ABERFORTH SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST ORD GBP0.01
Symbol: ASL
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Invest in this share within an ISA, JISA, SIPP or Investment Account
Past Performance
- 19th Apr 2020 to 19th Apr 202179.63%
- 19th Apr 2021 to 19th Apr 2022-7.19%
- 19th Apr 2022 to 19th Apr 2023-8.02%
- 19th Apr 2023 to 19th Apr 202414.36%
- 19th Apr 2024 to 19th Apr 20250.25%
Key Information
| Benchmark | Deutsche Numis Smaller Companies 1000 Excluding Investment Companies |
| Sector | IT UK Smaller Companies |
| Gearing | 107% |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Unknown |
| Dividend Pay Date | Unknown |
| Total Dividends - Year to Date | 0 |
| Dividend Yield (%) | 0 |
Net Asset Value (Nav)
| Latest actual NAV | 1,474.37 |
| Latest actual NAV date | 16/04/2025 |
| NAV frequency | Daily |
| Premium/Discount | -10.47% |
Charges
|
Total Ongoing Charges
Please note that whilst we endeavour to show all charges associated with specific funds, sometimes this is not possible due to the information not being made available by the fund provider. In such cases transaction or incidental cost information may be missing. |
1.236% |
| Performance Fee | No |
| AMC | 0.70% |
|
Our Platform Charge
We charge a platform fee of 0.30% per annum on the value of all stocks & shares held across all accounts, minimum £50 and maximum £600 per annum, charged pro-rata monthly in arrears. A full list of our rates and charges can be found here . |
0.30% |
Cost and Charges Information
This calculator provides you with costs and charges information regarding our charges and, where relevant, the costs within this investment product
Account Type
Annual charges
These are the annual costs based on an initial investment amount of over 1 year assuming a net zero growth rate
| Cost Category | % of Investment | lump sum costs |
|---|---|---|
Our annual fee
Our annual feeIncludes our platform fee at 0.30% per annum (excluding Charles Stanley Multi Asset Funds and anycash held). The min fee is £60, the max is £600 per annum, plus SIPP administration fee (if applicable, only charged if < £30,000 held) – see here |
0.30% | |
Dealing charges
Dealing chargesAny one-off commission charges associated with investing. Note that government taxes and levies are not included. This does not include any commission credits you may have available |
N/A | |
Product provider costs
Product provider costsProduct provider costs shown are inclusive of the fund ongoing charges figure (OCF), transaction costs and incidental costs |
1.236% | |
Total (£)
Total (£)Costs per annum displayed in monetary value |
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Total (%)
Total (%)Costs per annum displayed as a percentage of investment value |
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Cumulative effect of charges on your investment's return
This illustration assumes that costs occur evenly throughout the year, charges are paid out of the investment evenly throughout the year, and that an annual growth rate of applies evenly throughout the year, before any charges including product charges
| lump sum invested with an assumed growth rate of | 1 year | years |
|---|---|---|
What you might get back at with no charges applied
What you might get back at with no charges appliedThese are the illustrative values of a investment after growth and no costs applied at the end of the defined period |
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Annual charges
Annual chargesThese are the annual costs based on an initial investment amount of assuming a net zero growth rate |
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Effect of charges on return (%)
Effect of charges on return (%)These are the overall costs in percentage terms, based on an initial investment amount of assuming a growth rate |
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Effect of charges on return (£)
Effect of charges on return (£)These are the overall costs in monetary value, based on an initial investment amount of assuming a growth rate |
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What you might get back at with charges applied
What you might get back at with charges appliedThese are the illustrative values of a investment after growth and costs at the end of the defined period |
This illustration is not a forecast of future investment performance but merely a means to demonstrate the potential impact of costs and charges for an assumed return of . Whilst we make reasonable endeavours to ensure the accuracy of third party charges information, this is intended for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon. We do not warrant or represent that this information is accurate, complete or up to date, therefore we accept no responsibility or liability for its use
Company
Business Summary
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc is a United Kingdom-based investment trust. The investment objective of the Company achieves a net asset value total return (with dividends reinvested) greater than that of the Numis Smaller Companies Index (excluding Investment Companies (NSCI (XIC))) over the long term. It aims to achieve its objective by investing in securities of companies that are or that would be constituents of the Numis Smaller Companies Index (Excluding Investment Companies). The Company also aims to achieve its objective by investing in small United Kingdom quoted companies. It invests in various sectors, such as technology, telecommunications, health care, financials, real estate, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, industrials, basic materials and energy. Its investment manager is Aberforth Partners LLP.
