BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust Plc - Portfolio Update
The information contained in this release was correct as at
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-home.html.
All information is at
Performance at month end with net income reinvested
One Three One Three Five month months year years years % % % % % Sterling: Net asset value^ -7.2 11.2 12.4 37.6 7.1 Share price -7.6 15.1 12.4 33.1 16.6 MSCI EM Latin America -4.7 12.0 11.2 46.2 15.1 (Net Return)^^ US Dollars: Net asset value^ -7.3 16.7 16.2 27.7 3.7 Share price -7.7 20.8 16.2 23.4 12.9 MSCI EM Latin America -4.8 17.5 15.0 35.6 11.4 (Net Return)^^
^cum income
^^The Company’s performance benchmark (the MSCI EM Latin America Index) may be calculated on either a Gross or a Net return basis. Net return (NR) indices calculate the reinvestment of dividends net of withholding taxes using the tax rates applicable to non-resident institutional investors, and hence give a lower total return than indices where calculations are on a Gross basis (which assumes that no withholding tax is suffered). As the Company is subject to withholding tax rates for the majority of countries in which it invests, the NR basis is felt to be the most accurate, appropriate, consistent and fair comparison for the Company.
Sources: BlackRock, Standard & Poor’s Micropal
At month end
Net asset value - capital only: 460.09p Net asset value - including income: 463.13p Share price: 407.00p Total assets#: £143.5m Discount (share price to cum income NAV): 12.1% Average discount* over the month – cum income: 9.6%Net Gearing at month end**: 5.3% Gearing range (as a % of net assets): 0-25% Net yield##: 5.6% Ordinary shares in issue(excluding 2,181,662 shares held in 29,448,641 treasury): Ongoing charges***: 1.13%
#Total assets include current year revenue.
##The yield of 5.6% is calculated based on total dividends declared in the last 12 months as at the date of this announcement as set out below (totalling
2023 Q1 Interim dividend of
2023 Q2 Interim dividend of
2023 Q3 Interim dividend of
2024 Q4 Interim dividend of
*The discount is calculated using the cum income NAV (expressed in sterling terms).
**Net cash/net gearing is calculated using debt at par, less cash and cash equivalents and fixed interest investments as a percentage of net assets.
*** The Company’s ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily net assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation and certain non-recurring items for the year ended
Geographic Exposure % of Total Assets % of Equity MSCI EM Latin America Portfolio * Index Brazil 58.8 58.7 60.6 Mexico 27.9 27.9 30.0 Chile 4.7 4.7 5.0 Argentina 2.9 2.9 0.0 Colombia 2.6 2.6 1.2 Panama 1.6 1.6 0.0 Multi-Country 1.6 1.6 0.0 Peru 0.0 0.0 3.2 Net current Liabilities (inc. -0.1 0.0 0.0 fixed interest) ----- ----- ----- Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 ===== ===== =====
^Total assets for the purposes of these calculations exclude bank overdrafts, and the net current assets figure shown in the table above therefore excludes bank overdrafts equivalent to 5.2% of the Company’s net asset value.
Sector % of Equity Portfolio* % of Benchmark* Financials 21.8 26.0 Consumer Staples 19.1 16.5 Materials 16.6 17.4 Industrials 11.0 10.0 Energy 10.9 14.0 Consumer Discretionary 10.4 1.9 Health Care 3.9 1.5 Real Estate 2.7 1.2 Communication Services 2.0 4.1 Information Technology 1.6 0.5 Utilites 0.0 6.9 ----- ----- Total 100.0 100.0 ===== =====
* excluding net current assets & fixed interest
Country of Risk % of % of Company Equity Portfolio Benchmark Petrobrás: Brazil Equity 2.2 Equity ADR 3.9 5.0 Preference Shares ADR 3.5 6.1 Vale – ADS Brazil 9.0 7.3 Walmart de México y Centroamérica Mexico 6.1 3.4 Banco Bradesco: Brazil Equity ADR 4.2 0.7 Preference Shares 1.6 2.6 FEMSA - ADR Mexico 4.7 4.2 B3 Brazil 4.2 2.4 AmBev: Equity Brazil 0.8 Equity ADR Brazil 3.3 4.7 Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico – Mexico 3.8 1.0 ADS Itaú Unibanco – ADR Brazil 3.7 5.1 Grupo Financiero Banorte Mexico 3.3 4.2
Commenting on the markets,
The Company’s NAV fell -7.2% in January, underperforming the benchmark, MSCI Emerging Markets Latin America Index, which declined -4.7% on a net basis over the same period. All performance figures are in sterling terms with dividends reinvested.
At the portfolio level, our off-benchmark holding in an Ecuadorian gold miner was the key contributor to performance, alongside our position in Colombian Financials. On the other hand, stock selection in the Consumer Discretionary space in
From a security lens, having no exposure to Brazilian car rental company, Localiza, and Brazilian electric equipment firm, WEG, were the two biggest contributors to relative returns. Both companies declined due to anticipated operational challenges in their specific segments. They were also affected by the overall downturn in the Brazilian market, driven by expectations of rate cuts being pushed out in the US. Overweight position in Soma, the Brazilian fashion retailer was another contributor to performance as the stock rose following news of a merger with
On the flipside, Chilean lithium producer, SQM, detracted. Lithium prices continue to struggle due to oversupply, but we believe that they have reached cash cost support levels, which should lead to supply curtailments. In addition, SQM faced disruptions in its operations due to roadblocks caused by local community protests, which have now been resolved. Brazilian real estate developer, Ez Tec, was another detractor on the back of weak operating results. An overweight position in truck leasing company, Vamos, also weighed on returns over the month.
Over the course of January, we made few changes to the portfolio. We rotated some of our Brazilian exposure by reducing our position in digital payments company, Pagseuro, and adding to our holding in Ez tec, based on relative performance. We also added to our holding in Brazilian iron ore producer, Vale, as both the stock and iron ore prices have come off. We are also positive on the company’s ability to deliver decent results as seasonally higher volumes should help on cost dilution. Elsewhere, we initiated a position in Lundin Gold, a high-quality gold mining company with operations in
Outlook
We remain optimistic about the outlook for
We remain positive on the outlook for the Mexican economy as it is a key beneficiary of the friend-shoring of global supply chains.
We continue to closely monitor the political and economic situation in
We acknowledge the strengths of the data in
1
Source: BlackRock, as of
ENDS
Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.com/uk/brla on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager’s website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager’s website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.