80-20 Investor Best of the Best Selection – October 2025 Update

Commentary

Last month the BOTB put in another strong performance, delivering a return for the month that beat the average professionally managed fund. In a sign of stability, 17 funds retained their position in the BOTB this month. The BOTB rose 2.52% during September. Interestingly, the chart below shows that the BOTB (the blue line) performed in line with its direct benchmark (the red line), which returned 2.56%, but it did lag during the month. This suggests that as the overall asset mix is similar, the underlying fund choices were the main reason for the variation in performance during September. However, note how both the BOTB and its benchmark significantly outperformed the professionally managed benchmark (the green line). This demonstrates that the asset mix of the BOTB was the key driver of its strong performance relative to the average managed fund, which is a great result.

Digging deeper into the performance of the funds within the BOTB during September, the table below highlights the top performers. Once again BlackRock Gold & General had a stellar month, building on its incredible 15.68% return in August with an even bigger gain of over 22% in September. The fund continues to benefit from the strength in the price of gold and gold mining equities. It was also another strong month for emerging markets, with Jupiter China, Fidelity Emerging Markets and Liontrust Latin America all making the top performers list and benefiting from the weak US dollar. Artemis Global Income (which is in my £50k portfolio along with Jupiter China) once again makes the top-performer shortlist.

Fund	September 2025 % return
BlackRock Gold & General	22.78
Jupiter China	7.45
Fidelity Emerging Markets	7.05
Liontrust Latin America	6.14
iShares Pacific ex Japan Equity Index	5.38
Artemis Global Income	3.5

At the other end of the scale, European equities struggled during the month. IFSL Marlborough European Special Situations and Barings German Growth Trust were the only two funds to post a negative return in September.

Fund	September 2025 % return
Premier Miton Multi-Asset Monthly Income	0.47
Schroder Sustainable Bond	0.32
Man High Yield Opportunities	0.29
Schroder UK Smaller Companies	0.16
Barings German Growth Trust	-0.22
IFSL Marlborough European Special Situations	-1.82

In terms of October's asset mix, it remains broadly consistent with the allocation in September, but the most notable change is a reduction in exposure to UK equities in favour of Emerging Markets and Asian equities. However, UK Equities remains the largest single component of the equity portion of the portfolio, followed by European Equities. The full asset breakdown can be found at the foot of this article.

Below I list this month's selection in full with the 17 funds that regained their place in black while the new additions are in green. As usual, I have included the full list sorted alphabetically by name and then by risk category.

October's Best of the Best Selection - (A-Z by fund name)

(funds unchanged from last month are in black while new additions are in green):

