Robert B. Peirce

Provides rail-based freight transportation services

Functions as a College/University

C.S. McKee's equity investment approach is based cash flow-based quantitative models and a proprietary risk assessment model coupled with comprehensive qualitative analysis. Three distinct models are used as components of the firm's quantitative analysis. These models are run concurrently against a universe comprised of stocks in the specific product's appropriate benchmark index. Each model generates a top-to-bottom ranking of all stocks in the universe. The Fundamental Model seeks the best combination of economic earnings and future growth. McKee seeks to buy the assets and cash flows of companies at a discount to the fair value, paying less for both the historical and projected earnings streams. The Technical Model focuses on standard trend indicators such as price momentum and earnings-per-share momentum and is designed to identify catalysts for change and provide confirmation from the market that the undervaluation is not permanent. The Risk Assessment Model examines a wide range of business factors such as bond spread, bond rating, tax rate and pension fund status. It provides a proprietary measurement of the relative business risk of the company, and is an essential element of the process because it may provide a very different ranking for the company than the fundamental or technical models. McKee's fixed income methodology incorporates a bottom-up approach that is opportunistic, yet risk-controlled. Their focus on security analysis and selection is designed to mitigate risk associated with credit, duration, or yield curve decisions. Sector weightings are largely a function of the security selection decision. The credit portion of a portfolio focuses on active trading of the highest quality, most liquid issuers. McKee operates within a duration range of 80% to 120% versus the benchmark. They seek to identify to add return by identifying the changing shape of the curve, and searching for arbitrage opportunities. Fundamental and technical analyses determine the optimal maturity structure for the expected changes in rates.

CooksonPeirce manages investments using two primary classes of securities: Equities and Fixed Income. The firm favors companies that have price movements that are stronger than the market (doing better whether the market is going up or down). Portfolio management of Equity investments is done via individual equities in one of four strategies: Aggressive, Growth, Moderate and Conservative. Fixed Income investments is done using a standard “ladder” structure.