October 2024 – Andrew Foster reports on the movements of the EM and the Growth and Income Fund before and after China’s stimulus announcements. He explains that strong earnings performance drove Fund returns in the quarter, and the Fund’s holdings are projected to deliver robust earnings and dividend yield growth this year. He discusses Vietnam Dairy Products, a new Fund holding.

October 2024 – Brent Clayton discusses the impact of China’s stimulus measures on Value Fund and benchmark performance. He emphasizes that the Fund’s China weighting continues to be driven by the assessment of individual stocks across Seafarer’s seven sources of value. Brent explains that the improving asset productivity of Arcos Dorados, a new Fund holding, stands at odds with its inexpensive valuation.

July 2024 – Andrew Foster reports that currencies weighed on Growth and Income Fund performance, and the stocks moved a bit lower, even as a few narrow parts of the market soared. He explains that a broad-based EM earnings recovery is underway, and the fundamentals of the Fund’s holdings are strong – underscored by a surge in dividends.

July 2024 – Paul Espinosa discusses Value Fund performance, emphasizing that the Fund seeks sources of return that relate more to undervaluation and income generation than to ever-higher multiple expansion and high growth. He reports on the Value Team’s trip to China and Korea in search of trapped value on corporate balance sheets.

April 2024 – Kate Jaquet discusses how India, South Korea, and consumer sector holdings impacted the Growth and Income Fund’s performance. She introduces DBS Group, a new financial services holding, and explains that Seafarer continues to research opportunities in China despite the uncertain economic outlook.

April 2024 – Paul Espinosa describes how the Value Fund’s performance was driven by stocks off the radar of mainstream international investors, and China holdings. He notes that the Fund incurs more company-specific risk than market risk by virtue of its stock selection process focused on the seven sources of value.

February 2024 – Andrew Foster suggests that the Growth and Income Fund’s outperformance in 2023 was due to the stability of its underlying profit growth, amid a market caught off guard by weak and falling earnings. He introduces two new Fund holdings and discusses the counterintuitive strength of EM currencies.

January 2024 – Brent Clayton describes how the Value Fund’s performance was driven by Latin American holdings and company-specific efforts to unlock balance sheet value. He reports on the operational turnaround efforts at Tata Motors, a new Fund holding.

October 2023 – Andrew Foster reports that holdings added in the past year – which feature strong brands, distribution, and pricing power – should help the Growth and Income Fund independently derive growth rather than be dependent on broad macro conditions. He notes that the sustained growth of Fund holdings is vital when the EM outlook remains uncertain.

October 2023 – Paul Espinosa discusses the unique market position of Salik, a toll road operator in the United Arab Emirates and recent addition to the Value Fund. He notes that Fund holdings from smaller emerging markets (the UAE, Georgia, Vietnam) drove the Fund’s performance.

July 2023 – Andrew Foster explains that as EM stocks traded sideways, the Growth and Income Fund produced gains from disparate underlying holdings such as XP, Inc., Richter Gedeon, and CD Projekt. While weak demand constrains the Chinese economy, he suggests that no investor should dismiss China altogether, as it has entrepreneurial strength and the sovereign authority to enact reform.

July 2023 – Brent Clayton discusses how idiosyncratic company-specific developments helped the Value Fund outpace its benchmark, and he describes the competitive positioning of a new Middle East holding. Brent explains how the Fund remains focused on corporate fundamentals as it navigates an uncertain macroeconomic environment.

April 2023 – Andrew Foster discusses vacillating perceptions about investment opportunities in China and why the diverse allocation of the Growth and Income Fund, relative to its benchmark, drove modest outperformance. He notes that 2023 may be a challenging year for EM corporate earnings, and that the Fund invests in companies whose fundamental performance is more likely to be secure in times of distress.

April 2023 – Paul Espinosa and Brent Clayton describe how evolving expectations of China’s economic recovery drove volatility in EM equities and lifted Value Fund performance. They explain that for the Fund, intrinsic value is driven by long-term cash flow generation, not short-term earnings momentum.

January 2023 – Andrew Foster explains that he is optimistic about the merit of long-term investment in EM due to the resiliency of corporate profits and currencies, healthy balance sheets, and valuations that are accommodative for investors seeking yield and growth. He introduces three new Growth and Income Fund positions in India and one in Mexico.

