Brummer Multi-Strategy delivered 8.9% net returns in 2025 driven by strong long/short equity alpha generation, particularly on shorts. Despite challenging conditions from trade policy volatility and AI market concentration, the diversified approach proved resilient. Systematic strategies struggled with choppy markets while fixed income expansion progressed. Elevated valuations and multiple macro risks warrant cautious positioning despite positive sentiment entering 2026.

Diversified portfolios returned to favor in 2025 as the Fed's policy pivot supported a soft landing with inflation cooling below 3% and international markets leading with 30%+ gains. Fixed income restored its ballast role with 7%+ returns. Despite AI headlines, no single driver dominated, validating the team's balanced global approach heading into 2026.

UOB Asset Management takes strategically neutral positioning as markets face inflection point with tariff headwinds peaking Q4 2025. Assigns 50% probability to continued growth versus 50% combined recession/stagflation risk. Overweights Asia and Europe equities, underweights US, maintains gold overweight. Expects 1-2 Fed cuts, inflation rising to 3-4%, and 10-year yields ranging 4.00-4.50%.

L1 Long Short Fund delivered 46.8% annual returns in 2025, significantly outperforming the ASX200AI's 10.3%. The manager views Australian large caps as overvalued and focuses on undervalued offshore opportunities, particularly in infrastructure, gold, U.S. cyclicals, uranium and value stocks. Portfolio maintains strong value skew with quality companies offering compelling risk-adjusted returns globally.

2025 proved the power of global diversification as international markets crushed US performance, with emerging markets up 33.6% and developed ex-US up 31.9% versus US equities at 17.3%. AI themes broadened beyond mega-caps while trade tensions eased. Dollar weakness amplified international returns. Outlook for 2026 remains constructive across regions and sectors.

Contrarius delivered 54.4% returns in 2025 by positioning for AI disruption through three investment buckets: AI winners, AI-proof companies, and avoiding AI-threatened businesses. Key contributor EchoStar transformed via strategic spectrum sales, providing valuable SpaceX exposure at discount valuations. Fund maintains concentrated positions in high-conviction technology and consumer names while avoiding disruption-threatened sectors.

Chevy Chase Trust expects muted 2026 equity returns after strong 2025 performance. The firm focuses on five investment themes including inflation normalization, international opportunities, specialized technology, genomic medicine, and automation. Manager reduced AI exposure due to valuation concerns while maintaining diversification through position trimming. Economic tailwinds from fiscal stimulus offset by midterm election dynamics and unemployment risks.

Columbia Strategic Income Fund sees compelling bond opportunities in 2026 despite Fed policy uncertainty. The fund targets securities offering attractive yield per duration unit, emphasizing asset-based finance and agency mortgage-backed securities while maintaining credit quality discipline. Growing credit dispersion creates active-return opportunities for research-driven managers.

Global bond fund outperformed benchmark by 6.50% in 2025, driven by emerging market hard-currency debt and selective duration management. Portfolio maintains cautious positioning with moderate duration exposure, significant emerging market allocation, and limited US dollar exposure. Strategy focuses on capitalizing on central bank easing cycles while managing risks from trade tensions and fiscal concerns.

Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund concentrates in 50 mid-cap growth companies undergoing Positive Dynamic Change. The fund delivered 14.98% returns in 2025, significantly outperforming benchmarks through fundamental research and high conviction positioning in technology, healthcare, and industrial sectors with 74.60% active share.

Traditional finance firms entering crypto derivatives face operational challenges from fragmented market structure, 24/7 trading, and lack of standardization. Solutions include specialized technology partners, prime brokerage for capital efficiency, institutional custody, and market maker relationships. Market structure is converging toward traditional standards with growing institutional adoption driven by regulatory clarity and improved infrastructure.

Gold has outperformed all major assets when measured as real money, with the dollar losing 58% of its value since October 2023. The manager sees gold miners entering a multi-year bull market as Fed monetary policy loses effectiveness and the dollar's reserve status erodes. Silver offers additional upside from industrial demand and supply constraints.

