Institutional shares of the Columbia Overseas Value Fund posted a 3.45 percent return for the first quarter of 2026, outperforming its benchmark amid sharp moves in energy markets.
The fund's performance for the period ending March 31 exceeded the MSCI EAFE Value Index Net return of 2.00 percent. An overweight position in energy stocks drove the outperformance as the sector rose 42.09 percent. Brent crude prices increased 74.27 percent during the quarter after an attack on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz raised concerns over supply. Holdings such as TotalEnergies and Vermilion Energy advanced with higher energy prices, while Sun Hung Kai Properties gained as Hong Kong housing prices recovered. Columbia Management's base-case outlook assumes the Strait of Hormuz will stay effectively blockaded for weeks, which it expects to weigh on global growth while supporting higher inflation.
