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Assessing Markets Where We Can Go on Offense
Global equities and bond yields are trending lower, and we maintain a relatively low-risk profile. But we're always assessing where we can go...
Read More from John Simmons
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Why Equal Risk Contribution Matters
While equal risk contribution is just one of many options for constructing investment portfolios, it offers the opportunity to...
Read More from Peter Carl
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Bullish on Tech—Especially Outside the Tech Sector
When thinking about technology, asset managers and asset owners have similar concerns and opportunities—both when investing in it and applying it.
Read More from Ken McAtamney
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China's ESG Transformation
China is the world's worst polluter, so why feature it in a series about the critical but underappreciated value of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations in emerging markets?
Read More from Blake Pontius
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Cubs Win! Tom Ricketts Explains How
When Tom Ricketts, CFA, chairman of the Chicago Cubs, took over the “loveable losers” in 2009, he set about transforming the organization. Seven years later...
Read More
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Pitfalls of Traditional Valuation Metrics
We wrote about the pitfalls associated with mainstream approaches to measuring quality, but this is not the only measure of company characteristics that we feel has shortcomings...
Read More from Peter Carl
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Economic Scorecard: Green Shoots Emerging
Our updated Macroeconomic Scorecard, a tool we use to inform our fundamental research, indicates that...
Read More from Olga Bitel
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Boris Brings On Brexit
Although Boris Johnson's appointment as prime minister of the United Kingdom (U.K.) in July has spiced up the Brexit story, the political risks around Brexit are...
Read More from Tom Clarke
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Traditional Quality Metrics Miss Opportunities, Risks
How are our metrics different? In our view, the main shortcoming of mainstream metrics is that they tend to be influenced by...
Read More from Peter Carl
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Breaking Free From Global Equity Silos
The changing nature of global economic growth requires a new look at global equity investing, away from traditional silos based on region and capitalization size.
Read More from Ken McAtamney
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Our
Notable Women in Finance
The Crain's 2019 Notable Women in Finance list
includes Stephanie Braming CFA, partner, global head of investment
management, and Vivian Lin Thurston, CFA, partner, portfolio manager.
Read More
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William Blair Funds 2018 Dividend and Capital Gain Distributions Now Available
William Blair Funds 2018 year-end dividend and capital gain distributions are now available.
View 2018 Distributions & Payment Schedule
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Why Rates Will Stay Low
Global bond yields are reaching new lows, in some cases crashing through zero. This reflects a realization on the market's part that...
Read More from Brian Singer
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China Backdrop: Fundamentally and Technically Positive
China's official launch of a technology innovation board on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, STAR Market, which is sometimes referred to as China's Nasdaq, may...
Read More from Vivian Lin Thurston
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Shifting Dynamics in the Media Industry
There has been an unprecedented degree of change in the media industry, made clear by a recent research trip to Hollywood.
Read More from Jim Golan
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Disruption in Sleepy Sectors
The challenge is finding those companies that generate strong corporate performance and can stand the test of time.
Read More from Alaina Anderson
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Challenges to China's Growth
China has shown impressive economic growth during the past 40 years, driven largely by the opening of the country to foreign investment.
Read More from Lotta Moberg
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Modeling Quality: Focus on Sustainable Value Creation
Traditional quality metrics, such as earnings quality and financial strength, are not the key drivers of our investment philosophy...
Read More from Spiro Voulgaris
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Why ESG Matters in Emerging Markets
The January 2019 collapse of a Brazilian mine tailings dam—which released 11.7 million cubic meters of toxic mud, killed at least 150 people, and led to...
Read More from Blake Pontius
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China A: Too Big to Ignore
MSCI and FTSE Russell are increasing the inclusion of China A-shares in key indices, sending an unequivocal message about...
Read More from Romina Graiver
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E-commerce Mega-Trends in India
As a global equity analyst, one of the most interesting aspects of my job is identifying companies with innovative technology and...
Read More from Rita Spitz
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Data Science in Action: Financial Services
Financial institutions and large retailers are using data science to drive improvements across the business, from regulatory compliance to the customer experience.
Read More from Dan Hill
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Spanish Election Implications for Europe
There are two important takeaways from the recent Spanish election that we can apply to our analysis of the rest of Europe.
Read More from Edouard Senechal
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Carrots and Sticks in Taiwan
In Asia, much of the spotlight has been on the interplay between North Korea, China, and the United States—but that may be shifting as Taiwan's elections approach.
Read More from Aaron Balsam
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Focused Stock Picking in Short-Term Noise
In the midst of headline news focused on signs of an economic slowdown, political gridlock in the U.S, and...
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Trump Trade Tweets Tweak China
This weekend U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted a plan to further tax Chinese goods.
Read More from Olga Bitel
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Carry Trade: Ruble Reversion
There has always been a degree of skepticism from the general market about whether you can make money in active currency management.
