Summary

  • Market Overview: Stocks kept rising in Q3, but at a slower pace. The S&P 500 returned +2.3%.
  • Performance: The Johnson Equity Income Strategy returned +1.2% net, trailing the index.
  • Attribution: The shortfall came mainly from sector positioning, specifically the underweight to Technology and overweight to Industrials. Security selection was positive.
  • Contributors: ServiceNow, Accenture, and Danaher added value, as did being underweight Tesla and Applied Materials.
  • Detractors: Fair Isaac was the largest detractor, due to regulatory challenges. Underweights to Nvidia and Apple and positions in American Electric Power and Stryker also hurt.
  • Outlook: The portfolio is not built around a rate forecast. The focus stays on valuation, business quality, and portfolio construction to protect capital and grow purchasing power.

Video Transcript

Hello, I’m Charles Rinehart, Portfolio Manager of the Johnson Equity Income Strategy.

Thank you for joining us for our third quarter update.

Stocks continued to move higher in the third quarter, but at a much slower pace.

The S&P 500 returned 2.3%, while the Johnson Equity Income strategy returned 1.2%, net of fees.

Most of that relative shortfall came from sector positioning, particularly our underweight to technology and overweight to industrials.

Security selection, however, was positive.

ServiceNow, Accenture and Danaher were meaningful contributors, and we also benefited from being underweight Tesla and Applied Materials.

Fair Isaac was the largest individual detractor, as it faced unique regulatory challenges in the quarter.

Our underweights to Nvidia and Apple also hurt, as did our positions in American Electric Power and Stryker.

As we look ahead, interest rates remain an important consideration.

But we’re not building the portfolio around a specific forecast for where rates go next.

Instead, we’re staying focused on what we can control: valuation, business quality, and portfolio construction.

The objective hasn’t changed: protect capital when markets become more difficult while continuing to grow our clients’ purchasing power over time.

Thank you for your time and continued partnership.

Published 11/06/2026

Disclaimer:

The S&P 500 Index is unmanaged, does not reflect the deduction of fees, transaction costs, or other expenses, and cannot be invested in directly. Index returns assume reinvestment of dividends. The index is shown for comparison only. The Strategy's holdings, sector weights, and risk characteristics differ from the index, so its performance and volatility may differ materially. The commentary contains the opinions of Johnson Asset Management's investment team as of September 30, 2026. These opinions may change without notice and should not be read as investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or sector. Statements about interest rates, valuations, earnings, market conditions, or portfolio positioning are forward-looking. They are based on current expectations and assumptions that may prove wrong, and actual results may differ materially. References to specific securities are for illustration only. It should not be assumed that investments in the securities identified were or will be profitable. Top performers and detractors reflect each holding's contribution to the return of a representative account in the Equity Income Composite for the quarter. They are selected by contribution using objective criteria applied consistently each period, not by performance results. Equity investments are subject to market, sector, and issuer-specific risk, and you may lose money. Johnson Asset Management (JAM) is a division of Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc. (“JIC”), an independent and privately owned Midwestern based investment advisory firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Johnson Asset Management manages institutional separate account portfolios for a wide variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations, public agencies, public and private retirement plans, and personal trusts of all sizes. It may also serve as sub-adviser for mutual funds. JIC’s fees are available upon request and may be found in our Form ADV Part 2A. Performance data quoted herein represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee or indicate future results. All data is current as of September 30, 2026 unless otherwise noted. Returns and net asset value will fluctuate. To determine if this strategy is appropriate for you, carefully consider the investment objectives, risk factors, and expenses before investing. Individual account management and construction will vary depending on each client's investment needs and objectives. Investments employing JIC’s strategies are NOT insured by the FDIC or by any other Federal Government Agency, are NOT Bank deposits, are NOT guaranteed by any Bank or any Bank affiliate, and MAY lose value, including possible loss of principal. Johnson Investment Counsel claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards. The Equity Income composite includes all fee paying, fully discretionary, actively managed equity portfolios with a minimum value of $500,000 and an investment objective of Equity Income, benchmarked against the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a broad-based flagship benchmark that measures the performance of the largest companies listed on US stock exchanges. JIC’s policies for valuing portfolios, calculating performance and preparing compliant presentations, as well as a complete list of composite descriptions are available upon request. GIPS® is a registered trademark of CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein. Please contact our office at 513.389.2770 or 3777 West Fork Road, Cincinnati, OH 45247. All returns reflect the reinvestment of investment income (dividends and/or interest) and capital gains. Valuations and returns are stated in U.S. dollars. Trade date accounting is used. Portfolio returns are calculated using time weighed return methodology on a monthly basis. Net returns shown reflect gross performance less the highest fee schedule for this strategy. Actual client returns would also be reduced by brokerage commissions, custodial fees, and other client paid expenses detailed in JIC’s Form ADV Part 2A.

Charles Rinehart
Meet the author

Charles E. Rinehart, CFA, CAIA

Charles has been with Johnson Investment Counsel since 2007. He is the Chief Investment Officer within Johnson Asset Management and is also a shareholder of the firm. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designations. Charles started working at Johnson as a University of Cincinnati Student Co-op and is a graduate of UC’s Kolodzik Business Scholars program.

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