Market Overview - Small cap stocks showed volatile performance in Q2, with the Russell 2000 Index recovering to within 10% of its record highs in just 55 days, primarily driven by growth, momentum, high-beta, and low-quality stocks [2] - The Russell 2000 returned 8.5% for the quarter, underperforming the Russell 1000 Index's 11.1%, marking the widest annual performance gap since 1935 [3] - Growth stocks regained leadership due to strong demand for AI beneficiaries, with the Russell 2000 Growth Index returning 12.0%, significantly outperforming the Russell 2000 Value Index by 700 basis points [3] Retail Investor Activity - Retail trading volumes have more than doubled since 2010, now accounting for nearly 21% of total market volume, while traditional long-only managers and hedge funds are losing market share [4] - Retail investors are focusing on companies with an average market cap about half that of the Russell 3000, with nearly 45% of their purchases being "zombie" companies with no earnings [10] - Notable examples include Regencell Bioscience, which saw a 7,000% increase in market cap despite having no revenue or regulatory approval [10] Portfolio Performance - The ClearBridge Small Cap Strategy underperformed its benchmark in Q2, with detractors in consumer discretionary and communication services sectors outweighing positive contributions from utilities and select healthcare companies [12] - Stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector faced challenges, particularly for Murphy USA and Oxford Industries, due to idiosyncratic headwinds and increased tariff costs [13][14] - Communication services sector detractors included Criteo and Anterix, with concerns over long-term growth and profitability impacting performance [15] Sector Contributions - Utilities sector performance was led by Talen Energy, benefiting from rising demand for power due to AI data centers [16] - Verona Pharma rebounded after receiving favorable FDA designation, leading to its acquisition by Merck at a premium [17] - Overall, the strategy had gains in six of the 11 sectors, with industrials and IT sectors being the leading contributors [21] Portfolio Positioning - The company actively adjusted its financial sector positioning, exiting Home BancShares for UMB Financial to enhance quality exposure [18] - New positions were initiated in AGCO within the industrials sector, expected to benefit from trade and tariff policies [19] - Exited positions included Abacus Global due to declining conviction and performance concerns [18] Outlook - The market shows signs of euphoria reminiscent of previous speculative bubbles, with a focus on low-quality stocks [4][20] - Economic uncertainties, including tariff impacts and potential inflation, suggest a need for a cautious approach [20] - The company continues to prioritize high-quality stocks with strong fundamentals, anticipating that these will be favored when market conditions shift [20]