First Quarter 2012 Attribution vs. BofA Merrill Lynch Global 300 Convertible Index
Energy. Security selection within energy added the most value. Holdings within the oil/gas equipment and services industry outperformed. We believe this sector will continue to benefit from global reflation efforts and strong global demand for energy resources, especially within emerging market economies.
Information technology. An overweight to information technology contributed to relative returns. Security selection within the semiconductors industry was notably positive. We continue to favor this sector due to its generally higher growth potential, higher cash flows and lower debt levels, as well as valuations we view as attractive. Our focus within IT remains on those companies that offer productivity enhancement capabilities to consumers and businesses, as well as those firms that may benefit from strong consumer demand for the latest electronics.
Health care. Security selection and an overweight to health care detracted from relative performance. Holdings within the pharmaceuticals industry underperformed. Our focus within this sector remains on companies that have healthy cash flows and strong fundamentals.
Materials. Security selection and an overweight to materials detracted value. Holdings within the gold industry were negative for relative performance as these firms incurred rising extraction costs. Gold was the outlier within the metals and mining industry as other metal-related companies generated positive returns during the period. We continue to believe the materials sector will be supported by increased demand for resources from emerging market regions, as well as by reflation efforts and accommodative central bank policies.
Credit quality. The portfolio’s higher average credit quality detracted from relative returns. Investment grade convertibles trailed their speculative grade counterparts.
Geographic. Holdings within Luxembourg and an underweight and security selection within Japan added value. Security selection within the United States detracted from relative returns.