Train and Wright enter fund manager Hall of Fame

There are 10 new entrants to FE’s Alpha Manager Hall of Fame, including equity income investor Francis Brooke of Troy Asset Management, quality growth manager Nick Train, and Fidelity’s value and small cap guru Alex Wright.   

Of the 42 managers that made it into the 2017 list, more than half have kept their seat for the third-year running, which includes investment veterans such as Neil Woodford, Standard Life’s Harry Nimmo, and Fidelity’s Ian Spreadbury. 

Schroders and Fidelity International topped the league table at a group level.  

Investors can be confident that the performance of managers in the FE Hall of Fame is down to genuine skill, rather than luck.Mika-John Southworth

The FE ratings are largely based on the consistency of outperformance compared to their benchmark, and the performance in both rising and falling markets.

Mika-John Southworth, director at FE, said: “Investors crave consistency from asset managers to help protect their capital, especially in periods of prolonged uncertainty and market volatility.”   

He said seven years of consistent outperformance is a “big ask”, but said investors can be confident that the performance of managers in the FE Hall of Fame is down to genuine skill and conviction, rather than luck.

New entrants to the FE Alpha Manager Hall of Fame 2017

“Given the unpredictable market conditions we have been facing in recent years, it is particularly encouraging to see so many managers enter the FE Hall of Fame for the first time,” Mr Southworth added.

Darius McDermott, managing director of Chelsea Financial Services, said there is some overlap with ratings provided by Fund Calibre.

“The list has got a decent consistency of managers, which you would expect given FE are looking at consistency of alpha generation.”

“Our ratings business, Fund Calibre, has also seen very little change with managers, so if you take a long-term study of alpha you would expect it to give you a consistent list.”

FE Alpha Manager Hall of Fame Members 2017

katherine.denham@ft.com