A Value View - The Merchants Trust PLC Podcast

In this episode of A Value View from the Merchants Trust, host Jon Cronin sits down with Portfolio Manager Simon Gergel to unpack the seismic shifts in the global economy triggered by President Trump’s 2025 tariff policies. From the ripple effects on US GDP and global trade to the implications for UK-listed companies and the Merchants Trust portfolio, this conversation offers timely insights for investors navigating uncertainty. Recently announcing 43 consecutive years of dividend growth, the Merchants Trust also demonstrates a measure of resilience in volatile markets.

The old saying goes that ‘small is beautiful’. An increasing number of smaller and mid-sized UK firms are standing out and capturing interest. Simon and Jon discuss what’s driving the growth opportunities among small and mid-caps, where Simon is seeing opportunities in that space, and if he still sees ‘beauty’ in the larger firms in the market, the trust’s usual hunting ground.

In contrast to many countries, the UK has entered a period of relative political stability. Simon Gergel describes how this is combining with other factors to signal a note of optimism for investors in the UK stock market. Simon and host Jon also discuss how Merchants has been positioned to try to capitalise.

What’s in store for UK interest rates and investors as we approach year-end? In this 32nd episode of a Value View podcast, portfolio manager Simon Gergel shares his outlook and discusses the factors that had informed the investment case behind Whitbread, owner of Premier Inn. Listen in to find out if Premier Inn’s all-you-can-eat breakfast will stay on the menu.

Who holds the power: the government or the market? In this episode, Simon Gergel discusses the aftermath of the recent UK elections, marked by a significant Labour victory. He explores the market response and highlights where opportunities are being found today. Listen in now to find out more about the impact of a new government and what it means for investors.

In this 30th episode of the A Value View podcast, Jon and Simon discuss dividends once again. With Merchants having reached its 42nd consecutive year of paying an increased dividend, just how has the trust managed this? And, what does the state of play look like for the future, not only for income, but for the UK equity market in general? Takeovers, banks, the economic outlook and the effects of political uncertainty all come under the spotlight.

In this episode, Merchant’s portfolio manager, Simon Gergel is challenged around his ‘glass half full’ view of the UK market. Simon takes the challenge in hand explaining the factors behind his thinking and why, despite short term pain, the opportunity set for investors in the UK market remains pretty much unprecedented. We look at how Simon and his team choose good opportunities for the portfolio from that opportunity set, and which sectors are currently providing the best dividend opportunities.

There have been many reasons over recent years for investors to be ‘out of love’ with the UK; Brexit, political uncertainty, pandemic, Ukraine, Trussonomics and the perception of worse inflation & economic performance for the UK to name a handful. But, has the depressed sentiment been overdone? In this podcast the team discuss that with many of these factors firmly in the rear-view mirror, and with interest rates potentially close to their peak and UK economic growth recently being revised upwards, could the glass actually be half-full, rather than the pessimistic alternative?

As the trust gears up for the release of its latest interim results, many investors will have an eye on the upcoming dividend. As an AIC Dividend Hero, the trust is well known for maintaining a steady dividend payment throughout the many ups and downs in market conditions over the past several decades. Host Jon Cronin and Portfolio Manager Simon Gergel discuss the approach taken to try to achieve the trust’s aims for shareholders and where the best opportunities currently lie for value investors in the UK market. A ranking, a rating or an award provides no indicator of future performance and is not constant over time. Past performance does not predict future returns.