Morningstar: MFS vs. Maj Invest in Global Large-Cap Value Equities

After years of underperformance, European equities are finally stepping out of the shadow of their U.S. counterparts in 2025. Investors began the year skeptical about Europe, but sentiment shifted—thanks in part to a German proposal to invest heavily in infrastructure and defense.

Morningstar: Lord Abbett versus Neuberger Berman in USD high yield

The US economy contracted at a rate of 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025. The slowdown in GDP growth was driven by a surge in imports, as US firms attempted to front-run tariffs. The first-quarter decline marks a sharp turn for the economy after GDP grew at a 2.4 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Morningstar: DWS vs. Flossbach von Storch in flexible allocation funds

Morningstar’s flexible allocation category includes a diverse group of funds with largely unconstrained mandates. These strategies typically have significant leeway to adjust weightings between equities and bonds and to incorporate alternative asset classes into the mix. Private markets have recently garnered more attention, and the rally in gold hasn’t gone unnoticed by investors either.

Morningstar: Candriam versus AXA in global high yield bonds

During the first quarter of 2025, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England cut rates as inflation fell, and markets reacted positively to an announced 1 trillion euro package for defense and infrastructure spending in Germany. Shorter-duration bonds outperformed longer-duration bonds—paving the way for high-yield fare, which typically has a shorter duration than investment-grade fare.

Morningstar: GuardCap vs. Fundsmith in global equities

The 2025 stock market got off to a turbulent start. The once unwavering confidence in U.S. equities—particularly the Magnificent 7—is beginning to show cracks. At the same time, European and Chinese stock markets have surged out of the gate, a scenario few investors anticipated at the end of 2024, given the prevailing narrative of American exceptionalism.