Financial Summary
BRIEF: For the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc revenues increased 49% to £170.9M. Net income increased 53% to £151.6M. Revenues reflect Realised net gains on sales increase of 92% to £114.5M, Movement in fair value increase from -£1.3M to £1.8M, Property income distributions increase of 39% to £1.6M. Net income benefited from Selling/General/Admin Expense decrease of 92% to £20K (expense).
Performance
Cumulative Performance
| 1 month | 3 months | 6 months | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
| -3.37% | -5.59% | -11.75% | 0.25% | 5.45% | 75.81% |
Important Information
Headline performance can mask the true characteristics of a fund. Without fully understanding how a fund is managed, you may inadvertently become exposed to an undesirable level of risk to your capital. Some funds carry a dilution levy which reduces the number of units realised on any initial investment as an initial charge. If this fund carries such a levy it should be detailed in the Key Investor Information Document (KIID), which we must provide and you should read before investing.
The charts and performance data shown are supplied by an external data provider and may contain data that appears to precede the introduction of the clean unit class for this fund. In such cases, historical data has been synthesised at the entire discretion of that external provider as realistically as possible using historical data recorded against the previously available commission-paying version of the fund, adjusting for fees in the process.
Composition
View Fund Allocation by:
Important Documents
The documents listed below are the latest versions made available to our data provider by the fund management group, but may not necessarily reflect the applicable charges that would be levied should you purchase this fund via Charles Stanley Direct. You should treat the charges and other figures shown in the 'Overview' tab as accurate.
The Fact Sheet is supplied on a monthly basis by the management group and provides limited information on the fund. Past performance data and a review of how the fund has performed are commonly featured.
238,998 bytes PDF Document; last updated 31 Mar 2025
424,379 bytes PDF Document; last updated 31 Jan 2025
1,158,941 bytes PDF Document; last updated 31 Dec 2024
916,606 bytes PDF Document; last updated 30 Jun 2024
239,652 bytes PDF Document; last updated 20 Mar 2024
Management Team
Sam Ford Rob Scott Moncrieff Jeremy Hall Rowan Marron Peter Shaw Euan Macdonald
Sam Ford
has managed this fund for 5 years and 8 months.
Sam joined Aberforth in August 2019 and became a Partner in May 2021. He is responsible for the following sectors - Aerospace and Defense; Health Care Providers; Media; Medical Equipment and Services; Oil, Gas and Coal; Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology; and Software and Computer Services. Sam has passed all three levels of the CFA programme.
Manager Cumulative Performance v Peer Group
Other investment trusts managed by
Sam
| Name of Security | Sole/Co | Managed Since |
|---|---|---|
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ORD 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ZDP 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
Rob Scott Moncrieff
has managed this fund for 3 years and 2 months.
Rob joined Aberforth in February 2022 and became a Partner in March 2024. He previously worked as a global equities analyst with Latitude Investment Management. Rob’s early career included UK-focussed equity research responsibilities with Brewin Dolphin, following an internship with International Value Advisers, in New York. He is responsible for the following sectors - Chemicals; Construction and Materials; Electronic and Electrical Equipment, General Industrials; Household Goods and Home Construction; Industrial Materials; Industrial Metals and Mining; Precious Metals and Mining; and Technology Hardware and Equipment. Rob has passed all three levels of the CFA programme.
Manager Cumulative Performance v Peer Group
Other investment trusts managed by
Rob
| Name of Security | Sole/Co | Managed Since |
|---|---|---|
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ORD 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ZDP 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
Jeremy Hall
has managed this fund for 6 years and 6 months.
Jeremy joined Aberforth in October 2018 and became a Partner in January 2020. He is responsible for the following sectors - Banks; Finance and Credit Services; Investment Banking and Brokerage Services; and Tobacco. Jeremy has passed all three levels of the CFA programme.
