In this episode, we speak with Aylon Ben-Shlomo, CFA, Managing Director at Aristotle Capital about changes being implemented by the Tokyo Stock Exchange and what that may mean for value investors.
SHOW NOTES
Episode and guest introduction (0:00 – 0:22)
What moves from the Tokyo Stock Exchange focusing on improving governance standards mean for value investors (0:23 – 2:07)
How price-to-book valuation matters when assessing Japan’s corporate health (2:08 – 3:49)
Disclosures (3:50 – 5:30)
TRANSCRIPT
Alex Warren: Welcome to the Power of Patience. I’m Alex Warren, product specialist at Aristotle Capital. I’m speaking with Aylon Ben-Shlomo Client Portfolio Manager at Aristotle Capital. We’re going to be changing up the format today to talk about Japan, and this episode is titled Opportunity Hidden in Plain Sight. Aylon, thank you so much for joining me today.
Aylon Ben-Shlomo: Thanks for having me, Alex. And thanks to all the listeners out there.
Alex Warren: Now, Aylon, I want to get your thoughts on some of the news the last year. What do the moves from the Tokyo Stock Exchange focusing on improving governance standards mean for value investors?
Aylon Ben-Shlomo: The recent announcements from the Tokyo Stock Exchange are using some rather harsh language. They’re focused on promoting measures that increase “the literacy of cost of capital and stock price”. They’re zeroing in on companies that persistently trade at a price-to-book ratio of below one, meaning they’re focused on companies that are less efficient with their capital and therefore not generating a substantial returns for their shareholders. And while these all sound like very good initiatives to us, perhaps they sound more like something that an activist investor would bring to the table rather than a stock exchange. The media is calling these initiatives, naming and shaming companies that are named by the Tokyo Stock Exchange as being on this list run the risk of being delisted. While they don’t face regulatory or legal challenges, fines and the like, they do run the risk of being delisted, which would obviously make cost of capital more expensive. And being delisted is not something any publicly traded company wants. There is clear accountability in the public spotlight that is being created by these initiatives. So what are companies doing? Cash balances are declining, dividends are increasing, buybacks are increasing. Corporate Japan has gotten the message, or at least they’re receiving the message and they’re acting on it by improving returns to shareholders, improving profitability, improving margins, and of course, there is still lots of room to go, but we’re encouraged by what we’re seeing and we’re eager to monitor the progress.
Alex Warren: Now, Aylon, you touched on this a moment ago, but I want to dive in a bit deeper. How much do you believe price-to-book valuation matters when assessing Japan’s corporate health?
Aylon Ben-Shlomo: While price-to-book is clearly something that the Tokyo Stock Exchange is focused on, and we would agree that it can be a helpful valuation metric, it is not our North Star hereat Aristotle Capital. What we’re focused on is cashflow return on economic value. It’s our way of getting at free cashflow yield or owner’s earnings. What can a business generate in terms of cash for its shareholders? That’s what ultimately drives intrinsic value in our eyes, and that’s what we’re most focused on. And so we put more emphasis on that than price-to-book. But we’re also mindful that price-to-book right now in Japan, at least in the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s eye, that’s going to be a metric that they’re going to hold companies accountable for. And so we’ll be aware of it, but it won’t drive our decisions. What will drive our decisions here at Aristotle is cashflow, cashflow, return on economic value, what we call C-F-R-O-E-V of C-F-R-O-E-V has guided us around the globe.
It’s enabled us to find companies that meet our QVC criteria, not just here in the U.S. but in Europe and in Japan. It’s exposure that we’ve had for a number of years, and it’s a quality that we see in Japan today and in the future. There are lots of cashflow generating businesses that are leaders in their industry across the globe that happen to be headquartered in Japan. Now with the tailwinds of the Tokyo Stock Exchange naming and shaming initiatives, perhaps that will give these companies the extra push and will give investors around the world the extra spotlight that they need to see the opportunities that we’ve seen in Japan for many years.
After three consecutive positive quarters, the U.S. equity market pulled back, as the S&P 500 Index declined 3.27% during the quarter. Concurrently, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index also fell, dropping 3.23% for the quarter. In terms of style, the Russell 1000 Growth Index slightly outperformed its value counterpart by 0.03%.
Sources: CAPS CompositeHubTM, Bloomberg Past performance is not indicative of future results. Aristotle Atlantic Focus Growth Composite returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses. Aristotle Atlantic Composite returns are preliminary pending final account reconciliation. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.
Declines were broad-based, as nine out of the eleven sectors within the Russell 1000 Growth Index finished lower. Utilities, Real Estate and Consumer Staples were the worst-performing sectors. Meanwhile, Energy and Communication Services were the only two sectors in the green, and Health Care declined the least.
Economic growth in the U.S. remained steady, as data released during the quarter showed real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.1%. The increase was driven by higher levels of consumer and government spending, as well as nonresidential fixed investment. The labor market remained tight during the period, with a 3.8% unemployment rate in August, while average hourly earnings for all employees increased by 4.3% year-over-year.
There was an uptick in inflation reported during the quarter, as annualized CPI increased from 3.0% in June to 3.7% in August. In addition, oil hit its highest level of the year, with both WTI and Brent eclipsing $90 a barrel. Given the concerns about rebounding inflation, 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields spiked to their highest marks since 2007 and 2011, finishing the quarter at 4.59% and 4.73%, respectively. However, the broader trend of disinflation continues, as the 3.7% August CPI figure is still less than half the 8.3% increase the Index experienced the year prior.
