Morningstar Awards for Investing Excellence: Exemplary Stewardship Nominees
We recognize three asset managers for nurturing cultures that put investors first.
Bridget B. Hughes
Bridget Hughes, CFA, is director of parent research for Morningstar Research Services LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc. She directs the U.S. parent ratings committee, which oversees the assignment of Morningstar Parent Pillar ratings for all U.S. investment managers under coverage. She also leads the firm’s global parent ratings committee and helps coordinate collaboration on parent firms among manager research analysts.
Prior to her current role at Morningstar, Hughes focused on domestic- and international-equity strategies and was the lead analyst on diversified managers such as Vanguard. Before joining Morningstar in 1995, she worked for American Funds’ transfer agency and for Shearson Lehman as a financial consultant.
Hughes holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and in economics, with honors, from Illinois State University. She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
Latest
Fund Lineup Turnover in 6 Charts
These factors help explain the changes to the fund offerings of a market or firm.
Morningstar Awards for Investing Excellence: Exemplary Steward Nominees
These three firms have long track records of putting investors' interests first.
Morningstar Awards for Investing Excellence--Exemplary Stewardship Nominees
These three firms are in the running for our 2020 award.
Invesco Moves Swiftly After Its Acquisition of OppenheimerFunds
It's reasonable for investors to expect more changes.
Morningstar Awards for Investing Excellence--Exemplary Stewardship Nominees
These asset managers treat investors well.
Looking at a Possible Merger Between Invesco and Oppenheimer
The firms have similar strengths and weaknesses.
Columbia Threadneedle Is Still Finding Its Way
Columbia Threadneedle has made strides toward a unified global brand but lacks the track record of a long-term dedication to shareholders' best interests.
Vanguard Remains at the Forefront in 2015
Although the fund giant's international-stock and longer-duration bond funds slumped, the rest of their lineup outclassed the competition.
Many Concerns About Third Avenue
The Focused Credit fund prompts Parent rating downgrade, but other issues are apparent.
Janus' Culture Has Improved
A deep look at Janus today.
Top Honors Go to Vanguard and Its Strong Culture
Vanguard boasts the largest number of Gold-rated funds.
Enhance Fund Analysis With Study of Its Parent
Our annual stewardship survey shows firm-level analysis matters, too.
PIMCO in Better Shape Than Expected
But the firm isn't yet out of the woods after a tumultuous 2014.
Vanguard's First-Quarter Scorecard
The fund giant saw an executive-management shuffle, ultra-short-bond fund launch, new lower-touch advisory service, and continued inflow domination.
Why Vanguard Was Hard to Beat in 2014
It was tough for active managers to outpace Vanguard's low-cost index funds in 2014, and many of its active funds also outperformed.
Caution Warranted on PIMCO Stewardship
Even without Gross PIMCO remains a leading global fixed-income manager with broad, deep resources, but investors should be aware of several key risks.
Vanguard Explorer Adds Arrowpoint as Eighth Subadvisor
Arrowpoint, run by ex-Janus managers Chad Meade and Brian Schaub, will begin managing a 4% sleeve of Vanguard Explorer.
Morningstar Medalists at the Top of Their Game
Here's what's behind some strong performance.
Better Stewardship and Better Returns Go Hand in Hand
A new Morningstar study suggests that investors often benefit when they seek out firms with strong stewardship characteristics.
Morningstar Identifies Winners Among Largest Fund Firms
New study points to differences among top firms' stewardship practices and performance.
Lineage Matters: Strong Firms' Funds Stand Taller
New Morningstar study of asset managers shows good stewards have produced better funds.
Vanguard Windsor II Says Goodbye to Armstrong Shaw
Vanguard deep-sixes the subadvisor, which had managed about 4% of Vanguard Windsor II's assets, and increases subadvisor Hotchkis & Wiley's sleeve of the fund.
Will Tailwinds Keep Vanguard on Course?
Most Vanguard funds delivered another solid year in 2013, but management changes and a shift out of its fund comfort zone are things to watch this year.
