Following a torrid time recently, the outlook for the UK is turning more positive as we start 2025. The UK has suffered a rare, multi-year derating but its drivers have gradually dissolved, paving the way for a 2025 comeback which is already underway.

Valuation has twin drivers – the cost of capital and return on invested capital, both of which have suffered in recent years. Looking ahead, the UK is forecast to see continued interest rate cuts throughout the year leaving the bank rate at ~4% by the end of the year, we think. While forecast rate expectations have fallen from a peak of 6.5% in mid-2023, subsequent cuts were delayed throughout much of 2024. The first cut in August paved the way to a downward path in interest rates this year that should also feed through into a lower cost of capital next year.

Also falling is the UK’s political risk premium that reduced gradually over 2024 thanks to a reasonably centrist government with a clear majority. Greater political stability in the UK comes at a time when many European peers face messy and polarised political elections. This political stability should be thrown into the spotlight given the current chaos in Germany.

A combination of rate cuts and lower political risk premium should bring down the cost of capital, a prerequisite for the UK to rerate. There are risks, such as UK core inflation remaining elevated due to stubbornly high wage inflation which could temper rate cuts in at least the first half of this year. However, forward-looking indicators such as the Decision Maker Panel survey point to waning wage pressures. Even if wage inflation settles at c4%, above its pre-Covid trend, headline inflation could still only be 3% and necessitate rate cuts from here. The balance of probability suggests the UK will see a falling cost of capital, laying a much-needed foundation for a UK rerating.

Cheap P/Es, however, are meaningless if no one trusts the ‘E’ and sadly the UK has had disappointing earnings growth in recent years, at a time when the US has delivered growth well ahead of expectations. Having been at the bottom of the table, the UK is expected to be one of the fastest growing countries in the G7 in 2025. The key to this delivery is that the forecast UK income growth translates into spending growth rather than savings. The UK savings rate has been unusually high in recent years, but ONS data1 suggests around half of all excess savings are being used to reduce outstanding loans and debts. As the bank rate falls, this should naturally channel income growth back into income spending which should in turn be positive for GDP growth and, more crucially, domestic corporate earnings. With renewed confidence in the ‘E’, the groundwork should be set for the UK P/E to rerate.

We seek to expose ourselves to the double discount of cheap shares within a cheap UK market – but being cheap is not enough; you need to have improving returns on capital as well. As bottom-up, multi-cap value investors, we seek to capitalise on mispricing across the UK market-cap spectrum, investing in businesses that are not just cheap but also exhibit improving returns on invested capital and strong balance sheets. These lead us to be heavily invested in mid-cap stocks that are at a particular discount to their long-term valuation yet stand to benefit more from interest rate cuts, have high exposure to improving domestic earnings and are likely to continue to receive disproportionate M&A flow. Sectors with cheap valuations and improving fundamentals include non-life insurance, UK infrastructure, UK consumer exposure shares and UK REITs.


1. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/uksectoraccounts/articles/householdsfinancesandsavinguk/2020to2024

Risks

  • Capital is at risk and there is no guarantee the Fund will achieve its objective. Investors should make sure their attitude towards risk is aligned with the risk profile of the Fund before investing.
  • Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance. The value of investments may go down as well as up and you might get back less than you originally invested as there is no guarantee in place.
  • The value of a fund’s assets may be affected by uncertainties such as international political developments, market sentiment, economic conditions, changes in government policies, restrictions on foreign investment and currency repatriation, currency fluctuations and other developments in the laws and regulations of countries in which investment may be made. Please see the Fund’s Prospectus for details of all risks.
  • The Fund invests in the shares of companies, and share prices can rise or fall due to several factors affecting global stock markets.
  • The Fund uses derivatives which carry the risk of reduced liquidity, substantial loss, and increased volatility in adverse market conditions, such as failure amongst market participants.
  • The Fund may invest in assets denominated in currencies other than the Fund's base currency. Changes in exchange rates may have a negative impact on the Fund's investments. If the share class currency is different from the currency of the country in which you reside, exchange rate fluctuations may affect your returns when converted into your local currency.
  • The Fund invests in a relatively concentrated number of companies and industries based in one country. This focused strategy can produce high gains but can also lead to significant losses. The Fund may be less diversified than other investment funds.


