Disruptive Forces in Investing

The word volatility is not something that's foreign to the small-cap market. However, with the rise of the meme stock phenomenon making headlines earlier this year, many people around the world have likely been keeping their eyes out for unique opportunities in the market. But when it comes to small caps, what other investment tools might be available to new and seasoned investors alike? Could the...

With inflation risks continuing to appear across the greater global economy, many investors may be thinking about how to best prepare their portfolios for potential volatility ahead. The unprecedented market events, stemmed from COVID-19, give the current landscape a sense of volatility that even the most seasoned investors might not be prepared for…so how might investors want to get creative yet...

As a result of mass deurbanization during the pandemic, where fleets of people left cities for more suburban areas, residential housing markets have seen unprecedented buyer activity over the last several months. But as buyer demand continues to saturate the market, where does that leave supply?  Could deurbanization continue as a post-COVID trend? And what else might investors want to consider in...

As oil prices start to go up and sustainability goals have become top of mind for many drivers, vehicle and machinery electrification have increased in popularity—now more than ever. So what are global vehicle manufacturers doing to meet consumer demand? How are they addressing the competition? And what might investors want to keep their eyes on in this space? On this episode of Disruptive Forces...

With the virtual shift that COVID-19 placed on our society along with resulting closures of brick and mortar retail across the globe, REITs, or Real Estate Investment Trusts, may not have had their best year in 2020. But as we've begun to adjust to the "new normal" of a post-pandemic economy, what might investors want to keep their eyes on in real estate? Have opportunities now come up as a result...

Since the early beginnings of civilization, commodities, such as grains, metals and coffee among others, have been a vital part of global commerce. Today, however, we are seeing a number of factors on the rise that could impact the commodities market. While ESG topics remain an important part of global citizenship, are they a boon or a threat to commodity markets? And how will commodities be impac...

Over the course of more than a decade following the Global Financial Crisis, private markets have grown immensely. And in particular, private debt has been in high investor demand as a result. But has the COVID-19 financial crisis given a similar boost to private credit as the GFC did years ago? And what is the dynamic at work when it comes to the greater borrower universe? Are public and private...

After a series of unprecedented events in the global economy, triggered by the COVID-19 financial crisis, investors and economists alike may see themselves at quite an inflection point in the markets. Coming out of a time of uncertainty, taking into consideration current market conditions, how could the investment landscape evolve in the years ahead? Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Tactical A...

With concerns of inflation pressures anticipated in the months ahead, investors may be looking to adjust their asset allocation approaches. Though many would associate the concept of duration with Fixed Income, we explore the aspects of Equity Duration. If "a rising tide lifts all boats," then could this rising tide lift all bonds and stocks? On this episode of Disruptive Forces, Sandy Pomeroy and...

With climate change continuing to be a predominant issue impacting the globe, investors have been increasingly considering net-zero carbon emission approaches during portfolio development. In order to reduce the world's carbon footprint by 2050, companies and individuals alike would need to pledge to decrease their greenhouse gas emissions to be in line with Paris Climate Agreement. But how can in...

While women may still be in the minority within the world of finance, some might not realize how disruptive female investors have the potential to be. As we prepare for an anticipated wealth transfer of $30 trillion to women over the next ten years, what should we know about their behavior/preferences and how they invest assets differently than men? And what has the industry done to accommodate th...

Last year, Neuberger Berman launched an advance proxy voting initiative where we disclosed over 25 votes across various companies we engage with as a firm. Using broad analysis and insights, the ESG Investing team evaluated what, in their view, is important to share with these companies in order to make a difference or highlight good behavior. Especially after a year like 2020, how do we engage wi...

With society continuing to rapidly rely more and more on the Internet of Things, telecom companies have needed to find ways to stay competitive. Back in December 2020, the FCC ran a C-band spectrum auction for some of the largest operators in telecom in the U.S., giving them the ability for faster speeds to power their networks. But what does that mean from a global investment standpoint? And how...

ESG, or Environmental, Social and Governance, principles have been transforming the mindsets of many investors today. With sustainable investment approaches getting more popular across the globe, some investors might be wondering if they could be potentially compromising performance of their investments for the sake of good citizenship. On this episode of Disruptive Forces, Anu Rajakumar speaks wi...

As the world saw the coronavirus vaccines get developed and administered within a year of the first confirmed case, many may be wondering how the healthcare sector at large was able to achieve such an incredible feat. Are we seeing this level of innovation in other areas of healthcare today? And will it be sustainable going forward? On this episode of Disruptive Forces, Anu Rajakumar speaks with J...

Over the past decade, we have seen that growth investing has had a tremendous run and was considered the first choice in approach for investing in stocks. However, for the last several months and for the first time in quite a few years, market conditions seem to suggest that now value has started to become the more popular option. How should investors think about that and what are the implications...

With 2020 coming to a close, we reflect on the volatile year we have had and look forward to the year ahead. As we approach what is hopefully the end to the pandemic, we evaluate what investors might anticipate for the global economy in 2021. In this special edition episode of Disruptive Forces , Anu Rajakumar is joined by Neuberger Berman's Chief Investment Officer—Multi-Asset Class, Erik Knutzen...

In a world where one can make purchases at the tap of a finger, retail sectors globally are constantly expanding to meet consumer demand. Early indications show that Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales went well for retailers and consumers alike, so we explore what some of these companies are doing to maintain customer satisfaction during this unprecedented time. Will there be a shift toward focus...

With innovation continuing to pave the way through the digital revolution of today, consumers and investors alike have wanted to know what could become the "next big thing" across industry sectors. As more and more groundbreaking business concepts continue to enter the market, one might wonder what is it about an idea or concept that makes it truly disruptive? And what is the thought process behin...

Using a deeper lens into financial crisis management and technological advances, we explore the investment behaviors of Millennials, the newest wave of investors, in comparison to their parents' and grandparents' generations before them. How are younger investors managing risk during this period of volatility in the markets? Are the more seasoned investors leaning as heavily into technology as the...

As of the 31st of January of this year, Brexit went into effect per the vote cast on the 23rd of June back in 2016. With the added element of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated economic implications, how should global investors be thinking in our view as we approach 2021? How could those implications impact the United Kingdom's trade relationship with the European Union? Joe McDonnell, Head...

Economic policy, geopolitical issues, COVID-19 crisis and a supreme court nominee, to name a few, all come into play when it comes to the next president of the United States. The choice that Americans face in the upcoming election will impact not only the next four years in the United States but could impact the world at large. To understand more about Donald Trump and Joe Biden as candidates, and...

Volatility is not a word that the Options market is a stranger to, but after a period of relative calm, Options market volatility has returned for the foreseeable future. The first question that comes to mind is – are the opportunities still there amid these volatile times? And if so, are emerging Options investors in a good position to go out and find them? Derek Devens, Managing Director and Sen...

COVID-19 has created a "new normal" as we navigate today's unknowns, especially when it comes to travel. As we continue to maintain social distancing guidelines, how has the travel industry been keeping up with the new ways of operating under these circumstances? What can we anticipate from travel sectors in the months ahead? Kevin McCarthy, Senior Research Analyst in Lodging and Leisure, and Mich...

The real estate market has been heavily impacted as a result the COVID-19 crisis. Investors have needed to evolve alongside the current societal shift. With all of this change, have new investment opportunities come up or is now too risky to invest? In this episode, Matthew Kaplan, Head of Almanac Realty Investors and Managing Director at Neuberger Berman, in conversation with guest moderator Matt...