Grow with equities

Equity strategies for today

Get started with these investment ideas from BlackRock’s active equity platform to help your clients reach their goals.

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The Morningstar RatingTM 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.

BlackRock provides compensation in connection with obtaining or using third-party ratings, rankings, or data.

BlackRock’s fundamental approach in equities

BlackRock Fundamental Equities (FE) is a world-class active investing organization committed to applying our Expert Insight to power our portfolios. FE teams build portfolios company by company, digging deep to assess the core merits of individual businesses to gain a thorough, first-hand understanding of their long-term potential.
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Company-level engagement and expertise
Rigorous research and selection process leads to thoroughly vetted, high-conviction investments - and portfolios that can offer returns differentiated from indexes
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Investment flexibility
Ability to exercise discretion and react to changing market conditions allows fundamental investors to nimbly capture opportunities and manage risks as they arise
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Enhanced diversification and return potential
Powerful complement to index strategies, helping to enhance return outcomes, diversify risk and target long-term objectives
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“Always-on” risk management
Embedded risk management tools and technology to ensure risks taken are deliberate, diversified and properly scaled

Performance data represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate with market conditions and may be lower or higher when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from the performance shown. For most recent month-end performance and standardized performance, click on the fund name above.

The Morningstar RatingTM 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.

BlackRock provides compensation in connection with obtaining or using third-party ratings, rankings, or data.

Taking stock: Q3 2024 equity market outlook

Strong earnings helped U.S. stocks extend gains in Q2, even as macro concerns weighed. Tony DeSpirito looks to Q3 with a view for a broadening market.
tony-despirito

Performance data represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate with market conditions and may be lower or higher when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from the performance shown. For most recent month-end performance and standardized performance, click on the fund name above.

Learn about BlackRock’s Systematic Investment Platform

Systematic investing, often called quantitative investing, is an investment approach that emphasizes data-driven insights, scientific testing of investment ideas, and advanced computer modelling techniques to construct portfolios.

BlackRock’s systematic strategies are designed to deliver investment solutions for the whole portfolio. They are built on the underlying principle of leveraging data and technology to seek differentiated excess returns, diversification, and robust risk management—all at a reasonable cost to investors.

$209
billions of AUM across equities, fixed income, and alternatives
35
years of track record innovation in systematic investing
300
unstructured data sources utilized
700
alpha signals helping to drive investment insights
220
people including investment experts and technologists
45
global developed and emerging markets covered

Source: BlackRock as of 12/31/2023

Invest abroad with International Dividend

International Dividend (BISIX) invests in the equity securities of international companies that pay attractive, sustainable and growing dividends with the aim of providing international equity returns with less volatility.
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Meet the team behind International Dividend

13,000
annual company interactions
8,000
annual research postings
1,800
BlackRock trading and risk management professionals
260
investment professionals across 16 dedicated investment teams
8
data leads within the Fundamental Equities platform

BlackRock as of 1/1/2024

Explore active equity investment ideas

Sustained higher rates and elevated inflation calls advisors to rethink the way they have typically invested in equities over the past decade. Explore three areas of equity investing that can better position your clients’ portfolios for today.
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Quality
Higher quality equities tend to weather volatile environments better. Seek out companies with strong balance sheets, high cash flows, and low leverage.
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International
International equities are gaining momentum as several factors such as a weaker dollar, China reopening and a lean towards value all benefit markets abroad.
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Healthcare
Healthcare has been known for its quality holdings and stable cash flows, which has been able to provide greater downside protection amidst market uncertainty.

BlackRock’s active ETF and mutual funds lineup

Explore BlackRock’s full platform of active equity solutions to address your clients’ needs. 

Ticker Name ETF or mutual fund? Morningstar category Overall Morningstar Rating 1-yr Morningstar percentile ranking† 3-yr Morningstar percentile ranking† 5-yr Morningstar percentile ranking† 10-yr Morningstar percentile ranking†
U.S.
MADVX Equity Dividend Mutual fund Large value 4 39 62 47 30
MAFOX Large Cap Focus Growth Mutual fund Large growth 2 8 72 42 25
MARFX Mid-Cap Value Mutual fund Mid cap value 3 54 41 16 25
CMGIX Mid-Cap Growth Mutual fund Mid cap growth 2 10 72 49 7
BIRIX Sustainable Large Cap Core Mutual fund Large blend 3 38 50 17 N/A
BROIX Advantage International Mutual fund Foreign large blend 5 13 6 21 14
BLCV iShares Large Cap Value ETF ETF Large value N/A N/A N/A N/A
BALI iShares Advantage Large Cap Income ETF ETF Derivative Income N/A N/A N/A N/A
DYNF iShares U.S. Equity Factor Rotation ETF ETF Large blend 4 3 8 32 N/A
International/Emerging Markets
MADCX Emerging Markets Mutual fund Diversified EM 3 55 65 30 21
MAILX International Fund Mutual fund Foreign large blend 1 10 89 9 37
BISIX International Dividend Fund Mutual fund Foreign large blend 5 65 5 9 68
Thematics
SHSSX Health Sciences Opportunities Mutual fund Health 4 44 28 30 7
BGSIX Technology Opportunities Mutual fund Technology 2 43 68 32 32
Income
BMCIX High Equity Income Mutual fund Derivative Income 4 65 5 9 68

Overall Morningstar Ratings as of 6/30/2024. Ratings are based on risk adjusted total returns, are determined monthly and are subject to change.

