High-yielding global equities with sustained annual expansion and long-term expansion potential
In the dynamic world of global investments, Murray International Trust continues to stand out, delivering on its promise of above-average dividend yield and long-term capital growth. The trust, recognised as a "dividend hero" by the Association of Investment Companies (AIC), has impressively increased its dividend for 20 consecutive years.
The trust's latest annual return, ending June 30, 2025, clocked an impressive 16.10%, outperforming its peer group index at 9.06% (source [1]). Trailing returns over 1 year and 3 years stand at +14.76% and +10.24% annualized, respectively, surpassing peer indexes (source [1]). As of August 5, 2025, the estimated net asset value (NAV) per share is around 298p, with a share price around 285p, indicating a discount of approximately 4.57% (sources [2], [3]). The trust's management team, demonstrating confidence in the fund’s value, recently initiated a share repurchase programme (source [4]).
Murray International Trust focuses on global equities, avoiding overexposure to low-yielding stocks and investing in companies with sustainable and rising cash flows. One such recent addition to its portfolio is Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy's biggest domestic bank. The bank's cost-to-income ratio of 38% in the first quarter of 2025 places it among the lowest levels in Europe. Despite the challenges faced by the bank, the trust believes in its potential for long-term value, given its robust capital position and strong operational efficiency (source [5]).
Meanwhile, the global IT services and consulting company, Infosys, offers potential for expansion into AI-related services. The current share price is seen as an attractive entry point for long-term investors, given the company's expertise in cost-reduction programmes and its potential for growth across various industries (source [6]).
However, other companies like Diageo and Infosys face their own set of challenges. Diageo, a leading UK-based alcoholic beverages company with a portfolio of iconic brands, has been impacted by excessive inventory, operational mis-steps, weaker consumer demand, the threat of rising tariffs, and shifting drinking habits, leading to a halving of the share price since 2022 (source [7]). The debate about whether these headwinds are structural or cyclical in nature continues, with scrutiny of the management team (source [8]).
Infosys, on the other hand, has underperformed this year due to macroeconomic uncertainty prompting clients to delay discretionary projects (source [9]). However, its potential for expansion into AI-related services presents an opportunity for long-term growth.
As of early August 2025, the Murray International Trust has shown strong recent performance and a positive outlook, reflecting both capital growth and dividend yield objectives. For up-to-date insights on Diageo, Infosys, and Intesa Sanpaolo, further targeted searches or direct consultation of their latest financial reports and market analyses would be necessary.
References:
[1] Murray International Trust Annual Report 2024-25 [2] Murray International Trust NAV Data as of August 5, 2025 [3] Murray International Trust Share Price Data as of August 5, 2025 [4] Murray International Trust Press Release, August 2025 [5] Intesa Sanpaolo Q1 2025 Financial Report [6] Infosys Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript [7] Diageo Annual Report and Accounts 2024 [8] Financial Times, "Diageo faces scrutiny over management and strategy," April 2025 [9] The Economic Times, "Infosys underperforms amid macroeconomic uncertainty," July 2025
- The Murray International Trust's impressive 16.10% annual return in 2025 showcases potential for investors seeking both savings and long-term capital growth.
- The trust's management team has expressed confidence in the fund’s value by initiating a share repurchase program, offering an opportunity for investors to benefit from tariff-free share ownership.
- Businesses like Infosys and Intesa Sanpaolo present investment opportunities amidst challenging market conditions, with the former offering potential growth in AI-related services and the latter securing a strong position with robust capital and operational efficiency.
- Averaging a dividend yield growth for 20 consecutive years, the Murray International Trust remains an attractive investment for finance and business professionals seeking safe and steady dividend income in the midst of stock-market volatility.
