Global Equity
Our Global Equity Team
Integrated Fundamental and Systematic Process
What We Believe
We believe that quantitative tools objectively inform our rigorous fundamental research. Our corporate performance focus within a global strategy framework:
- Pursues sustainable value creation at the corporate level
- Is enhanced by a broader strategic viewpoint of macroeconomic and geopolitical dynamics
We believe that companies with high-quality and sustainable growth characteristics may:
- Perform well in up markets
- Protect in down markets
- Produce attractive, risk-adjusted returns
Why This Matters
We believe our systematic tools enhance our in-depth fundamental analysis, helping us improve investment outcomes for our portfolios and clients. Our proprietary quantitative research models help:
- Prioritize opportunities
- Identify potential risks
- Be more disciplined investors
Resources

Why Non-U.S. Equities Now?

Emerging Markets: 6 Key Themes for 2025

Why Emerging Markets Equities Now?
Featured Funds
WBEIX
View Fund:
https://im.williamblair.com/investments/mutual-funds/wbeix-emerging-markets-growth-fund
BESIX
View Fund:
https://im.williamblair.com/investments/mutual-funds/besix-emerging-markets-small-cap-growth-fund
WILIX
View Fund:
https://im.williamblair.com/investments/mutual-funds/wilix-international-leaders-fund
Featured Strategies
View Strategy:
https://im.williamblair.com/investments/separate-accounts/international-leaders
View Strategy:
https://im.williamblair.com/investments/separate-accounts/emerging-markets-growth
View Strategy:
https://im.williamblair.com/investments/separate-accounts/emerging-markets-ex-china-growth
Global Equity Strategies
| Strategy Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Global Equity | |
| Global Leaders | High conviction global portfolio of 40 to 70 stocks diversified across market cap, region, industry, and corporate lifecycle. Leaders are companies that we believe demonstrate consistent value creation, competitive dominance, and sustainability of critical inputs. |
| Global Leaders Sustainability | High conviction global portfolio of 40 to 70 stocks diversified across market cap, region, industry, and corporate lifecycle, with a long-term focus. Sustainability leaders are companies that we believe demonstrate consistent value creation, competitive dominance, and stand out for their management of resources, human capital, and stakeholders. |
| International Leaders | High conviction international portfolio of 40 to 70 stocks diversified across market cap, region, industry, and corporate lifecycle. Leaders are companies that we believe demonstrate consistent value creation, competitive dominance, and sustainability of critical inputs. |
| International Leaders ADR | High conviction international portfolio of 30 to 60 companies diversified across market cap, region, industry, and corporate lifecycle. Leaders are companies that we believe demonstrate consistent value creation, competitive dominance, and sustainability of critical inputs. |
| International Growth | Broad international portfolio of 180 to 240 stocks diversified across market cap, region, industry, and corporate lifecycle with a structural weight to emerging market and small-cap companies. |
| International Small Cap Growth | International small-cap portfolio of 100 to 150 stocks diversified across region, industry, and corporate lifecycle. |
| Emerging Markets Leaders | High conviction emerging markets portfolio of 50 to 80 stocks diversified across market cap, region, industry, and corporate lifecycle. Leaders are companies that we believe demonstrate consistent value creation, competitive dominance, and sustainability of critical inputs. |
