Inside Active by Bloomberg Intelligence

Over the past decade, passive investing has dominated flows and performance, but the rapid growth of ETFs and evolving market dynamics are blurring the line between active and passive. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Phil McInnis, chief investment strategist at Avantis Investors, about how investors should think about this shift. They explore why active and passive exist more on a spectrum rather than as binary opposites, how systematic, valuation-driven approaches aim to deliver consistent excess returns, and why costs and implementation remain critical to long-term outcomes. They also discuss the rise of active ETFs, how allocators build portfolios across strategies, and what would signal a durable shift back toward active management. Recorded April 15.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite geopolitical tensions, value has held up better than expected, while defensive strategies like low volatility and quality have failed to attract the typical safe-haven flows, suggesting markets are largely looking past the Iran war. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Christopher Cain, US quantitative strategist at BI, speak with Jeff Shen, co-chief investment officer and co-head of BlackRock’s Systematic Active Equities. They discuss the evolution of systematic active equity and how advances in data, AI and machine learning are reshaping alpha generation. The conversation also explores factor timing, expansion beyond traditional factors into alternative data and new signals, and how portfolio construction and risk management are driving more consistent and differentiated outcomes. Recorded March 31.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the past decade, technology investing has been dominated by a handful of mega-cap companies, but AI is opening the door to a broader and potentially very different set of future winners. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Dominic Rizzo, portfolio manager of the T. Rowe Price Global Technology Equity Fund (PRGTX) and the T. Rowe Price Technology ETF (TTEQ), about his investment framework. They explore how Rizzo identifies linchpin technologies and improving fundamentals, and why active managers may be better positioned than passive strategies to uncover the next generation of tech winners. The conversation also covers valuation, portfolio concentration, AI’s effect on productivity and growth, and how private companies like OpenAI and Anthropic fit into the opportunity set. This episode was recorded March 30.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As value investing has lagged behind in a market led by a narrow group of large-cap growth stocks, insider buying has remained a closely watched signal, particularly during periods of volatility. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, spoke with John Spears and Jay Hill, managing directors with Tweedy, Browne and portfolio managers for the Insider + Value ETF (COPY) and International Insider + Value ETF (ICPY) about combining those ideas into a systematic investment approach. They discuss how they define value today, why insider buying can be a powerful signal, how they separate meaningful trades from noise and how they build portfolios designed to capture the strategy’s long-term results. This episode was recorded on March 24.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Active fixed-income ETFs are entering a new phase of growth, driven by investor demand, structural advantages and expanding product breadth. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Jeff Johnson, head of Fixed Income Product at Vanguard, about the rapid rise of active bond ETFs and why fixed income remains a compelling space for active management. They discuss Vanguard’s expansion beyond its indexing roots, the appeal of ETFs for flexibility, liquidity and cost efficiency, and the key design challenges of active strategies in an ETF wrapper, including daily portfolio disclosure and scalability. The conversation also explores where flows are moving across short duration, core and higher-yielding strategies. Recorded March 19.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Active ETFs may be in a golden age, not just a hot streak, driven by product innovation, lower structural frictions, conversions and potential ETF share classes. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, a mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Athanasios Psarofagis, an ETF analyst at BI, speak with Todd Sohn, chief ETF strategist at Strategas Securities. They discuss the current state of the active ETF market, including the breadth of flows across asset classes, the rise of outcome-oriented products and whether crowded areas like buffers and certain derivative-based strategies have become overhyped. They also examine which products helped redefine the category, where active ETFs are taking share and underappreciated areas of future growth such as small-cap, fixed income and alternatives. This episode was recorded on March 16.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rating agencies have been broadly positive, but their outlook is turning more cautious — especially in high yield — as geopolitical risks rise and spreads remain tight. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Sam Geier, corporate credit strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, speak with David Sherman, founder and chief investment officer of CrossingBridge Advisors and a portfolio manager of the RiverPark Strategic Income Fund (RSIIX). Sherman explains why protecting return of capital matters more than chasing return on capital, how he applies a value-investing discipline to credit markets and where he’s finding opportunity in an expensive environment, including in the Nordic bond market. The conversation also explores the K-shaped divide in corporate credit fundamentals, the evolving distressed landscape and why liquidity premiums may be the most underappreciated risk in fixed income today. The podcast was recorded on March 3.