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 Sponsored How life insurance can benefit your health and wellbeing over the decades Sponsored by Post Office	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