Information contained in this area of the Website is published solely for general informative purposes and intended only for United States and Canadian institutional investors, consultants, financial advisers, and other intermediaries who are who are knowledgeable and experienced in the financial services market and in investment products of this nature. If you are a retail, individual investor or non-ultra-high net worth individual then please leave this website immediately. The information is not authorized for use in a jurisdiction where distribution is not authorized and is not intended for distribution to retail clients, the general public or retail investors. If you choose to access this Website from locations outside of the United States or Canada, you do so at your own initiative and risk, and are responsible for compliance with all applicable laws.
U.S. Institutional Investors: By accessing this site you confirm that you are an U.S. Institutional Investor, you agree not to forward or make the contents of this site available to any person who is not an U.S. Institutional Investor, and you agree to be subject to intechinvestments.com terms of use.
Canadian Institutional Investors: By accessing this site you confirm that you are a “permitted client” as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations of the Canadian Securities Administrators, you agree not to forward or make the contents of this site available to any person who is not a “permitted client”, and you agree to be subject to intechinvestments.com terms of use. The information on this Website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute (i) an offer for products or services or (ii) the provision of investment advice of any kind, tailored or otherwise. The information on this Website should also not be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy to any persons who are prohibited from receiving such information under the laws applicable to their place of citizenship, domicile or residence. Intech Investment Management LLC (“Intech”) does not have any funds that offer securities under a simplified prospectus for general offer or sale within Canada. No securities regulatory authority in Canada has reviewed or in any way passed upon this website or the merits of any investment available, and any representation to the contrary is an offense. Intech is registered with the United States Securities & Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Intech is a subsidiary of Janus Henderson Group plc, and is affiliated with its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Decline - Redirect me to janushenderson.com
Topics: Defensive Equity, Blog
Posted by Andrew Samalis, Managing Director
The growth in assets within defensive equity strategies over the past decade since the last financial crisis is evidence of demand for such positioning from investors – and their recognition of the impact it can have on equity portfolios. We’ve covered the potential benefits of defensive equity strategies at length in previous papers, but to summarize: market-like (or better) returns, with greater downside protection and reduced volatility (standard deviation).Low volatility indexes, such as MSCI’s Minimum Volatility suite, are considered a common passive entry point for low volatility exposure. In our previous blog post, we discussed the limitations of low volatility indexes, and how active management can improve their outcomes.
While low interest rates have been a contributor to the historically strong period of equity market returns, they have also been a drag on funding statuses. And with return targets necessitating an increase in equity exposure for some investors, defensive equity strategies offer a way to increase equity exposure without all of the corresponding increase in risk. As plans often consider equities as a primary liquidity source, and must continue to pay benefits through down markets, mitigating the drag of removing capital at market low points can have a substantial impact beyond less-volatile portfolios with the same annual arithmetic return. The compounding of reduced drawdown with added excess return during the worst periods markets have to offer can be the difference between solvency and default for plans without a surplus to burn. Adding potential excess return via an active manager represents even more value preserved in turbulent times.
To demonstrate the cumulative impact this can have on funding levels, we look to the first decade of the millennium. 2020’s recent severe but short-lived dip in equities notwithstanding, investors have become comfortable in this historically long bull market. But we aren’t that far removed from the bursting of a stock market bubble led by tech names with wildly inflated valuations (sound familiar?) and a subprime mortgage crisis virtually no one saw coming. With two massive drawdowns in U.S. and global equities and the start and end of the decade, it represented a worst-case scenario for plans relying on equities to meet return targets. From 2000-2009, the annualized returns (in USD) of the MSCI USA and MSCI World Index were -1.29% and 0.23%, respectively.
In the illustration below, we show a typical scenario in which a plan with a $100 million equity allocation must withdraw 4% annually, increasing with inflation. A plan relying exclusively on passive exposure to a cap-weighted index would have had its market value cut by over 50%. A passive allocation to a minimum volatility index would have lost considerably less, preserving an additional $33 and $40 million for U.S. and global portfolios, respectively. And our hypothetical active strategies producing a consistent excess return above that minimum volatility index would have made an even more profound impact on asset levels, actually increasing market values over this period. This kind of compounding during the worst periods markets have to offer can be the difference between solvency and default for plans without a surplus to burn.
How Active Can Help
Equity exposure is essential to close funding gaps, but market drawdown risks are real. So-called “passive” low volatility indexes appear to be a straightforward solution, but have shortcomings by design. We think an active manager can do better. Learn more by downloading our eBook, “How to Improve Low Volatility Factor Investing Outcomes.”
The information expressed herein is subject to change based on market and other conditions. The views presented are for general informational purposes only and are not intended as investment advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, or as an endorsement, recommendation, or sponsorship of any company, security, advisory service, or fund nor do they purport to address the financial objectives or specific investment needs of any individual reader, investor, or organization. This information should not be used as the sole basis for investment decisions. All content is presented by the date(s) published or indicated only, and may be superseded by subsequent market events or other reasons. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal and fluctuation of value.
Hypothetical performance shown is for illustrative purposes only. Hypothetical performance is not real and has many inherent limitations. It does not reflect the results or risks associated with actual trading or the actual performance of any portfolio. Therefore, there is no guarantee that an actual portfolio would have achieved the results shown. In fact, there will be differences between hypothetical and actual results. No investor should assume that future performance will be profitable, or equal to the hypothetical results shown.
In no circumstances should the hypothetical results be regarded as a representation, warranty, or prediction that investors will achieve or are likely to achieve the results displayed or that investors will be able to avoid losses. The hypothetical results include estimated trading fees, but do not reflect the deduction of advisory fees and other expenses, which will materially lower results over time. As with all investments, there are inherent risks that must be considered.
An index is unmanaged, is not available for direct investment, and does not reflect the deduction of management fees or other expenses. There is a risk/reward tradeoff that comes with investing in defensive equity strategies. These risk strategies are likely to underperform the index during periods of strong up markets and may not achieve the desired level of protection in down markets.
MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This material has not been approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI.
Sign up today to receive the latest Intech® content in your inbox.
2021 Intech ©. All rights reserved.
The views presented are as of the date published. They are for information purposes only and should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security or market sector. No forecasts can be guaranteed. The opinions and examples are meant as an illustration of broader themes, are not an indication of trading intent, and are subject to change at any time due to changes in market or economic conditions. There is no guarantee that the information supplied is accurate, complete, or timely, nor are there any warranties with regards to the results obtained from its use. It is not intended to indicate or imply in any manner that any illustration/example mentioned is now or was ever held in any Intech portfolio, or that current or past results are indicative of future profitability or expectations. As with all investments, there are inherent risks to be considered.