Core Insights - Small caps are experiencing a resurgence, with significant potential for dividends, specifically a 7.1% payout being highlighted as an opportunity [2][8] Small Cap Performance - Small caps have historically underperformed compared to large caps, but recent trends indicate they are now matching or even surpassing large caps in performance, as evidenced by the iShares Russell 2000 ETF [3] Advantages of Small Caps - Small firms maintain strong client relationships, benefiting from customer loyalty and directly profiting from the strength of the US economy, providing a hedge against global economic issues [4] Dividend Challenges - Many small caps are in early growth stages and may not be able to offer dividends while funding their expansion, contrasting with larger companies that typically provide more consistent dividends [5][6] Investment Strategy - The focus has been on closed-end funds (CEFs) that invest in large caps and high-yield bonds, which have historically provided higher returns and dividends compared to small caps [7] Exception in Small Caps - The Royce Small-Cap Trust (RVT) is noted as an exception, offering a 7.1% dividend while closely tracking small cap performance [8] Fund Structure and Holdings - RVT invests in a diverse portfolio of 488 small caps, with top holdings including IES Holdings, Assured Guaranty, and SEI Investments, all showing strong revenue growth [9][10] Dividend Flexibility - RVT's dividend is not fixed but floats based on the net asset value (NAV), allowing for potential increases in payouts as NAV rises, which has been consistent over the past five years [11][12] Market Position - RVT is currently available at a 9.2% discount to NAV, indicating potential for upside as the discount has decreased from higher levels earlier in the year [12][13]

Core Insights - SEI Investments (SEIC) has partnered with Mentenova to provide tailored investment solutions for South African investors, combining global quantitative strategies with local expertise [1][9] - The collaboration aims to enhance investment outcomes by integrating actively managed global strategies with Mentenova's portfolio design and manager selection [1][2] Investment Strategy - SEI's Quantitative Investment Management team will implement a global active factor equity strategy focusing on value, momentum quality, and dynamic tilting sub-portfolios, complemented by satellite active managers and passive index components selected by Mentenova [2] Benefits for Investors - South African investors will benefit from global expertise, local insights, a focus on long-term performance, and a unified investment philosophy that integrates both domestic and international portfolios [3] Strategic Goals - The partnership is part of SEI Investments' strategy to increase fee revenues and assets under management by expanding its global presence and diversifying revenue streams [4] - SEI's recent strategic investment in Stratos Wealth Holdings aims to enhance its wealth management offerings [4] Market Performance - SEI Investments' shares have increased by 16.4% over the past six months, outperforming the industry growth of 13.6% [5]

Core Insights - SEI announced that Symmetry Partners has chosen the Advisors' Inner Circle Fund platform to launch its first ETF, the Symmetry Panoramic Sector Momentum ETF [1] Company Developments - The ETF, named Symmetry Panoramic Sector Momentum ETF, is set to launch on September 17, 2025 [1]

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Science-backed, Data-driven Process Powered by Technology to Deliver Better Outcomes for South African Investors JOHANNESBURG and OAKS, Pa., Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --Â SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC), a leading global provider of investment, technology, and operations solutions, and Mentenova, a South African investment management and advisory firm, today announced a strategic partnership that aims to deliver innovative, global investment solutions tailored to the needs of Sout ...

Group 1: Market Trends - Large cap stocks have significantly outperformed small caps in recent years, which is an unusual trend, leading to attractive 7.2% dividends from closed-end funds [2][3] - Since the pandemic, small caps have lagged behind the S&P 500, but signs indicate a potential shift as investors may start looking for alternatives to large cap tech stocks [3][5] - The concentration of the S&P 500 is notable, with the top 10 firms accounting for 25% of earnings and 40% of market cap, indicating that Big Tech has become increasingly expensive relative to the rest of the market [4] Group 2: Investment Opportunities - If small caps begin to gain investor attention, it could lead to years of outperformance compared to large caps, with the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) potentially starting to outperform S&P 500 index funds [5][6] - The Royce Small-Cap Trust (RVT) is highlighted as a small-cap focused closed-end fund that offers a significantly higher yield of 7.2%, outperforming the IWM [7][8] - RVT has shown a near-10% net asset value (NAV) return, surpassing the small-cap index's 6.6%, indicating it is generating "alpha" [9][10] Group 3: Fund Performance - RVT's total market price return is up 5.8%, suggesting that its shares are not being bid up in line with its fundamentals, leading to a widening discount to NAV [10][11] - The fund's strategy of paying out a large portion of its profits as dividends makes it an attractive investment in the volatile small-cap sector, providing a steady income stream [12] - A potential strategy involves pairing RVT with another closed-end fund to optimize income and capital gains, reducing exposure to market volatility [13]

