Investor Summary
Fund Strategy
FUND PERFORMANCE AS OF 30th June 2026
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 10.8% | 15.58% | - |
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 10.8% | 15.58% | - |
American Century Small Cap Value Fund returned 15.58% in Q2 2026, underperforming the Russell 2000 Value Index which returned 17.19%. The quarter saw strong equity market performance despite volatility from geopolitical tensions and AI uncertainties. The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged under new Chair Kevin Warsh, though hawkish tones increased expectations for future hikes. Performance was dampened by an underweight to information technology, particularly missing exposure to AI beneficiaries TTM Technologies and Hut 8. Energy sector positioning detracted as lower oil prices pressured exploration and production names like Northern Oil & Gas and Crescent Energy. Communication services selection contributed positively, led by Entravision Communications whose AI-driven advertising technology revenue surged over 200% year-over-year. Semiconductor equipment providers Axcelis Technologies and Kulicke & Soffa benefited from AI-related capital expenditures. The portfolio maintains overweight positions in financials and industrials based on attractive valuations and strong cash flow characteristics, while remaining significantly underweight health care. Notable trades included initiating Cardinal Infrastructure Group and Vontier while exiting Timken and Taylor Morrison Home.
The fund seeks long-term capital growth and income by investing in small-cap companies where valuations do not reflect the quality and normal earnings power of the business, with a focus on companies demonstrating strong cash flow, high returns, and attractive valuation characteristics.
The manager continues to seek small-cap companies where valuations do not reflect quality and normal earnings power. The portfolio maintains overweight positions in financials and industrials based on attractive individual opportunities, while remaining significantly underweight in health care due to valuation concerns. The manager is watching for opportunities to gain exposure to utilities but currently finds more compelling investments in cyclical areas. The focus remains on higher-quality companies with strong pricing power, cash flow generation, and shareholder-friendly capital allocation.
| Date | Letter | Tickers | Keywords | Pitches | Quick Takes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17 2026 | 2026 Q2 | ACLS, CRGY, EVC, KLIC, NOG, TKR, TMHC, VNT, VRRM | AI, energy, financials, industrials, Regional Banks, semiconductors, small caps, value | - | American Century Small Cap Value underperformed in Q2 2026, returning 15.58% versus the benchmark's 17.19%, primarily due to missing AI-driven technology rallies and energy sector weakness from lower oil prices. Semiconductor equipment providers and AI-enabled advertising technology were bright spots. The portfolio maintains conviction in financials and industrials trading below historical valuations with strong cash flow generation, while avoiding health care due to unattractive risk/reward profiles. |
| Apr 29 2026 | 2026 Q1 | CEI, ENOV, GPK, MGY, PR, TNET | energy, financials, oil, Regional Banks, small caps, value |
GPK TNET ENOV |
Small-cap value fund benefited from energy overweight as Iran war drove oil prices higher, while maintaining conviction in undervalued regional banks despite market credit concerns. Professional services holdings suffered from AI disruption fears viewed as unwarranted. Portfolio seeks quality small-caps trading below intrinsic value with overweights in financials and energy. |
| Jan 23 2026 | 2025 Q4 | AMKR, ARCB, ARW, AVT, AXS, BBWI, BC, BIRK, COLB, EEFT, ENOV, EVTC, GPK, HZO, MARA, OKLO, ONB, PATK, SSB, TKR, UMBF | banks, consumer discretionary, healthcare, industrials, semiconductors, small cap, value | - | Small cap value fund underperformed in Q4 due to healthcare underweight and materials positioning. Strong stock selection in technology, particularly Amkor Technology benefiting from AI packaging trends. Maintains overweight positions in banks, consumer discretionary, and industrials. Managers remain constructive on banking sector fundamentals and seek undervalued companies where quality exceeds current valuations. |
| Oct 19 2025 | 2025 Q3 | ACLS, ASH, AXS, BBWI, BCO, CHX, COLD, EEFT, ENOV, EVTC, GMS, GPK, HD, ONB, SLB, SSB, TKR, UMBF, VC, WBS | banks, consumer, financials, industrials, semiconductors, small cap, value | - | Small Cap Value Fund underperformed in Q3 despite positive contributors like Brink's and Axcelis Technologies. The fund maintains significant overweight in undervalued financials, particularly banks positioned for net interest income inflection, while avoiding utilities and healthcare. Recent additions include Bath & Body Works and Ashland Global Holdings, both trading at steep discounts to historical valuations with strong cash flow generation potential. |
