Skip to main content

Bank Opportunities Strategy

The strategy seeks to provide exposure to U.S. bank stocks that are attractively valued relative to key fundamental measures. Taking a long-term view, the team’s actively managed approach has the flexibility to invest throughout the market capitalization spectrum while providing diversification across geographies and business lines.

Back to top

Philosophy

We believe that long‐term outperformance can be achieved by taking advantage of the market’s focus on short‐term factors. To accomplish this, we seek to create a portfolio of U.S. bank stocks that are attractively valued relative to their quality of management, favorable positioning, market opportunity, or profitability. To that end, we seek to invest in companies that are cyclically depressed with low price‐to‐earnings or price‐to‐book values, have above-peer profitability or have demonstrated the ability to improve it over time, can exploit dislocation within primary or new operating markets, possess management teams with good capital discipline and execution of strategy, and are positioned to benefit from ongoing consolidation within the industry.

 

Documents

Managed by

Ryan P. Lentell, CFA

Portfolio Manager, Capital Appreciation

Ryan is the lead portfolio manager of the Bank Opportunities strategy, a portfolio manager of the Financial Industries strategy, and a member of the Capital Appreciation team, providing fundamental research on the financial sector for all diversified strategies managed by the team. Prior to joining the company in 2008 as an investment analyst, he was a senior equity analyst at Morningstar. Previously, he was a vice president at The Lentell Group, an investment advisory firm. Ryan began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he served as a consultant. Ryan holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Society Boston.

  • Education: B.S. in Systems Engineering, University of Virginia; M.B.A., University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business
  • Joined the company: 2008
  • Began career: 1999
Ryan P. Lentell, CFA

Susan A. Curry

Senior Portfolio Manager, Capital Appreciation

Susan is head of the Capital Appreciation team, the lead portfolio manager of the Financial Industries strategy, and a portfolio manager of the Bank Opportunities strategy. In addition to her portfolio management responsibilities, she provides fundamental research on the financial sector for all diversified strategies managed by the Capital Appreciation team. Prior to joining Manulife Investment Management in 2004 as an investment analyst, Susan worked as a portfolio officer for Manulife’s private client group. She began her career at Fidelity Investments, where she served as a research analyst.

  • Education: B.A. in Economics, University of Massachusetts; M.S. in Finance, Brandeis University
  • Joined the company: 1998
  • Began career: 1993

 

Susan A. Curry

Vehicles

At Manulife Investment Management, we offer investment strategies through a variety of vehicles to suit a broad range of client needs. Contact our institutional sales or consultant relations team to find out if this strategy/vehicle is offered in your region. 

Separate accounts

Our separate accounts and separately managed accounts (SMAs) are designed for institutions and high-net-worth clients seeking tailored investment solutions and direct ownership of securities. 

CITs

Our professionally managed collective investment trusts (CITs) are available in certain qualified retirement plans.

Mutual funds

Mutual funds are liquid, professionally managed portfolios which are available to both institutional and retail investors.

Back to top

Related

February 16, 2022

U.S. banks’ three-stage pandemic recovery remains on track

Ryan P. Lentell, CFA

Ryan P. Lentell, CFA,  Portfolio Manager, Capital Appreciation Manulife Investment Management

Susan A. Curry

Susan A. Curry,  Senior Portfolio Manager, Capital Appreciation Manulife Investment Management

The latest quarterly earnings reports from U.S. regional banks confirm the favorable investment outlook as the industry looks ahead to rising interest rates.
Read more

March 4, 2022

Net-zero emissions: pledges abound, but few banks are actually on a path to meet their commitments

Frederick W. Isleib III, CFA

Frederick W. Isleib III, CFA,  Director of ESG Research and Integration, ESG Team Manulife Investment Management

Omar Soliman

Omar Soliman,  ESG Analyst, ESG Team Manulife Investment Management

We provide some context for the role that banks will play in decarbonization, describe our evaluation process, and detail the conditions that have led to the success of banking’s sustainable leaders.
Read more

February 28, 2022

Incorporating the Russia-Ukraine conflict in a global macro outlook

Frances Donald

Frances Donald,  Global Chief Economist and Strategist, Multi-Asset Solutions Team Manulife Investment Management

For the global economy, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its repercussions amount to a stagflationary shock. We assess the situation's impact on our medium-term macro outlook.
Read more
Important information

The material contains information regarding the investment approach described herein and is not a complete description of the investment objectives, risks, policies, guidelines or portfolio management and research that supports this investment approach. Any decision to engage Manulife Investment Management should be based upon a review of the terms of the prospectus, offering documents or investment management agreement, as applicable, and the specific investment objectives, policies and guidelines that apply under the terms of such agreement. There is no guarantee investment objectives will be met. The investment process may change over time. The characteristics set forth above are intended as a general illustration of some of the criteria the strategy team considers in selecting securities for client portfolios. Client portfolios are managed according to mutually agreed upon investment guidelines.

This information has been provided by Manulife Investment Management. All material is compiled from sources believed to be reliable and correct but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any financial instrument nor does it constitute an offer or invitation to invest in any fund managed by Manulife Investment Management and has not been prepared in connection with any such offer. This information does not constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice or recommendations with respect to the securities and sectors listed.

References to securities, transactions or holdings should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell a particular security and there is no assurance that, as of the date of publication, the securities remain in the portfolio. Additionally, it is noted that the securities or transactions referenced do not represent all of the securities purchased, sold or recommended during the period referenced and there is no guarantee as to the future profitability of the securities identified and discussed herein.

The indices cited are widely accepted benchmarks for investment performance within their relevant regions, sectors or asset classes, and represent non managed investment portfolio.