- The review analysed 4,185 IA classified funds with at least one year of performance history to identify the strongest short term performers of 2025.
- The Artemis SmartGARP UK Equity and Artemis SmartGARP European Equity both ranked first in their sectors over the past 12 months.
- The Invesco Artificial Intelligence Enablers ETF was only launched in October 2024, but since its launch it has been one of the best funds in the IA Technology & Technology Innovations Sector.
- The Orbis Global Balanced Standard delivered a 21.37% 1-year return, ranking 1st out of 230 funds in the IA Mixed Investment 40–85% Shares sector, ahead of the sector average of 9.03%.
As the year draws to a close, our latest review looks back at the funds that delivered the strongest results across the Investment Association universe. Market conditions in 2025 created clear performance leaders in several sectors, with certain strategies maintaining consistent strength over the past 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.
From an analysis of 4,185 IA classified funds with at least one year of performance history, we identified ten funds that achieved top quartile results across all three short term periods. Each fund represents a different sector, providing a clear view of where competitive performance has been achieved across regions, styles and asset classes.
How the Top Funds Were Identified
To assess which areas of the market delivered the strongest results in 2025, we reviewed the short term performance of 4,185 IA classified funds. Only funds with at least one year of history were included to ensure consistent comparison.
From this universe, we selected the funds that ranked in the top quartile of their sector over the past 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. This approach highlights funds that demonstrated sustained relative strength rather than isolated short term spikes. Only one fund per sector was included to provide a broad and balanced view of where the strongest returns were achieved across the IA universe.
10 of The Best Performing Funds of 2025
The table below highlights 10 funds that delivered the strongest results in their respective sectors. Each achieved top quartile performance over the past 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.
Artemis SmartGARP European Equity Fund
This fund has been among the strongest performers in the Europe excluding UK sector over the past year. Its 1 year return of 51.14% ranks 1st out of 131 funds and is well above the sector average of 19.05%. Over six months, the fund returned 15.96% and ranked 2nd in the sector, while its 3 month return of 6.25% ranked 3rd. The fund has remained within the top positions across all short term timeframes, reflecting a consistent lead over the wider sector.
Artemis SmartGARP UK Equity Fund
This fund has been among the strongest performers in the UK All Companies sector over the past year. Its 1 year return of 35.88% ranks 1st out of 209 funds and is ahead of the sector average of 11.53%. Over six months it returned 16.10%, ranking 3rd out of 212 funds, while its 3 month return of 5.99% ranks 2nd. The fund has remained near the top of the sector across all short term periods, with returns consistently above the sector averages.
Fidelity Japan Fund
This fund delivered a 1 year return of 31.45%, ranking 3rd out of 97 IA Japan funds and ahead of the sector average of 18.21%. Over six months it returned 21.21%, ranking 9th, while its 3 month return of 8.29% ranks 12th in the sector. The fund has remained within the upper part of the sector rankings across all short term periods, with results consistently above the sector averages.
Artemis SmartGARP Global Equity Fund
Within the Global sector, this fund delivered a 1 year return of 31.40%, ranking 8th out of 522 funds and ahead of the sector average of 7.74%. Over six months it returned 28.94%, ranking 20th out of 542, while its 3 month return of 12.68% ranks 15th out of 550 funds. Across all short term periods, the fund has remained well above the sector averages and within the upper part of the sector rankings.
M&G Asian Fund
This fund delivered a 1 year return of 28.20%, ranking 2nd out of 104 IA Asia Pacific Excluding Japan funds and ahead of the sector average of 16.75%. Over six months it returned 27.21%, ranking 3rd, while its 3 month return of 11.53% ranks 9th out of 106 funds. The fund has remained within the top ten of its sector across all short term periods, with returns consistently above the sector averages.
Ninety One Emerging Markets Equity Fund
The fund recorded a one year return of 28.05%, ranking 10th out of 174 funds and above the sector average of 19.05%. Its six month return of 22.01% ranks 45th and its three month return of 10.91% ranks 42nd. Emerging markets funds have shown large variations in performance over short periods due to the breadth of countries and styles included, and the fund’s results remain ahead of the sector average in each timeframe.
