Blog

ShareSoc Blog

This blog gives you the latest topical news plus some informal comments on them from ShareSoc’s directors and other contributors. These are the personal comments of the authors and not necessarily the considered views of ShareSoc. The writers may hold shares in the companies mentioned. You can add your own comments on the blog posts, but note that ShareSoc reserves the right to remove or edit comments where they are inappropriate or defamatory.

There is more news given in the News page of our web site and more analysis of news is provided in our monthly newsletter for members – see the Newsletters page.

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Portfolio Review 2024 – Mark Bentley

This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. Introduction This is now my fifth annual comprehensive portfolio review. See my 2020 review for an explanation of my investment objectives, strategy, "asset types" and investment accounts. My 2023 review can be found here. In 2024 my portfolio's underperformance of my FTSE All-Share total return benchmark continued, albeit more modestly. My total return was 7.7% vs 9.8% for the benchmark. I may have to review my strategy if this underperformance ...

Will Passive ETFs be the Death of Capitalism?

This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. A growing trend of flows away from active investors to passive index trackers may damage the price discovery process and efficient capital allocation. My attention was recently drawn to this article in the Financial Times. It reports that $450bn was withdrawn from actively managed stock funds in 2024, with $1.7tn flowing into ETFs (though it is not clear what proportion of that ETF money has been allocated to ...

ShareSoc Warns of Serious Governance Issues in Saba Capital’s Proposals

ShareSoc, the UK’s premier organisation for individual investors, has serious concerns about the governance risks posed by Saba’s proposals, which seek to replace independent boards with its own non-independent representatives in all 7 trusts, award itself the investment management mandates, combine the trusts into a larger vehicle and use that vehicle to acquire further trusts at a discount. ShareSoc acknowledges performance concerns raised by Saba Capital Management against some, but not all, of the seven investment trusts targeted by Saba. However, ShareSoc notes ...

Imperial Brands plc Information and Vote Guidance 2025

AGM: 29th January 2025 Proxy deadline: 27th January 2025  ShareSoc provide this added value voting information service for Full Members only, providing background information on leading companies and AGM vote guidance. Below are links to the: 1. Stockopedia summary report. 2. Minerva Vote recommendations for the 29th January 2025 AGM based on their standard template. 3. Minerva detailed research report for the AGM. Summary of voting issues at this year’s AGM  The Minerva report highlights various issues and recommends voting against one of the resolutions. Readers should make their own ...

Compass Group plc Information and Vote Guidance 2025

AGM: 6th February 2025 Proxy deadline: 4th February 2025 ShareSoc provide this added value voting information service for Full Members only, providing background information on leading companies and AGM vote guidance. Below are links to the: 1. Stockopedia summary report. 2. Minerva Vote recommendations for the 6th February 2025 AGM based on their standard template. 3. Minerva detailed research report for the AGM. Summary of voting issues at this year’s AGM  The Minerva report highlights various issues and recommends voting against four of the resolutions. Readers should make their own ...

Christmas Present Suggestions

This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. Best financial presents money can buy For you. Buy yourself a subscription to ShareSoc and learn more about investing, or if you already know all about investing educate yourself and learn more about investing! Or if you already know all about investing and are rich, then just donate the subscription price to help us campaign and represent the voice of individual investors and ensure we individual investors are fairly ...

Activist Intervention in Investment Trusts and Shareholder Democracy

This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. Saba Capital may be able to force changes due to shareholder apathy and disenfranchisement I read this article today with interest and some concern. It describes an attack by hedge fund Saba Capital on seven investment trusts. The article names: “The Baillie Gifford US Growth trust, Edinburgh Worldwide and Keystone Positive Change, are in the firing line as well as a pair of Janus Henderson trusts, the Henderson Opportunities ...

Should ShareSoc become a Charity? We need your advice/help if you have relevant charity experience.

  Have you ever been involved in running or setting up a charity? We are reviewing ShareSoc’s status and we believe some of our members might have valuable insights. If you have relevant experience, we would love to pick your brains on the key decisions and process. Please contact info@sharesoc.org if you can help. ShareSoc is currently a not-for-profit enterprise. We are reviewing the possibility of achieving charitable status. Much of our activity including education, research and campaigns with societal benefits appear to ...

Abolish Stamp Duty on Quoted Shares

This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. Increased cost of capital means tax has negative impact on UK growth Is the UK stock market going to zero? Less than 8% of UK individuals own shares, compared to 40% in Sweden and 60% in USA[1]. This is evidence of the country’s failure to educate, and its failure to create a positive domestic investing climate.   Successive Governments have rowed back from the “Tell Sid” privatisation days where huge advertising budgets ...

SIGnet Launches New US Small Cap Group

  SIGnet is excited to announce the launch of a new online group for those who are interested in investing in US small caps. Investors of all levels of experience are welcome to join. The Convener for the Group will be Matt Plummer. Matt is an experienced investor with a concentrated portfolio focussed on small caps; recently he has invested more in US small caps. Matt looks for companies growing quickly, where the market is underestimating the impact of the growth on the ...
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