Merchants’ focused portfolio of large UK companies aims to provide a rising income as well as long-term capital growth.
Merchants was established in 1889. Today the Trust invests in a diversified portfolio of large, well-established and well-known UK companies. These companies are able to grow their sales over time or cut costs in order to preserve or improve their profit margins. This enables them, in general, to maintain and increase their dividends over time.
The UK stock market is a good environment in which to invest as many of the companies listed on the London Stock Exchange are truly international in nature, including some of the world's largest and best known multinationals. This provides Merchants shareholders with exposure to global end markets whilst benefiting from the UK's leading corporate governance standards.
Income is our focus. We are income seekers and we make no apology for buying shares that provide the high yield we require. It’s why so many private investors hold the Trust.
Through Merchants, investors can access a concentrated portfolio of large UK companies that aims to provide a rising income as well as long term capital growth. Managed since 2006 by Chief Investment Officer of UK Equities, Simon Gergel, the Trust favours companies with strong cash flows and good fundamentals.
The Merchants Trust PLC was founded in 1889 by some of the leading financiers and lawyers of the day.
From a very early stage, Merchants started doing what it has become so good at – paying regular, increasing dividends to its shareholders. Diversification has served the Trust and its investors well during some difficult times throughout its history, including two World Wars, the Wall Street Crash and 2008’s Financial Crisis.