Invesco Artificial Intelligence Enablers UCITS ETF
This ETF delivered a 1 year return of 26.08%, ranking 5th out of 33 funds in the IA Technology and Tech Innovation sector and ahead of the sector average of 15.31%. Over six months it returned 36.90%, ranking 2nd, while its 3 month return of 17.72% ranks 2nd out of 34 funds. The ETF has consistently remained within the top positions of its sector across all short term periods, with results well above sector averages.
BNY Mellon Global Infrastructure Income Fund
The fund delivered a one year return of 23.64%, ranking 1st out of 35 funds and ahead of the sector average of 6.07%. Over 6 months it returned 10.43%, ranking 6th, and over 3 months it returned 7.22%, ranking 4th. Infrastructure funds generally exhibit more moderate performance ranges than equity sectors, yet the fund’s consistent placement near the top of the rankings highlights stable relative strength.
Orbis Global Balanced Standard Fund
This fund returned 21.37% over one year, ranking 1st out of 230 funds and above the sector average of 9.03%. Its 6 month return of 15.98% ranks 3rd and its 3 month return of 6.80% ranks 9th. The Mixed Investment sector contains a large number of strategies with different risk levels and asset allocations, and the fund’s consistently higher-than-average returns across all periods indicate a strong short term record relative to this wide peer group.
iShares Nasdaq US Biotechnology UCITS ETF
The ETF delivered a one year return of 19.90%, ranking 4th out of 237 North America sector funds. Its 6 month return of 44.64% and 3 month return of 25.38% both ranked first in the sector. All results sit significantly above the sector averages for each of the 3 periods. The North America sector contains many broad US equity trackers and active funds, yet this ETF’s performance led the entire sector across all short term periods reviewed.
Maintaining Balance Without Chasing Performance
Short term performance can draw attention, but it rarely provides a complete basis for building or adjusting a portfolio. Markets move in cycles, sectors rotate in and out of favour, and individual funds can experience periods of strength or weakness for reasons that may not repeat. Chasing recent performance can lead to portfolios that are concentrated in a narrow set of themes or regions without the investor realising it.
Regular portfolio analysis helps prevent this. As markets rise and fall, allocations can drift, creating exposures that were never part of the original design. A portfolio that once appeared balanced can become skewed toward a single sector or fund type, while areas intended to diversify risk may become underrepresented.
A structured review enables investors to identify these developments early. It ensures the portfolio remains aligned with its intended objectives and maintains an appropriate spread across regions, asset classes and fund styles. This process is not about selecting the latest strong performer but about keeping the overall structure suitable as conditions change. Over time, maintaining diversification and monitoring each holding’s contribution can have a greater impact on outcomes than focusing on individual short term results.
For investors who wish to understand how their current holdings compare with the wider market, our portfolio analysis service provides an impartial assessment of performance, diversification and cost. It highlights areas where the portfolio has worked well and where adjustments could improve efficiency, without relying on performance chasing or short term trends.
Conclusion
Looking back across 2025, the ten funds featured in this report illustrate where the strongest short term results were achieved within the IA universe. Their rankings highlight how wide performance dispersion has been across sectors and how different parts of the market have responded over recent months. While these outcomes provide useful context, they represent only a small part of what investors should consider when evaluating their own portfolios.
A comprehensive portfolio review offers a broader perspective. It helps investors understand how their holdings have performed relative to their sectors, whether the structure still reflects their objectives and whether the balance between diversification, cost and risk remains appropriate. This clarity allows investors to see not just which funds have performed well, but how the overall portfolio is functioning and where improvements could add value.
In evolving market conditions, portfolios benefit from ongoing oversight. Regular analysis enables investors to remain informed, confident and well positioned, ensuring their portfolio continues to serve its intended purpose. Those who take the time to look beyond headline performance are better equipped to make meaningful adjustments and maintain a more robust long term investment strategy.