January 2023 – Paul Espinosa suggests that the Value Fund’s performance was driven by the low valuations and improving profit prospects of the Fund’s holdings. He introduces three new holdings: Petronet, Bank of Georgia, and Odontoprev.

October 2022 – Andrew Foster reports that the Growth and Income Fund’s holdings in China and South Korea accounted for the majority of the Fund’s decline, while holdings in Latin America and Eastern Europe were relatively stable. While noting several risks that weigh heavily on the EM asset class, he is optimistic about long-term investment returns due to growing corporate earnings and low valuations.

October 2022 – Paul Espinosa discusses the holdings that impacted the Value Fund’s performance – including Melco, Itaú Unibanco, and Ambev – and explains how they reflect Seafarer’s value ethos. He reports that Siam Cement, a new Fund holding, distinguishes itself through its balance sheet management, regional expansion, and dividend payments.

July 2022 – Andrew Foster discusses how the Growth and Income Fund’s strategy of investing in companies with durable earnings growth is performing amid challenging global conditions. He notes that China’s financial distress requires particular attention by investors.

July 2022 – Paul Espinosa explains that while global growth concerns weighed on some Value Fund holdings, the Fund also captured strong company-specific sources of return. He introduces a new Fund holding, Anheuser-Busch InBev.

April 2022 – Kate Jaquet notes that China was the primary contributor to volatility in EM equities in the quarter. She explains that the Growth and Income Fund was not invested in Russia due to corporate governance risks, and she introduces a new Fund holding in Poland.

April 2022 – Paul Espinosa discusses how the Value Fund’s positive performance was driven by holdings that are diversified across Seafarer’s seven sources of value. He reviews the Fund’s limited exposure to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

January 2022 – Andrew Foster reports that the Growth and Income Fund sidestepped some of the worst trouble in EM in the quarter – due to selective investments in China – but it did not go unscathed. He notes that conditions in EM are favorable for long-term investors, and explains how Fund holding Hyundai Mobis is broadly indicative of these conditions.

January 2022 – Paul Espinosa explains that the Value Fund delivers its total return in a manner that emphasizes stock selection rather than market-related factors. He discusses new portfolio holdings to illustrate how the Fund seeks to generate a return by aggregating sources of profit specific to each company.

October 2021 – Andrew Foster explains that while Chinese shares were particularly responsible for the EM benchmark’s retreat, the Growth and Income Fund’s performance was driven by exposure to falling South Korean holdings. Andrew asserts that, despite the sweeping policy interventions by the Xi administration, China remains “investable,” albeit only very selectively – as has always been the case.

October 2021 – Paul Espinosa attributes the Value Fund’s performance to two types of holdings: stocks negatively impacted by the resurgent pandemic and Brazil country risks, and stocks driven higher by idiosyncratic factors. He also introduces a new Fund holding, a multi-format retailer operating in Asia.

July 2021 – Kate Jaquet attributes the largely steady upward performance of EM equities in the quarter to a speculative optimism that companies across many sectors will eventually restore their former profitability. She explains that Samsung Biologics, a new Growth and Income Fund holding, offers exposure to an industry with sustainable long-term growth potential.

July 2021 – Paul Espinosa discusses several portfolio holdings to illustrate that the Value Fund’s performance was largely driven by corporate earnings-related considerations, not simply a rotation into value stocks. He introduces a new position, Coca-Cola Femsa, as an example of a Fund holding that actively improved its operating efficiency and market share during the pandemic.

April 2021 – Andrew Foster explains that amid sharp volatility in EM stocks, the Growth and Income Fund’s performance was relatively stable and more diversified than that of the benchmark. He reports that the Fund’s decision to exit Taiwan Semiconductor was driven by the company’s outsized growth in capital expenditures. Additionally, Andrew urges caution for investors navigating an EM asset class that is bifurcated between nations mired in the pandemic, and those that have moved beyond it.

April 2021 – Paul Espinosa describes two broad categories of stocks that explain the Value Fund’s quarterly performance: holdings that appreciated due to stock-specific developments, and holdings that rose as the market re-assessed the pandemic’s financial impact on the companies. Paul discusses examples in each category, including Moneta Money Bank in the Czech Republic.

January 2021 – Andrew Foster reports that a rapid rise in consensus expectations for EM corporate profits lifted stocks higher in the quarter. He suggests that the market rewarded some Growth and Income Fund holdings for producing durable earnings growth amid the pandemic. Lastly, in light of the uncertain path to “normalization” in EM, high prices on stocks generally, and a pronounced bubble in large swathes (but not all) of China, Andrew advises investors to tread cautiously in the EM asset class.

January 2021 – Paul Espinosa explains that Value Fund performance was led by companies that had sold off earlier in 2020 due to the pandemic, while EM benchmark performance was led by technology companies headquartered in China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Paul also introduces a new Fund holding, a Southeast Asia-focused conglomerate operating in the real estate, auto, and food retail industries.

October 2020 – Andrew Foster explains that while gains in the EM benchmark were concentrated in Chinese shares, the Growth and Income Fund’s performance was far more geographically diversified. He discusses how the search for better-priced shares led the Fund away from the intersection of East Asia and technology, and toward Brazil. Lastly, Andrew asserts that a surplus of liquidity and confidence has inflated a bubble in China’s stock markets.

October 2020 – Paul Espinosa describes how two Value Fund holdings realized value embedded in their balance sheets. He reviews portfolio allocation changes, including two new holdings in Brazil. Lastly, Paul explains why he expects a return to profit and valuation – not company size and revenue growth – as drivers of sustainable investment returns.

July 2020 – Andrew Foster explains that stock markets throughout the EM marched higher, with Chinese stocks dominating the surge, despite poor and uncertain corporate performance. He remains concerned that stocks in the developing world – notably China – are poised for weakness. Andrew also reports that the Growth and Income Fund’s holdings are likely, in aggregate, to produce modest earnings growth in 2020, even as profits are expected to contract for the broader EM.

July 2020 – Paul Espinosa describes how the Value Fund is adding “gems” – large companies with above-average returns on capital and high caliber management – at attractive valuation levels. The additions are increasing the liquidity and scalability of the Fund.

April 2020 – Andrew Foster explains that stocks with stable cash flow, substantial accumulated cash, and attractive dividend yields were not defensive in March’s crash. The only evident haven within EM was among high growth (but often loss-making) technology and software stocks. Andrew concludes by noting that the stocks held by the Growth and Income Fund are attractively priced at present, and the underlying companies enjoy healthy balance sheets and resilient prospects.

April 2020 – Paul Espinosa discusses how Value Fund holdings were impacted by the concurrent demand and supply shocks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. He explains that the Fund exited several positions in order to concentrate the portfolio in higher conviction and higher liquidity securities. Lastly, Paul expresses concern that the developed market policy response to Covid-19 impairs future productivity, and notes that Seafarer searches for EM companies that improve productivity at every downturn.

February 2019 – Andrew Foster attributes performance of the Growth and Income Fund and the benchmark index to a year-end surge in large-cap growth stocks, propelled by news of the U.S.-China “Phase 1” trade deal. Andrew provides an update on the transition in the Fund’s growth component holdings. He also discusses how the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus is testing the credibility of President Xi’s administration, and how the work stoppage in China might trigger a payments crisis.

January 2020 – Paul Espinosa explains how Value Fund performance was derived from a balance between return of capital to shareholders and changing growth expectations, while the benchmark index’s return was driven by a narrow set of technology companies. Paul discusses a new Fund holding, a South Korea-based provider of marketing and communication services, and why he believes the company is gradually unlocking value embedded in its balance sheet.

October 2019 – Andrew Foster explains that the earnings of the Growth and Income Fund’s holdings proved steadier than most other emerging market companies, and this led the holdings’ shares to be stable in a falling market. While he believes the sharp deterioration in 2019 earnings growth expectations is exaggerated, he also notes that there may be some “air pockets” in the Chinese stock market in the months and quarters ahead. Lastly, Andrew addresses updates to Seafarer’s team.

October 2019 – Paul Espinosa describes positive contributions from Value Fund holdings that realized their value potential, which helped to offset negative contributions from holdings affected by the Hong Kong protests and U.S.-China trade dispute. He contends that the Fund’s diversification across seven sources of value proved more effective than geographic diversification. Lastly, Paul illustrates how, at a time of uncertainty in the markets, the Value Fund remains focused on individual companies and their operations.

