Murray International Trust Shares (LON:MYI) Hit Highs Following Strong Half-Yearly Report

Murray International Trust PLC (MYI.L) announced robust performance for the six months ended June 30, 2025, driving its share price to its recent high.

The investment trust, focused on delivering both income and capital growth, significantly outperformed its reference index during the period.

Shares rose to 294p, the same high point hit during Thursday's session. MYI is up over 14% so far this year and more than 17% in the last 12 months.

The company reported a Net Asset Value (NAV) total return of +6.0% and a share price total return of +11.6%. This contrasts sharply with the +1.0% increase in the Reference Index.

Two dividend distributions of 2.6 pence per share each were declared for the period. Murray International has a commitment to a progressive dividend policy, appealing to income-seeking investors.

This is further bolstered by the company achieving AIC ‘Dividend Hero' status, marking 20 consecutive years of increased dividends in 2024.

Key drivers of the MYI's portfolio performance included international consumer staple company Philip Morris International, Central American airport operator Grupo ASUR, Asian stock exchange Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, Asian communication services business Singapore Telecommunications, and European-based utility Enel.

These stocks are said to have contributed significantly to the overall positive returns.

The most significant detractors during the period included Merck & Co., Bristol Myers Squibb, Diageo, Pernod Ricard and GlobalWafers. These holdings experienced headwinds that negatively impacted their performance, offset by the top-performing stocks.

New positions were initiated in Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, Indian IT service company Infosys, and Italian financial services provider Intesa Sanpaolo. These additions reflect the trust's ongoing efforts to diversify its portfolio and capitalize on emerging opportunities in different sectors and geographies.

Virginia Holmes, Chair of Murray International Trust, commented, “We are pleased to report six months of robust returns for our shareholders in a particularly turbulent period for global investors, with a NAV total return of +6.0% significantly outperforming the Company's reference index and stronger share price performance of +11.6% as the discount to net assets at which the Company's shares traded narrowed significantly.”

Holmes further noted that while markets eventually looked through earlier turbulence, the path ahead is likely to remain uneven and challenging. This suggests a cautious but optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year.

Analyst Summary: Bull and Bear Cases