Important Information:
This is a marketing communication and does not constitute a solicitation or offer to any person to buy or sell any related securities or financial instruments. Any opinions expressed may change. This document does not contain information material to the investment objectives or financial needs of the recipient. This document is not advice on legal, taxation or investment matters. Tax treatment depends on personal circumstances. Investors must rely on their own examination of the Fund or seek advice. Investment may be restricted in other countries and as such, any individual who receives this document must make themselves aware of their respective jurisdiction and observe any restrictions.

A decision may be taken at any time to terminate the marketing of the Fund in any EEA Member State in which it is currently marketed. Shareholders in the affected EEA Member State will be given notification of any decision and provided the opportunity to redeem their interests in the Fund, free of any charges or deductions, for at least 30 working days from the date of the notification.

Investment in the Fund is an investment in the shares of the Fund and not in the underlying investments of the Fund. Further information about fund characteristics and any associated risks can be found in the Fund’s Key Investor Document or Key Investor Information Document (“KID” or “KIID”), the Prospectus (and relevant Fund Supplement), the Articles of Association and the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. Please refer to these documents before making any final investment decisions. Investment in the Fund concerns shares of the Fund and not in the underlying investments of the Fund. These documents are available free of charge at Polar Capital Funds plc, Georges Court, 54-62 Townsend Street, Dublin 2, Ireland, via email by contacting Investor-Relations@polarcapitalfunds.com or at www.polarcapital.co.uk. The KID is available in the languages of all EEA member states in which the Fund is registered for sale; the Prospectus, Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and KIID are available in English.

The Fund promotes, among other characteristics, environmental or social characteristics and is classified as an Article 8 fund under the EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). For more information, please see the Prospectus and relevant Fund Supplement.

ESG and sustainability characteristics are further detailed on the investment manager’s website: - https://www.polarcapital.co.uk/ESG-and-Sustainability/Responsible-Investing/.

A summary of investor rights associated with investment in the Fund is available online at the above website, or by contacting the above email address. A link to the document can be found here.

This document is provided and approved by both Polar Capital LLP and Polar Capital (Europe) SAS.

Polar Capital LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) in the United Kingdom, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in the United States. Polar Capital LLP’s registered address is 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD, United Kingdom.

Polar Capital (Europe) SAS is authorised and regulated by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) in France. Polar Capital (Europe) SAS’s registered address is 18 Rue de Londres, Paris 75009, France.

Polar Capital LLP is a registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. Polar Capital LLP is the investment manager and promoter of Polar Capital Funds plc – an open-ended investment company with variable capital and with segregated liability between its sub-funds – incorporated in Ireland, authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland and recognised by the FCA. Bridge Fund Management Limited acts as management company and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Registered Address: Percy Exchange, 8/34 Percy Place, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Benchmark: The Fund is actively managed and uses the FTSE All-Share Total Return Index as a performance target and to calculate the performance fee. The benchmark has been chosen as it is generally considered to be representative of the investment universe in which the Fund invests. The performance of the Fund is likely to differ from the performance of the benchmark as the holdings, weightings and asset allocation will be different. Investors should carefully consider these differences when making comparisons. Further information about the benchmark can be found http://www.ftse.com/products/indices/uk. The benchmark is provided by an administrator on the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) register of benchmarks which includes details of all authorised, registered, recognised and endorsed EU and third country benchmark administrators together with their national competent authorities.

Third-party Data: Some information contained herein has been obtained from third party sources and has not been independently verified by Polar Capital. Neither Polar Capital nor any other party involved in or related to compiling, computing or creating the data makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such data (or the results to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any data contained herein.

Country Specific Disclaimers: When considering an investment into the Fund, you should make yourself aware of the relevant financial, legal and tax implications. Neither Polar Capital LLP nor Polar Capital Funds plc shall be liable for, and accept no liability for, the use or misuse of this document.

