The UK ownership of assets within investment trusts remain heavily concentrated among institutions, wealth managers and retail investors, with each segment dominated by its top ten holders.
From an investor relations standpoint, retail investors have significantly increased their presence in the market. The number of shares they held grew by 4% during 2024, with the value of their holdings rising by 8%. Since 2019, retail investor ownership has surged by 42%, now accounting for 36%(£46.9bn) of the total market by value, up from 33% (£32.7bn) five years ago.
Retail investors now lead all other ownership categories, particularly through platforms, savings schemes, and direct via share certificates.
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Originally published in March 2025 at Warhorse Partners