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a market shaped by index concentration and short-term performance pressures, contrarian strategies are leaning into opportunities others may not have the patience or liquidity to own. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Murray Stahl, CEO, CIO and co-founder of Horizon Kinetics and a portfolio manager for the Paradigm Fund (WWNPX). They discuss the firm’s long-horizon contrarian philosophy, grounded in Stahl’s view that investors optimize for one-year grading periods, and its concept of an equity yield curve to explain why long-duration opportunities can be overlooked. The conversation also covers the fund’s willingness to let winners compound rather than trim positions, the tax considerations behind concentration, Stahl’s framework for Bitcoin exposure and why he views private investments as a natural extension of the strategy in an era of index dominance. The podcast was recorded on Feb. 18.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Active ETFs, especially in fixed income, are surging as 10,000 Americans retire each day and demand grows for predictable, outcome-oriented income solutions for the trillions of dollars held in retirement accounts. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Dave Abner, head of global ETFs and funds at Northern Trust Asset Management. They discuss Northern Trust’s distributing ladder ETFs and the evolving opportunity set in municipal bond ETFs, while also examining why active ETFs are hitting a “hockey stick” growth moment. The conversation explores how automation and market-structure shifts may be reshaping traditional alpha opportunities in fixed income and what that means for risk-taking and portfolio construction. The podcast was recorded on Feb. 26.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US remains central to AI leadership, but investors should expect broader, more global opportunities to emerge in 2026. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Breanne Dougherty, BI’s head of thematic strategy, speak with Sarbjit Nahal, a portfolio manager and analyst with the Global Thematic Equity team at Lazard Asset Management, which manages the Lazard Equity Megatrends ETF (THMZ). They discuss the role of thematic investing in capturing future wealth, how Lazard identifies megatrends, why megatrend investing is critical for navigating structural shifts and the importance of valuation discipline. The conversation also explores the growing significance of power and infrastructure in the age of AI, as well as rising interest in thematic investing among institutional investors and younger generations. The podcast was recorded on Feb. 9.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

True passive investing may not exist, as all investing ultimately involves active decisions. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host James Seyffart, senior ETF analyst at BI, spoke with Michael Green, portfolio manager and chief strategist at Simplify Asset Management, about the implications of passive investing’s dominance and the challenges facing active managers. They discuss how large index-tracking product flows may be reducing market elasticity, distorting price discovery and contributing to systemic risks. The conversation also explores whether active strategies can adapt and find opportunities in an increasingly index-driven market. The podcast was recorded on Feb. 10.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg’s Market Pulse gauge hit an official manic condition at the end of January, where defensive sectors tend to outperform cyclicals and small caps often lag large caps. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Michael Casper, BI’s senior US equity strategist, speak with Christopher Tessin, a founder and managing partner of Acuitas Investments and lead portfolio manager for the Acuitas US Microcap Fund (AFMCX), about the firm’s multimanager approach to micro-cap investing. They discuss why the most critical factor in evaluating managers is idea-generation skill, not historical returns alone and why the greatest inefficiencies and alpha opportunities exist at the smallest end of the market-cap spectrum. The conversation also explores why quality matters more in micro caps and why Tessin is bullish on small and micro caps after a long period of underperformance. The podcast was recorded on Feb. 5.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actively managed municipal bond funds continue to attract strong investor interest, with active mutual funds taking in over $24 billion and active muni ETFs seeing over $22 billion in net flows last year. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, speaks with Alex Petrone, head of fixed income and of distribution for the Americas at Rockefeller Capital Management, about the advantages of active management in the municipal bond market. They discuss why the steep municipal yield curve presents compelling investment opportunities, how active managers can exploit inefficiencies in a highly fragment market and why municipal bonds have historically shown resilience during economic downturns. The conversation also explores how technology is reshaping municipal credit research and portfolio construction. The podcast was recorded on Jan. 27.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For JPMorgan’s income managers, discipline means delivering predictable outcomes through rigorous risk management rather than chasing headline yield. