Global Conservative portfolio positioning intra-quarter update as of 6/16/2020

Increased economically-sensitive U.S. equity sector exposure/trimmed late-phase, defensive U.S. equity sector exposure

June 16, 2020

We believe that an economic recovery is underway. Recent positive trends in some key high-frequency economic data mean we have now begun to see improvement in each of the key types of data we have been tracking to identify an economic rebound. In particular, a bounce-back in weekly credit and debit card data indicates that overall consumer spending is recovering faster than traffic at brick and mortar stores, with ecommerce and home-related products as areas of strength. Additionally, given the slight gain in payrolls in the May employment report (versus a consensus expectation for a decline), the skew of job losses to date toward lower earners, and reduced consumer spending in March and April (which created additional savings), we expect consumers will have about half a trillion dollars of additional spending power going into the fall of 2020. That is more than 3.4% of 2019 personal consumption expenditure, and we believe it should support a continued rebound in consumer spending.

Added to economically-sensitive U.S. equity sector exposure: As the economic recovery gains traction, we see an opportunity to add to more economically-sensitive, early-phase sectors that have underperformed year-to-date, specifically Financials and Industrials. We believe U.S. Financials sector earnings could substantially outpace consensus expectations in 2021, in part, due to banks’ reduced need for additional loan loss provisions, and because capital markets firms should benefit from increased trading activity, debt issuance, and M&A in the next phase of economic and market recovery. We believe the Industrials sector can surpass consensus 2021 earnings expectations, given the operating leverage of companies in the sector and a better-than-expected U.S. economic rebound, yet, the sector trades at a small discount to the market on consensus 2021 earnings.

Reduced late-phase, defensive U.S. equity sector exposure: We have eliminated large-cap U.S. Utilities equity exposure and trimmed U.S. Health Care equity exposure. In our view, Utilities is one of the most defensive sectors and is unlikely to derive significant earnings benefits from economic reacceleration, which, along with potential for rising inflation expectations and interest rates, presents performance headwinds for the sector amid a recovery. We believe the relative attractiveness of the U.S. Health Care sector’s earnings growth is diminished in an economic recovery, but the sector’s significant valuation discount warrants maintaining a sizeable but reduced allocation among late-phase sectors.

The most recent complete presentation can be viewed here.

Any portfolio characteristics, including position sizes and sector allocations among others, are generally averages and are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the investments of an actual portfolio unless otherwise noted. The investment guidelines of an actual portfolio may permit or restrict investments that are materially different in size, nature and risk from those shown. The investment processes, research processes or risk processes shown herein are for informational purposes to demonstrate an overview of the process. Such processes may differ by product, client mandate or market conditions. Portfolios that are concentrated in a specific sector or industry may be subject to a higher degree of market risk than a portfolio whose investments are more diversified.

Holdings, Sector Weightings and Portfolio Characteristics were current as of the date specified in this presentation. The listing of particular securities should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell these securities. While these securities were among WestEnd Advisors’ Global Conservative holdings at the time this material was assembled, holdings will change over time. There can be no assurance that the securities remain in the portfolio or that other securities have not been purchased. It should not be assumed that recommendations made in the future will be profitable or will equal the performance of the securities presently in the portfolio. Individual clients’ portfolios may vary.

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