This is a financial promotion for The First Sentier Global Listed Infrastructure Fund. This information is for professional clients only in the EEA and elsewhere where lawful. Investing involves certain risks including:
- The value of investments and any income from them may go down as well as up and are not guaranteed. Investors may get back significantly less than the original amount invested.
- Currency risk: the Fund invests in assets which are denominated in other currencies; changes in exchange rates will affect the value of the Fund and could create losses. Currency control decisions made by governments could affect the value of the Fund's investments and could cause the Fund to defer or suspend redemptions of its shares.
- Single sector risk: investing in a single economic sector may be riskier than investing in a number of different sectors. Investing in a larger number of sectors helps to spread risk.
- Listed infrastructure risk: the infrastructure sector and the value of the Fund is particularly affected by factors such as natural disasters, operational disruption and national and local environmental laws.
- Concentration risk: the Fund invests in a relatively small number of companies which may be riskier than a fund that invests in a large number of companies.
- Emerging market risk: Emerging markets tend to be more sensitive to economic and political conditions than developed markets. Other factors include greater liquidity risk, restrictions on investment or transfer of assets, failed/delayed settlement and difficulties valuing securities.
For details of the firms issuing this information and any funds referred to, please see Terms and Conditions and Important Information.
For a full description of the terms of investment and the risks please see the Prospectus and Key Investor Information Document for each Fund.
If you are in any doubt as to the suitability of our funds for your investment needs, please seek investment advice.
Market review
Global Listed Infrastructure held up relatively well in September as global equities’ recent momentum faltered. The FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 index decreased -1.2% in September, while the MSCI World index^ ended the month -3.4% lower.
The best performing infrastructure sectors included Multi-Utilities (+2%) and Electric Utilities (+1%) as investors rotated towards stable, lower beta assets. Toll Roads (+2%) also gained, helped by improving traffic volumes for Asia-Pacific operators.
The worst performing infrastructure sector was Pipelines (-7%), which lagged on a growing awareness of the longer term structural challenges facing fossil fuel demand (decarbonisation and renewables growth, electric vehicles rollout, potential competition from hydrogen). During the month, California’s Governor signed an order that would prohibit the sale of diesel and petrol passenger cars in the state by 2035; and China committed to a 2060 net zero carbon emissions target.
The best performing infrastructure regions were the United Kingdom (+4%), where utilities were buoyed by the prospect of more favourable regulatory outcomes than previously anticipated; and Australia / New Zealand (+4%), whose roads and airports gained on an improving coronavirus situation. The worst performing infrastructure region was Latin America (-4%), reflecting underperformance from Brazil’s broader market.
Fund performance
The Fund returned -2.9% after fees1 in September, 170 basis points behind the FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Index (USD, Net TR).
Annual Performance (% in USD) to 30 September 2020
These figures refer to the past. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. For investors based in countries with currencies other than the share class currency, the return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.
Performance figures have been calculated since the launch date. Performance data is calculated on a net basis by deducting fees incurred at fund level (e.g. the management and administration fee) and other costs charged to the fund (e.g. transaction and custody costs), save that it does not take account of initial charges or switching fees (if any). Income reinvested is included on a net of tax basis. Source: Lipper IM / First Sentier Investors (UK) Funds Limited.
*The benchmark changed from the UBS Global Infrastructure & Utilities 50-50 Index on 01/04/2015.
1 Performance is based on VCC ID share class, net of fees, expressed in USD.
^ MSCI World Net Total Return Index, USD.
All stock and sector performance data expressed in local currency terms. Source: Bloomberg.
The best performing stock in the portfolio was Auckland International Airport (+10%), which climbed steadily as domestic airline services resumed, and a trans-Tasman travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand appeared increasingly likely. ASUR (+4%), whose assets include Cancún International Airport (Mexico’s second busiest), was supported by a continued improvement in passenger numbers. However, Spain’s AENA (-5%) and Flughafen Zurich (-7%) gave up some of the previous month’s gains as European coronavirus case numbers increased.
Toll road operators also delivered mixed returns. Transurban (+5%) gained on the view that Melbourne (whose road networks account for around a third of the company’s earnings) may be able to ease its coronavirus restrictions sooner than expected. Investors were drawn to the secure 6% dividend yield offered by Jiangsu Expressway (+1%), whose toll road revenues have now largely recovered to pre-coronavirus levels. Despite road traffic being relatively more resilient than other transport modes during the pandemic, Eiffage (-10%) and Vinci (-9%) underperformed due to a spike in coronavirus case numbers in Europe.
Demand for defensive, income-generative assets helped UK multi-utility National Grid (+6%) and water utility Severn Trent (+5%) to outperform. UK utilities were further buoyed by news that the Competition and Markets Authority had determined that the allowed returns of four unlisted water companies were too low. Although unlikely to affect Severn Trent, the decision bodes well for upcoming regulatory decisions for National Grid, and for peer SSE (-4%) which rallied after the end of the month.
Mobile tower stocks SBA Communications (+4%) and Crown Castle (+3%) performed relatively well as investors anticipated robust September quarter earnings. American Tower (-3%) lagged in comparison, despite announcing a new 15 year agreement with T-Mobile, one of its main customers. The move should provide visibility over leasing revenue growth, and reinforces the essential nature of mobile towers over the long term.
The worst performing stocks in the portfolio included energy infrastructure names Cheniere (-11%), Enterprise Products Partners (-10%) and Magellan Midstream Partners (-10%). In the absence of material stock-specific news, these moves appear to reflect investor concerns about the structural headwinds facing the sector (noted earlier). Gas utility Rubis (-13%), which owns and operates a range of specialist energy storage and distribution assets, was affected by similar concerns. We believe that contracted and regulated business models, and the still-vital nature of the services provided by these companies’ unique or hard-to-replicate assets, will remain supportive of earnings and valuations.
