Latest Morningstar Stock and Fund Research

Morningstar's 200+ analysts have released numerous new research reports on companies and funds in recent weeks

Holly Cook 9 July, 2012 | 4:05PM
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Morningstar's 200+ analysts have published new and updated research reports on a wide swath of companies and funds in recent weeks. Below are just some of the highlights. Morningstar Research is available to Premium subscribers--login to read the full reports. Not a Premium member? Get instant access when you take a free 14-day trial.

Click here to see all the latest Morningstar research across stocks and funds.

Company Stock
Aviva
(AV.) has announced a new strategic plan, which our analysts think makes sense and fits well with the ongoing de-risking process. Aviva is currently rated 4 Stars by Morningstar. Read the full report here.

Barclays' (BARC) multiple resignations from within senior ranks is a substantial blow to the banking firm, but could eventually lead to more stable results for shareholders. Barclays is currently rated 4 Stars. Non-Premium members can read an excerpt of the report here; the full Premium report is available here.

Investment Trusts
The board of Fidelity Special Values (FSV) has announced a change of manager at the fund.  Effective 1st September, Sanjeev Shah will be stepping down and Alex Wright will be taking up the reins. Wright has been with Fidelity for 11 years and, for the last four, he has been running a UK small-cap fund. He is also Shah's assistant on the open-ended Fidelity Special Situations (rated Silver). We have placed the closed-end fund's rating Under Review and will be meeting with Wright shortly after he takes over, to assess the impact on the fund for existing shareholders. Read the latest report here.

Perpetual Income & Growth (PLI) stands out from the crowd. There’s much to like here: an experienced manager, with an effective process that has delivered both capital growth and income over the long term, and a fee structure that’s relatively simple, competitive and fair. The fund is currently rated Gold. Read the full report here.

OEICs and Unit Trusts
Edinburgh Partners European Opportunities is an excellent offering within its category, with a strong team-based process. The fund’s strategy kept it reasonably competitive in 2010 and well ahead of its category peers in 2011. The fund is currently rated Silver. Read the full report here.

Fidelity Funds Emerging Europe, Middle East & Africa is a strong choice for EMEA exposure.  Nick Price is a good manager who is backed by a solid supporting cast. His process is sensible and well-suited to his skill set. The fund is currently rated Bronze. Read the full report here.

ETFs
HSBC FTSE 100 ETF
(HUKX) provides broad exposure to large capitalisation UK equities and can be used as a core holding. Investing in this well-diversified fund could appeal to those looking to build a UK-centric portfolio. However, it is important for investors to examine the fund's holdings. With a 20% weighting, the oil & gas sector has recently supplanted the financial sector as the top sector represented in the fund. Overall, a third of this ETF is invested in shares of resources firms including energy and mining companies such as Royal Dutch Shell and Rio Tinto, whose share price is primarily driven by international commodity prices. Read the full report here.

iShares Barclays Capital Euro Corporate Bond ex-Financials 1-5 (IEX5) offers investors exposure to EUR-denominated investment-grade corporate bonds with a 1-5y maturity issued by industrial and utility companies. Investors typically choose to invest in corporate bonds for their propensity to generate steady income streams at higher yields than government-issued debt and to be less volatile than equities. Within the corporate bond market, this ETF leans towards less risky offerings by limiting its duration and excluding financials, which tend to carry higher risk than industrial or utility companies. Read the full report here.

The information contained within is for educational and informational purposes ONLY. It is not intended nor should it be considered an invitation or inducement to buy or sell a security or securities noted within nor should it be viewed as a communication intended to persuade or incite you to buy or sell security or securities noted within. Any commentary provided is the opinion of the author and should not be considered a personalised recommendation. The information contained within should not be a person's sole basis for making an investment decision. Please contact your financial professional before making an investment decision.

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About Author

Holly Cook

Holly Cook  is Manager, Morningstar EMEA Websites

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