Edison’s investment companies team recently published a review on Utilico Emerging Markets (ticker: UEM), which is managed by Charles Jillings at specialist investment firm ICM. He aims to generate strong total returns by investing mainly in emerging market infrastructure and utility assets. The manager is very bullish about the prospects for the trust’s portfolio companies and believes that investors underappreciate the quality of these businesses and the teams that manage them. Jillings has a long-term perspective, avoiding short-term stock market ‘noise’. UEM’s portfolio has a low beta and has outpaced the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index over the last one, three, five and 10 years. Since its launch in 2005, the trust has generated an annual NAV total return of nearly 10%. Read our latest report here.

Utilico Emerging Markets Trust’s (UEM’s) manager Charles Jillings, at specialist investor ICM, is very excited about the prospects for the trust’s investee companies. He believes that investors underappreciate the quality of these businesses and the teams that manage them. Jillings travels extensively, along with deputy portfolio managers Jacqueline Broers and Jonathan Groocock, meeting with current portfolio and other firms and relevant organisations in emerging markets. They report first hand that companies in the fund are performing very well, with robust top-line growth and cost reductions leading to higher margins. Because of the nature of UEM’s holdings in infrastructure and utility assets, the fund has a consistently low beta. Successful stock selection has led to the trust’s NAV outperformance versus the MSCI Emerging Markets Index over the last one, three, five and 10 years – most notably over the last three years. Since inception in 2005, UEM’s NAV total return compounded at 9.5% per year.

Welcome back to Vantage! As we embark on 2024, we are diving into the dynamic landscape of emerging markets, exploring growth opportunities in regions like Brazil and Vietnam in an exclusive interview with Charles Jillings, fund manager at Utilico Emerging Markets Trust. Charles explores the trust’s strategy in utilities and infrastructure within emerging markets, focusing on long-term operational assets. Covering growth areas in Brazil, China and India, he dives into key megatrends including energy transition, digital infrastructure, social infrastructure and global trade. Charles highlights specific portfolio companies, sharing the due diligence process and risk management measures.