The last decade has been a story of large cap outperformance. Since December 2004, the Russell 3000 Index has grown nearly five-fold, largely on the strength of the large cap companies in the Russell 1000 Index. The market capitalization of the next two thousand companies in the Index has fallen from a high of 10.8% in the spring of 2006 to a twenty-year low of 4.6% in the summer of 2025. You can make the argument that large cap stocks are expensive or that U.S. small caps are cheap. We will focus on the latter, with small cap valuations low versus their larger peers as well as against their own history. Starting at a low in valuations and weaving in multiple tailwinds that could support small cap performance in the years ahead, we believe now may be the time for investors to take a second look.

To read the full thought piece, please use the link below.

Air Date July 28, 2025

Aristotle Pacific’s Jeffrey Klingelhofer, CFA,   was live on Schwab Network’s “Market on Close” with Marley Kayden. In this segment, he discusses the evolving Fed narrative and shifting rate expectations to what these developments could mean for investors navigating today’s complex market environment.   

Watch the full interview below.

Click Here

Jeff Klingelhofer
Managing Director, Portfolio Manager

About Aristotle Pacific
Aristotle Pacific Capital is a Newport Beach, Calif.-based registered investment adviser that actively invests in credit securities on the basis of fundamental credit analysis with the objective of identifying and realizing relative value. The firm manages credit strategies across floating-rate loans, CLOs, multi-sector, high-yield, investment-grade, and short-duration bonds.

Learn More About Aristotle Pacific

The Latin word cultellus (in Italian, coltello) generally means “smaller knife” or “dagger.”  It is a common Latin root for several Italian and French words that, today, refer to small swords.  As well, it is the origin of the English word cutlery.

Cultellus became coutelas, a 16^th-century French word for a mid-length single-edged blade.  A coutelas then became a cutlass, a 17^th-century English abbreviated sword.  This tool (or weapon, depending upon its use) has a short and more or less curved single-edged blade.  The grip is generally of wood, but some specimens show a brass grip with spiral grooves, the fancier ones perhaps adorned with stones.  The length of the blade is usually about twenty-four inches.

To read the full article, please use the link below.

(All MSCI index returns are shown net and in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.)

Markets Review

Sources: CAPS CompositeHub^TM, Bloomberg
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Aristotle Global Equity WM Composite returns are presented pure gross and net of maximum wrap fee and include the reinvestment of all income. Pure gross returns do not reflect the deduction of any trading costs or other fees and are supplemental to the net returns. Net returns are calculated by subtracting the highest applicable wrap/SMA fee, which includes trading costs and custodial fees, from the pure gross composite return. The highest applicable wrap/SMA fee is 2.00% on an annual basis, or 0.50% quarterly from inception to 12/31/2023 and 0.17% monthly from 1/1/2024 to present. Aristotle Capital Composite returns are preliminary pending final account reconciliation. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.

Global equity markets rallied, with the MSCI ACWI Index advancing 11.53% in the second quarter. Concurrently, global fixed income gained ground, as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index rose 4.52%. Value stocks significantly lagged growth stocks over the quarter, with the MSCI ACWI Value Index underperfoming the MSCI ACWI Growth Index by 11.42%.

Asia/Pacific ex-Japan and Emerging Markets were the strongest regions, while Europe and Japan, though posting double-digit returns, increased the least. On a sector basis, nine out of the eleven sectors within the MSCI ACWI Index finished higher, with Information Technology, Communication Services and Industrials rising the most. Meanwhile, Energy and Health Care finished with negative returns.

Trade policy remained a focal point. In early April, President Trump introduced a universal 10% import tariff, as well as reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries, as part of “Liberation Day.”  Roughly a week later, and to encourage the start of negotiations, a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs was enacted for almost all countries. Later in the quarter, the U.S. and U.K. finalized the Economic Prosperity Deal, which included expanding American access to British markets and lowering tariffs on the first 100,000 of U.K. autos entering the U.S. each year. Meanwhile, negotiations continued with the EU, Japan, Canada and India. After escalating, trade tensions with China eased somewhat; however, considerable tariffs and other trade policy disputes remain for both countries as negotiations continue.

While the full impact of trade policy changes is still uncertain, major economies—including the U.S., U.K., eurozone and Japan—experienced downward revisions to 2025 GDP growth projections. Additionally, inflation trends were notably mixed during the quarter. In the U.S., changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained stable at approximately 2.4% year-over-year, while annual inflation in the eurozone fell below the European Central Bank’s 2% target. In contrast, the U.K. saw its CPI rise 3.4% year-over-year, with policymakers warning that ongoing geopolitical tensions may continue to drive inflation higher by disrupting oil prices and global supply chains. Japan also experienced elevated inflation, with core CPI rising 3.7% year-over-year—its fastest pace since January of 2023.

Amid a backdrop of macroeconomic uncertainty and mixed economic data, central bank policy decisions generally aligned with expectations. Monetary authorities in the U.S. and Japan held their key interest rates steady, while their counterparts in the U.K. and eurozone implemented rate cuts.

In geopolitics, tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply during the quarter, with Israel and Iran engaging in direct missile exchanges—their most overt confrontation in decades. A succession of precision strikes on key Iranian figures and military sites, as well as U.S. airstrikes on nuclear infrastructure, further fueled fears of a broader regional conflict. However, after 12 days of war, a ceasefire was reached late in the quarter, easing immediate tensions but leaving uncertainty over its durability. In Europe, Russian forces entered eastern Ukraine in the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time in three years. While the two sides engaged in a second round of negotiations and completed prisoner exchanges, prospects of a material advancement toward a ceasefire remain unclear. Despite the heightened geopolitical events, Brent crude oil fell 9.5% during the quarter.

