Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC

LSE:ASL UK Asset Management
Market Cap
$15.08 Million
GBX123.92 Billion GBX
Market Cap Rank
#47426 Global
#1052 in UK
Share Price
GBX1566.00
Change (1 day)
-1.01%
52-Week Range
GBX14.86 - GBX1710.00
All Time High
GBX1710.00
Categories
Companies in UK Asset Management Banking & Financial
About

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust Plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Aberforth Partners LLP. The fund invests in public equity markets of the United Kingdom. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in value stocks of small-cap companies. It employs fundamental analysis with both bottom-up and top-down… Read more

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC (ASL) - Net Assets

Latest net assets as of December 2025: GBX1.39 Billion GBX

Based on the latest financial reports, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC (ASL) has net assets worth GBX1.39 Billion GBX as of December 2025.

Net assets (also known as shareholders' equity or book value) represent the difference between a company's total assets (GBX1.47 Billion) and total liabilities (GBX75.31 Million). This figure indicates the residual interest in the assets after deducting liabilities, essentially showing what would remain for shareholders if all assets were liquidated and all debts paid off.

Key Net Assets Metrics

Metric Value
Current Net Assets GBX1.39 Billion
% of Total Assets 94.87%
Annual Growth Rate 6.32%
5-Year Change -5.49%
10-Year Change 14.05%
Growth Volatility 22.9

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC - Net Assets Trend (2000–2025)

This chart illustrates how Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC's net assets have evolved over time, based on quarterly financial data. Explore and compare other companies by net assets.

Annual Net Assets for Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC (2000–2025)

The table below shows the annual net assets of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC from 2000 to 2025.

Year Net Assets Change
2025-12-31 GBX1.39 Billion -0.40%
2024-12-31 GBX1.40 Billion +7.72%
2023-12-31 GBX1.30 Billion +3.71%
2022-12-31 GBX1.25 Billion -15.06%
2021-12-31 GBX1.47 Billion +28.28%
2020-12-31 GBX1.15 Billion -18.34%
2019-12-31 GBX1.41 Billion +21.85%
2018-12-31 GBX1.15 Billion -19.64%
2017-12-31 GBX1.44 Billion +17.65%
2016-12-31 GBX1.22 Billion +2.38%
2015-12-31 GBX1.19 Billion +7.63%
2014-12-31 GBX1.11 Billion -2.70%
2013-12-31 GBX1.14 Billion +48.16%
2012-12-31 GBX768.18 Million +27.37%
2011-12-31 GBX603.09 Million -15.86%
2010-12-31 GBX716.79 Million +22.13%
2009-12-31 GBX586.92 Million +38.39%
2008-12-31 GBX424.12 Million -42.30%
2007-12-31 GBX735.02 Million -11.80%
2006-12-31 GBX833.33 Million +24.16%
2005-12-31 GBX671.17 Million +22.67%
2004-12-31 GBX547.15 Million +26.80%
2003-12-31 GBX431.53 Million +56.41%
2002-12-31 GBX275.89 Million -12.49%
2001-12-31 GBX315.26 Million +4.77%
2000-12-31 GBX300.92 Million --

Equity Component Analysis

This analysis shows how different components contribute to Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC's total equity over time. Equity components include common stock, retained earnings, additional paid-in capital, and other elements.

Equity Composition Insights

  • Retained earnings have decreased by 100.0% over the analyzed period, potentially due to dividend distributions or operating losses.

Current Equity Component Breakdown (December 2025)

Component Amount Percentage
Common Stock GBX797.00K 0.06%
Other Components GBX1.39 Billion 99.94%
Total Equity GBX1.39 Billion 100.00%

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC Competitors by Market Cap

The table below lists competitors of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC ranked by their market capitalization.

Company Market Cap
Sable Exploration and Mining Ltd
JSE:SXM
 		$1.80K
Adagio 2 Capital Inc.
V:ADAD-P
 		$1.80K
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp
PSE:SHLPH
 		$1.81K
TA YANG GROUP
BE:TAJ
 		$1.81K
Xsovt Brands Inc
PINK:XSVT
 		$1.80K
B92
LSE:B90
 		$1.80K
PlantFuel Life Inc
PINK:PLFLF
 		$1.80K
Kool2play SA
WAR:K2P
 		$1.79K

Equity Growth Attribution

This analysis shows how different factors contributed to changes in Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC's equity between the two most recent reporting periods.

Equity Growth Insights

  • From 2024 to 2025, total equity changed from 1,397,317,000 to 1,391,716,000, a change of -5,601,000 (-0.4%).
  • Net income of 96,235,000 contributed positively to equity growth.
  • Dividend payments of 41,591,000 reduced retained earnings.
  • Share repurchases of 60,245,000 reduced equity.
  • Other comprehensive income decreased equity by 1,292,625,000.
  • Other factors increased equity by 1,292,625,000.

Equity Change Factors (2024 to 2025)

Factor Impact Contribution
Net Income GBX96.23 Million +6.91%
Dividends Paid GBX41.59 Million -2.99%
Share Repurchases GBX60.24 Million -4.33%
Other Comprehensive Income GBX-1.29 Billion -92.88%
Other Changes GBX1.29 Billion +92.88%
Total Change GBX- -0.40%

Book Value vs Market Value Analysis

This analysis compares Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC's book value (net assets) with its market value over time. The relationship between these values can provide insights into investor sentiment and company valuation.

Valuation Insights

  • Current price-to-book ratio: 91.85x
  • The company is trading at a significant premium to its book value, suggesting the market values its earnings potential, brand, or other intangibles highly.
  • The price-to-book ratio has decreased from 314.02x to 91.85x over the analyzed period, indicating reduced market premium.