July 2019 – Andrew Foster discusses Growth and Income Fund holdings that impacted performance in the quarter. He attributes the recent volatility in emerging market equities to two primary factors: first, rapidly shifting sentiments regarding the U.S.-China trade dispute; and second, the unstable estimates of professional analysts regarding the forecast growth in corporate profits in the developing world for 2019.

July 2019 – Paul Espinosa attributes the Value Fund’s positive performance to stock-specific factors and highlights two instances of event-driven value realization within the portfolio’s holdings. Amid slowing global growth expectations, Paul notes that the Value strategy aims to generate investment returns from a diversity of factors. While one of the strategy’s seven sources of value is sensitive to changes in growth expectations, the other six sources do not relate directly to growth.

April 2019 – Andrew Foster discusses Growth and Income Fund holdings that made notable contributions to performance. He introduces several new Fund holdings, including a retail bank in Indonesia known for its micro-lending franchise. Andrew asserts that while concerns over trade and politics continue to weigh on emerging markets, the assessment from the ground up is not bad: 2018 finished with decent earnings growth, China has gradually re-initiated market-based reforms, and currencies are exhibiting independence from U.S. monetary policy.

April 2019 – Paul Espinosa discusses two holdings emblematic of the Value Fund’s strategy, noting that they lie “off the beaten path” of the emerging markets benchmark and generate value for shareholders in ways that extend beyond growth expectations. He introduces a new Fund holding, a bank in the Czech Republic. Lastly, Paul cites earnings growth and China’s economic policy direction as reasons for his positive outlook on the emerging markets.

January 2019 – Andrew Foster, Paul Espinosa, and Inbok Song discuss the Growth and Income Fund’s Core, Value, and Growth components, respectively. Andrew explains that 2018 bore witness to the decline that followed a “false dawn” in emerging markets, with China at the epicenter of the downturn. He sees signs of an improved outlook in emerging markets in 2019. Still, China’s fortunes remain crucial to the future of the asset class.

January 2019 – Paul Espinosa explains that as asset prices declined in emerging markets during the quarter, the Value Fund holdings’ low valuations and ordinary income did not provide as much capital stability as he expected. He examines several Fund holdings, including Crédito Real and China Foods, that impacted performance. Paul emphasizes continued focus on the operational and financial progress of the Fund’s holdings despite short-term macro pressures on equity valuations.

November 2018 – Andrew Foster notes that several Growth and Income Fund holdings rebounded during the quarter, and the Fund largely sidestepped a correction in Chinese technology stocks. He describes the impact of the Fund’s restructuring on the portfolio composition. Lastly, Andrew observes that conditions in the emerging markets are materially better than they might appear, but secondary effects from U.S. tariffs on China present a critical risk.

October 2018 – Paul Espinosa explains how the extension of price discovery related to the trade dispute between the U.S. and China – from companies directly impacted by tariffs to companies indirectly affected – has impacted the performance of various Value Fund holdings. He also discusses the Fund’s deployment of cash during a period of pressure on the prices of emerging market equities, as well as the addition of one new portfolio holding.

July 2018 – Andrew Foster discusses the two primary factors responsible for the decline in emerging markets during the quarter, as well as the holdings that weighed on the Growth and Income Fund’s performance. He explains that China’s rise as a global hegemon is structurally changing the risk-return profile of the emerging markets. Andrew describes how Seafarer’s approach to balancing the trade-off between growth and income in the Fund is evolving in response.

July 2018 – Paul Espinosa discusses how the rise in LIBOR and the anticipation of new tariffs impacted the performance of several Value Fund holdings. He also describes three portfolio holdings at which the operational turnaround strategies appear to be bearing fruit, despite the challenging conditions in emerging markets.

April 2018 – Andrew Foster notes that though he steered the Growth and Income Fund toward a defensive construction in anticipation of volatility, the Fund failed to dampen the market’s gyrations. Andrew explains that stock-specific events were to blame; he discusses events at one of the Fund’s larger positions, Richter Gedeon, in depth. He concludes with brief observations on the gap between expectations and reality, and the prospect of decoupling.

April 2018 – Paul Espinosa discusses the Value Fund’s performance against the backdrop of large price swings in the underlying holdings and volatile market conditions. He also examines the impact of changing U.S.-China trade relations on Fund holdings and on emerging markets investing more broadly.