Performance and Attribution Summary

For the second quarter of 2025, Aristotle Capital’s Global Equity WM Composite posted a total return of 9.92% pure gross of fees (9.40% net of fees), underperforming the MSCI ACWI Index, which returned 11.53%, and the MSCI World Index, which returned 11.47%. Please refer to the table below for detailed performance.

Source: FactSet
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Sector attribution shows how much of a portfolio’s overall return is directly attributable to stock selection and asset allocation decisions within the portfolio, highlighting which sectors contributed or detracted to the total return. Attribution includes the reinvestment of income. Attirbution is presented gross of fees and does not include the deduction of all fees and expenses that a client or investor has paid or would have paid. Please refer to the gross and net composite returns included within to understand the overall impact of fees.

From a sector perspective, the portfolio’s underperformance relative to the MSCI ACWI Index can be attributed to allocation effects, while security selection had a positive overall impact. An underweight in Information Technology and security selection in Consumer Discretionary and Industrials detracted the most from the portfolio’s relative performance. Conversely, security selection in Energy and Financials and an overweight in Industrials contributed to relative return.

Regionally, both security selection and allocation effects were responsible for the portfolio’s underperformance relative to the MSCI ACWI Index. Security selection in Europe and Japan detracted the most from relative performance, while security selection in North America and Emerging Markets contributed.

Contributors and Detractors for 2Q 2025

Relative Contributors	Relative Detractors
Cameco	Lennar
Microchip Technology	Amgen
Nemetschek	Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Uber	Alcon
Erste Group Bank	Otsuka Holdings

Amgen, the biopharmaceutical company, was one of the largest detractors for the quarter. While the company’s branded drugs continued to advance (a previously identified catalyst), with cholesterol medicine Repatha, osteoporosis treatment Evenity and bone-strengthening drug Prolia all growing sales in the double digits, concerns surrounding potential tariff impacts, tax reform and pressure on drug prices weighed on shares. We believe it is too early to assess the full impact of these macro uncertainties and are confident in Amgen’s demonstrated ability to adapt through evolving policy and pricing dynamics. The company reaffirmed its long-term commitment to domestic manufacturing and innovation through its upcoming $2 billion expansions in Ohio and North Carolina, building on more than $5 billion in U.S. operational investments since 2017. Furthermore, Amgen continued to advance its robust pipeline, as its 1L bemarituzumab (bema) phase 3 trial for gastric cancer met its primary endpoint, and MariTide, the company’s weight-loss drug, demonstrated strong efficacy in phase 1 and 2 trials. MariTide, which could offer more convenient monthly dosing compared to daily or weekly regimens, showed promising early results, though tolerability will be an important focus heading into phase 3. Management noted that modified dose ramp-up strategies may help mitigate these effects. Despite near-term pressures, we remain encouraged by Amgen’s continued market share gains across key therapies and the potential to enhance the company’s competitiveness and resilience in a dynamic healthcare landscape.

Alcon, a global leader in eye care, was one of the largest detractors during the quarter. Aside from its earnings report, there was little material news, and we did not view anything in the report as affecting the company’s long-term fundamentals. While quarterly updates can influence sentiment, our focus remains on the strength and quality of the business. Alcon operates in a resilient, oligopolistic industry with high barriers to entry and recurring revenue streams tied to its large installed base of cataract surgery systems. It also continues to innovate across product categories, including its premium intraocular lens portfolio (e.g., PanOptix, Vivity), ultra-premium daily contact lenses (e.g., Dailies Total1) and over-the-counter products, such as Systane for dry eyes. Since its spinoff from Novartis in 2019, the company has also demonstrated greater agility in R&D, commercial execution and capital allocation—catalysts we previously identified. More broadly, we believe Alcon’s ability to strengthen its partnerships with eye care professionals and broaden access to underutilized premium technologies makes the company uniquely positioned to benefit from an aging population, increased access to eye care in emerging markets, and rising awareness and diagnosis of chronic dry eye conditions.

Cameco, one of the world’s largest uranium producers, was the biggest contributor during the quarter. The company continued to demonstrate the hallmarks of a high-quality business: a long-duration contract portfolio, disciplined capital allocation and resilience in the face of operational disruption. Despite a nearly 30% decline in uranium spot prices year-over-year, Cameco reported higher average realized prices under its contracted sales—underscoring its pricing power and long-term customer relationships. The company maintained stable operations despite a temporary production pause at the Inkai joint venture and wildfires in northern Saskatchewan. Meanwhile, management continued to deepen its exposure to the nuclear fuel cycle through its Westinghouse unit, which expands its reach into reactor services and fuels. With rising global interest in nuclear energy for energy security and decarbonization, Cameco’s strong balance sheet, vertically integrated platform and ability to flex production volume (thereby controlling costs) remain important catalysts in our eyes.

Microchip Technology, the microcontroller (MCU) and analog semiconductor producer, was a top contributor for the quarter. After several quarters of underperformance driven by prolonged customer destocking, the company’s fundamentals began to improve meaningfully, as returning CEO Steve Sanghi’s turnaround plan is underway. Bookings showed signs of stabilization, supported by more balanced inventories across customers and distribution channels, as well as indications of recovering end-market demand. Operational execution also improved under the renewed leadership, with early benefits emerging from cost-saving initiatives—such as the closure of its Arizona wafer fabrication facility—and tighter inventory management. Microchip’s long-standing customer relationships and commitment to extended product lifecycles continue to support recurring revenue and reduce design-in risk. Combined with its consistent record of strong FREE cash flow generation and shareholder returns, this disciplined approach reinforces our conviction in the company’s ability to manage through industry cycles. Longer term, we believe Microchip remains well-positioned to gain share in 16- and 32-bit MCUs and areas including IoT, 5G infrastructure, autonomous vehicles and data centers.

