Important information: The value of investments and the income from them, can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest.
There’s a lot that’s uncertain as we head into 2025. One thing we do know, however, is that there’s a Trump shaped elephant in the room. The red sweep in the US Presidential election paves the way for a very different economic and market backdrop in the year ahead.
Trump 2.0 is likely to be characterised by tariffs, tax cuts, immigration curbs and less regulation. It could lead to more divergence, making asset allocation more challenging - and important. The US looks likely to grow faster at the expense of its rivals, notably Europe and China. But much of that is already priced into a more highly rated stock market.
Inflation might be a bit higher than expected but shouldn’t be far above target. Interest rates can still come down through the year. Equities continue to look like the asset class of choice as earnings pick up the baton from valuations, even if long-term return expectations have moderated. The bull market is closer to its end than its beginning but it’s not yet flashing red.
So, my fund picks aim to participate in the Trump Trade while tilting away from the higher priced parts of the US market. As last year, my preference is to be well diversified. I’m looking to tap into the value that’s still to be found in financial markets beyond America’s tech stock leadership.
Playing the Trump Trade theme, my first pick is the Brown Advisory US Smaller Companies Fund. Deregulation, tariffs and tax cuts should favour smaller, domestically focused US companies. While these stocks have underperformed the tech giants over the past two years, that means valuations are less stretched.
Brown Advisory is US based, with an extensive research team and experienced managers who favour a conservative approach to bottom-up stock selection. They have hundreds of choices in the US small cap space, with plenty of scope to find companies with the potential to grow into bigger, successful businesses.
My second pick is the Dodge & Cox Worldwide Global Stock Fund. I recommended this fund two years ago and it has delivered well - it’s good to have it back. Choosing this fund again gives me global equities exposure but with a significant underweight to the US, while being overweight the cheaper UK and European markets. It’s a value-focused fund, but one that takes a pragmatic view. It can own growth companies - but only when they are cheap.
The management team has lived through many cycles, and demonstrates evidence of a consistent process and long-term investment skill. Performance has been steady with low volatility and, with an average price to earnings ratio in the portfolio of just 12, it’s a lower risk equity market exposure than a global tracker would provide in today’s concentrated market.
As interest rates gradually fall, investors will increasingly look beyond cash to generate income. My third pick, the Fidelity Global Dividend Fund, is unapologetically a re-run of one of last year’s recommendations. It’s one of the longest-standing holdings in my own portfolio which has served me very well over the years. It has delivered steady growth, despite being underweight the US equities which have driven markets higher.
Dan Roberts, who’s managed the fund since 2012, prefers cheaper European markets. Dan looks for a margin of safety in his stock picks - and this strong valuation discipline means just 40 make the grade in this high conviction, low turnover, low volatility portfolio.
The final pick this year is more of a wild card. It’s a play on the new UK government’s focus on infrastructure and public investment. International Public Partnerships Ltd (INPP) is an investment trust that invests in essential, low risk infrastructure - schools and hospitals, transport and renewables - things people rely on for their daily lives.
These investments tend to be in partnership with government and generate steady, inflation-linked returns. The dividend yield stands at an attractive 5.8% and the payout has been growing every year since 2006. Please note this yield is not guaranteed.
INPP is currently trading at a significant discount to its net asset value. So, I think this could potentially be an entry point, with the trust working its capital harder by selling assets, reducing debt and buying back shares to narrow the discount.
So that’s it. These are funds which I hope will do well in the year ahead, but more importantly, I believe they will be good long-term investments which I include in my own ISA and SIPP.
Share this article
Important information - The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. Eligibility to invest in an ISA/SIPP and tax treatment depends on personal circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future. Withdrawals from a pension product will not be possible until you reach age 55 (57 from 2028). Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. The Brown Advisory US Smaller Companies Fund, Dodge & Cox Worldwide Global Stock Fund, Fidelity Global Dividend Fund and International Public Partnerships Limited (INPP) Investment Trust invest in overseas markets so the value of investments could be affected by changes in currency exchange rates. The Dodge & Cox Worldwide Global Stock Fund and Fidelity Global Dividend Fund use financial derivative instruments for investment purposes, which may expose the funds to a higher degree of risk and can cause investments to experience larger than average price fluctuations. The Dodge & Cox Worldwide Global Stock Fund invests in emerging markets which can be more volatile than other more developed markets. The Fidelity Global Dividend Fund invests in a relatively small number of companies so may carry more risk than funds that are more diversified. This Brown Advisory US Smaller Companies Fund invests more heavily than others in smaller companies, which can carry a higher risk because their share prices may be more volatile than those of larger companies and the securities are often less liquid. The Brown Advisory US Smaller Companies Fund and Dodge & Cox Worldwide Global Stock Fund, have or are likely to have, high volatility owing to its portfolio composition or the portfolio management techniques. The shares in the International Public Partnerships Limited (INPP) Investment Trust are listed on the London Stock Exchange and their price is affected by supply and demand. The investment trust can gain additional exposure to the market, known as gearing, potentially increasing volatility. The Key Investor Information Document (KIID) / Key Information Document (KID) for Fidelity and non-Fidelity funds is available in English and can be obtained from our website at www.fidelity.co.uk. Please note that Tom’s picks and Select 50 are not a personal recommendation for you. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice.