Mutual Funds
Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund
Fund Managers
Robert Bridges, CFA®
Robert Weller, CFA®
Overview
A
Shares
SPSAX
Inception
Date
02.01.2010
Investment
Min.
$1,000
Subsequent
Investment Min.1
N/A
Max. Up Front
Sales Charge
5.75%
Max. Deferred
Sales Charge
N/A
1If subsequent investments are made as part of an AIP, the minimum is $25.
Philosophy & Process
The investment team applies "behavioral finance" principles in constructing the Fund's portfolio. Behavioral finance theorizes that investment decisions are often influenced by emotion, and that investors can be both predictable and irrational at times in their decision making. Emotional investment decisions can lead to stock price anomalies that create buying opportunities in the marketplace. The Team seeks to capitalize on these behaviorally driven anomalies by employing a disciplined investment process that ranks companies in the Behavioral Small Cap Value Fund's investment universe. Factors in the process include valuation, price momentum and earnings revisions. The Team also takes into account factors such as market capitalization and sector exposure in building a diversified portfolio.
Investment Considerations
The overall results of the Fund will be dependent on the process and ability of the Adviser to apply “behavioral finance” principles to recognize a company's value, earnings revisions and price momentum. The Fund may invest in undervalued securities which may not appreciate in value as anticipated or remain undervalued for longer than anticipated. The overall results of the fund will be dependent on the process and ability of the Adviser to recognize a company’s value. The Fund may invest in REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts), the value of which will be affected by conditions of the real estate industry and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), thus shareholders may bear additional costs and the ETF may not exactly replicate the performance it seeks to track.
| Term | Class A Shares | Class C Shares | Class I Shares | Class R6 Shares |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ticker | SPSAX | SPSDX | SPSCX | STRBX |
| Inception Date | 02.01.2010 | 02.01.2010 | 01.02.1997 | 02.01.2018 |
| Investment Min. | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000,000 | N/A |
| Subsequent Investment Min.2 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Max. Up Front Sales Charge | 5.75% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Max. Deferred Sales Charge | N/A | 1% | N/A | N/A |
2If subsequent investments are made as part of an AIP, the minimum is $25.
Co-Portfolio Manager
Co-Portfolio Manager
Performance
| Term | QTR | YTD | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | Since Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Shares with 5.75% Sales Charge | -12.31% | -12.31% | -8.03% | 0.90% | 17.47% | 5.64% | 8.57% |
| A Shares without Sales Charge | -6.97% | -6.97% | -2.43% | 2.91% | 18.87% | 6.27% | 8.80% |
| Institutional Shares | -6.89% | -6.89% | -2.18% | 3.16% | 19.17% | 6.53% | 8.95% |
| Lipper Small-Cap Core Median | -7.70% | -7.70% | -3.44% | 1.80% | 15.21% | 6.48% | N/A |
The total expense ratios for Class A, C and I Shares are 1.09%, 1.84% and 0.84%, respectively. The gross expense ratio for Class R6 Shares is 0.84%. The net expense ratio for Class R6 Shares is 0.78%.
The Fund Administrator, Sterling Capital Management LLC, has contractually agreed to waive its administrative fees, pay Fund operating expenses, and/or reimburse the Fund 0.06% of the Class R6 avg. daily net assets for the period 02.01.2025-01.31.2026. Performance would have been lower without limitations in effect.
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit the performance summary.
The performance of the Sterling Capital Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund reflects the deduction of fees for value-added services associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The inception date for Class A Shares is 02.01.2010. The inception date for Class C Shares is 02.01.2010. The inception date for Class Inst'l Shares is 01.02.1997. The inception date for Class R6 Shares is 02.01.2018. The performance shown reflects the reinvestment of all dividend and capital gains distributions. Performance is annualized for periods greater than one year.
Performance for Class A Shares for periods prior to inception is based on the performance of the Institutional Shares of the Fund. The performance information for the Institutional Shares prior to 12.18.2006 is based on the performance of the Institutional Shares of the Fund’s predecessor, Sterling Capital Small Cap Value Fund, a series of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), which transferred all of its assets and liabilities to the Fund pursuant to a reorganization. Information prior to 03.16.2001 relates to the UAM Fund Inc.’s Sterling Partners’ Small Cap Value Portfolio, the assets of which were acquired by the Predecessor Fund. Effective 02.01.2010, the Sterling Shares of the Fund were renamed Institutional Shares.
Characteristics
| # | Company Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson Financial Corp. | 1.13% |
| 2 | Mr Cooper Group, Inc. | 1.06% |
| 3 | Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. | 0.85% |
| 4 | SkyWest, Inc. | 0.84% |
| 5 | CNO Financial Group, Inc. | 0.77% |
| 6 | Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. | 0.77% |
| 7 | Matson Inc. | 0.74% |
| 8 | UMB Financial Corp. | 0.74% |
| 9 | Portland General Electric Co. | 0.73% |
| 10 | CNX Resources Corp. | 0.72% |
Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to change and risk. Based on Market Value of securities.
Sector Allocation as of 03.31.2025
Allocations are based on the current weight to funds in the cited Sector. The composition of the fund's holdings is subject to change.
Growth of $10,000 as of 03.31.2025
The Growth of $10,000 is hypothetical based upon the performance of net A Shares at NAV for the period ended 03.31.2025. It includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains.
Statistics
| Term | Value |
|---|---|
| Alpha | 0.44 |
| Beta | 0.97 |
| R-Squared | 96.20 |
| Standard Deviation | 20.88 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.21 |
3The Funds composition is subject to change. Annual Turnover Ratio is 12 month rolling calculation. Alpha, Beta, R-Squared, Standard Deviation, and Sharpe Ratio are based on a 10-year calculation.
View a Glossary of Terms.
| Term | Value |
|---|---|
| Weighted Median P/E | 12 |
| Weighted Average P/B | 2 |
| Weighted Average Market Cap | $4.47B |
| Annual Turnover | 155% |
Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund
Materials
Equity Funds
Insights
05.07.2025 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®
- 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®
- 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.
03.21.2025 • Andrew Richman, CTFA
Fed Lowers Growth Outlook But Raises Inflation Expectations
Andy Richman's update on the March Federal Open Market Committee meeting.
03.07.2025 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®
- For the past two years, investors have experienced a powerful price momentum-driven market. - Price momentum supported by earnings revisions typically have a tight relationship coming out of a recession, but 2024 was different. - We explore the recent inverse relationship between momentum and dividend payers over this month and the past year.
02.28.2025
Sterling Capital Equity Announcement
Today Sterling Capital Management LLC announced the firm has made the difficult decision to close the Mid Cap Fundamental Value investment strategy.
02.04.2025 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®
- This month, our discussions with clients involved their search for fast dividend growers in the value space. - We analyze the fastest dividend growers in the large cap value universe and ask if they are really growing their dividends or just reinstating them. - We note how we look for both dividend growth and differentiated securities that combine attractive elements of growth, yield, and risk-adjusted returns.
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