Recent Portfolio Activity

During the quarter, we sold our positions in PayPal Holdings and Rational and invested in Capital One and Uber.

We first invested in PayPal, the online and mobile e-commerce payments company, in the third quarter of 2015. Over the past decade, we have admired PayPal’s ability to expand its unique and hard-to-replicate dual-sided network, even amid intensifying competition. In 2023, Alex Chriss succeeded Dan Schulman as CEO and refocused the company on profitable growth by enhancing the checkout experience and deepening user engagement, rather than emphasizing top-line expansion. Partnerships with Apple, J.P. Morgan, Amazon and Shopify support this shift, embedding PayPal more deeply across digital commerce ecosystems. Mr. Chriss has also prioritized higher-margin branded checkout while phasing out select Braintree deals that were unprofitable or contributed little to earnings. Braintree primarily serves large enterprise clients—such as Uber, Airbnb and Live Nation—through unbranded, custom-priced processing agreements. While these actions have moderated near-term revenue growth, we view them as a more disciplined and sustainable approach to long-term value creation. That said, we remain concerned about PayPal’s continued investment in its “One Platform” strategy, which includes expanding into offline and omnichannel payments—a direction that has shown limited success to date. While we will continue monitoring Mr. Chriss’s progress and the broader payments landscape, we ultimately determined PayPal was the most suitable candidate for sale in order to fund what we believe is a more compelling investment opportunity.

We first invested in Rational, the German-based global leader in commercial kitchen equipment, in May 2021. The company holds a dominant position in combi-steamers—advanced appliances that integrate steam and convection cooking, allowing professional kitchens to improve consistency, expand menu flexibility, reduce energy use and optimize cooking time in a single unit. During our holding period, Rational made meaningful progress across several catalysts, including deeper penetration of combi-steamers and cooking centers into kitchens still reliant on traditional appliances. The company also expanded its geographic footprint, especially in North America and Asia, where demand for automated and energy-efficient cooking solutions continues to rise. While we continue to view Rational as a high-quality business with attractive long-term prospects, we grew incrementally more cautious about its evolving competitive position. Additionally, Rational’s expansion into adjacent product categories, while strategically logical, introduced added complexity and some potential for product overlap. Given these considerations, we decided Rational was the optimal candidate for sale to fund what we believe is a more compelling investment in Uber.

Capital One Financial Corporation

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One is one of the largest credit card issuers in the U.S. The company was spun out of Signet Financial in 1995 under the leadership of founder and current Chairman and CEO Richard Fairbank. Over the past three decades, Capital One has evolved from a monoline credit card lender into a diversified financial services firm offering a broad range of consumer and commercial banking products.

In 2025, Capital One completed its acquisition of Discover, becoming one of the only major U.S. banks to own and operate a credit card network. This should position the company to enhance its profitability by reducing its reliance on third-party networks (i.e., Visa and Mastercard) and reduce earnings volatility as fee-based revenue increases. The deal also advances Capital One’s efforts to attract high-spend, premium-tier customers. Products like Venture X—the firm’s premium travel rewards card—stand to benefit from the integration of Discover’s transaction data with Capital One’s advanced analytics capabilities. This combination enables more personalized offers, deeper customer engagement and targeted cross-selling across lending and deposit products, reinforcing a cycle of data-driven growth.

High-Quality Business

Some of the quality characteristics we have identified for Capital One include:

• A leading card platform with national brand recognition and a diversified customer base across geographies and credit tiers;
• Differentiated technology infrastructure: the only major U.S. bank operating fully in the public cloud, enabling real-time data processing, faster product iteration and cost efficiencies that are difficult for peers to replicate;
• A history of prudent underwriting and a disciplined credit culture developed through multiple economic and credit cycles; and
• Proven, long-tenured management team led by Richard Fairbank has demonstrated a long-term orientation and disciplined capital deployment across cycles.

Attractive Valuation

We believe shares of Capital One are attractively valued relative to our estimates of normalized earnings power. In our view, the market underappreciates the long-term value creation potential of the Discover integration, including enhanced payment economics and greater strategic control. In addition, Capital One’s ongoing shift toward higher-credit-tier customers and fee-based revenue—combined with its technology-enabled cost advantages—supports margin expansion and more durable earnings. Strong FREE cash flow generation provides ample flexibility to reinvest in growth while continuing to return capital to shareholders through buybacks and dividends.

Compelling Catalysts

Catalysts we have identified for Capital One, which we believe will cause its stock price to appreciate over our three- to five-year investment horizon, include:

• Successful integration of Discover’s network, enabling vertical payment processing and greater fee capture;
• Continued shift in customer mix toward higher credit tiers, driving more stable earnings and increased fee-based revenue;
• Utilization of cloud-based infrastructure and proprietary data to enhance underwriting, deliver personalized product offers and strengthen cross-sell opportunities across lending and deposits; and
• Increased market share in cards, driven by brand strength, customer loyalty and expanded co-brand partnerships with leading merchants that enhance customer engagement and distribution.

Uber Technologies, Inc.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Uber is a global technology platform that facilitates the movement of people, goods and services across a wide range of markets. What began as a simple ride-hailing app has evolved into a multi-segment leader operating in more than 70 countries, connecting millions of consumers, drivers, couriers and merchants worldwide.

Uber’s operations are organized into three primary business segments: Mobility, which includes ridesharing, car rentals and other personal transportation services (~45% of revenue); Delivery, which spans food, grocery, convenience and retail delivery through the Uber Eats platform (~50%); and Freight, its digital brokerage and logistics arm (~5%). These segments are built on a shared platform supported by real-time matching technology, global app penetration, strong network effects and one of the most recognized consumer brands globally—reflected in the familiar phrase, “I’ll call an Uber.”