February 2018 – Andrew Foster notes that the recent gains in the EM benchmark index are without much historical precedent, and could imply widespread speculation. Next, he discusses recent changes to the Growth and Income Fund’s holdings, and his attempts to make the Fund’s tactical position more defensive at the margin. Andrew concludes by recounting some of the speculative behavior that he has observed among both investors and companies, and warns that investors should re-assess their tolerances for risk, and prepare for near-term volatility.

January 2018 – Paul Espinosa discusses various Value Fund holdings in order to explain the role of the Fund within a growth-driven market. He concludes by contemplating the past and future of emerging markets through the lens of China’s 19^th National Congress of the Communist Party and the Chinese renminbi.

October 2017 – In light of a good quarter for the Growth and Income Fund, but a much better quarter for the index, Andrew Foster analyzes the performance of the Fund relative to its benchmark. He offers a brief discussion of three positions recently deleted from the portfolio, and four positions recently added. Next, Andrew offers his views on China; and he concludes by asserting that “decoupling” may be in store for the emerging market asset class.

October 2017 – Paul Espinosa discusses how the holdings that led performance for the Value Fund in the quarter were distinct from those that drove the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. He highlights a Fund holding that experienced a partial realization of value during the quarter, following two similar cases in the prior quarter. He concludes by reflecting on the various signs of incipient growth within Fund holdings and emerging markets overall.

July 2017 – Andrew Foster discusses the EM benchmark’s extensive holdings in the Chinese internet sector, and how those holdings have fueled the index’s recent gains. Next, he cites four reasons why he has chosen to omit Chinese internet stocks from the Growth and Income Fund, despite their superficial appeal. Andrew also compares the relative merits of the Fund’s largest holding (Infosys) against the benchmark’s largest holding (Tencent). From there, he reviews Richter Gedeon, a new holding in the Fund. Andrew closes by reflecting on the nature of the earnings recovery now underway in developing markets, noting that while it is broad-based by sector, it is a “two-speed” recovery that has so far favored large companies over small ones.

July 2017 – Paul Espinosa discusses how the holdings that led performance for the Value Fund in the quarter were distinct from those that drove the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. He highlights two instances of value realization within the portfolio’s holdings, and describes his thought process concerning a portfolio holding impacted by geopolitical risk. He concludes by reflecting on the unusual confluence of three key events during the quarter and the resulting implications for the future of emerging markets.

April 2017 – Andrew Foster remarks on the three factors that he believes spurred the EM benchmark index’s recent surge. He notes China’s impact on the quarter, especially the outsized contribution of the country’s internet stocks. Andrew explains the Growth and Income Fund’s decision to quit Turkey; to enter the Chinese A-share market; and to establish a new liquidity management program. He concludes by warning investors to remain on guard with respect to China, and to harbor realistic expectations about prospects for profit growth.

April 2017 – Paul Espinosa discusses performance during the first quarter of 2017 as a point of departure for the Value Fund. He highlights three new holdings and discusses the allocation of Fund inflows during the quarter. He concludes by reflecting on the strong appreciation of stock markets in the U.S. and in emerging markets.

January 2017 – Andrew Foster discusses the Growth and Income Fund’s performance in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and he notes several changes in the Fund’s underlying portfolio construction. He concludes by outlining six important characteristics of the emerging markets asset class that he thinks every investor should know, particularly those who might understandably doubt its continued relevance.

January 2017 – Paul Espinosa discusses the Value Fund’s performance within a difficult quarter for emerging markets. He highlights the primary contributors and detractors to the portfolio’s performance, and discusses the addition of a new holding. He concludes by reflecting on the major developments in the emerging markets, most notably China’s stricter capital controls.

October 2016 – Andrew Foster discusses the conditions that led to the recent rally in emerging market stocks. He points out that, contrary to perception, there is a fundamental basis for the rally: the “expectations gap” has nearly closed. Andrew addresses the Growth and Income Fund’s underweight to Chinese stocks, particularly internet companies; and he introduces a new holding to the Fund. Andrew closes with an outlook for emerging markets: he urges investors to remain open to the possibility that a fundamental recovery is underway, but he also cautions that markets might extrapolate that trend too far, too quickly.

