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Experienced Investor

AIC announces ‘dividend hero’ trusts

Cherry Reynard
Written By:
Cherry Reynard
Posted:
Updated:
03/03/2015

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has published a list of the investment company sector’s ‘dividend heroes’, those trusts that have increased their payouts to investors year on year.

In January, the Bankers Investment Trust raised its dividend for the 48th consecutive year. In February, the Brunner Investment Trust announced its 43rd consecutive annual dividend increase, while Witan investment Trust become the 10th investment company to achieve a 40th consecutive year dividend increase.

The Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust has 44 years of consecutive dividend payments, while Alliance Trust is poised to announce another dividend increase on Friday, for the 48th consecutive year.

A number of the newer trusts can also boast a strong record: JPMorgan Claverhouse has raised its dividend each year for the last 42 years of its 52 year history. Value & Income Investment Trust has made 27 annual dividend increases in a row, out of a 34 year history.

Annabel Brodie-Smith, communications director, the AIC said: “There’s nothing more reassuring to investors than a company with a solid history of dividend increases, and the investment company sector’s track record here is second to none. Through the good times and the bad, many investment companies have been able to increase their dividend every year for decades because they have the unique ability to save some of the income they receive each year for tougher times; a facility known as dividend smoothing.”

Company Sector Number of consecutive years dividend Increased Launch date
City of London Investment Trust

 

UK Equity Income 48 01/01/1891

 

Bankers Investment Trust

 

Global 48 13/04/1888

 

Alliance Trust

 

 

Global 47* 21/04/1888

 

Caledonia Investments

 

Global 47 18/07/1960

 

Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust Global 44 01/01/1868

 

F&C Global Smaller Companies

 

Global 44 15/02/1889

 

Brunner Investment Trust

 

Global 43 01/01/1927

 

JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust UK Equity Income 42 01/01/1963

 

Murray Income

 

UK Equity Income 41 07/06/1923

 

Witan Investment Trust

 

Global 40 17/02/1909

 

Scottish American Global Equity Income 35 31/12/1873

 

Merchants Trust UK Equity Income 32 16/02/1889

 

Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust

 

Global 32 01/01/1909

 

Scottish Investment Trust

 

Global 31 27/07/1887

 

Temple Bar UK Equity Income 31 30/12/1926

 

Value & Income UK Equity Income 27 31/07/1981