Archived article
Please note that tax, investment, pension and ISA rules can change and the information and any views contained in this article may now be inaccurate.
The best performing European small cap funds

AJ Bell is an easy to use, award-winning platform Open an account
We've accounts to suit every investing need, and free guides and special offers to help you get the most from them.
You can get a few handy suggestions, or even get our experts to do the hard work for you – by picking one of our simple investment ideas.
All the resources you need to choose your shares, from market data to the latest investment news and analysis.
Funds offer an easier way to build your portfolio – we’ve got everything you need to choose the right one.
Starting to save for a pension, approaching retirement, or after an explainer on pension jargon? We can help.
Please note that tax, investment, pension and ISA rules can change and the information and any views contained in this article may now be inaccurate.
Investing in smaller companies often involves greater risk and volatility with the promise of higher rewards, and this perhaps explains why there is a significant disparity between the winners and losers in the European small cap funds space.
There’s no disputing the star performer and it comes from the investment trust ranks – Montanaro European Smaller Companies (MTE) has an enviable track record on both a five and 10-year view.
Its strong performance might explain why it trades at a premium to net asset value of 2.3%.
The strategy is underpinned by an in-house team of 11 sector specialists which help to generate ideas for the fund. The emphasis is on quality stocks and the trust was ahead of the curve in factoring in ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues.
In the open-ended fund space ASI European Smaller Companies (B0XWN47) has doubled investors’ money in the last five years. Managed by Andrew Paisley since 2018, it employs a rigorous selection process to identify stocks with growth and momentum.
These articles are provided by Shares magazine which is published by AJ Bell Media, a part of AJ Bell. Shares is not written by AJ Bell.
Shares is provided for your general information and use and is not a personal recommendation to invest. It is not intended to be relied upon by you in making or not making any investment decisions. The investments referred to in these articles will not be suitable for all investors. If in doubt please seek appropriate independent financial advice.
Investors acting on the information in these articles do so at their own risk and AJ Bell Media and its staff do not accept liability for losses suffered by investors as a result of their investment decisions.
The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you originally invested. We don't offer advice, so it's important you understand the risks, if you're unsure please consult a suitably qualified financial adviser. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and rules may change. Past performance is not a guide to future performance and some investments need to be held for the long term.