How have VCTs performed over three, five and 10 years?

It is a question many investors will be keen to have answered. But it can be difficult to get the overall picture.

To make it easier, we looked at the performance of the 10 largest VCT managers over a period of three, five and 10 years.

In the 10 years to March 2024, the 10 largest generalist VCT managers have delivered an average NAV total return of 74.1% (assuming dividends are reinvested) – compared to 75.3% for the UK main market. Meanwhile, AIM VCTs have on average fared better than AIM, up 12.8%, outperforming the market by 12.9%. Past performance is not a guide to the future.

Remember, VCTs invest in small companies, which are more volatile and more likely to fail than their larger counterparts. For this reason, VCT investments are long-term investments and are not for everyone. They are for experienced investors who have no need for immediate liquidity and can withstand a potential total loss.

The table below shows the cumulative performance for each VCT.

Important: The information on this website is for experienced investors. It is not advice nor a research or personal recommendation to invest. If you’re unsure, please seek advice.

Generalist VCTs’ performance – 10 largest managers

VCT	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Albion Technology & General VCT	20.4%	32.5%	64.4%
Kings Arms Yard VCT (Albion)	21.3%	27.8%	85.6%
Albion Enterprise VCT	22.7%	32.1%	107.8%
Albion VCT	3.5%	8.5%	70.5%
Albion Development VCT	25.3%	38.7%	123.8%
Crown Place VCT (Albion)	18.1%	26.7%	101.8%
Baronsmead Venture Trust	-10.8%	4.8%	20.9%
Baronsmead Second Venture Trust	-11.6%	8.0%	20.1%
British Smaller Companies VCT	36.8%	60.9%	121.0%
British Smaller Companies VCT 2	38.9%	63.5%	102.2%
Foresight VCT	37.1%	55.4%	81.6%
Foresight Enterprise VCT	24.9%	35.6%	24.6%
Foresight Technology VCT – FWT shares	1.9%	-	-
Thames Ventures VCT 1 (Foresight)	-3.9%	-20.4%	-12.4%
Thames Ventures VCT 2 - Venture Shares (Foresight)	-11.0%	-25.4%	–
Thames Ventures VCT 2 - Healthcare Shares	-10.3%	-23.4%	–
Maven VCT	3.6%	7.7%	46.7%
Maven VCT 3	6.3%	12.0%	46.7%
Maven VCT 4	1.5%	10.2%	31.1%
Maven VCT 5	3.8%	14.9%	59.1%
The Income & Growth VCT	11.3%	78.2%	137.0%
Mobeus Income & Growth VCT	6.0%	87.3%	162.3%
Mobeus Income & Growth 2 VCT	7.9%	60.1%	126.2%
Mobeus Income & Growth 4 VCT	9.4%	87.6%	144.3%
Northern Venture Trust	1.5%	29.6%	84.0%
Northern 2 VCT	3.9%	29.3%	81.0%
Northern 3 VCT	3.5%	28.5%	79.4%
Octopus Apollo VCT	27.6%	44.9%	63.1%
Octopus Titan VCT	-24.2%	-5.4%	25.9%
Pembroke VCT B Shares	6.5%	21.0%	-
ProVen VCT	3.7%	5.3%	44.4%
ProVen Growth & Income VCT	5.2%	5.9%	30.9%
Puma VCT 13	14.2%	61.2%	-
Puma Alpha VCT	-1.4%	-	-

Average generalist VCTs	8.6%	28.2%	74.1%

AIM VCTs’ performance

VCT	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Amati AIM VCT	-45.4%	-12.1%	24.3%
Hargreave Hale AIM VCT	-43.6%	-13.6%	-5.7%
Octopus AIM VCT	-37.1%	-9.8%	-3.6%
Octopus AIM VCT 2	-36.0%	-6.6%	-0.7%
Unicorn AIM VCT	-31.1%	19.4%	50.0%

Average AIM VCTs	-38.6%	-4.6%	12.8%

Source: Morningstar, Wealth Club. Data from 31 March 2014 (or VCT launch date if later) to 31 March 2024. Past performance is not a guide to the future.

