Experienced Investor
AIC announces ‘dividend hero’ trusts

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
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|
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
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