Read More from Tom Clarke
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AI: Manufacturing and Employment Disruption
While considered ordinary technologies today, the automobile, electricity, and the internet all drastically changed processes and...
Read More from Olga Bitel
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Blame Game Drives Brexit
In any negotiation, fear of being blamed for the alternative often prevents breakdown. But...
Read More from Tom Clarke
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China Rising: An E-Commerce Story
The conventional perception of China's economy is that it's driven by manufacturing and...
Read More from Vivian Lin Thurston
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So Far, So Good With LIBOR Replacement
The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is expected to be retired at the end of 2021, and the transition to...
Read More from Kathy Lynch
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Slowing Growth, Fiscal Response
When assessing the near-term outlook for asset returns, we look at growth, liquidity, and valuations...
Read More from Olga Bitel
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Exploring Sustainability
Across
industries, companies are asking themselves: Are we a good corporate citizen?
Read More from Laura Coy
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China Opening Up
The most important driver of China's transformation into a global leader has been...
Read More from Lotta Moberg
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Turkish Lira Headwinds and Tailwinds
While macroeconomic forces are favorable for the Turkish lira, we recently reduced our long exposure as geopolitical risks rise.
Read More from Tom Clarke
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Applying AI to Traditional Industries
When people think of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, images of autonomous driving, virtual reality, and...
Read More from Kurt Wiese
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The Cost of Climate Change
Is there a cost to climate change? Clearly so, and it's impacting the profitability of companies in which we seek to invest.
Read More from Alaina Anderson
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The Battle for Data Talent
References to “AI” and “machine learning” may have surpassed “big data” as the trendiest buzzwords in the technology industry over the past few years.
Read More from Daniel Hill
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The Game Theory of Brexit
In mid-January, we learned—to nobody's surprise—that the Brexit agreement devised between...
Read More from Tom Clarke
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Anti-Globalization Picks Up Steam
Ongoing tariff negotiations are shifting short-term economic winners and losers, and perhaps even...
Read More from Ken McAtamney
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AI Redefines Healthcare
Over the long run, innovation and productivity gains are the primary drivers of economic growth.
Read More from Olga Bitel
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Where We See Fundamental Opportunities
As central banks have embarked on a disjointed unwinding of their balance sheets, it is easy to see that the day of reckoning is upon us.
Read More from Brian Singer
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Benefits of Cognitive Diversity
Successful investment management firms of the future will be investment led and foster a culture of intellectual curiosity and diverse thinking, said Stephanie Braming...
Read More
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Going Green in Fixed Income
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing has historically been more associated with equities.
Read More from Todd Kurisu
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Fundamentals Re-emerging
Monetary policy has hampered the ability of fundamentals to influence market prices, but we're beginning to see them re-emerge...
Read More from Brian Singer
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Why This Disruption Is Different—Circuit Breakers
As central banks now embark on a disjointed unwinding of their balance sheets, we add to...
Read More from Brian Singer
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China Rising: Spending Across Generations
As we look for compelling investment opportunities in China, it's important to pay close attention to...
Read More from Vivian Lin Thurston
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Why This Disruption Is Different—the Volcker Rule
Along with monetary policy and rules-based strategies, a primary concern for us is...
Read More from Brian Singer
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Have Your Currency Cake and Eat It Too
At a time when investors are concerned about equity valuations and rising correlations among...
Read More from Tom Clarke
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Why This Disruption Is Different—Rules-Based Strategies
As in the prior three waves of quantitative easing, central banks' current ultra-easy monetary policies have pushed volatility levels...
Read More from Brian Singer
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Is Sustainability Sustainable?
Given investors' surging interest in combining financial return objectives with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors...
Read More from Blake Pontius
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The Bigger the Easing, the Bigger the Fall
If the effects of past waves of easy monetary policy are any indication, it's difficult to see how this latest wave can end well.
Read More from Brian Singer
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New Movie, Same Plot: 4 Waves of Monetary Policies
As discussed in the first part of this series, markets have a history of repeated cycles of euphoria, crashes, and recoveries.
Read More from Brian Singer
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Electric Vehicles Threaten Auto Incumbents
We believe that electric vehicles present an opportunity for active managers to uncover value for their investors.
Read More from Andrew Siepker and Anil Daka
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China Research Trip: Key Discoveries
It seemed clear from our recent research trip to China that the country's economy has slowed, but that doesn't mean we can't find compelling opportunities there.
Read More from Vivian Lin Thurston
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Navigating a Troop of Gorillas
With the birth of the so-called “Greenspan Put,” the 800-pound gorilla of U.S. monetary policy unleashed itself on capital markets.
Read More from Brian Singer
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China Theme #2: Healthcare Spending
Healthcare is underdeveloped in China relative to its global peers, in both total and per-capita spending.
