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Our analysis reviewed 106 L&G and Legal & General funds in the latest IA August 2026 dataset.
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The average fund returned 6.74% over 6 months, 15.42% over 1 year, 38.98% over 3 years and 37.94% over 5 years.
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26.4% of the funds reviewed achieved a top performing 4 or 5 star Yodelar Rating.
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48.1% were rated 1 or 2 stars, showing a wide split between stronger and weaker historic performance profiles.
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Investors holding Legal & General funds should review each holding against sector peers rather than relying on the provider name alone.
Legal & General is one of the most recognised investment brands in the UK. Its funds are widely held across ISAs, pensions, workplace schemes and self-invested portfolios.
That familiarity can give investors confidence. But it should not be mistaken for proof that every Legal & General fund has performed strongly against sector peers.
Our latest analysis reviewed 106 L&G and Legal & General funds from the Investment Association sector-classified fund universe. The results show a fund range with clear strengths, particularly in technology, global equities and Asia Pacific funds. However, almost half of the funds reviewed received a 1 or 2 star Yodelar Rating.
For investors, the key issue is not whether Legal & General is a good or bad provider. That is too broad. The more useful question is whether the specific Legal & General funds held in a portfolio have performed competitively, still justify their charges and still have a clear role.
Legal And General Fund Performance Summary
Across the Legal & General funds reviewed, 26.5% received a top performing 4 or 5 star Yodelar Rating. In contrast, 48.1% received a poor 1 or 2 star rating by ranking among the bottom of their sectors for performance over the periods analysed.
How Yodelar Rates Fund Performance
Yodelar Ratings are based on historic fund performance compared with funds in the same Investment Association sector. They are not a recommendation, do not assess personal suitability and should not be treated as a guide to future returns.
How Yodelar Rates Fund Performance
A 4 or 5 star rating indicates stronger historic performance against sector peers. A 1 or 2 star rating indicates weaker historic performance compared with competing funds in the same IA sector.
5 Of The Best Performing Legal And General Funds
The table below highlights five Legal & General funds with some of the strongest 5-year returns in the dataset. These funds are not recommendations. They are included to show where Legal & General funds delivered stronger historic returns compared with competing funds in the same IA sector.
The strongest Legal & General funds were mainly concentrated in technology, global equity and Asia Pacific sectors. These areas have been major contributors to returns over the periods reviewed.
L&G Global Technology Index Trust was the strongest 5-year performer in the Legal & General range reviewed, returning 137.12% and ranking 4th out of 31 funds in the IA Technology & Technology Innovation sector.
L&G Global 100 Index Trust also ranked strongly, returning 111.30% over 5 years and placing 12th out of 420 funds in the IA Global sector. L&G Pacific Index Trust was another standout, ranking 6th out of 98 funds in the IA Asia Pacific Excluding Japan sector and receiving a 5 star Yodelar Rating.
These are strong results, but investors should still consider the role of each fund. A technology fund, global index fund and Asia Pacific fund can behave very differently. Strong past performance should be reviewed alongside risk, concentration, charges and portfolio fit.
What The Stronger Funds Show
The stronger Legal & General funds show why fund-level analysis is important.
A provider may offer a wide range of funds, but performance can vary significantly depending on sector, strategy and market exposure. In the Legal & General range reviewed, the strongest returns came from areas that performed well over the periods analysed, including technology, global equities and Asia Pacific equities.
This does not mean those areas will continue to lead. It means investors should understand what has driven past performance and whether they already hold similar exposure elsewhere in their portfolio.
For example, an investor may hold a global fund, a technology fund and a global tracker that all have exposure to large technology companies. Each fund may look different on a statement, but the underlying exposure may be more concentrated than expected.
A strong fund is only useful if it improves the portfolio. It should have a clear role, fit the investor’s objectives and be assessed against competing funds in the same IA sector.
5 Of The Lowest Returning Legal And General Funds
The table below shows five Legal & General funds with weaker 5-year returns in the dataset. These funds are not automatic sell signals, but they may warrant closer review.
Some of the lowest 5-year returns came from bond sectors, where many funds have faced difficult conditions over the period analysed. That context matters. A negative 5-year return does not automatically mean a fund has performed poorly against sector peers.
