Loomis Sayles Growth Equity Strategies Team Marks Major Milestones at the NYSE
The New York Stock Exchange welcomed Loomis Sayles and Natixis Investment Managers to the podium to celebrate the Natixis Loomis Sayles Focused Growth ETF, 20 Years of the Growth Equity Strategies (GES) Team and Loomis Sayles’ 100 year anniversary. To honor the occasion, Aziz Hamzaogullari, Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of the Loomis Sayles GES Team, rang the Opening Bell®.
As part of this milestone moment at the New York Stock Exchange, Aziz Hamzaogullari, joined NYSE Live to reflect on the team’s journey, recent growth, and long‑term investment approach.
Q: How significant was this moment for you and the team at Loomis Sayles?
A: Well, it’s very special because we are celebrating our 100 year anniversary and we launched our LSGR ETF 3 years ago at NYSE. Personally, it’s a very special event for me because 35 years ago I came here as a student and 35 years later here I am ringing the bell with my team and celebrating 20 years of great success as a Growth Equity Strategies Team at Loomis Sayles.
Q: It’s been incredible your journey at Loomis Sayles, how would you describe the advancements you’ve seen over time on this big anniversary?
A: First of all, we started 20 years ago with $2 billion in assets, today we have $100 billion in assets. Thanks to our investors who trusted us to invest their money for the long term. Our team has grown substantially and our firm has grown substantially so it’s a celebration and special milestone. When you look at companies that have reached this 100 year milestone, only .5% of companies out there can do that so it’s a special occasion.
Q: You’re also the portfolio manager of the Natixis Loomis Sayles Focused Growth ETF, what opportunities do you see across this large cap space right now?
A: We truly take a very long term approach to investing, we invest in high quality business which to us means a business that would be very difficult to replicate by someone else if they had time and capital. This is our first criteria. Secondly, we look at growth, which we are looking at sustainable long term cash flow growth. And finally we want to buy these businesses at a substantial discount to our estimate of intrinsic value. This doesn’t happen every day and in a typical year we may make 1 or 2 decisions. Today, when you look at our portfolio we diversify through what we call business drivers. We have businesses from healthcare to AI to consumer staples. It’s really a comprehensive approach to companies and enterprises trying to invest in high quality businesses at a substantial discount to our estimate of intrinsic value.
Q: How are you and your team assessing opportunities over these next few months?
A: We take such a structural long-term view, we do our homework well in advance, we have roughly 200 or so companies that we have studied over the last 20 years, and we are just waiting for the right opportunity from a reward to risk perspective. For us, it’s less important where the market is or what’s happening day to day, it’s more important for us to get an opportunity for a great business trading at a significant discount of our estimate of intrinsic value. It’s more about long-term structural opportunities. In a typical year we may invest in 1 to 2 businesses, so our trading is very low. It’s more about finding these outstanding entities that we can invest in for the long term.
