Energy funds power to the top spots in 2021 performance table

Energy funds saw a drastic reversal in fortune last year as they dominated the best-performing list on the back of surging oil and gas prices and a big uptick in demand.

Six of the 10 best-performing funds in 2021 were energy strategies, according to data from FE Fundinfo compiled by Fairview Investing. The remaining four included two Indian equity funds, one that invests financial services firms including asset managers and one portfolio of US Reits.

The top performer was the Mark Lacey-managed Schroder ISF Global Energy fund which produced a total return of 48.8% during the year, followed by TB Guinness Global Energy, managed by Jonathan Waghorn and Tim Guinness, which returned 45.7%.

In third place was Nomura Indian Equity (45.6%), but in fourth and fifth place were Guinness Global Energy and GS North American Energy & Energy Infrastructure Equity, respectively, with returns of 45.5% and 44.3%.

Top 10 funds for 2021

Source: FE fundinfo/Fairview Investing

Fairview Investing founder and director Ben Yearsley (pictured) noted the four worst funds of 2020 were all in 2021’s top six performers. For example, Guinness Global Energy was 2020’s worst performing fund, but the fourth best in 2021.

The best performing sector during the year was the India/Indian Subcontinent with a 28.3% total return. The sector narrowly beat the US (25.7%), Commodities/Natural Resources (24%), UK Smaller Companies (23%) and Property Other (22.5%).

Yearsley described India as the “surprise package” of last year.

“When you look back at the surging Covid rates in the Spring in India it would have been a brave person to have made India one of the go-to stock markets,” he added. “However, a successful vaccination programme and political stability have led to the long-term growth story reasserting itself.”