The L&G All Stocks Index Linked Gilt Index Trust is a useful example. It returned -38.42% over 5 years, but ranked 5th out of 12 funds in the IA UK Index Linked Gilts sector and received a 3 star Yodelar Rating. This shows why sector ranking is important. A fund may have a weak absolute return because its entire sector has struggled, while still comparing reasonably against competing funds in the same sector.
Other funds in the table had both weaker returns and weaker Yodelar Ratings. These should be reviewed carefully, particularly where the reason for holding them is no longer clear.
A fund can have a valid role even when returns have been weak, but investors should understand what that role is and whether it still applies.
Why Bond And Specialist Funds Need Context
Legal & General offers several index-linked, gilt, bond and specialist funds. These funds are often held for reasons that differ from equity funds. They may be used for diversification, risk control, income, inflation sensitivity or a specific tactical purpose.
That means they should not be judged only against equity-style return expectations.
However, they should still be reviewed. A bond fund can fall in value. A specialist fund can behave very differently from the wider market. A defensive holding can still disappoint if it fails to deliver the role expected of it.
For investors, the question is not simply whether the fund has made money. It is whether the fund has performed competitively against sector peers and whether it still supports the wider portfolio.
This is especially important where a portfolio contains several lower-returning or specialist funds that may no longer be doing the job they were originally selected to do.
What Legal And General Investors Should Check
Legal & General offers a wide range of funds, including low-cost index funds and more specialist strategies. That breadth can be useful, but investors still need to look carefully at each holding.
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Review question |
Why it matters |
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How has each fund performed over 1, 3 and 5 years? |
This shows the fund’s historic return pattern. |
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Where does each fund rank in its IA sector? |
A positive return may still be weak compared with sector peers. |
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Is the fund broad or specialist? |
A technology, AI or Asia Pacific fund may carry different risks from a broad tracker. |
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Does the fund overlap with other holdings? |
Several funds may provide similar global or technology exposure. |
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Does the fund still have a clear role? |
Every holding should support the wider portfolio objective. |
Provider name alone is not enough. The fund itself needs to earn its place.
This is particularly important where investors hold several funds from the same provider. The portfolio may look simple, but it may still contain duplication, weaker-rated holdings or funds that no longer support the investor’s current objectives.
Get A Free Portfolio Analysis
Our free portfolio analysis gives investors a clearer view of what they actually hold. It reviews each fund individually, showing available 1, 3 and 5-year performance, sector ranking and Yodelar Rating. Yodelar Ratings are based on historic sector-relative performance and are not a guide to future returns.
The analysis can also help identify weaker-rated holdings, duplicated exposure, areas of concentration, higher charges and funds that may no longer have a clear role.
For investors holding Legal & General funds, or a wider mix of funds from different providers, the analysis can help answer an important question: are the funds in the portfolio genuinely supporting the long-term objective, or are some holdings being kept simply because they are familiar?
Speak To An Adviser
For investors who want to understand whether their current portfolio remains suitable, a no obligation call with an adviser from our advice partner, MKC Wealth, can help.
The discussion can cover current holdings, portfolio analysis results, objectives, time horizon and attitude to risk. It can also explain how a more structured investment approach may compare with the portfolio currently held.
Any personal recommendation would only be made after understanding the investor’s financial position, investment objectives, time horizon and attitude to risk. Any recommendation would include a clear explanation of risks, costs and ongoing service.
Summary
Legal & General is a major fund provider, but the latest data shows why investors should still review each fund individually.
The range included strong performers such as L&G Global Technology Index Trust, L&G Global 100 Index Trust, L&G Artificial Intelligence UCITS ETF and L&G Pacific Index Trust. These funds ranked well against sector peers and delivered strong historic returns over the periods analysed.
However, the range also included funds with weaker returns and lower Yodelar Ratings. Almost half of the Legal & General funds reviewed were rated 1 or 2 stars.
The conclusion is not that investors should favour or avoid Legal & General as a group. It is that each fund should be judged on its own evidence.
Before assuming a Legal & General fund is still doing its job, investors should check how it ranks against competing funds in the same IA sector, what role it plays in the portfolio and whether it still supports their objectives.