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, a mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at BI, speak with Hamilton Reiner, managing director and CIO of the US Core Equity Team, and James McNerny, managing director and portfolio manager within the Global Liquidity business. They discuss the growing appeal of equity income strategies like the JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI), why the fund is designed around predictable outcomes rather than maximizing yield and how index-level options allow JPMorgan to generate income without sacrificing stock selection. The conversation also explores why the JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF (JPST) is positioned as a deliberate step beyond cash, how the team prioritizes liquidity and capital preservation and why tight controls on credit and spread risk matter in volatile markets. The podcast was recorded on Jan. 13.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actively managed ETFs took in nearly $500 billion in 2025, indicating growing confidence in active strategies in the ETF wrapper. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Athanasios Psarofagis, a BI ETF analyst, speak with Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at TMX VettaFi, about the growth of active ETFs, the impact of market conditions, the role of brand and the challenges of overcrowding in the space. They also discussed the implications of share-class conversions, how advisers are using active ETFs, what will determine the success of new products and why some active strategies are better left in mutual funds. The podcast was recorded on Jan. 7.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US value stocks have quietly regained momentum and remain deeply discounted relative to growth, a valuation backdrop that has historically supported strong forward performance. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Christopher Cain, BI’s US quantitative strategist, speak with Meb Faber, co-founder, chief executive officer and chief investment officer of Cambria Investment Management, and a portfolio manager of the Cambria Global Value ETF (GVAL). The discussion explores why GVAL was designed to address a shortcoming in market-cap weighting, why Faber’s process begins with country-level valuations, and how composite valuation metrics can help reduce model risk. They also examine the role of investor psychology in shaping market behavior and why historical market patterns remain a usSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earnings in 3Q beat expectations, but momentum is fading, suggesting a high earnings bar for 2026 and potentially more market volatility. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Michael Casper, BI’s senior US equity strategist, speak with Justin White, portfolio manager of the T. Rowe Price All-Cap Opportunities Fund (PRWAX). They discuss White’s four-pillar investment process and how pattern recognition helps him identify durable growth or unrealistic expectations. They also explore what part of the market is overestimating long-term monopoly profits, where high valuations have become unattractive due to poor risk-reward and which areas could offer long-term outperformance through 2030. The podcast was recorded on Dec. 4.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earnings season was strong, with profits doubling forecasts and solid margins driving the bull market despite higher volatility. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Christopher Cain, US quantitative strategist at BI, speak with Jerry Parker, founder and chairman of Chesapeake Capital and portfolio manager on funds including the Blueprint Chesapeake Multi-Asset Trend ETF (TFPN). They explore his “trend-following-plus-nothing” philosophy, which adheres to pure, uncompromised trend following without added strategies or smoothing. They also discussed why diversification is paramount, why stocks belong in commodity-trading-adviser portfolios and how the original turtle experiment could be adapted for today’s generation of traders. The podcast was recorded on Nov. 11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A potential shift in US monetary policy toward fiscal dominance — where government financing influences rates more than inflation control — could change the risk-return trade-off for CLO investors. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Reto Bachmann, BI’s chief structured finance strategist, spoke with Bill Sokol, director of product management at VanEck and Fran Rodilosso, head of fixed income ETF portfolio management and a portfolio manager on the VanEck CLO ETF (CLOI) and VanEck CLO AA-BB CLO ETF (CLOB), about why active management is essential when it comes to manager selection and loan-level analysis and how effective ETF management mitigates liquidity risk through diversified exposure across tranches. They also discussed why relative value remains attractive as CLO tranches yield more than corporates and other asset-backed securities. This podcast was recorded on Nov. 4.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI’s next competitive edge is increasingly tied to vertical integration, connecting digital capacity with physical infrastructure. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Breanne Dougherty, BI’s head of thematic strategy, speak with Eli Horton, managing director of equities at TCW and senior portfolio manager for the TCW Transform Systems ETF (PWRD). Horton discusses why he rejects traditional sector-based investing, arguing instead for a systems-based approach, which views the economy as interconnected systems. They also discuss why changing legacy industries is crucial for transformation, how bottlenecks in the power supply present investment opportunities and why he views decentralized energy systems as highly promising. The podcast was recorded on Oct. 14.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High-quality stocks, measured by profitability, are trading at historically elevated levels, among the strongest in 25 years. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Christopher Cain, US quantitative strategist at BI, speak with Sid Jain, deputy portfolio manager at GQG Partners, about the firm’s focus on durable earnings and forward-looking quality, its US Select Quality Equity Fund (GQEPX) and why today’s market — particularly in tech — could prove worse than the dot-com bubble. They also discuss the team’s approach, which blends quant guardrails, investigative research and price-momentum awareness to avoid value traps. The podcast was recorded on Oct. 6.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite tariff-related concerns, corporate earnings, especially in the S&P 500, have been stronger than expected. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual-fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Michael Casper, US Small Cap and Sector Strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence spoke with Michael Lippert, Vice President and Head of Technology Research at Baron Capital and a portfolio manager for the Baron Opportunity (BIOIX) and Baron Technology (BTECX) funds about the Baron Capital philosophy, which focuses on secular growth trends with durable, compounding potential and the firm’s preference for companies that can expand into multiple growth curves. They also discussed the transformative impact of AI across industries and why physical AI is a powerful but underappreciated theme. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emerging markets have had one of the strongest years since 2017, with currency appreciation a key driver of returns. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Marvin Chen, BI’s senior Asia equity strategist spoke with Robert Marshall-Lee, founding partner and chief investment officer of Cusana Capital about its sword-and-shield framework, which seeks high-quality, founder-led compounders with structural growth and avoids value-destructive companies. They discussed why emerging-market indexes are full of weak companies, why tariffs are seen as short-term noise rather than structural impediments and where future opportunities could be strongest. The podcast was recorded on Sept. 9.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Defined-outcome and options-overlay ETFs take in roughly $3 billion a month, reflecting rising investor demand. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host James Seyffart, ETF analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, spoke with Arnim Holzer, global macro strategist at Easterly EAB and a portfolio manager for the Easterly Hedged Equity strategy, about the investment philosophy behind the strategy, which focuses on asymmetric return patterns and minimizing drawdowns. They discussed how hedged-equity strategies serve as an alternative to traditional fixed income in portfolios, why the correlation between equities and fixed income has become unstable after the global financial crisis and how the strategy differs from traditional buffer ETFs. The podcast was recorded on Aug. 14.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The eurozone outlook may depend on an earnings rebound driven by ECB rate cuts and German fiscal stimulus. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, Bloomberg Intelligence’s mutual fund and active management analyst, and co-host Laurent Douillet, senior equity strategist at BI, spoke with Nathaniel Velarde, a partner of Chautauqua Capital Management and portfolio manager for the Baird Chautauqua International Growth Fund (CCWIX). Velarde outlines their long-term, high-conviction approach built around time arbitrage and the three key traits they seek in companies. He also discusses the team’s RVR framework for evaluating positions, why they maintain a thesis book and how non-US markets still offer fertile ground for stock pickers. The podcast was recorded Aug. 6.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Valuation expansion, not earnings growth, has driven most of the S&P 500’s gains since 2022. In this episode of Inside Active, hosts David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, and BI’s Chief Equity Strategist Gina Martin Adams speak with David Giroux, chief investment officer of US equity at T. Rowe Price and a portfolio manager for the Capital Appreciation strategy. Giroux shares why internal rate of return projections guide his stock selection, the critical importance of avoiding companies with fatal flaws and how counter-cyclical actions historically boost performance. They also discuss private investments, bonds and why independent thinking is essential for long-term investment success. The podcast was recorded on July 21st.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In June, the equity risk premium was negative for the first time since the early 2000s, indicating that stocks appear expensive relative to bonds and could yield mixed returns going forward. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Michael Casper, US small-cap and sector strategist at BI, spoke with Wellington’s Don Kilbride and Peter Fisher, sub-advisers to Vanguard Dividend Growth (VDIGX) and Vanguard International Dividend Growth (VIDGX), about the importance of sustainable dividend growth. They discussed why a commitment to dividends signals confidence in future cash flows and why high dividend yields can sometimes signal unsustainable dividends. The podcast was recorded on June 12.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With European earnings growth projected to be low in 2025, investors are focusing on a potential recovery in 2026. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Laurent Douillet, senior equity strategist for BI, spoke with David Samra, founding partner of Artisan Partners’ International Value Group, about the similarities of value investing to two-for-one deals, with value investing providing both upside potential with downside protection. They also discussed the importance of intrinsic value, why strong balance sheets are crucial for investment safety and the inefficiencies present in non-US markets. The podcast was recorded on June 10.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite a recent rally, European equities may be overly complacent about trade-war risks. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual-fund and active-management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Laurent Douillet, BI’s senior equity strategist, spoke with Danielle Menichella, portfolio manager and senior research analyst at Sands Capital and sub-adviser to the Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund. They discussed why the firm employs a business owner’s mindset to public equity investing, as well as the six investment criteria to select businesses. They also spoke about seeking a balance between high growth and mature businesses, determining relative valuations and which countries the team is currently seeing opportunities. Recorded on May 28.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bond ratings have been mainly neutral over the past couple of quarters, but it remains to be seen if tariffs have an impact in the coming six months. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, and co-host Sam Geier, BI’s corporate credit strategist, spoke with Janet Rilling, head of the Plus Fixed Income team at Allspring Global Investments and a senior portfolio manager for the Core Plus Bond Fund (WIPIX) and Core Plus ETF (APLU), about the team’s multiple levers and unbiased approach to managing the portfolio and the components that make up its big-six macro framework. They also discussed why Allspring takes a six-month outlook instead of a three-to-five year view, and why now could be a good time to be in fixed income.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a turbulent couple of months with significant spread widening and subsequent tightening, corporate bonds may remain under threat through year-end. In this episode of Inside Active, Bloomberg Intelligence’s mutual fund and active management analyst David Cohne and corporate credit strategist Sam Geier talk with Vishal Khanduja, head of Morgan Stanley’s broad markets fixed income team and portfolio manager for Eaton Vance’s Total Return Bond Fund (EIBAX) and the Total Return Bond ETF (EVTR). They discuss the team’s three pillars for bond selection, their focus on maximizing return for benchmark-level risk, how inefficiencies of fallen angels and rising stars can boost performance and how bottom-up relative value analysis drives portfolio positioning. The podcast was recorded on May 7.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lower revenue growth for small-cap companies appears to be in store due to tariff turmoil, based on Bloomberg Intelligence’s fair value model on the Russell 2000. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst with BI, along with co-host Michael Casper, BI’s US small cap and sector strategist, spoke with Sam Chamovitz and Morgen Peck, co-lead managers of the Fidelity Low-Priced Stock Fund (FLPSX) about their investment process, which focuses on the intersection of value and quality, and how co-management fosters mutual respect and trust in investment decisions. They also discussed why they target underappreciated businesses and how small caps can provide an attractive setup for active managers given the disparity in the quality of businesses. The podcast recorded on April 30.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earnings expectations have shifted from the start of the year when analysts were forecasting 13% growth for large-cap stocks and are now predicting 9%. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, Bloomberg Intelligence mutual fund and active-management analyst, along with co-host Gina Martin Adams, BI’s chief equity strategist, spoke with Head of Mid-Cap & Large-Cap Equity at Madison Funds, Haruki Toyama, who’s also a portfolio manager for the firm’s Large Cap Fund (MNVAX) and Mid Cap Fund (MERAX). They discussed viewing investments as ownership stakes and why the quality of business and its moat are crucial for long-term investments. They also spoke about the critical role of management teams in driving company success and why market downturns can create opportunities for resilient companies.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the financial sector, the six largest banks have been returning capital to shareholders in the form of larger buybacks over the past quarter and year, indicating confidence in the industry. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Michael Casper, US small-cap and sector strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, spoke with Christopher Buchbinder, a portfolio manager at Capital Group, including the Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (CGDV), about the Capital system of multiple portfolio managers and how it provides a level of inherent diversification. They also discussed why companies must generate a yield that’s 30% above the S&P 500 to be considered for the fund, why intrinsic value is key in assessing potential investments and why he thinks the health-care sector is particularly interesting right now. The podcast was recorded on March 4.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adding the profitability factor to the value factor can filter out value traps and help value stocks outperform the market, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, BI mutual fund and active management analyst, along with co-host Christopher Cain, BI’s US quantitative strategist, spoke with John Davi, founder, CEO and chief investment officer of Astoria Portfolio Advisors about the company’s systematically active ETFs, including the Astoria US Equal Weight Quality Kings ETF (ROE), and the long-term value of quality stocks. They also discussed why equally weighting stocks can mitigate concentration risk, combining multiple factors can improve risk-adjusted returns and why adjusting factor weights based on valuation is crucial. This podcast was recorded on Feb. 24.