Baillie Gifford's Emerging Markets fund delivered exceptional 40.69% returns in 2025, driven by AI-related semiconductor strength in Korea, commodity recovery, and China's technology policy focus. Despite geopolitical headwinds and technology valuation concerns, the manager remains optimistic about emerging markets' structural underrepresentation relative to their growing economic contribution and attractive long-term growth opportunities.

Baillie Gifford Global Alpha underperformed in Q4 as markets penalized companies reinvesting in growth, particularly AI capabilities. Key detractors included Prosus, Sea, and Meta despite strong underlying fundamentals. Contributors included Dollar General, Kokusai Electric, and TSMC. New positions added in Keyence, Samsara, and QXO. With valuations at historic lows relative to benchmark, the fund is positioned for future outperformance.

Baillie Gifford's International All Cap portfolio underperformed in Q4 2025 due to style headwinds affecting quality and growth stocks. Semiconductor companies like TSMC and Samsung drove positive performance through AI demand, while consumer platforms faced uncertainty. Despite near-term challenges, the manager maintains conviction in high-quality businesses with durable competitive advantages and structural growth positioning.

Baillie Gifford's concentrated international growth fund declined 0.63% in Q4 despite strong underlying fundamentals across AI, e-commerce, and streaming holdings. Near-term margin pressures at MercadoLibre, Spotify, and Sea Limited offset gains from semiconductor leaders TSMC and ASML. Managers maintain conviction in structural growth themes and 10-year investment horizon approach.

Baillie Gifford's international growth fund underperformed in Q4 despite strong AI semiconductor momentum. New SK Hynix position capitalizes on structural memory demand while Spotify and Sea Limited faced near-term headwinds. Managers maintain long-term conviction in portfolio companies' earnings growth potential, emphasizing their active approach and five-year investment horizon through market volatility.

Quality growth stocks faced another tough month as UK markets favored Value sectors, but extreme valuation compression has created compelling opportunities. The Fund's high-quality compounders trade at historic discounts despite superior fundamentals, with free cash flow yields exceeding the broader market. Supportive macro conditions and rate cuts position Quality for inevitable leadership rotation.

Moon Capital initiated Molina Healthcare at $160, down from $300, viewing it as a mispriced Medicaid compounder with transitory margin pressure. Despite industry losses, Molina maintains 250bp MLR advantage over peers. Contractual rate resets should normalize margins, creating 2-3x upside potential as earnings power becomes evident.

MacNicol successfully navigated 2025's volatility by focusing on real assets and precious metals, which delivered exceptional returns as gold rose 64% and silver surged 142%. The firm maintains that active investing requires trusting your compass rather than chasing trends, with 2026 outlook shaped by Fed transition, midterm elections, and AI's evolution from spending to productivity.

Lyrical delivered 17.9% returns in 2025, matching the S&P 500 without Magnificent Seven exposure while outperforming value benchmarks. Their portfolio trades at a 78% discount to the market with superior 10.6% earnings growth. Strong travel sector performance offset payment processor weakness. The firm sees opportunity in current wide valuation spreads.

Value spreads at historic extremes create upside potential as AI adoption must broaden beyond technology in 2026 to justify massive capital investment. Portfolio holds faster-growth companies at lower valuations than benchmark, positioned for AI adoption in underpriced sectors while maintaining exposure to real assets and cash-generating companies with strong fundamentals.

RTW delivered 35.7% YTD returns as biotech ended four years of underperformance with major indices beating broader markets. Strong M&A activity ($105B) and policy clarity drove the turnaround. The firm expects continued outperformance in 2026 from innovation, financing strength, and further consolidation as the sector enters early innings of a new bull cycle.

2025 proved market sentiment is not destiny as stocks delivered 18% returns despite widespread bearish predictions. Trump's tariff panic in April became a bear trap after policy walkback triggered relief rally. AI bubble concerns persist while 50-year mortgages are dismissed as debt traps. Claret maintains disciplined value approach while finding high yield bonds attractive above 8%.

GROW Funds rotated to healthcare overweight positioning while delivering strong 2025 returns. Manager sees opportunities in small-cap growth companies with new products despite elevated market valuations. Skeptical of AI infrastructure bubble but optimistic about Fed rate cuts benefiting small companies. Focus remains on active stock selection over passive investing.

