On Britain’s railways, a double yellow light is an instruction to exercise “preliminary caution”. On seeing it, a train driver should continue to move forward but be prepared to begin slowing at the next signal; there may be an obstruction ahead. These are the conditions under which investors seeking income currently operate.
Financial assets in general, and those that produce a yield in particular, are no longer receiving unconditional support from central banks. In the US, interest rates are creeping higher and quantitative easing is being unwound. Broader uncertainties, political and economic – and elevated valuations in many areas – also indicate that caution is prudent. Equally, however, sources of income still lie ahead. In managing the Artemis Monthly Distribution Fund, we are aware of the calculated risks we must take to produce a good level of monthly income. Here, we explain why we proceed with caution and with an eye for any dangers that might lie further down the track.
Double yellow: Our reasons for caution
1) UK politics and Brexit
Unfortunately, Brexit is likely to dominate the news for the next five years. The vagaries of every headline will move sterling and gilts (bonds issued by the UK government), but perhaps as large a worry for markets would be the election of a Labour government. Were the current government to fail and be replaced by one led by Jeremy Corbyn, expenditure would increase significantly, which would be perceived as extremely bad news for gilts. For now, we think the chances are low; the Conservatives won’t want another election however difficult the internal wrangling over Brexit becomes. If, however, there are a number of by-elections, then the chance of a general election will increase. Not surprisingly investment decisions are being delayed and this is slowing growth.
Even after their recent uptick, 10-year gilt yields are around 1.6% but inflation is running at 3.0%. That makes little sense to us. Add-in the prospect of a high-spending radical government and the gilt market will eventually take fright. Consider too that record low levels of unemployment and a European workforce less prepared to work in the UK (because of uncertainty about Brexit) must mean that higher wage inflation is a risk, putting pressure on the Bank of England to raise rates more than it might otherwise want to.
2) Expansion of personal credit
Personal credit is another area of concern. Provident Financial’s woes last year were well documented. To be fair, this was probably as much due to mismanagement as it was to pressures in its market. But sub-prime lending is a dangerous place when inflation is rising, when real wages are being squeezed and when regulators (and politicians) are getting nastier.
Related to this is a risk that may have slipped beneath the radar of the regulators: car financing deals. Personal contract purchases (PCPs) now account for over 80% of car sales. We question whether adequate credit checks are in place. If not, the credit providers could be at risk because the FCA tends to favour the consumer. Remember that they are guaranteeing the future value of these cars. A whole generation of diesel cars is being shunned, as the world realises that diesel is a dirty, noxious fuel. Petrol cars, meanwhile, are likely to be replaced by electric cars, albeit over a long timescale. The future second-hand value of the car may not match the rosy expectations of the seller. In that case, the guarantors will be on the hook for any shortfall. Those guarantors are certain banks and the car manufacturers themselves (and their finance arms). We are concerned the liabilities could be enormous so are avoiding these accordingly.
3) Inflation and monetary tightening
Economic growth has been strong, especially in the US, and unemployment is at record lows. Trump’s tax cuts could well boost an economy that is already performing well. The consequence is likely to be inflation, which the Federal Reserve is countering by raising rates. The Fed is already selling some of the bonds it has accumulated, reducing the size of its balance sheet. Unemployment is still high in Europe, but in the US it has fallen to levels not seen since the 1960s, when inflation was at 6%.
Across the globe, companies talk of capacity constraints and many claim they – at last – have some pricing power. All this will lead to higher inflation, which will lead to higher interest rates, and lower government bond prices. The Federal Reserve has indicated that it expects three interest rate increases in 2018 and the market is slowly, fitfully coming to accept that. Meanwhile, at the end of 2017, the comments from various European Central Bank (ECB) members turned more hawkish, favouring a rise in interest rates. The absolute level of quantitative easing (QE) – printing money and buying bonds – has halved and is likely to be reduced further. Secondly, inflation is on the rise. Clearly, that makes conditions for government bonds – and investment-grade bonds – more challenging.
4) An issuance bonanza
In a market flush with cash, any company (or government) – even the most poorly managed– can raise money. For example, Argentina issued a 100-year bond with a 7.125% coupon last year. It has defaulted eight times in the last two centuries – and twice in this century alone. Such exuberance will inevitably lead to disappointment. There has been a bonanza of issuance in the investment-grade bond market. Companies are taking advantage of strong demand and are taking on more debt. The issuance has been broad-based, coming across all sectors and with yields that we have often found very unattractive.
5) Low yields on ‘high-yield’
High-yield bonds (those rated below BBB which are considered low credit quality) have been stellar performers this year. The fund has been a beneficiary of this strength. Having had over 50% of the portfolio invested in this asset class has proven wise. Today, however, yields have fallen to unprecedented levels. In Europe, the high-yield index now yields about the same as 10-year US Treasuries. That is madness.
