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 rose strongly in March, helped by supportive US policy proposals and M&A activity. The FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 index increased +7.1%. The MSCI World index ended the month up +3.3%.
The best performing infrastructure sectors were Multi-Utilities (+13%), Electric Utilities (+10%) and Towers / Data Centres (+10%), which in previous months had lagged the broader market during a period of rising interest rates. The worst performing infrastructure sectors were Airports (+1%) and Toll Roads (+5%), as the logistical challenges associated with the rollout of coronavirus vaccines muted gains for transport stocks.
The best performing infrastructure region was the United States (+11%), where President Biden’s US$2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan contained a number of positive implications for US infrastructure stocks. The worst performing infrastructure region was Europe ex-UK (+3%), reflecting a slow vaccine rollout and accelerating coronavirus case numbers.
Fund performance
The Fund returned +4.6% after fees in March1, 244 bps behind the FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Index (USD, Net TR).
Annual Performance (% in USD) to 31 March 2021
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.
The best performing stock in the portfolio was Pacific Northwest-focused regulated utility Avista (+19%). Improving investor sentiment towards the utilities sector buoyed its share price. Further support was provided by news that in February Montreal pension fund Public Sector Pension Investment Board had built a 7.5% stake in the company. Other small and mid-cap US utilities including Alliant Energy (+17%), CenterPoint Energy (17%), Pinnacle West (+16%), and Portland General Electric (+14%) also performed well in this environment.
US utilities with substantial offshore wind commitments such as Dominion Energy (+12%) and Eversource Energy (+10%) gained on constructive regulatory developments. The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued its long-awaited Environmental Impact Study for Vineyard Wind 1, the first US utility-scale offshore wind energy project, bringing formal approval a step closer. The Biden administration also set a goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, which is likely to expedite existing offshore wind projects.
Mobile tower operators American Tower (+11%) and SBA Communications (+9%) also climbed as structural growth drives tower earnings. US telecom company Verizon, one of the towers’ largest customers, announced plans to increase its capex budget by US$10 billion (or 18%) over the next three years to deploy newly acquired 5G spectrum. We expect this will see more capacity being taken up on towers, leading to increased revenue under long-term contracts.
The worst performing stock in the portfolio was water utility Guangdong Investments (-9%), which derives most of its earnings from the distribution of water to Hong Kong and mainland China. The stock underperformed after lower than expected profits on new water projects overshadowed the company’s robust fundamentals and defensive balance sheet.
Having gained strongly in recent months, Mexican airport operator ASUR (-7%) gave up some ground on indications that the pace of its traffic recovery may have eased during the March quarter. European operators AENA (-2%) and Flughafen Zurich (-3%) also lagged as a new round of lockdowns came into force across the continent. Zurich announced better than expected earnings for the second half of 2020, with resilient revenues from its Property and Commercial business segments.
The portfolio’s toll road holdings achieved mixed performance. European operators such as Eiffage (flat), Vinci (+2%) and Atlantia (+3%) delivered slight gains in strongly rising markets, owing to new lockdowns. Emerging Market peers fared better. Brazil’s CCR (+15%) gained after the concession life on one its assets was extended to reflect an economic rebalancing; and on a growing recognition of the value on offer at the company’s current valuation multiples. Jiangsu Expressway (+7%) reported a 5% increase in toll road revenue during the second half of 2020 compared to the same period a year earlier; illustrating China’s quick recovery from coronavirus and steady demand for Jiangsu’s road networks.
Fund activity
The Fund initiated a position in Dallas-based gas utility Atmos Energy, which serves more than 3 million customers across eight states, as well as managing extensive pipeline and storage assets. The company’s US$9 billion rate base is forecast to grow at an annualized rate of between 9% and 10% in coming years, translating into regulated earnings growth of between 6% and 8% pa. Atmos’ valuation multiples contracted significantly in 2020, along with the broader US gas utility sector. It then underperformed further after disclosing costs of between US$2.5 billion and US$3.5 billion, as a result of volatility in the Texas energy market during February’s unusually cold weather.
The company’s regulated business model means that it should be able to recover those costs from customers, over time. We believe that this underperformance has created an attractive entry point for a well-managed company, operating in favourable regulatory jurisdictions.
A holding in West Japan Railway was divested from the portfolio. Positive vaccine news over the past six months has raised the prospect of a recovery in passenger numbers, driving significant share price gains and reducing the mispricing in this stock.
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.
Toll roads represent the portfolio’s largest sector overweight. We believe these companies represent exceptional value at current levels. Traffic volumes have proved more resilient than those of other transport infrastructure assets; and toll roads are likely to be the first to see a return to normal demand levels as vaccine programs are rolled out. Recent congestion data indicates a positive traffic recovery during February and March on Transurban’s Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne road networks.
The portfolio is also overweight Towers / Data Centres. Increasing demand for mobile data (reflecting the growing popularity of video streaming) continues to underpin steady earnings growth for tower companies, insulating them from the ebbs and flows of the broader global economy.
The portfolio is underweight the Airports sector. It remains to be seen how quickly consumer behaviour will return to normal, while business travel may never regain previous levels. The portfolio’s exposure is focused primarily on higher quality European operators such as Spain’s AENA whose passenger mix is tilted towards Leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travellers. These categories could see numbers rebound sharply as travel restrictions are lifted.
An underweight exposure to the Pipelines sector has also been maintained. While the sector has delivered solid gains in recent months, we remain conscious of the structural headwinds that these companies could face as Net Zero initiatives gather pace.
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.
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. In the EEA, issued by First Sentier Investors (Ireland) Limited which is authorised and regulated in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland (registered number C182306) in connection with the activity of receiving and transmitting orders. Registered office: 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland number 629188. Outside the UK and the EEA, 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 SC079063.
Certain funds referred to in this document are identified as sub-funds of First Sentier Investors Global Umbrella Fund plc, an umbrella investment company registered in Ireland (“VCC”). Further information is contained in the Prospectus and Key Investor Information Documents of the VCC which are available free of charge by writing to: Client Services, First Sentier Investors , 1 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland or by telephoning +353 1 635 6798 between 9am and 5pm (Dublin time) 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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