East Capital delivered exceptional 2025 performance with emerging markets up 34% and frontier markets up 47%, outperforming S&P 500 by 16.5%. Korean memory stocks and Chinese AI capabilities drove returns. Managers see continued opportunity as investors seek alternatives to expensive US markets, with emerging markets offering superior growth at attractive valuations while global allocations remain light.

Small-cap growth fund capitalizing on secular digitization themes including AI infrastructure and cloud computing. Strong Q4 performance driven by biotech holdings despite macro headwinds from labor market softening and consumer caution. Portfolio overweight industrials and healthcare while underweight technology. Manager sees accelerating business spending from tax incentives creating attractive opportunities in specialized growth companies.

Anchor Capital sees markets shifting from macro-driven to fundamentals-based performance, with earnings growth driving 79% of S&P 500 returns in 2025. Despite policy uncertainty and trade tensions, AI infrastructure investment, defense spending increases, and international outperformance signal a multipolar investment environment. The firm favors diversified portfolios emphasizing quality earnings and real assets over broad market exposure.

Canopy's global SMID fund fell 9.2% as markets rotated from quality to speculative stocks amid AI enthusiasm. Portfolio companies grew earnings 9% but suffered broad PE de-rating with 25 of 32 stocks compressed. Fund believes AI disruption fears overdone for high-quality holdings now trading at attractive valuations near 10-year lows.

M&G sees market polarisation creating alpha opportunities between hype and hesitation. Quality stocks hit 20-year relative lows while AI valuations appear frothy. The firm favors Asia and Europe over US, taking advantage of de-rated quality names while selectively investing in AI beneficiaries. Neutral equity-bond allocation with tactical government bond management and preference for selectivity over macro bets.

Baillie Gifford's concentrated US growth strategy delivered 28% annual returns despite Q4 volatility around AI valuations. New positions in Alphabet and Coinbase reflect conviction in AI transformation and crypto adoption. Strong performance from Guardant Health and Shopify offset weakness in Roblox and Netflix. Managers maintain long-term focus on exceptional growth businesses with sustainable competitive advantages.

Baillie Gifford International Alpha underperformed in Q4 despite positive returns, with semiconductor plays Samsung and Tokyo Electron driving gains while Latin American e-commerce platform MercadoLibre faced competitive pressures. The team added quality names in copper mining, salmon farming, and chip design while exiting weaker conviction positions, positioning for improved fundamentals-driven performance in 2026.

Markets overcame multiple 2025 headwinds to deliver strong returns, led by mega-cap growth and AI investment cycle momentum. Fed easing continues with more cuts expected in 2026. Despite concerns over private credit and AI bubbles, fundamentals remain solid with earnings growth supporting 7-9% market gains projected for 2026 amid ongoing economic expansion.

Focus Wealth Management maintains disciplined investing principles amid historically expensive markets driven by AI hype. While delivering strong returns, the firm avoids speculation and focuses on overlooked quality businesses generating steady cash flows. With valuations at extreme levels reminiscent of the dot-com bubble, they prepare for eventual market correction by staying selective and patient.

TIFF delivered strong 2025 performance through diversified liquid strategies while private markets lagged but showed improvement. The firm continues expanding systematic manager allocations, event-driven exposure, and AI integration across operations. With 35 years of institutional-quality solutions for nonprofits and growing international interest, TIFF remains optimistic about 2026 despite tariff concerns and private market headwinds.

LENS ETF's +56.79% inaugural year return validated the Return to Tangibles thesis as precious metals soared amid trade wars and inflation concerns. Gold and silver hit all-time highs while the fund's thematic positioning in Geopolitical & Fiscal Risk exposures drove outperformance. The manager expects 2026 to see commodity leadership broaden beyond precious metals as the secular trend continues.

Riverwater's small-cap strategy underperformed in 2025 by avoiding speculative AI and biotech investments while focusing on quality fundamentals. Energy outperformed through natural gas and nuclear themes. The manager expects 2026 to favor quality small-caps as lower-quality factors reverse and Fed rate cuts improve financing conditions for smaller companies.

