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Quality Income Fund

Mutual Funds

Quality Income Fund

Overall Morningstar Rating™
Morningstar Category: Intermediate-Term Bond

4 Star Overall Rating

Based on risk-adjusted SCSPX returns among 421 funds as of 10.31.2023.

Overview

I
Shares

SCSPX

Inception
Date

02.01.2013

Investment
Min.

$1,000,000

Subsequent
Investment Min.1

N/A

Max. Up Front
Sales Charge

N/A

Max. Deferred
Sales Charge

N/A

1If subsequent investments are made as part of an AIP, the minimum is $25.

Philosophy & Process

In managing the fund, the portfolio management team employs a multi-faceted approach to generate excess return and uses a combination of top-down and bottom-up analysis, quantitative vs. qualitative analysis and fundamentals vs. valuation. There is a strong emphasis on risk management and an adherence to certain core investment beliefs:

  • "If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it."
  • Avoid unintended exposures
  • Average duration around 2 to 5 years with focus on high quality and risk management
  • Participate in longer term trends - don't buy on short-term trends or try to time what is going on in the market
  • Attempts to achieve risk-adjusted performance over time

Investment Considerations

The fund is subject to the same risks as the underlying bonds in the portfolio such as credit, prepayment, call and interest rate risk. As interest rates rise the value of bond prices will decline. The fund may invest in more aggressive investments such as foreign securities which may expose the fund to currency and exchange rate fluctuations; derivatives (futures and swaps); mortgage backed securities sensitive to interest rates and high yield debt (also known as junk bonds), all of which may cause greater volatility and less liquidity. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in market conditions and may amplify risks.

Fund Facts

Term Class A Shares Class C Shares Class I Shares
Ticker SCSSXSCSTXSCSPX
Inception Date 02.01.201302.01.201302.01.2013
Investment Min. $1,000$1,000$1,000,000
Subsequent Investment Min.2 N/AN/AN/A
Max. Up Front Sales Charge 2%N/AN/A
Max. Deferred Sales Charge N/A1%N/A

2If subsequent investments are made as part of an AIP, the minimum is $25.

Quality Income Fund

Management

View professional designations disclosures

Photo of Michael  Sun

Michael Sun, CFA®

Co-Portfolio Manager

Photo of Jeffrey  Ormsby

Jeffrey Ormsby, CFA®

Co-Portfolio Manager

Photo of Byron  Mims

Byron Mims, CFA®

Co-Portfolio Manager

Performance

Fund Performance as of 09.30.2023

Term QTR YTD 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years Since Inception
A Shares with 2.00% Sales Charge -4.28% -2.87% -1.83% -4.45% -0.37% 0.87% 1.21%
A Shares without Sales Charge -2.33% -0.88% 0.18% -3.80% 0.04% 1.07% 1.38%
Institutional Shares -2.26% -0.70% 0.44% -3.55% 0.27% 1.33% 1.61%
Lipper U.S. Mortgage Median -3.79% -2.10% -0.49% -5.01% -0.73% 0.49% N/A

The gross expense ratios for Class A, C and I Shares are 0.88%, 1.63% and 0.63%, respectively. The net expense ratios for Class A, C and I Shares are 0.84%, 1.59% and 0.59%, respectively.

The Advisor has contractually agreed to limit certain fees paid by the Fund from February 1, 2021 through January 31, 2022. 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 Securitized Opportunities 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 02.01.2013. The inception date for Class C Shares is 02.01.2013. The inception date for Class Inst'l Shares is 02.01.2013. Performance for Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Institutional Shares for periods prior to inception on February 1, 2013 is based on performance of Class S Shares of the Fund which were re-designated as Institutional Shares as of February 1, 2013. Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Institutional Shares of the Fund would have substantially similar performance because the Shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the performance would differ only to the extent that the Classes have different expenses. The performance shown reflects the reinvestment of all dividend and capital gains distributions.

Characteristics

Quality Breakdown as of 09.30.2023

Credit quality ratings using Moody's rating symbols reflect the credit quality of the underlying bonds in the fund portfolio and not of the Fund itself. Moody's assigns a range of ratings from AAA being the highest quality to C being the lowest rated class of bonds. Securities not rated by Moody's may be rated by S&P, Fitch or if no agency rating is available, the Fund will assign a rating of not rated. Bond quality ratings are subject to change.

Effective Duration Breakdown as of 09.30.2023

Name Value
0-1 Yr. 9.0
1-2 Yr. 6.0
2-3 Yr. 10.0
3-5 Yr. 22.0
5-10 Yr. 46.0
10+ Yr. 5.0

Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to change and risk. Based on Market Value of securities.

