PR Newswire
LONDON, United Kingdom, March 19
The information contained in this release was correct as at 28 February 2026.
Information on the Company’s up to date net asset values can be found on the
London Stock Exchange Website at
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news
-home.html.
BLACKROCK LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (LEI – UK9OG5Q0CYUDFGRX4151)
All information is at 28 February 2026 and unaudited.
Performance at month end with net income reinvested
One Three One Three Five
month months year years years
% % % % %
Sterling:
Net asset value^ 6.5 16.9 64.3 46.9 76.8
Share price 3.1 24.9 70.0 59.6 90.0
MSCI EM Latin America 6.0 19.3 61.5 58.2 108.3
(Net Return)^^
US Dollars:
Net asset value^ 4.3 18.6 75.5 63.1 70.1
Share price 1.0 26.7 81.6 77.2 82.8
MSCI EM Latin America 3.8 21.0 72.4 75.7 100.3
(Net Return)^^
^cum income
^^The Company’s performance benchmark (the MSCI EM Latin America Index) may be
calculated on either a Gross or a Net return basis. Net return (NR) indices
calculate the reinvestment of dividends net of withholding taxes using the tax
rates applicable to non-resident institutional investors, and hence give a lower
total return than indices where calculations are on a Gross basis (which assumes
that no withholding tax is suffered). As the Company is subject to withholding
tax rates for the majority of countries in which it invests, the NR basis is
felt to be the most accurate, appropriate, consistent and fair comparison for
the Company.
Sources: BlackRock, Standard & Poor’s Micropal
At month end
Net asset value – capital only: 509.13p
Net asset value – including income: 516.04p
Share price: 494.00p
Total assets#: £169.2m
Discount (share price to cum income 4.3%
NAV):
Average discount* over the month – 3.2%
cum income:
Net gearing at month end**: 10.1%
Gearing range (as a % of net 0-25%
assets):
Net yield##: 4.0%
Ordinary shares in issue(excluding 29,448,641
2,181,662 shares held in treasury):
Ongoing charges***: 1.23%
#Total assets include current year revenue.
##The yield of 4.0% is calculated based on total dividends declared in the last
12 months as at the date of this announcement as set out below (totalling 26.59
cents per share) and using a share price of 664.16 US cents per share
(equivalent to the sterling price of 494.00 pence per share translated in to US
cents at the rate prevailing at 28 February 2026 of $1.3445 dollars to £1.00).
2025 Q1 Interim dividend of 5.55 cents per share (Paid on 15 May 2025)
2025 Q2 Interim dividend of 6.74 cents per share (Paid on 12 August 2025)
2025 Q3 Interim dividend of 7.06 cents per share (Paid 05 November 2025)
2025 Q4 Interim dividend of 7.24 cents per share (Paid 06 February 2026)
*The discount is calculated using the cum income NAV (expressed in sterling
terms).
**Net cash/net gearing is calculated using debt at par, less cash and cash
equivalents and fixed interest investments as a percentage of net assets.
*** The Company’s ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average
daily net assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses
excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges,
VAT recovered, taxation and certain non-recurring items for the year ended 31
December 2024.
Geographic Exposure % of % of Equity MSCI EM Latin America Index
Total Portfolio *
Assets
Brazil 63.3 64.0 59.7
Mexico 22.2 22.5 25.9
Peru 7.6 7.7 5.6
Multi-Country 2.7 2.7 0.0
Chile 1.7 1.7 7.0
Argentina 1.4 1.4 0.0
Columbia 0.0 0.0 1.8
Net current assets 1.1 0.0 0.0
(inc. fixed
interest)
—– —– —–
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
===== ===== =====
^Total assets for the purposes of these calculations exclude bank overdrafts,
and the net current assets figure shown in the table above therefore excludes
bank overdrafts equivalent to 11.3% of the Company’s net asset value.
Sector % of Equity Portfolio* % of Benchmark*
Financials 26.2 33.3
Materials 22.8 21.2
Industrials 15.7 9.2
Consumer Staples 11.8 11.2
Consumer Discretionary 11.3 2.0
Energy 6.5 8.4
Real Estate 2.6 1.6
Health Care 1.7 0.7
Information Technology 1.4 0.4
Utilities 0.0 8.1
Communication Services 0.0 3.9
—– —–
Total 100.0 100.0
===== =====
*excluding net current assets & fixed interest
Company Country of Risk % of % of
Equity Portfolio Benchmark
Vale: Brazil
ADS 8.4
Equity 1.3 7.0
Petrobrás: Brazil
Equity 0.9
Equity ADR 3.7 3.5
Preference Shares ADR 1.9 4.0
Southern Copper Peru 5.5 2.2
Localiza Rent A Car Brazil
Equity 4.2 1.0
Preference Shares 0.2
Nu Holdings Ltd Brazil 4.2 5.7
Walmart de México y Centroamérica Mexico 4.1 1.9
Cyrela Brazil Realty: Brazil
Equity 3.3
Preference Shares 0.3
Grupo Financiero Banorte Mexico 3.5 3.2
Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste Mexico 3.4 0.7
StoneCo Ltd Brazil 3.4 0.4
Commenting on the markets, Sam Vecht and Gordon Fraser, representing the
Investment Manager noted;
The Company’s NAV rose by +4.3% in February, outperforming the benchmark, the
MSCI Emerging Markets Latin America Index, which returned +3.8% on a net basis
over the same period. All performance figures are in US dollar terms with
dividends reinvested.
