A Schroders fund in the IMA North America, Japan and Europe ex UK sectors has outperformed its sector average in each of the last five calendar years.
Of the five funds that managed the accolade across the three sectors, three are under the management of Schroders, while Jupiter and Liontrust run one vehicle apiece.
Year-on-year performance of funds vs sector 2007-2011
| Name | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 |
| Schroder QEP US Core | 2.26 | 19.39 | 19.70 | -12.44 | 4.98 |
| IMA North America | -1.55 | 17.40 | 18.98 | -18.36 | 4.78 |
| Schroder Tokyo | -7.36 | 21.17 | -2.62 | 2.42 | -8.27 |
| IMA Japan | -11.76 | 19.43 | -3.64 | -2.39 | -11.09 |
| Liontrust European Growth | -12.92 | 26.31 | 31.17 | -19.78 | 14.08 |
| Jupiter European | -12.96 | 9.89 | 22.19 | -22.79 | 14.29 |
| Schroder European | -14.54 | 26.25 | 22.13 | -23.39 | 15.91 |
| IMA Europe ex UK | -15.57 | 8.57 | 19.42 | -24.96 | 12.60 |
Source: FE Analytics
None of the Schroders funds are sector leaders over the medium- or long-term, but all have managed to deliver consistent performance in a five-year period defined by extreme volatility.
Schroder QEP US Core and Schroder Tokyo have a particularly good record in down-markets, topping their respective sectors in both 2008 and 2011.
Commenting on the results of the study, a spokesperson at Schroders said: "It is our priority to deliver excellent long-term performance for clients across a diverse range of markets and asset classes, so it is certainly good to see that being recognised."
Jupiter European has the best record of the three European funds, protecting more effectively against the downside in 2008 and 2011, as well as outperforming during the 2009 and 2010 market rally.
Performance of funds vs sector over 5-yrs
Source: FE Analytics
Over a five-year period, Jupiter European has returned 37.43 per cent, compared with losses of 2.33 per cent from its sector average. Only the BlackRock European Dynamic and FF&P European All Cap Equity funds have returned more over this period, but both are significantly more volatile.
The £1.5bn vehicle has been managed by FE Alpha Manager Alexander Darwall since January 2001.
The seventh study in the series found that only three funds across the four IMA smaller companies sectors managed to outperform their peer group in each of the last five calendar years.