Royce Global Financial Services Fund Manager Commentary
article 08-07-2024

Royce Global Financial Services Fund Manager Commentary

The portfolio outperformed its benchmark for the 1-, 3-, 5-, 10-, and 15-year periods ended 6/30/24.

TELL US
WHAT YOU
THINK

Fund Performance

Royce Global Financial Services Fund advanced 9.1% for the year-to-date period ended 6/30/24, outperforming its benchmark, MSCI ACWI Small Cap Index, which was up 2.3% for the same period. The portfolio also outperformed its benchmark for the 1-, 3-, 5-, 10-, and 15-year periods ended 6/30/24.

What Worked... and What Didn’t

All of the portfolio’s five equity sectors made a positive impact on year-to-date period performance, led by Financials, Industrials, and Information Technology while the smallest positive impacts came from Real Estate and Materials. At the industry level, capital markets (Financials), trading companies & distributors (Industrials), and insurance (Financials) contributed most for the year-to-date period, while professional services (Industrials), electronic equipment, instruments & components (Information Technology), and financial services (Financials) were the smallest contributors. At the country level, the U.S., Canada, and Israel contributed most for the year-to-date period, while Brazil, Egypt, and New Zealand were the largest detractors.

The portfolio’s top contributor at the position level for the year-to-date period was FTAI Aviation, an aircraft engine lessor that also offers a cost-effective engine maintenance, repair, and exchange program that is eagerly sought by smaller airlines. FTAI’s shares rose largely because of strong industry fundamentals—the company beat earnings estimates for 1Q24 and announced large multi-year deals for its workhorse V2500 engines with LATAM Airlines Chile and International Aero Engines—increased earnings power from the internalization of a management agreement, and the purchase of a key manufacturing facility from Lockheed Martin. The top detractor at the position level was B3-Brasil, Bolsa, Balcao, which operates regional stock exchanges in Brazil. Trading volumes have trended downward since late 2023. That, and the fact that many investors appear to have sold or ignored the stock in the current “higher for longer” interest rate environment, help explain the poor performance of its shares.

The portfolio’s advantage over its benchmark was primarily attributable to stock selection in the year-to-date period, with Financials, Industrials, and Real Estate making the most significant positive impact versus the benchmark. Conversely, Energy and Consumer Staples were the only detractors from relative year-to-date period results.


Top Contributors to Performance

1 Includes dividends

Top Detractors from Performance

2 Net of dividends

Important Fund Information

The Royce Fund’s Board of Trustees has approved a plan of liquidation for Royce Global Financial Services Fund, to be effective on September 9, 2024. The Fund is being liquidated primarily because it has not maintained assets at a sufficient level for it to be viable.

A distribution was paid on August 1, 2024 to shareholders of record on July 31, 2024 as set forth below.


CLASS TICKER SYMBOL CUSIP SYMBOL RECORD DATE EX-DATE PAYABLE DATE INCOME S/T GAINS L/T GAINS TOTAL
Service
RYFSX
780905469
7/31/24
8/1/24
8/1/24
$0.6773
$0.1398
$5.3626
$6.1797
Institutional
RGFIX
780811626
7/31/24
8/1/24
8/1/24
$0.6753
$0.1842
$7.0683
$7.9278

Fund Shareholders may exchange their shares into another Royce open-end fund and any new account minimums or redemption fees that would otherwise apply will be waived for exchanges completed prior to the liquidation date of September 9, 2024.