| Jul 22 2025 | 2025 Q2 | ACLS, ASH, AXS, BBWI, BCO, CHX, COLD, EEFT, ENOV, EVTC, GMS, GPK, HD, ONB, SLB, SSB, TKR, UMBF, VC, WBS | banks, consumer discretionary, financials, industrials, Rate Cuts, small cap, value | - | Small Cap Value Fund underperformed in Q3 2025 despite Fed rate cuts, hurt by energy stock selection and overweight financials positioning. The Brink's Company and Axcelis Technologies were key contributors while Euronet Worldwide and Axis Capital detracted. Management maintains significant overweight in undervalued financials expecting net interest income inflection, with selective consumer discretionary exposure to higher-end markets. |
| Mar 31 2025 | 2025 Q1 | ACLS, AXS, BCO, BECN, BLBD, CHX, CRGY, EMBCF, ENOV, EVTC, FLWO, FNB, GPK, MGY, ONB, SSB, TITN, TKR, TPG, WBS | Banking, energy, industrials, materials, small caps, value | - | American Century's Small Cap Value Fund outperformed its benchmark despite a 6.25% Q1 decline, driven by strong stock selection in energy and industrials. The portfolio maintains overweights in undervalued banks and quality industrials trading below historical multiples, while benefiting from solid execution at holdings like Axis Capital and strategic exits from appreciated positions. |
| QUARTER | THEMES | TAGS |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q2 |
AIAI-driven growth opportunities created strong investor enthusiasm, particularly benefiting companies like TTM Technologies and Hut 8. Entravision Communications surged as its AI-driven advertising technology scaled rapidly, with revenue from its advertising technology segment increasing more than 200% year over year. The utilities sector saw nontraditional power-related names swept up as AI-related power plays. |
Advertising Technology Power Semiconductors |
SemiconductorsAxcelis Technologies outperformed on strengthening capital expenditures tied to AI and power silicon carbide chips, driving demand for ion implantation systems. Kulicke & Soffa Industries benefited as customers invested in added capacity for wire bonding equipment used in semiconductor chip packaging, with progress penetrating new, faster-growing markets. |
Ion Implantation Wire Bonding Chip Packaging Capital Expenditures | |
OilLower oil prices and investor concerns surrounding earnings and free cash flow durability weighed on exploration and production stocks. Northern Oil & Gas lagged due to large reported net losses from risk mitigation, impairments, and equity issuance, with energy price volatility and lower realized gas prices pressuring sentiment. Crescent Energy experienced a sharp pullback despite solid operating results, with volatile oil prices and integration risks from prior acquisitions weighing on shares. |
Exploration & Production Energy Prices Free Cash Flow | |
Regional BanksThe portfolio maintains an overweight to financials with heavy exposure to banking, though exposure moved from overweight to slightly underweight during the quarter. The manager maintains a positive view on higher-quality bank holdings trading meaningfully below historical valuations. Top holdings include SOUTHSTATE BANK CORP, Old National Bancorp, UMB Financial Corp, Home BancShares, and Columbia Banking System. |
Valuations Quality Financials | |
IndustrialsThe portfolio holds an overweight in industrials driven by attractive individual stock-specific opportunities in machinery, professional services, and commercial services. Many companies have exerted strong pricing power during the inflationary environment, coupled with strong underlying market demand and prudent cost control, leading to significant excess cash flow. Companies are accelerating efforts to increase shareholder value through increased dividends, share buybacks, and debt reduction. |
Pricing Power Cash Flow Buybacks Machinery | |
BiotechnologyThe portfolio is significantly underweight in health care as valuations have generally not presented attractive risk/reward opportunities. A significant portion of the underweight is driven by lack of exposure to small-cap biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences tools and services companies, which the manager believes do not offer the strong cash flow, high returns, or attractive valuation characteristics generally sought. |
Valuations Cash Flow Pharmaceuticals | |
| 2026 Q1 |
OilThe war in Iran and Strait of Hormuz closure caused crude oil prices to soar during the quarter. Energy sector holdings moved sharply higher on these events, with the fund maintaining a significant overweight allocation to energy relative to the benchmark. |
