The relatively new management team at global income investment trust Scottish American Investment Company (SCAM) have high standards to meet given its impressive 38 years straight of dividend growth.

Baillie Gifford’s James Dow and Toby Ross took over management from Dominic Neary less than a year ago (August 2017). Our suspicion is that it should be a smooth transition. The pair have spent their entire careers immersed in Baillie Gifford’s unique culture and have been part of the Scottish American’s investment decision-making process
since 2013.

Scottish American’s approach is long-term and concentrates on identifying cash generative companies capable of paying dependable and growing dividends that will beat inflation. Yet the trust – also known as SAINTS – stands apart from many  other income funds by being prepared to be different, straying from typical global equity income benchmark names in favour of better opportunities.

The trust aims to deliver total returns of 8% annually over the investment cycle, roughly split as 5% from capital and 3% from dividends.

Performance over the past five years has been significantly better than that target, with Scottish American’s share price rallying from 232.5p to 372.5p now. That averages out at 12% a year capital gains, which can be added to the 2.5% a year average income increase since 2012.

Net asset value (NAV) has grown more than 60% since 2014 which is a very decent performance.

FUNDAMENTALS REMAIN THE FOUNDATIONS

As is common to all Baillie Gifford funds, investment decisions are research-based. The managers are also able to draw on the deep well of shared experience and expertise across the Baillie Gifford team which means drawing from the best in-house ideas.

This includes opportunistic, if limited, fixed income assets and strategic UK property investments, the latter outsourced to specialist investment manager Olim.

But bonds and property are really just a sideline to the main global equities approach, where German stock exchange operator Deutsche Borse, Coca Cola and insurer Prudential (PRU) are key holdings at present.

Ongoing charges of 0.8% are competitive while the annual dividend, paid in quarterly chunks, yields 3% on an historic measure.

A reliable income growth track record and Baillie Gifford’s stock picking skills make Scottish American ‘an attractive option for investors seeking a dependable source of growing income’, according to Winterflood. Its analysts say the real performance test will be in more difficult market conditions. (SF)

Want to know more about Scottish American Investment Company?

Come to Shares’ investment trust event in London on 3 July where fund manager James Dow will be giving a presentation and taking part in a panel discussion.

Register for free tickets: www.sharesmagazine.co.uk/events

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