October 2016 – Paul Espinosa discusses the launch of the Seafarer Overseas Value Fund during a quarter of significant appreciation in emerging market equities. Paul offers a few observations on two momentous decisions around the third quarter: the United Kingdom’s June 23 decision to leave the European Union and the International Monetary Fund’s inclusion of the Chinese renminbi in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) currency basket effective October 1, 2016. He concludes by considering the potential long-term implications for emerging markets of the renminbi’s inclusion in the SDR, and how the changes underway may yield opportunities for the Fund.

July 2016 – Andrew Foster notes that the emerging markets exhibited a degree of stability that has been lacking during the past several years, even as macro events upset other markets worldwide. Andrew also discusses new holdings in the Growth and Income Fund, as well as one notable exit. He concludes by urging investors to re-examine their presumptions regarding the stability of Europe and the outlook for emerging market currencies.

May 2016 – Andrew Foster discusses the volatile “V-shaped” performance of the market. While the Growth and Income Fund and the benchmark index both produced gains for the quarter, they did so only after China’s markets first dragged both sharply lower, and after Brazil subsequently pushed both higher. Next, Andrew addresses the rationale behind the Fund’s allocation to Brazil, and how it is changing in light of current events. He concludes by discussing the twin forces that are most likely to shape emerging markets over the next 12 to 24 months: falling interest rates versus sluggish growth.

February 2016 – Andrew Foster discusses a shift in the Growth and Income Fund’s composition, away from the Asian region, and toward larger stocks at the expense of smaller ones. Next, he speculates as to the cause behind the collapse in China’s capital markets. While he does not offer a definitive explanation, he does suggest that circumstances may be serious enough to warrant attention from investors. He concludes by citing two reasons for optimism, despite China: first, stocks in the emerging markets are cheap enough to be attractive; and second, interest rates in the developing world are diverging from those in the U.S. in a manner that may be conducive to growth.

October 2015 – Andrew Foster examines the sharp loss sustained by the Growth and Income Fund during the third quarter. While the Fund outperformed its benchmark, Andrew highlights how emerging market currencies and Chinese shares played outsized roles in dragging the Fund lower. He also notes that despite the currency-induced volatility, he has done little to alter the Fund’s construction in recent months, except for the addition of a corporate bond from Mexico. Andrew concludes with a discussion of how currency depreciation can create dislocations between price and value – especially for companies with long-lived, high-quality assets capable of producing U.S. dollar-denominated revenues.

July 2015 – Andrew Foster highlights the three factors that he believes induced volatility during the second quarter: currencies, Greece and China. He goes on to discuss a regional shift in the Growth and Income Fund’s allocation, favoring Latin America at the expense of Asia; he also mentions some of the holdings that entered and exited the Fund. Lastly, he provides some comments on recent events in China, and encourages shareholders to eschew the financial media for a longer-term perspective, rooted in history.

April 2015 – Andrew Foster discusses SPARC, a position that made an outsized contribution to the Growth and Income Fund’s return during the first quarter. Next, he reflects on the Fund’s historical performance record. He notes the Fund’s relatively conservative strategy was well-suited for the difficult conditions that prevailed in the past three years, but he cautions that a change in those conditions – driven by a resumption of earnings growth – might render the Fund’s strategy less effective. After discussing some changes in the Fund’s construction, he concedes that he has been wrong to suggest that currency risk might moderate – at least so far.

January 2015 – Andrew Foster discusses the substantial impact that currencies had on the Growth and Income Fund and the emerging markets throughout the year. He highlights three countries that had an outsized impact on performance – Turkey, India and China. Andrew also addresses the Fund’s greater concentration and the rationale behind it. Lastly, he suggests that investors focus on four key ideas in the year ahead: differentiation, currencies, crisis, and renewed growth, now available at a reasonable price.

October 2014 – Andrew Foster discusses the recent volatility in markets and highlights specific Growth and Income Fund holdings that had an impact on performance. He also analyzes changes in the Fund’s construct stemming from the addition of six new holdings and the deletion of six older ones. Andrew concludes by discussing a critical change that is subtly but surely re-shaping the financial markets of the developing world – and along with it, Seafarer’s investment philosophy: the rise of “value.”

July 2014 – Andrew Foster discusses the Growth and Income Fund’s recent performance and highlights a shift in the portfolio’s construct – a minor “tilt” that favors growth potential over defensiveness. He concludes with a brief outlook focused on the recently improved performance of Chinese equities. Have Chinese equities shaken off their slump because they are cheap, and economic conditions in China are not as bad as previously believed? Or has their recovery been orchestrated so as to facilitate the issuance of substantial quantities of stock? Andrew believes both explanations hold merit – and he intends for the Fund to remain invested in China, even if forthcoming issuance might unsettle markets.

