Dodge & Cox Global Stock Fund 2nd-Quarter Commentary

The Dodge & Cox International Inventory Fund experienced a whole return of 20.3{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} for the second quarter of 2020, compared to 19.4{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} for the MSCI World Index. For the 6 months ended June 30, 2020, the Fund experienced a whole return of –17.{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}, compared to –5.8{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} for the MSCI World.

Investment decision Commentary

In the to start with quarter of 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic advanced into a worldwide threat that disrupted significant economies and considerably elevated volatility in the monetary marketplaces. After declining sharply in the to start with quarter, the MSCI World rebounded strongly in the second quarter, with every sector and region publishing favourable returns. Not shockingly, some of the most difficult strike sectors in the to start with quarter—traditional price sectors these types of as Power, Elements, and Industrials— have been among the improved-carrying out sectors in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Information Technologies, a longtime leader that has helped fuel the “growth” aspect of the industry, regained its place as the most effective-carrying out sector of the MSCI World. Sector sentiment benefited from enormous government fiscal and financial stimulus systems, as nicely as optimism all-around opportunity health care solutions, even before earnings recovery materialized.

More than the previous decade, the MSCI World Price Index2 has underperformed the MSCI World Expansion Index by an astounding 142 proportion points cumulatively.3 Throughout this demanding time period for price investors, the Fund has underperformed the wide-based mostly MSCI World, but outperformed the MSCI World Price Index by 31 proportion points and MSCI ACWI Price Index by forty four proportion points.4 The valuation differential among price- and development-oriented stocks remains really large by historic requirements: the MSCI World Price trades at 15.1 periods forward earnings compared to 29.4 periods for the MSCI World Expansion.five This valuation disparity is practically four conventional deviations below the historic ordinary and has developed enough financial commitment chances for price-oriented investors like Dodge & Cox.

Our group of worldwide sector analysts has been hugely effective in these volatile marketplaces, reviewing present portfolio holdings and presenting numerous new chances. This analysis has helped the International Equity Investment decision Committee shift the portfolio based mostly on COVID-impacted fundamentals and valuations. Throughout the second quarter, we trimmed better valuation places of the portfolio that experienced executed strongly (e.g., Health and fitness Care, more costly technological know-how-associated organizations) and Power holdings that experienced rebounded, while leaning even more into price chances in the industry these types of as in Elements, Financials, and decrease valuation TMT. We included to present holdings together with Axis Bank (BOM:532215), Banco Santander (XMAD:SAN), Comcast (CMCSA), Itau Unibanco (NYSE:ITUB), and VMWare (NYSE:VMW).six We also started off 5 new positions in the Fund, together with Fb (NASDAQ:FB) (a social media conglomerate), LyondellBasell (NYSE:LYB) (1 of the world’s most significant commodity chemical organizations), and Nutrien (TSX:NTR) (the most significant agricultural fertilizer producer in the environment).

Whilst the portfolio remains tilted toward Financials, Power, Communication Companies, and Health and fitness Care, the Fund remains diversified and has publicity to many financial commitment motorists. We have powerful conviction in our price-oriented, lively financial commitment tactic and carry on to feel now is an opportune time to be invested in price stocks.

In general, we continue to be optimistic about the extensive-expression outlook for the Fund, which trades at a significant lower price to the over-all industry: thirteen.1 periods forward earnings compared to 20.2 periods for the MSCI World. Endurance, persistence, and a extensive-expression financial commitment horizon are critical to extensive-expression financial commitment success. We motivate our shareholders to just take a similar look at. Thank you for your continued self-confidence in Dodge & Cox.

Our feelings are with all the individuals and families of these who have suffered from COVID-19 and also with the committed health care staff and to start with responders battling on the front lines. We would like every person all the most effective through these demanding periods.

Next Quarter Overall performance Evaluation

The Fund outperformed the MSCI World by .nine proportion points through the quarter.

Key Contributors to Relative Outcomes

  • Relative returns in the Power sector (up fifty six{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} compared to up 17{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} for the MSCI World sector), merged with a better ordinary weighting (8{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to 3{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}), experienced a favourable influence. Ovintiv (TSX:OVV), Apache (APA), Occidental Petroleum (OXY), Hess (HES), and Baker Hughes (BHI) have been powerful performers.
  • The Fund’s ordinary underweight place in the Shopper Staples sector (1{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to nine{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) and stock collection (up forty four{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} compared to up nine{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) contributed to results.
  • Microchip Technologies (MCHP), JD.com (JD), and Dell Technologies (DELL) have been more contributors.

Key Detractors from Relative Outcomes

  • The Fund’s ordinary underweight place in the Information Technologies sector (thirteen{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to 20{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}), merged with stock collection (up 26{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} compared to up 31{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}), detracted from results. HP Inc. (HPQ) lagged.
  • The Fund’s better ordinary weighting in the Financials sector (28{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to thirteen{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) harm results. Regular Chartered (LSE:STAN), Banco Santander, Wells Fargo (WFC), and Charles Schwab (SCHW) detracted from results.
  • Mitsubishi Electric (TSE:6503) and Grupo Televisa (MEX:TLEVISACPO) have been more detractors.

12 months-to-Day Overall performance Evaluation

The Fund underperformed the MSCI World by 11.2 proportion points 12 months to day.

Key Detractors from Relative Outcomes

  • The Fund’s ordinary over weight place in the Financials sector (29{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to fourteen{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} for the MSCI World sector), merged with stock collection (down 35{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} compared to down 23{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}), harm results. ICICI Bank (NSE:ICICIBANK), Societe Generale (XPAR:GLE), UniCredit (MIL:UCG), and Banco Santander lagged.
  • In the Information Technologies sector, the Fund’s holdings (down 4{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} compared to up fourteen{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} for the MSCI World sector) and ordinary underweight place (12{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to 19{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) detracted from results.
  • Occidental Petroleum and Grupo Televisa also detracted from results.

Key Contributors to Relative Outcomes

  • Inventory collection in the Industrials sector (down nine{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} compared to down thirteen{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) as nicely as the Fund’s ordinary underweight place (7{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to ten{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) helped results.
  • The Fund’s ordinary underweight place in the Serious Estate sector (<1{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} versus 3{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) contributed to results.
  • Extra contributors involved JD.com, Sprint (S), Dell Technologies, Microchip Technologies, Roche (XSWX:ROG), Prosus (XAMS:PRX), Naspers (JSE:NPN), and Charter Communications (CHTR).

Returns represent earlier efficiency and do not promise long run results. Investment decision return and share price tag will fluctuate with industry ailments, and investors could have a gain or loss when shares are offered. Fund efficiency alterations about time and at the moment could be appreciably decrease than said higher than. Overall performance is up-to-date and printed month to month. Visit the Fund’s site at dodgeandcox.com or call 800-621-3979 for present thirty day period-finish efficiency figures.

About the writer:

Sydnee Gatewood

I am the editorial director at GuruFocus. I have a BA in journalism and a MA in mass communications from Texas Tech College. I have lived in Texas most of my life, but also have roots in New Mexico and Colorado. Follow me on Twitter! @gurusydneerg