After raising its benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 5.25% to 5.50% in July, the Federal Reserve (Fed) held interest rates steady in September, citing a solid pace of expanding economic activity, a slightly softer—yet still strong—labor market and tighter credit conditions. The Fed indicated that it would continue to monitor cumulative monetary policy, the lagged effects of policy decisions, and economic and financial developments when determining the extent of additional rate increases.
On the corporate earnings front, S&P 500 companies reported a 4.1% decline in earnings, the third straight quarter that saw a year-over-year decrease. Despite the drop, fewer companies discussed “recession” and “inflation” during the reporting period. Furthermore, aggregate earnings estimates for the third quarter increased by 0.4% (above the 10-year average of -3.4%), the first increase in nearly two years.
Performance and Attribution Summary
For the third quarter of 2023, Aristotle Atlantic’s Focus Growth Composite posted a total return of -5.51% gross of fees (-5.53% net of fees), underperforming the -3.13% total return of the Russell 1000 Growth Index.
Performance (%)
3Q23
YTD
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
Since Inception*
Focus Growth Composite (gross)
-5.51
19.29
22.49
2.50
8.62
10.32
Focus Growth Composite (net)
-5.53
19.21
22.37
2.40
8.41
10.07
Russell 1000 Growth Index
-3.13
24.98
27.72
7.97
12.41
13.37
*The Focus Growth Composite has an inception date of March 1, 2018. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Aristotle Atlantic Focus Growth Composite returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses. Aristotle Atlantic Composite returns are preliminary pending final account reconciliation. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.
Sources: FactSet Past performance is not indicative of future results. Attribution results are based on sector returns which are gross of investment advisory fees. Attribution is based on performance that is gross of investment advisory fees and includes the reinvestment of income. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.
During the third quarter, the portfolio’s underperformance relative to the Russell 1000 Growth Index was due to both allocation effects and security selection. Security selection in Health Care, Financials and Industrials detracted the most from performance. Conversely, security selection in Information Technology and Real Estate, as well as an overweight in Financials, contributed to relative results.
Contributors and Detractors for 3Q 2023
Relative Contributors
Relative Detractors
Apple
DexCom
Synopsys
Sage Therapeutics
Costco Wholesale
Darling Ingredients
Nvidia
Iovance Biotherapeutics
ServiceNow
Bio-Techne
Contributors
Apple
Apple contributed to outperformance in the third quarter, as a result of the underweight position relative to the benchmark. Following a very strong first-half performance, the stock saw a pullback ahead of the iPhone 15 launch, as investors weigh the potential growth from the new phone in the face of macroeconomic headwinds and slowing consumer spend.
Synopsys
Synopsys contributed to performance in the quarter as the company reported third quarter revenues that were above consensus, additionally the company raised fiscal year guidance for 2023. Synopsys continues to be a key beneficiary from the demand for semiconductors throughout the entire economy, as well as the increasing complexity of semiconductor design, particularly for silicon used in the artificial intelligence (AI) technology stack. The company is also leveraging AI for its design tools which can drive increased usage and improve margins for the company’s tools.
Detractors
DexCom
DexCom shares were weaker in the third quarter following Novo Nordisk’s announcement of topline data from the SELECT trial on cardiovascular outcomes on patients using their weight loss drug Wegovy on August 8th. The trial showed a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in patients using the drug. This led to broad-based pressure on companies in the diabetes space, as well as those exposed to other weight-related maladies. The weakness came despite DexCom reporting 26% organic growth and raising full-year guidance in late July. We continue to see continuous glucose monitoring devices playing an important role in driving better health outcomes for diabetes patients and believe that given the low penetration rates, DexCom can continue to grow.
Darling Ingredients
Darling Ingredients shares were weak in the third quarter after the company reported an inline quarter and reaffirmed guidance for the fourth quarter. Diamond Green Diesel had a planned downtime in July when an unexpected fire resulted in 10 days of no production in Norco Los Angeles later in the quarter. Higher interest rates this month pressured companies with outsized leverage, such as Darling Ingredients, and they are working on deleveraging following several acquisitions last year.
Recent Portfolio Activity
The table below shows all buys and sells completed during the quarter, followed by a brief rationale.
Buys
Sells
Adobe
Crowdstrike Holdings
Meta Platforms
NXP Semiconductors
Sage Therapeutics
Iovance Biotechnologies
Buys
Adobe
Adobe is one of the largest and most diversified software companies in the world. It has been known for brands such as Acrobat, Photoshop and Adobe Document Cloud. Adobe’s business is organized into three reportable segments: Digital Media, Digital Experience, and Publishing and Advertising. The Company’s products allow users to express and use information across all print and electronic media.
We see Adobe as a key enabler of digital transformation initiatives through the Digital Media and Digital Experience business segments. Adobe continues to innovate and integrate new capabilities across all its product suites. We see several products per customer continuing to increase, as Adobe users continue to use more products. We see this as a competitive advantage.
Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, is a global technology company specializing in social networking and the development of augmented and virtual reality technologies. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Menlo Park, CA, the company has expanded its reach to nearly three billion monthly active users worldwide.
We see Meta as well-positioned to capture a significant share of the rapidly growing digital advertising market and has created an interconnected ecosystem of apps that drives higher user engagements. While leveraging AI and machine learning technology, Meta should see an acceleration in the development of targeted digital advertising capabilities and enhance the user experience across its platform. We see near-term catalysts in Rising Reels and Messenger revenue monetization and an expected robust 2024 political and Olympic advertising. Year-to-date, investors have been optimistic about the company’s pivot away from a focus on metaverse investments to an emphasis on profitability and growth in what the company calls its “Year of Efficiency.”
