**Summary**
The Edinburgh Investment Trust PLC (EIT) released its annual financial report for the year ended 31 March 2026, highlighting key performance metrics and strategic decisions. The trust reported a NAV total return of 7.2% and a share price total return of 8.5%, underperforming the FTSE All-Share Indexs 21.5% return. Despite this, the trusts share price increased to 773p, and the discount to NAV narrowed to 8.6%. EIT proposed a total dividend of 32.0p per share, an 11.1% increase, outpacing UK inflation. Over six years, EITs annualized NAV and share price returns were 15.0% and 13.9%, respectively, outperforming the FTSE All-Share Indexs 13.6%.
The trust attributed its underperformance to three factors: share price weakness in AI-related holdings, operational underperformance in some investments, and being underweight in value-oriented companies. EITs portfolio manager emphasized a flexible investment approach, focusing on quality growth stocks and making strategic purchases in de-rated data and analytics companies, specialized instrumentation firms, and cyclically depressed construction businesses.
EITs Chair, Elisabeth Stheeman, acknowledged the challenging year but highlighted the trusts long-term performance and its position as the fourth-best performer among UK equity income sector peers over six years. The trust remains committed to its investment objectives, aiming to exceed the FTSE All-Share Indexs total return and grow dividends faster than UK inflation. EITs net assets stood at approximately ยฃ1.1 billion, and it continues to manage its portfolio with a focus on UK-listed shares, adhering to its investment policy and risk management framework.
**Year-on-Year Comparison:** - **Net Asset Value (NAV):** Increased by 3.5% from 817.16p to 846.04p.
- **Share Price:** Increased by 4.5% from 740.00p to 773.00p.
- **FTSE All-Share Index:** Increased by 17.5% from 4,623.62 to 5,430.69.
- **Discount to NAV:** Reduced from 9.4% to 8.6%.
- **Gross Gearing:** Increased slightly from 5.6% to 5.9%.
- **Net Gearing:** Increased from 5.0% to 5.8%.
- **Revenue Return per Share:** Increased by 6.3% from 25.02p to 26.60p.
- **Total Dividends per Share:** Increased by 11.1% from 28.80p to 32.00p.