Discovery Invest's Balanced Fund outperforms over all periods
The Discovery Balanced Fund has enjoyed top quartile performance over one, three, five, seven and ten years.
- Ten years: 9.98% (benchmark: 8.19%)
- Five years: 10.78% (benchmark: 8.37%)
- Three years: 6.24% (benchmark: 4.09%)
- One year: 10.85% (benchmark: 7.3%)
The benchmark for this fund is the peer group average.
The winning formula
Fund manager, Chris Freund says an active approach to both asset allocation and asset selection has been key in contributing to returns.
"Over the last few years we were more cautious in terms of our outlook and positioning in domestic growth assets, such as equities. Our preference has been global equities where we generated significant returns for our clients. That said, over the last few months we have become more constructive on the outlook for South Africa," he says.
Looking forward, the fund managers remain positive on the outlook for global growth but are on the constant look-out for signs of economies (and markets) overheating which could bring an end to the multi-year bull market investors enjoyed globally. Freund says that on the domestic front, management is very pleased with the changes seen on the political front, which should be positive for future growth expectations.
Current fund positioning
The Discovery Balanced Fund currently retains a fairly healthy allocation to domestic bonds with little exposure to domestic property and offshore bonds.
From an equity perspective, the unique investment philosophy has ensured that this fund delivers consistent returns, providing investors with a great investment opportunity. We select companies which are receiving positive earnings revisions and that are trading at reasonable valuations. We have chosen to maintain a significant exposure to domestic listed counters which will continue to benefit from the improving global environment (examples include Mondi, Naspers, Richemont and specific Resources such as Anglo American) where earnings are receiving positive revisions.
In the rest of the portfolio we currently have exposure to specific ‘SA Inc.’ counters where earnings expectations continue to improve against a more optimistic domestic back drop. Some of our key holdings include Standard Bank, Mr Price, Foschini and Imperial. The top five holdings currently are Naspers, Standard Bank, Anglo American, First Rand and Richemont.
Read more about our other top performing funds below
1. The Discovery Flexible Property Fund was listed as the third top performing unit trust fund in the entire collective investment scheme industry with an annualised return of 15.50% over the 10 years to end December 2017.
2. The Global Value Equity Feeder Fund was ranked as the fifth highest-performing fund in the entire collective investment scheme industry over three years and second highest-performing fund in the ASISA Global Equity General Sector over three years – by ASISA
3. The Discovery Moderate Balanced Fund has produced sterling results for investors, outperforming peers over all 3 and 5 year rolling periods since inception to the end of January 2018.
4. The Discovery Diversified Income Fund has also had a great month with improved rankings over the mid-term. In November, the market was very nervous with a flight of capital out of South Africa. However, after the ANC leadership election, bonds in particular pulled back from the brink providing a stellar return of just under 6% in December alone. Fund manager, Malcolm Charles expands.
*Sources: Investec Asset Management and Profile Data. All performance figures are as at 28 February 2018, sourced from Profile Data.
Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice and is meant for information purposes only. Discovery Life Investment Services (Pty) Ltd branded as Discovery Invest is an authorised financial services provider. Registration number 2007/005969/07.
What to know before investing in collective investment schemes (unit trusts) Before you invest in a collective investment scheme, there is important information you should know. This includes how we calculate the value of your investment, what affects the value of your investment, and investment charges you may have to pay. This notice sets out the information in detail. Speak to your financial adviser if you have any questions about this information or about your investment.
What the investment is
This Fund is a Collective Investment Scheme (also known as a unit trust fund) regulated by the Collective Investment Schemes Control Act, 45 of 2002 (CISCA). Collective investment schemes in securities are generally medium- to long-term investments (around three to five years).
Who manages the investment
Discovery Life Collective Investments (Pty) Ltd, branded as Discovery Invest, is the manager of the Fund. Discovery Invest is a member of the Association of Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA).