Oil Energy Geopolitical Supply Disruption |
Regional BanksThe fund maintains a significant overweight to financials, particularly banking, anchored by analysis showing continued positive inflection in net interest income and overstated market fears of an extended negative debt cycle. Many positions remain meaningfully undervalued. |
Banks Financials Interest Credit Undervalued | |
AIArtificial intelligence concerns weighed on markets and specific holdings during the quarter. Professional services positions suffered from what the manager believed were unwarranted concerns about AI disruption, and fears of AI disintermediation weighed on TriNet and its peers. |
AI Disruption Technology Services Automation | |
| 2025 Q4 |
FinancialsFund maintains significant overweight in financials sector relative to benchmark, with large positions in banks, financial services companies, and insurers. Management remains constructive on banking industry citing continued positive inflection in net interest income and believes fears of extended negative credit cycle were overstated. |
Banks Financial Services Insurance Net Interest Income |
Consumer DiscretionaryFund is overweight in consumer discretionary sector, heavily tilted toward higher-quality unique businesses targeting high-end consumers. Holdings include global consumer brands like Brunswick and Birkenstock, specialty retail exposure through marine dealers and Bath & Body Works. |
Specialty Retail Consumer Brands High-End Consumers | |
IndustrialsManagement believes industrials remains attractive and continues overweight positioning relative to benchmark. They have found higher-quality industrials in machinery, distribution, and commercial services that demonstrated strong pricing power during inflationary environment. |
Machinery Distribution Commercial Services Pricing Power | |
HealthcareFund remains significantly underweight in healthcare sector as management believes valuations have not presented attractive risk/reward opportunities. Significant portion of underweight driven by lack of exposure to small-cap biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and life sciences tools companies. |
Biotechnology Pharmaceuticals Life Sciences | |
SemiconductorsInformation technology sector contributed to performance with strong results from Amkor Technology and Kulicke & Soffa Industries. Amkor benefited from signs of recovery in end markets and growing focus on artificial intelligence packaging solutions. |
Chip Assembly AI Packaging Semiconductor Equipment | |
| 2025 Q3 |
ValueThe portfolio seeks to invest in small-cap companies where the valuation does not reflect the quality and normal earnings power of the company. Many holdings are trading meaningfully below historical valuations, particularly in financials where the market has overstated fears for an extended negative lending cycle. |
Undervalued Discount Quality Earnings |
Regional BanksThe fund maintains significant overweight in banks relative to benchmark, with research indicating an impending positive inflection in net interest income. The team remains positively predisposed to higher-quality banks trading meaningfully below historical valuations despite overstated market fears. |
Banks Interest Credit Lending Quality | |
Semiconductor CycleAxcelis Technologies performed well after an extended period of underperformance, generating better-than-expected profits amid stabilizing demand. The stock likely benefited from improved semiconductor sentiment in the market. |
Semiconductors Equipment Demand Sentiment | |
| 2025 Q2 |
ValueThe portfolio seeks to invest in small-cap companies where the valuation does not reflect the quality and normal earnings power of the company. Many holdings are trading meaningfully below historical valuations, particularly in financials where the market has overstated fears for an extended negative lending cycle. |
Undervalued Discount Quality Earnings |
BuybacksIndustrial companies have generated significant excess cash flow and accelerated efforts to return cash to shareholders via increased dividends, share buybacks and debt reduction. This pricing power coupled with strong core unit demand has enabled these capital return programs. |
Share repurchases Capital return Cash flow Shareholder returns | |
| 2025 Q1 |
ValueThe portfolio seeks to invest in small-cap companies where the valuation does not reflect the quality and normal earnings power of the company. Many holdings are trading meaningfully below historical multiples despite strong fundamentals. |
Undervalued Multiples Quality |
