The top priority behind the management of the American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund is to build solid relationships with sub-advisors that share a core value philosophy, says fund manager Adriana Posada. The sub-advisors select stocks with above-market earnings growth potential which are also selling at a discount to the market. To determine a company’s growth prospects, they use a combination of internal and external research and analysis of economic trends.

While many investors feel lost in the face of the credit crisis and the difficult stock market, for Larry D. Coats, the co-manager of the Oak Value Fund, the current environment provides abundant opportunities for finding businesses with sustainable advantages and attractive valuations. Thorough understanding of the business and industry fundamentals are a crucial part of the strategy of being prepared for the attractive pitch.

The Akros Absolute Return Fund aims at long-term capital appreciation and income, while seeking to protect principal during unfavorable market conditions. Fund manager Brady T. Lipp uses quantitative factor modeling systems to identify companies of any size selling at a discount to their underlying assets and also companies that can grow their cash flow streams over a 5-to-7 year period.