Sells
CrowdStrike Holdings
We sold CrowdStrike Holdings and believe that recent channel checks and commentary from competitors and software companies indicate increasing headwinds across multiple industry verticals. We also believe that macroeconomic conditions and high interest rates are resulting in shorter contract cycles which also represent headwinds to Free Cash Flow growth. While the company continues to be an industry leader in endpoint detection, we view a potential slowdown.
NXP Semiconductors
We sold NXP Semiconductors to reduce our exposure to the automotive sector in semiconductors following the strong returns over the past 3 years. We are seeing early data of slowing global auto sales due to macroeconomic conditions and higher interest rates. While we think this may be a shorter-term slowdown, the risk is increasing of elevated inventory levels and pricing headwinds.
Sage Therapeutics
We sold Sage Therapeutics following results of the company’s new drug application for Zuranalone that was approved in Post Partem Depression (PPD), but not major depressive disorder (MDD). The complete response letter (CRL) on MDD stated that the company would need to complete additional trials to prove the efficacy and durability in MDD, so they are evaluating next steps along with Biogen. Sage was unable to say how committed they or Biogen would be to funding additional studies at this point. Given the uncertainty surrounding the company, we decided to exit the position.
Iovance Biotherapeutics
We sold Iovance Biotherapeutics, following uncertainty which arose from the company canceling out of two investor events. Iovance is in the late stages of FDA review on their lead candidate Lifileucel in advanced melanoma. These cancellations could stem from issues with site inspections which tend to take place later in the review cycle. The company has not commented on why it canceled these investor events, and we do not think this bodes well for the prospects of a straightforward approval with a clean, positive label for the company.
Outlook
The equity markets in the third quarter were negatively impacted by a steep rise in interest rates. The move in interest rates reflects the outlook that the Fed will have to keep rates higher for longer to get inflation under control. Rising oil prices did not help the inflation outlook but did result in pushing the Energy sector into positive territory and making the sector the best performer for the period. The consumer is now facing higher gasoline prices at the pump, and those with student loans are now faced with renewed interest payments due to the failed attempt to forgive student debt. This has resulted in an increased probability of slower economic growth due to these challenges. The one bright spot continues to be the strong backlog of orders in the industrial segment of the economy. We have yet to see a material benefit from the recently passed legislative packages that could extend and add to these backlogs. We are now entering a period where the economy should show signs of slowing given the duration and severity of rate hikes on the part of the Fed. The equity markets may very well welcome bad economic news as a sign that the rate cycle is finally coming to an end. Our focus will continue to be at the company level, with an emphasis on seeking to invest in companies with secular tailwinds or strong product-driven cycles.
Disclosures
The opinions expressed herein are those of Aristotle Atlantic Partners, LLC (Aristotle Atlantic) and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not a guarantee or indicator of future results. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. You should not assume that any of the securities transactions, sectors or holdings discussed in this report were or will be profitable, or that recommendations Aristotle Atlantic makes in the future will be profitable or equal the performance of the listed in this report. The portfolio characteristics shown relate to the Aristotle Atlantic Focus Growth strategy. Not every client’s account will have these characteristics. Aristotle Atlantic reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs. There is no assurance that any securities discussed herein will remain in an account’s portfolio at the time you receive this report or that securities sold have not been repurchased. The securities discussed may not represent an account’s entire portfolio and, in the aggregate, may represent only a small percentage of an account’s portfolio holdings. The performance attribution presented is of a representative account from Aristotle Atlantic’s Focus Growth Composite. The representative account is a discretionary client account which was chosen to most closely reflect the investment style of the strategy. The criteria used for representative account selection is based on the account’s period of time under management and its similarity of holdings in relation to the strategy. Recommendations made in the last 12 months are available upon request. Returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses.
All investments carry a certain degree of risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investments are also subject to political, market, currency and regulatory risks or economic developments. International investments involve special risks that may in particular cause a loss in principal, including currency fluctuation, lower liquidity, different accounting methods and economic and political systems, and higher transaction costs. These risks typically are greater in emerging markets. Securities of small‐ and medium‐sized companies tend to have a shorter history of operations, be more volatile and less liquid. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks.
The material is provided for informational and/or educational purposes only and is not intended to be and should not be construed as investment, legal or tax advice and/or a legal opinion. Investors should consult their financial and tax adviser before making investments. The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication, may be modified due to changes in the market or economic conditions, and may not necessarily come to pass. Information and data presented has been developed internally and/or obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Aristotle Atlantic does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of such information.
Aristotle Atlantic Partners, LLC is an independent registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about Aristotle Atlantic, including our investment strategies, fees and objectives, can be found in our Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request. AAP-2310-34
Performance Disclosures
Sources: CAPS Composite Hub, Russell Investments
Composite returns for all periods ended September 30, 2023 are preliminary pending final account reconciliation.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance results for periods greater than one year have been annualized. Returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses.
Index Disclosures
The Russell 1000® Growth Index measures the performance of the large cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000 companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. This index has been selected as the benchmark and is used for comparison purposes only. The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of the large cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000 companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower expected growth values. The S&P 500® Index is the Standard & Poor’s Composite Index of 500 stocks and is a widely recognized, unmanaged index of common stock prices. The Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the small cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000 Index is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The Dow Jones Industrial Average® is a price-weighted measure of 30 U.S. blue-chip companies. The Index covers all industries except transportation and utilities. The NASDAQ Composite Index measures all NASDAQ domestic and international based common type stocks listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market. The NASDAQ Composite includes over 3,000 companies, more than most other stock market indices. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of domestic investment grade bonds, including corporate, government and mortgage-backed securities. The WTI Crude Oil Index is a major trading classification of sweet light crude oil that serves as a major benchmark price for oil consumed in the United States. The 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill is a short-term debt obligation backed by the U.S. Treasury Department with a maturity of three months. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. While stock selection is not governed by quantitative rules, a stock typically is added only if the company has an excellent reputation, demonstrates sustained growth and is of interest to a large number of investors. The volatility (beta) of the Composite may be greater or less than its respective benchmarks. It is not possible to invest directly in these indices.
