United Kingdom · Our Portfolios compared
Low, medium and high risk: three UK portfolios side by side
Three of our five UK portfolios: Thames, level 1 and the calmest; Pennine, level 3 in the middle; and Ben Nevis, level 5 and the most volatile. Each holds five funds and is built for one level of yearly swing, so side by side they show what each step up in risk has meant, in growth and in falls.
At a glance
Closing prices to November 3, 2026 · updated after every trading day
Since January 2018: Thames (risk 1 of 5) grew 2.8% a year and fell at most 5.3%; its worst calendar year was 2022 (-3.1%). Pennine (risk 3 of 5) grew 7.4% a year and fell at most 11.4%; its worst calendar year was 2018 (-1.3%). Ben Nevis (risk 5 of 5) grew 11.1% a year and fell at most 18.1%; its worst calendar year was 2018 (-2.8%).
Going from Thames to Ben Nevis added 8.3 points of growth a year and made the worst fall 12.8 points deeper.
Since January 2018
| Portfolio or fund | Growth per year | Worst fall | Yearly swing |
|---|---|---|---|
| ThamesRisk 1 of 5 | +2.8% | -5.3% | 3.1% |
| PennineRisk 3 of 5 | +7.4% | -11.4% | 8.6% |
| Ben NevisRisk 5 of 5 | +11.1% | -18.1% | 13.5% |
The last 5 years
| Portfolio or fund | Growth per year | Worst fall | Yearly swing |
|---|---|---|---|
| ThamesRisk 1 of 5 | +3.7% | -4.1% | 3.2% |
| PennineRisk 3 of 5 | +9.8% | -11.3% | 9.4% |
| Ben NevisRisk 5 of 5 | +12.7% | -12.2% | 14.0% |
Growth per year is the average yearly return; worst fall is the deepest drop from a high; yearly swing is how much the value typically moves in a year (volatility). Complete months only, dividends reinvested, after trading costs.
Growth since January 2018
Gain or loss each year
| Year | Thames | Pennine | Ben Nevis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | -0.3% | -1.3% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | +3.7% | +9.5% | +13.5% |
| 2020 | +2.9% | +3.6% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | +0.4% | +5.8% | +23.7% |
| 2022 | -3.1% | -1.3% | +8.7% |
| 2023 | +4.7% | +2.7% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | +4.7% | +11.6% | +8.1% |
| 2025 | +10.6% | +21.5% | +9.6% |
| 2026 to November 3 | +1.8% | +14.4% | +43.1% |
Where these figures come from
The portfolios' results before November 3, 2026 come from a walk-forward test: each December their five funds were chosen from earlier prices only, then held for the next year. The 2026 portfolios were built on November 3, 2026 from prices up to December 31, 2025, and from then on they are recorded as they happen.
What each portfolio holds is part of Pro. See the portfolios on Our Portfolios. A risk level describes how much a portfolio swings, not who should own it: this is research we publish for every reader alike, not advice for your situation.
For educational and informational purposes only, not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Backtests are hypothetical; past performance does not guarantee future results.