Nick Train: how investors should navigate Covid's winners and losers

The challenge facing investors, says fund manager Nick Train, is that this year’s winners have priced in a lot of optimism, but relief for depressed stocks may be some way off.

Nick Train is one of the UK’s most successful fund managers. His strategy boils down to buying good companies with high-quality brands, holding for the long run and – famously – spending as little time as possible worrying about the wider economy. However, the Covid-19 lockdown has been hard to ignore and in his commentary to the half-year results of the Lindsell Train investment trust (which has climbed by more than 600% over the past decade), he gives his views on prospects for his holdings in a post-coronavirus world.  

Companies with a “digital growth story” have actively benefited from lockdown, notes Train, with payments processor PayPal and video-games giant Nintendo among the trust’s biggest gainers this year. However, the drinks industry – another of Train’s favoured sectors – has lagged. In other financial shocks “drinks companies have earned a reputation for being ‘defensive’”. But this time the likes of Heineken have suffered as pubs and restaurants have shut and people have socialised less. 

The challenge facing all investors, notes Train, is that this year’s winners now have a lot of optimism baked into prices, but relief for depressed stocks may yet be some way off. “Tourism, live sport, festivals, pubs; when you get down to it: cities. All of these answer basic human needs and I expect will come roaring back. But when?” For now, the portfolio is about two-thirds invested in current or potential “digital winners”, with the rest “in the owners of beloved and trusted consumer brands”, which Train considers the right “strategic shape”.

Recommended

April price hikes - these are the bills going up in April
Personal finance

April price hikes - these are the bills going up in April

Households will be hit with a series of bill increases from April - here’s what they are and how you can save money.
31 Mar 2023
Where will house prices go in 2023?
House prices

Where will house prices go in 2023?

We explore what could happen to house prices in 2023 as the market continues to slow down.
31 Mar 2023
Investors flock to NS&I savings after SVB scare
Savings

Investors flock to NS&I savings after SVB scare

Investors are increasingly pumping their cash into the safety-net of NS&I - lured by increased rates and the security of a government-backed savings a…
31 Mar 2023
Nationwide: UK house prices decline at the fastest pace since 2009
House prices

Nationwide: UK house prices decline at the fastest pace since 2009

UK house prices fell for the seventh month in a row in March, Nationwide’s house price index showed.
31 Mar 2023

Most Popular

Will energy prices go down in 2023?
Personal finance

Will energy prices go down in 2023?

Ofgem’s price cap is now predicted to fall to around £2,000, based on average typical use, for the first time since 2022. We have all the details.
31 Mar 2023
Best areas for buy-to-let in the UK
Buy to let

Best areas for buy-to-let in the UK

If you’re thinking of getting a buy-to-let property you’ll want to know the areas in the country with the highest rental yields
29 Mar 2023
The best one-year fixed savings accounts - March 2023
Savings

The best one-year fixed savings accounts - March 2023

Earn over 4% on one-year fixed savings accounts.
30 Mar 2023