Summary Statistics as of 09.30.2023

Name Value
Number of Holdings 232
Average Life 7.02 Years
Effective Duration 5.03 Years
Annual Turnover 10%

Portfolio Composition as of 09.30.2023

Composition Fund Index
Government Related 0.5% 0.0%
    Agency 0.5% 0.0%
Securitized 94.4% 100.0%
    ABS 16.0% 0.0%
    CMBS 19.0% 0.0%
    CMO 20.3% 0.0%
    MBS Passthrough 39.1% 100.0%
Treasury 3.6% 0.0%
    Treasury 3.6% 0.0%
Cash 1.6% 0.0%
    Cash 1.6% 0.0%

Top Ten Holdings as of 09.30.2023

# Company Name Value
1 U.S. Treasury 2.375% 15-Feb-2042 1.77%
2 FHLMC 30Y #SD3223 6.000% 01-Jul-2053 1.51%
3 OneMain Direct 2023-1 5.41% 14-NOV-2029 1.47%
4 FNMA, SERIES 2017-42, CLASS HL 1.44%
5 FHLMC 30Y #SD2952 4.500% 01-May-2053 1.39%
6 Avis Funding (AESOP) LLC 5.49% 20-JUN-2029 1.38%
7 FNMA 30Y #FS1976 4.000% 01-Aug-2051 1.29%
8 Hertz III SERIES 2021-2 1.68% 25-DEC-2027 1.29%
9 FHLMC 30Y #SD1515 4.500% 01-Aug-2052 1.20%
10 FNMA, SERIES 2013-30, CLASS PY 1.11%

Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to change and risk. Based on Market Value of securities.

Growth of $10,000 as of 09.30.2023

The Growth of $10,000 is hypothetical based upon the performance of net A Shares at NAV for the period ended 09.30.2023. It includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains.

Distribution

Monthly Dividend Distribution as of 11.30.2023

Month Class A Shares Class C Shares Class Inst'l Shares
November 2023 $0.0230 $0.0183 $0.0248
October 2023 $0.0229 $0.0187 $0.0247
September 2023 $0.0221 $0.0173 $0.0239
August 2023 $0.0220 $0.0163 $0.0239
July 2023 $0.0216 $0.0158 $0.0234
June 2023 $0.0213 $0.0161 $0.0232
May 2023 $0.0208 $0.0154 $0.0228
April 2023 $0.0202 $0.0151 $0.0221
March 2023 $0.0201 $0.0145 $0.0220
February 2023 $0.0194 $0.0146 $0.0211
January 2023 $0.0187 $0.0134 $0.0207
December 2022 $0.0186 $0.0135 $0.0205

30-Day SEC Yield as of 10.31.2023

Share Class Without Waivers With Waivers
Class A 3.38% 3.42%
Class C 2.77% 2.81%
Class I 3.69% 3.73%

Fixed Income Funds

Insights

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12.01.2023

Sterling Capital Announces Liquidation of the Diverse Multi-Manager Active ETF

Sterling Capital Announces Liquidation of the Diverse Multi-Manager Active ETF

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11.29.2023 • Robert Brown, CFA®

High Yield - The Incredible Shrinking Asset Class and the Imminent Fall of the Zombies

The high-yield bond market has been having a relatively good 2023 as technicals remain firm and the feared recession has so far failed to materialize. Through mid-November, the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index has generated 7.8% total return year to date and a 6.4% return in excess of duration matched Treasuries. We see a mixed picture for the asset class ahead as all in yields remain attractive, while challenges are increasing as a maturity wall looms.

11.28.2023 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®

The Lead - "Pursuing Sustainable Success"

- As investors, we want our clients to have sustained success, and that means investing in dividend-paying stocks that have a capacity to pay attractive and sustainably-growing dividends. - In the current market environment, we believe those companies are becoming increasingly scarce. - Declining dividend payments in the Energy sector have been a key contributor to the overall decline in S&P 500 dividend growth and we discuss the challenges. - We prefer companies that have rising cash flows that provide more sustainable dividend growth that may position our clients for sustained success.

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11.02.2023 • Andrew Richman, CTFA

No Surprises from the Fed

Markets breathed a sigh of relief following this week's FOMC meeting as the current fed funds rate remained unchanged. Senior Fixed Income Specialist Andy Richman, CTFA, shares his views.

10.31.2023 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®

The Lead - "Balance Sheet Season"

- Rising interest costs are causing companies that fund their businesses through borrowing to reassess their priorities. - By investing in quality companies that we feel generate higher-than-average returns on capital, we believe they have more control over their business and do not depend on excessive debt to fund it. - Dividend payers themselves offer evidence of financial strength and financial health by demonstrating the ability to reward their shareholders with cash proceeds from their business each quarter. - Historically, this is why dividend payers tend to outperform later in an interest rate tightening cycle, as seen in the chart above.

10.03.2023 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®

The Lead - "Rising Tide"

- In a period of rising interest costs, wages, and energy costs, double-digit dividend growers have outperformed in 2023. - The largest dividend growers are also outpacing high dividend yielders in 2023. - Higher dividend growers are being rewarded in part for their ability to return more cash to their shareholders than slower growth peers. - We believe owning quality companies that earn returns on capital well above their cost of capital have the potential do well in this new environment.

Contact

Learn more about Sterling Capital solutions and services.

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The Morningstar Rating™ for funds, or "star rating", is calculated for managed products (including mutual funds, variable annuity and variable life subaccounts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and separate accounts) with at least a three-year history. Exchange-traded funds and open-ended mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product's monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36-59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the 10-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods.

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