Small & Mid-Caps Get Defensive

US Small & Mid-Cap Stock Style Measures Diverge From Mega Caps YTD

SEATTLE, WA–(Marketwired – Aug 17, 2015) – While US growth and dynamic-oriented stocks have led their value and defensive-oriented counterparts in the US mega cap space, as reflected by the Russell Top 200® Index, year-to-date as of August 7th, US mid- and small-cap stocks tell a slightly different story.

For US mid- and small-cap stocks, as reflected by the Russell Midcap® and Russell 2000® Index, year-to-date as of August 7th, growth stocks have led value stocks, however defensive stocks have led dynamic stocks. The outperformance for defensive versus dynamic-oriented mid- and small-cap stocks has occurred for the one year period as well.

Tom Goodwin, senior research director with FTSE Russell, said: "The Russell style indexes were expanded four years ago to include defensive and dynamic measures in addition to traditional value and growth. We believe this allows investors to gain a more nuanced view of the dynamics at play currently in the market. For example, while many investors may equate growth-oriented stocks with dynamic-oriented stocks and value with defensive, and believe they will perform in line with each other, that is not always the case as shown by the market experience year-to-date."

For more information on the Russell US style indexes, go to the FTSE Russell website.

Russell Index                       2015 YTD as of August                7th One Year as of August 7th
Russell Top 200® Index        2.6%                                             11.3%
Russell Top 200® Growth     6.7%                                             16.2%
Russell Top 200® Value       (-1.5%)                                           6.4%
Russell Top 200® Dynamic   5.0%                                             13.8%
Russell Top 200® Defensive 1.1%                                              9.7%
Russell Midcap® Index          2.0%                                            10.4%
Russell Midcap® Growth       4.5%                                            13.8%
Russell Midcap® Value        (-0.5%)                                           6.8%
Russell Midcap® Dynamic     0.8%                                            7.2%
Russell Midcap® Defensive   5.1%                                           18.6%
Russell 2000® Index              0.9%                                             9.2%
Russell 2000® Growth Index 6.0%                                            16.5%
Russell 2000® Value Index  (-4.2%)                                            2.2%
Russell 2000® Dynamic       (-0.1%)                                            5.5%
Russell 2000® Defensive       1.8%                                            12.9%

Source: FTSE Russell Indexes. Total returns, US dollar denominated. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

About FTSE Russell:
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