April 2014 – Andrew Foster discusses the substantial volatility that impacted the quarter. China, Russia and “the fragile five” all weighed on financial markets. Andrew also remarks upon the pronounced rally that took place in March; the rally was steep enough to reverse nearly all the benchmark index’s losses for the quarter. In Andrew’s opinion the rally was notable in that it may have signaled an underlying shift in the market. He concludes by addressing some recent shifts within the Growth and Income Fund, including new positions in emerging sovereign bonds and higher exposure to Brazil.

January 2014 – Andrew Foster discusses the various challenges facing emerging markets: political unrest; currency volatility; and economic uncertainty in China. He states that the moniker “fragile five” (a label appended to five countries deemed susceptible to currency depreciation) is superficial, but he also notes that panic has been on the rise. Andrew asserts that the primary risk facing emerging markets stems from China, and the possibility that a default there will have cascading consequences. Nevertheless, he believes the Growth and Income Fund’s strategy is reasonably well prepared for financial distress, and that valuations are favorable.

October 2013 – Andrew Foster discusses the Growth and Income Fund’s performance amid the wild volatility in emerging markets during the third quarter. Andrew highlights how currencies exacerbated that volatility, and he offers some thoughts on what to expect from currencies going forward. Andrew also addresses China, which performed well during the quarter, to the apparent surprise of many investors. As ever, China remains challenging, offering up both promise and peril: a “boom-let” is underway in certain service industries; however, escalating liquidity crunches – as evidenced by growing stockpiles of “accounts receivable” on balance sheets – suggest that financial distress could intensify within the country.

July 2013 – Andrew Foster examines the recent, sharp drop in emerging markets, including a discussion of the role of currencies in the decline. He addresses the Growth and Income Fund’s performance, including its weakest spot, Latin America, where losses were concentrated in two commodity sector holdings. Andrew notes that the Fund’s Asia holdings outperformed substantially, in part due to new holdings in Vietnam. He concludes by taking a look at the BRICs phenomenon with a particular emphasis on Brazil, which he thinks deserves investors’ attention after the recent downturn.

Andrew Foster offers an explanation for the weak performance of emerging markets. He acknowledges that, despite the Growth and Income Fund’s gains, it was a bruising quarter for several holdings in the portfolio. He reflects upon a number of dramatic shifts underway in global markets, including the structural slump in commodities. Andrew admits to a divided view of Japan: he recognizes that the prescription (aggressive monetary policy) is the correct treatment for what ails the country (deflation), but he is worried that there is a dangerous, “go-for-broke” quality to the curative. Lastly, he notes the pendulum of sentiment has swung away from China, providing new opportunities for the Fund to invest there.

Andrew Foster addresses the recent gains in emerging market equities, noting that they occurred largely without evidence of material improvement in economic or financial conditions. He offers some context for the holdings that contributed the most to the Growth and Income Fund’s gains during the quarter, and he briefly touches upon a few small shifts in the portfolio’s construction. He concludes by noting that the Fund’s exposure to Vietnam is likely to grow slowly but steadily in the future, and he sounds a note of concern (but not alarm) about equity valuations within the developing world.

Andrew Foster describes shifts in the Growth and Income Fund’s composition, as well as holdings that had a significant impact on Fund performance. The shift toward Eastern Europe was driven in large part by attractive valuations in Poland; the portfolio’s holdings there appear to exhibit growth and valuation characteristics that are essential to the Fund’s strategy.

Andrew Foster discusses the sharp decline in the EM index, which he attributes to concerns over economic growth in the Eurozone and China.  Amid the volatile environment, the Growth and Income Fund declined, but less so than the benchmark index.  The Fund’s exposure to Asia and the technology sector caused the bulk of the Fund’s decline.  Lastly, Andrew describes why the Fund added new holdings in Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Andrew Foster discusses his outlook for the Growth and Income Fund, his views on China’s slowing growth and Europe’s woes, valuations on emerging market stocks, the importance of perspective and persistence amid today’s frenetic markets, and his goals for Seafarer and the Fund.