Funds

USA

Ideas

Neuberger Berman U.S. Multi Cap Opportunities Fund

Steeply valued markets underscore the need for active management

3rd Quarter 2017

Past performance

1Y
12.85%
3Y
5.12%
5Y
N.A.

At the outset, U.S. stocks are unambiguously expensive according to most valuation measures. They are currently selling for much higher multiples of corporate earnings versus its history and even against other regional equities. Steep valuations layered over a bevy of geopolitical and policy risks provide an arguably small margin for error.

Yet, despite these risks, we stay neutral on U.S. equities in part due to its defensive traits. On a purely comparative basis, Asian and European stocks tend to exhibit higher volatility versus their U.S. counterpart.

Amid such generally stretched valuations, investors would benefit from a more nuanced rotation strategy, where investments shift from steeply valued sectors to quality laggards. At the same time, exuberant markets and prevailing risks underscore the need for diversification and active management.

As such, investors looking to add U.S. stock positions to their portfolios would be better served by investing in a unit trust that brings to bear strong research capabilities and shrewd active management.

Why We Like the Fund

  • The fund has delivered strong performance since its inception by investing in U.S. companies across a broad range of market-capitalisation with a bias towards large cap holdings.
  • The fund maintains a concentrated portfolio of about 30 to 40 stocks, constructed on a bottom up basis. It relies on an opportunistic approach to investing and stock-picking is based on in-depth cash flow and capital structure analysis.
  • The fund has a cyclical tilt, with 64 per cent of the portfolio allocated to cyclical sectors such as financials, industrials, consumer discretionary, materials and IT.
  • The fund is managed by an experienced and dedicated investment team based in New York.

About the fund

NAV as at 7 July 2017
S$29.61
Inception Date
16 July 2013
Fund Size
US$865.44 mil
Annual Management Fee
1.70% p.a.
Subscription Modes
Cash

Top 5 holdings

 
%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
4.88
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
4.63
Alphabet Inc. Class C
4.61
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class B
4.61
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
4.43

NAV movement

Source: NAV chart based on Bloomberg data as at 7 July 2017; fund information extracted from the fund’s factsheet provided by Neuberger Berman Investment Funds was as at 31 May 2017.

Sector allocation

Note: Performance as at 31 May 2017 (for the SGD Hedged share class only), calculated on an offer-to-bid basis with all dividends and distributions reinvested, net of all charges payable upon reinvestment, if any. Performance figures exceeding 1 year, if any, were stated on an average annual compounded basis.

The information below solely constitutes the views of OCBC Bank and does not consider the specific investment objectives, financial situation or needs of anyone. The Bank is therefore not responsible for any loss or damage arising from this information. Investment involves risks. If you wish to make an investment, you should first speak to your OCBC Relationship Manager or a Personal Financial Consultant.
NEUBERGER BERMAN US MULTI CAP OPP FD SGD-H

Suitable for Growth

1-year performance

+ 19.78 %