BuybacksStrong pricing power and excess cash flow generation has allowed many holdings to accelerate efforts to return value to shareholders via increased dividends, share buybacks and debt reduction. |
Share Repurchases Capital Return Cash Flow | |
Regional BanksMaintained significant overweight in banks based on analysis showing impending positive inflection in net interest income and overstated market fears. Many holdings still trading meaningfully below historical multiples. |
Net Interest Income Banking Credit |
| Date | Pitch Type | Author | Ticker | Company | Industry | Sub Industry | Bull / Bear | Exchange | Keywords | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 2026 | Fund Letters | American Century Small Cap Value Fund | GPK | Graphic Packaging Holding | Packaging & Containers | Paper Packaging | Bear | New York Stock Exchange | Bear, consumer goods, leverage, materials, Packaging, Structural Weakness, Sustainable Packaging | Login |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Fund Letters | American Century Small Cap Value Fund | TNET | TriNet Group | Staffing & Employment Services | Human Resource & Employment Services | Bear | New York Stock Exchange | AI disruption, Bear, Declining Employees, Human Resources, Insurance Costs, Outsourcing, professional services | Login |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Fund Letters | American Century Small Cap Value Fund | ENOV | Enovis | Medical Devices | Health Care Equipment | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | Bull, discounted valuation, growth potential, Health Care Equipment, medical technology, Orthopedic Implants, Value | Login |
| TICKER | COMMENTARY |
|---|---|
| EVC | The company's stock surged as its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven advertising technology scaled rapidly. Revenue from the company's advertising technology and services segment increased more than 200% year over year, boosting growth, margins and sentiment versus traditional media peers. Our overweight position in Entravision Communications relative to the benchmark was a notable contributor during the quarter, as strong growth in the company's advertising technology segment improved profitability and bolstered investor confidence. |
| ACLS | Company shares outperformed on strengthening capital expenditures tied to AI and power silicon carbide chips, driving demand for Axcelis' ion implantation systems and services. The company's strategic expansion initiative also supported earnings momentum and investor confidence. |
| KLIC | As a leading provider of wire bonding equipment used for packaging semiconductor chips, the company has seen its customers invest in added capacity. We believe the company has also made progress penetrating new, faster-growing markets. |
| NOG | Company shares lagged due to large, reported net losses from risk mitigation, impairments and equity issuance. Reliance on non-operating partners has limited earnings visibility, while energy price volatility and lower realized gas prices further pressured investor sentiment. |
| CRGY | The stock experienced a sharp pullback late in the quarter despite what we believed were solid operating results. Volatile oil prices and integration risks from prior acquisitions weighed on company shares. |
| VRRM | This transportation technology company's stock significantly sold off after Avis Budget Group terminated a key commercial services contract in May, forcing management to lower guidance. A subsequent CEO transition and investor concerns over customer concentration further pressured shares. |
| VNT | The company provides technology and software solutions for the mobility, transportation and vehicle repair industries. We initiated a position as we believe Vontier has reported resilient earnings and positive core sales growth. Management reaffirmed 2026 guidance and has returned capital to investors through ongoing share repurchases. |
| TKR | We decided to take profits and exit our position in this industrial bearings supplier. While the company reported strong quarterly results, we believe it is cyclically exposed and faces the risk of peak demand and slowing industrial momentum. |
| TMHC | Our research has indicated that this U.S. homebuilder has experienced softer volumes, margin compression and macro headwinds due to interest rates and affordability. We exited our position. |
| Ticker | Put/Call | Amount Bought | Shares Bought | % Change | Weight % |
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| Ticker | Put/Call | Amount Sold | Shares Sold | % Change | Weight % | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Recent Sells Data | ||||||
| Industry | Prev Quarter % | Current Quarter % | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| No industry data available | |||