Equity Dividend Fund rated against 1,099 Large Value Funds; Large Cap Focus Growth rated against 1,092 Large Growth Funds. Mid-Cap Value rated against 374 Mid-Cap Value Funds. Mid-Cap Growth rated against 510 Mid-Cap Growth Funds. Sustainable Advantage Large Cap Core rated against 1,302 US Large Blend funds. Advantage International rated against 679 Foreign Large Blends funds. U.S. Equity Factor Rotation ETF rated against 1,302 US Large Blends funds. Emerging Markets Fund rated against 718 Diversified Emerging Markets Funds. International Fund rated against 338 US Fund Foreign Large Blend funds. International Dividend rated against 679 Foreign Large Blend Funds. Health Sciences Opportunities Fund rated against 161 Health Funds. Technology Opportunities rated against 231 Technology Funds. High Equity Income rated against 71 Derivative Income Funds.

As of 6/30/2024, the Equity Dividend Fund received a Morningstar Rating of 3 stars for the 3-year period, 3 stars for the 5-year period and 4 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 1,099, 1,035 and 809 Large Value Funds, respectively. The Large Cap Focus Growth Fund received a Morningstar Rating of 2 stars for the 3-year period, 3 stars for the 5-year period and 4 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 1,092, 1,019 and 794 Large Growth Funds, respectively. Mid-Cap Value Fund received a Morningstar Rating of 4 stars for the 3-year period, 4 stars for the 5-year period and 4 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 374, 360 and 281 Mid-Cap Value Funds, respectively. The Mid-Cap Growth Equity Fund received a Morningstar Rating of 2 stars for the 3-year period, 2 stars for the 5-year period and 4 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 510, 473 and 380 Mid-Cap Growth Funds, respectively. The Sustainable Large Cap Core Fund received a Morningstar Rating of 3 stars for the 3-year period and 4 stars for the 5-year period, rated against 1,302 and 1,192 Large Blend Funds, respectively. The Advantage International received a Morningstar Rating of 5 stars for the 3-year period, 4 stars for the 5-year period and 4 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 679, 639 and 421 US Foreign Large Blend Funds, respectively. The U.S. Equity Factor Rotation ETF received a Morningstar Rating of 5 stars for the 3-year period, 4 stars for the 5-year period and 0 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 1,302, 1,192 and 888 Diversified Emerging Mkts Funds, respectively. The Emerging Markets Fund received a Morningstar Rating of 2 stars for the 3-year period, 3 stars for the 5-year period and 423 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 718, 646 and 423 Diversified Emerging Mkts Funds, respectively. The International Fund received a Morningstar Rating of 3 star for the 3-year period, 4 stars for the 5-year period and 4 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 338, 320 and 240 Foreign Large Blend Funds, respectively. The International Dividend received a Morningstar Rating of 5 stars for the 3-year period, 5 stars for the 5-year period and 4 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 679, 639 and 421 US Foreign Large Blend Funds, respectively. The Health Sciences Opportunities Fund received a Morningstar Rating of 4 stars for the 3-year period, 4 stars for the 5-year period and 5 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 161, 139 and 114 Health Funds, respectively. The Technology Opportunities Fund received a Morningstar Rating of 3 stars for the 3-year period, 3 stars for the 5-year period and 4 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 231, 201 and 155 Technology Funds, respectively. The High Equity Income Fund received a Morningstar Rating of 3 stars for the 3-year period, 3 stars for the 5-year period and 3 stars for the 10-year period, rated against 71, 65 and 37 Options-based Funds, respectively.

Performance results represent past performance and are no guarantee of future results.

Performance data represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate with market conditions and may be lower or higher when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from the performance shown. For most recent month-end performance and standardized performance, click on the fund names above.

Source: Equity Dividend: 1 Year 765/1,180; 3 Year 649/1,099; 5 Year 500/1,035; 10 Year 179/809. Large Cap Focus Growth: 1 Year 225/1,162; 3 Year 575/1,092; 5 Year 447/1,019; 10 Year 101/794. Mid-Cap Value: 1 Year 259/392; 3 Year 161/374; 5 Year 60/360; 10 Year 75/281. Mid-Cap Growth Equity: 1 Year 281/531; 3 Year 372/510; 5 Year 349/473; 10 Year 51/380. Sustainable Advantage Large Cap Core: 1 Year 326/1,415; 3 Year 564/1,302; 5 Year 188/1,192; 10 Year /888. Advantage International: 1 Year 136/734; 3 Year 35/679; 5 Year 126/639; 10 Year 39/421. Emerging Markets: 1 Year 648/804; 3 Year 522/718; 5 Year 325/646; 10 Year 129/423. International Fund: 1 Year 103/351; 3 Year 240/338; 5 Year 58/320; 10 Year 50/240. International Dividend: 1 Year 486/734; 3 Year 26/679; 5 Year 64/639; 10 Year 138/421. Health Sciences Opportunities: 1 Year 57/176; 3 Year 44/161; 5 Year 34/139; 10 Year 3/114. Technology Opportunities: 1 Year 62/263; 3 Year 151/231; 5 Year 82/201; 10 Year 41/155. High Equity Income: 1 Year 56/90; 3 Year 31/71; 5 Year 22/65; 10 Year 8/37.

Ratings based on risk-adjusted total return, determined monthly and subject to change.

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.

Expert insights from our active equity team

Read the latest from our BlackRock active portfolio managers and experts on what they’re seeing in the markets and advisor portfolios.