Why – and how – we proceed
1) Owning overseas assets
Spreading risk globally – across countries and regions with differing business and monetary policy cycles and their own political dynamics – has always been a sensible long-term strategy. Today, however, a tangle of challenges faced by the UK economy is transforming diversification from a matter of long-term prudence into a tactical defence against shorter-term uncertainties. To be clear: for investors seeking income, the UK remains home to a wealth of excellent assets. At present, however, the uncertainty arising from Brexit negotiations, inflation, rising interest rates and faltering consumer spending are conspiring to cloud the outlook for some UK companies. At the end of February, just 22% of the fund’s portfolio was invested in UK assets.
2) Shorting US Treasuries
As unemployment in the US drops to very low levels, the Federal Reserve is likely to continue raising interest rates. Bond yields rise with interest rates, pushing bond prices lower. For this reason, we retain our short position (benefiting when prices fall) in US Treasuries.
3) In high-yield, favouring the US
There is far less value than there was in the high-yield market, particularly in Europe. But there are still instances in which yields compensate us for the risks we are taking. Among our high-yield bonds (those rated below BBB) we have been increasing our positions in the US and anticipate this will continue. European high-yield bonds, although attractive fundamentally (defaults have been falling) are not good value. We have seen repeated and extensive rounds of QE by the ECB. This has lowered yields to artificial levels and benefited all bond markets including high-yield. Even in the US, selection is key: you won’t find us buying Tesla’s bonds or other similar companies with negative cashflows.
4) In investment grade, favouring (European) banks
We have avoided nearly all of the recent issuance in the investment-grade market, where yields are low and the cushion of additional yield relative to government bonds (the ‘spread’) uncomfortably thin. The main exception has been some banks: our exposure to their riskier junior bonds has risen. Bonds issued by banks and insurance companies remain a core part of the portfolio. Higher interest rates means improved returns on banks’ reserves. Further, an improving economy means lower defaults. However, in the UK, uncertainty surrounding Brexit has begun to have an impact on our decision-making. We have been reducing our UK bank exposure in favour of those of European lenders. They have been the beneficiary of a more positive mood towards the sector, with stress tests generally passed, dividends paid and the improved economy helping confidence. We have, for example, bought Intesa, Banco Santander and ASR (Dutch insurer).
5) In equities, investing in ‘value’
Since its launch, the fund’s equity component has had holdings in a number of classic income sectors often called ‘bond proxies’: real-estate investment trusts (REITs), utilities and tobacco. These stocks offer reliable earnings and predictable dividends, making them good substitutes for fixed income. However, universally strong growth in the global economy, high valuations for many classic income stocks and rising interest rates make it unwise to hold too many bond proxies: as bond yields rise, their attractions will fade and their prices come under pressure.
So we have shifted the fund’s equity component further away from the highest quality, most expensive defensives and bond proxies. Today, the fund has more exposure to cheaper cyclical value stocks than it did a year ago. Companies such as General Motors benefit from stronger growth in the global economy, while our financial stocks such as Citigroup, Bank of America and Zions Bank are direct beneficiaries of rising rates (a steeper yield curve improves banks’ lending margins) as well as a stronger US and global economy.
To find out more about the Artemis Monthly Distribution Fund, visit our website.
To ensure you understand whether a fund is suitable for you, please read its Key Investor Information Document and Costs and Charges Information document, which are available, along with the fund’s Prospectus, from the literature library.
The value of any investment, and any income from it, can rise and fall with movements in stockmarkets, currencies and interest rates. These can move irrationally and can be affected unpredictably by diverse factors, including political and economic events. This could mean that you won’t get back the amount you originally invested. A fund’s past performance should not be considered a guide to future returns. The payment of income is not guaranteed. The fund may invest in emerging markets, which can involve greater risk than investing in developed markets. In particular, more volatility (sharper rises and falls in unit/share prices) can be expected. The fund may use derivatives (financial instruments whose value is linked to the expected price movements of an underlying asset) for investment purposes, including taking long and short positions, and may use borrowing from time to time. It may also invest in derivatives to protect the value of the fund, reduce costs and/or generate additional income. Investing in derivatives also carries risks, however. In the case of a ‘short’ position, for example, where the fund aims to profit from falling prices, if the price of the underlying asset rises in value, the fund will lose money. The fund may invest in fixed-interest securities. These are issued by governments, companies and other entities and pay a fixed level of income or interest. These payments (including repayment of capital) are subject to credit risks. Meanwhile, the market value of these assets will be particularly influenced by movements in interest rates and by changes in interest-rate expectations. The fund may invest in higher yielding bonds, which may increase the risk to your capital. Investing in these types of assets (which are also known as sub-investment grade bonds) can produce a higher yield but also brings an increased risk of default, which would affect the capital value of your investment. The fund holds bonds which could prove difficult to sell. As a result, the fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments or forego more appealing investment opportunities.
Because one of the key objectives of the fund is to provide income, the annual management charge is taken from capital rather than income. This can reduce the potential for capital growth. The additional expenses of the fund are currently capped at 0.14%. This has the effect of capping the ongoing charge for the class I units issued by the fund at 0.89% and for class R units at 1.64%. Artemis reserves the right to remove the cap without notice. Third parties (including FTSE and Morningstar) whose data may be included in this document do not accept any liability for errors or omissions. For information, visit artemisfunds.com/third-party-data.
Issued by Artemis Fund Managers Limited and Artemis Investment Management LLP, which are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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