Strategic Enhanced Yield Fund Commentary

4Q 2019

How did the market’s fixed income sectors perform?

Third-quarter gross domestic product¹ grew at a 2.1% annual pace, and a similar number is forecast for the fourth quarter. U.S. employment growth has remained resilient despite a historically low unemployment rate. The U.S. dollar weakened in the fourth quarter, wiping out most of its year-to-date gains. This weakness helped support commodity prices. Oil prices in particular were strong during the quarter and elevated tensions in the Middle East seem to have, at least temporarily, raised the floor for oil prices. The weaker dollar and higher commodity prices led to rising inflation expectations, as the 10-year Treasury inflation-protected securities breakeven inflation rate rose 27 basis points (0.27%) during the quarter. The year-overyear core consumer price index rose 2.3% in December, remaining near the top end of its 10-year range.

The Federal Reserve Board (the Fed) monetary policy seemed to have had the largest influence over capital markets in the fourth quarter. The Fed cut the federal funds rate 25 basis points (0.25%) in October, bringing the target range to 1.50% - 1.75%. More importantly, the central bank signaled its desire to remain on the sidelines absent a significant rise in inflation and has started to expand its balance sheet. This expansionary monetary policy was largely responsible for the sharp fourth-quarter rally in risk assets.

Opportunities in fixed income remain very limited. Treasury yields are still near their all-time lowest levels and credit spreads are close to their all-time tightest levels. This combination makes it challenging for fixed income investors to find risk-adjusted yield. However, callable agencies, taxable municipals, and the top tranches of some non-agency securitized products all offer attractive relative yields.

The corporate sector's strong performance continued in the fourth quarter. Although the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index¹ returned only 0.18% in the fourth quarter, corporate¹ bonds fared better, returning 1.18%, capping off an outstanding year up 14.54%. Bonds at the bottom end of the investment-grade spectrum were the biggest winners, as the Baa-rated¹ portion of the index returned 1.69%, finishing the year up 16.46%.

The Treasury¹ portion of the index lagged, returning -0.79%. On the long end of the curve, the Treasury 20+ year portion of the index fell 4.24% in the quarter, though it still gained 15.11% for the year. However, after underperforming all year, the MBS¹ portion of the index rallied in the final quarter, up 0.71%. High-yield corporates also had a strong quarter, with the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index¹ up 2.61%, gaining 14.32% for the year.

What were your primary investment strategies during the quarter and how did they influence Fund performance?

We had two primary strategies during the quarter: a high quality bias and a slightly long duration.**

The high-quality bias was the wrong call for the fourth quarter. We have been focusing on bonds that can weather slower economic growth. This bias is prudent—Treasury yields remain very close to their lowest levels and credit spreads are at or near historic lows. The risk/reward balance in credit is extremely tilted towards risk, as potential excess return is as low as it has ever been.**

However, this positioning did not work during the fourth quarter as nearly all risk assets were strongly bid. Both investment-grade and high-yield bonds had strong fourth quarters. Our lack of exposure to corporates was a big drag on relative performance.**

The slightly long duration was also a hindrance during the quarter. After a strong rally through the first three quarters of the year, longer-dated Treasuries sold off in the fourth quarter. So, any exposure to the long end of the Treasury curve was detrimental.

The Fund underperformed the benchmark by 55 basis points (0.55%) in the quarter. Though the long duration position did detract from relative performance in the fourth quarter, what hurt the most was the lack of exposure to the corporate market, particularly the Baa-rated portion.**

How do you expect to position your funds in the coming months?

With expected returns in fixed income at or near their lowest levels in history, we believe it makes a lot of sense to maintain our conservative stance. Absent some significant spread widening, we will not get more aggressive in this market.

The flip side of very expensive risk assets is that the relative value of safe assets is currently very high. We are able to find yields in many callable agencies that are competitive with the corporate market and have no credit risk component. We also still like the top tranches on some non-agency Residential Mortgage-Backed Security¹ deals. Because they have high levels of credit enhancement, we believe they should be able to withstand a negative economic outcome.**

We are likely to maintain our slight long duration position. With risk assets priced at such a high level, it seems inevitable that we will see some spread widening at some point. In that scenario, we believe it is likely that long rates will move lower and we would want to participate in that move.**

†

Each Lipper Mutual Funds average is an equally weighted average of the mutual funds within their respective investment objectives, adjusted for reinvestment of capital gain distributions and income dividends.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, call 800-762-7085 or visit us at www.cavanalhillfunds.com.

