Dodge & Cox Stock Fund 2nd-Quarter Commentary

The Dodge & Cox Inventory Fund had a complete return of twenty.{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} for the next quarter of 2020, in contrast to twenty.five{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} for the S&P 500 Index. For the 6 months ended June thirty, 2020, the Fund had a complete return of –15.{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}, in contrast to –3.one{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} for the S&P 500.

Financial commitment Commentary

In the course of the initially fifty percent of 2020, the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) evolved into a global pandemic that disrupted major economies, increased fiscal industry volatility, and abruptly ended the longest stock industry bull operate in U.S. heritage. The U.S. equity industry executed strongly in the next quarter recovering off March lows, even with the continuing general public wellbeing crisis and existing economic downturn. Each sector of the S&P 500 posted good returns.

With the financial system accomplishing so inadequately, why has the stock industry recovered so dramatically? The U.S. government’s massive fiscal and financial stimulus systems, coupled with optimism concerning anticipated wellbeing treatment methods and some corporate earnings restoration, have bolstered investor self-assurance. Not insignificantly, just about 70{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} of the S&P 500 is comprised of enterprises that are mostly immune to the economic impression of the pandemic (we imagine of them as “COVID defensive”) the vast majority of these businesses are in the Information and facts Technology, Shopper Staples, Utilities, and Health and fitness Care sectors. The other thirty{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} of the S&P 500 has been strike hard by the economic penalties of the pandemic (“COVID cyclical”), typically in the Financials, Power, Industrials, Elements, Shopper Discretionary (ex-world-wide-web retail), and True Estate sectors. Current market actions and valuation improvements can occur quickly and without having warning, as evidenced by the powerful rebound in Power and Elements, two of the hardest strike parts of the industry in the initially quarter. These sectors have been between the prime performers in the next quarter, beating the S&P 500’s return.

About the past ten years, U.S. expansion stocks have outperformed worth stocks2 by an astounding cumulative 221 percentage factors.three In the course of this hard period for worth traders, the Fund has underperformed the broad-dependent S&P 500, but outperformed the U.S. worth investment decision universe by 33 percentage factors.four The valuation differential amongst worth- and expansion-oriented stocks has produced ample chances for valueoriented traders like Dodge & Cox.

Our investment decision team has been really productive in these unstable marketplaces, reviewing existing portfolio holdings and recommending new investments. This analysis has helped the U.S. Equity Financial commitment Committee shift the portfolio dependent on COVID-impacted fundamentals and valuations. In the course of the next quarter, we trimmed increased valuation parts of the portfolio that had executed strongly, this sort of as Prescription drugs and far more costly technology-similar businesses, and leaned more into worth parts of the industry this sort of as Financials, Power, Elements, Industrials, and minimal-valuation technology businesses. We recently extra to existing holdings this sort of as American Categorical (NYSE:AXP), Provider (NYSE:CARR), Celanese (NYSE:CE), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE), HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ), MetLife (NYSE:Achieved), VMware (NYSE:VMW), and Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC).five We also started off four new positions in the Fund, which includes LyondellBasell (NYSE:LYB) (1 of the world’s greatest commodity chemical businesses) and Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB) (a nationwide electricity processing and transporting company with roughly thirty{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} of all U.S. purely natural fuel volumes).

Although the portfolio remains tilted towards Financials (twenty five.five{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}six of the portfolio as opposed to 10.one{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} of the S&P 500), Health and fitness Care (17.seven{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to fourteen.six{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}), and Power (nine.three{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to 2.8{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}), the Fund remains diversified and has exposure to numerous investment decision motorists. We have powerful conviction in our worth-oriented, lively investment decision technique and proceed to imagine now is an opportune time to be invested in worth stocks.

We continue to be optimistic about the very long-time period outlook for the Fund, which trades at a substantial lower price to the over-all industry: thirteen.four times forward earnings in contrast to 24.2 times for the S&P 500. Persistence, persistence, and a very long-time period investment decision horizon are vital to very long-time period investment decision achievement. We encourage our shareholders to acquire a comparable perspective. Thank you for your continued self-assurance in Dodge & Cox.

Our feelings are with all the persons and families of people who have suffered from COVID-19 and also with the devoted wellbeing treatment personnel and initially responders battling on the entrance traces. We want all people all the finest through these hard times.

Next Quarter General performance Overview

The Fund underperformed the S&P 500 by .five percentage factors through the quarter.