US Pacific Northwest utilities represented another area of weakness in the portfolio. Multi-utility Avista (-7%) and electric utility Portland General Electric (-6%) fell sharply after wildfires broke out in their respective Washington and Oregon service territories, before recovering some ground as it became clear that high winds rather than utility equipment or maintenance activities had caused the fires. Unlike California, these states’ regulatory frameworks allow utilities to recover wildfire-related costs unless found negligent.
Fund activity
Italian-listed tower operator INWIT was added to the Fund. INWIT was established in 2015 when Telecom Italia, Italy’s incumbent telecom company, spun off its high quality tower portfolio as a stand-alone business. In March 2020 it merged with Vodafone’s Italian tower portfolio, creating Europe’s second largest listed tower company with over 22,000 towers. The company is now positioned to benefit from mobile towers’ long term structural growth tailwinds, as Telecom Italia and Vodafone build out 5G and small cell networks in Italy.
A position was initiated in Chinese water utility Guangdong Investments, whose core business supplies water to customers in Hong Kong and the Guangdong Province cities of Shenzhen and Dongguan. The company has a strong balance sheet, is run by an experienced management team, and pays a dividend yield of almost 5%. Concession agreements that run until at least 2030 provide clear earnings visibility, while a lack of alternative water supplies for Hong Kong give the company effective pricing power. Low debt levels and strong recurring cash flows should enable the company to grow further by acquiring additional water projects throughout China.
Market outlook and Fund positioning
The Fund invests in a range of global listed infrastructure assets including toll roads, airports, railroads, utilities, pipelines, and wireless towers. These sectors share common characteristics, like barriers to entry and pricing power, which can provide investors with the potential for inflation-protected income and strong capital growth over the medium-term.
The portfolio remains positioned with toll roads as its largest sector overweight. Valuation multiples still imply multi-year traffic declines, in contrast to the improvements that toll road companies referenced in recent quarterly earnings updates. While increased flexibility to work-from-home may result in adjustments to traffic, we see clear evidence that people prefer to travel by private car than by public transport in order to maintain social distancing.
The portfolio’s overweight exposure to gas utilities consists of specialist North American and European companies operating in niche market areas; a Japanese operator with a strong balance sheet trading at undemanding valuation multiples; and Chinese gas utilities which are positioned to benefit from a structural shift from coal to cleaner energy sources, in a region that has so far coped well with the coronavirus outbreak.
The Fund now has a roughly neutral exposure to Multi/Electric utilities, where steady share price gains have reduced some of the mispricing previously seen in this sector. Utilities still represent a substantial part of the portfolio in absolute terms. Regulated utility earnings should be materially more resilient than those of the broader market in the event of an extended economic slowdown or recession; and low interest rates will be supportive of valuation multiples.
We remain cautious on the Airports sector. A sustained recovery in airline passenger numbers appears a remote prospect for many airports, given traveller wariness and persistently high coronavirus case numbers. A staggered re-opening of airports appears likely to start with domestic or regional flights, which are less valuable than international flights. The silver lining is that many airports’ regulated assets are now under-earning their allowed returns, giving scope for future regulatory terms to be more generous than previously expected.
All stock and sector performance data expressed in local currency terms. Source: Bloomberg
Important Information
This document has been prepared for informational purposes only and is only intended to provide a summary of the subject matter covered and does not purport to be comprehensive. The views expressed are the views of the writer at the time of issue and may change over time. It does not constitute investment advice and/or a recommendation and should not be used as the basis of any investment decision. This document is not an offer document and does not constitute an offer or invitation or investment recommendation to distribute or purchase securities, shares, units or other interests or to enter into an investment agreement. No person should rely on the content and/or act on the basis of any material contained in this document.
This document is confidential and must not be copied, reproduced, circulated or transmitted, in whole or in part, and in any form or by any means without our prior written consent. The information contained within this document has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable and accurate at the time of issue but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the fairness, accuracy, or completeness of the information. We do not accept any liability whatsoever for any loss arising directly or indirectly from any use of this information.
References to “we” or “us” are references to First Sentier Investors.
In the UK, issued by First Sentier Investors (UK) Funds Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registration number 143359). Registered office Finsbury Circus House, 15 Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 7EB number 2294743. Outside the UK, issued by First Sentier Investors International IM Limited which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number 122512). Registered office: 23 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 1BB number SCO79063.
Certain funds referred to in this document are identified as sub-funds of First Sentier Investors ICVC, an open ended investment company registered in England and Wales (“OEIC”). Further information is contained in the Prospectus and Key Investor Information Documents of the OEIC which are available free of charge by writing to: Client Services, First Sentier Investors (UK) Funds Limited, Finsbury Circus House, Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 7EB or by telephoning 0800 587 4141 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday or by visiting www.firstsentierinvestors.com. Telephone calls may be recorded. The distribution or purchase of shares in the funds, or entering into an investment agreement with First Sentier Investors may be restricted in certain jurisdictions.
Representative and Paying Agent in Switzerland: The representative and paying agent in Switzerland is BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, succursale de Zurich, Selnaustrasse 16, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland. Place where the relevant documentation may be obtained: The prospectus, key investor information documents (KIIDs), the instrument of incorporation as well as the annual and semi-annual reports may be obtained free of charge from the representative in Switzerland.
First Sentier Investors entities referred to in this document are part of First Sentier Investors a member of MUFG, a global financial group. First Sentier Investors includes a number of entities in different jurisdictions. MUFG and its subsidiaries do not guarantee the performance of any investment or entity referred to in this document or the repayment of capital. Any investments referred to are not deposits or other liabilities of MUFG or its subsidiaries, and are subject to investment risk including loss of income and capital invested.
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