Optimized SMID Cap Core

Q4 2023 | December 31, 2023

Annualized Returns (%) 

QTD YTD 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 7 Years 10 Years Since Inception1
Gross of fees 12.97 26.43 26.43 15.86 17.21 14.08 12.40 11.16
Net of fees 12.84 25.78 25.78 15.22 16.59 13.54 11.92 10.76
Benchmark 13.35 17.42 17.42 4.24 11.67 8.98 8.36 8.10
1 Inception Date: October 31, 2007 2 Benchmark: Russell 2500

Characteristics

Portfolio Weight Benchmark Weight
Excess return (gross since inception) 3.06% -
Excess return (net since inception) 2.66% -
Information ratio (gross since inception) 0.70 -
Information ratio (net since inception) 0.62 -
Holdings 77 2,468
P/E using FY1 est 12.21 15.79
P/E using FY2 est 11.00 14.84
Dividend yield 1.80% 1.47%
Historical 3 year EPS growth 42.56% 26.60%
Weighted average market cap in $M $7,245.70mm $6,921.15mm

Sector Weights (%)

Portfolio Weight Benchmark Weight

Communication Services 1.73 2.60
Consumer Discretionary 11.60 12.87
Consumer Staples - 3.18
Energy 5.19 4.85
Financials 12.62 16.62
Health Care 15.73 12.16
Industrials 20.36 19.76
Information Technology 16.37 12.69
Materials 7.80 5.43
Real Estate 3.22 7.24
Utilities 5.39 2.59

Top Ten Holdings (%)

Portfolio Weight
Builders FirstSource, Inc. 2.72
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc 2.52
GMS, Inc. 2.46
Constellium SE Class A 2.43
Universal Health Services, Inc. Class B 2.36
Clearway Energy, Inc. Class C 2.36
WESCO International, Inc. 2.36
Amkor Technology, Inc. 2.34
Exelixis, Inc. 2.32
Civitas Resources, Inc. 2.29

Distinguishing Attributes

  • Proven quantitative stock selection models
  • Focused on achieving optimal risk-return tradeoffs
  • ESG factors taken into consideration
  • Structured and disciplined investment process
  • Experienced investment team
  • Corporate culture built on client service and diversity

Total product assets shown above may include accounts that are not reflected in the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®)* report below. Portfolio characteristics are subject to change, and current holdings may differ. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Returns are presented gross and net of management fees and include the reinvestment of all income. A GIPS report is found at the end of this presentation. Statistics shown above are supplemental information to the GIPS report at the end of this presentation. Results represent preliminary data which is subject to change. For further performance data, please see the Xponance® Optimized SMID Cap Core disclosures below.*GIPS® is a registered trademark of CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein.

Portfolio Management

Sumali Sanyal, CFA

Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, Systematic Global Equities

Cameron McLennan, CFA

Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, Systematic Global Equities

About Xponance®

Xponance® is a multistrategy investment firm offering strategies across equity and fixed income. We are independent and employee owned by women and diverse professionals, whose common passion is to do the right thing for our clients and each other. Xponance® is the successor firm representing the integration of two great legacy firms, FIS Group, Inc. and Piedmont Investment Advisors, LLC

Investment Philosophy & Process

Our investment philosophy focuses on striking an appropriate balance between risk and return in our management of clients’ portfolios while taking ESG factors into consideration. The elements of this philosophy include – emphasis on security selection, quantification of major sources of risk, diversification as a means of managing common factor risk without reducing expected returns and controlling tracking error. We utilize internally developed quantitative models for stock selection. These models are built using factors that reflect and measure fundamental drivers of growth, value, and momentum, and have also been shown to be consistent and predictive drivers of long-term excess returns. Our portfolio construction methods focus on maximizing exposure to these factors while controlling both ESG risk and portfolio active risk.

Portfolio Facts

Inception date10/31/2007
Assets in strategy$6mm
BenchmarkRussell 2500
Predicted tracking error3% to 5% vs. b/m
No. of stocks<100
SectorsB/m ±4%
Annual turnover100%
Min. investment$5mm
Vehicle(s) availableSeparately managed

Trailing period performance as of 12/31/20231

(%)QTDCYTD1-Year3-Years5-Years10-YearsSince InceptionInception Date
Composite Gross12.9726.4326.4315.8617.2112.4011.1610/31/2007
Composite Net12.8425.7825.7815.2216.5911.9210.76
Index13.3517.4217.424.2411.678.368.10
1 Benchmark: Russell 2500

Past performance is not indicative of future results. Periods greater than 1 year are annualized. The U.S. Dollar is the currency used to express performance.

Gross of fee returns are presented before management fees, but after custodial fees and transaction costs and include the reinvestment of all income.  Since August 1, 2018, net of fee returns reflects a model annual management fee of 0.60%, applied monthly. Net of fee returns are calculated by deducting the model management fee from the monthly gross of fee returns.  Performance-based fees are not applicable. Prior to August 1, 2018, net of fee returns reflects the deduction of actual management fees (including performance-based fees if applicable) from the monthly gross of fee returns. Actual management fees incurred by clients may vary. The composite include zero commission accounts.

The standard management fee schedule for the composite is as follows: First $50mm: 65 bps; Next $50mm: 55 bps; Over $100mm: 45 bps. Fees are charged to clients on a quarterly basis. Fees are calculated as a percentage of assets under management and vary based upon the type of product and the total amount of assets under management. The percentage fee is expressed terms of basis points ("BPS") for our products. One hundred basis points equal 1%. All fees are negotiable.

Xponance claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®). To obtain GIPS-compliant performance information for the firm's strategies and products, please contact info@xponance.com.

