BBH Global Equity Monthly Update – January 2021

January 31, 2021
Portfolio Manager, Regina Lombardi, discusses how the Global Equity portfolio companies performed over the most recent month-end.

In January 2021, BBH Global Equity Composite1 (“Global Equity” or “the Strategy”) declined -4.80% while the MSCI World index declined -0.99%. Our top performer in the month was Alcon and our largest detractor was Alimentation Couche-Tard. We added a position in Sherwin-Williams and exited our positions in Oracle and Colgate Palmolive during the month.

Alcon is a market leader in surgical eye care products and contact lenses. Shares rose in January as management indicated the second wave of COVID-19 had a relatively muted impact on procedures and after other industry participants released similarly positive news, which supported expectations that Alcon’s end markets will continue to rebound. We expect Alcon’s full-year results to also show strengthening-end-market demand and robust financials, and we are encouraged by the strong progress of Alcon’s new product launches. Last quarter, Alcon delivered flat topline growth while core operating margins returned to pre-COVID levels. Despite operational pressures from COVID, Alcon has demonstrated how essential its products are for those suffering from cataracts, vitreoretinal disorders, and other ocular health issues.

Alimentation Couche-Tard operates more than 14,000 convenience stores, primarily in North America and Europe. Shares came under pressure after the company announced preliminary talks to purchase Carrefour, a global supermarket chain with nearly half of its sales in France. While a merger with Carrefour has merits (including Carrefour’s portfolio of 7,700+ convenience stores) a large investment in groceries would introduce heightened operational risk, particularly in the highly competitive French market. Three days after the announcement, Couche-Tard ended discussions after the French Finance Ministry publicly opposed the merger. Even though the deal is shelved, we believe management remains disciplined and focused on generating high returns on invested capital, and we took advantage of the price decline to add to our position. Management’s extensive track record spans nearly two decades of successful acquisitions, and its founders are active and financially aligned with shareholders. Most importantly, we continue to expect strong execution in Couche-Tard’s core convenience store business going forward.

BBH Global Core Select Equity Composite Gross and Net of Fees versus the MSCI World Index benchmark as of January 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
Performance
  Total Returns Average Annual Total Returns
As of 01/31/2021 1 Mo.*
3 Mo.* YTD* 1 Yr. 3 Yr. 5 Yr. Since Inception
BBH Global Core Select Equity Composite (Gross of Fees)
-4.80% 9.57% -4.80% 3.85% 4.14% 10.06% 8.04%
BBH Global Core Select Equity Composite (Net of Fees) -4.88% 9.30% -4.88% 2.82% 3.11% 8.97% 6.98%
MSCI World Index
-0.99% 16.40% -0.99% 15.45% 8.30% 13.36% 10.28%
               
As of 12/31/2020 1 Mo.*
3 Mo.* YTD* 1 Yr. 3 Yr. 5 Yr. Since Inception
Global Core Select Composite – Gross of Fees
3.43% 10.52% 9.74% 9.74% 7.93% 10.61% 8.82%
Global Core Select Composite – Net of Fees 3.35%
10.25% 8.66% 8.66% 6.87% 9.52%
7.75%
MSCI World Index
4.24%
13.96% 15.90% 15.90% 10.54% 12.19% 10.54%
* Returns are not annualized.
Sources: BBH & Co. and MSCI
Past performance does not guarantee future results, and current performance may be lower or higher than the past performance data quoted. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than the original cost.
The MSCI World Index is an unmanaged, free float-adjusted, market capitalization weighted index of approximately 1,600 stocks that is designed to provide an indication of the equity market performance of developed markets. The composition of the index is materially different than the Strategy’s holdings. The index is not available for direct investment.
Representative Account Top 10 Countries as of January 31, 2021.
Representative Account
Top 10 Countries
As of January 31, 2021
United States 45.8%
United Kingdom 11.0%
Switzerland 9.8%
Germany 8.9%
Canada 5.3%
Netherlands 5.0%
Ireland 4.2%
France 4.0%
Japan 2.7%
Sweden 2.1%
Total 98.7%
Reported as a percentage of portfolio securities.
Country designation is based on country of incorporation.
Representative Account Sector Weighting as of January 31, 2021.
Representative Account
Sector Weighting
As of January 31, 2021
Communication Services
6.3%
Consumer Discretionary 13.6%
Consumer Staples 24.6%
Energy 0.0%
Financials 4.3%
Health Care 14.5%
Industrials 14.2%
Information Technology 11.2%
Materials 11.3%
Real Estate 0.0%
Utilities 0.0%
Total
100.0%
Reported as a percentage of portfolio securities.
Representative Account Top 10 Companies as of January 31, 2021.
Representative Account
Top 10 Companies
As of January 31, 2021
Alphabet (United States) 6.3%
Diageo Plc (United Kingdom) 4.9%
Copart Inc (United States) 4.8%
Alcon Inc (Switzerland) 4.6%
Zoetis Inc (United States) 4.5%
Mastercard Inc (United States) 4.4%
Linde PLC (Ireland) 4.2%
Bureau Veritas SA (France) 3.9%
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc (Canada) 3.8%
Fuchs Petrolub SE (Germany) 3.7%
Total 45.1%
Reported as a percentage of total portfolio.
Country designation is based on country of incorporation.
Representative Account Equity Weighting as of January 31, 2021. Equity weighting to include Common Stock and Cash and Cash Equivalents.
Representative Account
Equity Weighting
As of January 31, 2020
Common Stock 99.8%
Cash and Cash Equivalents 0.2%
Total
100.0%
Representative Account Portfolio Characteristics as of January 31, includes Composite Assets, Number of Securities, Average Price/Earnings, Market Cap and Turnover.
Representative Account
Portfolio Characteristics
As of January 31, 2021
Composite Assets (mil) $94.3
Number of Securities Held 33
Average P/E 38.4
Average Market Cap (bil) $171.0
Turnover (Rolling 12 Months) 33.19%
Exclude cash equivalents.