Manager Cumulative Performance v Peer Group
Other investment trusts managed by
Jeremy
| Name of Security | Sole/Co | Managed Since |
|---|---|---|
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ORD 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ZDP 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
Rowan Marron
has managed this fund for 5 months.
Rowan joined Aberforth in November 2023. She has fifteen years' previous experience as an equity analyst, most recently at Rathbones Investment Management. Her experience covers a wide variety of sectors, geographies and cap sizes, and includes eighteen months with a quantitative start-up. She is responsible for the following sector - Food Producers and Travel and Leisure. Rowan has passed all three levels of the CFA programme.
Manager Cumulative Performance v Peer Group
Other investment trusts managed by
Rowan
| Name of Security | Sole/Co | Managed Since |
|---|---|---|
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ORD 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ZDP 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
Peter Shaw
has managed this fund for 9 years .
Peter joined Aberforth in April 2016 and became a Partner in May 2017. He is responsible for the following sectors - Beverages; Electricity; Gas, Water and Multi-utilities; Industrial Support Services; Industrial Transportation; Personal Care, Drug and Grocery Stores; Personal Goods; Retailers; Telecommunications Equipment; and Waste and Disposal Services.
Manager Cumulative Performance v Peer Group
Other investment trusts managed by
Peter
| Name of Security | Sole/Co | Managed Since |
|---|---|---|
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ORD 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ZDP 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
Euan Macdonald
has managed this fund for 23 years and 11 months.
Euan joined Aberforth in May 2001 and became a Partner in May 2004. He is responsible for the following sectors - Alternative Energy; Automobiles and Parts; Consumer Services; Industrial Engineering; Leisure Goods; Life Insurance; Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts; Non-life Insurance; Real Estate Investment and Services; Real Estate Investment Trusts; and Telecommunications Service Providers.
Manager Cumulative Performance v Peer Group
Other investment trusts managed by
Euan
| Name of Security | Sole/Co | Managed Since |
|---|---|---|
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ORD 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
| AbrGrdVl&IncTrPlc ZDP 1P | Co | Jul 2024 |
Financials
Income Statement - All values are in GBP (M).
|
Year Ending |
31/12/2024 |
31/12/2023 |
31/12/2022 |
31/12/2021 |
31/12/2020 |
31/12/2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | 170.87 | 114.86 | -142.57 | 381.94 | -207.62 | 312.61 |
| Gross profit | 160.44 | 105.65 | -152.21 | 371.63 | -215.10 | 303.49 |
| Operating Profit/Loss | 158.06 | 103.34 | -154.82 | 368.46 | -218.35 | 300.45 |
| Profit Before Tax | 151.59 | 99.13 | -156.69 | 367.53 | -219.15 | 299.51 |
| Profit After Tax | 151.59 | 99.04 | -156.69 | 367.53 | -219.20 | 299.51 |
| Equity Holders of Parent Company | 151.59 | 99.04 | -156.69 | 367.53 | -219.20 | 299.51 |
| Minority Interest | NIL | NIL | NIL | NIL | NIL | NIL |
Balance Sheet - All values are in GBP (M).
|
Year Ending |
31/12/2024 |
31/12/2023 |
31/12/2022 |
31/12/2021 |
31/12/2020 |
31/12/2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Non-Current Assets | 1,497.30 | 1,363.98 | 1,322.26 | 1,554.59 | 1,218.07 | 1,416.68 |
| Total Current Assets | 4.22 | 5.40 | 3.81 | 5.29 | 3.93 | 3.00 |
| Total Assets | 1,501.53 | 1,369.38 | 1,326.07 | 1,559.88 | 1,222.00 | 1,419.67 |
| Total Liabilities | 104.21 | 72.15 | 75.20 | 87.31 | 74.07 | 13.87 |
| Total Net Assets | 1,397.32 | 1,297.23 | 1,250.87 | 1,472.57 | 1,147.93 | 1,405.80 |
| Shareholders Funds | 1,397.32 | 1,297.23 | 1,250.87 | 1,472.57 | 1,147.93 | 1,405.80 |
| Minority Interests | NIL | NIL | NIL | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Total Equity | 1,397.32 | 1,297.23 | 1,250.87 | 1,472.57 | 1,147.93 | 1,405.80 |