The strategy seeks to generate high total return from both current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in intermediate-term debt securities across 14 fixed income sectors. The strategy employs a time-tested approach of active sector rotation, extensive credit research and disciplined risk management designed to capitalize on opportunities across undervalued areas of the fixed income markets.
Step 1: Sector Analysis and Allocation
- Top down, relative value approach
- Relative value analysis looks at: yield and spreads; supply and demand; investment environment; sector fundamentals
Step 2: Issue Selection
- Bottom up, fundamental research driven
- Fundamental analysis includes assessment of: credit risk; company management; issue structure; technical market conditions; focus on valuations
Step 3: Portfolio Construction, Oversight, and Risk Management
- Duration neutral strategy
- Sector concentration
- Issuer exposure: maximum 5%, average <1%
- Manager review
- Systematic review
Documents
Portfolio Managers
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David Albrycht, CFA
President and Chief Investment OfficerDavid Albrycht, CFA, is president and chief investment officer of Newfleet Asset Management. Mr. Albrycht is the senior portfolio manager of several multi-sector fixed income strategies, some dating back to the early 1990s. In his role as CIO, Mr. Albrycht drives top-down strategy for Newfleet’s investment platform, which includes multi-sector and dedicated sector strategies for high yield and bank loans. In addition to managing mutual funds and variable investment options in these strategies, Mr. Albrycht is co-manager of two closed-end funds, Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE: ZTR) and Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund (NYSE: VGI). He also is co-manager of four exchange traded funds, AdvisorShares Newfleet Multi-Sector Income ETF (NYSE: MINC), Virtus Newfleet Multi-Sector Bond ETF (NYSE: NFLT), Virtus Newfleet High Yield Bond ETF (NYSE: BLHY), and Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF (NYSE: VABS), and two offshore funds, the Virtus GF Multi-Sector Short Duration Bond Fund and the Virtus GF Multi-Sector Income Fund. Additionally, Mr. Albrycht is responsible for the structuring and management of Newfleet’s CLO platform.
Prior to joining Newfleet in 2011, Mr. Albrycht was executive managing director and senior portfolio manager with Goodwin Capital Advisers, a former investment management subsidiary of Newfleet’s parent, Virtus Investment Partners. Prior to that role, Mr. Albrycht was director of credit research at Goodwin’s predecessor, Phoenix Investment Counsel (PIC). In addition, he managed the Phoenix MISTIC CDO, a $1 billion multi-sector collateralized debt obligation, for which he was responsible for credit analysis and deal structure. He joined the PIC multi-sector fixed income team in 1985 as a credit analyst and has managed fixed income portfolios since 1991.
Mr. Albrycht earned a B.A., cum laude, from Central Connecticut State University and an M.B.A., with honors, from the University of Connecticut. He is a CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst®) charterholder. He began his career in the investment industry in 1985.
Please consider a Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. For this and other information about any Virtus Fund, contact your financial representative, call 800-243-4361, or visit virtus.com for a prospectus or summary prospectus. Read it carefully before investing.Mutual Funds, Virtus Newfleet ETFs, and Virtus Global Funds distributed by VP Distributors, LLC, member FINRA and subsidiary of Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
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Stephen Hooker, CFA
Managing Director and Portfolio ManagerStephen Hooker is a managing director and portfolio manager at Newfleet Asset Management.
Mr. Hooker is a member of the multi-sector portfolio management team with primary responsibility for institutional accounts. He also serves as co-portfolio manager and assists in the management of several open-end and closed-end mutual funds. He joined Newfleet in 2011 to serve as sector manager for emerging markets, where he was responsible for researching issuers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
From 2005 until 2011, Mr. Hooker was vice president, senior credit analyst at Aladdin Capital Management and Global Plus Investment Management, respectively, both of which specialize in high yield and structured credit products. Prior to 2005, he was at Phoenix Investment Counsel for 12 years, serving in various capacities, including as a senior credit analyst and emerging markets sector manager on its fixed income team.
Mr. Hooker earned a B.A. in psychology from Trinity College. He is a CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst®) charterholder. He began his career in the investment industry in 1993.
Important risk considerations
- Credit & Interest: Debt securities are subject to various risks, the most prominent of which are credit and interest rate risk. The issuer of a security may fail to make payments in a timely manner. Values of debt securities may rise and fall in response to changes in interest rates. This risk may be enhanced with longer-term maturities.
- ABS/MBS: Changes in interest rates can cause both extension and prepayment risks for asset- and mortgage-backed securities. These securities are also subject to risks associated with the repayment of underlying collateral.
- Foreign & Emerging Markets: Investing internationally, especially in emerging markets, involves additional risks such as currency, political, accounting, economic, and market risk.
- High Yield-High Risk Fixed Income Securities: There is a greater level of credit risk and price volatility involved with high yield securities than investment grade securities.