High-Quality Business

Some of the quality characteristics we have identified for Uber include:

• Global scale and platform efficiency, underpinned by strong brand recognition and an asset-light, supply-led model that enables rapid expansion, high operating leverage and efficient capital deployment;
• Integrated, cross-segment ecosystem, where offerings like Uber One memberships drive customer activity and loyalty (i.e., the majority of gross delivery bookings come from members); and
• Market leadership across core categories, including approximately 70% market share in U.S. ridesharing, a strong #2 position in U.S. delivery, and leading positions in key international delivery markets, such as the U.K., France and Australia.

Attractive Valuation

Uber has scaled to sustainably FREE cash flow with continued progress on margin expansion driven by scale and disciplined cost control. Based on our analysis, shares of the company currently trade at a greater than 10% normalized Cash Flow Return on Economic Value, reflecting what we believe is meaningful upside potential. Uber’s strong balance sheet—with approximately $7 billion in cash—also provides flexibility to reinvest in growth, pursue strategic initiatives or return capital to shareholders.

Compelling Catalysts

Catalysts we have identified for Uber, which we believe will cause its stock price to appreciate over our three- to five-year investment horizon, include:

• Increased profitability and stronger FREE cash flow generation as enhanced cross-promotion between Mobility and Delivery deepens user engagement and significantly lowers customer acquisition costs;
• Further partnerships—such as with taxi fleets, travel platforms and autonomous vehicle companies—should continue to expand Uber’s reach and reduce supply costs; and
• Continued expansion in non-urban markets, with new features like Uber Reserve broadening addressable demand and improving service in suburban areas.

Conclusion

As the world continues to navigate shifting trade dynamics, complex monetary and fiscal policy decisions, and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, the broader implications for the global economy remain unclear. While we are mindful of these macroeconomic forces, we do not attempt to predict their timing or short-term market impact. Instead, we anchor our investment approach in what we believe to be more reliable and enduring: the fundamentals of individual businesses and their long-term potential. By concentrating on high-quality companies with management teams we consider proven, we aim to build portfolios capable of withstanding a wide range of economic environments and delivering attractive returns over full market cycles.

(All MSCI index returns are shown net and in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.)

Markets Review

Sources: CAPS CompositeHub^TM, Bloomberg
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Aristotle International Equity ADR WM Composite returns are presented pure gross and net of the maximum wrap fee and include the reinvestment of all income. Pure gross returns do not reflect the deduction of any trading costs or other fees and are supplemental to the net returns. Net returns are calculated by subtracting the highest applicable wrap/SMA fee, which includes trading costs and custodial fees, from the pure gross composite return. (From inception to 12/31/2015, the highest applicable wrap/SMA fee is 3.00% on an annual basis, or 0.75% quarterly. From 1/1/2016 to 12/31/2023, the highest applicable wrap/SMA fee is 2.00% on an annual basis, or 0.50% quarterly and 0.17% monthly from 1/1/2024 to present.) Aristotle Capital Composite returns are preliminary pending final account reconciliation. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.

Global equity markets rallied, with the MSCI ACWI Index advancing 11.53% in the second quarter. Global fixed income also performed well, as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index returned 4.52%. Value stocks significantly lagged growth over the quarter, with the MSCI ACWI Value Index underperforming the MSCI ACWI Growth Index by 11.42%.

The MSCI EAFE Index rose 11.78% during the second quarter, while the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index climbed 12.03%. Within the MSCI EAFE Index, Europe & Middle East and Asia were the strongest performers, while the U.K. increased the least. On a sector basis, ten out of the eleven sectors within the MSCI EAFE Index posted positive returns, with Communication Services, Information Technology and Industrials generating the largest gains. Conversely, Energy was the only sector to finish in the red, and Health Care and Consumer Discretionary increased the least.

Trade policy remained a focal point. In early April, President Trump introduced a universal 10% import tariff, as well as reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries, as part of “Liberation Day.”  Roughly a week later, and to encourage the start of negotiations, a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs was enacted for almost all countries. Later in the quarter, the U.S. and U.K. finalized the Economic Prosperity Deal, which included expanding American access to British markets and lowering tariffs on the first 100,000 of U.K. autos entering the U.S. each year. Meanwhile, negotiations continued with the EU, Japan, Canada and India. After escalating, trade tensions with China eased somewhat; however, considerable tariffs and other trade policy disputes remain for both countries as negotiations continue.

While the full impact of trade policy changes is still uncertain, major economies—including the U.S., U.K., eurozone and Japan— experienced downward revisions to 2025 GDP growth projections. Additionally, inflation trends were notably mixed during the quarter. In the U.S., changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained stable at approximately 2.4% year-over-year, while annual inflation in the eurozone fell below the European Central Bank’s 2% target. In contrast, the U.K. saw its CPI rise 3.4% year-over-year, with policymakers warning that ongoing geopolitical tensions may continue to drive inflation higher by disrupting oil prices and global supply chains. Japan also experienced elevated inflation, with core CPI rising 3.7% year-over-year—its fastest pace since January of 2023.

Amid a backdrop of macroeconomic uncertainty and mixed economic data, central bank policy decisions generally aligned with expectations. Monetary authorities in the U.S. and Japan held their key interest rates steady, while their counterparts in the U.K. and eurozone implemented rate cuts.

In geopolitics, tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply during the quarter, with Israel and Iran engaging in direct missile exchanges—their most overt confrontation in decades. A succession of precision strikes on key Iranian figures and military sites, as well as U.S. airstrikes on nuclear infrastructure, further fueled fears of a broader regional conflict. However, after 12 days of war, a ceasefire was reached late in the quarter, easing immediate tensions but leaving uncertainty over its durability. In Europe, Russian forces entered eastern Ukraine in the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time in three years. While the two sides engaged in a second round of negotiations and completed prisoner exchanges, prospects of a material advancement toward a ceasefire remain unclear. Despite the heightened geopolitical events, Brent crude oil fell 9.5% during the quarter.

