ClearBridge Global Value Improvers Strategy Q4 2025 Commentary

Seeking Alpha
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The ClearBridge Global Value Improvers Strategy delivered strong performance in Q4 2025, outpacing its benchmark as value stocks led global markets. The strategy's success was driven by robust stock selection across sectors like communication services, financials, and industrials, despite weaker performances in IT and healthcare. This highlights the enduring appeal of value investing amid broader market trends. Global equity markets saw solid gains in Q4 2025, with value stocks outperforming growth for the second consecutive quarter. The MSCI World Index rose 3.1%, ending the year up 21.1%. Value stocks maintained their lead, with the MSCI World Value Index returning 3.3% compared to the Growth Index's 2.8%. This shift reflects a broadening of market participation beyond mega-cap technology stocks and artificial intelligence-related investments. Key contributors to the strategy's performance included Alphabet (GOOG), driven by strong revenue growth in ads, cloud services, and AI-driven ad optimization; Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), supported by improving credit trends and disciplined cost control; and Siemens Energy (SMNEY), benefiting from rising global investments in grid upgrades. These examples underscore the strategy's ability to identify undervalued opportunities across sectors. The article also notes that despite a "everything rally" in 2025, Q4 performance was shaped by expectations, positioning, and valuations. A weaker U.S. dollar and easing monetary policy supported emerging markets and consumer-focused sectors. However, macroeconomic challenges persisted in Europe and China, though manufacturing stabilization and resilient consumer activity provided some optimism. For investors, the strategy's outperformance signals the ongoing attractiveness of global value stocks amid shifting market dynamics. The focus on improving fundamentals and elevated valuation dispersion suggests that opportunities for selective, quality-oriented investing remain robust heading into 2026. This makes the ClearBridge Global Value Improvers Strategy a compelling choice for those seeking to capitalize on these trends in the new year.
Verticals
financemarkets
Originally published on Seeking Alpha on 2/23/2026