BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust Plc - Portfolio Update
The information contained in this release was correct as at
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-home.html.
All information is at
Performance at month end with net income reinvested
One Three One Three Five
month months year years years
% % % % %
Sterling:
Net asset value^ -3.6 3.9 44.2 22.5 30.0
Share price 0.9 8.4 53.7 29.1 35.5
MSCI EM Latin America
-0.4 8.3 44.1 35.3 53.9
(Net Return)^^
US Dollars:
Net asset value^ -2.1 3.9 54.9 37.1 28.0
Share price 2.4 8.3 65.1 44.5 33.4
MSCI EM Latin America
1.1 8.2 54.8 51.3 51.4
(Net Return)^^
^cum income
^^The Company’s performance benchmark (the MSCI EM Latin America Index) may be calculated on either a Gross or a Net return basis. Net return (NR) indices calculate the reinvestment of dividends net of withholding taxes using the tax rates applicable to non-resident institutional investors, and hence give a lower total return than indices where calculations are on a Gross basis (which assumes that no withholding tax is suffered). As the Company is subject to withholding tax rates for the majority of countries in which it invests, the NR basis is felt to be the most accurate, appropriate, consistent and fair comparison for the Company.
Sources: BlackRock, Standard & Poor’s Micropal
At month end
Net asset value - capital only: 419.47p Net asset value - including income: 430.70p Share price: 404.00p Total assets#: £140.1m Discount (share price to cum income NAV): 6.2% Average discount* over the month – cum income: 7.2% Net gearing at month end**: 9.4% Gearing range (as a % of net assets): 0-25% Net yield##: 4.9% Ordinary shares in issue(excluding 2,181,662 shares held in 29,448,641 treasury): Ongoing charges***: 1.23%
#Total assets include current year revenue.
##The yield of 4.9% is calculated based on total dividends declared in the last 12 months as at the date of this announcement as set out below (totalling
2025 Q1 Interim dividend of
2025 Q2 Interim dividend of
2025 Q3 Interim dividend of
2025 Q4 Interim dividend of
*The discount is calculated using the cum income NAV (expressed in sterling terms).
**Net cash/net gearing is calculated using debt at par, less cash and cash equivalents and fixed interest investments as a percentage of net assets.
*** The Company’s ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily net assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation and certain non-recurring items for the year ended
Geographic Exposure % of Total Assets % of Equity MSCI EM Latin America
Portfolio * Index
Brazil 59.8 60.4 58.9
Mexico 25.4 25.7 26.4
Peru 6.6 6.6 4.9
Multi-Country 3.2 3.2 0.0
Argentina 2.3 2.3 0.0
Chile 1.8 1.8 7.8
Columbia 0.0 0.0 2.0
Net current assets
(inc. fixed 0.9 0.0 0.0
interest)
----- ----- -----
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
===== ===== =====
^Total assets for the purposes of these calculations exclude bank overdrafts, and the net current assets figure shown in the table above therefore excludes bank overdrafts equivalent to 10.4% of the Company’s net asset value.
Sector % of Equity Portfolio* % of Benchmark*
Financials 25.0 34.4
Materials 22.8 19.8
Industrials 18.4 10.0
Consumer Staples 12.7 12.0
Consumer Discretionary 9.3 2.0
Energy 3.8 7.3
Health Care 3.2 0.8
Real Estate 2.5 1.5
Information Technology 2.3 0.5
Utilities 0.0 8.1
Communication Services 0.0 3.6
----- -----
Total 100.0 100.0
===== =====
* excluding net current assets & fixed interest
Country of Risk % of % of
Company Equity Portfolio Benchmark
Vale: Brazil
ADS 9.0
Equity 1.2 6.4
Localiza Rent A Car Brazil
Equity 4.7 1.0
Preference Shares 0.2
Walmart de México y Centroamérica Mexico 4.7 2.2
Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste Mexico 4.6 0.8
Southern Copper Peru 4.3 1.7
Petrobrás: Brazil
Equity 0.8
Equity ADR 1.3 2.9
Preference Shares ADR 1.7 3.5
Nu Holdings Ltd Brazil 3.7 7.6
FEMSA Mexico 3.7 2.3
StoneCo Ltd Brazil 3.6 0.4
Grupo Financiero Banorte Mexico 3.5 3.1
Commenting on the markets,
The Company’s NAV fell by -2.1% in December, underperforming the benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Latin America Index, which returned +1.1% on a net basis over the same period. All performance figures are in US dollar terms with dividends reinvested.
Latin American equities were broadly flat in December and underperformed the broader Emerging Market which rose +3.0%.
At the portfolio level, Materials and our off benchmark exposure to
From a security lens, exposure to Mexican long-haul airline Aeromexico was the largest contributor. We took part in the re-IPO (Initial Public Offering) of the stock last month on the view that there would be a catch-up trade post-IPO. Copper exposure continued to do well with Ero Copper up +12.0% over the month, helped by copper prices reaching new year-to-date highs in December. Not owning Mexican telecom company América Móvil was another relative contributor.
On the flipside, the largest detractor to relative returns was Brazilian supermarket operator, Assaí. Brazil’s food retail sector was pressured by softer demand, with reported year-on-year sales declines in December. Brazilian logistics company Rumo was another detractor despite strong December volumes. EZ Tec, a Brazilian real estate developer, pulled back following very strong gains in the prior two months.
We made very few changes to the portfolio in December. We took profits on Rede D'or and used the proceeds to add to Renner, the clothing retailer, backing analyst conviction. We also added to Stone, given recent weakness. The stock is trading on 7.4x P/E (price to earning ratio) and will benefit from potential rate cuts in 2026.
Outlook
We believe Latin American markets can continue to perform well in 2026. Easing inflation and attractive valuations across key markets support that view. Continued USD weakness could provide an additional tailwind.
In
In
While global uncertainty and trade-related risks persist, the region still offers a compelling diversification profile. Relatively high real rates provide policy optionality, and valuations look particularly attractive versus developed markets.
ENDS
Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.com/uk/brla on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager’s website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager’s website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
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