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Although the second quarter of 2010 started out on a strong note, after reaching a high on April 23, the stock market sold off sharply
due to renewed concerns over weak domestic economic growth and turmoil in some European markets. Reflecting the negative tone
of the stock market, both the Munder Mid-Cap Core Growth Fund and its S&P MidCap 400® benchmark had negative performance for
the quarter. However, the Fund exceeded its benchmark by over two percentage points for the second quarter and exhibited relative
strength on a year-to-date basis as well.
Factors that contributed to the Fund’s weak relative performance during the market rally of the past year appeared to have largely
abated as the market returned to what we view as more normal conditions. During the March 2009 through April 2010 rally in the
S&P MidCap 400® Index, stocks with the highest volatility, the smallest market capitalizations, lower growth, and generally lower
quality led the rally. We have now seen the relationship between these factors and mid-cap stock prices return to more neutral
patterns that do not favor any particular theme, as is more typically the case. One exception was that stocks with the highest
volatility did perform the worst during the market weakness in the second quarter of 2010. Since the Munder Mid-Cap Core Growth
Fund was slightly less volatile than the market, this was marginally beneficial to the performance of the Fund.
The sectors of the Fund that had the strongest relative performance during the second quarter were information technology and
consumer discretionary. In the information technology sector, the biggest contributors were Akamai Technologies, Inc. (1.2% of the
Fund), ARM Holdings PLC (1.2%) and Sybase, Inc, which was acquired by SAP AG during the quarter at an attractive premium.
Akamai benefited from investor enthusiasm over increased streaming of video content over the Internet, a practice that will benefit
the company. ARM Holdings is a leader in intellectual property for semiconductors used in mobile technologies, and benefited from
new product offerings by Apple, Inc. and other providers.
In the consumer discretionary sector, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (1.5%) experienced very rapid earnings growth that had exceeded
expectations for several quarters in a row. In addition, investors continued to gain confidence in the company’s ability to expand its
store base. Similarly, New Oriental Education and Technology Group, Inc. (1.1%), a Chinese educational services company, continued
its rapid growth and recently reported earnings above consensus estimates. Another strong performer, O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.
(0.9%), also experienced rapid growth and rising earnings estimates.
The health care sector was the only significant detractor from the Fund’s relative performance. BioMarin Pharmaceutical. Inc. (1.3%)
was down in sympathy with other biotech stocks, which have been very weak during the recent downturn in the market. This
weakness came despite the fact that BioMarin is one of the few companies in the sector that was profitable and had successful
products on the market. Amedisys, Inc. (1.1%) was down during the quarter due to Senate Finance Committee hearings on home
health care issues related to therapy utilization and physician relationships. Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc. (1.0%) was weak during
the quarter despite strong earnings trends and an absence of negative news. Prior to the peak in the market, the stock had been an
above-average performer and this sell-off appeared to be a temporary correction.
The focus of the Mid-Cap Core Growth Fund continues to be on earnings momentum and reasonable valuation. Over the past twelve
months, earnings per share for the typical company held in the Fund grew at 17%, compared to 3% for the benchmark. Revenue
growth over the past twelve months was 0.3% for the Fund and -3% for its benchmark. Return on equity, a basic measure of
profitability, was 14% over the past twelve months for the Munder Mid-Cap Core Growth Fund, compared to 12% for the S&P
MidCap 400® Index. Despite these favorable fundamental characteristics, the valuation of the Fund was quite reasonable, with a
price-to-earnings ratio on projected earnings over the next twelve months of 17 times earnings, only slightly higher than the S&P
MidCap 400® multiple of 15 times earnings.* We believe this combination of fundamental strength and reasonable valuation
positions the Mid-Cap Core Growth Fund for strong competitive performance in the year ahead. These are the characteristics that
have historically contributed to the Fund’s long-term record, and we firmly believe that they will continue to serve our investors well.
* Estimated price-to-earnings ratios are based on information obtained from a third-party that is believed to be reliable. Estimates are
only projections and not guarantees.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other important information about the Fund. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, click here. Read the prospectus and summary prospectuses carefully before investing. RISKS: The Fund invests in smaller and medium-sized company stocks, which are more volatile and less liquid than larger, more established company securities. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in foreign securities, which involve additional risks due to currency fluctuations, economic and political conditions, and differences in financial reporting standards.
Fund holdings mentioned in the Quarterly Commentary are as of 2.28.10 and the percentages shown are based on net assets as of that date. Fund holdings are subject to change and should not be considered purchase recommendations. There is no assurance that the securities mentioned remain in the Fund’s portfolio or that securities sold have not been repurchased.
The S&P MidCap 400® Index is a capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of the mid-capitalization sector of the U.S. stock market. The Russell Midcap® Growth Index is a capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of Russell Midcap® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth rates. The Russell Midcap® Index includes approximately 800 of the smallest Russell 1000® Index companies (the largest 1,000 U.S. publicly traded companies). You cannot invest directly in an index, securities in the Fund will not match those in the index, and performance of the Fund will differ. Although reinvestment of dividend and interest payments is assumed, no expenses are netted against an index’s returns.
