26th Feb 2026 12:47
(Alliance News) - JPMorgan Emerging Markets Growth & Income PLC on Thursday reported a promising first half, during which it beat its benchmark and hailed "a welcome resurgence in emerging markets".
The London-based investor in emerging markets reported a net asset value total return of 20.5% for the six months that ended December 31, outperforming its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which returned 18.1% over the same period.
Its net asset value was 149.1 pence per share at the end of December, up 18% from 126.1p at June 30. Compared to a year earlier, it grew 20.0% from 124.3p.
JPMorgan Emerging Markets Growth & Income also noted that its share price discount to NAV had narrowed to 7.8% as of December 31 from 8.2% at the end of June.
The firm's shares rose 1.1% to 155.08 pence around noon on Thursday in London.
It already has paid its first and second quarterly dividends of 1.261 pence per share each, which is 1% of NAV as at June 30, 2025. The next payout will be of the same amount, and is due mid-May 2026.
Following that payment, dividends for financial 2027 will be calculated as 4% of NAV as at June 30, 2026, the firm noted. Its new dividend policy was approved by shareholders back in November, along with a name change. The firm was previously called JPMorgan Emerging Markets Investment Trust PLC, and in 2024, it paid an interim dividend of 0.65p for the first half.
"After a prolonged period of underperformance versus developed markets, 2025 marked a resurgence in emerging markets. This is for several reasons, including a period of weaker dollar performance and some re-allocation of investors' exposure to US equities," the investment firm noted.
"The recovery, which accelerated in April 2025 following US trade and tariff announcements, has continued into 2026...The rally was led by companies in technology hardware (driven by the AI investment cycle), commodities, and precious metals. Latin American and Asian markets posted strong gains, supported by favourable currency movements and global capital rotation, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.
"Taiwan and Korean markets performed particularly well, reflecting their significant technology exposure," the company added.
Chair Aidan Lisser commented: "There are grounds to be encouraged by the prospects for emerging markets and several factors support a continuing positive outlook in 2026...Meanwhile, as a board we remain watchful and vigilant, cognisant of the turbulent environment that we are all experiencing at present."
By Holly Munks, Alliance News reporter
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