Average Annual Total Returns Through 06/30/24 (%)

QTR1 YTD1 1YR 3YR 5YR 10YR SINCE INCEPT.
(01/01/01)
1.389.1222.000.928.297.037.98

Annual Operating Expenses: Gross 1.99 Net 1.57

1 Not annualized.

Important Performance, Expense and Disclosure Information

Important Performance and Expense Information

All performance information reflects past performance, is presented on a total return basis, reflects the reinvestment of distributions, and does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate, so that shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when redeemed. Current month-end performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted and may be obtained at www.royceinvest.com. Gross operating expenses reflect the Fund's gross total annual operating expenses for the Service Class and include management fees, 12b-1 distribution and service fees, other expenses, and acquired fund fees and expenses. Net operating expenses reflect contractual fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. All expense information is reported as of the Fund’s most current prospectus. Royce has contractually agreed, without right of termination, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to maintain the Service Class’s net annual operating expenses (excluding brokerage commissions, taxes, interest, litigation expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, and other expenses not borne in the ordinary course of business) at or below 1.49% through April 30, 2025. Acquired fund fees and expenses reflect the estimated amount of the fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund through its investments in mutual funds and other investment companies.

Current month-end performance may be obtained at our Prices and Performance page.

Notes to Performance and Other Important Information

The thoughts expressed in this report concerning recent market movements and future prospects for small company stocks are solely the opinion of Royce at June 30, 2024, and, of course, historical market trends are not necessarily indicative of future market movements. Statements regarding the future prospects for particular securities held in the Funds’ portfolios and Royce’s investment intentions with respect to those securities reflect Royce’s opinions as of June 30, 2024 and are subject to change at any time without notice. There can be no assurance that securities mentioned in this report will be included in any Royce-managed portfolio in the future.


.


Sector weightings are determined using the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). GICS was developed by, and is the exclusive property of, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”). GICS is the trademark of S&P and MSCI. “Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)” and “GICS Direct” are service marks of S&P and MSCI.

All indexes referred to are unmanaged and capitalization weighted. Each index’s returns include net reinvested dividends and/or interest income. Russell Company (“Russell”) is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell® is a trademark of Frank Russell Company. Neither Russell nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the Russell Indexes and/or Russell ratings or underlying data and no party may rely on any Russell Indexes and/or Russell ratings and/or underlying data contained in this communication. No further distribution of Russell Data is permitted without Russell’s express written consent. Russell does not promote, sponsor or endorse the content of this communication. The Russell 2000 Index is an index of domestic small-cap stocks. It measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest publicly traded U.S. companies in the Russell 3000 Index. The Russell 2000 Value and Growth Indexes consist of the respective value and growth stocks within the Russell 2000 as determined by Russell Investments. The Russell Microcap Index includes 1,000 of the smallest securities in the Russell 2000 Index, along with the next smallest eligible securities as determined by Russell. The Russell 2500 is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of the 2,500 smallest publicly traded U.S. companies in the Russell 3000 index. The returns for the Russell 2500-Financial Sector represent those of the financial services companies within the Russell 2500 index. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indexes or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, endorsed, reviewed or produced by MSCI. None of the MSCI data is intended to constitute investment advice or a recommendation to make (or refrain from making) any kind of investment decision and may not be relied on as such. The MSCI ACWI Small Cap Index is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of global small-cap stocks.The MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap Index is an index of global small-cap stocks, excluding the United States.The performance of an index does not represent exactly any particular investment, as you cannot invest directly in an index. Returns for the market indexes used in this report were based on information supplied to Royce by Russell Investments. Royce has not independently verified the above described information.

This material contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that involve risks and uncertainties, including, among others, statements as to:

-the Funds’ future operating results,

-the prospects of the Funds’ portfolio companies,

-the impact of investments that the Funds have made or may make, the dependence of the Funds’ future success on the general economy and its impact on the companies and industries in which the Funds invest, and

-the ability of the Funds’ portfolio companies to achieve their objectives.

This discussion uses words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “future,” “intends,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements for any reason.

The Royce Funds have based the forward-looking statements included in this commentary on information available to us on the date of the commentary, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although The Royce Funds undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make through future shareholder communications or reports.

This material is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money. Smaller-cap stocks may involve considerably more risk than larger-cap stocks. (Please see “Primary Risks for Fund Investors” in the prospectus.)

Share:

Subscribe:

Sign Up

Follow: