22 Years at AB|30 Years of Experience
Kent Hargis is the Chief Investment Officer of Strategic Core Equities. He created the Strategic Core platform and has been managing the Global, International and US Strategic Core portfolios since their inception in 2011. Hargis has also been Portfolio Manager for the Global Low Carbon Strategy Portfolio since 2022. Previously, he managed the Emerging Portfolio from 2015 through 2023. Hargis was global head of quantitative research for Equities from 2009 through 2014, with responsibility for directing research and the application of risk and return models across the firm’s equity portfolios. He joined AB in 2003 as a senior quantitative strategist. Prior to that, Hargis was chief portfolio strategist for global emerging markets at Goldman Sachs. From 1995 through 1998, he was assistant professor of international finance in the graduate program at the University of South Carolina, where he published extensively on various international investment topics. Hargis holds a PhD in economics from the University of Illinois, where his research focused on international finance, econometrics and emerging financial markets. Location: New York
Following a defensive equity playbook can help investors prepare for market volatility in a year of heightened uncertainty.
Kent Hargis | 03 February 2025If climate portfolios are positioned in the same giant US stocks held in broad equity allocations, investors may unwittingly double down on risk.
Kent Hargis, Teresa Keane, Brian Holland | 31 October 2024The case for renewables transcends politics.
Xiaoyu Gu, Kent Hargis, Kathleen Dumes | 13 September 2024Recent market volatility has reinforced the importance of casting a wider net to find attractively valued companies for equity portfolios.
Kent Hargis, Brian Holland | 28 August 2024Technological disruption creates opportunity—and volatility. But there are ways to capture AI innovation while managing risk.
Kent Hargis, James Russo | 20 May 2024Building a low-carbon equity strategy requires a wide view of the forces shaping businesses and returns, including climate change.
Inigo Fraser-Jenkins, Kent Hargis, Sara Rosner | 29 February 2024Active management is key to investing in climate-focused equity portfolios. Here’s why.
Erin Bigley, Kent Hargis, David Wheeler | 13 February 2024Defensive equity strategies that limit downside losses but lag too much in up-markets may be missing the mark. Is there another way to reduce volatility?
Kent Hargis, Brian Holland, Ian McNaugher | 23 January 2024Powerful forces are creating attractive opportunities in climate-focused companies for equity investors.
Erin Bigley, David Wheeler, Kent Hargis | 11 January 2024Human behavior can lead to irrational investment decisions, but a well-planned low-volatility strategy may be the antidote.
Kent Hargis, David Wong, Teresa Keane | 23 October 2023New public policies reflect growing urgency to address climate risk, which equity investors should emphasize, too.
Kent Hargis, Ian McNaugher, Jayme Lisiewski | 31 July 2023When markets are rising, investors don't always prepare for turbulence. Yet we think the best time to build a defensive plan for an equity allocation is before volatility strikes.
Kent Hargis | 25 July 2023Stocks have advanced this year, though markets have been volatile and investors are grappling with tough challenges. We asked three of our equity portfolio managers to share their thoughts on investing in the current environment.
Kent Hargis, Ben Ruegsegger, Vinay Thapar | 05 June 2023Climate investing takes a holistic approach to address today’s risks and pursue future growth potential among quality companies.
Kent Hargis, Teresa Keane, David Wheeler | 11 May 2023Technology and healthcare are good examples of sectors that can play different equity-allocation roles than you might expect.
Kent Hargis, Vinay Thapar | 21 March 2023As corporate earnings continue to adjust to a new regime, markets are likely to be volatile in 2023. What can equity investors do to reduce risk?
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki | 17 January 2023If volatility becomes more common in the future, strategies that help reduce downside risk should become integral to equity allocations.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki | 07 October 2022Investors may be surprised to discover how a strategy targeting stocks that lose less in a downturn can beat the market over time.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki | 12 September 2022These guidelines can help investors frame a defensive strategy for volatile times and bolster confidence to stay in equities through an uncertain period ahead.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki | 13 July 2022As a storm of volatility continues to rage in equity markets, here are some strategies that can help investors reduce risk and stay invested through the turbulence.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki | 16 May 2022For investors seeking more stable equity allocations, stocks with high-quality features and reasonable valuations can help portfolios cope with volatility.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki | 09 February 2022Equity investors focused on a low-carbon strategy needn't compromise on company fundamentals. When quality and compelling valuations are equally considered, joining the global fight against climate change and generating strong return potential can work hand in glove.