Name	Sector	ISIN Code	Risk
abrdn Emerging Markets Equity	Global Emerging Markets	GB0033228197	Higher risk
Artemis Global Income	Global Equity Income	GB00B5N99561	Medium risk
Artemis High Income	Sterling Strategic Bond	GB00B2PLJN71	Lower risk
Artemis Monthly Distribution	Mixed Investment 20-60% Shares	GB00B6TK3R06	Lower risk
Artemis SmartGARP European Equity	Europe Excluding UK	GB00B2PLJD73	Medium risk
AXA Framlington Global Technology	Technology & Technology Innovation	GB00B4W52V57	Higher risk
Barings Eastern Trust	Asia Pacific Excluding Japan	GB00B2PSLG53	Higher risk
Barings Korea Trust	Specialist	GB0000840719	Higher risk
BlackRock Gold & General	Specialist	GB00B5ZNJ896	Higher risk
BNY Mellon Global High Yield Bond	Sterling High Yield	GB00B7KWF216	Lower risk
BNY Mellon Multi-Asset Diversified Return	Targeted Absolute Return	GB00B81C8395	Lower risk
Chelverton Asset Mgmt Ltd MI Chelverton European Select	Europe Excluding UK	GB00BFNL2N15	Medium risk
Fidelity Emerging Markets	Global Emerging Markets	GB00B9SMK778	Higher risk
Fidelity Japan	Japan	GB00B882N041	Medium risk
Jupiter China	China/Greater China	GB00B1DTDX49	Higher risk
Jupiter Merlin Conservative Select	Mixed Investment 0-35% Shares	GB00B8GDMB34	Lower risk
L&G Mixed Investment Income 0-35%	Mixed Investment 0-35% Shares	GB00BYW6BT91	Lower risk
L&G Multi-Asset Target Return	Targeted Absolute Return	GB00BD97XY71	Lower risk
Liontrust Latin America	Latin America	GB00B909HH53	Higher risk
Liontrust Russia	Specialist	GB00B86WB793	Higher risk
M&G Recovery	UK All Companies	GB00B7759Y38	Medium risk
Man High Yield Opportunities Fund	Sterling High Yield	GB00BJK3W057	Lower risk
Ninety One UK Special Situations	UK All Companies	GB00B1XFJS91	Medium risk
Premier Miton Multi-Asset Growth & Income	Mixed Investment 40-85% Shares	GB00B78H4K93	Medium risk
Premier Miton Strategic Monthly Income Bond	Sterling Strategic Bond	GB00BMWVS110	Lower risk
Premier Miton UK Multi Cap Income	UK Equity Income	GB00B41NHD71	Medium risk
Schroder Asian Income	Asia Pacific Excluding Japan	GB00B5BJ7M17	Medium risk
Schroder Recovery	UK All Companies	GB00B3VVG600	Medium risk
Schroder Strategic Bond	Sterling Strategic Bond	GB00B7FPS593	Lower risk
WS Morant Wright Nippon Yield	Japan	GB00B42MKS95	Higher risk

October's Best of the Best Selection - (grouped by risk)

(funds unchanged from last month are in black while new additions are in green):

Name	Sector	ISIN Code	Risk
Artemis High Income	Sterling Strategic Bond	GB00B2PLJN71	Lower risk
Artemis Monthly Distribution	Mixed Investment 20-60% Shares	GB00B6TK3R06	Lower risk
BNY Mellon Global High Yield Bond	Sterling High Yield	GB00B7KWF216	Lower risk
BNY Mellon Multi-Asset Diversified Return	Targeted Absolute Return	GB00B81C8395	Lower risk
Jupiter Merlin Conservative Select	Mixed Investment 0-35% Shares	GB00B8GDMB34	Lower risk
L&G Mixed Investment Income 0-35%	Mixed Investment 0-35% Shares	GB00BYW6BT91	Lower risk
L&G Multi-Asset Target Return	Targeted Absolute Return	GB00BD97XY71	Lower risk
Man High Yield Opportunities Fund	Sterling High Yield	GB00BJK3W057	Lower risk
Premier Miton Strategic Monthly Income Bond	Sterling Strategic Bond	GB00BMWVS110	Lower risk
Schroder Strategic Bond	Sterling Strategic Bond	GB00B7FPS593	Lower risk
Artemis Global Income	Global Equity Income	GB00B5N99561	Medium risk
Artemis SmartGARP European Equity	Europe Excluding UK	GB00B2PLJD73	Medium risk
Chelverton Asset Mgmt Ltd MI Chelverton European Select	Europe Excluding UK	GB00BFNL2N15	Medium risk
Fidelity Japan	Japan	GB00B882N041	Medium risk
M&G Recovery	UK All Companies	GB00B7759Y38	Medium risk
Ninety One UK Special Situations	UK All Companies	GB00B1XFJS91	Medium risk
Premier Miton Multi-Asset Growth & Income	Mixed Investment 40-85% Shares	GB00B78H4K93	Medium risk
Premier Miton UK Multi Cap Income	UK Equity Income	GB00B41NHD71	Medium risk
Schroder Asian Income	Asia Pacific Excluding Japan	GB00B5BJ7M17	Medium risk
Schroder Recovery	UK All Companies	GB00B3VVG600	Medium risk
abrdn Emerging Markets Equity	Global Emerging Markets	GB0033228197	Higher risk
AXA Framlington Global Technology	Technology & Technology Innovation	GB00B4W52V57	Higher risk
Barings Eastern Trust	Asia Pacific Excluding Japan	GB00B2PSLG53	Higher risk
Barings Korea Trust	Specialist	GB0000840719	Higher risk
BlackRock Gold & General	Specialist	GB00B5ZNJ896	Higher risk
Fidelity Emerging Markets	Global Emerging Markets	GB00B9SMK778	Higher risk
Jupiter China	China/Greater China	GB00B1DTDX49	Higher risk
Liontrust Latin America	Latin America	GB00B909HH53	Higher risk
Liontrust Russia	Specialist	GB00B86WB793	Higher risk
WS Morant Wright Nippon Yield	Japan	GB00B42MKS95	Higher risk

