Almost 20 fund managers have been awarded their first FE fundinfo Alpha Manager rating in the latest rebalance, highlighting their track record of consistent outperformance.
The FE fundinfo Alpha Manager rating system is designed to recognise the top 10% of UK retail-facing managers for their entire career performance. Rebalanced once a year, the ratings are based on risk-adjusted alpha (using the Sortino ratio) with a track record length bias and consistent outperformance of a benchmark.
Among the 18 fund managers to receive the rating for the first time are Lindsell Train Global Equity co-manager James Bullock, Pimco group chief investment officer Daniel J. Ivascyn (who works on a number of funds), Invesco Asian manager William Lam, Schroder Tokyo manager Masaki Taketsume and AXA Sterling Credit Short Duration Bond co-manager Nicolas Trindade.
Completing the list of new entrants are abrdn's Osamu Yamagata, Mark Pearson (Arcus Investment), Urs Beck (EFG), Jeroen Brand (Goldman Sachs), Freddie Lait (Latitude), Carl Vine (M&G), Derek Devens (Neuberger Berman), Eve Tournier and Jing Yang (both Pimco), Douglas Ledingham (Stewart Investors), Taymour Tamaddon (T. Rowe Price), and Campe Goodman and Evan Ouellette (both Wellington).
Charles Younes, deputy chief investment officer at FE Investments, said: “The Alpha Manager rating is our most consistent rating at FE fundinfo, as it considers a manager’s track record across his or her entire investment career. That rating is therefore immune to short-term investment cycle and market rotations.
“Therefore the list of Alpha-rated managers tends to be unchanged year on year, although it is always great to find rising talents reaching this distinction. And the 2024 vintage is no different to previous years.”
In addition to the new entrants, four previous Alpha Managers have been re-awarded the rating. These are Fidelity’s Raymond Ma, Heartwood’s David Absolon, Schroders’ King Fuei Lee and Vermeer’s Tim Gregory.
There are also 10 managers who have held Alpha Manager status for more than 15 years: John Chatfeild-Roberts (Jupiter), David Dudding (Columbia Threadneedle), Julian Fosh (Liontrust), Leigh Himsworth (Fidelity), Martin Lau (FSSA), Daniel Nickols (Jupiter), Jeremy Podger (Fidelity), Mark Slater (Slater Investments), James Thomson (Rathbones) and Richard Woolnough (M&G).
When it comes to FE fundinfo Alpha Managers by fund sector, the latest rebalance saw another strong showing for global equity managers. There has been continuous growth in the number of Alpha Managers in the IA Global sector – there are now 72 in the peer group, up from 62 in 2023.
IA Global is the sector that is home to the most Alpha Managers by a significant margin. IA Europe Excluding UK is in second place thanks to its 20 Alpha Managers, following by IA UK All Companies with 17.
Fidelity continues to be the asset management house with the most Alpha Managers with 10 holding the rating, followed by JP Morgan Asset Management with nine. Baillie Gifford, Schroders and Wellington hold joint third place with seven Alpha Managers each, followed by Janus Henderson (six), Jupiter (five), Premier Miton (five) and Royal London (five).