See five-year discrete performance of the VCTs listed above

VCT	YTD	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
Albion Technology & Gen VCT	1.3%	3.3%	-5.0%	23.3%	-3.0%	11.5%
Kings Arms Yard VCT (Albion)	2.7%	2.6%	1.0%	17.2%	3.2%	1.9%
Albion Enterprise VCT	1.3%	5.2%	-2.9%	22.6%	1.2%	4.5%
Albion VCT	1.5%	-4.6%	3.1%	5.8%	0.6%	4.9%
Albion Development VCT	2.4%	5.1%	-1.1%	21.5%	3.1%	4.0%
Crown Place VCT (Albion)	1.3%	2.3%	-1.2%	19.1%	0.9%	13.2%
Baronsmead Venture Trust	-0.1%	0.2%	-16.1%	14.2%	5.7%	6.2%
Baronsmead Second Venture Trust	-0.6%	-0.8%	-16.0%	16.0%	6.3%	10.7%
British Smaller Companies VCT	0.0%	2.0%	4.4%	32.3%	5.5%	8.5%
British Smaller Companies VCT2	1.9%	5.1%	5.2%	27.4%	7.3%	5.6%
Foresight VCT	-0.1%	8.4%	6.9%	27.9%	1.4%	4.2%
Foresight Enterprise VCT	1.5%	4.9%	4.7%	18.8%	0.5%	3.1%
Foresight Technology VCT – FWT shares	0.0%	2.6%	0.9%	-1.2%	–	–
Thames Ventures VCT 1 (Foresight)	2.3%	-14.2%	-1.3%	13.5%	-16.9%	-10.0%
Thames Ventures VCT 2 – Ventures Shares (Foresight)	0.0%	-19.6%	5.9%	14.7%	-17.9%	-10.8%
Thames Ventures VCT 2 – Healthcare Shares	0.0%	-20.4%	-11.8%	34.4%	-13.0%	-7.5%
Maven Income & Growth VCT	-2.8%	-4.7%	2.5%	11.1%	0.7%	6.8%
Maven Income & Growth VCT 3	0.5%	-4.4%	-0.8%	15.5%	0.8%	0.7%
Maven Income & Growth VCT 4	0.0%	-4.7%	-2.1%	12.4%	3.9%	1.6%
Maven Income & Growth VCT 5	0.3%	-4.7%	1.3%	13.5%	2.1%	0.9%
The Income & Growth VCT	3.8%	6.7%	-16.2%	43.5%	23.0%	12.8%
Mobeus Income & Growth VCT	0.0%	7.0%	-21.3%	50.9%	24.7%	15.1%
Mobeus Income & Growth 2 VCT	4.5%	3.9%	-24.4%	52.0%	18.6%	12.6%
Mobeus Income & Growth 4 VCT	3.8%	5.2%	-19.8%	49.1%	20.2%	17.9%
Northern Venture Trust	0.8%	6.4%	-11.0%	16.4%	14.1%	5.4%
Northern 2 VCT	0.0%	6.4%	-7.5%	17.5%	10.0%	4.5%
Northern 3 VCT	0.0%	6.3%	-8.1%	18.7%	8.3%	6.5%
Octopus Apollo VCT	-3.6%	8.4%	4.2%	27.0%	10.5%	-3.8%
Octopus Titan VCT	1.6%	-13.2%	-23.5%	20.5%	7.7%	8.0%
Pembroke VCT	1.8%	-7.5%	0.4%	19.7%	3.8%	5.4%
ProVen VCT	0.0%	3.6%	-7.4%	13.2%	2.4%	-6.9%
ProVen Growth & Income VCT	0.0%	3.3%	-8.8%	20.2%	-1.0%	-7.4%
Puma VCT 13	-5.6%	1.2%	13.9%	18.4%	23.3%	1.6%
Puma Alpha VCT	-8.6%	-0.7%	4.4%	15.8%	-	-
Amati AIM VCT	-1.9%	-24.7%	-26.7%	1.9%	37.2%	20.5%
Hargreave Hale AIM VCT	-2.8%	-16.0%	-32.8%	16.1%	26.6%	7.5%
Octopus AIM VCT	2.4%	-12.4%	-31.9%	8.5%	23.4%	11.3%
Octopus AIM VCT 2	2.7%	-12.1%	-31.3%	8.8%	24.2%	12.7%
Unicorn AIM VCT	-3.9%	-3.3%	-28.9%	20.4%	22.4%	27.9%

Wealth Club aims to make it easier for experienced investors to find information on – and apply for – investments. You should base your investment decision on the offer documents and ensure you have read and fully understand them before investing. The information on this webpage is a marketing communication. It is not advice or a personal or research recommendation to buy any of the investments mentioned, nor does it include any opinion as to the present or future value or price of these investments. It does not satisfy legal requirements promoting investment research independence and is thus not subject to prohibitions on dealing ahead of its dissemination.

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