The funds that dropped out of the Best of the Best Selection

For reference, the funds from last month that dropped out of the 80-20 Investor Best of the Best list are listed below:

Name	Sector	ISIN Code	Risk
Baillie Gifford Global Discovery	Global	GB0006059116	Medium risk
Barings German Growth Trust	Specialist	GB0000822576	Higher risk
IFSL Marlborough European Special Situations	Europe Excluding UK	GB0001719730	Medium risk
iShares Pacific ex Japan Equity Index	Asia Pacific Excluding Japan	GB00B849FB47	Higher risk
Jupiter Merlin Balanced Portfolio	Mixed Investment 40-85% Shares	GB0031845141	Medium risk
Jupiter UK Income	UK Equity Income	GB0004791389	Medium risk
L&G UK Equity Income	UK Equity Income	GB00B6HBD759	Medium risk
Premier Miton Multi-Asset Distribution	Mixed Investment 20-60% Shares	GB00B40RNW10	Lower risk
Premier Miton Multi-Asset Monthly Income	Mixed Investment 20-60% Shares	GB00B7GGPC79	Lower risk
Schroder MM Diversity	Mixed Investment 20-60% Shares	GB00B60CZD52	Lower risk
Schroder Sustainable Bond	Sterling Strategic Bond	GB00B57BFC79	Lower risk
Schroder UK Mid 250	UK All Companies	GB00B76V7S22	Medium risk
Schroder UK Smaller Companies	UK Smaller Companies	GB00B76V7Z98	Higher risk

The Asset mix

The current asset mix of the new Best of the Best Selection is shown below with last month's figures in brackets:

• Global Fixed Interest 19% (17%)
• UK Fixed Interest 2% (2%)
• Alternatives 6% (9%) - includes absolute return strategies
• North American Equities 5% (5%)
• Emerging Market Equities 9% (6%)
• Asian Equities 7% (3%)
• European Equities 13% (15%)
• Japanese Equities 8% (8%)
• UK Equities 15% (21%)
• Cash 3% (2%)
• China Equities 3% (3%)
• Property Equities 0% (0%)
• Other International Equities 6% (6%)
• Commodities and Energy 4% (3%)

80-20 Investor's outperformance continues

As you know the Best of the Best Selection is the shortlist of the best funds highlighted by our 80-20 Investor algorithm split into high, medium and low-risk categories. This shortlist is updated at the start of every month.

The green line in the chart below (click to enlarge) shows how a portfolio would have performed since inception (in August 2014) if it had been split equally between the Best of the Best Selection funds and then switched each month when each new shortlist was published. I have also charted the performance against that of the average cautious managed fund (blue line) and the average managed fund with up to 85% equity exposure (red line). In reality, the 80-20 Investor's asset allocation typically lies between these two as it usually has 40-60% exposure to equities at any one time. So they provide a good comparison of how fund managers with a similar remit have fared over the same period.

As you can see, since launch in August 2014 the 80-20 Investor BOTB has outperformed the average managed fund and the market and has doubled in value.

 

 

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