Top investment funds
View the best performing and most popular funds over various timeframes.
Most popular with ii customers
Most purchased funds in December 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month | 1-year return to 4 Jan (%) | 3-year return to 4 Jan (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | +1 | 121.8% | 219% |
| 2 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | - 1 | 18.4% | 52.3% |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | + 1 | 80% | 138.8% |
| 4 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | +1 | 7.6% | 22% |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | +1 | 76.8% | 129.4% |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Pacific | Asia Pacific Excluding Japan | +1 | 60.3% | 74.7% |
| 7 | Baillie Gifford China | China | -4 | 55.9% | 64.5% |
| 8 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | No change | 7.8% | 20.4% |
| 9 | Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth | Global | No change | 95.6% | 162.6% |
| 10 | Baillie Gifford Managed | Mixed Investment 40-85% Shares | New entry | 33.8% | 58.1% |
Source: interactive investor and FE Analytics. Note: the top 10 is based on the number of “buys” during the month of December.
Most purchased funds in November 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month | 1-year return to 1 Dec (%) | 3-year return to 1 Dec (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | No change | 16.6% | 52% |
| 2 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | No change | 110.5% | 211.8% |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford China | China | +2 | 55.5% | 57% |
| 4 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | -1 | 80.1% | 137.8% |
| 5 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | +2 | 6.3% | 21.5% |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | -2 | 61.9% | 123.9% |
| 7 | Baillie Gifford Pacific | Asia Pacific Excluding Japan | New entry | 62.4% | 73.8% |
| 8 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | No change | 6.5% | 20.0% |
| 9 | Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth | Global | No change | 96.3% | 154.9% |
| 10 | Legg Mason IF Japan Equity | Japan | no change | 43.6% | 66.9% |
Source: interactive investor and FE Analytics. Note: the top 10 is based on the number of “buys” during the month of November.
Most purchased funds in October 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | No change |
| 2 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | No change |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | No change |
| 4 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | +1 |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford China | China | New entry |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Japanese Smaller Companies | Japanese Smaller Companies | New entry |
| 7 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | -3 |
| 8 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | No change |
| 9 | Baillie Gifford Long-Term Global Growth | Global | -3 |
| 10 | Legg Mason IF Japan Equity | Japan | New entry |
Most purchased funds in September 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month | 1-year return to 1 Oct | 3-year return to 1 Oct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | No change | 13.5% | 57.23% |
| 2 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | No change | 100.94% | 186.39% |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | No change | 72.53% | 126.1% |
| 4 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | No change | 0.87% | 17.76% |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | No change | 59.54% | 109.35% |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth | Global | No change | 93.87% | 146.99% |
| 7 | Baillie Gifford Managed | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | +1 | 26.93% | 48.98% |
| 8 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | -1 | 1.78% | 17.21% |
| 9 | LF Blue Whale Growth | Global | New entry | 24.57% | 73.6% |
| 10 | Rathbone Global Opportunities | Global | -1 | 27.42% | 63.97% |
Most purchased funds in August 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month | 1-year return to 1 Sept | 3-year return to 1 Sept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | No change | 11.31% | 52.60% |
| 2 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | No change | 79.95% | 176.47% |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | No change | 75.34% | 120.94% |
| 4 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | +2 | 3.66% | 17.05% |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | -1 | 43.59% | 103.58% |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth | Global | -1 | 88.49% | 138.63% |
