Latest news with #ClearBridge
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is ClearBridge Large Cap Growth A (SBLGX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?
Having trouble finding a Large Cap Growth fund? ClearBridge Large Cap Growth A (SBLGX) is a potential starting point. SBLGX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on various forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. SBLGX is classified in the Large Cap Growth segment by Zacks, an area full of possibilities. Companies are usually considered to be large-cap if their stock market valuation is more than $10 billion. Large Cap Growth mutual funds invest in many large U.S. firms that are projected to grow at a faster rate than their large-cap peers. SBLGX is a part of the Franklin family of funds, a company based out of San Mateo, CA. ClearBridge Large Cap Growth A made its debut in August of 1997, and since then, SBLGX has accumulated about $3.82 billion in assets, per the most up-to-date date available. The fund is currently managed by Margaret B. Vitrano who has been in charge of the fund since October of 2012. Obviously, what investors are looking for in these funds is strong performance relative to their peers. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 13.75%, and it sits in the middle third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3 -year annualized total return of 19.08%, which places it in the middle third during this time-frame. It is important to note that the product's returns may not reflect all its expenses. Any fees not reflected would lower the returns. Total returns do not reflect the fund's [%] sale charge. If sales charges were included, total returns would have been lower. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. SBLGX's standard deviation over the past three years is 19.38% compared to the category average of 14.74%. Over the past 5 years, the standard deviation of the fund is 19.59% compared to the category average of 14.56%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Investors should not forget about beta, an important way to measure a mutual fund's risk compared to the market as a whole. SBLGX has a 5-year beta of 1.15, which means it is likely to be more volatile than the market average. Another factor to consider is alpha, as it reflects a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark-in this case, the S&P 500. With a negative alpha of -3.23, managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Exploring the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is mostly on equities that are traded in the United States. As of the last filing date, the mutual fund has 85.31% of its assets in stocks, with an average market capitalization of $567.82 billion. The fund has the heaviest exposure to the following market sectors: Technology Retail Trade Turnover is 16%, which means, on average, the fund makes fewer trades than comparable funds. For investors, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is key, since costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing. Competition is heating up in this space, and a lower cost product will likely outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, all things being equal. In terms of fees, SBLGX is a load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.01% compared to the category average of 0.94%. Looking at the fund from a cost perspective, SBLGX is actually more expensive than its peers. Investors need to be aware that with this product, the minimum initial investment is $1,000; each subsequent investment needs to be at least $50. Fees charged by investment advisors have not been taken into considiration. Returns would be less if those were included. Overall, even with its comparatively similar performance, worse downside risk, and higher fees, ClearBridge Large Cap Growth A ( SBLGX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and therefore looks a good potential choice for investors right now. For additional information on this product, or to compare it to other mutual funds in the Large Cap Growth, make sure to go to for additional information. And don't forget, Zacks has all of your needs covered on the equity side too! Make sure to check out for more information on our screening capabilities, Rank, and all our articles as well. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (SBLGX): Fund Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
06-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
ClearBridge Energy Midstream Opportunity Fund Inc. Announces Unaudited Balance Sheet Information as of May 31, 2025
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ClearBridge Energy Midstream Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE: EMO) announced today the unaudited statement of assets and liabilities, the net asset value and asset coverage ratio of the Fund as of May 31, 2025. As of May 31, 2025, the Fund's net assets were $904.1 million, and its net asset value per share was $49.70. The Fund's asset coverage ratio under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the '1940 Act') with respect to senior indebtedness was 584% and the Fund's asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act with respect to total leverage was 403%. Amount (millions) Per Share Investments $ 1,142.0 $ 62.78 Cash and Cash Equivalents 113.7 6.25 Other Assets 11.2 0.62 Total Assets $ 1,266.9 $ 69.65 Senior Notes* $ 41.8 $ 2.30 Loans Outstanding* 164.0 9.02 Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares* 92.4 5.08 Total Leverage $ 298.2 $ 16.40 Deferred Tax Liability $ 55.0 $ 3.02 Distributions Payable 6.5 0.36 Other Liabilities 3.1 0.17 Total Liabilities $ 64.6 $ 3.55 Net Assets $ 904.1 $ 49.70 Outstanding Shares 18,190,226 * The Fund's asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act with respect to senior indebtedness was 584%. * The Fund's asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act with respect to total leverage was 403%. Top Ten Equity Holdings (as of May 31, 2025)** Market Value Name (millions) % of Investments *** Energy Transfer LP $ 115.8 10.1 % Targa Resources Corp. $ 112.2 9.8 % MPLX LP $ 97.0 8.5 % ONEOK Inc. $ 94.9 8.3 % Western Midstream Partners LP $ 83.5 7.3 % Williams Cos. Inc. $ 77.2 6.8 % Enterprise Products Partners LP $ 69.6 6.1 % Kinder Morgan Inc. $ 67.6 5.9 % Antero Midstream Corp. $ 62.1 5.4 % Hess Midstream LP $ 54.2 4.7 % $ 834.1 72.9 % ** Subject to change at any time *** Percent of Total Equity Investments Expand ClearBridge Energy Midstream Opportunity Fund Inc. is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company, which is advised by Franklin Templeton Fund Adviser, LLC ('FTFA') and subadvised by ClearBridge Investments, LLC ('ClearBridge'). FTFA and ClearBridge are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. ('Franklin Resources'). This financial data is unaudited. The Fund files its semi-annual and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC'), as well as its complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These reports are available on the SEC's website at To obtain information on Form N-PORT or a semi-annual or annual report from the Fund, shareholders can call 1-888-777-0102. For more information about the Fund, please call 1-888-777-0102 or consult the Fund's website at Hard copies of the Fund's complete audited financial statements are available free of charge upon request. Data and commentary provided in this press release are for informational purposes only. Franklin Resources and its affiliates do not engage in selling shares of the Fund. Category: Financials Source: Franklin Resources, Inc. Source: Legg Mason Closed End Funds
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sempra (SRE) Prioritizes Long-Term Growth Over Short-Term Challenges
ClearBridge Investments, an investment management company, released its 'ClearBridge Large Cap Value Strategy' first quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The S&P 500 Index declined by -4.3% in Q1 2025 due to a tariff war and a shift away from AI-related tech stocks. Amid the tech-led sell-off, the benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index, outperformed its growth counterpart in the quarter. Against this backdrop, the strategy underperformed the benchmark in Q1. In addition, please check the fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its first-quarter 2025 investor letter, ClearBridge Large Cap Value Strategy highlighted stocks such as Sempra (NYSE:SRE). Sempra (NYSE:SRE) is an energy infrastructure company. The one-month return of Sempra (NYSE:SRE) was 8.46%, and its shares lost 0.04% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On May 19, 2025, Sempra (NYSE:SRE) stock closed at $78.43 per share with a market capitalization of $51.15 billion. ClearBridge Large Cap Value Strategy stated the following regarding Sempra (NYSE:SRE) in its Q1 2025 investor letter: "One area where we've increased exposure in recent years is the utilities sector, where the combination of rising electricity demand, highly stable cash flows and attractive valuations has made the space overlooked relative to higher-flying AI plays. While utilities typically perform well in volatile markets, our holdings in Edison International and Sempra (NYSE:SRE) were negatively impacted by the tragic wildfires in Southern California, which caused billions of dollars in damages. Sempra's issues were compounded by a large earnings reset due to unexpected regulatory changes in California and the company's shift of capital toward Texas, where, while it is a higher growth market, profitability is being pressured in the short term due to higher costs. While this negatively affects near-term earnings, we believe the decision is right for the long term. We maintained positions in both companies, as we believe their valuations have been overly discounted for businesses with defensive characteristics and high-single-digit earnings growth." A power transmission tower with a desert sunset in the background, symbolizing power and energy. Sempra (NYSE:SRE) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 34 hedge fund portfolios held Sempra (NYSE:SRE) at the end of the fourth quarter, compared to 33 in the third quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Sempra (NYSE:SRE) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is as promising as NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the undervalued AI stock set for massive gains. In another article, we covered Sempra (NYSE:SRE) and shared the list of natural gas players Jim Cramer commented on. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q1 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. READ NEXT: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and A New Dawn Is Coming to US Stocks. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
European Stocks: A Rich, And Cheap, Opportunity