After three consecutive positive quarters, the U.S. equity market pulled back, as the S&P 500 Index declined 3.27% during the quarter. Concurrently, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index also fell, dropping 3.23% for the quarter. In terms of style, the Russell 1000 Growth Index slightly outperformed its value counterpart by 0.03%.
Sources: CAPS CompositeHubTM, Bloomberg Past performance is not indicative of future results. Aristotle Atlantic Large Cap Growth Composite returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses. Aristotle Atlantic Composite returns are preliminary pending final account reconciliation. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.
Declines were broad-based, as nine out of the eleven sectors within the Russell 1000 Growth Index finished lower. Utilities, Real Estate and Consumer Staples were the worst-performing sectors. Meanwhile, Energy and Communication Services were the only two sectors in the green, and Health Care declined the least.
Economic growth in the U.S. remained steady, as data released during the quarter showed real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.1%. The increase was driven by higher levels of consumer and government spending, as well as nonresidential fixed investment. The labor market remained tight during the period, with a 3.8% unemployment rate in August, while average hourly earnings for all employees increased by 4.3% year-over-year.
There was an uptick in inflation reported during the quarter, as annualized CPI increased from 3.0% in June to 3.7% in August. In addition, oil hit its highest level of the year, with both WTI and Brent eclipsing $90 a barrel. Given the concerns about rebounding inflation, 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields spiked to their highest marks since 2007 and 2011, finishing the quarter at 4.59% and 4.73%, respectively. However, the broader trend of disinflation continues, as the 3.7% August CPI figure is still less than half the 8.3% increase the Index experienced the year prior.
After raising its benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 5.25% to 5.50% in July, the Federal Reserve (Fed) held interest rates steady in September, citing a solid pace of expanding economic activity, a slightly softer—yet still strong—labor market and tighter credit conditions. The Fed indicated that it would continue to monitor cumulative monetary policy, the lagged effects of policy decisions, and economic and financial developments when determining the extent of additional rate increases.
On the corporate earnings front, S&P 500 companies reported a 4.1% decline in earnings, the third straight quarter that saw a year-over-year decrease. Despite the drop, fewer companies discussed “recession” and “inflation” during the reporting period. Furthermore, aggregate earnings estimates for the third quarter increased by 0.4% (above the 10-year average of -3.4%), the first increase in nearly two years.
Performance and Attribution Summary
For the third quarter of 2023, Aristotle Atlantic’s Large Cap Growth Composite posted a total return of -5.34% gross of fees (-5.51% net of fees), underperforming the -3.13% return of the Russell 1000 Growth Index.
Performance (%)
3Q23
YTD
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
Since Inception*
Large Cap Growth Composite (gross)
-5.34
20.44
23.28
4.23
10.25
15.01
Large Cap Growth Composite (net)
-5.51
20.02
22.74
3.82
9.81
14.56
Russell 1000 Growth Index
-3.13
24.98
27.72
7.97
12.41
16.24
*The Large Cap Growth Composite has an inception date of November 1, 2016. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Aristotle Atlantic Large Cap Growth Equity Composite returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses. Aristotle Atlantic Composite returns are preliminary pending final account reconciliation. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.
Sources: FactSet Past performance is not indicative of future results. Attribution results are based on sector returns which are gross of investment advisory fees. Attribution is based on performance that is gross of investment advisory fees and includes the reinvestment of income. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.
During the third quarter, the portfolio’s underperformance relative to the Russell 1000 Growth Index was due to both security selection and allocation effects. Security selection in Health Care, Industrials and Financials detracted the most from relative performance. Conversely, security selection in Information Technology and Real Estate, as well as an overweight in Health Care contributed to relative returns.
Contributors and Detractors for 3Q 2023
Relative Contributors
Relative Detractors
Synopsys
Sage Therapeutics
Apple
DexCom
Nvidia
Darling Ingredients
Chart Industries
Bio-Techne
UnitedHealth Group
Iovance Biotherapeutics
Contributors
Synopsys
Synopsys contributed to performance in the quarter as the company reported third quarter revenues that were above consensus, additionally the company raised fiscal year guidance for 2023. Synopsys continues to be a key beneficiary from the demand for semiconductors throughout the entire economy, as well as the increasing complexity of semiconductor design, particularly for silicon used in the aritifical intelligence (AI) technology stack. The company is also leveraging AI for its design tools which can drive increased usage and improve margins for the company’s tools.
Apple
Apple contributed to outperformance in the third quarter, as a result of the underweight position relative to the benchmark. Following a very strong first-half performance, the stock saw a pullback ahead of the iPhone 15 launch, as investors weigh the potential growth from the new phone in the face of macroeconomic headwinds and slowing consumer spend.
Detractors
DexCom
DexCom shares were weaker in the third quarter following Novo Nordisk’s announcement of topline data from the SELECT trial on cardiovascular outcomes on patients using their weight loss drug Wegovy on August 8th. The trial showed a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in patients using the drug. This led to broad-based pressure on companies in the diabetes space, as well as those exposed to other weight-related maladies. The weakness came despite DexCom reporting 26% organic growth and raising full-year guidance in late July. We continue to see continuous glucose monitoring devices playing an important role in driving better health outcomes for diabetes patients and believe that given the low penetration rates, DexCom can continue to grow.