Company Overview - SEI has been selected by Nephila Capital Ltd. to support its back- and middle-office operations across North America and the UK [1] - Nephila has over 20 years of experience in managing institutional assets in the reinsurance industry and is one of the largest insurance linked securities managers globally, with approximately $7 billion in assets under management [2][9] - As of June 30, 2025, SEI manages, advises, or administers approximately $1.7 trillion in assets [5] Market Insights - The insurance linked securities (ILS) market is projected to nearly double from approximately $100 billion to $200 billion by 2032 [2] - Asset managers like Nephila are seeking strategic partners to enhance efficiency through comprehensive services such as reconciliation, payment processing, and data aggregation [2] Strategic Partnership - Nephila's Head of Operations emphasized the need for a strategic partner with a proven track record in managing complex products and scalable infrastructure [3] - SEI's technology-driven solutions are tailored to help Nephila achieve its strategic goals and enhance operational efficiency [4] - SEI's global footprint and stability are seen as beneficial for supporting Nephila's long-term growth in the complex ILS industry [4]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Investment Management industry is experiencing growth driven by asset growth, digital transformation, evolving investment vehicles, deeper personalization, and strategic scale [1] - The industry consists of companies managing securities and funds for clients, earning revenue through service fees or commissions [3] Investment Trends - Asset inflows are expected to continue driving growth in assets under management (AUM), with institutional interest increasing from pension funds, endowments, and insurers [4] - There is a notable rise in inflows into alternative investments, including index funds, private credit funds, and ETFs, alongside growing interest in tokenized assets [5] - The industry is witnessing ongoing mergers and partnerships to enhance scale, reduce costs, and improve resilience [6][7] Financial Performance - The Zacks Investment Management industry has outperformed the S&P 500 Index and the broader finance sector, with a collective stock increase of 58.5% over the past two years [13] - The industry's current trailing 12-month price-to-tangible book ratio (P/TB) is 4.64X, indicating a significant discount compared to the S&P 500's 12.98X [17] Company Highlights - **T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW)**: As of June 30, 2025, TROW had $1.68 trillion in AUM, with a CAGR of 2.3% over the past four years. The company is focusing on expanding its business through partnerships and acquisitions [24][27][28] - **SEI Investments Company (SEIC)**: SEIC reported $517.5 billion in AUM as of June 30, 2025, with a CAGR of 8.2% over the past five years. The company is enhancing its technology and expanding its global presence through strategic acquisitions [32][33][36] - **Federated Hermes, Inc. (FHI)**: FHI had $845.7 billion in AUM as of June 30, 2025, with a CAGR of 7.4% over the past four years. The company is actively seeking alliances and acquisitions to drive AUM growth [40][42]

Company Overview - SEI Investments Company (NASDAQ: SEIC) is a leading global provider of financial technology, operations, and asset management services within the financial services industry [3] - As of June 30, 2025, SEI manages, advises, or administers approximately $1.7 trillion in assets [3] Upcoming Event - SEI will host its Investor Day in New York City on September 18, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. EDT, aimed at institutional investors and industry analysts [1] - Presentations will be delivered by SEI's executive leadership, covering the company's markets, solutions, platforms, and future growth strategies [1] Public Engagement - The public is invited to view the presentation and listen to the conference webcast, which will also be available for replay shortly after the conference [2]

Core Insights - SEI has appointed Robert Hum as Head of Investment Product Development and Activation to enhance its investment product strategies and portfolio outcomes [1][4] - Hum brings 15 years of experience from BlackRock and Ladenburg Thalmann, where he managed over $2 billion in assets [2] - Heather Corkery has transitioned to support Hum, focusing on product activation strategies and user experience optimization [3] Company Strategy - SEI aims to strengthen its investment solutions by building a dedicated team to identify market trends and client needs [4] - The company is focused on enhancing access to private markets and improving investment products and model allocations [4] - SEI manages approximately $1.7 trillion in assets as of June 30, 2025, indicating its significant presence in the financial services industry [6] Leadership and Expertise - Robert Hum's diverse experience in ETF construction and implementation is expected to drive SEI's growth in new markets [4] - Heather Corkery's 20 years of experience at SEI will contribute to the depth of investment expertise within the new team [3] - Both leaders emphasize SEI's client-centric approach and the importance of leveraging technology and operations for competitive advantage [5]

Core Insights - BlackRock Inc. (BLK) achieved a record $12.53 trillion in assets under management (AUM) for Q2 2025, marking a 17.7% year-over-year growth, driven by higher inflows in equity and fixed income instruments [1][8] - Digital assets saw a significant increase of 329.3% during the quarter, highlighting BlackRock's strategic focus on the cryptocurrency sector [2] - The company has been expanding its AUM through product diversification and acquisitions, with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% from 2019 to 2024 [2] AUM Growth and Inflows - BlackRock's AUM growth was supported by inflows of $152 billion in the first half of 2025, continuing a multi-year upward trend [2][8] - The company became the first asset manager to surpass the $12 trillion mark in AUM [1][8] Acquisitions and Expansion - In July 2025, BlackRock agreed to acquire ElmTree Funds and completed the buyout of HPS Investment Partners to enhance its private market offerings [3] - The acquisition of Preqin for $3.2 billion in March 2025 further strengthened its private markets capabilities [3] - Previous acquisitions, including Global Infrastructure Partners in October 2024, have bolstered BlackRock's infrastructure offerings [3] ETF and Active Equity Focus - BlackRock is enhancing its iShares unit, which offers over 1,400 ETFs globally, and has received approval for spot Bitcoin and ether ETFs [4] - The company is also increasing its focus on the active equity business to support AUM growth [4] Peer Comparison - Competitors like SEI Investments and Invesco are also focusing on AUM growth, with SEI's AUM at $517.5 billion (up 10% year-over-year) and Invesco's AUM at $2 trillion (up 16.6%) as of June 30, 2025 [5][6] Price Performance and Valuation - BlackRock's shares have increased by 15.5% over the past six months, outperforming the industry growth of 2.4% [7] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 22.44X, which is above the industry average [9] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates an 8.6% year-over-year rise in BlackRock's 2025 earnings and a 9.6% growth for 2026, with upward revisions for both years [10]