Performance and Attribution Summary

For the second quarter of 2025, Aristotle Capital’s International Equity ADR WM Composite posted a total return of 10.41% pure gross of fees (9.88% net of fees), underperforming the MSCI EAFE Index, which returned 11.78%, and the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index, which returned 12.03%. Please refer to the table below for detailed performance.

Source: FactSet
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Sector attribution shows how much of a portfolio’s overall return is directly attributable to stock selection and asset allocation decisions within the portfolio, highlighting which sectors contributed or detracted to the total return. Attribution includes the reinvestment of income. Attribution is presented gross of fees and does not include the deduction of all fees and expenses that a client or investor has paid or would have paid. Please refer to the gross and net composite returns included within to understand the overall impact of fees.

From a sector perspective, the portfolio’s underperformance relative to the MSCI EAFE Index can be primarily attributed to allocation effects. While there were both positive and negative contributions from security selection across sectors, these impacts largely offset one another over the period. Security selection in Industrials, Health Care and Information Technology detracted the most from the portfolio’s relative performance. Conversely, security selection in Energy, Financials and Consumer Discretionary contributed to relative returns.

Regionally, security selection was responsible for the portfolio’s underperformance. Security selection in Europe & Middle East and Asia detracted the most from relative performance, while exposure to Canada and Emerging Markets contributed.

Contributors and Detractors for 2Q 2025

Relative Contributors	Relative Detractors
Cameco	Alcon
Safran	Accenture
Pan Pacific International	Otsuka Holdings
Erste Group Bank	Sony
Credicorp	Kubota

Alcon, a global leader in eye care, was the largest detractor during the quarter. Aside from its earnings report, there was little material news, and we did not view anything in the report as affecting the company’s long-term fundamentals. While quarterly updates can influence sentiment, our focus remains on the strength and quality of the business. Alcon operates in a resilient, oligopolistic industry with high barriers to entry and recurring revenue streams tied to its large installed base of cataract surgery systems. It also continues to innovate across product categories, including its premium intraocular lens portfolio (e.g., PanOptix, Vivity), ultra-premium daily contact lenses (e.g., Dailies Total1) and over-the-counter products, such as Systane for dry eyes. Since its spinoff from Novartis in 2019, the company has also demonstrated greater agility in R&D, commercial execution and capital allocation—catalysts we previously identified. More broadly, we believe Alcon’s ability to strengthen its partnerships with eye care professionals and broaden access to underutilized premium technologies makes the company uniquely positioned to benefit from an aging population, increased access to eye care in emerging markets, and rising awareness and diagnosis of chronic dry eye conditions.

Kubota, the Japanese maker of tractors and construction equipment, was a top detractor during the quarter. Despite rising revenue, results were pressured by a stronger yen, elevated fixed costs, and slowing North American tractor demand. Investor concerns were further heightened by the potential for new U.S. tariffs, which could impact profitability. However, despite these near-term headwinds, we believe the fundamentals remain solid. Kubota continues to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia’s “wet field” rice markets as farming becomes increasingly mechanized, while gaining share in “dry field” agriculture globally through new market entry and a broader product lineup. In North America, the company has also reinforced its leadership in compact machinery, building on established strengths in mini-excavators and track loaders. Its long-standing reputation for quality, reliability, ease of use, and distribution support reinforces our view that Kubota remains well-positioned to benefit from long-term global demand for efficient agricultural and construction solutions.  

Cameco, one of the world’s largest uranium producers, was the biggest contributor during the quarter. The company continued to demonstrate the hallmarks of a high-quality business: a long-duration contract portfolio, disciplined capital allocation and resilience in the face of operational disruption. Despite a nearly 30% decline in uranium spot prices year-over-year, Cameco reported higher average realized prices under its contracted sales—underscoring its pricing power and long-term customer relationships. The company maintained stable operations despite a temporary production pause at the Inkai joint venture and wildfires in northern Saskatchewan. Meanwhile, management continued to deepen its exposure to the nuclear fuel cycle through its Westinghouse unit, which expands its reach into reactor services and fuels. With rising global interest in nuclear energy for energy security and decarbonization, Cameco’s strong balance sheet, vertically integrated platform and ability to flex production volume (thereby controlling costs) remain important catalysts in our eyes.

Safran, the French aerospace propulsion and equipment manufacturer, was a top contributor during the quarter. The company continues to demonstrate high-quality characteristics—namely durable aftermarket revenue, strong pricing power and long-standing customer relationships across its propulsion, avionics and interiors franchises. Record 2024 results carried into 2025, supported by strong air traffic recovery, particularly in Asia, and increased aircraft utilization. As the dominant supplier of narrow-body aircraft engines (approximately 70% market share), Safran benefits from rising demand for required maintenance as airlines extend the lives of aging fleets. With roughly one-fifth of its revenues tied to defense, the company also stands to gain from rising European defense budgets, where policymakers are placing increased emphasis on sourcing from regional suppliers. We also continue to view the transition from the legacy CFM56 engine to the more fuel-efficient LEAP platform as a meaningful catalyst—especially given that a large portion of the installed LEAP fleet has yet to reach its first maintenance cycle, providing a long and visible runway (pardon the pun) of profit growth. Looking ahead, we believe Safran remains well-positioned to benefit from global fleet modernization and the industry’s pivot toward more efficient and sustainable aircraft platforms.

Recent Portfolio Activity

Consistent with our long-term horizon and low turnover, there were no new purchases or sales completed during the quarter.