Riverwater's micro-cap strategy underperformed in 2025 by avoiding speculative AI and biotech themes while maintaining quality discipline. Top holding IRadimed gained 80% on FDA approval. Manager expects 2026 rotation back to fundamentals favoring quality micro-caps, supported by Fed rate cuts and improving real economy earnings. Portfolio positioned for cyclical outperformance at fundamental inflection points.

Quality-focused small-cap value strategy underperformed in challenging 2025 environment favoring speculation over fundamentals. Top performer Ciena benefited from AI infrastructure demand while detractors faced sector-specific headwinds. Manager remains disciplined, expecting 2026 rotation back to quality factors with small-caps outperforming as fundamentals reassert themselves.

Spheria's global small cap fund underperformed in Q4 2025 as quality-focused strategies faced headwinds from markets favoring unprofitable AI-concept stocks. Strong performers included banking software provider JKHY and logistics company Expeditors, while HR software firm Paycom struggled with soft job market conditions. Managers maintain conviction in their disciplined, valuation-aware approach to high-quality businesses.

Gramercy's emerging markets debt strategy delivered positive December returns through selective high-yield sovereign exposure and South African local-currency bonds. Dollar weakness provided broad EM tailwinds while spread compression favored carry assets. Underweight positioning in lower-beta currencies and investment-grade duration exposure created modest headwinds in the volatile rate environment.

Strong 2025 performance driven by quality stock selection in Financials and strategic positioning in secular themes like nuclear energy and data center infrastructure. Defense holdings face temporary headwinds but maintain strong fundamentals. Key focus on managing AI concentration risk while capitalizing on productivity-driven growth opportunities in an environment rich with investment potential despite geopolitical uncertainty.

HMC Capital Partners delivered -9.2% in Q4 but maintains 23.5% annualized returns since inception through active value creation in Australian companies. The Fund focuses on real estate and consumer names benefiting from demographic trends, actively engaging management to unlock value. With $140m cash and elevated market valuations, positioned defensively for volatility while targeting high-conviction opportunities.

Hardman Johnston delivered solid Q4 returns despite modest benchmark underperformance, driven by Healthcare and Financials strength offset by Industrial weakness. The manager maintains conviction in defense spending themes and mining cycle recovery while managing AI concentration risk. Portfolio activity focused on quality businesses with durable advantages, viewing current geopolitical turbulence as creating rich opportunities for fundamental stock pickers.

Hardman Johnston delivered strong Q4 performance, outperforming the S&P 500 with 4.27% net returns. The firm sees opportunities rather than bubbles, benefiting from early AI investments while diversifying into transportation and consumer products. Key winners included Albemarle on lithium surge and Illumina positioned for life sciences recovery. Economic backdrop remains favorable despite political volatility.

Jemekk Hedge Fund posted 18.3% returns in 2025, capitalizing on Canadian outperformance driven by energy, precious metals, and financials. The fund is positioned for Build Canada infrastructure themes and elevated defense spending globally through holdings like Exchange Income Fund and RTX Corporation. Managers expect continued Canadian outperformance in 2026 despite macro headwinds from inflation and tariffs.

Apis delivered 55.1% returns in 2025 by focusing on smaller-cap companies outside the U.S., particularly in Asia. Strong performance driven by defense holdings, memory semiconductors, and healthcare names. Fund evolved toward niche IP companies while adding cyclical exposures in mining and European building materials where valuations remain attractive.

China dominates the Electric Stack (batteries, magnets, power electronics) that powers the Next Economy while the US bets everything on AI. Green Alpha believes physical infrastructure trumps intelligence alone. The firm is moving capital toward companies building electrostate infrastructure and away from petrostate incumbents, riding proven cost curves in energy transition technologies.

The 13D Activist Fund leverages record-high shareholder activism levels, expanding internationally with first Japanese investments in Ebara and Kansai Electric Power. Despite Q4 underperformance in a large-cap market, early 2026 shows promise with the fund outperforming Russell 2000. Portfolio turnover accelerated as activism becomes necessary for value realization in an increasingly passive market.