United StatesPerformance and Portfolio Update
- The Fund outperformed the S&P 500 Index† during the second quarter. Consistent with our bottom-up investment approach and typical performance attribution, performance relative to the benchmark was driven by stock selection, which was positive in the quarter, and not by sector allocation, which was neutral in the quarter.
- The S&P 500 Index increased by 4.3% in the second quarter of 2019, continuing to build on the strong gain in the first quarter. It was a choppy quarter as the Index dropped by -7% from peak to trough during the quarter before recovering by quarter-end. The three-month period was marked by swings in macro sentiment due to changes in market expectations of Federal Reserve policy from “patient” to an easing bias, and the tariff skirmishes with China that dominated headlines.
- Turning to attribution, the Fund saw very positive relative results from the Industrial and real estate investment trusts (REITs) sectors during the quarter. Industrial company Ingersoll-Rand PLC, one of the Fund’s largest holdings, announced a transformational transaction that will split the industrials business from its core heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) business. We view this transaction very favorably, and investors were rewarded with a 15% rise in the shares in the second quarter. Equinix, a data center REIT holding, was also strong in the quarter as revenue growth continued to grow by 11% and the company’s debt was upgraded to investment grade, which should substantially lower its future borrowing costs.
- The worst performing sector was Consumer Discretionary, driven largely by apparel maker PVH Corp, which reduced 2019 guidance slightly during the quarter on weaker demand and concerns around higher input costs.
- After a surprising US equity rally of 18.5% in the first half of 2019, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, we expect returns to be more modest in the second half. Earnings growth is not expected to be robust for the next two quarters, so we will need to be vigilant in seeking out investments that can thrive in a more difficult earnings backdrop. Overall, we view the risk/reward to stocks to be roughly balanced for the rest of the year, and we continue to find attractive investment ideas across multiple sectors.
- We remain focused on bottom-up stock selection, while avoiding large sector over- and under-weights. We believe our investment approach, which seamlessly integrates fundamental and ESG analysis, will serve as a “flywheel” to drive performance over time as investors focus on the opportunities and risks arising from the transition to a more sustainable economy.
Performance(as of 6/30/19) | Returns (%) | Average Annual Returns (%) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Month | Quarter | YTD | 1 Year | 3 Year | 5 Year | 10 Year | Since Inception1 | |
| Large Cap Fund - Investor Class | 7.45 | 4.95 | 18.64 | 9.29 | - | - | - | 12.53 |
| Large Cap Fund - Institutional Class | 7.44 | 4.94 | 18.75 | 9.52 | - | - | - | 12.79 |
| S&P 500 Index | 7.05 | 4.30 | 18.54 | 10.42 | - | - | - | 13.24 |
| Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Index | 6.75 | 4.06 | 17.09 | 9.08 | - | - | - | 12.01 |
Performance data quoted represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For most recent month-end performance information call 800.767.1729 or visit paxstaging.wpengine.com
Figures include reinvested dividends, capital gains distributions, and changes in principal value.
1The inception date for the Pax Large Cap Fund Institutional Class and the Investor Class is December 16, 2016.
As of 5/1/19 prospectus, total annual Pax Large Cap Fund operating expenses, gross of any fee waivers or reimbursements (excluding Acquired Fund fees and expenses), for Investor Class and Institutional Class shares are 0.96% and 0.70%, respectively.
Performance Attribution(as of 6/30/19) Sector: Average Active Weights (%) | Total Relative Contribution (%) |
|---|---|
 |  |
XOther: ETFs (for short-term cash mgmt. purposes) and Cash & Equivalents.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Portfolio Characteristics(as of 6/30/19) | Fund | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap (weighted avg.)∱ | $271,855M | $242,682M |
| Forward Price/Earnings∼ | 17.54 | 17.90 |
| ROE∘ | 20.32 | 20.95 |
| Beta∞ | 1.04 | 1.00 |
| Number of Securities | 46 | 504 |
Top 10 Holdings
(as of 6/30/19)
Microsoft Corp. 5.5%, Apple, Inc. 5.1%, Amazon.com, Inc. 4.7%, Ingersoll-Rand PLC 3.2%, Merck & Co., Inc. 3.2%, Visa, Inc., Class A 3.1%, Procter & Gamble Co., The 3.1%, JPMorgan Chase & Co. 2.9%, AT&T, Inc. 2.6% and Mondelez International, Inc., Class A 2.6%. Holdings are subject to change.
Definitions
†The S&P 500 Stock Index is an unmanaged index of large capitalization common stocks. One cannot invest directly in any index.
ƒWeighted Average is an average in which each quantity to be averaged is assigned a weight. These weightings determine the relative importance of each quantity on the average.
~Forward Price-Earnings Ratio or P/E FY1 ratio is a ratio for valuing a company that measures its current share price relative to its per-share earnings over the next 12 months.
∘ Return on Equity: The amount of net income returned as a percentage of shareholders’ equity. Return on equity measures a corporations’ profitability by revealing how much profit a company generates with the money shareholders have invested.
∞An Ex-Ante Beta is used for Funds with less than 2 years of performance history under its new mandate. The Ex-Ante Beta is calculated using a multi-factor risk model. Beta explains common variations in stock returns due to different stock sensitivities to the market relative to its underlying benchmark for the current period, not historical. A beta for a benchmark is 1.00: A beta greater than 1.00 indicates above average volatility and risk.
The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author as of the date of this report. All information is historical and not indicative of future results and subject to change. This information is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
PAX008701 (10/19)