ClearBridge Emerging Markets Strategy Q3 2025 Commentary (undefined:MCEIX)

Market and Performance Overview - Emerging markets experienced a 10.6% increase in Q3 2025, outperforming developed markets, with China leading at 20.4% growth driven by AI opportunities and favorable valuations [2] - Taiwan and Korea also showed strong performance, rising 14.3% and 12.7% respectively, fueled by AI demand, with Taiwan being a key semiconductor manufacturer and Korea a memory product supplier [2] Sector Performance - The materials sector was the top performer, up 24%, largely due to rising gold prices boosting mining shares [4] - Technology-related sectors, including communication services, consumer discretionary, and IT, outperformed the overall market, benefiting from AI and Internet services [4] - Cyclical sectors generally underperformed, with energy and financials showing the greatest weakness [4] Company Contributions - In China, Tencent and CATL were significant contributors, with Tencent benefiting from strong operating results and positive market sentiment, while CATL capitalized on its leadership in battery supply amid rising EV demand [6] - Taiwan's Delta Electronics and South Korea's Samsung Electronics saw share price increases due to their critical roles in AI development, with Delta's market share in data centers and Samsung's memory supply benefiting from high AI demand [7] Portfolio Positioning - The ClearBridge Emerging Markets Strategy outperformed its benchmark, with strong stock selection in China, Taiwan, and South Korea offsetting negative impacts from China and India [5] - New purchases included Sieyuan Electric, expected to grow through grid investment and market share gains, and HD Hyundai Electric, which is positioned to benefit from global power equipment demand [12][13] Outlook - The long-term investment outlook for emerging markets remains robust, with expectations for technology adoption, urbanization, and services sector growth to drive returns [18] - Emerging markets are anticipated to succeed in the next 12 months, particularly in technology, with India expected to recover and China continuing its key role in the asset class [22]