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Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (ASL) Competitors

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust logo
GBX 1,760 +8.00 (+0.46%)
As of 09/4/2026 12:33 PM Eastern

ASL vs. HL, ABDN, 3IN, ATST, and EMG

Should you buy Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust stock or one of its competitors? Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's main competitors and comparable companies include Hargreaves Lansdown (HL), abrdn (ABDN), 3i Infrastructure (3IN), Alliance Trust (ATST), and Man Group (EMG). Companies are selected based on similarities in market, industry, and size. These companies are all part of the "asset management & custody banks" industry.

How does Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust compare to Hargreaves Lansdown?

Hargreaves Lansdown (LON:HL) and Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (LON:ASL) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings and media sentiment.

66.7% of Hargreaves Lansdown shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 13.1% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by institutional investors. 29.4% of Hargreaves Lansdown shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.4% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust has a net margin of 63.47% compared to Hargreaves Lansdown's net margin of 38.33%. Hargreaves Lansdown's return on equity of 38.46% beat Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Hargreaves Lansdown38.33% 38.46% 17.10%
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust 63.47%6.52%11.67%

Hargreaves Lansdown has a beta of 0.66, suggesting that its stock price is 34% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust has a beta of 1.433, suggesting that its stock price is 43% more volatile than the broader market.

Hargreaves Lansdown pays an annual dividend of GBX 43 per share. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust pays an annual dividend of GBX 46.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Hargreaves Lansdown pays out 6,935.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust pays out 40.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Hargreaves Lansdown has higher revenue and earnings than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust. Hargreaves Lansdown is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Hargreaves Lansdown£764.90M0.00£293.20M£0.62N/A
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust£94.68M14.34£255.01M£115.7815.20

In the previous week, Hargreaves Lansdown's average media sentiment score of 0.00 equaled Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust'saverage media sentiment score.

Company Overall Sentiment
Hargreaves Lansdown Neutral
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust Neutral

Summary

Hargreaves Lansdown beats Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust on 7 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust compare to abrdn?

abrdn (LON:ABDN) and Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (LON:ASL) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their media sentiment, analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, risk and earnings.

abrdn has a beta of 1.398, meaning that its stock price is 40% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust has a beta of 1.433, meaning that its stock price is 43% more volatile than the broader market.

abrdn currently has a consensus target price of GBX 226.50, suggesting a potential downside of 9.29%. Given abrdn's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe abrdn is more favorable than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
abrdn
1 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.17
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
0 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
0.00

42.1% of abrdn shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 13.1% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by institutional investors. 1.0% of abrdn shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.4% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

abrdn pays an annual dividend of GBX 14.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.8%. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust pays an annual dividend of GBX 46.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. abrdn pays out 69.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust pays out 40.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

In the previous week, abrdn had 1 more articles in the media than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust. MarketBeat recorded 1 mentions for abrdn and 0 mentions for Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust. abrdn's average media sentiment score of 0.67 beat Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's score of 0.00 indicating that abrdn is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Overall Sentiment
abrdn Positive
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust Neutral

abrdn has higher revenue and earnings than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust. abrdn is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
abrdn£1.71B2.61£316.36M£20.9011.95
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust£94.68M14.34£255.01M£115.7815.20

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust has a net margin of 63.47% compared to abrdn's net margin of 28.07%. abrdn's return on equity of 7.37% beat Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
abrdn28.07% 7.37% 0.68%
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust 63.47%6.52%11.67%

Summary

abrdn beats Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust on 11 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust compare to 3i Infrastructure?

3i Infrastructure (LON:3IN) and Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (LON:ASL) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, media sentiment, earnings, dividends, profitability and risk.

3i Infrastructure presently has a consensus target price of GBX 450, indicating a potential upside of 15.24%. Given 3i Infrastructure's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe 3i Infrastructure is more favorable than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
3i Infrastructure
1 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.33
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
0 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
0.00

3i Infrastructure has higher revenue and earnings than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust. 3i Infrastructure is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
3i Infrastructure£301M11.97£347M£32.0012.20
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust£94.68M14.34£255.01M£115.7815.20

In the previous week, 3i Infrastructure had 1 more articles in the media than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust. MarketBeat recorded 1 mentions for 3i Infrastructure and 0 mentions for Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust. 3i Infrastructure's average media sentiment score of 0.00 equaled Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust'saverage media sentiment score.

Company Overall Sentiment
3i Infrastructure Neutral
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust Neutral

24.2% of 3i Infrastructure shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 13.1% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by institutional investors. 0.1% of 3i Infrastructure shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.4% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

3i Infrastructure pays an annual dividend of GBX 13.05 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust pays an annual dividend of GBX 46.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. 3i Infrastructure pays out 40.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust pays out 40.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

3i Infrastructure has a beta of 0.5, suggesting that its stock price is 50% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust has a beta of 1.433, suggesting that its stock price is 43% more volatile than the broader market.

