Morningstar’s fund managers of the year
![<b>Category:</b> Domestic stock (Large growth)
<b>Winner:</b> Dennis Lynch and team from Morgan Stanley Institutional Growth (MSEQX)
<b>2013 Return/Category return rank:</b> 48.6%/1
<b>Morningstar analyst rating:</b> Gold
<b>Morningstar commentary:</b> The Morgan Stanley Growth team, led by Dennis Lynch and co-managers David Cohen, Sam Chainani, Armistead Nash, Alexander Norton and Jason Yeung, are being recognized for their stellar efforts on their quartet of Gold-rated funds, the $2.0 billion Morgan Stanley Focus Growth (AMOAX), $1.2 billion Morgan Stanley Institutional Growth (MSEQX), $7.8 billion Morgan Stanley Institutional Mid Cap Growth (MPEGX), and $2.5 billion Morgan Stanley Institutional Small Company Growth (MSSGX).
While the team invests in a number of areas that shone the brightest in 2013 — such as technology and biotech — Morningstar's attribution data suggests the team's individual stock picks fueled the funds' performance. The team's decisions to scoop up or add to a number of controversial, beaten-down holdings during the second half of 2012, including Facebook (FB) and Groupon (GRPN), paid off as those holdings rallied to beat the band in 2013. Early 2013 purchases including Tesla Motors(TSLA) and Medidata Solutions (MDSO) gave the funds an additional boost.
Over time, the team's flexible research approach, including astute pre-IPO investments, has generated superior results on an absolute and Morningstar risk-adjusted basis. Flexibility can be a two-edged sword, but Mr. Lynch has done a remarkable job forging a cohesive culture and sheltering his team from the ups and downs of its parent, Morgan Stanley (MS). Mr. Lynch takes a rather high-risk approach, but he's executed it brilliantly.](https://s32566.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FREE_120009999_PH_2_0-1.jpg.optimal.jpg)
Category: Domestic stock (Large growth)
Winner: Dennis Lynch and team from Morgan Stanley Institutional Growth (MSEQX)
2013 Return/Category return rank: 48.6%/1
Morningstar analyst rating: Gold
Morningstar commentary: The Morgan Stanley Growth team, led by Dennis Lynch and co-managers David Cohen, Sam Chainani, Armistead Nash, Alexander Norton and Jason Yeung, are being recognized for their stellar efforts on their quartet of Gold-rated funds, the $2.0 billion Morgan Stanley Focus Growth (AMOAX), $1.2 billion Morgan Stanley Institutional Growth (MSEQX), $7.8 billion Morgan Stanley Institutional Mid Cap Growth (MPEGX), and $2.5 billion Morgan Stanley Institutional Small Company Growth (MSSGX).
While the team invests in a number of areas that shone the brightest in 2013 — such as technology and biotech — Morningstar's attribution data suggests the team's individual stock picks fueled the funds' performance. The team's decisions to scoop up or add to a number of controversial, beaten-down holdings during the second half of 2012, including Facebook (FB) and Groupon (GRPN), paid off as those holdings rallied to beat the band in 2013. Early 2013 purchases including Tesla Motors(TSLA) and Medidata Solutions (MDSO) gave the funds an additional boost.
Over time, the team's flexible research approach, including astute pre-IPO investments, has generated superior results on an absolute and Morningstar risk-adjusted basis. Flexibility can be a two-edged sword, but Mr. Lynch has done a remarkable job forging a cohesive culture and sheltering his team from the ups and downs of its parent, Morgan Stanley (MS). Mr. Lynch takes a rather high-risk approach, but he's executed it brilliantly.