For the Month Ending May 31, 2016 May Acquisitions Help US Moats
Performance Overview
U.S. moat-rated companies continued to impress in 2016 with another strong relative performance month in May. The U.S.-oriented Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM (MWMFTR) topped the S&P 500® Index (2.69% vs. 1.80%) for the month and maintained its relative performance year-to-date (15.07% vs. 3.57%). By contrast international moats fared less well in May with the Morningstar® Global ex-US Moat Focus IndexSM (MGEUMFUN) lagging the MSCI All Country World Index ex USA (-2.09% vs. -1.69%).
US Domestic Moats: May M&A
News of Bayer’s (BAYN GR) bid to buy wide moat agrichemical giant Monsanto Company (MON US) boosted shares of MON US late in the month. This came on the heels of Abbott Laboratories’ (ABT US) announcement of its intent to buy wide moat St. Jude Medical (STJ US) which propelled the stock performance of STJ US in April. Healthcare companies continued their strong performance for MWMFTR in May led by McKesson Corp (MCK US) and Allergan (AGN US). The industrials sector was the leading detractor for the month with notable poor performance from rail companies CSX Corp (CSX US) and Norfolk Southern Corp (NSC US).
International Moats: Financials in Flux
As with U.S. moats in May, internationally focused MGEUMFUN’s exposure to healthcare companies helped boost performance. However, the Index was unable to overcome the negative performance contributions from industrials and financials companies, ending the month down 2.09%. Canadian banks struggled in May as many have been forced to deal with credit losses related to the oil & gas industry. Overall, construction firm China State Construction International Holdings Limited was the poorest Index performer in May.
Special Update: Morningstar Index Enhancements
As previously announced, Morningstar will implement enhancements to the index methodology for MWMFTR and MGEUMFUN effective June 20, 2016. The indices will continue to be built on Morningstar’s equity research which identifies sustainable competitive advantages at attractive valuations, but will aim to reduce turnover, broaden diversification, and mitigate unintended sector concentration.
Moat Investing
Moat Investing provides key insights and performance trends impacting global moat investing based on Morningstar equity research. U.S.-focused MOAT and internationally focused MOTI offer investors global exposure to Morningstar’s moat methodology and valuation principals.
Important Disclosure
This commentary is not intended as a recommendation to buy or to sell any of the named securities. Holding will vary for the MOAT and MOTI ETFs and their corresponding Indices.
Index performance is not representative of fund performance. To view fund performance current to the most recent month end, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com.
An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Returns reflect past performance and do not guarantee future results. Results reflect the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. Index returns do not represent Fund returns. The Index does not charge management fees or brokerage expenses, nor does the Index lend securities, and no revenues from securities lending were added to the performance shown.
Fair value estimate: the Morningstar analyst’s estimate of what a stock is worth.
Price/Fair Value: ratio of a stock’s trading price to its fair value estimate.
