Hargreaves Lansdown

Hargreaves Lansdown is a prominent UK-based investment services company that provides a wide array of financial products and services, including ISAs, SIPPs, savings accounts, annuities, and income drawdown options. The company operates as the UK's largest direct-to-investor investment platform, serving over a million clients and managing assets worth £155 billion as of August 2024. Its platform is recognized for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive investment tools, enabling clients to access their investments anytime through its website and app.

The company's investment strategy focuses on a diverse range of asset classes, including equities, bonds, funds, ETFs, cash ISAs, SIPPs, annuities, and savings accounts. It employs a multi-asset approach, offering both actively managed and passively managed portfolios to cater to various investor preferences. In May 2024, Hargreaves Lansdown launched four multi-asset model portfolios using passive funds and ETFs managed by BlackRock, responding to the rising popularity of cost-effective tracker funds among its clients. Additionally, in January 2023, the company introduced three managed portfolios across the risk spectrum, combining third-party funds, ETFs, and its own HL Building Block funds.

Hargreaves Lansdown's investment philosophy emphasizes a balanced approach, seeking businesses with exceptional products and services, recurring revenue, high profit margins, healthy returns, strong cash generation, low debt, and forward-thinking management. The company holds a mixture of higher-yielding companies, whose dividends form the bedrock of the overall income, and some exciting, lower-yielding stocks that it believes have outstanding earnings and dividend growth prospects. This strategy aims to achieve compelling long-term returns for investors. The company has a strong track record of delivering reliable growth in profits and dividends, with a history of paying and increasing dividends over the years.

In August 2024, Hargreaves Lansdown was acquired by a consortium led by CVC Capital Partners, Nordic Capital, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, valuing the company at £5.4 billion. This acquisition marked a significant milestone in the company's history, transitioning it from a publicly listed entity to a privately held firm. Despite the change in ownership, Hargreaves Lansdown continues to operate under its established brand, offering a wide range of investment products and services to its clients. The company's commitment to providing comprehensive financial solutions remains steadfast, ensuring that investors have access to a diverse array of investment options tailored to their individual needs and preferences.