| Emerging Markets Leaders Concentrated | High conviction emerging markets portfolio of 20 to 35 stocks diversified across market cap, region, industry, and corporate lifecycle. Leaders are companies that we believe demonstrate consistent value creation, competitive dominance, and sustainability of critical inputs. |
| Emerging Markets Growth | Broad emerging markets portfolio of 120 to 175 stocks diversified across market cap, region, industry, and corporate lifecycle with a structural weight to small-cap companies. |
| Emerging Markets ex China Growth | Broad emerging markets ex China portfolio of 80 to 130 stocks diversified across market cap, region, industry, and corporate lifecycle with a structural weight to small-cap companies. |
| Emerging Markets Small Cap Growth | Emerging markets small-cap portfolio of 120 to 175 stocks diversified across region, industry, and corporate lifecycle. |
| China Growth | Focused portfolio of 30 to 70 high-quality growth Chinese companies diversified across share class, market capitalization, and industries. |
| China A-Shares Growth | Focused portfolio of 30 to 70 high-quality growth China A-Share companies across the market-capitalization spectrum. |
Global Equity Fund Performance
Performance cited represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the data quoted. Returns shown assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Investment returns and principal will fluctuate with market and economic conditions and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Class N shares are available to the general public without a sales load. Class I and Class R6 shares are available only to investors who meet certain eligibility requirements.
| RETURNS: As of 10/31/25 | AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS: As of 10/31/25 | ||||||||||
| Ticker and Fund Name | Share Class | Month ▼ | YTD ▼ | 1-YR ▼ | 3-YR ▼ | 5-YR ▼ | 10-YR ▼ | Since Inception ▼ | Gross Expense Ratio ▼ | Net Expense Ratio ▼ | Fact Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WGFIX | I | 1.81% | 15.06% | 14.88% | 16.66% | 7.75% | 10.10% | 6.91%Since10/15/07 | 1.22% | 0.90% | |
MSCI All Country World Index IMI (net) | - | 2.05% | 20.67% | 22.00% | 20.89% | 14.26% | 11.04% | 6.98% | - | - | - |
WILIX | I | 3.69% | 23.10% | 17.86% | 13.46% | 4.86% | 7.69% | 8.11%Since08/16/12 | 1.03% | 0.90% | |
MSCI All Country World ex-U.S. IMI Index (net) | - | 1.77% | 28.20% | 24.62% | 20.00% | 11.10% | 7.68% | 7.21% | - | - | - |
BIGIX | I | 1.68% | 17.76% | 15.18% | 13.68% | 5.07% | 6.71% | 6.90%Since10/01/99 | 1.01% | 0.90% | |
MSCI All Country World ex-U.S. IMI Index (net) | - | 1.77% | 28.20% | 24.62% | 20.00% | 11.10% | 7.68% | 5.49% | - | - | - |
WISIX | I | -2.29% | 14.67% | 14.94% | 12.57% | 2.90% | 4.97% | 5.97%Since11/01/05 | 1.26% | 1.10% | |
MSCI All Country World ex-U.S. Small Cap Index (net) | - | 0.21% | 25.81% | 22.58% | 18.18% | 10.61% | 7.77% | 6.91% | - | - | - |
WBELX | I | 4.64% | 29.30% | 26.07% | 15.70% | 2.67% | 6.35% | 3.22%Since03/26/08 | 1.23% | 0.99% | |
MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net) | - | 4.18% | 32.86% | 27.91% | 21.10% | 7.46% | 7.69% | 3.83% | - | - | - |
WBEIX | I | 5.34% | 26.29% | 25.14% | 16.99% | 3.77% | 8.09% | 7.80%Since06/06/05 | 1.18% | 0.99% | |
MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index (net) | - | 3.92% | 30.88% | 26.10% | 20.77% | 8.07% | 7.72% | 7.29% | - | - | - |
WXCIX | I | 9.62% | 27.63% | 27.73% | 21.41% | - | - | 17.67%Since07/29/22 | 2.11% | 0.99% | |
