GROWTH STOCKS WITH DOWNSIDE PROTECTION

The economy and markets are facing multiple headwinds. But the cumulative real growth of the economy, that’s excluding inflation, is far below other post World War II recoveries.

That growth is now being challenged on several fronts – enough to derail the U.S. economy and the record-breaking bull market in large-cap stocks?

In a slow-growth world, growth commands a premium. Large-cap growth stocks, particularly the largest U.S. ones known as mega-caps have dominated market performance, revenues, and earnings over the last decade with a few short-lived challenges from value stocks. Will they continue to do so?

This week’s guest is a newcomer to WEALTHTRACK, but not to the investment business. She is Margaret Vitrano, Co-Portfolio Manager of the high performing ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Fund
Vitrano and her Co-Portfolio Manager Peter Bourbeau also oversee ClearBridge’s All Cap Growth Strategies along with Large Cap Growth which adds up to nearly $50 billion under management.

Of particular interest is the team’s “three-bucket” approach strategy to large-cap growth which Vitrano believes has protected their portfolios in down markets. She will also discuss their treatment of the FAANGs in their portfolios and why they are currently overweighting Facebook.

WEALTHTRACK Episode #1615; Originally Broadcast on October 11, 2019

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[learn_more caption=”CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE”] A core strategy of Great Investor Hersh Cohen over the fifty years he has been investing in high quality, dividend growing companies. Here is his latest “Dividend Compounders” list. [.pdf]

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MARGARET VITRANO

• Co-Portfolio Manager,,
• ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Fund

The economy and markets are facing multiple headwinds. According to Strategas Research Partners we are now in the longest and slowest U.S. expansion ever, more than 120 months duration, and still going from the economy’s 2009 trough. But the cumulative real growth of the economy, that’s excluding inflation, is far below other post World War II recoveries.

That growth is now being challenged on several fronts: trade tensions with China, political uncertainty here with the impeachment inquiry and next year’s election,  Brexit, slowdown in Europe and China, Hong Kong’s unrest, Iran’s alleged attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities, missile firings by North Korea and now Turkey’s attack on Kurdish fighters in Northern Syria. Are these enough to derail the U.S. economy and the record breaking bull market in large cap stocks?

In a slow growth world growth commands a premium. As we have covered extensively on past WEALTHTRACKs, large cap growth stocks, particularly the largest U.S. ones known as mega caps have dominated market performance, revenues and earnings over the last decade with a few short-lived challenges from value stocks. Will they continue to do so?

This week’s guest is a newcomer to WEALTHTRACK, but not to the investment business. She is Margaret Vitrano, Co-Portfolio Manager of the high performing ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Fund since 2012. The $14.7 billion fund has earned a Bronze Medalist analyst rating from Morningstar for its “well- balanced growth portfolio” which has beaten the vast majority of its large cap peers over the years. The fund was also one of Investor’s Business Daily’s Best Mutual Funds Awards winners in 2018 for topping the S&P 500 over the prior 3, 5 and 10 year periods.

Vitrano and her Co-Portfolio Manager Peter Bourbeau also oversee ClearBridge’s All Cap Growth Strategies along with Large Cap Growth which add up to nearly $50 billion under management.

Of particular interest is the teams “three bucket” approach strategy to large cap growth which Vitrano believes has protected their portfolios in down markets. She will also discuss their treatment of the FAANGs in their portfolios and why they are currently overweighting Facebook.

Thank you for spending your precious time with us. Have a super Columbus Day holiday and make the week ahead a profitable and a productive one.

Best regards,

Consuelo

OWN SOME DIVIDEND GROWTH COMPANIES

• Financially healthy
• More defensive in nature
• Provide reliable income
• Compounding power if dividends reinvested

MORNINGSTAR ANALYST FAVORITES

Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund
• Recently reopened to new investors
• Rated 5-star Gold by Morningstar
• Same manager since 2006
• Beaten market with lower volatility

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF

• Gold Medal Analyst rating by Morningstar
• Symbol VIG

No Bookshelf titles this week.

LONG-TERM COMPOUNDER
Visa Inc (V)

V data by YCharts

Oracle Corporation (ORCL)

ORCL data by YCharts

Comcast Corporation (CMCSA)

CMCSA data by YCharts

UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH)

UNH data by YCharts

Walt Disney Co (DIS)

TGT data by YCharts

Target Corporation (TGT)

TGT data by YCharts

American Express Company (AXP)

AXP data by YCharts

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP)

FB data by YCharts

Facebook, Inc. (FB)

FB data by YCharts

Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN)

AMZN data by YCharts

Visa Inc (V)

V data by YCharts

This transcript will be available soon. More information regarding WEALTHTRACK transcripts can be found here

This is Margaret Vitrono’s first appearance on WEALTHTRACK

NEXT GENERATION MENTORING

ClearBridge Investments’ Margaret Vitrano is a top-performing portfolio manager in an industry still dominated by men. She and her Large Cap Growth team have a program to change that.

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