None

Following a torrid time recently, the outlook for the UK is turning more positive as we start 2025. The UK has suffered a rare, multi-year derating but its drivers have gradually dissolved, paving the way for a 2025 comeback which is already underway.

Valuation has twin drivers – the cost of capital and return on invested capital, both of which have suffered in recent years. Looking ahead, the UK is forecast to see continued interest rate cuts throughout the year leaving the bank rate at ~4% by the end of the year, we think. While forecast rate expectations have fallen from a peak of 6.5% in mid-2023, subsequent cuts were delayed throughout much of 2024. The first cut in August paved the way to a downward path in interest rates this year that should also feed through into a lower cost of capital next year.

Also falling is the UK’s political risk premium that reduced gradually over 2024 thanks to a reasonably centrist government with a clear majority. Greater political stability in the UK comes at a time when many European peers face messy and polarised political elections. This political stability should be thrown into the spotlight given the current chaos in Germany.

A combination of rate cuts and lower political risk premium should bring down the cost of capital, a prerequisite for the UK to rerate. There are risks, such as UK core inflation remaining elevated due to stubbornly high wage inflation which could temper rate cuts in at least the first half of this year. However, forward-looking indicators such as the Decision Maker Panel survey point to waning wage pressures. Even if wage inflation settles at c4%, above its pre-Covid trend, headline inflation could still only be 3% and necessitate rate cuts from here. The balance of probability suggests the UK will see a falling cost of capital, laying a much-needed foundation for a UK rerating.

Cheap P/Es, however, are meaningless if no one trusts the ‘E’ and sadly the UK has had disappointing earnings growth in recent years, at a time when the US has delivered growth well ahead of expectations. Having been at the bottom of the table, the UK is expected to be one of the fastest growing countries in the G7 in 2025. The key to this delivery is that the forecast UK income growth translates into spending growth rather than savings. The UK savings rate has been unusually high in recent years, but ONS data1 suggests around half of all excess savings are being used to reduce outstanding loans and debts. As the bank rate falls, this should naturally channel income growth back into income spending which should in turn be positive for GDP growth and, more crucially, domestic corporate earnings. With renewed confidence in the ‘E’, the groundwork should be set for the UK P/E to rerate.

We seek to expose ourselves to the double discount of cheap shares within a cheap UK market – but being cheap is not enough; you need to have improving returns on capital as well. As bottom-up, multi-cap value investors, we seek to capitalise on mispricing across the UK market-cap spectrum, investing in businesses that are not just cheap but also exhibit improving returns on invested capital and strong balance sheets. These lead us to be heavily invested in mid-cap stocks that are at a particular discount to their long-term valuation yet stand to benefit more from interest rate cuts, have high exposure to improving domestic earnings and are likely to continue to receive disproportionate M&A flow. Sectors with cheap valuations and improving fundamentals include non-life insurance, UK infrastructure, UK consumer exposure shares and UK REITs.


1. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/uksectoraccounts/articles/householdsfinancesandsavinguk/2020to2024

Related Fund

Risks

  • Capital is at risk and there is no guarantee the Fund will achieve its objective. Investors should make sure their attitude towards risk is aligned with the risk profile of the Fund before investing.
  • Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance. The value of investments may go down as well as up and you might get back less than you originally invested as there is no guarantee in place.
  • The value of a fund’s assets may be affected by uncertainties such as international political developments, market sentiment, economic conditions, changes in government policies, restrictions on foreign investment and currency repatriation, currency fluctuations and other developments in the laws and regulations of countries in which investment may be made. Please see the Fund’s Prospectus for details of all risks.
  • The Fund invests in the shares of companies, and share prices can rise or fall due to several factors affecting global stock markets.
  • The Fund uses derivatives which carry the risk of reduced liquidity, substantial loss, and increased volatility in adverse market conditions, such as failure amongst market participants.
  • The Fund may invest in assets denominated in currencies other than the Fund's base currency. Changes in exchange rates may have a negative impact on the Fund's investments. If the share class currency is different from the currency of the country in which you reside, exchange rate fluctuations may affect your returns when converted into your local currency.
  • The Fund invests in a relatively concentrated number of companies and industries based in one country. This focused strategy can produce high gains but can also lead to significant losses. The Fund may be less diversified than other investment funds.


