U.S. Growth and Core Equity

What Differentiates
Our U.S. Growth and Core Equity Team

Quality Growth and Core Investing with a Valuation Discipline

What We Believe

We believe investing in quality companies whose stocks are mispriced enables us to outperform over time. Our intense focus on finding companies with strong managements, sustainable business models, and attractive financials helps us identify durable business franchises that can sustain growth and/or returns on capital for a long period of time.

Because we believe the price you pay for an asset matters, we seek to purchase quality companies when their stocks present attractive risk/reward opportunities. Our experienced analyst team develops long-term fundamental forecasts, incorporating a range of potential outcomes for each investment candidate. To those fundamental forecasts, we apply multiple valuation methods. In doing so, we believe we can build a more complete picture of what a company is worth and what investors should be willing to pay for a stock.

Why This Matters

It is a common misconception that an investor can outperform the market by simply investing in the stocks of high-quality companies. We believe many growth-oriented investors underappreciate the role of valuation in finding stocks that will outperform the market.

Resources

Jim Golan speaking in large cap growth our edge video

Large-Cap Growth: Our Edge

Jim Golan and Nancy Aversa explain how William Blair’s Large Cap Growth Strategy targets structurally advantaged companies to unlock alpha potential for clients.

View Video
Floating Bubbles

The Rising Opportunity in U.S. SMID Caps

Our U.S. growth and core equity team believes multiple catalysts are driving the rising opportunity in U.S. small- and mid-cap (SMID) stocks.
Read Paper

Featured Funds

Featured Strategies

U.S. Growth and Core Equity Strategies

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Strategy NameDescription
U.S. Growth and Core Equity
All Cap Growth

Broad opportunity set across all market caps in a portfolio of high-quality growth companies.

Large Cap Growth

Concentrated portfolio of structurally advantaged, large-cap quality growth companies that are diversified across sectors.

Small-Mid Cap Growth

Portfolio of high-quality small- and mid-cap growth companies that seeks to provide attractive long-term investment returns with lower levels of risk.

Small-Mid Cap Core

Portfolio of high-quality small- and mid-cap companies across a broad universe that seeks to provide attractive long-term investment returns with lower levels of risk.

Small Cap Growth

Portfolio of high-quality small-cap growth companies whose stocks are attractively valued.

U.S. Growth and Core 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.

Index: Hide|Display
AS OF DATE: Monthly|Quarterly
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RETURNS:
As of
31.10.2025
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS: As of 31.10.2025
ISIN and Fund NameShare ClassMonth

YTD

1-YR

3-YR

5-YR

10-YR

Since Inception

Fact Sheet

LU0995405320

Emerging Markets Growth Fund

J (USD)6.51%27.13%25.72%17.00%3.75%7.87%
5.87%Since03.12.2013

MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index (net)

-3.92%30.88%26.10%20.77%8.07%7.72%
5.47%
-

LU0995405593

Emerging Markets Leaders Fund

J (USD)4.86%29.09%25.56%15.34%2.64%6.49%
5.48%Since07.02.2014

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net)

-4.18%32.86%27.91%21.10%7.46%7.69%
6.02%
-

LU1397782274

Emerging Markets Small Cap Growth Fund

J (USD)2.99%14.31%----
12.13%Since13.12.2024

MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index (net)

-2.28%19.33%15.49%18.83%13.14%-
16.52%
-

LU0995405759

Global Leaders Fund

J (USD)1.87%14.74%14.48%16.42%7.53%9.96%
9.12%Since15.01.2014

MSCI All Country World IMI Index (net)

-2.05%20.67%22.00%20.89%14.26%11.04%
9.67%
-

LU1890060392

Global Leaders Sustainability Fund

J (USD)3.79%14.47%13.36%14.11%6.75%-
9.28%Since29.07.2019

MSCI All Country World IMI Index (net)

-2.05%20.67%22.00%20.89%14.26%11.04%
12.23%
-
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Prices: As of 12.11.2025

Yields: As of: 31.10.2025

ISIN and Fund NameShare ClassClosing Price

Daily Change

Daily % Change

Current Yield

Fact Sheet

LU0995405320

Emerging Markets Growth Fund

J (USD)$196.06-0.11-0.06%-

LU0995405593

Emerging Markets Leaders Fund

J (USD)$186.640.320.17%-

LU1397782274

Emerging Markets Small Cap Growth Fund

J (USD)$110.150.240.22%-

LU0995405759

Global Leaders Fund

J (USD)$280.350.550.20%-

LU1890060392

Global Leaders Sustainability Fund

J (USD)$175.030.340.19%-

Our U.S. Growth and Core Equity Team

Meet the Team

Jim Jones, CFA, Partner

Read quote

The flat organizational structure provides a platform for better conversations between associates, analysts, and portfolio managers and creates an investment culture whereby all parties are able to candidly express their investment views and opinions.

Jim Jones, CFA, Partner

RESEARCH ANALYST, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM

Megan Gardner, CFA

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We try to dig deep into what motivates management in order to appreciate the DNA of a company. By understanding how team members interact, and how different people came into their roles, we’re able to build a differentiated view around how the company operates.

Megan Gardner, CFA

RESEARCH ANALYST, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM

Kasey O’Brien

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There’s always room for debate and discussion, and also for disagreement. It’s never taken personally. It’s always a motivation to find the truth about the stock.

Kasey O’Brien

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM

David Ricci, CFA, Partner

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I love the culture. Since my first day at William Blair, I’ve felt like people were rooting for me to be successful. It’s a fundamentally different feeling from the other places I’ve worked.

David Ricci, CFA, Partner

PORTFOLIO MANAGER, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM

Contact Us

Our active ownership culture creates long-term client relationships by aligning with your interests and helping you achieve successful investment outcomes. Contact us to learn how we can partner with you.
Contact Us

Contact Us

Our active ownership culture creates long-term client relationships by aligning with your interests and helping you achieve successful investment outcomes. Contact us to learn how we can partner with you.
Contact Us

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