Sterling Capital

06.10.2025 • Charles Wittmann, CFA^®

The Lead - Quality on Sale

- Our investment philosophy focuses on quality.
- What has made the last three months unusual is the underperformance of quality stocks in the market downturn this spring.
- We discuss how quality has differentiated properties that tend to outperform in bear markets and over the long term.
- We then discuss how the underperformance of quality in the recent negative return market, when historically it outperforms, resulted in “quality on sale” for active investors with a quality orientation.

05.07.2025 • Charles Wittmann, CFA^®

The Lead - Follow the Money

- We believe the inputs that create the ability for a company to pay dividends is of critical importance, especially if the economic environment becomes challenging.
- Starting in the later part of 2024, aggregate Bloomberg estimated earnings for the S&P 500® Index began to moderate then decline.
- While dividend payout ratios have improved, we would note that the rate of the market’s dividend growth has fallen almost 50%, to mid-single digits, since 2022.
- We believe more tempered growth expectations and companies signaling greater caution by moderating their commitment to return cash to shareholders via dividends is our sign to remain vigilant on the fundamental sources that generate dividend growth.

04.03.2025 • Charles Wittmann, CFA^®

The Lead - Resilient Quality

- Economic sectors associated with value stocks, such as industrials and financials, have seen their quality measurements improve.
- With slowing economic growth and persistent inflation leading to “stagflation” concerns, what type of equity investments tend to shine?
- We show how quality companies that pay dividends and repurchase their shares have differentiated themselves in similar periods.

03.28.2025 • James Kerin, CFA^®

Introduction to Collateralized Loan Obligations

Collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) are actively-managed securitized pools of leveraged loans, providing floating-rate exposure to corporate credit risk.

03.21.2025 • Andrew Richman, CTFA

Fed Lowers Growth Outlook But Raises Inflation Expectations

Andy Richman's update on the March Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

03.17.2025

Press Release: Sterling Capital Launches Enhanced Core Bond ETF

Sterling Capital Management LLC (Sterling Capital) is pleased to announce the launch of the Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF (BATS: SCEC). The Enhanced Core Bond ETF is the first fixed income exchanged-traded fund launched by Sterling Capital since the firm launched its active ETF platform in 2020. It is also the first product launched by Sterling Capital since its acquisition by Guardian Capital Group Limited last year.