How ratings agencies workThere are several ratings agencies recognised within the financial industry that, amongst other things, provide ratings for funds and fund managers. These ratings are intended to give an independent comparative measure to allow potential investors to see which funds / fund managers are performing well.
The main fund rating agencies that we refer to in our fund information and documentation are Morningstar and Standard & Poor’s.
Morningstar fund ratings
The Morningstar Rating is based on Morningstar risk-adjusted returns. Morningstar rate a fund’s performance over 3, 5 and 10 years. They also award funds an overall rating which is based on a weighted average of the available time-period ratings. This is the rating we usually refer to in our fund documentation.
It’s very important to state that Morningstar are unable to rate every fund available. There are several situations where funds cannot be rated, for example if:
All funds that can be rated will, on a monthly basis, be awarded up to five stars as follows (these measurements are applied within each Morningstar category):
Five stars are awarded to the top performing 10%.
Four stars are awarded to the next 22.5%.
Three stars are awarded to the middle 35%.
Two stars are awarded to the next 22.5%.
One star is awarded to the bottom 10%.
Standard & Poor’s fund ratings
Standard & Poor’s fund research rating system is applied to only the top 20% of funds within each sector. This means that potential investors can use this system of rating to target the absolute top quality funds.
Standard & Poor’s Fund Management ratings are based on an evaluation of quantitative (historic performance, volatility and portfolio construction) and qualitative (management, corporate status and investment process) factors that contribute to long-term performance.
AAA – Is given to a fund which "demonstrates the highest standards of quality based on its investment process and management’s consistency of performance as compared to funds with similar objectives."
AA - Is given to a fund which "demonstrates very high standards of quality based on its investment process and management’s consistency of performance as compared to funds with similar objectives."
A - Is given to a fund which "demonstrates high standards of quality based on its investment process and management’s consistency of performance as compared to funds with similar objectives."
Source: Standard & Poor’s, 2008
The fund manager ratings that are often quoted by M&G are those of Citywire. They use a methodology that is objective, independent and approved by external actuaries.
Citywire fund manager ratings
Citywire Fund Manager Ratings identify the individual managers who have the best risk adjusted personal performance record over 3 years. All managers who run actively managed retail funds within the 27 unit trust sectors defined by the UK’s Investment Management Association qualify to be rated. Citywire apply AAA, AA or single A ratings to those that achieve or exceed their demanding performance thresholds.
You can find the performance ratings awarded to our funds and our fund managers are displayed in our Funds A-Z section.