Conclusion

As the world continues to navigate shifting trade dynamics, complex monetary and fiscal policy decisions, and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, the broader implications for the global economy remain unclear. While we are mindful of these macroeconomic forces, we do not attempt to predict their timing or short-term market impact. Instead, we anchor our investment approach in what we believe to be more reliable and enduring: the fundamentals of individual businesses and their long-term potential. By concentrating on high-quality companies with management teams we consider proven, we aim to build portfolios capable of withstanding a wide range of economic environments and delivering attractive returns over full market cycles.

(All MSCI index returns are shown net and in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.)

Markets Review

Sources: CAPS CompositeHub^TM, Bloomberg
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Aristotle International 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 calculated by subtracting a model fee of 0.50% on an annual basis or 0.04167% on a monthly basis, which includes trading costs and the revinvestment of all income. Aristotle Capital Composite returns are preliminary pending final account reconciliation. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.

Global equity markets rallied, with the MSCI ACWI Index advancing 11.53% in the second quarter. Global fixed income also performed well, as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index returned 4.52%. Value stocks significantly lagged growth over the quarter, with the MSCI ACWI Value Index underperforming the MSCI ACWI Growth Index by 11.42%.

The MSCI EAFE Index rose 11.78% during the second quarter, while the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index climbed 12.03%. Within the MSCI EAFE Index, Europe & Middle East and Asia were the strongest performers, while the U.K. increased the least. On a sector basis, ten out of the eleven sectors within the MSCI EAFE Index posted positive returns, with Communication Services, Information Technology and Industrials generating the largest gains. Conversely, Energy was the only sector to finish in the red, and Health Care and Consumer Discretionary increased the least.

Trade policy remained a focal point. In early April, President Trump introduced a universal 10% import tariff, as well as reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries, as part of “Liberation Day.” Roughly a week later, and to encourage the start of negotiations, a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs was enacted for almost all countries. Later in the quarter, the U.S. and U.K. finalized the Economic Prosperity Deal, which included expanding American access to British markets and lowering tariffs on the first 100,000 of U.K. autos entering the U.S. each year. Meanwhile, negotiations continued with the EU, Japan, Canada and India. After escalating, trade tensions with China eased somewhat; however, considerable tariffs and other trade policy disputes remain for both countries as negotiations continue.

While the full impact of trade policy changes is still uncertain, major economies—including the U.S., U.K., eurozone and Japan— experienced downward revisions to 2025 GDP growth projections. Additionally, inflation trends were notably mixed during the quarter. In the U.S., changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained stable at approximately 2.4% year-over-year, while annual inflation in the eurozone fell below the European Central Bank’s 2% target. In contrast, the U.K. saw its CPI rise 3.4% year-over-year, with policymakers warning that ongoing geopolitical tensions may continue to drive inflation higher by disrupting oil prices and global supply chains. Japan also experienced elevated inflation, with core CPI rising 3.7% year-over-year—its fastest pace since January of 2023.

Amid a backdrop of macroeconomic uncertainty and mixed economic data, central bank policy decisions generally aligned with expectations. Monetary authorities in the U.S. and Japan held their key interest rates steady, while their counterparts in the U.K. and eurozone implemented rate cuts.

In geopolitics, tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply during the quarter, with Israel and Iran engaging in direct missile exchanges—their most overt confrontation in decades. A succession of precision strikes on key Iranian figures and military sites, as well as U.S. airstrikes on nuclear infrastructure, further fueled fears of a broader regional conflict. However, after 12 days of war, a ceasefire was reached late in the quarter, easing immediate tensions but leaving uncertainty over its durability. In Europe, Russian forces entered eastern Ukraine in the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time in three years. While the two sides engaged in a second round of negotiations and completed prisoner exchanges, prospects of a material advancement toward a ceasefire remain unclear. Despite the heightened geopolitical events, Brent crude oil fell 9.5% during the quarter.

Performance and Attribution Summary

For the second quarter of 2025, Aristotle Capital’s International Equity ADR Composite posted a total return of 10.18% gross of fees (10.05% net of fees), underperforming the MSCI EAFE Index, which returned 11.78%, and the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index, which returned 12.03%. Please refer to the table below for detailed performance.

Source: FactSet
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Sector attribution shows how much of a portfolio’s overall return is directly attributable to stock selection and asset allocation decisions within the portfolio, highlighting which sectors contributed or detracted to the total return. Attribution includes the reinvestment of income. Attribution is presented gross of fees and does not include the deduction of all fees and expenses that a client or investor has paid or would have paid. Please refer to the gross and net composite returns included within to understand the overall impact of fees.

From a sector perspective, the portfolio’s underperformance relative to the MSCI EAFE Index can be primarily attributed to allocation effects. While there were both positive and negative contributions from security selection across sectors, these impacts largely offset one another over the period. Security selection in Industrials, Health Care and Information Technology detracted the most from the portfolio’s relative performance. Conversely, security selection in Energy, Financials and Consumer Discretionary contributed to relative returns.

Regionally, security selection was responsible for the portfolio’s underperformance. Security selection in Europe & Middle East and Asia detracted the most from relative performance, while exposure to Canada and Emerging Markets contributed.

Contributors and Detractors for 2Q 2025

Relative Contributors	Relative Detractors
Cameco	Alcon
Safran	Accenture
Pan Pacific International	Otsuka Holdings
Estate Group Bank	Sony
Credicorp	Kubota

Alcon, a global leader in eye care, was the largest detractor during the quarter. Aside from its earnings report, there was little material news, and we did not view anything in the report as affecting the company’s long-term fundamentals. While quarterly updates can influence sentiment, our focus remains on the strength and quality of the business. Alcon operates in a resilient, oligopolistic industry with high barriers to entry and recurring revenue streams tied to its large installed base of cataract surgery systems. It also continues to innovate across product categories, including its premium intraocular lens portfolio (e.g., PanOptix, Vivity), ultra-premium daily contact lenses (e.g., Dailies Total1) and over-the-counter products, such as Systane for dry eyes. Since its spinoff from Novartis in 2019, the company has also demonstrated greater agility in R&D, commercial execution and capital allocation—catalysts we previously identified. More broadly, we believe Alcon’s ability to strengthen its partnerships with eye care professionals and broaden access to underutilized premium technologies makes the company uniquely positioned to benefit from an aging population, increased access to eye care in emerging markets, and rising awareness and diagnosis of chronic dry eye conditions.

