1) A Review by Seix Investment Advisors LLC
FIRST QUARTER 2016
RIDGEWORTH INSIGHTS:
TAX-EXEMPT FIXED INCOME
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Ron Schwartz, CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager,
RidgeWorth Investments
•
Volatility, domestic and international growth concerns,
and a more dovish Federal Reserve Bank.
Managing Director,
Seix Investment Advisors
•
Demand for municipal bonds outpaced supply during
the quarter.
•
We continue to be bullish on municipal bonds.
Dusty Self
Portfolio Manager,
RidgeWorth Investments
Managing Director,
Seix Investment Advisors
Christopher D. Carter, CFA
Portfolio Manager,
RidgeWorth Investments
Director,
Seix Investment Advisors
RIDGEWORTH FUNDS
RidgeWorth Seix Investment Grade
Tax-Exempt Bond
RidgeWorth Seix High Grade Municipal Bond
RidgeWorth Seix Short-Term Municipal Bond
RidgeWorth Seix Georgia Tax-Exempt Bond
RidgeWorth Seix North Carolina Tax-Exempt
Bond
RidgeWorth Seix Virginia Intermediate
Municipal Bond
Municipal bond total returns were positive during the first
quarter, led by longer maturities. The Barclays Municipal
Bond Index returned 1.67% for the period. The belly of
the yield curve (five- to 10-year maturities) experienced
the greatest yield declines during the quarter as the
Federal Reserve Bank embraced a more dovish posture
beginning in mid-February.
2)
FIRST QUARTER 2016 | PAGE 2
RIDGEWORTH INSIGHTS: TAX-EXEMPT FIXED INCOME
Exhibit 1: Yield Curve Comparison (4Q15 and 1Q16)
Exhibit 2: Fund Flows into Munis (2Q14 – 1Q16)
14,587
15,000
12,000
9,884
Millions ($)
The continuation of anemic U.S. economic growth combined
with a heightened awareness of global developments
served to reduce expectations for interest rate increases.
Volatility peaked on or about February 11th and declined
for the balance of the quarter. We continue to be bullish
on municipal bonds, both for the second quarter and over
the long term, as investors seek a safe haven that provides
meaningful tax-equivalent yields.
9,000
7,400
10,666
9,241
7,952
6,000
3,000
-1,642
0
-1,958
AAA General Obligation (%)
3.0
2.5
-3,000
12/31/15
3/31/16
2Q14
3Q14
4Q14
1Q15
2Q15
3Q15
4Q15
1Q16
Source: Strategic Insight
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Yield ratios between municipal and U.S. Treasury securities
rose, with 10-year AAA-rated municipal bonds finishing the
quarter yielding 96% of comparably dated Treasury notes,
versus just over 85% at the end of 2015. However, we
believe ratios could ebb materially in the future, potentially
resting at or below long-term averages.
Years to Maturity
Source: Thomson Reuters
DEMAND OUTPACES SUPPLY
Demand for municipal debt currently exceeds supply as
primary issuance of new debt fell about 9% in the first
quarter (according to BofA Merrill Lynch), versus the first
quarter of 2015, while the sector experienced positive cash
flows of close to $14 billion. March’s experience ran counter
to history as the year’s third month has a bias toward lower
prices, increased supply and muted demand.
RIDGEWORTH INSIGHTS: TAX-EXEMPT FIXED INCOME
STRONG FUNDAMENTALS
Municipal bond fundamentals remained strong during the
quarter. Quality remained relatively high, as the upgradeto-downgrade ratio was positive among all three ratings
agencies. That said, municipal revenue growth slowed, and
a handful of states experienced revenue declines, largely
due to their exposure to the oil industry. The fundamental
health of the majority of municipal obligors was reflected
in continued tight credit spreads. Spreads could move
tighter from here if the current supply/demand dynamic is
sustained.
3)
FIRST QUARTER 2016 | PAGE 3
Please contact 866.595.2470 or visit www.ridgeworth.com for more information.
OUR OUTLOOK
We remain constructive on the municipal sector because
of its tax-exempt income, strong technical factors, healthy
fundamentals and attractive yields relative to other fixed
income alternatives.
We favor bonds issued by states in the West (particularly
California) and Southeast (particularly Florida), based in part
on the strength of their housing data. We have concerns
about states such as North Dakota, Alaska, Louisiana
and Oklahoma that are heavily exposed to the oil and
natural gas industries, as pressure on those industries has
hurt state revenues. In addition, we expect Puerto Rico’s
ongoing debt crisis, which will likely spur years of litigation,
to result in substantial underperformance for its bonds. We
do not yet see an attractive entry point for investment in the
island’s debt. Among sectors, we continue to favor bonds
backed by revenues from utility and transportation projects.
