Gervais Williams’ tips to invest in small company shares

Fund manager Gervais Williams has carved out a reputation as one of the UK’s best smaller company stock pickers.

While the Miton manager runs funds that invest across different sized companies, it is small caps that have made his name over a 30-year career – thanks to a knack for spotting recovery opportunities, future growth stars and the stocks sitting below the FTSE 100’s big guns that can pay a consistent and rising dividend.

But despite his ability to meet with senior company directors and the research resources that he enjoys, Gervais says that he believes private investors, especially those outside London, can have an advantage when investing in smaller companies.

The manager of Diverse Income Trust, CF Miton UK Smaller Companies and more, joined us on the Investing Show to explain why that is and highlight what he looks for in a small cap opportunity that will pay off for years to come.

Gervais discusses why he thinks companies balance sheets are ‘crazily important’ for successful investing and how either low debt or net cash can take some of the risk out of smaller companies and set them up for better future growth.

He also reveals why he likes recovery opportunities, why small caps can be solid income investments and tells us about some of the companies that he likes right now.

Watch the show below.