Kubota, the Japanese maker of tractors and construction equipment, was a top detractor during the quarter. Despite rising revenue, results were pressured by a stronger yen, elevated fixed costs, and slowing North American tractor demand. Investor concerns were further heightened by the potential for new U.S. tariffs, which could impact profitability. However, despite these near-term headwinds, we believe the fundamentals remain solid. Kubota continues to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia’s “wet field” rice markets as farming becomes increasingly mechanized, while gaining share in “dry field” agriculture globally through new market entry and a broader product lineup. In North America, the company has also reinforced its leadership in compact machinery, building on established strengths in mini-excavators and track loaders. Its long-standing reputation for quality, reliability, ease of use, and distribution support reinforces our view that Kubota remains well-positioned to benefit from long-term global demand for efficient agricultural and construction solutions.  

Cameco, one of the world’s largest uranium producers, was the biggest contributor during the quarter. The company continued to demonstrate the hallmarks of a high-quality business: a long-duration contract portfolio, disciplined capital allocation and resilience in the face of operational disruption. Despite a nearly 30% decline in uranium spot prices year-over-year, Cameco reported higher average realized prices under its contracted sales—underscoring its pricing power and long-term customer relationships. The company maintained stable operations despite a temporary production pause at the Inkai joint venture and wildfires in northern Saskatchewan. Meanwhile, management continued to deepen its exposure to the nuclear fuel cycle through its Westinghouse unit, which expands its reach into reactor services and fuels. With rising global interest in nuclear energy for energy security and decarbonization, Cameco’s strong balance sheet, vertically integrated platform and ability to flex production volume (thereby controlling costs) remain important catalysts in our eyes.

Safran, the French aerospace propulsion and equipment manufacturer, was a top contributor during the quarter. The company continues to demonstrate high-quality characteristics—namely durable aftermarket revenue, strong pricing power and long-standing customer relationships across its propulsion, avionics and interiors franchises. Record 2024 results carried into 2025, supported by strong air traffic recovery, particularly in Asia, and increased aircraft utilization. As the dominant supplier of narrow-body aircraft engines (approximately 70% market share), Safran benefits from rising demand for required maintenance as airlines extend the lives of aging fleets. With roughly one-fifth of its revenues tied to defense, the company also stands to gain from rising European defense budgets, where policymakers are placing increased emphasis on sourcing from regional suppliers. We also continue to view the transition from the legacy CFM56 engine to the more fuel-efficient LEAP platform as a meaningful catalyst—especially given that a large portion of the installed LEAP fleet has yet to reach its first maintenance cycle, providing a long and visible runway (pardon the pun) of profit growth. Looking ahead, we believe Safran remains well-positioned to benefit from global fleet modernization and the industry’s pivot toward more efficient and sustainable aircraft platforms.

Recent Portfolio Activity

Consistent with our long-term horizon and low turnover, there were no new purchases or sales completed during the quarter.

Conclusion

As the world continues to navigate shifting trade dynamics, complex monetary and fiscal policy decisions, and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, the broader implications for the global economy remain unclear. While we are mindful of these macroeconomic forces, we do not attempt to predict their timing or short-term market impact. Instead, we anchor our investment approach in what we believe to be more reliable and enduring: the fundamentals of individual businesses and their long-term potential. By concentrating on high-quality companies with management teams we consider proven, we aim to build portfolios capable of withstanding a wide range of economic environments and delivering attractive returns over full market cycles.

Markets Review

Despite some early volatility in the second quarter, the U.S. equity market rebounded with strength, with the S&P 500 Index rising 10.94% during the period. Bonds also delivered positive returns, as the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index rose 1.21%.

Sources: CAPS CompositeHub^TM, 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

On a sector basis, positive returns were led by nine of the eleven sectors within the Russell 1000 Growth Index in the second quarter of 2025. The strongest sectors were Utilities and Information Technology. The weakest sectors were Energy and Health Care.

Trade policy remained a focal point. In early April, President Trump introduced a universal 10% import tariff, as well as reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries, as part of “Liberation Day.”  Roughly a week later, and to encourage the start of negotiations, a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs was enacted for almost all countries. Later in the quarter, the U.S. and U.K. finalized the Economic Prosperity Deal, which included expanding American access to British markets and lowering tariffs on the first 100,000 of U.K. autos entering the U.S. each year. Meanwhile, negotiations continued with the EU, Japan, Canada and India. After escalating, trade tensions with China eased somewhat; however, considerable tariffs and other trade policy disputes remain for both countries as negotiations continue. Shortly after quarter end, Congress also passed the Trump administration’s sweeping fiscal legislation, which included major tax incentives, infrastructure funding and manufacturing subsidies. Concurrently, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) fell 10.7% in the first six months of the year—the fastest decline since 1973.

Economic data released during the quarter painted a mixed picture. U.S. real GDP for the first quarter contracted at an annual rate of 0.5%, primarily due to reduced government spending and a rise in imports. Meanwhile, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.4% year-over-year in May, and the unemployment rate remained close to 4%. Notably, a key gauge of consumer confidence rebounded in June, increasing for the first time in six months. However, given the ongoing uncertainty around the macroeconomic outlook, the Federal Reserve opted to hold its policy rate steady at a range of 4.25% to 4.50%, signaling a cautious, data-dependent stance.

