Management & Investment Process

Management

The investment team leverages high degrees of experience and knowledge within a disciplined investment process. Learn more about the Team.
  • Bryan C. Krug, CFA
  • Portfolio Manager
  • 23Years Investment
    Experience

Investment Process

The investment team seeks to generate appealing risk-adjusted returns, investing along the corporate capital structure in bonds, loans and other securities of leveraged corporate issuers. The team’s aim is to take advantage of the illiquidity premium and the asymmetric risk profile in credit investments.

Business Quality

  • Qualitative industry analysis
  • Examine management decision-making history
  • Consider ESG-related risk factors

Financial Strength & Flexibility

  • Free cash flow analysis
  • Corporate structure review
  • Capital structure review

Downside Analysis

  • Conservative financial projections
  • Competitive dynamics
  • Capital structure position
  • Enterprise value support

Value Identification

  • Credit improvement opportunities
  • Relative value within the capital structure
  • Credit cycle awareness
  • Catalysts with optionality
  • Dislocation exploitation

In-depth Investment Process

 

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Other Strategies Managed

Investment Results (% USD)

As of 29 February 2024 QTD YTD 1 Yr 3 Yr 5 Yr 10 Yr Inception
Composite — Gross 0.87 0.87 13.26 4.16 6.63 6.89
Composite — Net 0.76 0.76 12.51 3.46 5.91 6.16
ICE BofA US High Yield Index 0.31 0.31 10.97 1.86 3.98 4.27
As of 31 December 2023 QTD YTD 1 Yr 3 Yr 5 Yr 10 Yr Inception
Composite — Gross 7.05 16.95 16.95 4.42 7.78 6.92
Composite — Net 6.88 16.18 16.18 3.72 7.05 6.18
ICE BofA US High Yield Index 7.06 13.46 13.46 2.00 5.21 4.31

Annual Returns (% USD)

Trailing 12 Months Ended 31 December 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Composite — Gross 15.09 11.00 7.16 -9.15 16.95
Composite — Net 14.30 10.24 6.45 -9.76 16.18

Calendar Year Returns (% USD)

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Composite — Gross 15.09 11.00 7.16 -9.15 16.95
Composite — Net 14.30 10.24 6.45 -9.76 16.18
ICE BofA US High Yield Index 14.41 6.17 5.36 -11.22 13.46
Returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. 

Past performance does not guarantee and is not a reliable indicator of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance shown. Composite performance has been presented in both gross and net of investment management fees.  Unlike the Index, Artisan High Income Strategy may hold loans and other security types. At times, this causes material differences in relative performance. 

Investment Risk: Investments will rise and fall with market fluctuations and investor capital is at risk. Investors investing in investment vehicles denominated in non-local currency should be aware of the risk of currency exchange fluctuations that may cause a loss of principal. These risks, among others, are further described in the Important Disclosures section which should be read in conjunction with this material. 
Top 10 Holdings
(% of total portfolio as of 29 February 2024)
The Ardonagh Group 5.7
Charter Communications Inc 3.9
Carnival Corp 3.8
NCL Corp Ltd 3.5
NFP Corp 3.3
Altice France 2.6
Virgin Media Secured Finance PLC 2.5
TKC Holdings Inc 2.5
Acrisure LLC 2.5
Medline Industries Inc 2.5
Total 32.8%
Portfolio Statistics
(as of 29 February 2024)
Number of Holdings 232
Number of Issuers 122
Portfolio Composition
(% of total portfolio as of 29 February 2024)
Portfolio Composition chart
Corporate Bonds 77.1
Bank Loans 15.5
Equities 0.2
Cash and Cash Equivalents 7.2
Total 100.0%
Ratings Distribution
(% as of 29 February 2024)
BBB 4.1
BB 26.6
B 41.8
CCC 25.0
D 0.2
Unrated 2.3
Total 100.0%
Maturity Distribution
(% of fixed income securities as of 29 February 2024)
< 1 year 0.6
1 - <3 years 11.5
3 - <5 years 36.8
5 - <7 years 41.3
7 - <10 years 8.3
10+ years 1.5
TOTAL 100.0%
  • Artisan Partners Credit Team Fourth Quarter 2023 Update
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  • Artisan Partners Credit Team Third Quarter 2023 Update
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  • Artisan Partners Credit Team Second Quarter 2023 Update
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  • Investing Across the Credit Spectrum Podcast feat. Bryan Krug
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  • Artisan Partners Credit Team First Quarter 2023 Update
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  • Artisan Partners Credit Team Fourth Quarter 2022 Update
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  • Artisan Partners Credit Team Third Quarter 2022 Update
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Fixed income securities carry interest rate risk and credit risk for both the issuer and counterparty and investors may lose principal value. In general, when interest rates rise, fixed income values fall. High income securities (junk bonds) are speculative, experience greater price volatility and have a higher degree of credit and liquidity risk than bonds with a higher credit rating. The portfolio typically invests a significant portion of its assets in lower-rated high income securities (e.g., CCC). Loans carry risks including insolvency of the borrower, lending bank or other intermediary. Loans may be secured, unsecured, or not fully collateralized, trade infrequently, experience delayed settlement, and be subject to resale restrictions. Private placement and restricted securities may not be easily sold due to resale restrictions and are more difficult to value. Use of derivatives may create investment leverage and increase the likelihood of volatility and risk of loss in excess of the amount invested. International investments involve special risks, including currency fluctuation, lower liquidity, different accounting methods and economic and political systems, and higher transaction costs. These risks typically are greater in emerging and less developed markets, including frontier markets. The costs associated with an investment will impact your return over time. These risks, among others, are further described in Artisan Partners Form ADV, which is available upon request. 

