Brazier and Beagles return to Vodafone shares

UK equity managers Simon Brazier and Clive Beagles have turned more positive on Vodafone, snapping up shares in the company three years after they both cautioned about the telecom's prospects.

Investec's £220m UK Alpha fund manager Brazier has bought the stock for the first time in eight years, adding a 3% position to his fund. Meanwhile, J.O. Hambro Capital Management's Beagles, manager of the £2.8bn UK Equity Income fund, has increased his position to 5.3% of the portfolio, making the stock one of his top active overweights.  M&A speculation Many were sceptical of Vodafone's ability to prosper following the 2014 sale of its stake in Verizon Wireless, its joint venture with US carrier Verizon, which left the company as a far smaller entity. But Vodafone shares have ri...