Darling Ingredients
Darling Ingredients shares were weak in the third quarter after the company reported an inline quarter and reaffirmed guidance for the fourth quarter. Diamond Green Diesel had a planned downtime in July when an unexpected fire resulted in 10 days of no production in Norco Los Angeles later in the quarter. Higher interest rates this month pressured companies with outsized leverage, such as Darling Ingredients, and they are working on deleveraging following several acquisitions last year.
Recent Portfolio Activity
The table below shows all buys and sells completed during the quarter, followed by a brief rationale.
Buys
Sells
Meta Platforms
Ameriprise Financial
Adobe
Crowdstrike Holdings
Uber Technologies
NXP Semiconductors
Sage Therapeutics
Iovance Biotherapeutics
Buys
Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, is a global technology company specializing in social networking and the development of augmented and virtual reality technologies. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Menlo Park, CA, the company has expanded its reach to nearly three billion monthly active users worldwide.
We see Meta as well-positioned to capture a significant share of the rapidly growing digital advertising market and has created an interconnected ecosystem of apps that drives higher user engagements. While leveraging AI and machine learning technology, Meta should see an acceleration in the development of targeted digital advertising capabilities and enhance the user experience across its platform. We see near-term catalysts in Rising Reels and Messenger revenue monetization and an expected robust 2024 political and Olympic advertising. Year-to-date, investors have been optimistic about the company’s pivot away from a focus on metaverse investments to an emphasis on profitability and growth in what the company calls its “Year of Efficiency.”
Adobe
Adobe is one of the largest and most diversified software companies in the world. It has been known for brands such as Acrobat, Photoshop and Adobe Document Cloud. Adobe’s business is organized into three reportable segments: Digital Media, Digital Experience, and Publishing and Advertising. The Company’s products allow users to express and use information across all print and electronic media.
We see Adobe as a key enabler of digital transformation initiatives through the Digital Media and Digital Experience business segments. Adobe continues to innovate and integrate new capabilities across all its product suites. We see several products per customer continuing to increase, as Adobe users continue to use more products. We see this as a competitive advantage.
Uber Technologies
Uber Technologies develops and operates proprietary technology applications. The company operates through three segments: Mobility, Delivery and Freight. The Company develops and operates proprietary technology applications supporting a variety of offerings on its platform.
We see the company as the global leader in ride-hailing and one of the few delivery app companies with a strong network effect for both businesses. Uber is experiencing strong revenue growth as adoption and frequency of usage continue to grow in both segments. We expect the company will also benefit from more demand due to the higher frequency of workers attending work in the office, rather than working from their homes. We look for revenue growth as the adoption of Uber’s services increases and the company expands globally.
Sells
Ameriprise Financial
We sold our position in Ameriprise Financial out of the Large Cap Growth strategy to fund our initiation of Meta Platforms. We continue to believe Amerprise’s continued mix-shift to its higher-growth, higher-margin and less capital-intensive Advice & Wealth Management business will increase shareholder value over time; however, META offers a more attractive risk-reward opportunity currently, in our view. In addition, Ameriprise Financial continues to face the near-term headwinds that sustained high-interest rates have on its securities portfolio and customer cash-sorting activity.
CrowdStrike Holdings
We sold CrowdStrike Holdings and believe that recent channel checks and commentary from competitors and software companies indicate increasing headwinds across multiple industry verticals. We also believe that macroeconomic conditions and high interest rates are resulting in shorter contract cycles which also represent headwinds to Free Cash Flow growth. While the company continues to be an industry leader in endpoint detection, we view a potential slowdown.
NXP Semiconductors
We sold NXP Semiconductors to reduce our exposure to the automotive sector in semiconductors following the strong returns over the past 3 years. We are seeing early data of slowing global auto sales due to macroeconomic conditions and higher interest rates. While we think this may be a shorter-term slowdown, the risk is increasing of elevated inventory levels and pricing headwinds.
Sage Therapeutics
We sold Sage Therapeutics following results of the company’s new drug application for Zuranalone that was approved in Post Partem Depression (PPD), but not major depressive disorder (MDD). The complete response letter (CRL) on MDD stated that the company would need to complete additional trials to prove the efficacy and durability in MDD, so they are evaluating next steps along with Biogen. Sage was unable to say how committed they or Biogen would be to funding additional studies at this point. Given the uncertainty surrounding the company, we decided to exit the position.
Iovance Biotherapeutics
We sold Iovance Biotherapeutics following uncertainty which arose from the company canceling out of two investor events. Iovance is in the late stages of FDA review on their lead candidate Lifileucel in advanced melanoma. These cancellations could stem from issues with site inspections which tend to take place later in the review cycle. The company has not commented on why it canceled these investor events, and we do not think this bodes well for the prospects of a straightforward approval with a clean, positive label for the company.
Outlook
The equity markets in the third quarter were negatively impacted by a steep rise in interest rates. The move in interest rates reflects the outlook that the Fed will have to keep rates higher for longer to get inflation under control. Rising oil prices did not help the inflation outlook but did result in pushing the Energy sector into positive territory and making the sector the best performer for the period. The consumer is now facing higher gasoline prices at the pump, and those with student loans are now faced with renewed interest payments due to the failed attempt to forgive student debt. This has resulted in an increased probability of slower economic growth due to these challenges. The one bright spot continues to be the strong backlog of orders in the industrial segment of the economy. We have yet to see a material benefit from the recently passed legislative packages that could extend and add to these backlogs. We are now entering a period where the economy should show signs of slowing given the duration and severity of rate hikes on the part of the Fed. The equity markets may very well welcome bad economic news as a sign that the rate cycle is finally coming to an end. Our focus will continue to be at the company level, with an emphasis on seeking to invest in companies with secular tailwinds or strong product-driven cycles.