Latin American Markets (+3.8%) underperformed Emerging Markets (+5.4%) in
February amid divergent returns within the region. Brazil ended the month +3.8%,
as February data pointed to a broad deceleration in economic activity, however
external accounts improved at the margin, with FDI (foreign direct investment)
stable. Politics remain a focal point for investors, with President Lula’s
popularity back in decline, and opposition candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, tied in
some runoff simulations. Mexico was the region’s top performer, up +7.0%,
supported by the Peso appreciating +1.4% against the Dollar. Colombia (-12.2% )
and Chile (-6.3%) were the two worst performing markets in Emerging Markets in
February.
At the portfolio level, our underweight to Chile was the largest relative
contributor. Stock selection in Brazil also helped performance. On the other
hand, stock selection in Mexico and off-benchmark exposure to Argentina hurt
relative returns.
From a security lens, an underweight position to Brazilian Nu Holdings was the
largest relative contributor. As a US listed company, the stock was impacted by
the broader U.S. market sell off that weighed on fintech and financial stocks,
with performance further impacted later in the month following a mixed 4Q
earnings release that showed weaker than expected profit before tax. Peruvian
copper miner, Southern Copper, continued its strong run in February, as copper
prices kept steady over the month. An overweight position to Mexican industrial
real estate company, Vesta, was another relative contributor. The company
delivered a 4Q 2025 operational beat and 2026 guidance was strong.
On the flipside, IT services firm, Globant, weighed most on returns over the
month. The Anthropic «Claude/Cowork» release intensified fears of AI disrupting
software and IT service business models and sparked a broad sell off in these
sectors. The stock recovered somewhat later in the month after delivering a
slight beat on its 4Q 2025 results. Not owning Mexican telecom company, América
Móvil, was another relative detractor as the company reported a Q4 net profit
increase on the back of foreign exchange gains which offset higher financing
costs.
We made very few changes to the portfolio in February. We took advantage of
share price weakness in NU Holdings to reduce our underweight position, funded
by modest reductions in Banco do Brasil and Bradesco following their stronger
relative performance. We also participated in the IPO (Initial Public Offering)
of Brazilian bank, AGI, where we see attractive growth prospects at the expense
of incumbents. Brazil remains our largest portfolio overweight, whilst Chile is
the largest underweight.
Outlook
We remain constructive on Latin American equities. Strong inflows, a softer US
dollar and resilient commodity prices have continued to support the region into
2026, while valuations remain reasonable despite a powerful start to the year.
As we have previously highlighted, we believe Latin American equity markets are
relatively insulated from geopolitical shocks such as the recent escalation of
tensions in the Middle East. With limited direct trade exposure to the region
and status as a net commodity exporter, any impact is more likely to be
sentiment driven rather than reflective of a deterioration in regional
fundamentals. That said short-term drawdowns in regional performance could occur
if fighting in the Arabian Gulf continues for a sustained period.
In Brazil, the early year rally has been driven by a supportive global backdrop
with a weaker USD and ongoing offshore inflows. Domestically, the focus is
shifting toward the 2026 election and the policy path; with headline and core
inflation at multi month lows, and high real rates coinciding with softer U.S.
growth, we believe the monetary inflection point could come in the first half of
the year, easing liquidity conditions and supporting the market further.
In Mexico, USMCA (US-Mexico-Canada Agreement) related trade noise may weigh on
sentiment, but nearshoring remains a structural tailwind given deep integration
with U.S. supply chains. Policy is still restrictive in real terms, leaving
scope for easing if inflation continues to cooperate.
While global uncertainty and trade-related risks persist, the region still
offers a compelling diversification profile. Relatively high real rates provide
policy optionality, and valuations look particularly attractive versus developed
markets.
19 March 2026
ENDS
Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.com/uk/brla on the
internet, «BLRKINDEX» on Reuters, «BLRK» on Bloomberg or «8800» on Topic 3 (ICV
terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager’s website nor the contents of
any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager’s website (or any other
website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
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