Virtus Seix High Grade Municipal Bond Fund
Virtus Seix High Grade Municipal Bond Fund
Investment Overview
The Fund seeks to maximize total return through current income that is exempt from federal income taxes, combined with capital appreciation consistent with capital preservation, by investing in investment grade municipal securities. A dynamic, multifaceted investment process balances emphasis across four facets: duration management, yield curve positioning, sector rotation, and security selection.
Investment Partner
Seix Investment Advisors
Seix Investment Advisors is an investment management boutique focused exclusively on managing fixed income securities since 1992. Seix seeks to generate competitive absolute and relative risk-adjusted returns over the full market cycle through a bottom-up focused, top-down aware process. Seix employs multi-dimensional approaches based on strict portfolio construction methodology, sell disciplines and trading strategies with prudent risk management as a cornerstone.
Seix Investment Advisors is a division of Virtus Fixed Income Advisers, LLC ("VFIA"), an SEC registered investment adviser.
Learn more about Seix Investment Advisors
Investment Professionals
Ronald H. Schwartz, CFA
Managing Director, Head of Tax-Exempt, and Senior Portfolio Manager
Industry start date: 1982
Start date as fund Portfolio Manager: 1994
Dusty Self
Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager
Industry start date: 1992
Start date as fund Portfolio Manager: 2018
Key Features
Tax-Exempt Income
Strives to generate income free from federal income taxes
Attractive Total Return Potential
Market inefficiencies may create buying and selling opportunities that facilitate meaningful return potential
Extensive Fundamental Research
Bottom-up security selection evaluates factors such as fundamental credit analysis, security structural features, and potential price volatility
Characteristics4
(as of 03/31/2023)| Effective Duration (years) | 6.23 |
Top Holdings (% Fund)
| Security | |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, 5.5000% 06/30/2040 | |
| Energy Northwest, 5.0000% 07/01/2034 | |
| County of DeKalb GA Water & Sewerage Revenue, 5.0000% 10/01/2043 | |
| Georgetown Independent School District, 4.1250% 08/15/2047 | |
| State of Connecticut Special Tax Revenue, 5.0000% 05/01/2037 | |
| Permanent University Fund - University of Texas System, 3.8500% 07/01/2038 | |
| City of New York NY, 5.5000% 05/01/2044 | |
| E-470 Public Highway Authority, 5.0000% 09/01/2036 | |
| City of Fort Worth TX Water & Sewer System Revenue, 5.0000% 02/15/2030 | |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, 5.0000% 12/01/2040 |
Holdings are subject to change.
Sector Allocation (% Fund)
| Transportation | |
| Water & Sewer | |
| Local General Obligation | |
| Cash & Equivalents | |
| Lease | |
| Special Tax | |
| Power | |
| Hospital | |
| Education | |
| State General Obligation | |
| Pre-Refunded | |
| IDR/PCR |
Growth of $10,000 Investment
From toPerformance
Performance data quoted represents past results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Sales Charge and Expenses
Risk Statistics3
(as of )| Fund | Index | |
|---|---|---|
| R2 | ||
| Beta | ||
| Alpha | ||
| Std Dev |
Risk Considerations
Financial Materials
Holdings
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of any Virtus Mutual Fund before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contains this and other information about the fund. Please contact your financial representative, call 1-800-243-4361 to obtain a current prospectus and/or summary prospectus. You should read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.
Performance data quoted represents past results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Average annual total return is the annual compound return for the indicated period. It reflects the change in share price and the reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. NAV returns do not include the effect of any applicable sales charges. POP and w/CDSC returns include the effect of maximum applicable sales charges.
Returns for periods of less than one year are cumulative total returns.
1 Yields/Distributions: 30-day SEC Yield is a standardized yield calculated according to a formula set by the SEC, and is subject to change. 30-day SEC Yield (unsubsidized) is the 30-day SEC Yield without the effect of applicable expense waivers. Distribution Rate is calculated by (a) annualizing the latest income distribution for fixed income funds or funds less than 1 year old, or (b) summing all income distributions over the preceding 12 months for all other funds, and dividing by the NAV on the last business date of the period, unless otherwise indicated. The Distribution Rate may be comprised of ordinary income, net realized capital gains and returns of capital.