Disclosures
The opinions expressed herein are those of Aristotle Atlantic Partners, LLC (Aristotle Atlantic) and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not a guarantee or indicator of future results. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. You should not assume that any of the securities transactions, sectors or holdings discussed in this report were or will be profitable, or that recommendations Aristotle Atlantic makes in the future will be profitable or equal the performance of the securities listed in this report. The portfolio characteristics shown relate to the Aristotle Atlantic Large Cap Growth strategy. Not every client’s account will have these characteristics. Aristotle Atlantic reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs. There is no assurance that any securities discussed herein will remain in an account’s portfolio at the time you receive this report or that securities sold have not been repurchased. The securities discussed may not represent an account’s entire portfolio and, in the aggregate, may represent only a small percentage of an account’s portfolio holdings. The performance attribution presented is of a representative account from Aristotle Atlantic’s Large Cap Growth Composite. The representative account is a discretionary client account which was chosen to most closely reflect the investment style of the strategy. The criteria used for representative account selection is based on the account’s period of time under management and its similarity of holdings in relation to the strategy. Recommendations made in the last 12 months are available upon request. Returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses.
All investments carry a certain degree of risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investments are also subject to political, market, currency and regulatory risks or economic developments. International investments involve special risks that may in particular cause a loss in principal, including currency fluctuation, lower liquidity, different accounting methods and economic and political systems, and higher transaction costs. These risks typically are greater in emerging markets. Securities of small‐ and medium‐sized companies tend to have a shorter history of operations, be more volatile and less liquid. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks.
The material is provided for informational and/or educational purposes only and is not intended to be and should not be construed as investment, legal or tax advice and/or a legal opinion. Investors should consult their financial and tax adviser before making investments. The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication, may be modified due to changes in the market or economic conditions, and may not necessarily come to pass. Information and data presented has been developed internally and/or obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Aristotle Atlantic does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of such information.
Aristotle Atlantic Partners, LLC is an independent registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about Aristotle Atlantic, including our investment strategies, fees and objectives, can be found in our Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request. AAP-2310-31
Performance Disclosure
Sources: CAPS Composite Hub, Russell Investments
Composite returns for all periods ended September 30, 2023 are preliminary pending final account reconciliation.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance results for periods greater than one year have been annualized. Returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses.
Index Disclosure
The Russell 1000® Growth Index measures the performance of the large cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000 companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. This index has been selected as the benchmark and is used for comparison purposes only. The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of the large cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000 companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower expected growth values. The S&P 500® Index is the Standard & Poor’s Composite Index of 500 stocks and is a widely recognized, unmanaged index of common stock prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average® is a price-weighted measure of 30 U.S. blue-chip companies. The Index covers all industries except transportation and utilities. The NASDAQ Composite Index measures all NASDAQ domestic and international based common type stocks listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market. The NASDAQ Composite includes over 3,000 companies, more than most other stock market indices. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of domestic investment grade bonds, including corporate, government and mortgage-backed securities. The WTI Crude Oil Index is a major trading classification of sweet light crude oil that serves as a major benchmark price for oil consumed in the United States. The Brent Crude Oil Index is a major trading classification of sweet light crude oil that serves as a major benchmark price for purchases of oil worldwide. The 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill is a short-term debt obligation backed by the U.S. Treasury Department with a maturity of three months. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. While stock selection is not governed by quantitative rules, a stock typically is added only if the company has an excellent reputation, demonstrates sustained growth and is of interest to a large number of investors. The volatility (beta) of the Composite may be greater or less than its respective benchmarks. It is not possible to invest directly in these indices.
After three consecutive positive quarters, the U.S. equity market pulled back, as the S&P 500 Index declined 3.27% during the quarter. Concurrently, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index also fell, dropping 3.23% for the quarter. In terms of style, the Russell 1000 Growth Index slightly outperformed its value counterpart by 0.03%
Declines were broad-based, as nine out of the eleven sectors within the S&P 500 Index finished lower for the quarter. Utilities, Real Estate and Consumer Staples were the worst-performing sectors. Meanwhile, Energy and Communication services were the only two sectors in the green, and Financials declined the least.
Sources: CAPS CompositeHubTM, Bloomberg Past performance is not indicative of future results. Aristotle Atlantic Core Equity Composite returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses. Aristotle Atlantic Composite returns are preliminary pending final account reconciliation. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.
Economic growth in the U.S. remained steady, as data released during the quarter showed real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.1%. The increase was driven by higher levels of consumer and government spending, as well as nonresidential fixed investment. The labor market remained tight during the period, with a 3.8% unemployment rate in August, while average hourly earnings for all employees increased by 4.3% year-over-year.
There was an uptick in inflation reported during the quarter, as annualized CPI increased from 3.0% in June to 3.7% in August. In addition, oil hit its highest level of the year, with both WTI and Brent eclipsing $90 a barrel. Given the concerns about rebounding inflation, 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields spiked to their highest marks since 2007 and 2011, finishing the quarter at 4.59% and 4.73%, respectively. However, the broader trend of disinflation continues, as the 3.7% August CPI figure is still less than half the 8.3% increase the Index experienced the year prior.
After raising its benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 5.25% to 5.50% in July, the Federal Reserve (Fed) held interest rates steady in September, citing a solid pace of expanding economic activity, a slightly softer—yet still strong—labor market and tighter credit conditions. The Fed indicated that it would continue to monitor cumulative monetary policy, the lagged effects of policy decisions, and economic and financial developments when determining the extent of additional rate increases.