The firm maintains a complete list and description of composites and limited distribution pooled fund(s) which is available upon request. Please refer to the GIPS® report for additional performance information which is included on the next page of this presentation.

GIPS® is a registered trademark of CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein.

Annual Disclosure Presentation

Performance Results (%)3-Yr Annualized Ex-Post Standard Deviation (%)
Year EndComposite Gross TWRComposite Net TWRBenchmark1Composite GrossBenchmark1 Number of PortfoliosComposite Assets ($mm)Total Firm Assets ($mm)
2022-8.57-9.08-18.3725.3025.16Five or fewer0.7313,512
202134.5233.7618.1822.0922.48Five or fewer0.8014,866
20204.123.5319.9924.1824.21Five or fewer0.6012,493
201936.6336.0327.7715.7114.58Five or fewer0.575,411
2018-7.99-8.22-10.0014.8414.10Five or fewer0.144,026
201723.5123.0116.8112.0512.13Five or fewer100.006,817
201617.4617.0417.5913.0713.67Five or fewer36.006,249
2015-2.02-2.33-2.9012.1712.42Five or fewer0.105,577
201411.2510.877.0711.6211.67Five or fewer0.102,542
201339.0938.6236.8015.7515.63Five or fewer0.202,731
Composite inception date:: October 31, 2007. 1 Benchmark: Russell 2500

Performance presented prior to December 15, 2010 occurred while the Portfolio Management Team was affiliated with a prior firm and the Portfolio Management Team members were the only individual(s) responsible for selecting the securities to buy and sell. Piedmont Investment Advisors maintains all of the books and records to support the historical performance.

Xponance,® Inc. ("Xponance®") claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®) and has prepared and presented this report in compliance with the GIPS standards. Xponance® has been independently verified for the periods from November 1, 1998 through December 31, 2022. The verification report is available upon request.

A firm that claims compliance with the GIPS standards must establish policies and procedures for complying with all the applicable requirements of the GIPS standards. Verification provides assurance on whether the firm's policies and procedures related to composite and pooled fund maintenance, as well as the calculation, presentation, and distribution of performance, have been designed in compliance with the GIPS standards and have been implemented on a firm-wide basis. Verification does not provide assurance on the accuracy of any specific performance report. GIPS® is a registered trademark of CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein.

On August 31, 2018, FIS Group, Inc. ("FIS Group") acquired Piedmont Investment Advisors, Inc.'s ("PIA") predecessor, Piedmont Investment Advisors, LLC. Xponance®, Inc. ("Xponance®") is an independent, registered investment adviser and is the successor registrant under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act") to both FIS Group and its wholly-owned subsidiary, PIA. Pursuant to a corporate rebranding and consolidation strategy, Xponance® was established effective April 1, 2020, to leverage the long histories of its predecessor entities in providing customized investment management products to institutional clients. FIS Group (through its former subsidiaries, Fiduciary Investment Solutions, Inc. and FIS Funds Management, Inc.) managed assets since 1996 and PIA (through its former affiliate Piedmont Investment Advisors, LLC) began managing assets in 2000. The firm maintains a list of composite descriptions and limited distribution pool fund(s) descriptions, which is available upon request.

Total firm assets presented through, and including, Calendar Year 2019 represent total firm assets for PIA, prior to April 1, 2020, this composite was managed by legacy firm PIA. Total firm assets presented post April 1, 2020 represent the total firm assets of. Xponance® Optimized SMID Cap Core Composite contains fully discretionary SMID core equity accounts and for comparison purposes is measured against the Russell 2500 Index. The product typically has fewer than 100 holdings and a predicted tracking error target range of 5% - 8% vs. Russell 2500. The Optimized SMID Core Composite was created on December 15, 2010. The Optimized SMID Core Composite's inception date is 10/31/07. This composite was renamed on September 30, 2012 to better reflect the true strategy of the product. Formerly, the composite was named "Optimized Mid Cap Core vs. S&P Midcap Composite". This composite changed its benchmark on September 30, 2012 from the S&P Midcap to the Russell 2500 because the latter benchmark better represents the investable universe of the product.

Results are based on fully discretionary accounts under management. Accounts that are no longer with the firm are included through the last full measurement period such accounts were managed in the composite's style. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The U.S. Dollar is the currency used to express performance.

Gross of fee returns are presented before management fees, but after custodial fees and transaction costs and include the reinvestment of all income. Since August 1, 2018, net of fee returns reflects a model annual management fee of 0.60%, applied monthly. Net of fee returns are calculated by deducting the model management fee from the monthly gross of fee returns. Performance-based fees are not applicable. Prior to August 1, 2018, net of fee returns reflects the deduction of actual management fees (including performance-based fees if applicable) from the monthly gross of fee returns. Actual management fees incurred by clients may vary. The composite include zero commission accounts. The standard management fee schedule for the composite is as follows: First $50mm: 65 bps; Next $50mm: 55 bps; Over $100mm: 45 bps. Fees are charged to clients on a quarterly basis. Fees are calculated as a percentage of assets under management and vary based upon the type of product and the total amount of assets under management. The percentage fee is expressed terms of basis points ("BPS") for our products. One hundred basis points equal 1%. All fees are negotiable.

The three-year annualized standard deviation measures the variability of the composite gross returns and the benchmark returns over the preceding 36-month period.

Internal dispersion presented is an equal-weighted standard deviation of annual gross returns of those portfolios that were in the composite for the entire year. For those years when less than six portfolios were included in the composite for the full year, no dispersion measure is presented.

Policies for valuing investments, calculating performance, and preparing GIPS reports are available upon request.