2 Distribution History: Distributions are represented on a cash basis and may be reclassified at year end for tax purposes. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. STCG: Short Term Capital Gain, LTCG: Long Term Capital Gain
3 Risk Statistics: R2 is a statistical measure that represents the percentage of a fund or security's movements that can be explained by movements in a benchmark index. Beta is a quantitative measure of the volatility of a given portfolio to the overall market. Alpha is a risk adjusted measure of an investment's excess return relative to a benchmark. A positive Alpha indicates that the investment produced a return greater than expected for the risk (as measured by Beta) taken. Standard Deviation measures variability of returns around the average return for an investment fund. Higher standard deviation suggests greater risk. Risk Statistics are calculated using 36 monthly returns.
4 Characteristics: For Equity Funds: Avg. Weighted Market Cap (bn): The sum of each security's weight within the fund (or index) multiplied by the security's market capitalization. Trailing P/E Ex-Negative Earnings: Per-share stock price divided by the latest 12-months Earnings per Share; Price/Cash Flow: Per-share stock price divided by the per-share operating cash flow; Price/Book: Per-share stock price divided by the latest 12-month per-share Book Value; 3-Year EPS Growth Rate: Average of earnings per share growth for latest 3-year period. The 3-Year EPS Growth Rate is not a forecast of the fund's performance.
4 Characteristics: For Fixed Income Funds: Effective Duration represents the interest rate sensitivity of a fixed income fund. For example, if a fund's effective duration is five years, a 1% increase in interest rates would result in a 5% decline in the fund's price. Similarly, a 1% decline in interest rates would result in a 5% gain in the fund's price.
Morningstar Disclosures:
The Morningstar Rating™ for funds, or "star rating", is calculated for managed products (including mutual funds, variable annuity and variable life subaccounts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and separate accounts) with at least a three-year history. Exchange-traded funds and open-ended mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product's monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36-59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the 10-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods. Ratings do not take into account the effects of sales charges and loads.
© Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete, or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
1Q23
Market Environment
The first quarter of 2023 was one for the record books. The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index, a measure of the broad municipal market, posted three incredible months (+2.87%, -2.26%, +2.22%), ultimately returning 2.87% for the quarter. Market technicals and macro events fueled the move to lower yields in January as investors found themselves chasing too few bonds while trying to capture what was thought to be the peak in yields. February reminded investors inflation was relentless and there was more work ahead for the Federal Reserve (Fed) as yields reversed course nearly wiping out all the January gains. March saw a flight to safety as a duration mismanagement by two California banks lead to a bank-run. All said, the yield on the 10-year Muni started the year at 2.64%, made a low for the quarter at 2.13% on February 2, returned to 2.63% on March 2, before finishing the quarter at 2.27%.
Longer duration benefited the most on these moves as seen in the total returns for the quarter. The return on the 1-year was 1.06% while the 10-year posted 2.76% and the 30-year returned 4.27%. From a credit quality perspective, lower-rated issues benefited as the AAA Index returned 2.50% versus the Baa at 3.71%.
Performance/positioning
The I-shares outperformed the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index by 9 bps partially attributed to an overweight of the 20-year area and select A-rated Hospital and Transportation bonds.
The Fund compared to the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index is overweight cash, less than 1-year, and the 20-year area; underweight 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, 10-year, and the Long Bond and market weight to the 15-year area.
Duration was shortened over the quarter. The Fund continues to favor revenue bonds over general obligation bonds increasing exposure to local general obligations, transportation, leasing and special tax sectors while reducing exposure to the state, water/sewer, and hospital sectors.
Outlook
We expect liquidity will be a factor for the rest of this year. April is typically a neutral month. May is slightly more on the positive side. June, July, and August tend to be very bullish for municipals because a lot of money comes due to retail investors because of coupon payments, maturities, and bonds being called. If there is still a lack of supply then, municipals could benefit even more.
Against that backdrop, the Fund is fully invested. All eyes will be on the Fed. After the latest inflation numbers, many market watchers are predicting one more 25 bps hike. Some are even expecting cuts later this year. At this juncture, we have our doubts about such a scenario.