You decide about the suitability of this investment for your needs
By investing in this Fund, you confirm that:
- We did not provide you with any financial and investment advice about this investment
- You have taken particular care to consider whether this investment is suitable for your own needs, personal investment objectives and financial situation.
You understand that your investment may go up or down
- The value of units (known as participatory interests) may go down as well as up.
- Past performance is not necessarily an indication of future performance.
- Exchange rates may fluctuate, causing the value of investments with international exposure to go up or down.
- The capital value and investment returns of your portfolio may go up or down. We do not provide any guarantees about the capital or the returns of a portfolio.
How we calculate the unit prices and value the portfolios
- We calculate unit trust prices on a net-asset value basis. (The net asset value is defined as the total market value of all assets in the unit portfolio, including any income accrued and less any allowable deductions from the portfolio, divided by the number of units in issue.)
- The securities in collective investment schemes are traded at ruling prices using forward pricing. (Forward pricing means pricing all buy and sell orders of units according to the next net-asset value).
- We value all portfolios every business day at 16:00, except on the last business day of the month when we value the portfolios at 17:00.
- For the money market portfolio, the price of each unit is aimed at a constant value. This means that all returns are provided in the form of a distribution and that a change in the capital value will be an exception and only due to abnormal losses.
- Buy and sell orders will receive the same price for that day if we receive them before 11:00 for the money market portfolio and before 14:00for the other portfolios.
- We publish fund prices every business day, with a three-day lag, on www.discovery.co.za
About managing the portfolio
- The portfolio manager may borrow up to 10% of the portfolio's market value from any appropriate financial institution in order to bridge insufficient liquidity.
- The portfolio manager can borrow and lend scrip.
- We value all portfolios every business day at 16:00, except on the last business day of the month when we value the portfolios at 17:00.
- The portfolio may be closed in order to be managed according to the mandate (if applicable).
Fees and charges for this investment
There are fees and other charges for this investment.
The fees and charges that apply to this investment are included in the net asset value of the units and you do not have to pay any extra amounts. These fees and charges may include:
- The initial fund management fee
- Commission
- Incentives (if applicable)Incentives (if applicable)
- Brokerage fees
- Market securities tax
- Auditor fees
- Bank charges
- Trustee fees
- Custodian fees
You can ask us for a schedule of fees, charges and maximum commissions.
The total expense ratio
- Total expense ratio means a measure of a portfolio's assets that have been expended as payment for services rendered in the management of the portfolio or collective investment scheme, expressed as a percentage of the average daily value of the portfolio or collective investment scheme calculated over a period of a financial year by the manager of the portfolio or collective investment scheme.
- A percentage of the net asset value of the portfolio is for fees and other charges relating to managing the portfolio. The percentage is referred to as the total expense ratio (TER).
- A higher TER does not necessarily imply poor return, nor does a low TER imply good return.
- The current TER is not an indication of any future TERs. If fees go up, the TER is also expected to increase.
- During any phase-in period, the TERs do not include information gathered over a full year.
Transaction costs (TC)
- Investors and advisers can use transaction cost (TC) as a measure to work out the costs they will incur in buying and selling the underlying assets of a portfolio.
- The transaction cost is expressed as a percentage of the daily net asset value of the portfolio calculated over three years on an annualised basis. (This means the amount of interest an investment earns each year on average over three years, expressed as a percentage.)
- Transaction cost is a necessary costs in administering the Fund. It affects the Fund's returns. It should not be considered in isolation as returns may also be affected by many other factors over time, including:
- Market returns
- The type of fund
- The investment decisions of the investment manager
- The TER.
- Where a fund is less than one year old, the TER and transaction cost cannot be calculated accurately. This is because:
- The life span of the fund is short
- Calculations are based on actual data where possible and best estimates where actual data is not available.
- The TER and the TC shown on the fund sheet are the latest available figures.
Discovery Life Investment Services Pty (Ltd): Registration number 2007/005969/07, branded as Discovery Invest, is an authorised financial services provider. Terms and conditions apply.
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