MSCI Emerging Markets ex-China IMI Index | - | 7.12% | 28.99% | 23.43% | 19.52% | - | - | 15.59% | - | - | - |
BESIX | I | 3.03% | 14.93% | 15.52% | 13.77% | 8.51% | 7.26% | 9.16%Since10/24/11 | 1.42% | 1.15% | |
MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index (net) | - | 2.28% | 19.33% | 15.49% | 18.83% | 13.14% | 8.11% | 6.55% | - | - | - |
WICGX | I | -3.59% | 26.79% | 28.31% | 11.25% | - | - | -8.67%Since08/27/21 | 9.46% | 0.99% | |
MSCI China All Shares Index (Net) | - | -2.42% | 31.37% | 29.04% | 19.50% | - | - | 0.00% | - | - | - |
| Prices: As of 11/11/25 | ||||||||
| Ticker and Fund Name | Share Class | Closing Price ▼ | Daily Change ▼ | Daily % Change ▼ | Distribution Yield ▼ | 30-Day SEC Yield (Subsidized) ▼ | 30-Day SEC Yield (Unsubsidized) ▼ | Fact Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WGFIX | I | $12.37 | -0.01 | -0.08% | - | - | - | |
WILIX | I | $23.77 | -0.05 | -0.21% | - | - | - | |
BIGIX | I | $32.18 | -0.01 | -0.03% | - | - | - | |
WISIX | I | $13.89 | -0.02 | -0.14% | - | - | - | |
WBELX | I | $11.89 | -0.02 | -0.17% | - | - | - | |
WBEIX | I | $16.02 | -0.10 | -0.62% | - | - | - | |
WXCIX | I | $16.71 | -0.06 | -0.36% | - | - | - | |
BESIX | I | $24.38 | -0.16 | -0.65% | - | - | - | |
WICGX | I | $6.70 | -0.06 | -0.89% | - | - | - | |
| Ticker and Fund Name | Share Class | Category ▼ | Overall Rating ▼ | 3-YR ▼ | 5-YR ▼ | 10-YR ▼ | Fact Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WGFIX Global Leaders Fund | I | Global Large-Stock Growth | Out of 295 funds | Out of 295 funds | Out of 265 funds | Out of 178 funds | |
WILIX International Leaders Fund | I | Foreign Large Growth | Out of 373 funds | Out of 373 funds | Out of 338 funds | Out of 224 funds | |
BIGIX International Growth Fund | I | Foreign Large Growth | Out of 373 funds | Out of 373 funds | Out of 338 funds | Out of 224 funds | |
WISIX International Small Cap Growth Fund | I | Foreign Small/Mid Growth | Out of 109 funds | Out of 109 funds | Out of 96 funds | Out of 76 funds | |
WBELX Emerging Markets Leaders Fund | I | Diversified Emerging Mkts | Out of 697 funds | Out of 697 funds | Out of 614 funds | Out of 457 funds | |
WBEIX Emerging Markets Growth Fund | I | Diversified Emerging Mkts | Out of 697 funds | Out of 697 funds | Out of 614 funds | Out of 457 funds | |
WXCIX Emerging Markets ex China Growth Fund | I | Diversified Emerging Mkts | Out of 697 funds | Out of 697 funds | - | - | |
BESIX Emerging Markets Small Cap Growth Fund | I | Diversified Emerging Mkts | Out of 697 funds | Out of 697 funds | Out of 614 funds | Out of 457 funds | |
WICGX China Growth Fund | I | China Region | Out of 74 funds | Out of 74 funds | - | - |
The Morningstar Rating for funds, or "star rating", is calculated for managed products (including mutual funds, variable annuity and variable life subaccounts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and separate accounts) with at least a three-year history. Exchange- traded funds and open-ended mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product’s monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36-59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the 10 year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods.
©2025 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.
Ratings and rankings are one measure of performance. Ratings may vary among share classes. Ratings reflect expense limitations in effect during the period, without such limitations returns would be lower. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Our Global Equity Team

