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Narrow Market Likely to Broaden to Quality Stocks Across Sectors
July 3, 2023
Jim Madden, CFA, Tony Tursich, CFA, and Beth Williamson
- The dominance of US mega-cap tech stocks looks set to give way to broader leadership, favoring quality companies across sectors.
- We believe SROIX will be well positioned in an environment where quality is rewarded and risk management matters.
- We consider not only financial risk but also nonfinancial risks to identify fundamentally strong companies that are at the cutting edge of secular trends and ahead of the curve in managing the challenges of the global economy.
Stock markets held up during the second quarter as investors piled into US large-cap technology stocks, despite aggressive central bank policy, fading fiscal support, lower levels of liquidity and growing worries about China’s economy. The S&P 500 Index’s rally was primarily attributable to a bull run in a handful of mega-cap stocks boosted by the exuberance over artificial intelligence.
Figure 1. Narrow leadership: A handful of stocks drove S&P 500 returns in 1H 2023
Source: Bloomberg. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
The prospect for further outperformance in big-cap tech is becoming less likely given extended valuations and continued central bank hiking in developing markets. We believe that broader exposure to other economic sectors will pay off. As such, Calamos Antetokounmpo Sustainable Equities Fund (SROIX) is overweight quality stocks with reasonable valuations in the industrials, materials, and healthcare sectors. Quality, more broadly, should hold up given that interest rates are not likely to go down soon, global economic growth isn’t rebounding, and 2023 earnings are flattish. After several months of investor complacency, the “risk” part of the risk-and-return equation is likely to matter in coming quarters. The fund is positioned accordingly.
It’s not just big-cap technology stocks that have been hot as of late. Global temperatures in June hit the highest level on record for this time of the year, causing temperatures to exceed pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5°C for the first time. A heat wave smashed temperature records in China, and the country joins India, the UK and other nations in bracing for a scorching summer. Europe already had the warmest summer on record last year, contributing to thousands of deaths, marine heat waves and extreme weather. The world’s oceans were the warmest on record in April and May, a development that could mean more severe weather over the next few months and trigger a rise in sea levels. Texans’ power prices surged 80% in a matter of hours amid shrinking spare electricity supplies in June as searing heat puts the state’s grid to the test.
Figure 2. Daily global average temperatures (°Celsius) from January 1, 1940
Source: Copernicus.
Climate change is clearly taking a major human, economic and environmental toll. Putting a price on carbon is one of the strongest levers to tackle climate change. This is happening. Today, there are 70 carbon pricing initiatives globally, whether a carbon tax or emissions trading scheme, covering 23% of global emissions.
Companies that are already reducing their emission profiles—and future environmental liabilities—have a competitive advantage and are better positioned to outperform over the long term. We continue to work diligently to identify the best US-listed investment opportunities in this regard.
Before investing, carefully consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Please see the prospectus and summary prospectus containing this and other information which can be obtained by calling 1-866-363-9219. Read it carefully before investing.
Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. Alternative strategies entail added risks and may not be appropriate for all investors. Indexes are unmanaged, not available for direct investment and do not include fees and expenses.
Opinions, estimates, forecasts, and statements of financial market trends that are based on current market conditions constitute our judgment and are subject to change without notice. The views and strategies described may not be appropriate for all investors. References to specific securities, asset classes and financial markets are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as recommendations.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) is based on the premise of investing in companies that have good environmental records, are ethically run and have a positive social impact.
An investment in the Fund(s) is subject to risks, and you could lose money on your investment in the Fund(s). There can be no assurance that the Fund(s)will achieve its investment objective. Your investment in the Fund(s) is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The risks associated with an investment in the Fund(s) can increase during times of significant market volatility. The Fund(s) also has specific principal risks, which are described below. More detailed information regarding these risks can be found in the Fund’s prospectus.
The principal risks of investing in the Calamos Antetokounmpo Sustainable Equities Fund include: equity securities risk consisting of market prices declining in general, growth stock risk consisting of potential increased volatility due to securities trading at higher multiples, large-capitalization stocks as a group could fall out of favor with the market, small and mid-sized company risk, sector risk, portfolio turnover risk, and portfolio selection risk.
The Fund's ESG policy could cause it to perform differently compared to similar funds that do not have such a policy. The application of the social and environmental standards of Calamos Advisors may affect the Fund's exposure to certain issuers, industries, sectors, and factors that may impact the relative financial performance of the Fund-positively or negatively-depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor.
Calamos Antetokounmpo Asset Management LLC (“CGAM”), an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, serves as the Fund’s adviser (“Adviser”). CGAM is jointly owned by Calamos Advisors LLC and Original C Fund, LLC, an entity whose voting rights are wholly owned by Original PE, LLC which, in turn, is wholly owned by Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo. Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo is the majority shareholder of Original C, with a 68% ownership interest.
Mr. Antetokounmpo serves on the Adviser’s Board of Directors and has indirect control of half of the Adviser’s Board.
Mr. Antetokounmpo is not a portfolio manager of the Fund and will not be involved in the day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments, and neither Original C nor Mr. Antetokounmpo shall provide any “investment advice” to the Fund. Mr. Antetokounmpo provided input in selecting the initial strategy for the Fund.
Mr. Antetokounmpo will be involved with marketing efforts on behalf of the Adviser.
If Mr. Antetokounmpo is no longer involved with the Fund or the Adviser then “Antetokounmpo” will be removed from the name of the Fund and the Adviser. Further, shareholders would be notified of any change in the name of the Fund or its strategy.