Holly Mckay
Holly MackayFounder and CEO
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    Compare The Boring Money Rated Investment Trusts

    The Boring Money Rated badge highlights Investment Trusts that pass our independent screening and review. We assess every Trust against its sector over five years, then screen for size, pricing, discount to net asset value, gearing and sector. Trusts that clear these filters are then reviewed for how clearly they communicate with everyday investors. Only those that meet every standard earn the Rated badge.

    Frequently Asked Questions about the Boring Money Investment Rated Badge 2026

    How do we choose our winners?

    Boring Money awards its Investment Trust Rated badge to Trusts that pass six data screens: performance, size, currency, discount to NAV, gearing and sector. We use data from the Association of Investment Companies, as at 30 June 2026, to compare every Trust against others in its own sector. In addition, a human review of how clearly each trust communicates with everyday investors is evaluated. Only trusts that clear both the numbers and the human check earn the badge.

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    What is an Investment Trust?

    An Investment Trust is a close-ended company that is listed to trade on the stock market. They pool together shareholders’ money, which is then run by a professional fund manager. This money is then invested in a diversified mix of assets likes shares, bonds and properties.

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    What is the difference between an Investment Trust and a fund?

    Funds, also known as mutual funds, are open-ended, meaning new shares are created the more people invest, and shares are cancelled when people sell. On the other hand, Investment Trusts are close-ended, which means there’s a fixed number of shared which trade on the stock market.

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    What does buying at a discount mean?

    Every Trust has a Net Asset Value, or a NAV, which is the total value of all its investments, divided by the number of shares. If a share is below the NAV, the Trust is trading at a discount, meaning you’re buying assets for less then they’re worth. A share can also be above the NAV, which means the Trust is trading at a premium, so you’re paying extra.

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    How do I know if an Investment trust is performing well?

    There are five factors to look out:

    1. ‏NAV per share - This will show the total value of the Trust.

    2. Share price - The current price you pay per share.

    3. Premium/Discount - You should then compare the NAV with the share price to figure out if the Trust is trading at a premium or a discount. If the share costs more than NAV, you are paying extra. If the share costs less than NAV, you are paying less.

    4. Assets Under Management (AUM) - This is the total value of all assets managed by the Trust. The higher the AUM, the higher the earnings for the Trust.

    5. Cash position - Trusts with a high AUM are typically more liquid, which means the shares can be bought or sold without major price shifts, allowing them to trade at higher volumes.

    What is gearing?

    Gearing is the act of borrowing money to fund a company’s operations. It is usually expressed as a ratio - where the cost of the borrowed amount is compared to the overall value of the company. When we conduct our ratings, Investment Trusts that have borrowed more than 25% relative to their assets are screened out.

    What are dividends are do Investment Trusts pay them?

    Dividends are a cash bonus shareholders receive in return for investing in something, which can be paid out on a monthly, biannual or annual basis. Many Investment Trusts pay dividends. They can retain up to 15% of the income they earn yearly and hold it in a revenue reserve which acts as an emergency fund, also known as dividend smoothing. This allows some Trusts to maintain or increase they dividend payments. These Trusts are called dividend heroes, as they are Trusts with a long track record of growing their payouts.

    Important stuffHolly and the team have worked in the finance industry for many years but we are not regulated to give you personal financial advice. For every story on this website about a good investment, or something which went up by 10% or made someone £200, we could also share a story about a bad investment, something which fell in value or lost someone £200. We aim to provide general information and pointers – and btw we are totally agnostic about which providers you might pick – but if you have complex affairs, want personalised advice or need specific recommendations, please look at advice pages and see if regulated digital or traditional financial advice would be the best solution for your needs. Boring Money Ltd is a limited company registered in England and Wales under registration number 09459832 and we have our registered office at 37 Lombard Street, London, EC3V 9BQ.
    InformationHistorically, money invested for more than five years grows more than cash savings. Remember that investments can also fall, so you might not get all of your money back. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.
    Boring Money Ltd is a limited company registered in England and Wales under registration number 09459832 and we have our registered office at 37 Lombard Street, London, EC3V 9BQ.