Portfolio composition is subject to change.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The Lipper Mutual Funds Average is an equally weighted average of the mutual funds within their respective Lipper classification, adjusted for reinvestment of capital gains distributions and income dividends. Lipper ratings are not intended to predict future results, and Lipper does not guarantee the accuracy of this information. More information is available at www.lipperweb.com. Thomson Reuters Copyright 2020, All Rights Reserved.

Morningstar rankings are based on a fund's average annual total return relative to all funds in the same Morningstar category. Fund performance used within the rankings, reflects certain fee waivers, without which, returns and Morningstar rankings would have been lower. The highest (or most favorable) percentile rank is 1 and the lowest (or least favorable) percentile rank is 100.

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Definitions

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the market value of the goods and services produced by labor and property within the respective country/economic region. Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index covers the USD-denominated, investment-grade, fixed rate, taxable bond market of SEC-registered securities. Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Baaand Ba-Rated Bond Indexes are sub-indexes of the broad corporate investment-grade bond index, broken down by credit rating. Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index measures the USD-denominated, high yield, fixed-rate corporate bond market. Securities are classified as high yield if the middle rating of Moody's, Fitch and S&P is Ba1/BB+/BB+ or below. Bonds from issuers with an emerging markets country of risk, based on Barclays EM country definition, are excluded. Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Investment-Grade Index covers all publicly issued U.S. corporate, non-corporate and specified foreign debentures and secured notes that meet the specified maturity, liquidity, and quality requirements, to qualify, bonds must be SEC-registered. Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Index measures U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, nominal debt issued by the US Treasury with 20+ years to maturity. Treasury bills are excluded by the maturity constraint, but are part of a separate Short Treasury Index. Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury Index measures the performance of the public obligations of the U.S. Treasury with a remaining maturity of one year or more are non-convertible and are denominated in U.S. dollars. Securities must be rated investmentgrade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two of the following ratings agencies: Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch. If only two of the three agencies rate the security, the lower rating is used to determine index eligibility. If only one of the three agencies rates a security, the rating must be investment-grade. These indexes are unmanaged and does not reflect the fees and expenses associated with a mutual fund. An investor cannot invest directly in an index.

Lipper performance calculation as of December 31, 2017.

An investor should consider a fund’s investment objectives, risk and charges and expenses carefully before investing or sending money. This and other important information about an investment company can be found in the fund’s prospectus. To obtain a Cavanal Hill Funds prospectus or summary prospectus, please call 800- 762-7085 or visit us at www.cavanalhillfunds.com. Please read it carefully before investing.

Cavanal Hill Investment Management, Inc. is an SEC registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of BOKF, NA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BOK Financial Corporation, a financial holding company (“BOKF”). BOKF, NA serves as the custodian for the Cavanal Hill Funds. Cavanal Hill Investment Management, Inc. provides investment advice, administration and other services for the Funds and receives a fee for providing such services as fully described in the prospectus. The Funds are distributed by Cavanal Hill Distributors, Inc., a registered Broker/Dealer, member FINRA and wholly-owned subsidiary of BOKF. SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Bank of Oklahoma and its affiliates Bank of Arkansas, Bank of Albuquerque, Bank of Texas, Bank of Arizona, Mobank and Colorado State Bank and Trust offer investment management and administrative services nationally and administer more than $35 billion in assets for numerous clients, including foundations and endowments, and high-net-worth individuals.

Commentary provided is for the period ended 12/31/2019 and is designed to provide a frame of reference and does not constitute investment advice. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. The opinions expressed herein reflect the judgment of the authors at this date and are subject to change without notice and are not a complete analysis of any sector, industry or security. This document contains forward-looking statements that are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates, and projections about the Cavanal Hill Funds, the securities and credit markets and the economy in general. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “projects,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forwardlooking statements. Management judgments relating to and discussion of the value and potential future value or performance of any security, group of securities, type of security or market segment involve judgments as to expected events and are inherently forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence. Therefore, actual results and outcomes may materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. The potential realization of these forward-looking statements is subject to a number of limitations and risks, which are described in the Funds’ prospectuses, and investors or potential investors, are cautioned to review the Funds’ prospectuses, and the description of such risks. Neither the Funds nor the Funds’ investment adviser, Cavanal Hill, undertake any obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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