The world’s greatest investors: Neil Woodford
Like any good value investor, says Matthew Partridge, Neil Woodford is prepared to wait for his returns.
Neil Woodford, 56, graduated from Exeter University in 1981. He also studied at London Business School. In 1988, after working for various City employers, he became a fund manager for Invesco Perpetual, running several of its funds. In 2014 he left to set up his own company, Woodford Investment Management.
What was his strategy?
He also believes in holding a concentrated portfolio of carefully selected, high-conviction stocks, rather than spreading wealth thinly over hundreds of stocks. His portfolios also have lower turnover than most comparable funds.
Did it work?
Despite an erratic performance after the financial crisis, his funds held a total of £33bn in assets by the time he left Invesco Perpetual. Over the last two years, his CF Woodford Equity Income Fund has done well, returning just under 20%, compared with an average of 9.7% for similar funds.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
What was his best trade?
What lessons does he have for investors?
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.

-
High earners face £15k income hit by 2029 following Autumn BudgetRachel Reeves’s Autumn Budget means high earners – or HENRYs – are now looking at an income hit running into the thousands. Can you avoid it?
-
Millions underestimate how many paydays are left until retirement - why you should be counting your payslipsKeeping track of how long you will be earning a salary for can help work out how much you need to put into a workplace pension
-
Neil Woodford’s back – but has he really learned anything?Opinion Disgraced fund manager Neil Woodford is planning a comeback. But he doesn’t seem to have learned much from his many mistakes. So why would anyone invest with him now?
-
Neil Woodford’s back – but sometimes sorry isn’t enoughAdvice Neil Woodford’s funds blew up in 2019. Now he is on the comeback trail. But his apologies are unconvincing.
-
Woodford investor? Your first payment is coming soonNews Private investors left stranded by the collapse of the Woodford Equity Income fund will soon be getting at least some of their money back. But they will have to wait a while longer to see how much more – if any – they will receive.
-
Neil Woodford continues to cast a shadow over his successor at InvescoFeatures Mark Barnett, former star manager Neil Woodford’s successor at Invesco, has applied the same formula, and is struggling.
-
Is it time to buy Patient Capital Trust?Features Neil Woodford’s Patient Capital Trust has been taken over by asset manager Schroders. The share price has surged - but should you buy in? John Stepek looks at the trust’s prospects.
-
Neil Woodford: no silver lining for his investorsEditor's letter Neil Woodford made every mistake it is possible to make as a money manager. And his investors have been stiffed. But however wrong it all went, Woodford never stopped taking the fees.
-
Woodford’s empire collapses – what happens to his investors now?Features With Neil Woodford getting his marching orders and his funds being shut down, John Stepek explains what it means for his former empire, and for those with money locked in.
-
The fall of the house of Woodford – and what it means for your moneyFeatures Neil Woodford has been fired from his Equity Income fund, which is now being wound up. John Stepek looks at how he got into this mess, and what it means for investors.