MRM Commentary

Commentary

Monthly Investment Commentary

September 2026

      Monthly Market Wrap

        In August, all major US indices posted positive results, led by the Nasdaq. Precious metals and major cryptocurrencies soared above equities, as inflation cooled and oil prices continued causing pain at the pump.

        MRM NET COMPOSITE PORTFOLIO RESULTS (As of 8/31/2026)
        MRM Group claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®).
        Please contact MRM Group to obtain a Compliant Presentation and/or MRM's list of Composite descriptions.

        MRM Portfolio

        Market Summary
        Markets were positive across the board in August. The Nasdaq led up 4% and the S&P 500 gained 2.7%, while all other indices posted positive months. The Energy sector advanced an additional 7.4%, following a 12% gain in July, leading all sectors once again. Utilities lagged, down 4.8%, while Consumer Staples, Real Estate, and Industrials were all also negative in August.

        Equity Performance
        Oil prices were tame in August but remain elevated as conflict in the Middle East carries on. Brent crude fell 4.3% for the month to $92.71 per barrel, as WTI ended virtually flat, just 0.2% higher at $86.34 per barrel. The US inflation rate declined 0.1% MoM to 3.3%, continuing to cool following the three-year highs reached in May.

        Economic Data
        Treasury yields moved higher across the front end of the curve. The 20-year and 30-year were the only to decline, dropping 4 and 2 basis points respectively. The 3-month and 1-year saw the biggest increase across the curve of 8 basis points each, as the 10-year went unchanged in August. Bond funds increased as a result, none more than iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG), which rose by 0.9%.

        MRM’s View
        Major indices were as follows: Nasdaq Composite Total Return was 3.99%. MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return was 3.40%. Russell 1000 Total Return was 2.82%. S&P 500 Total Returns was 2.72%. MSCI EAFE Total Return was 2.00%. Dow Jones Industrial Average Total Return was 1.47%. Russell 2000 Total Return was 0.98%. We remain bullish.

        Source: YCharts

        MRM model holdings as of June 30, 2026

        Allocations

        IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

        MRM Group, Inc. (“MRM”) is a state-registered investment advisor and an independent management firm that is not affiliated with any parent organization. Using quantitative selection methods, each MRM strategy searches within a well-defined universe of securities, using consistent investment criteria to identify attractive investments and create diversified portfolios. MRM seeks to provide long-term capital growth.

        Allocations

        The portfolios do NOT use inverse or leveraged ETFs. Universe vehicles may change, from time to time, when approved by the principal of MRM Asset Allocation Group at its sole discretion.

        BENCHMARK NOTES

        Effective January 1, 2026, the Dynamic Overlay benchmark was changed to the Vanguard Balanced Index Fund (VBIAX). This benchmark has been applied retroactively to the beginning of the performance period, January 1, 2008. We believe VBIAX provides a reasonable and transparent proxy for a diversified, balanced allocation strategy and serves as a consistent point of comparison, given the discontinued publication of the Morningstar Tactical Allocation Category, which was previously used as the Dynamic Overlay benchmark. The S&P 500 Index with dividends is an unmanaged composite of 500 large-capitalization companies whose data is obtained from the Standard & Poor’s website. S&P 500 is a registered trademark of McGraw-Hill, Inc. The Dow Jones US Select Dividend Index comprises 100 stocks and aims to represent the U.S.’s leading stocks by dividend yield. An investment cannot be made directly into an index.

        DISCLOSURES

        MRM Group claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®). MRM has been independently verified for the periods January 1, 2008 through March 31, 2026. The verification report is available upon request. Verification assesses whether (1) MRM has complied with all the composite construction requirements of the GIPS standards on a firm-wide basis and (2) MRM’s policies and procedures are designed to calculate the present performance in compliance with the GIPS standards. Verification does not ensure the accuracy of any specific composite presentation.

        Valuations are computed and performance is reported in U.S. dollars. Client performance may differ based upon the structure of a particular investment program. For example, some programs are structured as wrap fee programs in which trading costs and brokerage commissions are included in one all-inclusive wrapped fee. As such, these costs may be higher than if the client were to pay trading costs and brokerage commissions separately. The standard management fee is 2.0%. Deviation from the model’s diversified structure may result in different risk, return, and diversification characteristics and would therefore not be representative of the models.

        All information contained herein is for informational purposes only. This is not a solicitation to offer investment advice in any state where it would be unlawful. There is no assurance that this platform will produce profitable returns or that any account will have results similar to those of the platform. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. You may lose money. Factors impacting client returns include individual client risk tolerance, restrictions client may place on the account, investment objectives, choice of broker/dealer or custodians, as well as other factors. Any particular client’s account performance may vary substantially from the program results due to, among other things, commission, timing of order entry, or the manner in which the trades are executed. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate dramatically, and an investor’s equity, when liquidated, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Investors should consider the investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses carefully prior to investing.

        Investors should not rely on charts and graphs alone when making investing decisions. Investments in securities of non-US issuers involve investment risks different from those of U.S. issuers, including currency risks, political, social, and economic risks. Net-of-fees returns are presented after advisor, management, custodial and trading expenses. The net of fee returns are calculated using actual management fees. The actual fees charged vary and range from .5% to 2.2%, depending on the size of the account and the custodian.

        If you wish to modify or impose reasonable restrictions concerning the management of your account, or if your financial situation, investment objectives, or risk tolerance have changed, please contact your MRM Group investment advisor representative or contact the Manager at (314) 628-1100. We will contact you at least annually to determine if your investment goals, objectives, and risk tolerance have changed.

        All MRM platforms are suitable for long term investing. Please read the fact sheets and disclosures for each platform carefully before investing.

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