Munder Funds are distributed by Funds Distributor, LLC 04/10
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Tony Y. Dong, CFA
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| Vice Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and Lead Manager, Mid-Cap Team |
| BBA with Distinction from the University of Michigan School of Business Administration |
| MBA in Finance from Wayne State University |
Joined Munder Capital Management in 1988
| Years of Experience:27 |
| Focus:Tony is Vice Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and Lead Manager, Mid-Cap Team of Munder Capital Management, and is a member of Munder Capital Holdings, LLC Board of Directors. As C.I.O, Tony oversees the firm’s investment management teams and disciplines. He monitors investment teams for investment skills, risk management and portfolio construction in order to provide tailored investment management solutions designed to meet clients’ needs. Tony has 27 years of investment experience that includes leading: equity strategy, a portfolio management team, and equity research; further, he has successfully developed investment strategies that focus on adding value, controlling risk, and building wealth for clients over the long-term. Leading our Mid-Cap and Small/Mid-Cap equity strategies, his team has demonstrated expertise in their ability to add value through stock selection and oversees the management of over $6 billion in these strategies as of March 31, 2010. Over the years he has been featured in various publications and financial television programs including: Investor’s Business Daily, the Neil Cavuto show on Fox News, and CNBC. His strategies have received recognition from many publications and industry rating and ranking firms, including: USA Today, Business Week and Morningstar. In addition, a mutual fund for which he is lead portfolio manager received a Lipper Best Fund award. Having joined Munder Capital in 1988, he has also served both as Senior Portfolio Manager for mid-cap, large-cap, and small/mid-cap portfolios, and as Managing Director, Mid-Cap Equity. Tony holds a B.B.A. (with distinction) from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. in finance from Wayne State University. He is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Detroit. |
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Madan Gopal
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| Equity Analyst |
| B.E. in Civil & Environmental engineering from Anna University in India |
| M.S. in engineering from the University of Oklahoma |
| M.B.A. from the University of Chicago |
Joined Munder Capital Management in 2007
| Years of Experience:2 |
| Focus:Analyzes equity securities for Munder Capital’s Mid-Capitalization Core Growth strategy. Responsible for conducting independent research, developing screening tools, and finding good businesses that are currently undervalued. |
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Gavin Hayman, CFA
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| Equity Analyst |
| Honors degree in Law from the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, U.K. |
Joined Munder Capital Management in 2001. Left Munder in 2002; rejoined firm in 2010.
| Years of Experience:4 |
| Focus:He analyzes equity securities for the Mid-Capitalization Core Growth and Mid-Cap/Small-Cap Blend strategies. He also assists with portfolio strategy, sector analysis, stock selection and monitoring of companies owned in the portfolio. |
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Brian S. Matuszak, CFA
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| Senior Equity Analyst |
| BBA in Finance and Accounting (with distinction) from the University of Michigan |
| MS in Applied Economics from the University of Michigan |
Joined Munder Capital Management in 2000
| Years of Experience:12 |
| Focus:Analyzes equity securities for Munder Capital's Mid-Capitalization Core Growth and Mid-Cap/Small-Cap Blend strategies, as well as their associated funds. Also is a member of the team managing the Real Estate Equity Investment (REIT) strategy. Assists with portfolio strategy, sector analysis, stock selection, and the monitoring of companies owned in the portfolio. |
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Andy Y. Mui, CPA
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| Senior Equity Analyst |
| BBA from the University of Michigan |
| MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth |
Joined Munder Capital Management in 2005
| Years of Experience:9 |
| Focus:Analyzes equity securities for Munder Capital's Mid-Capitalization Core Growth and Mid-Cap/Small-Cap Blend strategies, as well as their associated funds. Assists with portfolio strategy, sector analysis, stock selection, and the monitoring of companies owned in the portfolio. |
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George L. Sanders, II
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| Senior Equity Research Associate |
| Started with Comerica Bank in 1984. Joined Munder Capital in 1995 as a result of the merger with Comerica and its investment subsidiaries. |
| Years of Experience:18 |
| Focus:Provides quantitative equity research for our mid-capitalization (growth and value), small-capitalization value and micro-capitalization strategies. Also, is a member of the portfolio management teams responsible for the Mid-Capitalization Core Growth and Small-CapMid-Cap Blend investment strategies, as well as their associated funds. |
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Geoffrey A. Wilson, CFA
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| Co-Chief Investment Officer and Senior Portfolio Manager |
| BA in Economics from Albion College |
| MBA from the University of Michigan |
Joined Munder Capital Management in 1985
| Years of Experience:34 |
| Focus:Member of the Mid-Capitalization Core Growth and Mid-Cap/Small-Cap Blend portfolio management teams. He analyzes equity securities, assists with portfolio strategy, sector analysis, stock selection, and the monitoring of companies owned in the portfolio, as well as institutional client services. He is also lead manager of Munder Capital’s taxable and tax-managed Core Growth equity investment disciplines. |
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| Munder Funds distributed by Funds Distributor, LLC. |
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