Epiphany ESG Small Cap Equity Fund Market Commentary
- June 30, 2019
2nd Quarter 2019 Small Cap Equity Fund Commentary
U.S. equity markets were positive in Q2 while building upon the impressive returns from Q1. This resulted in the S&P 500 Index experiencing the best first half of the year since 1997. While small-caps outperformed large-caps in the first quarter, the reverse was true in the second quarter. Yet whether large or small, returns were quite robust: The S&P 500 Index returned +18.54% for the first half of the year while the Russell 2000 Index returned +16.98%. June was particularly strong; in fact it was the strongest June since 1955, as measured by the S&P 500 Index.
- March 31, 2019
1st Quarter 2019 Small Cap Equity Fund Commentary
The S&P 500 Index opened 2019 with its best January performance since 1987 and continued moving higher in February and March finishing the quarter up +13.65%. This also proved to be the Index’s strongest calendar quarter since Q3 2009 and its best Q1 since 1998. The Russell 2000 Index delivered an even higher double-digit return of +14.58% for the quarter. The strong performance that occurred during the first half of the quarter was a continuation from the Christmas bounce, with equities moving broadly higher despite earnings estimates trending lower.
- January 23, 2019
4th Quarter 2018 Small Cap Equity Fund Commentary
After impressively powering through a wall of worry in Q3, equity markets abruptly began Q4 by falling sharply in October. The S&P 500 Index then oscillated to a slight gain in November, while December ushered in yet another round of sharp losses. Not only did a Santa Claus Rally fail to materialize, the S&P 500 Index produced its weakest Christmas Eve ever. However, the day after Christmas was far merrier for investors, with the S&P 500 Index generating its largest one-day gain since March 2009 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average posting its first ever 1,000+ point day.
- September 30, 2018
3rd Quarter 2018 Small Cap Equity Fund Commentary
The S&P 500 Index posted a Q3 return of +7.71%, its best quarterly return since 2013. The Russell 2000 Index was up +3.58%, while lagging larger stocks for the quarter, its +11.51% return year-to-date still outperformed the S&P 500 Index. Growth outperformed value across all market cap ranges, a trend that has been in place for most of the past two years. Factor attribution in small caps showed momentum was a key driver and component of growth returns, while value factors were largely ignored until July.
- June 30, 2018
2nd Quarter 2018 Small Cap Equity Fund Commentary
Stocks moved higher in Q2, though changes in investor concerns caused the movement to come in waves. The Russell 2000 Index posted positive returns in all three months to finish with a +7.75% total return for the quarter. Corporate earnings growth was a key driver as the positive impact of the corporate tax rate reduction began to take hold and economic growth accelerated.