Read More from Vivian Lin Thurston
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Pensions & Investments Names
William Blair a 2018 Best Workplace
Pensions & Investments has once again named William Blair Investment
Management a “Best Place to Work in Money Management.”
Read Pensions & Investments Names William Blair a 2018 Best Workplace
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China Theme #1: Growing Middle Class
The China A-Share market presents a compelling opportunity for quality growth managers, thanks in part to...
Read More from Vivian Lin Thurston
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Economic Scorecard: Growth Decelerating
Our updated Macroeconomic Scorecard, a tool we use to inform our fundamental research, indicates that...
Read More from Olga Bitel
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Debt and Disruption in Capital Markets
From the ancient Greek philosophy that “the only constant is change” to Schumpeter's “gale of creative destruction,” innovators and disruptors need...
Read More from Christopher Vincent
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William Blair Funds 2018 Dividend and Capital Gain Distribution Estimates Now Available
William Blair Funds 2018 year-end dividend and capital gain distribution estimates are now available.
View 2018 Distribution Estimates & Payment Schedule
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Women in Investing: Growing Influence
The profile of women has never been higher. Everywhere you look women continue rising.
Read More from Romina Graiver
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Growth in Trucking Costs to Decelerate?
A frequent topic of conversation in 2018 among U.S. businesses and the financial press has been the rapidly rising level of transportation costs.
Read More from Yan Krasov
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Singer Receives
Hortense Friedman Award of Excellence
Brian Singer, CFA, was recently honored with the 2018 Hortense Friedman Award of
Excellence from the CFA Society Chicago. See why he believes the CFA designation
is important for an investment professional.
Watch Now
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A 2018 Top Workplace
William
Blair has been named a 2018 Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune for the ninth straight year.
Read more
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Energy Prices: Stable Expectations
Since the increase in intensity and scope of sanctions on Iran, the price of energy has re-emerged as a significant influence on our investment analysis...
Read More from Brian Singer
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Globalization and Populism: The Link
Technological disruption is facilitating globalization by changing how economies work and how businesses function.
Read More from Ken McAtamney
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5% Bond Yields—How We'll Act
With the possibility of 5% bond yields looming in the United States, what would provoke us into either buying or selling U.S. Treasuries?
Read More from Brian Singer
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The Rise of Ridesharing
We believe that ridesharing is an opportunity in today's automotive industry that presents opportunities for active managers to uncover value for their investors.
Read More from Andrew Siepker and Anil Daka
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The Changing IT Security Landscape
Forward-thinking companies are increasingly using data to improve many aspects of their businesses.
Read More From Corey Tobin
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Sustainable Value Creation
Andy Flynn and Ken McAtamney, co-portfolio
managers on the William Blair Global Leaders
Fund, discuss their approach to finding companies driven by sustainable value
creation.
Read More
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Client
Focus: Women in Investment Management
Hear
diverse voices of experienced women in the asset-management industry.
Read More
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Macro Market Movers: Brexit and Lira
In a recent interview on “Bloomberg Markets: European Close,” Tom Clarke, portfolio manager on William Blair's Dynamic Allocation Strategies team reacts to...
Read More
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Three Investible Themes in China A-Shares
William Blair's Vivian Lin Thurston discusses China's
growing middle class, innovation boom, and healthcare spending growth.
Read Paper
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Automotive Industry
Update
Learn
how advanced driver-assistance systems, ridesharing, and electric vehicles are
driving change across the automotive industry.
Read More
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A Key Differentiator of Multi-Asset Investors
Dynamic asset allocation is a key differentiator of today's multi-asset investors, as Brian Singer, CFA, head of William Blair's Dynamic Allocation Strategies team, discusses in a new practitioner's guide published by the CFA Institute.
Read Brian's chapter
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Emerging
Markets: Searching the World for Opportunity
William Blair's Todd
McClone discusses opportunities in emerging markets with Pensions & Investments.
Read the supplement
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Our Active Approach
Learn how we're holding active
management to a higher standard.
Read Holding Active Management to a Higher Standard
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Global
Market Outlook for 2018
William Blair Global Strategist Olga Bitel and Portfolio
Manager Simon Fennell share their perspectives on changes in the global
marketplace.
Listen to the Replay
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China A Shares – Opportunities and Risks
In this webinar, members of our Global Equity team discuss the
China A opportunity and how it can be implemented in a portfolio.
Watch the Replay
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ESG Investing and Portfolio Integration
In a
recent webinar, members of William Blair’s Global Equity team explained how
they incorporated ESG more explicitly into their process.
Listen to the Replay
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The Wall
Street Transcript Interviews William Blair’s Jim Golan
Jim Golan, partner and co-portfolio
manager on William Blair’s Large-Cap Growth team, talked with The Wall Street Transcript about the
Large Cap Growth strategy, market inefficiencies...
Read More
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What's New