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bloomberg Intelligence small-cap BMVP multi-factor portfolio outperformed the Russell 2000 equal-weight index last year, with value, momentum, low volatility and profitability all working well in small caps. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual-fund and active-management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Christopher Cain, BI’s US quantitative strategist, spoke with Joel Schneider, deputy head of portfolio management at Dimensional Fund Advisors about the firm's systematic, daily and flexible investment process. They also discussed the difference between passive and indexed investing, the hidden costs of indexing and why combining multiple factors can provide better risk control in portfolios. This podcast was recorded on Jan. 28.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the number of mergers and acquisitions being positively linked to small-cap performance, this year will be one to watch after a particularly weak 2024. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Michael Casper, US small cap and sector strategist at BI, spoke with Bryan Wong, vice president at Osterweis and a portfolio manager for the Osterweis Opportunity Fund (OSTGX), about innovation and growth driving full-cycle returns and why his team focuses on companies with 100% upside. They also discussed why evaluating innovation in small companies requires looking at forward quality metrics and long-term intrinsic value and earnings power. This episode was recorded on Jan. 21.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 will be a critical year for China, which needs to continue stimulating demand to stave off prolonged deflationary pressure. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Marvin Chen, senior Asia equity strategist for Bloomberg Intelligence, spoke with Jorry Nøddekær, lead portfolio manager for the Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund (POLEX) about finding economic value added that is mispriced by the market. They also discussed why identifying growth opportunities requires understanding demand and supply imbalances, why currency risk is a significant factor in emerging market investments and why investors should be cautious about relying too heavily on China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Russell 2000 ended the year on a sour note over unease about where interest rates could go. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Michael Casper, US small-cap and sector strategist at BI, spoke with John Barr, managing director at Needham Funds and portfolio manager for the Needham Aggressive Growth Fund (NEAGX) about hidden quality compounders and why investing with a margin of safety is crucial for long-term success. They also discussed why owning established businesses helps with downside protection, why founders are a shortcut to finding great management and how meeting with private companies can help with long-term success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latter half of 2024, the healthcare sector underperformed the rest of the European market due to uncertainty related to potential policies of the new Trump administration and mixed news on pharmaceutical companies.  In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Laurent Douillet, senior equity strategist for Bloomberg Intelligence, spoke with Colin McQueen, vice president of T. Rowe Price Group and a portfolio manager of the International Value Equity Fund (TRIGX) about the significance of free cash flow generation. They also discussed the need to look at downside valuations and downside risk, why restructuring provides opportunities and why the headwinds facing value companies could be abating.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The low volatility, momentum and quality factors are all up this year, with low volatility and momentum performing the best. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, Bloomberg Intelligence mutual fund and active management analyst, along with co-host and BI US quantitative strategist Christopher Cain, spoke with Andrew Slimmon, a managing director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. They discussed factor exposures and why the investment process starts with a quantitative approach to determine what exposures each stock gives them. They also examined the importance of active share and tracking error, and why Slimmon is agnostic toward regional allocation and styles. He’s the lead senior portfolio manager on all long equity strategies for Applied Equity Advisors, including the Morgan Stanley Institutional Global Concentrated Portfolio (MLNIX). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bloomberg Intelligence Fair Value Model is currently showing a 19.1x multiple on the S&P 500, which is lower than where we currently are, due to the Mag 7 driving a lot of the valuation premium in the index. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence and co-host Michael Casper, US small cap and sector strategist at BI, spoke with Christopher Davis, chairman and portfolio manager at Davis Advisors about the significance of the earnings yield and the selective nature of the Davis investment discipline. They also discuss why management culture is crucial for long-term success and why understanding management’s capital allocation decisions is vital.