Liberty All-Star Equity Fund: October 2024 Monthly Update

The Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (NYSE: USA) has released its October 2024 monthly update, providing insights into the fund's performance, holdings, and sector allocations. The fund, which combines three value-style and two growth-style investment managers, has demonstrated a balanced approach to investing, contributing to its strong year-to-date performance.

The fund reported a net asset value (NAV) decrease of -1.39% and a market price decline of -0.99% in October. Despite these short-term fluctuations, the fund's year-to-date performance remains robust, with a NAV return of 13.17% and a market price return of 19.06%. The fund's total net assets stood at $2,021.2 million, with 97.3% invested in equities.

The top-performing sectors within the fund's portfolio were Information Technology (22.1%) and Financials (20.6%). The fund's top 20 holdings, representing 33.8% of the equity portfolio, were led by NVIDIA Corp. (3.8%), Microsoft Corp. (3.6%), and Alphabet, Inc. (2.7%). These holdings indicate a focus on technology and financial stocks, which have shown strong performance in the current market environment.

The fund's balanced investment strategy, combining value and growth managers, has contributed to its performance. Value managers, such as Aristotle Capital Management and Fiduciary Management, focus on low-valuation, high-quality companies with catalysts for positive change, while growth managers like Sustainable Growth Advisers and TCW Investment Management Company seek companies with predictable, sustainable earnings growth. This blend has resulted in a diversified portfolio with significant allocations to Technology and Financials, including top holdings like NVIDIA and Microsoft.

The fund's high concentration in top 20 holdings (33.8% of equity portfolio) suggests a high conviction strategy, with managers demonstrating strong belief in their key positions. This concentration can enhance performance if these holdings perform well but also increases risk if they underperform. Diversification across sectors, such as Technology and Financials, mitigates this risk.

In conclusion, the Liberty All-Star Equity Fund's October 2024 monthly update reveals a fund with a balanced investment strategy, strong year-to-date performance, and a focus on technology and financial stocks. Despite short-term fluctuations, the fund's performance and holdings indicate a well-diversified portfolio that has benefited from the current market environment. Investors should continue to monitor the fund's performance and adapt their strategies accordingly.

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