Important Information:
This is a marketing communication and does not constitute a solicitation or offer to any person to buy or sell any related securities or financial instruments. Any opinions expressed may change. This document does not contain information material to the investment objectives or financial needs of the recipient. This document is not advice on legal, taxation or investment matters. Tax treatment depends on personal circumstances. Investors must rely on their own examination of the Fund or seek advice. Investment may be restricted in other countries and as such, any individual who receives this document must make themselves aware of their respective jurisdiction and observe any restrictions.

A decision may be taken at any time to terminate the marketing of the Fund in any EEA Member State in which it is currently marketed. Shareholders in the affected EEA Member State will be given notification of any decision and provided the opportunity to redeem their interests in the Fund, free of any charges or deductions, for at least 30 working days from the date of the notification.

Investment in the Fund is an investment in the shares of the Fund and not in the underlying investments of the Fund. Further information about fund characteristics and any associated risks can be found in the Fund’s Key Investor Document or Key Investor Information Document (“KID” or “KIID”), the Prospectus (and relevant Fund Supplement), the Articles of Association and the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. Please refer to these documents before making any final investment decisions. Investment in the Fund concerns shares of the Fund and not in the underlying investments of the Fund. These documents are available free of charge at Polar Capital Funds plc, Georges Court, 54-62 Townsend Street, Dublin 2, Ireland, via email by contacting Investor-Relations@polarcapitalfunds.com or at www.polarcapital.co.uk. The KID is available in the languages of all EEA member states in which the Fund is registered for sale; the Prospectus, Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and KIID are available in English.

The Fund promotes, among other characteristics, environmental or social characteristics and is classified as an Article 8 fund under the EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). For more information, please see the Prospectus and relevant Fund Supplement.

ESG and sustainability characteristics are further detailed on the investment manager’s website: - https://www.polarcapital.co.uk/ESG-and-Sustainability/Responsible-Investing/.

A summary of investor rights associated with investment in the Fund is available online at the above website, or by contacting the above email address. A link to the document can be found here.

This document is provided and approved by both Polar Capital LLP and Polar Capital (Europe) SAS.

Polar Capital LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) in the United Kingdom, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in the United States. Polar Capital LLP’s registered address is 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD, United Kingdom.

Polar Capital (Europe) SAS is authorised and regulated by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) in France. Polar Capital (Europe) SAS’s registered address is 18 Rue de Londres, Paris 75009, France.

Polar Capital LLP is a registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. Polar Capital LLP is the investment manager and promoter of Polar Capital Funds plc – an open-ended investment company with variable capital and with segregated liability between its sub-funds – incorporated in Ireland, authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland and recognised by the FCA. Bridge Fund Management Limited acts as management company and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Registered Address: Percy Exchange, 8/34 Percy Place, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Benchmark: The Fund is actively managed and uses the FTSE All-Share Total Return Index as a performance target and to calculate the performance fee. The benchmark has been chosen as it is generally considered to be representative of the investment universe in which the Fund invests. The performance of the Fund is likely to differ from the performance of the benchmark as the holdings, weightings and asset allocation will be different. Investors should carefully consider these differences when making comparisons. Further information about the benchmark can be found http://www.ftse.com/products/indices/uk. The benchmark is provided by an administrator on the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) register of benchmarks which includes details of all authorised, registered, recognised and endorsed EU and third country benchmark administrators together with their national competent authorities.

Third-party Data: Some information contained herein has been obtained from third party sources and has not been independently verified by Polar Capital. Neither Polar Capital nor any other party involved in or related to compiling, computing or creating the data makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such data (or the results to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any data contained herein.

Country Specific Disclaimers: When considering an investment into the Fund, you should make yourself aware of the relevant financial, legal and tax implications. Neither Polar Capital LLP nor Polar Capital Funds plc shall be liable for, and accept no liability for, the use or misuse of this document.