Twenty-two funds have been top-quartile performers in the entire IMA unit trust and OEIC universe over one-, three-, five- and 10-year periods, according to FE Trustnet research. 

There are many more that have achieved the accolade in just their own sector, but these funds have proven their worth not only against their peer group, but the whole industry. 

The list includes the FE five crown-rated funds First State Global Emerging Markets, Liontrust UK Smaller Companies, L&G Asian Income and Trojan, which are all favourites with retail investors. 

Consistent top-quartile performers

Name	1-yr returns (%)	3-yr returns (%)	5-yr returns (%)	10-yr returns (%)
First State - Global Emerging Markets	1.34	64.06	70.87	341.8
Liontrust - UK Smaller Companies	8.13	80.56	28.98	204.3
AXA - Framlington Biotech	28.32	64.34	75.13	185.73
Invesco - Emerging Markets Bond	11.5	56.13	80.35	176.51
Trojan	8.28	53.01	48.03	160.52
Cazenove - UK Opportunities	4.72	85.83	37.64	151.31
FF - Global Consumer Industries	3.37	60.59	50.13	127.05
F&C - US Smaller Companies	2.09	63.86	36.94	114.89
Henderson - Global Technology	4.09	63.46	49.72	106.68
Kames - High Yield Bond	4.95	58.48	36.84	97.52
FTSE All Share	-2.42	51	3.37	86.7

Source: FE Analytics

Inevitably, certain asset classes are over-represented in the study due to the strong performance of their market. The list contains three funds each from the Technology and UK Smaller Companies sectors, for example, and seven emerging market products.

However, there are also some standout performers that are consistent top-quartile performers even though their market has flat-lined. 

Cazenove UK Opportunities, headed up by Julie Dean, is a good example. Aside from the smaller cap-focused Franklin UK Mid Cap portfolio, it is the only fund on the list that comes from IMA UK All Companies – a sector that has lost money over five years. 

However, the managers have consistently added Alpha to their ailing benchmark, delivering 37.64 per cent over the period.

Performance of fund vs sector over 5-yrs



Source: FE Analytics

It is a similar story with FE Alpha Manager Sebastian Lyon’s Trojan fund, which is the only multi-asset product in the elite group. Its ability to protect against the downside, as well as keep up with rising markets, has earned it a reputation as one of the most consistent funds in the industry. 

Unfortunately for those who don’t already hold the fund, it is closed to new investors. 

The most obscure name on the list is the Luxembourg-domiciled FF Global Consumer Industries portfolio – a €238m fund that invests in companies involved in the manufacturing and distribution of consumer goods. 

Only four of the funds – Trojan, Kames High Yield, Invesco Perpetual European High Yield and Invesco Emerging Market Bond – are not pure equity funds.