1 On 10/1/2020, the BBH Global Core Select Composite was renamed the BBH Global Equity Composite

Holdings are subject to change. Totals may not sum due to rounding. Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio is a company’s current share price divided by earnings per-share. Turnover ratio is the rate of trading in a portfolio; higher values imply more frequent trading.

Opinions, forecasts, and discussions about investment strategies represent the author’s views as of the date of this commentary and are subject to change without notice. References to specific securities, asset classes, and financial markets are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be and should not be interpreted as recommendations.

Contribution figures are presented gross of fees and do not include cash and cash equivalents.

Purchase and sale information provided should not be considered as a recommendation to purchase or sell a particular security and that there is no assurance, as of the date of publication, that the securities purchased remain in a fund's portfolio or that securities sold have not been repurchased.

RISKS

Foreign investing involves special risks including currency risk, increased volatility, political risks, and differences in auditing and other financial standards. Prices of emerging market securities can be significantly more volatile than the prices of securities in developed countries, and currency risk and political risks are accentuated in emerging markets. Investing in medium sized companies typically exhibit greater risk and higher volatility than larger, more established companies.

The strategy may assume large positions in a small number of issuers which can increase the potential for greater price fluctuation. Investors should be able to withstand short-term fluctuations in the equity markets in return for potentially higher returns over the long term. The value of portfolios changes every day and can be affected by changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other political, social and economic developments.

Data presented is that of a single representative account ("Representative Account") that invests in the strategy. It is the account whose investment guidelines allow the greatest flexibility to express active management positions. It is managed with the same investment objectives and employs substantially the same investment philosophy and processes as the proposed investment strategy.

For purpose of complying with the GIPS® standards, the firm is defined as Brown Brothers Harriman Investment Management ("IM"). IM is a division of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. ("BBH"). IM claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®). To receive a list of composite descriptions of IM and/or a presentation that complies with the GIPS standards, contact Craig Schwalb at (212) 493-7217, or via email at craig.schwalb@bbh.com.

Gross of fee performance results for this composite do not reflect the deduction of investment advisory fees. Actual returns will be reduced by such fees. "Net" of fees performance results reflect the deduction of the maximum investment advisory fees. Time Weighted Rate of Return is used to determine performance of a portfolio in a Composite. A portfolio's rate of return is the percentage change from the beginning balance to the ending balance of the period. Capital changes as well as dividends and other income earned during a period are included in the ending balance. Any reinvestment of dividends or other income will be reflected in the beginning balance of the following period. Sub-periods returns are linked to calculate a portfolio return for the period. Performance calculated in U.S. dollars.

The Composite includes all fully discretionary, fee-paying global equity accounts over $10 million that invest in a portfolio of approximately 30-40 companies primarily in developed markets, with a focus on companies with market capitalizations over $3 billion. Under normal conditions, at least 40% of investments will be in companies headquartered outside the United States. The strategy is benchmarked to the MSCI World Index (net of foreign withholding tax).

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IM-09112-2021-02-12        Exp. Date 03/31/2021

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