Geopolitical shocks, AI skepticism, and shifting rate expectations pulled the S&P 500 lower in Q1, even as market leadership broadened beneath the surface. Portfolio Manager, Anthony Brooks, walks through a quarter that felt like an endless bedtime story - full of twists, false endings, and an ever-growing cast of macro surprises reshaping the market narrative.

Liridon Gila, CFA, Portfolio Manager, discusses the S&P 500's decline of -0.8% in February as the market broadening and sector rotation continued, and defensive stocks generally rallied on perceived "safety" from the AI disruption risks. He highlighted three near-term potential catalysts including 1) ongoing concerns over AI-driven disruption, 2) an escalation of geopolitical tensions, and 3) uncertainty over monetary policy and persistent inflationary trends. He expects quality to outperform in 2026 as markets continue to digest the disruptive impact of AI, the Fed continues to ease rates, and the valuation gap between mega-cap growth and the rest of the market remains elevated.

Marc Davis, CFA, Co-Portfolio Manager, discusses the strong start to 2026 and continued market broadening as the AI theme draws greater scrutiny from investors. He sees a challenging path forward with stocks vulnerable to selling pressure on the heels of a tremendous 3-year run. Looking ahead, Sawgrass expects equity returns to be more muted with increased market volatility, however greater variation in universe returns and a better stock picking environment could be supportive of active managers' ability to outperform their benchmarks and peers.