| 7 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | -1 | 3.48% | 16.10% |
| 8 | Baillie Gifford Managed | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | No change | 24.45% | 43.49% |
| 9 | Rathbone Global Opportunities | Global | New entry | 24.06% | 60.05% |
| 10 | L&G Global Technology Index | Technology and Telecommunications | New entry | 47.80% | 102.59% |
Most purchased funds in July 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month | 1-year return to 3 Aug | 3-year return to 3 Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | No change | 4.33% | 48.76% |
| 2 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | No change | 55.13% | 153.07% |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | +1 | 54.69% | 123.13% |
| 4 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | +1 | 30% | 94.81% |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth | Global | +5 | 61.30% | 124.15% |
| 6 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | -3 | -1.98% | 15.39% |
| 7 | Baillie Gifford China | China | New entry | 31.54% | 46.70% |
| 8 | Baillie Gifford Managed | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | New entry | 14.73% | 39.75% |
| 9 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | -3 | 0.40% | 15.67% |
| 10 | Polar Capital Global Technology | Technology and Telecommunications | -1 | 30.71% | 107.15% |
Most purchased funds in June 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month |
1-year return to 1 Jul |
3-year return to 1 Jul |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | No change | 9.20% | 49% | |
| 2 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | No change | 53.60% | 138.20% | |
| 3 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed Investment 40%-85% Shares | No change | 2.30% | 17.70% | |
| 4 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | up 5 | 51% | 109.70% | |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | minus 1 | 36.40% | 96.20% | |
| 6 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed Investment 40%-85% Shares | up 1 | 3.60% | 17.10% | |
| 7 | Lindsell Train Global Equity | Global | up 1 | 1.80% | 49.50% | |
| 8 | L&G Global Technology Index | Technology & Telecommunications | minus 3 | 38.60% | 95.30% | |
| 9 | Polar Capital Global Technology | Technology & Telecommunications | minus 3 | 31.50% | 87.70% | |
| 10 | Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth | Global | new entry | 59.80% | 122.80% |
Most purchased funds in May 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month |
1-year return to 2 June |
3-year return to 2 June |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | No change | 12.90% | 46.20% |
| 2 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | +3 | 50.80% | 120.10% |
| 3 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed Investment 40%-85% Shares | -1 | 4.40% | 14% |
| 4 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | +6 | 33.90% | 89.60% |
| 5 | L&G Global Technology Index | echnology & Telecommunications | +2 | 37.60% | 77.10% |
| 6 | Polar Capital Global Technology | Technology & Telecommunications | +3 | 36.20% | 90.50% |
| 7 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed Investment 40%-85% Shares | -3 | 5.30% | 13.90% |
| 8 | Lindsell Train Global Equity | Global | -5 | 2.50% | 47.10% |
| 9 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | New entry | 50.10% | 101.20% |
| 10 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 100% Equity | Global | -4 | 3.40% | 13.90% |
Best performing funds
Below are the top performing funds up to 1 December 2020. For a more comprehensive overview of fund, investment trust and ETF performance, read our latest update.
The data is provided by Morningstar, a global financial services firm. interactive investor accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies in the data.
Top 10 performers after 1 month
|
|
Total return % |
|
TB Guinness Global Energy I Acc |
34.9 |
|
Ninety One UK Special Situations R Acc |
29.3 |
|
VT Cape Wrath Focus GBP A Net Acc |
29.0 |
|
Ninety One Global Special Sits R Acc |
28.2 |
|
Ninety One Global Special Sits A Acc |
28.2 |
|
Guinness Global Energy Y GBP Acc |
27.2 |
|
Guinness Global Energy C GBP Acc |
27.1 |
|
Quilter Investors Glbl Uncons EqR £ Acc |
26.8 |
|
Ninety One UK Total Return R Acc |
26.6 |
|
JOHCM UK Equity Income A GBP Acc |
25.7 |
Top 10 performers after 3 months
|
|
Total return % |
|
Comgest Growth Japan GBP U Acc |
25.6 |
|
FSSA Japan Focus B GBP Acc |
24.8 |
|
Legg Mason IF Japan Equity X Acc |
24.7 |
|
Legg Mason IF Japan Equity A Acc |
24.6 |
|
Legg Mason RY US SmCp Opp X GBP Acc |
24.4 |
|
Baillie Gifford Japan Small Co B Acc |
23.0 |
|
Artemis UK Select I Acc |
22.1 |
|
Premier Miton UK Value Opps B Instl Acc |
