Conservative Income Portfolio targets the best value stocks with the highest margins of safety. The volatility of these investments is further lowered using the best priced options. Our Enhanced Equity Income Solutions Portfolio is designed to reduce volatility while generating 7-9% yields. Our performance relative to a 60:40 benchmark, can be seen below.In our previous coverage of TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. ( TPVG ), we gave you all the reasons that we would continue to stay away from thisTrappin ...

Neuberger Berman was founded in 1939 to do one thing: deliver compelling investment results for our clients over the long term. This remains our singular purpose today, driven by a culture rooted in deep fundamental research, the pursuit of investment insight and continuous innovation on behalf of clients, and facilitated by the free exchange of ideas across the organization. From offices in 39 cities across 26 countries, Neuberger Berman manages a range of equity, fixed income, private equity and hedge fun ...

Group 1 - The Conservative Income Portfolio focuses on value stocks with high margins of safety and uses well-priced options to reduce volatility [1] - The Enhanced Equity Income Solutions Portfolio aims to generate yields of 7-9% while minimizing volatility [1] - Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is highlighted as a key stock attracting value investors in the current bull market, indicating its strong performance [2] Group 2 - Trapping Value is a team of analysts with over 40 years of combined experience, focusing on options income and capital preservation [2] - The Conservative Income Portfolio includes two income-generating portfolios and a bond ladder, emphasizing lower volatility and high income potential [2]

Leadership Transition - T. Rowe Price announced a leadership transition within its T. Rowe Price Investment Management division (TRPIM), with Steph Jackson retiring at the end of 2026 after impactful leadership [1][3] - Steven Krichbaum will assume the role of associate head of TRPIM effective January 22, 2026, and will succeed Jackson as head of TRPIM on January 1, 2027 [4][5] Background of Steph Jackson - Jackson has been with T. Rowe Price since 2007, holding various influential roles, including portfolio specialist and director of research for the Equity Associate Analyst Program [2] - He played a pivotal role in establishing TRPIM in 2022, enhancing the firm's ability to serve clients [2] Contributions and Legacy - Jackson has championed multiple business resource groups and promoted inclusivity within the firm [3] - He has deepened community ties in Baltimore through initiatives like the T. Rowe Price Foundation's Moonshot initiative [3] Background of Steven Krichbaum - Krichbaum joined T. Rowe Price in 2006 and has nearly two decades of investment and leadership experience, including roles as analyst and head of strategic initiatives [5] - He has served as TRPIM director of equity and fixed income research prior to his new role [5] Company Overview - T. Rowe Price Investment Management (TRPIM) was established in 2022 to enhance the firm's ability to deliver specialized investment solutions globally [6] - As of December 31, 2025, T. Rowe Price manages $1.78 trillion in client assets, with about two-thirds being retirement-related [7]

Core Insights - The Conservative Income Portfolio aims to target value stocks with high margins of safety while utilizing well-priced options to reduce investment volatility [1] - The Enhanced Equity Income Solutions Portfolio is designed to generate yields of 7-9% while minimizing volatility [1] - The performance of these portfolios is benchmarked against a 60:40 allocation, indicating a structured approach to income generation and risk management [1] Group 1 - Trapping Value is a team of analysts with over 40 years of combined experience focused on generating options income and capital preservation [2] - The Conservative Income Portfolio operates in partnership with Preferred Stock Trader, featuring two income-generating portfolios and a bond ladder [2] - The Covered Calls Portfolio aims to provide lower volatility income investing with an emphasis on capital preservation [2] Group 2 - The fixed income portfolio is focused on acquiring securities that offer high income potential and are significantly undervalued compared to peers [2]

Core Viewpoint - Neuberger Berman focuses on delivering compelling long-term investment results for clients, driven by a culture of fundamental research and innovation [1] Company Overview - Founded in 1939, Neuberger Berman operates in 39 cities across 26 countries, managing a diverse range of investment strategies including equity, fixed income, private equity, and hedge funds [1] - The firm has a total of 2,850 employees, including 763 investment professionals, emphasizing a commitment to client outcomes and investment excellence [1] Employee and Culture - Neuberger Berman has achieved high retention rates among senior investment staff and has been recognized in the Pensions & Investments "Best Places to Work in Money Management" survey as either first or second since 2014 [1] - As a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager, the firm aligns its structure with the long-term interests of clients, with no external parent or public shareholders [1] Financials - As of June 30, 2025, Neuberger Berman manages $538 billion in assets [1]

