While it is intuitively easy to understand that quality companies outperform in the long run, factors that fall in the Quality category often get less attention than the more popular Value and Growth factors. As we head into a slowing economy and possibly a recession amidst an inflationary environment, quality factors once again deserve the attention of investors.
Equity markets fell sharply for a third straight quarter in Q3, 2022. The big story for the quarter was the tightening of financial conditions driven by expectations for a more aggressive global rate hike cycle.
With the growing popularity of ESG and the incorporation of ESG metrics in various investment strategies, the debate on whether ESG is a source of alpha or not continues.
The second quarter of 2022 saw equity markets finish lower for a second straight quarter. The decline in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2022 has been the largest since 1970. Inflation concerns were the biggest drag on risk sentiment in the second quarter.
US equities came under pressure in the first quarter of 2022 with the S&P 500 suffering its first quarterly decline since the depths of the pandemic in March 2020. While the Fed’s hawkish policy pivot dominated the headlines …