Notable Performers, Reopenings, and Redemptions at Vanguard
We delve into first-half domestic-equity winners, fixed-income outflows, and what may be a brief reopening of a Gold-rated fund in the Vanguard lineup.
Can Janus Regain Its Footing?
Repeated changes at the firm elevate levels of concern and uncertainty.
Jain: Emerging-Markets Consumer a Secular Growth Story
Emerging-markets consumer stocks are one of the few areas of long-term growth as the people are buying, eating, and drinking better, says Virtus Foreign Opportunities manager Rajiv Jain.
De Vaulx: There's Still Value in Japan
After a nasty 25-year bear market, Japan is still far cheaper than both U.S. and European equities, despite its huge rally, says IVA CIO and portfolio manager Charles de Vaulx.
Is Optimism Fading on International Risk?
With fears of an impending Japanese sell-off and a China slowdown, as well as ongoing sovereign debt woes in Europe, many fund managers are seeking more safety when investing abroad, says Morningstar's Bridget Hughes.
Can Vanguard Keep the Faith While Expanding Even Further?
The biggest U.S. fund firm still stands out.
2012 Tide Lifts Vanguard's Boats
Although some Vanguard funds underperformed their peers during the market rally, the firm had more portfolios in the top quartile of their categories than in the bottom quartile.
MFS' Collaborative Culture
Teamwork defines this venerable, Boston-based fund firm.
It's the Witching Hour for Some Funds
Turning three can be a make-or-break moment.
A Glimpse Behind the Curtain at FMI Large Cap
This Gold-rated fund knows how to execute.
A Tale of Two Chart-Toppers
From worst to first ... what's next for these notable funds?
Foreign-Stock Funds That Hunt Stateside
Only a small group of foreign-stock funds buy U.S. companies in a meaningful way.
Want Dividends? Look Outside the U.S.
Royce Funds' David Nadel discusses how non-U.S. cultures influence dividend payers, why Europe thrives on exports to emerging markets, and a growth story in Africa.
Evaluating Changes at Three Prominent Fund Firms
Can you read between the lines of some fund-company maneuvers?
Carlson: No Lack of Ideas in Emerging-Markets Bonds
Morningstar 2011 Fixed-Income Manager of the Year John Carlson says new debt issuance is high in the developing world, with plenty of opportunities in dollar-based bonds and a growing local-currency market.
Avoiding Sector Bets
Legg Mason's Randy Befumo points to how staying clear of significant industry weightings allows his fund to control for volatility.
Smooth Transition Expected When Star Manager Departs
After Bill Miller steps down from Legg Mason Value Trust this month, new manager Sam Peters says investors will still see continuity in the portfolio strategy but should expect some differences.
Dig Deeper to Find the Meaning of Cash
After a strong six months for stocks, have those who can raise cash done it?
A Fund in the Hands of Analysts
At Dreyfus Research Growth, a group of 14 analysts decide both which stocks and the weight of those stocks in the portfolio.
Third Avenue Value Loses a Legend but Retains Its Appeal
Marty Whitman's imprint will remain strong, though Ian Lapey will have his say.
Whitman to Step Down at Third Avenue Value
Current comanager Ian Lapey will take the reins.
Third Avenue: Seeing on-the-Ground Strength in Hong Kong
Fresh from a trip to Asia, Third Avenue Value manager Ian Lapey discusses the fund's Hong Kong commecial real estate holdings, plus potential opportunities in oil and gas exploration and insurance.
Europe Crisis No Reason to Avoid Region Altogether
Third Avenue International Value's Matt Fine says the macro problems in Europe are creating rare opportunities to take advantage of certain stocks, particularly in the automotive and insurance sectors.
Tweedy, Browne: Temperament One of Investors' Biggest Foes
The Tweedy, Browne team, winner of Morningstar's 2011 International-Stock Manager of the Year Award, discusses the role of process and time horizon in the fund's successful long-term track record.
Investors' Recent Appreciation for Dreyfus Appreciation Is Well Deserved
This is a success story for Dreyfus, but there are risks.
First Eagle Is Who We Thought They Were
There may be a new regime, but it's awfully familiar.