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Royal London Corporate Bond Trust Class Y - Income (GBP)

Sell:90.91p Buy:90.91p Change: 0.18p (0.20%)
Prices as at 4 December 2024
Sell:90.91p
Buy:90.91p
Change: 0.18p (0.20%)
You can buy or sell holdings in this fund through a Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, SIPP or Fund and Share Account
Prices as at 4 December 2024
Sell:90.91p
Buy:90.91p
Change: 0.18p (0.20%)
Prices as at 4 December 2024
You can buy or sell holdings in this fund through a Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, SIPP or Fund and Share Account
The selling price currently displayed is higher than the buying price. This can occur temporarily for a variety of reasons; shortly before the market opens, after the market closes or because of extraordinary price volatility during the trading day.

Our view on this Fund

This fund is on the Wealth Shortlist of funds our analysts believe have the potential to outperform their peers over the long term. However, this is not a recommendation to buy.

We rate Shalin Shah and the bond team at Royal London highly. They're prepared to invest in parts of the bond market a lot of other investors ignore. Looking in under-researched areas throws up opportunities to boost returns, but it can add risk, so we view this as a more adventurous corporate bond fund. It could offer a slightly higher yield and greater long-term performance potential, but there are no guarantees. It's also available through HL with low ongoing charges.

We think it's a great option if you're looking to invest in corporate bonds and are prepared to accept a little more volatility for what we see as excellent long-term potential.

Our view on the sector

Funds in this sector invest mainly in 'investment grade bonds'. These are issued by companies that are more likely to be able to repay their debts to bondholders. As such, they tend to offer lower yields than bonds issued by companies that are less likely to be able to pay off their debts. While they tend to offer lower yields than bonds issued by higher risk companies, prices of these bonds tend to be less volatile over time. We think a corporate bond fund could be a good addition to a diversified portfolio invested to generate income.

Performance Analysis

While the fund is more adventurous than peers, and is often more volatile too, it has typically lost as much value as peers during market falls and outperformed them a little as markets rise.

Therefore investors who've been prepared to ride out the dips have been rewarded with excellent long-term performance. Past performance is not a guide to future returns though.

Investment Philosophy

The managers search for bonds that other investors have misunderstood. Often they'll be perceived as too risky. But with some extra analysis the Royal London team can often be confident there are sufficient rewards on offer for the risks being taken. They typically take a long-term view, with the aim to exploit inefficiencies and find undervalued opportunities. They're prepared to look far and wide to find these opportunities.

Process and Portfolio Construction

We think the team's edge comes from carrying out detailed research into 'low profile' parts of the market. These under-researched bonds may be unrated (the issuing company has not sought a formal assessment of credit quality from a credit ratings agency), complex and often secured against a company's assets. This provides the opportunity to add value on a case-by-case basis, although the lack of a credit rating adds liquidity risk. The fund typically holds unrated and secured bonds and has a focus on A and BBB-rated bonds, which sit at the lower end of the investment grade corporate bond spectrum, although the fund also invests in some higher-risk high-yield bonds. The fund aims to be well diversified.

Please note that charges are taken from capital, which could boost the income, but reduces potential for capital growth.

question mark Manager Track Record Based on HL Quantitative Research

  • Royal London Corporate Bond A Inc
  • IA £ Corporate Bond
FROM: TO:


Source: Refinitiv Lipper

Fund Track Record

03/12/19 to 03/12/20 03/12/20 to 03/12/21 03/12/21 to 03/12/22 03/12/22 to 03/12/23 03/12/23 to 03/12/24
Annual return 6.73% 3.71% -15.31% 4.86% 10.71%

Please remember past performance is not a guide to future returns. Where no data is shown, figures are not available. This information is provided to help you choose your own investments, remember they can fall as well as rise in value so you may not get back the original amount invested.

Information about the fund

Fund manager biography

manager photo
Manager Name: Shalin Shah
Manager start date: 1 October 2017
Manager located in: London

Shalin Shah joined the Fixed Income team in 2008. Prior to becoming a credit Fund Manager Shalin was involved in a variety of areas including LDI (Liability Driven Investment) product development and risk management. Before joining RLAM, Shalin worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he was involved in advising clients on a variety of investment solutions, including LDI and strategic asset allocation. Shalin holds a BSc in MORSE (Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics) from the University of Warwick and is a qualified actuary.

manager photo
Manager Name: Matt Franklin
Manager start date: 31 January 2022
Manager located in: London

Matt is responsible for the management of a variety of sterling corporate bond portfolios, as co-manager of Royal London Sustainable Managed Income, Sustainable Managed Growth, Corporate Bond Monthly Income and Corporate Bond, as well as several segregated portfolios. He joined RLAM's Sterling Credit team in 2014 as a credit analyst, building a deep understanding of both unsecured corporate bonds and asset backed securities across a variety of sectors, as well as playing a key role in the development of the team's approach to ESG integration. Matt has a degree in Economics from Durham University, is a CFA Charterholder, and a Certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM).

Data policy - All information should be used for indicative purposes only. You should independently check data before making any investment decision. HL cannot guarantee that the data is accurate or complete, and accepts no responsibility for how it may be used. Benchmark data provided subject to this disclaimer.
You can buy or sell holdings in this fund through a Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, SIPP or Fund and Share Account