Crucial Detractors from Relative Effects

• Potent performance by a couple huge technology and world-wide-web similar businesses not held in the Fund harm relative final results. The impression was sizeable in Information and facts Technology and Shopper Discretionary (two of the strongest S&P 500 sectors), where by the Fund was underweight in the course of the period.
• The Fund’s holdings in Information and facts Technology lagged (up twenty five{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to up 31{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}), specially HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
• A increased regular weighting in Financials (26{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to 11{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) harm performance given that the sector continued to lag the industry. Wells Fargo and Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW) have been critical detractors.
• In the Shopper Discretionary sector, the Fund’s regular underweight situation (three{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to 10{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) harm relative final results.
• In Health and fitness Care, the Fund’s reduced returns (up 12{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to up fourteen{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) and increased regular weighting (twenty{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to 15{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) had a destructive impression. Cigna (NYSE:CI) and Novartis (NVS) have been weak.
• Molson Coors (Faucet) and FedEx (FDX) also detracted.

Crucial Contributors to Relative Effects

• The Fund’s increased regular weighting (nine{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to three{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) and powerful performance in the Power sector (up fifty four{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to up 31{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) contributed. Occidental Petroleum (OXY), Apache (APA), Baker Hughes (BHI), and Halliburton (HAL) appreciated significantly.
• The Fund’s underweight situation in Shopper Staples and Utilities helped final results given that these have been the weakest parts of the Index (up 8{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} and up three{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} respectively for the S&P 500).
• Microchip Technology (MCHP) and DISH Community (DISH) have been also powerful contributors.

Yr-to-Day General performance Overview

The Fund underperformed the S&P 500 by 11.nine percentage factors year to date.

Crucial Detractors from Relative Effects

• Potent performance by a couple huge technology and world-wide-web similar businesses not held in the Fund harm relative returns, specially in the Information and facts Technology (down three{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to up 15{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) and Shopper Discretionary (down 19{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to up seven{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) sectors.
• Within just Information and facts Technology, Hewlett Packard Enterprise lagged. The Fund’s underweight situation in the sector (averaging eighteen{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to twenty five{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) also had a destructive impression.
• In Financials, the Fund’s regular over weight situation (26{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to 11{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) and reduced returns (down 31{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to down 24{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) detracted. Wells Fargo, Cash One particular Economic (COF), and Charles Schwab have been the major detractors.
• Power was the weakest sector of the Fund and the Index (down 47{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to down 35{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}). The Fund’s increased regular weighting (nine{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to three{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) and weaker returns from holdings harm final results. Occidental Petroleum, Apache, and Schlumberger (SLB) executed inadequately.

Crucial Contributors to Relative Effects

• The Fund’s regular over weight situation (21{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to 15{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) and far better returns in the Health and fitness Care sector (up one{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} as opposed to down one{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}) aided final results. Roche (XSWX:ROG), AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN), and Alnylam Prescription drugs (ALNY) have been specifically powerful.
• The Fund’s lack of holdings in the Utilities and True Estate sectors contributed given that these segments of the Index lagged (down 11{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} and down nine{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644}, respectively).
• Dash was extremely powerful as its merger with T-Cellular US (TMUS) was permitted.
• Microchip Technology, Dell Systems (DELL), and Constitution Communications (CHTR) also contributed.

one The Fund’s complete returns incorporate the reinvestment of dividend and cash get distributions, but have not been altered for any cash flow taxes payable by shareholders on these distributions or on Fund share redemptions. Index returns incorporate dividends but, not like Fund returns, do not replicate costs or charges. The S&P 500 Index is a industry capitalization-weighted index of 500 huge-capitalization stocks typically employed to stand for the U.S. equity industry.

2 Value stocks are the reduced valuation part of the equity industry, and expansion stocks are the increased valuation part.

three The Russell one thousand Advancement Index had a complete return of 390.three{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} from June thirty, 2010 through June thirty, 2020 in contrast to 169.one{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} for the Russell one thousand Value Index.

four The Dodge & Cox Inventory Fund had a complete return of 202.five{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} from June thirty, 2010 through June thirty, 2020 in contrast to 169.one{2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} for the Russell one thousand Value Index.

five The use of precise illustrations does not indicate that they are far more or significantly less interesting investments than the portfolio’s other holdings.

six Unless of course if not specified, all weightings and traits are as of June thirty, 2020

Returns stand for earlier performance and do not assure potential final results. Financial commitment return and share price will fluctuate with industry circumstances, and traders may possibly have a get or decline when shares are sold. Fund performance improvements in excess of time and at present may possibly be appreciably reduced than said higher than. General performance is current and posted month-to-month. Pay a visit to the Fund’s site at dodgeandcox.com or simply call 800-621-3979 for existing thirty day period-close performance figures.

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