Corporate fundamentals continued to serve as a relative bright spot, as S&P 500 companies reported 12.9% year-over-year earnings growth, with 78% of companies exceeding EPS expectations. Still, concerns around global trade and input costs were evident, with more than 425 companies referencing tariffs in earnings calls and nearly 12% issuing negative EPS guidance for the quarter ahead. Management teams broadly emphasized cost discipline and capital flexibility in the face of persistent macro headwinds.

In geopolitics, tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply during the quarter, with Israel and Iran engaging in direct missile exchanges—their most overt confrontation in decades. A succession of precision strikes on key Iranian figures and military sites, as well as U.S. airstrikes on nuclear infrastructure, further fueled fears of a broader regional conflict. However, after 12 days of war, a ceasefire was reached late in the quarter, easing immediate tensions but leaving uncertainty over its durability. In Europe, Russian forces entered eastern Ukraine in the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time in three years. While the two sides engaged in a second round of negotiations and completed prisoner exchanges, prospects of a material advancement toward a ceasefire remain unclear. Despite the heightened geopolitical risks, WTI crude oil fell 8.9% during the quarter.

Performance and Attribution Summary

For the second quarter of 2025, Aristotle Atlantic’s Focus Growth Composite posted a total return of 17.70% gross of fees (17.67% net of fees), underperforming the 17.84% total return of the Russell 1000 Growth Index.

Sources: FactSet
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Sector attribution shows how much of a portfolio’s overall return is directly attributable to stock selection and asset allocation decisions within the portfolio, highlighting which sectors contributed or detracted to the total return. Attribution includes the reinvestment of income. Attribution is presented gross of fees and does not include the deduction of all fees and expenses that a client or investor has paid or would have paid. Please refer to the gross and net composite returns included within to understand the overall impact of fees. Please see important disclosures at the end of this document.

During the second quarter, the portfolio’s underperformance relative to the Russell 1000 Growth Index was due to allocation effects. Security selection in Consumer Discretionary and Financials detracted the most from relative returns. Conversely, security selection in Information Technology and Industrials contributed the most.

Contributors and Detractors for 2Q 2025

Detractors

UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group detracted from relative performance in the second quarter following a surprisingly soft first quarter earnings report and a sizable guidance reduction. The issues were two-fold, including higher utilization inside its group Medicare Advantage offering, which drove a higher medical care ratio. The second issue was a negative new member mix, as several competitors exited the market, and many of the patients who switched to UnitedHealth’s offerings had not been actively engaged in their care, resulting in higher acuity levels throughout the quarter. The company believes both issues are fixable in its next rate cycle.

Visa

Visa detracted from relative performance in the second quarter due to growing concerns that stablecoins could pose a long-term threat to the company’s payments business. While consumer adoption of stablecoins remains limited at present, pending U.S. legislation viewed as favorable to the cryptocurrency ecosystem, along with interest from large merchants exploring the issuance of proprietary stablecoins, has highlighted potential disruption risks to parts of Visa’s core network.

Contributors

Adaptive Biotechnologies

Adaptive Biotechnologies contributed to relative performance in the second quarter following a better-than-expected first quarter earnings report, which showed solid across-the-board momentum in both clinical testing and biopharma testing volumes. Adaptive continues to make progress on growing average selling prices (ASPs) and reducing cash burn. Adaptive is also rolling out its test on electronic medical record platforms, which will simplify the workflow and increase test ordering, processing and reporting efficiency.

Netflix

Netflix contributed to relative performance in the second quarter, primarily due to first quarter earnings results that supported investor confidence in continued growth. In particular, additional price increases in select markets, healthy subscriber momentum and progress in the nascent ad-supported subscription tier also helped drive performance. The company reiterated its full-year targets, with no signs of weakness in domestic or international markets.

Recent Portfolio Activity

The table below shows all buys and sells completed during the quarter, followed by a brief rationale.

Buys

HubSpot

HubSpot provides a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platform that integrates marketing, sales, service, content management and operations hubs into a unified system. Its platform features applications and tools for tasks such as website creation, business blogging, search engine optimization, web analytics, lead generation and more, while also offering a native payment solution. Designed to create adaptable and cohesive customer experiences, HubSpot’s Smart CRM and engagement hubs facilitate unified customer profiles and seamless interaction across the customer lifecycle. The hubs, available in free and paid tiers, can function independently, integrate with HubSpot’s Smart platform or third-party CRMs, and scale alongside growing businesses.

We invested in HubSpot for its strategic positioning in a large, underserved SMB market, its effective freemium-to-enterprise conversion funnel and its rapidly growing AI suite “Breeze,” which enhances automation and personalization across customer interactions. With strong adoption across product tiers, momentum in enterprise expansion, and scalable financials driving margin expansion and free cash flow growth, we believe the company is well-positioned to deliver durable, long-term value. We believe the current valuation is fair based on the combination of durable revenue growth, expanding margins and the early signs of traction in AI monetization.

Sells

Expedia Group

We sold Expedia Group due to a higher risk of a recession following the significant increase in global tariffs, which can be expected to reduce overall levels of economic activity. In addition, the negative impact on the wealth effect due to potentially declining equity markets will likely impact demand for retail travel. Travel is among the most discretionary spend categories within the consumer discretionary sector.

Outlook

The equity markets in the second quarter rose sharply on hopes of a reasonable resolution to tariffs and a resilient economy. Interest rates were largely unchanged for the quarter, with the 10-year Treasury yield at 4.2%. With the looming tariff deadline of July 9th, the markets reacted positively to reported progress. The July 4th deadline for Congress to pass the extension to tax cuts also seems to be progressing. The economic data was mostly in line with expectations, with employment steady and inflation data just above the Fed’s 2% target. With the strong rebound in equity markets, valuation levels are once again above historical averages. 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.