MANILA, Philippines — UCPB Equity Fund (UEF), one of UCPB’s unit investment trust funds (UITFs), generated investment returns twice the benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) despite uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As reported by Valens Research (https://www.valens-research.com), UCPB Equity Fund provided a cumulative investment return of 163 percent versus PSEi’s 76 percent stock market index as of March 31, 2020. The UEF is currently ranked second among pure equity investment funds as of end-May 2020 and has consistently generated double-digit returns for investors since it was launched in 2007.
The UEF is also projected to grow its top holdings earnings to 11 percent, surpassing the six percent average of Philippines’ annual uniform earnings. This is according to Uniform Accounting, which guides investors to see the real profitability expectations of companies and underlying financial performances.
“UEF’s remarkable performance demonstrates the fund management expertise of our Trust Banking Group in managing and maximizing investment opportunities. We have also made our Peso UITFs more inclusive by reducing the initial investment from P10,000 to P1,000 to enable more investors to participate in the market,” UCPB first vice president and Trust Banking Group head Arturo Lipio said.
The UEF is a peso-denominated, open-ended, marked-to-market pooled fund offered to investors with a medium to long-term investment horizon who appreciate the benefits and risks of the volatility of share prices. It is invested primarily in equities listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange.
In 2018 and 2019, UCPB Peso Bond Fund was recognized by the Chartered Financial Analyst Society Philippines as the Best Managed Fund under the category of Long-Term Bond Funds using Pure Fair Value thru Profit and Loss Valuation.
Aside from UEF, UCPB offers other trust products and services including other UITFs that cater to the investors’ different risk appetites. Investors can choose from a money market fund or bond fund, and make initial placements for as low as P1,000 for peso funds or $1,000 for dollar funds.