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Investing Ideas
Evaluating Stocks as Growth Continues to Grow
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Portfolio Manager Doug Rao discusses the phenomenon of concentrated market leadership and what that means for long-term investors.
Key Takeaways
- When market returns are driven by a handful of stocks, active investors face difficult decisions, especially when underweighting or not owning these stocks may significantly impact portfolio performance.
- The recent phenomenon of large-cap tech stocks driving a significant portion of stock market gains may be justified by the fact that these companies are strongly tied to themes related to digital disruption.
- Investors may benefit from focusing on competitively advantaged companies positioned to profit from these themes, which have only accelerated amid the COVID-19 pandemic and are likely to persist over the coming months and years.
Investing Ideas
Sustainable Design in Consumer Products
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An in-depth look at the role of sustainability in consumer products.
Key Takeaways:
- The apparel sector is well known for its detrimental effects on the environment. However, as consumers become more aware of their own environmental footprints, there has been a surge in demand for sustainable goods.
- A circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.
- Companies including Nike, Adidas and DS Smith have incorporated a circular approach to the design and production of their goods, creating durable and long-lasting products with a reduced environmental footprint.
Retirement
Marching to a Million: How to Keep Financial Goals on Track When Starting a New Job
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As employment in the U.S. begins to recover following the devastating job losses incurred during the first few months of the pandemic, some younger adults are now seeing their job searches bear fruit. In the second of a two-part series, Retirement Director Ben Rizzuto outlines three steps to help those who have recently started new careers stay on track to their long-term financial goals.
Retirement
Marching to a Million: How to Navigate the Post-COVID Job Market
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While the U.S. job market is slowly recovering from the soaring unemployment rates seen in April and May, it remains an exceptionally challenging environment – particularly for young adults who were preparing to enter the workforce just as COVID hit. In the first of a two-part blog post, Retirement Director Ben Rizzuto offers actionable strategies for young adults who may find their career prospects dimmed in today’s job market.
Fixed Income Insights
ISG Insight: A mostly benign outlook for US inflation
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The stabilisation of US economic growth amid unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus has raised questions about the likelihood of inflation returning. Jim Cielinski, Global Head of Fixed Income, and Andrew Mulliner, Global Bonds Portfolio Manager, both members of the Fixed Income ISG, explain why they do not see significant risks of sustained higher inflation materialising in the next few years, though caution that short-term spikes are possible and investors should evaluate the diversity that their fixed income portfolios provide.
Portfolio Construction Insights
How We Uncover Value in Challenging Times
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COVID-19 has tested the resolve of even the most seasoned investors, leading some to question investment strategy and portfolio mix. However, faced with uncertainty, we are unwavering in our belief that a consistent investment approach helps us find opportunities that may deliver greater value. Portfolio Manager Gareth Lyons covers our four-pillar investment process and how it’s designed to reveal holdings with long-term potential.
Portfolio Construction Insights
Today, Not All is Equal
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We are seeing the highest margin of superiority on record, with a significant gap between our highest and lowest ranking sectors, exceeding levels seen in the Chinese growth scare in early 2016 and the financial crisis of 2008. James Foot, Head of Capital Markets & Asset Allocation, EMEA, discusses the unique nature of the market landscape, as well as some of the sensible actions that we believe can empower investor success.