22.0 |
|
Aberforth UK Small Companies Acc |
21.7 |
|
Premier Miton US Smaller Companies B Acc |
21.6 |
Top 10 performers after 6 months
|
|
Total return % |
|
Baillie Gifford American B Acc |
53.5 |
|
FP Carmignac Emerging Markets A GBP Acc |
51.7 |
|
Baillie Gifford Pacific B Acc |
46.8 |
|
BNY Mellon Oriental B Acc |
42.8 |
|
Baillie Gifford Positive Change B Acc |
39.7 |
|
BNY Mellon Global Emerging Mkts F Acc |
39.2 |
|
TM Cerno Pacific A Acc |
37.8 |
|
Barings Eastern I GBP Acc |
37.0 |
|
Barings Eastern I GBP Inc |
36.9 |
|
VT Cape Wrath Focus GBP A Net Acc |
36.8 |
Top 10 performers after 1 year
|
|
Total return % |
|
Baillie Gifford American B Acc |
110.5 |
|
Baillie Gifford Positive Change B Acc |
80.1 |
|
Baillie Gifford Global Stewardship B Acc |
64.2 |
|
T. Rowe Price Glb Tech Eq Qd GBP |
62.9 |
|
Baillie Gifford Pacific B Acc |
62.4 |
|
Lord Abbett Innovation Growth Z USD Acc |
62.3 |
|
Baillie Gifford Global Discovery B Acc |
62.0 |
|
TM Cerno Pacific A Acc |
59.4 |
|
Premier Miton UK Smaller Companies B Acc |
57.8 |
|
Morgan Stanley US Advantage I Acc GBP |
57.2 |
Top 10 performers after 3 years
|
|
Total return % |
|
Baillie Gifford American B Acc |
211.8 |
|
Baillie Gifford Positive Change B Acc |
137.8 |
|
GAM Star Disruptive Gr Z GBP Acc |
126.2 |
|
Baillie Gifford Global Discovery B Acc |
124.0 |
|
Lord Abbett Innovation Growth Z USD Acc |
118.9 |
|
Smith & Williamson Artfcl Intllgnc Z GBP |
117.9 |
|
Polar Capital Global Tech R Inc |
116.1 |
|
Morgan Stanley US Advantage I Acc GBP |
113.8 |
|
AXA Framlington Global Technology Z Acc |
104.7 |
|
T. Rowe Price Glb Tech Eq Qd GBP |
99.7 |
Top 10 performers after 7 years
|
|
Total return % |
|
Baillie Gifford American B Acc |
541.5 |
|
Polar Capital Global Tech R Inc |
526.6 |
|
Polar Capital Biotech I Inc |
418.9 |
|
Fidelity Global Technology W-Acc-GBP |
396.9 |
|
AXA Framlington Global Technology Z Acc |
385.8 |
|
L&G Global Technology Index F Acc |
353.0 |
|
Legg Mason IF Japan Equity X Acc |
330.8 |
|
Legg Mason IF Japan Equity A Acc |
318.3 |
|
Janus Henderson Glb Tech Leaders I Acc |
305.7 |
|
GAM Star Disruptive Gr Z GBP Acc |
288.4 |
How to use the data
The tables on this page showcase the best-performing funds across the entire fund universe – comprising both active funds (run by a fund manager) and passive or index funds (which track the up and down movements of a stock market index).
In light of this, you may see more specialist fund types featuring as the best-performing funds across the various timeframes. Such funds tend to invest in a single country, sector or commodity, and are deemed more suitable for adventurous investors as they carry greater levels of risk than more conventional funds, such as a global or regional fund.
Funds can be held in an ISA, SIPP , and other investment accounts. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change.
Please do bear in mind that past performance is not a guide to future performance. The tables below simply offer a snapshot of the best-performing funds over the specified timeframes. When carrying out further research, it makes sense to look at an even greater variety of time periods to assess performance across different market conditions. Moreover, it is prudent to look at performance on a yearly basis in order to ensure a strong long term performance track record is not just the result of one outstanding year.
The performance figures show the total return in sterling unless otherwise specified. Figures are calculated on a bid price to bid price basis or mid to mid for open-ended investment companies (OEICS), with net income (dividends) reinvested.
Choosing the right funds for you
With thousands of funds available to UK investors, seeking out the best investment funds can be a minefield.
Fund performance is only one aspect of choosing an investment - alongside other factors such as your investment goals and appetite for risk.
But to give you some idea of how funds perform relative to each other, we will regularly update this page with the best-performing funds over various timeframes.
As a rule of thumb, five years is widely viewed as the minimum holding period when investing in funds, as over the short term the stock market can be unpredictable.
Funds
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Important information
Our most popular investments should not be taken as personal recommendations to buy or sell a particular stock or fund, and are not intended to provide advice.
The value of your investments can fall as well as rise and you may not get back all the money that you invest. Please note the tax treatment of these products depends on the individual circumstances of each customer and may be subject to change in future.