Credit Ratings noted herein are calculated based on S&P, Moody’s and Fitch ratings.
Generally, ratings range from AAA, the highest quality rating, to D, the lowest,
with BBB and above being called investment grade securities. BB and below are
considered below investment grade securities. If the ratings from all three agencies
are available, securities will be assigned the median rating based on the numerical
equivalents. If the ratings are available from only two of the agencies, the more
conservative of the ratings will be assigned to the security. If the rating is available
from only one agency, then that rating will be used. Any security not rated by S&P,
Moody’s, or Fitch is placed in the NR (Not Rated) category. Ratings do not apply to a
fund or to a fund’s shares. Ratings are subject to change.
Credit Spreads are the difference between the yields of sector types and/or
maturity ranges.
Yield Curve is a curve that shows the relationship between yields and maturity dates
for a set of similar bonds, usually Treasuries, at any given point in time.
Barclays Municipal Bond Index is a widely recognized index of investment grade
tax-exempt bonds. The eight subsets of the Index are market weighted. The Index
includes general obligations, revenue bonds, insured bonds, and pre-refunded
bonds. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
Investment Risks:
Bonds offer a relatively stable level of income, although bond prices will fluctuate
providing the potential for principal gain or loss. Intermediate-term, higher-quality
bonds generally offer less risk than longer-term bonds and a lower rate of return.
Generally, a fund’s fixed income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise
and vice versa. A fund’s income may be subject to certain state and local taxes and,
depending on your tax status, the federal alternative minimum tax. The geographical
concentration of portfolio holdings in a fund may involve increased risk.
Pension headlines are likely to increase in summer 2016
and beyond, as weak equity returns in 2015 hurt some
entities’ ability to fund their pension obligations. Overall, the
pension funding ratio fell from 74% to 72%. We are cautious
on local general obligation bonds as a result.
Rhetoric related to the U.S. presidential election is also
sure to dominate headlines for much of the year. While
debates over the candidates’ tax policy proposals may be
unsettling to investors, we see extremely little chance that
the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds will be affected,
regardless of which political party wins the White House.
The views expressed herein are as of the quarter-end specified. This information
is general in nature, provided as general guidance on the subject covered, and is
not intended to be authoritative. It is subject to change without notice as market
conditions change, and is not intended to predict the performance of any individual
security, market sector, or RidgeWorth Fund. All information contained herein is
believed to be correct, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Investors are advised
to consult with their investment professional about their specific financial needs and
goals before making any investment decision.
Before investing, investors should carefully read the
prospectus or summary prospectus and consider the fund’s
investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Please
call 888.784.3863 or visit ridgeworth.com to obtain a
prospectus or summary prospectus, which contains this and
other information about the funds.
©2016 RidgeWorth Investments. All rights reserved. RidgeWorth Investments is
the trade name for RidgeWorth Capital Management LLC, an investment adviser
registered with the SEC and the adviser to the RidgeWorth Funds. RidgeWorth
Funds are distributed by RidgeWorth Distributors LLC, which is not affiliated with
the adviser. Seix Investment Advisors LLC is a registered investment adviser with
the SEC and a member of the RidgeWorth Capital Management LLC network of
investment firms. All third party marks are the property of their respective owners.
4)
FIRST QUARTER 2016 | PAGE 4
ridgeworth.com | 866.595.2470
3333 Piedmont Road, NE
Suite 1500
A
tlanta, GA 30305
ABOUT RIDGEWORTH INVESTMENTS
RidgeWorth Investments—a global investment management firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with approximately $37.9 billion
in assets under management as of March 31, 2016—offers investors access to a select group of boutique investment managers and
subadvisers. RidgeWorth wholly owns three boutiques: Ceredex Value Advisors LLC, Seix Investment Advisors LLC and Silvant Capital
Management LLC, and holds a minority ownership in Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC. WCM Investment Management and Capital
Innovations, LLC serve as subadvisers to the RidgeWorth Funds. Through these six investment managers, RidgeWorth offers a wide variety
of fixed income and equity disciplines, providing investment management services to a growing client base that includes institutional,
individual and high net worth investors.
For more information about RidgeWorth, its boutiques and its subadvisers, visit ridgeworth.com.
ABOUT SEIX INVESTMENT ADVISORS LLC
Seix Investment Advisors, one of RidgeWorth’s investment management boutiques, has exclusively focused on managing fixed income
assets since 1992. Seix seeks to generate competitive absolute and relative risk-adjusted returns over the full market cycle through
a bottom-up focused, top-down aware process. Seix employs multi-dimensional approaches based on strict portfolio construction
methodology, sell disciplines and trading strategies with prudent risk management as a cornerstone.
For more information about Seix, visit seixadvisors.com.
RFRI-TAXEX-0316