Group 1: SGA U.S. Large Cap Growth Strategy Performance - The portfolio returned -1.3% (Gross) and -1.4% (Net) in Q3 2025, underperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index which returned 10.5% and the S&P 500 Index which returned 8.1% [1] - The investment objective is to focus on high-quality growth businesses expected to achieve consistent mid-teens earnings growth, stable revenue, and cash flow [1] - Market leadership in Q3 was unfavorable for SGA's investment style as lower-quality stocks and cyclical industries outperformed [1] Group 2: W.W. Grainger, Inc. Overview - W.W. Grainger, Inc. is a leading distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products, primarily operating in North America, Japan, and the UK [3] - The company serves over 4.5 million customers and operates approximately 250 branches across the U.S., Canada, South America, and the UK [3] - Grainger offers more than 2 million MRO products in its High-Touch Solutions segment and over 30 million products through online channels [3] Group 3: Grainger's Business Model and Market Position - Grainger's high-touch business model provides strong pricing power by embedding services like inventory management and consulting into customer operations, with over 60% of revenue from customers with at least one embedded solution [3] - The company generates resilient, repeatable revenue through mission-critical product offerings and seamless digital procurement platforms, ensuring consistent demand and cash flow [3] - Grainger is well-positioned to gain market share in the B2B supply market, benefiting from trends such as manufacturing reshoring, industry consolidation, and accelerated digital adoption [3]

Economic and Market Conditions - The U.S. stock markets have reached all-time highs, leading to increased investor anxiety due to the higher stakes involved [1][3] - The Federal Reserve's potential rate cuts could benefit the economy by steepening the yield curve, which may encourage bank lending [1][3] - Despite the potential benefits of rate cuts, the U.S. economy does not urgently require them, as lending has already accelerated from 2.8% to 4.5% year-over-year [3] Manufacturing Reshoring - The prospect of reshoring manufacturing in the U.S. does not guarantee positive outcomes for U.S. industrial stocks, as market focus remains on earnings rather than production locations [4] - Reshoring involves significant upfront and ongoing costs, including compliance with stringent environmental regulations, which could negatively impact profit margins [4][5] - The reshoring process is lengthy and complex, often taking years due to investment, planning, and regulatory hurdles, making it speculative to base current investments on this trend [5] Employment Data Reliability - The reliability of jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is diminishing due to declining response rates from firms, leading to potential revisions in the data [7][9] - Monthly jobs data is often too volatile for sound investment decisions, as it typically reflects past conditions rather than current market realities [10] Social Security Funding Concerns - The proposed "One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)" could reduce Social Security funding by an estimated $169 billion over the next decade, potentially shifting the program's insolvency date from Q3 2034 to Q1 2034 [11][14] - Despite concerns about insolvency, it is important to note that annual revenues would still cover approximately 70% to 80% of benefits through 2100 [12] - The OBBBA tax cuts represent only 4% of Social Security's revenues, with the majority coming from payroll taxes, which remain unaffected by the bill [14]