Roy Maslen, Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki | 22 November 2021Steady earnings combined with resilient business models and innovation should compel investor interest, but it hasn’t. Is the time right for a reversal?
Kent Hargis, Ian McNaugher, Sammy Suzuki | 31 August 2021Across the industrial sector, low-carbon investing naturally leans toward renewable energy opportunities, like wind and solar power. But it can go beyond just renewables, and more industrial companies are taking the extra step to lower emissions with efficient energy technologies and by more accurately measuring their carbon footprint.
Roy Maslen, Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki | 24 March 2021The exit from the pandemic will be bumpy. Defensive stocks with attractive valuations can help provide balance through an uncertain recovery.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki, Chris Marx | 01 March 2021Global stocks rebounded sharply from the coronavirus market crash in 2020, but the ride was rocky. With so many risks clouding the outlook, we believe that investors should focus on generating a smoother pattern of returns through the recovery from COVID-19.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki, Chris Marx | 19 January 2021Defensive equities are usually found in sectors that have withstood market shocks, such as utilities and real estate. But as COVID-19 shakes up investment conventions, companies with intangible assets are being more appreciated for their volatility cushion.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki, Chris Marx | 04 November 2020Investing in businesses that strive for a better climate through decarbonization doesn't necessarily assume a lower bar for performance. Low-carbon equity investing can also offer attractive return potential.
Roy Maslen, Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki | 29 September 2020Several equity factors diverged significantly from their typical performance patterns during the COVID-19 crisis. By understanding how factor returns behaved in this market correction relative to their historic norms, investors can not only prepare for future volatility but also take advantage of short-term market dislocations.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki, Jillian Geliebter | 31 July 2020Following these guidelines can help equity investors navigate the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic when selecting stocks and positioning portfolios.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki, Chris Marx | 30 March 2020Even as global stocks climbed in 2019, market volatility persisted. By some measures, lower-volatility stocks now look quite expensive. But in fact, high-quality stocks that can help protect portfolios can be found at reasonable prices, if you know where to look.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki, Chris Marx | 17 January 2020Rejoice—people around the world are living longer! But pause the festivities—that means they need more retirement money. To ensure they don’t run out of cash, savers need to adjust their investment strategies as their needs change, both before and after retiring.
Sammy Suzuki, Aditya Monappa, Kent Hargis | 22 August 2019Global stocks rebounded in the first quarter, but the ride was rocky. Even in a rising market, volatility is a clear and present danger. With so many risks clouding the outlook, we believe that investors should focus on generating a smoother pattern of returns.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki, Chris Marx | 30 April 2019After a volatile year in global markets, equity investors are on high alert. With so much uncertainty about the macroeconomic growth outlook, we think it's important to make sure that an equity allocation is positioned to do well no matter what happens to the economy.
Chris Marx, Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki | 30 January 2019Recent volatility reminds us that new risks are testing standard defensive equity strategies. Portfolios that offer downside protection need to go beyond standard risk models and position themselves for changing challenges ranging from trade wars to European political instability.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki, Chris Marx | 13 November 2018Changing market conditions over the last five years have taught us a few things about managing risk. The most important lesson? Delivering downside protection constantly requires refining and adjustment.
Kent Hargis, Chris Marx, Sammy Suzuki | 16 January 2018Soaring stock prices thrill investors, but it's the disciplined, less glamorous efforts to not lose money that build lasting wealth. It's possible to get downside protection and still beat the market over time. Here's how.
Kent Hargis, Sammy Suzuki, Chris Marx | 04 October 2016This is a marketing communication. This information is provided by AllianceBernstein (Luxembourg) S.à r.l. Société à responsabilité limitée, R.C.S. Luxembourg B 34 305, 2-4, rue Eugène Ruppert, L-2453 Luxembourg. Authorised in Luxembourg and regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or an invitation to purchase any security or other investment. The views and opinions expressed are based on our internal forecasts and should not be relied upon as an indication of future market performance. The value of investments in any of the Funds can go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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