3i Infrastructure has a net margin of 92.78% compared to Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's net margin of 63.47%. 3i Infrastructure's return on equity of 10.77% beat Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
3i Infrastructure92.78% 10.77% 4.83%
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust 63.47%6.52%11.67%

Summary

3i Infrastructure beats Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust on 10 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust compare to Alliance Trust?

Alliance Trust (LON:ATST) and Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (LON:ASL) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, dividends, media sentiment, risk, profitability, earnings and institutional ownership.

6.9% of Alliance Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 13.1% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by institutional investors. 2.4% of Alliance Trust shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.4% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Alliance Trust has a net margin of 92.17% compared to Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's net margin of 63.47%. Alliance Trust's return on equity of 17.93% beat Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Alliance Trust92.17% 17.93% 10.95%
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust 63.47%6.52%11.67%

Alliance Trust has a beta of 0.65, suggesting that its share price is 35% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust has a beta of 1.433, suggesting that its share price is 43% more volatile than the broader market.

Alliance Trust has higher revenue and earnings than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust. Alliance Trust is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Alliance Trust£652.76M0.00£601.66M£2.12N/A
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust£94.68M14.34£255.01M£115.7815.20

In the previous week, Alliance Trust's average media sentiment score of 0.00 equaled Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust'saverage media sentiment score.

Company Overall Sentiment
Alliance Trust Neutral
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust Neutral

Alliance Trust pays an annual dividend of GBX 26 per share. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust pays an annual dividend of GBX 46.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Alliance Trust pays out 1,226.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust pays out 40.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Summary

Alliance Trust and Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust tied by winning 6 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust compare to Man Group?

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (LON:ASL) and Man Group (LON:EMG) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, media sentiment, earnings, profitability, valuation, dividends and risk.

13.1% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 47.5% of Man Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 7.5% of Man Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust has a net margin of 63.47% compared to Man Group's net margin of 18.60%. Man Group's return on equity of 20.41% beat Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust63.47% 6.52% 11.67%
Man Group 18.60%20.41%4.61%

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust pays an annual dividend of GBX 46.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Man Group pays an annual dividend of GBX 17.02 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.5%. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust pays out 40.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Man Group pays out 60.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

Man Group has a consensus target price of GBX 304.75, indicating a potential downside of 0.93%. Given Man Group's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Man Group is more favorable than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
0 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
0.00
Man Group
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.25

Man Group has higher revenue and earnings than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust. Man Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust£94.68M14.34£255.01M£115.7815.20
Man Group£1.69B2.08£382.68M£28.1010.95

In the previous week, Man Group had 4 more articles in the media than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust. MarketBeat recorded 4 mentions for Man Group and 0 mentions for Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust. Man Group's average media sentiment score of 0.43 beat Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's score of 0.00 indicating that Man Group is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Overall Sentiment
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust Neutral
Man Group Neutral

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust has a beta of 1.433, suggesting that its share price is 43% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Man Group has a beta of 0.631, suggesting that its share price is 37% less volatile than the broader market.

Summary

Man Group beats Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust on 11 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

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New MarketBeat Followers Over Time

This chart shows the number of new MarketBeat users adding ASL and its top 5 competitors to their watchlist. Each company is represented with a line over a 90 day period.
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Media Sentiment Over Time

This chart shows the average media sentiment of LON and its competitors over the past 90 days as caculated by MarketBeat. The averaged score is equivalent to the following: Very Negative Sentiment <= -1.5, Negative Sentiment > -1.5 and <= -0.5, Neutral Sentiment > -0.5 and < 0.5, Positive Sentiment >= 0.5 and < 1.5, and Very Positive Sentiment >= 1.5.
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ASL vs. The Competition

MetricAberforth Smaller Companies TrustCapital Markets IndustryFinance SectorLON Exchange
Market Cap£1.36B£5.72B£14.28B£2.91B
Dividend Yield2.73%7.39%5.88%6.18%
P/E Ratio15.2031.6526.17367.42
Price / Sales14.341,268.62523.7783,891.79
Price / Cash1,306.0048.2139.5927.89
Price / Book1.061.982.136.75
Net Income£255.01M£419.47M£1.32B£5.89B
7 Day Performance-1.12%-0.53%0.24%5.57%
1 Month Performance3.17%0.61%1.56%2.30%
1 Year Performance16.71%7.62%12.05%21.81%

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust Competitors List

CompanyMarketRankShare PriceAnalysts' Price Target1Y Price PerformanceMarket CapRevenueP/E RatioEmployee CountIndicator(s)
ASL
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust
N/AGBX 1,760
+0.5%
N/A+16.7%£1.36B£94.68M15.20N/A
HL
Hargreaves Lansdown
N/AN/AN/AN/A£5.26B£764.90M1,787.901,850
ABDN
abrdn
2.2955 of 5 stars
GBX 252.20
flat
GBX 226.50
-10.2%
+33.0%£4.52B£1.71B12.074,719
3IN
3i Infrastructure
1.5572 of 5 stars
GBX 395.50
flat
GBX 450
+13.8%
+11.1%£3.65B£301M12.36N/A
ATST
Alliance Trust
N/AN/AN/AN/A£3.58B£652.76M600.003

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This page (LON:ASL) was last updated on 9/5/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.
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