Europe by night. Until recently, the Old World has been feeling its age, as European stocks largely lagged behind U.S. equities. Last year, the MSCI EAFE index, which covers developed countries excluding the U.S. and Canada, inched ahead just 4.3%, while the S&P 500 racked up a 25% gain. That situation reversed dramatically in 2025, as of Friday, with the MSCI index up 15.4% and the S&P 500 ahead just 1.3%. There is a strong case to be made that developed-market international equities, meaning non-U.S. stocks and particularly European ones, could have a sold upward path ahead of them. So argues Elisa Mazen, head of global growth at ClearBridge Investments, which is a unit of Franklin Templeton, in an interview. Rising U.S. tariffs and higher European fiscal stimulus stand to expand the Continent's earnings, she notes—and sweeter profits tend spark stock appreciation. Add in the potential for lower European regulatory burdens and the result, she says, would be to 'jumpstart earnings growth and equity valuations in the region.' A ClearBridge research paper (Mazen co-wrote it, with colleagues Michael Testorf and Pawel Wroblewski) points out that 'Europe now offers a better setup for earnings growth from depressed levels and scope for multiple expansion as more investors recognize the region's potential.' Mazen acknowledges that United States stocks boast bounteous strengths, such as tech leadership and deep wells of capital. Still, the U.S. has some drags such as trade imbalances and a spiraling federal budget. Donald Trump's tariffs likely will have a negative effect on inflows into U.S. equities. Meantime, no big fiscal stimuluses are envisioned by Washington nowadays. One big advantage for the MSCI EAFE basket of foreign stocks, which along with Europe includes such big players as Japan and Australia: The exchange-traded fund that tracks them, iShares MSCI EAFE, has an expense ratio of just 16.9, versus the main ETF for the S&P 500, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF, at 25.6. In addition, individual European stocks are way cheap: shares in financials, consumer staples, consumer discretionary and health-care companies are trading at large discounts to American counterparts. Then there's the added attraction of European fiscal stimulus. Consider Germany, the world's third largest economy, behind the U.S. and China. In March, Mazen notes, the German parliament approved an infrastructure fund of a half-trillion euros and eased a cap on defense outlays, plus it okayed more spending on energy transition and semiconductors. Political developments are a big impetus for the changes. As the ClearBridge research paper notes, 'Combined with genuine fear of Russian aggression once again in Europe and the rise of the far-right party in the recent German elections, Germany instituted a meaningfully large defense and infrastructure package. More fiscal spending increases are expected in other markets, as well.' At some point, the Ukraine conflict will be over, and the need for post-war reconstruction should provide additional impetus for economic development, Mazen contends. Heavy construction equipment, steel and cement will be in demand. The World Bank projects that the effort will cost $480 billion. Peace could also bring resumption of Russian natural gas shipments to Western Europe and Britain, thus lowering energy costs for businesses and consumers, an economic boon. And that's not all. The ClearBridge paper finds that 'a lasting peace could spur renewed Western involvement in Russia.' Withdrawal of European investment has led to lost revenue of $60 billion, according to the paper, which added, 'Could those return? We believe it's a possibility that markets are not discounting.' Overall, good old reversion to the mean likely is coming, Mazen states. Her firm's paper states: 'Developed market valuations have barely budged in the last 20 years (compared to a 40% rise in U.S. multiples). However, we believe this low starting point, taken together with broader policy catalysts in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, most notably in Europe, provides scope for a reversion in global equity leadership.'
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ClearBridge Expands VMware Practice Through Enhanced Broadcom Partnership and Addition of Expert VMware Talent
BILLERICA, Mass., April 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ClearBridge is proud to announce the expansion of its VMware by Broadcom practice through an enhanced partnership with Broadcom and the addition of more than 50 full-time VMware consultants, architects, project and practice managers, bringing the practice to over 100 resources. This growth further solidifies ClearBridge's position as the #1 VMware by Broadcom delivery partner. The expanded team significantly boosts ClearBridge's capacity to deliver industry-leading virtualization and cloud solutions, while reinforcing its long-standing commitment to technical excellence and customer success. These seasoned professionals bring deep expertise and a proven track record of supporting complex enterprise VMware environments. "As a trusted Broadcom partner, we remain focused on delivering exceptional VMware services that drive lasting value for our clients," said Tim Powell, CEO & Co-Founder of ClearBridge. "Bringing in top-tier VMware talent further strengthens our ability to provide scalable IT solutions and accelerate VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) adoption across our customer base." With this strategic growth, ClearBridge is uniquely positioned to support organizations leveraging VMware by Broadcom technologies—offering unmatched expertise and end-to-end support to help businesses navigate today's dynamic IT landscape. ClearBridge Technology Group is a national provider of technology consulting and staffing services. We help customers meet challenges with a comprehensive set of technology service offerings that include professional services support, custom project teams, program and project management, and business analysis and strategy. For more information, visit For more information about ClearBridge, please contact:Dianne Shvanda – dshvanda@ For more information about ClearBridge's VMware practice, please contact:Jesse Doherty – jdoherty@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE ClearBridge Technology Group