Group 1 - The Conservative Income Portfolio targets value stocks with high margins of safety and reduces volatility using well-priced options [1] - The Enhanced Equity Income Solutions Portfolio aims to generate yields of 7-9% while minimizing volatility [1] - The performance of these portfolios is benchmarked against a 60:40 allocation [1] Group 2 - Trapping Value is a team with over 40 years of combined experience focused on generating options income and capital preservation [2] - The Conservative Income Portfolio is managed in partnership with Preferred Stock Trader, featuring two income-generating portfolios and a bond ladder [2] - The Covered Calls Portfolio emphasizes lower volatility income investing, while the fixed income portfolio targets high income potential securities that are undervalued [2] Group 3 - GHI is included in the Conservative Income Portfolio but is noted as unsuitable for Canadian investors due to its K-1 tax implications [4]

Core Viewpoint - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) is a global investment management firm with a market cap of $12.4 billion, managing over $1.6 trillion in assets and expected to announce its fiscal first-quarter earnings for 2026 soon [1] Financial Performance - Analysts anticipate BEN to report a profit of $0.57 per share on a diluted basis for the upcoming quarter, reflecting a 3.4% decrease from $0.59 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For the full fiscal year, EPS is projected to be $2.50, which is a 12.6% increase from $2.22 in fiscal 2025, with further growth expected to $2.80 in fiscal 2027 [3] Stock Performance - BEN stock has outperformed the S&P 500 Index, gaining 18.2% over the past 52 weeks compared to the index's 16.9% increase, and also surpassed the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's 13.9% gains during the same period [4] Growth Drivers - The company's outperformance is attributed to strong alternative assets, ETF inflows, and digital investment solutions, with $22.9 billion raised in private markets and $1.7 billion in digital-asset AUM growth [5] Recent Results - On November 7, BEN shares fell over 4% after reporting Q4 results, with an adjusted EPS of $0.67 exceeding Wall Street's expectations of $0.57, and revenue reaching $2.3 billion, surpassing forecasts of $2.1 billion [6] Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion on BEN stock is cautious, with a "Hold" rating overall; among 12 analysts, three recommend a "Strong Buy," four a "Hold," one a "Moderate Sell," and four a "Strong Sell," with an average price target of $24.45 indicating a potential upside of 2.7% [7]

Core Insights - The Conservative Income Portfolio aims to target high-value stocks with significant margins of safety while utilizing well-priced options to reduce investment volatility [1][2] - The Enhanced Equity Income Solutions Portfolio is structured to generate yields between 7-9% while minimizing volatility [1] - The Trapping Value team, with over 40 years of combined experience, focuses on generating options income and capital preservation through their Conservative Income Portfolio in collaboration with Preferred Stock Trader [2] Investment Strategies - The Conservative Income Portfolio features two income-generating portfolios and a bond ladder, emphasizing lower volatility income investing [2] - The Covered Calls Portfolio is designed to provide income with a focus on capital preservation, while the fixed income portfolio targets securities with high income potential and significant undervaluation [2]

Core Insights - The Conservative Income Portfolio focuses on value stocks with high margins of safety and utilizes well-priced options to reduce investment volatility [1] - The Enhanced Equity Income Solutions Portfolio aims to generate yields of 7-9% while minimizing volatility [1] Group 1: Portfolio Overview - Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Trust (EFT) has approximately $333 million in net assets and gross assets of around $515 million, with $119 million in borrowings indicating leverage [2] - The Conservative Income Portfolio is managed by a team with over 40 years of combined experience, emphasizing capital preservation while generating income [2] - The investing group includes two income-generating portfolios and a bond ladder, with a focus on lower volatility income investing through Covered Calls and high-income potential securities in the fixed income portfolio [2]