We watch every headline, every comment, to see what’s moving the markets and driving day-to-day price action so we can take appropriate action on behalf of our clients.
Nicola Hynds

The best way to predict the future is to understand history, and so I think having a great deal of stability, seniority, and continuity in our team really helps us at a beginning stage. But then beyond that, I think we have to challenge our thinking.
Spiro Voulgaris, Partner

The best way to predict the future is to understand history, and so I think having a great deal of stability, seniority, and continuity in our team really helps us at a beginning stage. But then beyond that, I think we have to challenge our thinking.
Spiro Voulgaris, Partner

Thinking about the corporate lifecycle, thinking about types of growth—the more we can do that, the more I think we can uncover why great companies do so well, and the better our chances of spotting them in the future.
Hugo Scott-Gall, Partner
HEAD OF THE GLOBAL EQUITY TEAM AND PORTFOLIO MANAGER

Thinking about the corporate lifecycle, thinking about types of growth—the more we can do that, the more I think we can uncover why great companies do so well, and the better our chances of spotting them in the future.
Hugo Scott-Gall, Partner
HEAD OF THE GLOBAL EQUITY TEAM AND PORTFOLIO MANAGER

When clients come to see us to say thank you, that’s a very significant moment. You can’t help but be proud because what you’re doing as an asset manager is not screen-based or trading-based or market-based; it’s people-based and it’s livelihood-based.
Vivian Lin Thurston, CFA, Partner

When clients come to see us to say thank you, that’s a very significant moment. You can’t help but be proud because what you’re doing as an asset manager is not screen-based or trading-based or market-based; it’s people-based and it’s livelihood-based.
Vivian Lin Thurston, CFA, Partner
Any investment or strategy mentioned herein may not be appropriate for every investor. There can be no assurance that investment objectives will be met. Products and services listed are available only to residents of this jurisdiction and may only be available to certain categories of investors. The information on this website does not constitute an offer for products or services, or a solicitation of an offer to any persons outside of this jurisdiction who are prohibited from receiving such information under applicable laws and regulations. Nothing on this webpage should be construed as advice and is therefore not a recommendation to buy or sell shares.
Please carefully consider the William Blair Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. This and other information is contained in the Funds’ prospectus and summary prospectus, which you may obtain by calling 1-800-742-7272. Read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing. Investing includes the risk of loss.
The William Blair Funds are distributed by William Blair & Company, L.L.C., member FINRA/SIPC.
The William Blair SICAV is a Luxembourg investment company with variable capital registered with the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (“CSSF”) which qualifies as an undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities (“UCITS”). The Management Company of the SICAV has appointed William Blair Investment Management, LLC as the investment manager for the fund.
Please carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the William Blair SICAV. This and other important information is contained in the prospectus and Key Investor Information Document (KIID). Read these documents carefully before investing. The information contained on this website is not a substitute for those documents or for professional external advice.
Investing involves risks, including the possible loss of principal. Equity securities may decline in value due to both real and perceived general market, economic, and industry conditions. The securities of smaller companies may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of larger companies. Investing in foreign denominated and/or domiciled securities may involve heightened risk due to currency fluctuations, and economic and political risks. These risks may be enhanced in emerging markets. Investing in the bond market is subject to certain risks including market, interest rate, issuer, credit, and inflation risk. High-yield, lower-rated, securities involve greater risk than higher-rated securities. Different investment styles may shift in and out of favor depending on market conditions. Diversification does not ensure against loss.
William Blair Investment Management, LLC is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Issued in the United Kingdom by William Blair International, Ltd., authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and is only directed at and is only made available to persons falling within articles 19, 38, 47, and 49 of the Financial Services and Markets Act of 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (all such persons being referred to as "relevant persons").
Issued in the European Economic Area (EEA) by William Blair B.V., authorized and supervised by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) under license number 14006134 and also supervised by the Dutch Central Bank (DNB), registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 82375682 and has its statutory seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This material is only intended for eligible counterparties and professional clients.
Issued in Switzerland by William Blair Investment Services (Zurich) GmbH, Talstrasse 65, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland ("WBIS"). WBIS is engaged in the offering of collective investment schemes and renders further, non-regulated services in the financial sector. WBIS is affiliated with FINOS Finanzomubdsstelle Schweiz, a recognized ombudsman office where clients may initiate mediation proceedings pursuant to articles 74 et seq. of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA"). The client advisers of WBIS are registered with regservices.ch by BX Swiss AG, a client adviser registration body authorized by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority ("FINMA"). WBIS is not supervised by FINMA or any other supervisory authority or self-regulatory organization. This material is only intended for institutional and professional clients pursuant to article 4(3) to (5) FinSA.
Issued in Australia by William Blair Investment Management, LLC (“William Blair”), which is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services license under Australia's Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). William Blair is registered as an investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and regulated by the SEC under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which differs from Australian laws. This material is intended only for wholesale clients.
Issued in Singapore by William Blair International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (Registration Number 201943312R), which is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under a Capital Markets Services License to conduct fund management activities. This material is intended only for institutional investors and may not be distributed to retail investors.
Issued in Canada by William Blair Investment Management, LLC, which relies on the international adviser exemption, pursuant to section 8.26 of National Instrument 31-103 in Canada.