Navigating Market Dynamics: A Review of Fund Performance and Strategic Focus
Fund Performance Against Benchmark: Q3 2025 Outcomes
During the third quarter that concluded on September 30, 2025, the Touchstone Focused Fund, specifically its Class A Shares with load waived, recorded results below those of its designated benchmark, the Russell 3000\u00ae Index. This period presented a unique set of challenges and opportunities within the broader market landscape, impacting the fund's relative standing.
Key Drivers of Growth: Alphabet's AI Ascendancy
Alphabet emerged as a notable outperformer within the quarter, largely due to increasing market confidence in the competitive edge of its artificial intelligence (AI) products and services. The company's strategic investments and innovations in AI have resonated positively with investors, driving its stock performance.
Oracle's Cloud Infrastructure Dominance
Oracle continued to experience robust demand for its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) offerings. This strong demand is primarily from clients seeking advanced infrastructure for AI training, underscoring OCI's critical role in supporting cutting-edge technological development and its sustained growth trajectory.
Investment Philosophy: Upholding Barriers to Entry
A core tenet of the fund's investment strategy remains its unwavering commitment to companies possessing moderate to high barriers to entry. Excluding cash holdings, the entirety of the fund's assets are channeled into such entities, reflecting a belief in the long-term resilience and competitive advantage provided by these structural protections.
Strategic Portfolio: Concentrated, High Conviction Holdings
The fund maintains a concentrated, high-conviction portfolio. This approach is characterized by a selective aggregation of investments, where each holding is chosen for its potential to deliver significant value based on thorough analysis and a strong belief in its underlying fundamentals.
Valuation and Competitive Moats: A Dual Approach
A distinctive aspect of the fund's methodology involves harmonizing company valuations with their inherent barriers to entry. This integrated approach ensures that investments are made in businesses that not only trade at attractive prices but also possess robust competitive moats, safeguarding their market position.
Identifying Undervalued Businesses: The Pursuit of Value
The fund's objective is to identify and invest in businesses whose market valuations are currently below their estimated intrinsic worth. This pursuit of undervalued opportunities is meticulously carried out, aiming to capture long-term capital appreciation by investing in quality assets at favorable prices.