On the corporate earnings front, S&P 500 companies reported a 4.1% decline in earnings, the third straight quarter that saw a year-over-year decrease. Despite the drop, fewer companies discussed “recession” and “inflation” during the reporting period. Furthermore, aggregate earnings estimates for the third quarter increased by 0.4% (above the 10-year average of -3.4%), the first increase in nearly two years.
Performance and Attribution Summary
For the third quarter of 2023, Aristotle Atlantic’s Core Equity Composite posted a total return of -4.87 % gross of fees (-4.98% net of fees), underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which recorded a total return of -3.27%.
Performance (%)
3Q23
YTD
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
7 Years
Since Inception*
Core Equity Composite (gross)
-4.87
9.65
17.37
7.13
9.20
12.17
12.17
Core Equity Composite (net)
-4.98
9.30
16.87
6.68
8.75
11.65
11.65
S&P 500 Index
-3.27
13.07
21.62
10.15
9.91
11.91
11.72
*The Core Equity Composite has an inception date of August 1, 2013. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Aristotle Atlantic Core Equity Composite returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses. Aristotle Atlantic Composite returns are preliminary pending final account reconciliation. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.
Source: FactSet Past performance is not indicative of future results. Attribution results are based on sector returns which are gross of investment advisory fees. Attribution is based on performance that is gross of investment advisory fees and includes the reinvestment of income. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.
During the third quarter, the portfolio’s underperformance relative to the S&P 500 Index was due to both security selection and allocation effects. Security selection in Health Care, Consumer Staples and Industrials detracted the most from relative performance. Conversely, security selection in Materials, Financials and Communication Services contributed to relative performance.
Contributors and Detractors for 3Q 2023
Relative Contributors
Relative Detractors
Halliburton
Darling Ingredients
Chubb
Spirit AeroSystems
Avery Dennison
Bio-Techne
Marriott International
Dollar General
Trane Technologies
Teleflex
Contributors
Halliburton
Halliburton contributed to outperformance in the quarter. The company continues to benefit from higher commodity prices, with both oil and natural gas prices increasing due to supply concerns, as well as improving supply-demand fundamentals in 2024. Investors are focusing on the upside growth benefits to the company in 2024, as North American oil and gas producers begin to increase rig counts, and international oil companies (IOCs) and national oil companies (NOCs) continue to increase their spending on mega projects. Halliburton should see a reacceleration in topline growth and improved margins as the result of the company’s focus over the last few years on higher-margin tools and technology offerings.
Chubb
Chubb contributed to outperformance due to sustained momentum across business units and global regions, a favorable property and casualty (P&C) rate environment and an attractive valuation with shares trading below historical averages. The company’s earnings report early in the quarter highlighted its underwriting and risk-assessment capabilities, with management projecting a continuation of what we believe are positive pricing trends through the remainder of this year.
Detractors
Darling Ingredients
Darling Ingredients shares were weak in the third quarter after the company reported an inline quarter and reaffirmed guidance for the fourth quarter. Diamond Green Diesel had a planned downtime in July when an unexpected fire resulted in 10 days of no production in Norco Los Angeles later in the quarter. Higher interest rates this month pressured companies with outsized leverage, such as Darling Ingredients, and they are working on deleveraging following several acquisitions last year.
Spirit AeroSystems
Spirit AeroSystems underperformed in the third quarter. The company reported disappointing earnings in August. Additionally, the company reported its second manufacturing quality issue on its most important aircraft program, the 737 MAX which should result in additional costs to the company and a delay in revenue recognition on the program. The company is also experiencing manufacturing issues on the Boeing 787, Airbus A220 and A350 that need to be resolved with Boeing and Airbus, respectively. After the end of the quarter, the CEO was replaced, which we view as a positive development.
Recent Portfolio Activity
The table below shows all buys and sells completed during the quarter, followed by a brief rationale.
Buys
Sells
Oracle
Microchip Technology
Meta Platforms
Dollar General
Buys
Oracle
Oracle provides products and services that address enterprise information technology (IT) environments. The company’s products and services include enterprise applications and infrastructure offerings that are delivered worldwide through a variety of flexible and interoperable IT deployment models. The company operates in three segments: cloud and license business, hardware, and services.
We believe Oracle’s cloud infrastructure product, OCI 2.0, continues to demonstrate strong revenue growth over several quarters. Additionally, we see the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) computing needs as being a differentiated growth driver for Oracle. We believe that Oracle will continue to drive positive outcomes for the Cerner business through a better margin structure, as well as topline sales synergies.
Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, is a global technology company specializing in social networking and the development of augmented and virtual reality technologies. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Menlo Park, CA, the company has expanded its reach to nearly three billion monthly active users worldwide.
We see Meta as well-positioned to capture a significant share of the rapidly growing digital advertising market and has created an interconnected ecosystem of apps that drives higher user engagements. While leveraging AI and machine learning technology, Meta should see an acceleration in the development of targeted digital advertising capabilities and enhance the user experience across its platform. We see near-term catalysts in Rising Reels and Messenger revenue monetization and an expected robust 2024 political and Olympic advertising. Year-to-date, investors have been optimistic about the company’s pivot away from a focus on metaverse investments to an emphasis on profitability and growth in what the company calls its “Year of Efficiency.”
Sells
Microchip Technology
We sold Microchip Technology and moved to an equal weight in the semiconductor subsector. We expect to see a couple more quarters of volatility in many of the end markets that the company sells into and expect inventory levels to remain elevated, forcing lower sell-through than expected.
