Woodford sells Rolls-Royce stake as confidence in business model shaken

Alpha manager has held aerospace company for nearly a decade

clock

Neil Woodford has sold his positions in Rolls-Royce across his funds, saying November's disappointing trading statement has "shaken his confidence" in the company's investment case.

In a recent blog post, Woodford said he has held Rolls-Royce for almost a decade, and since launch in his open- and closed-ended funds. On 12 November, the manager had 2.2% of his £7.7bn Woodford Equity Income fund invested in Rolls-Royce, as well as 0.8% of the £832m Patient Capital trust. Rolls-Royce has issued six profit warnings and downgrades over the past two years that have caused its share price to more than halve, closing at 578.5p on Wednesday. Woodford said the company has struggled as it transitions between civil aerospace engine designs and invests in new capacity to d...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

Darius McDermott: The five-year laggards - can they revive?

Darius McDermott: The five-year laggards - can they revive?

'It's a complex backdrop for investors'

Darius McDermott
clock 31 March 2026 • 6 min read
Protecting portfolios during heightened inflation risk

Protecting portfolios during heightened inflation risk

'This is a year for careful, defensive positioning'

Fahad Hassan
clock 30 March 2026 • 3 min read
Wealth Club launches UK's first private markets SIPP

Wealth Club launches UK's first private markets SIPP

45% income tax relief

Patrick Brusnahan
clock 24 March 2026 • 1 min read