affected by macroeconomic or systematic changes in the overall economy. Cyclical stocks are known for following the cycles of an economy through expansion, peak, recession, and recovery.

UK dividends have been much stronger-than-expected in 2021, with the banking, mining, and energy sectors accounting for two-thirds of the total dividend increase.