Historical Price-to-Book Ratios

Date Book Value per Share Market Price P/B Ratio
2003-12-31 GBX4.99 GBX1566.00 x
2004-12-31 GBX5.54 GBX1566.00 x
2005-12-31 GBX6.79 GBX1566.00 x
2006-12-31 GBX8.43 GBX1566.00 x
2007-12-31 GBX7.44 GBX1566.00 x
2008-12-31 GBX4.34 GBX1566.00 x
2009-12-31 GBX6.06 GBX1566.00 x
2010-12-31 GBX7.41 GBX1566.00 x
2011-12-31 GBX6.26 GBX1566.00 x
2012-12-31 GBX8.01 GBX1566.00 x
2013-12-31 GBX11.91 GBX1566.00 x
2014-12-31 GBX11.61 GBX1566.00 x
2015-12-31 GBX12.52 GBX1566.00 x
2016-12-31 GBX12.88 GBX1566.00 x
2017-12-31 GBX15.29 GBX1566.00 x
2018-12-31 GBX12.61 GBX1566.00 x
2019-12-31 GBX15.59 GBX1566.00 x
2020-12-31 GBX12.86 GBX1566.00 x
2021-12-31 GBX16.64 GBX1566.00 x
2022-12-31 GBX14.01 GBX1566.00 x
2023-12-31 GBX15.30 GBX1566.00 x
2024-12-31 GBX16.60 GBX1566.00 x
2025-12-31 GBX17.05 GBX1566.00 x

Capital Efficiency Dashboard

This dashboard shows how efficiently Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC utilizes its equity to generate returns, including Return on Equity (ROE) and its components based on the DuPont analysis framework.

Capital Efficiency Insights

  • Current Return on Equity (ROE): 6.91%
  • The company has moderate efficiency in generating returns from equity.
  • DuPont Analysis Breakdown:
  • • Net Profit Margin: 84.29%
  • • Asset Turnover: 0.08x
  • • Equity Multiplier: 1.05x
  • Recent ROE (6.91%) is above the historical average (6.86%), indicating improving capital efficiency.

Historical Capital Efficiency Metrics

Year Return on Equity Net Profit Margin Asset Turnover Equity Multiplier Economic Value Added
2003 23.71% 96.88% 0.24x 1.02x GBX59.16 Million
2004 22.46% 94.05% 0.24x 1.00x GBX68.20 Million
2005 20.13% 94.09% 0.21x 1.00x GBX68.02 Million
2006 20.89% 94.42% 0.22x 1.00x GBX90.78 Million
2007 -11.51% 0.00% -0.10x 1.00x GBX-158.13 Million
2008 -66.87% 0.00% -0.59x 1.10x GBX-326.02 Million
2009 30.90% 95.54% 0.30x 1.08x GBX122.69 Million
2010 21.07% 93.47% 0.21x 1.08x GBX79.34 Million
2011 -15.55% 0.00% -0.12x 1.12x GBX-154.09 Million
2012 24.50% 98.69% 0.23x 1.06x GBX111.37 Million
2013 34.65% 98.90% 0.34x 1.03x GBX280.50 Million
2014 -0.69% 0.00% 0.00x 1.03x GBX-118.32 Million
2015 9.41% 96.00% 0.10x 1.01x GBX-7.01 Million
2016 5.11% 95.92% 0.05x 1.03x GBX-59.67 Million
2017 18.27% 98.72% 0.18x 1.01x GBX118.78 Million
2018 -18.71% 0.00% -0.18x 1.02x GBX-331.24 Million
2019 21.31% 98.91% 0.21x 1.01x GBX158.93 Million
2020 -19.10% 0.00% -0.18x 1.06x GBX-333.99 Million
2021 24.96% 99.03% 0.24x 1.06x GBX220.27 Million
2022 -12.53% -142.39% 0.08x 1.06x GBX-281.84 Million
2023 7.64% 97.23% 0.07x 1.06x GBX-30.68 Million
2024 10.85% 89.62% 0.11x 1.07x GBX11.86 Million
2025 6.91% 84.29% 0.08x 1.05x GBX-42.94 Million

Industry Comparison

This section compares Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC's net assets metrics with peer companies in the Asset Management industry.

Industry Context

  • Industry: Asset Management
  • Average net assets among peers: $395,694,700
  • Average return on equity (ROE) among peers: -81.73%

Peer Company Comparison

Company Net Assets Return on Equity Debt-to-Equity Market Cap
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC (ASL) GBX1.39 Billion 23.71% 0.05x $1.80K
3I Infrastructure PLC (3IN) $1.09 Billion 8.57% 0.18x $396.99K
450 PLC (450) $1.30 Million -791.13% 5.03x $1.71K
abrdn Asian Income Fund Limited (AAIF) $431.48 Million 11.10% 0.09x $315.37
Abrdn Asia Focus PLC (AAS) $464.40 Million -2.37% 0.15x $434.78
Albion Technology & General VCT PLC (AATG) $34.46 Million 4.41% 0.01x $78.71
Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust PLC (ADIG) $492.42 Million 0.00% 0.32x $16.61
Aquila Energy Efficiency Trust PLC (AEET) $97.38 Million -0.64% 0.00x $2.38K
Aquila European Renewables Income PLC (AERI) $320.23 Million -9.29% 0.00x $2.45K
Artemis UK Future Leaders plc (AFL) $84.35 Million -40.52% 0.02x $401.26
AVI Global Trust PLC (AGT) $938.94 Million 2.59% 0.12x $2.83 Million