FE fundinfo reveals 2024 Alpha Managers

Almost 20 fund managers have been handed their first FE fundinfo Alpha Manager rating this year.

In total, 18 managers joined the Alpha Manager list for the first time, which is compiled each year by global leader of fund information, technology and services FE fundinfo and recognises the top 10 per cent of UK retail-facing managers, based on their entire career performance.

New entrants

The new entrants include fund managers at Jeroen Brand (Goldman Sachs) who manages the Goldman Sachs Europe Sustainable Equity Fund, James Bullock (Lindsell Train) who manages the Lindsell Train Global Equity Fund, Daniel J. Ivascyn (Pimco) who manages the Pimco GIS Diversified Income Fund, William Lam (Invesco) who runs the Invesco Asian Equity Fund, Evan Ouellette (Wellington) who manages the Wellington Opportunistic Emerging Market Debt Fund, Masaki Taketsume (Schroders) who runs the Schroder Tokyo Fund and Nicolas Trindade (AXA) who manages the AXA World Funds Global Strategic Bonds Fund.

In addition to those who received Alpha Manager status for the first time, four have returned to the list having previously featured. These include Raymond Ma (Fidelity) who runs the Fidelity China Consumer Fund, King Fuei Lee (Schroders) who runs the Schroder ISF Asian Equity Yield Fund, Tim Gregory (Vermeer) who runs the Vermeer Global Fund and David Absolon (Heartwood) who runs the Handelsbanken Defensive Multi Asset Fund.

Longevity

While there have been fresh and returning names in the list this year, there are also several Alpha Managers who have been consistent long-term recipients of the status.

As of 2024, 10 Alpha Managers have now each received the rating over 15 years. These managers are John Chatfield-Roberts (Jupiter), David Dudding (Threadneedle), Julian Fosh (Liontrust), Leigh Himsworth (Fidelity), Martin Lau (FSSA), Daniel Nickols (Jupiter), Jeremy Podger (Fidelity), Mark Slater (Slater Investments), James Thomson (Rathbone) and Richard Woolnough (M&G).

Charles Younes, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, FE Investments, said:

“The Alpha Manager Rating is our most highly regarded rating at FE fundinfo, as it considers a manager’s track record across his or her entire investment career. The rating is therefore immune to short-term investment cycle and market rotations.

“The list of Alpha-rated managers tends to be unchanged year on year, although it is always great to find rising talents reaching this distinction. And the 2024 vintage is no different to previous years."

Groups

While a number of new Alpha Managers entered the list in 2024, there was little impact on the group standings.

Fidelity, who took top spot last year, kept their title this year maintaining their 10 Alpha Managers. In similar fashion, JP Morgan who jumped into second spot last year held that position with nine Alpha Managers, while the 2022 group winners, Baillie Gifford remained in third – alongside Schroders and Wellington Management Funds – with seven Alpha Managers.
 
Behind the top three, the chasing pack were made up of Janus Henderson who have six Alpha Managers while Royal London, Premier Miton and Jupiter all with five Alpha Managers.

Sectors

Once again across the sectors, the 2024 Alpha Manager ratings revealed another strong year for global markets following on from the success story of 2023. The IA Global Sector showed continuous growth in its number of Alpha Managers going from 62 in 2023 to 72 this year. Taking second spot in the list was the IA Europe excluding UK which registered 20 Alpha Managers in 2024, while third place went to the IA UK All Companies sectors which had 17.

For more information on the Alpha Managers, please visit fefundinfo.com