Dollar General
We sold Dollar General following the company’s earnings report where same-store sales fell 0.1%, which was below expectations. The company cited the deteriorating macro environment affecting an already challenged consumer, including an unanticipated impact from reductions in federal food stamp programs (SNAP) and lower tax refunds. The company lowered its full-year guidance, as the company continues to invest in price, wages and supply chain initiatives. The shifting mix towards lower-margin consumables versus higher-margin discretionary items in store continues to hamper margins. Comparable sales are expected to be negative in the third quarter and improving in the fourth quarter on easing comparisons. Given Dollar General’s commitment to investing in growth initiatives, margin recovery could be delayed versus management’s plans.
Outlook
The equity markets in the third quarter were negatively impacted by a steep rise in interest rates. The move in interest rates reflects the outlook that the Fed will have to keep rates higher for longer to get inflation under control. Rising oil prices did not help the inflation outlook but did result in pushing the Energy sector into positive territory and making the sector the best performer for the period. The consumer is now facing higher gasoline prices at the pump, and those with student loans are now faced with renewed interest payments due to the failed attempt to forgive student debt. This has resulted in an increased probability of slower economic growth due to these challenges. The one bright spot continues to be the strong backlog of orders in the industrial segment of the economy. We have yet to see a material benefit from the recently passed legislative packages that could extend and add to these backlogs. We are now entering a period where the economy should show signs of slowing given the duration and severity of rate hikes on the part of the Fed. The equity markets may very well welcome bad economic news as a sign that the rate cycle is finally coming to an end. Our focus will continue to be at the company level, with an emphasis on seeking to invest in companies with secular tailwinds or strong product-driven cycles.
Disclosures
The opinions expressed herein are those of Aristotle Atlantic Partners, LLC (Aristotle Atlantic) and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not a guarantee or indicator of future results. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. You should not assume that any of the securities transactions, sectors or holdings discussed in this report were or will be profitable, or that recommendations Aristotle Atlantic makes in the future will be profitable or equal the performance of the securities listed in this report. The portfolio characteristics shown relate to the Aristotle Atlantic Core Equity strategy. Not every client’s account will have these characteristics. Aristotle Atlantic reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs. There is no assurance that any securities discussed herein will remain in an account’s portfolio at the time you receive this report or that securities sold have not been repurchased. The securities discussed may not represent an account’s entire portfolio and, in the aggregate, may represent only a small percentage of an account’s portfolio holdings. The performance attribution presented is of a representative account from Aristotle Atlantic’s Core Equity Composite. The representative account is a discretionary client account which was chosen to most closely reflect the investment style of the strategy. The criteria used for representative account selection is based on the account’s period of time under management and its similarity of holdings in relation to the strategy. Recommendations made in the last 12 months are available upon request.
Returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses.
All investments carry a certain degree of risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investments are also subject to political, market, currency and regulatory risks or economic developments. International investments involve special risks that may in particular cause a loss in principal, including currency fluctuation, lower liquidity, different accounting methods and economic and political systems, and higher transaction costs. These risks typically are greater in emerging markets. Securities of small‐ and medium‐sized companies tend to have a shorter history of operations, be more volatile and less liquid. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks.
The material is provided for informational and/or educational purposes only and is not intended to be and should not be construed as investment, legal or tax advice and/or a legal opinion. Investors should consult their financial and tax adviser before making investments. The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication, may be modified due to changes in the market or economic conditions, and may not necessarily come to pass. Information and data presented has been developed internally and/or obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Aristotle Atlantic does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of such information.
Aristotle Atlantic Partners, LLC is an independent registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about Aristotle Atlantic, including our investment strategies, fees and objectives, can be found in our Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request. AAP-2310-32
Performance Disclosures
Sources: CAPS Composite Hub, Russell Investments
Composite returns for all periods ended September 30, 2023 are preliminary pending final account reconciliation.
The Aristotle Core Equity Composite has an inception date of August 1, 2013 at a predecessor firm. During this time, Mr. Fitzpatrick had primary responsibility for managing the strategy. Performance starting November 1, 2016 was achieved at Aristotle Atlantic.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance results for periods greater than one year have been annualized. Returns are presented gross and net of investment advisory fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Gross returns will be reduced by fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net returns are presented net of actual investment advisory fees and after the deduction of all trading expenses.
Index Disclosures
The Russell 1000® Growth Index measures the performance of the large cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000 companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. This index has been selected as the benchmark and is used for comparison purposes only. The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of the large cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000 companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower expected growth values. The S&P 500® Index is the Standard & Poor’s Composite Index of 500 stocks and is a widely recognized, unmanaged index of common stock prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average® is a price-weighted measure of 30 U.S. blue-chip companies. The Index covers all industries except transportation and utilities. The NASDAQ Composite Index measures all NASDAQ domestic and international based common type stocks listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market. The NASDAQ Composite includes over 3,000 companies, more than most other stock market indices. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of domestic investment grade bonds, including corporate, government and mortgage-backed securities. The WTI Crude Oil Index is a major trading classification of sweet light crude oil that serves as a major benchmark price for oil consumed in the United States. The Brent Crude Oil Index is a major trading classification of sweet light crude oil that serves as a major benchmark price for purchases of oil worldwide. The 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill is a short-term debt obligation backed by the U.S. Treasury Department with a maturity of three months. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. While stock selection is not governed by quantitative rules, a stock typically is added only if the company has an excellent reputation, demonstrates sustained growth and is of interest to a large number of investors. The volatility (beta) of the Composite may be greater or less than its respective benchmarks. It is not possible to invest directly in these indices.