Unless otherwise indicated, strategy characteristics relate to that of a representative account managed within the investment composite. It is intended to provide a general illustration of the investment strategy and considerations used by Artisan Partners in managing that strategy. Individual accounts managed to the strategy may differ, at times significantly, from the reference data shown due to varying account restrictions, fees and expenses, and longevity periods, among others. Where applicable, this information is supplemental to, and not to be construed with, a current or prospective client's investment account information.

Performance Source: Artisan Partners/ICE BofA. Net-of-fees composite returns were calculated using the highest model investment advisory fees applicable to portfolios within the composite. Fees may be higher for certain pooled vehicles and the composite may include accounts with performance-based fees. All performance results are net of commissions and transaction costs, and have been presented gross and net of investment advisory fees. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign withholding taxes on ex-dividend date or as soon after the ex-dividend date as the information becomes available to Artisan Partners. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Performance results for the Index include reinvested dividends and are presented net of foreign withholding taxes but, unlike the portfolio's returns, do not reflect the payment of sales commissions or other expenses incurred in the purchase or sale of the securities included in the indices. 

Data & Statistics Sources: Artisan Partners/Bloomberg. Unless otherwise indicated, percentages shown are of total fixed income securities in the portfolio. Portfolio statistics are intended to provide a general view of the entire portfolio, or Index, at a certain point in time and are calculated using information obtained from various data sources. Portfolio statistics include accrued interest unless otherwise stated. Artisan Partners may exclude outlier data and certain securities which lack applicable attributes, such as private securities when calculating portfolio statistics. If information is unavailable for a particular security Artisan may use data from a related security to calculate portfolio statistics. Unless otherwise noted, portfolio statistics represent the weighted average of the portfolio’s fixed-income securities and exclude cash and cash equivalents. Securities of the same issuer are aggregated to determine a holding’s weight in the portfolio. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 

Credit Quality ratings are determined by Artisan Partners based on ratings from S&P and/or Moody's, which typically range from AAA (highest) to D (lowest). For securities rated by both S&P and Moody's, the higher of the two ratings was used, and those not rated by either agency have been categorized as Unrated/Not Rated. Ratings are applicable to the underlying portfolio securities, but not the portfolio itself, and are subject to change. Maturity Distribution represents the weighted average of the maturity dates of the securities held in the Portfolio. Free Cash Flow is a measure of financial performance calculated as operating cash flow minus capital expenditures. Treasury futures represented net notional exposure of 0.00% of net assets. 

ICE BofA US High Yield Index measures the performance of below investment grade $US-denominated corporate bonds publicly issued in the US market. The index(es) are unmanaged; include net reinvested dividends; do not reflect fees or expenses; and are not available for direct investment. 

Source ICE Data Indices, LLC is used with permission. ICE® is a registered trademark of ICE Data Indices, LLC or its affiliates and BofA® is a registered trademark of Bank of America Corporation licensed by Bank of America Corporation and its affiliates ("BofA"), and may not be used without BofA's prior written approval. The index data referenced herein is the property of ICE Data Indices, LLC, its affiliates (“ICE Data”) and/or its third party suppliers and, along with the ICE BofA trademarks, has been licensed for use by Artisan Partners Limited Partnership. ICE Data and its Third Party Suppliers accept no liability in connection with the use of such index data or marks. See www.artisanpartners.com/ice-data.html for a full copy of the Disclaimer.