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent quarterly results from Japanese companies came out better than expected, with quarterly year-over-year growth of around 26%. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Laurent Douillet, senior equity strategist for Bloomberg Intelligence, spoke with Graeme Forster, an international equity strategy and global equity strategy portfolio manager at Orbis Investment Management, about the importance of intrinsic value and independent decision-making in stock evaluation. They also discuss how market inefficiencies can create significant investment opportunities, what industry he currently likes in Japan and the role of risk management in investment decisions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Themes ranging from decentralized energy to nuclear to solar have found fresh footing this year due to secular growth trends such as the acceleration of electrification needs. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Breanne Dougherty, head of thematic strategy at Bloomberg Intelligence, spoke with Jonathan Waghorn, a portfolio manager on the Guinness Global Energy and Guinness Sustainable Energy strategies, about the energy transition. They looked at why fossil fuels will continue to play a role in the shift and how technology companies are focusing on renewable sources. They also discuss the firm’s top-down and bottom-up approaches, including its global energy model and quantitative screening criteria, as well as why the portfolio is equal-weighted.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Out of the 31 global stocks found in four or more BI themes, the ones exposed to physical environment issues have outperformed tech stocks dramatically so far this year. In this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Breanne Dougherty, head of thematic strategy at BI, spoke with Albert Chu, a portfolio manager with the Man Group and manager for the American Beacon GLG Natural Resources ETF (MGNR). They discussed dispersion in commodities and why falling interest rates have historically been positive for commodity prices. They also spoke about the likelihood of a global restocking cycle amid rate cuts and a stimulus environment in China, and which subsectors Chu is bullish on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the results of the US election were announced, the Russell 2000 index broke out of its 2024 range and approached all-time highs. On this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Michael Casper, BI’s sector and small-cap strategist, spoke with David Green, a principal of Hotchkis & Wiley and a portfolio manager on the Small Cap Value (HWSIX) and Value Opportunities (HWAIX) funds. They discussed the firm’s focus on high quality companies at low valuations and its fundamental risk-rating system. They also spoke on the challenges and opportunities for small caps and why mergers and acquisitions may increase under the new administration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Profitable companies tend to perform well among small caps, as evidenced by the Bloomberg MVP small-cap portfolio, which returned 11.9% annualized in a backtest run from 1999 to September 2024. On this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host Michael Casper, sector and small-cap strategist, spoke with Mitch Zacks, CEO and principal portfolio manager of Zacks Investment Management about the significance of upwards earnings-estimate revisions and why they could be crucial for predicting stock performance. They also discussed the evolving landscape of small-cap stocks and why valuation metrics are more relevant for larger companies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buffer ETFs, which use options to limit losses and offer upside potential, have taken in around $10 billion in new flows this year as their popularity grows. On this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host James Seyffart, a BI ETF analyst, spoke with Burke Ashenden, director of capital markets at Innovator ETFs, about the rise of defined-outcome ETFs. They examine the unique features that set them apart from traditional investment funds, and how they provide risk-managed exposure. They also discussed how the underlying management of these products works.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Financial stocks could see better earnings growth this quarter than analysts’ consensus, according to Bloomberg Intelligence’s macro model. In this episode of the Inside Active podcast, host David Cohne, BI mutual fund and active management analyst, along with co-host Gina Martin Adams, BI’s chief equity strategist, speak with Bill Nygren, chief investment officer, US equity, at Harris Associates and portfolio manager at the firm’s Oakmark Funds. They discuss Nygren’s views on bringing a private equity perspective to public equity investing, the need for a long-term view, why financials make up a large allocation in the Oakmark Fund (OAKMX) and the significance of management quality in investment decisions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The quality factor is ranked second on the BI Factor Scorecard as higher-quality companies are beating lower-quality ones against a backdrop of a more defensive market. On this episode of Inside Active, host David Cohne, mutual fund and active-management analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, along with co-host and BI US quantitative strategist Christopher Cain, spoke with Tom Hancock, head of Focused Equity at GMO and portfolio manager for the GMO US Quality ETF (QLTY), about how the fund combines GMO’s history of integrating the quality factor in its research with the firm’s roots in value investing. They also discussed why profitability is such an important element of their quality-factor research, and how QLTY differs from its mutual fund counterpart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.