Chuck Royce & Francis Gannon: Small-Cap Review and Outlook

Frank Gannon: What was the most notable aspect of our investment world in 2015?

Chuck Royce: I think it's really important to understand what it was not. It was not the Fed finally raising rates. Everyone has focused on that in some absurd way.

In fact, it was the peaking of non-earning companies, which actually was much more significant. They have led the index. The index peaked a little before June 30th. The returns for that six-year period from the bottom were 18 percent from the index, and higher for the non-earners.

So it's a big deal if it has reversed. We believe it has reversed.

Frank: You alluded to the fact that the big event for last year was really a nonevent, in terms of the Fed raising rates, because credit spreads had already been widening. How is that going to be affecting our portfolios?

Chuck: Credit spreads have been widening for about a year-and-a-half, since the summer of 2014, when energy peaked. So as energy has had a sharp decline, credit spreads have widened, probably led by energy, but actually now across the board.

Credit spreads represent the true cost of borrowing, and they represent a much more important metric about returning to normalcy.

We believe returning to normalcy across the board is a healthy thing for companies and healthy for stocks.

Frank: As you look forward, how do you think the role of an active manager is going to play out? It seems like it should be taking on an increasingly more important role in investors' portfolios. What are your thoughts on that?

Chuck: Our definition of an active manager is that we're managing risk. We believe our fundamental job is managing risk, and we are; we are placing bets on risk/reward all the time. That's what we do.

In general, active managers do better where they're adding and subtracting risk, and have a difference. In the other environment, when markets are going straight up, actually, everything you do to reduce risk works against you.

I believe the stress in the stock market creates specific opportunities for us. It is our job to take advantage of these short-term stress moments. We are absolutely doing that. We're adding to our high-conviction stocks, and I feel very good about the year or two ahead.

Important Disclosure Information

The thoughts and opinions expressed in the video are solely those of the persons speaking as of December 21, 2015 and may differ from those of other Royce investment professionals, or the firm as a whole. There can be no assurance with regard to future market movements.

This material is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

Investments in securities of small-cap companies may involve considerably more risk than investments in securities of larger-cap companies. (Please see “Primary Risks for Fund Investors” in the prospectus.)

Royce Smaller-Companies Growth Fund invests primarily in small-cap and mid-cap stocks, which may involve considerably more risk than investing in larger-cap stocks. (Please see "Primary Risks for Fund Investors" in the prospectus.) In addition, as of 9/30/15 the Fund invested a significant portion of its assets in a limited number of stocks, which may involve considerably more risk than a more broadly diversified portfolio because a decline in the value of any of these stocks would cause the Fund’s overall value to decline to a greater degree. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign securities (measured at the time of investment), which may involve political, economic, currency, and other risks not encountered in U.S. investments. (Please see "Investing in Foreign Securities" in the prospectus.)