Witan’s results for the year ended 31 December 2014 show them generating a return on net assets of 6.6%, 1.1% ahead of their benchmark (a composite of four different regional FTSE All-World Indices) and well ahead of the 1.2% return on the FTSE All-Share Index. The share price total return was 15.1%, enhanced by the move during the year from a 6.1% discount at the end of 2013 to a 1.3% premium at the year-end. They raised their dividend for the 40th consecutive year, this time by 6.9% to 15.4p. The dividend is now 40x what it was in 1974.
While the dividend story is impressive. We think the real achievement in the year was Witan issuing shares to meet demand which reflects the improvement in performance in recent years and their commitment to discount control.
Within the portfolio, Artemis, Lindsell Train, Lansdowne Partners, MFS, Veritas and Marathon all outperformed their various benchmarks with the highest outperformance being achieved by Lansdowne and Lindsell Train. The biggest underperformance was delivered by Tweedy, Browne.
WTAN : Witan outperforms again