Sterling Capital Fixed Income Capabilities
While fixed income generally serves a straightforward role in an investment portfolio, seeks to provide income and risk protection, managing fixed income is anything but simple.
Because investors typically tolerate less risk in fixed income allocations, and losses can take years to recover, professional management is essential. Most fixed income securities trade “over the counter” in less liquid markets, making expertise in trading and risk management critical. Investors need portfolio managers who understand the full spectrum of risks in fixed income and have the skill to navigate this less-liquid asset class.
At Sterling Capital, our experienced fixed income team has managed assets for institutional and retail clients for decades. In today’s environment, where the search for incremental yield often overshadows risk management, our process is rooted in striking a balance between the two.
Our approach is differentiated by a deeply integrated, team-based process that combines top-down macroeconomic analysis with bottom-up security selection to capture prevailing themes and opportunities.
Who We Are
Sterling Capital leverages the collective expertise of our team across every mandate. This includes insights into macroeconomic trends as well as sector-specific and security-level analysis. The result: fixed income strategies that seek to perform across market cycles, delivering an attractive balance of risk management, income, and long-term capital appreciation.
Philosophy and Process
Sterling Capital seeks to provide long-term, consistent investment performance and exceptional client service. We strive to achieve these through our process for managing risk and focusing on developing strong client relationships.
Our Fixed Income team aims to deliver consistent, superior risk-adjusted performance over time through a multi-faceted approach to investing. Based on our team's forecast for the broader economy and specific market sectors, we utilize a variety of strategic and tactical levers that allow us to construct portfolios for various market environments.
Due to the asymmetric risk and return profile of bonds, we believe in the importance of quantifying risk prior to assessing the potential return of any investment. We analyze risk on both a stand-alone basis and within the portfolio context and firmly believe that when it comes to risk, “if you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it.”
Philosophy
- Independent, fundamental research is the foundation of our investment process.
- We strive to deliver a predictable and understandable portfolio that produces a competitive rate of return
and consistent income. - Most individual investors purchase bonds for income, capital preservation, and diversification benefits; not
for a short-term trade. - Many sectors of the bond market offer opportunities for selective investors.
Fixed Income
Insights
03.11.2026 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®
The Lead - Signposts for Quality Improvement
- This month we look back in history for signs when quality stocks began to experience relative performance improvement trends. - We identify two themes and provide a perspective on the current environment. - Finally, we assess current valuations of higher quality stocks versus lower quality across a variety of metrics.
02.11.2026 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®
The Lead - Stability in a Dynamic Market
This month we examine another determinant of “quality” in stocks, stability. - We provide perspective of this characteristic to understand its performance in this dynamic market. - We find stocks with low volatility and high earnings stability were challenged last year and particularly in 4Q25, explaining performance of strategies focused on quality. - Finally, we describe why measurements of quality incorporated stability into their assessment as a key investment principle.
01.13.2026 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®
- Stocks with quality characteristics experienced a challenging 2025. - We put quality stock performance in perspective relative to other styles and historically. - We also discuss reasons why quality tends to perform differently from risk (beta).
12.11.2025 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®
- This year has been witnessed the biggest run for momentum stocks in the past seventy years. - Within momentum stocks this year what has been working? We discuss these dynamics. - This unique environment has offered opportunities to find value in companies with high returns on equity, stable earnings growth and low debt levels.
12.09.2025
Gregory Zage, CFA®, Justin Nicholson
The Sterling Capital VAULT: Passive Investing is NOT Static Investing
Gregory Zage and Justin Nicholson discuss the risks of passive investing.
12.09.2025 • James Kerin, CFA®
The Sterling Capital VAULT: Return of the Term Premium
James Kerin's update on term premium in 2025.
