Hosted by Tim Hathaway, in this episode of Thinking Aloud, Portfolio Manager Mick Dillon reflects on the book Investing in Hidden Monopolies* that has recently influenced and expanded how he evaluates long-term investment opportunities, highlighting the role of customer outcomes in his investment philosophy for the Brown Advisory Global Leaders Strategy. Together, they explore how customer loyalty can help shape moats and barriers to entry, with Experian offering a compelling example of how this concept plays out in the portfolio.

*Investing in Hidden Monopolies: Why Customer Loyalty Creates Superior Moats and How You Can Profit by Patrick J. Wierckx

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The views expressed are those of the author and Brown Advisory as of the date referenced and are subject to change at any time based on market or other conditions. These views are not intended to be and should not be relied upon as investment advice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance and you may not get back the amount invested. The information contained herein has been prepared from sources believed reliable but is not guaranteed by us as to its timeliness or accuracy, and is not a complete summary or statement of all available data. This piece is for informational purposes only.

The information provided in this material is not intended to be and should not be considered to be a recommendation or suggestion to engage in or refrain from a particular course of action or to make or hold a particular investment or pursue a particular investment strategy, including whether or not to buy, sell, or hold any of the securities mentioned. It should not be assumed that investments in such securities have been or will be profitable. To the extent specific securities are mentioned, they have been selected by the author on an objective basis to illustrate views expressed in the commentary and do not represent all of the securities purchased, sold or recommended for advisory clients.

Sustainable investment considerations are one of multiple informational inputs into the investment process, alongside data on traditional financial factors, and so are not the sole driver of decision making. Sustainable investment analysis may not be performed for every holding in the fund. Sustainable investment considerations that are material will vary by investment style, sector/industry, market trends and client objectives. The Fund seeks to identify companies that it believes may be desirable based on our analysis of sustainable investment related risks and opportunities, but investors may differ in their views. As a result, the Fund may invest in companies that do not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor. The Fund may also invest in companies that would otherwise be excluded from other funds that focus on sustainable investment risks. Security selection will be impacted by the combined focus on sustainable investment research assessments and fundamental research assessments including the return forecasts. The Fund incorporates data from third parties in its research process but does not make investment decisions based on third-party data alone.

Thinking Aloud is a podcast series where Brown Advisory’s investment professionals unpack an idea that has recently shaped their perspective. Each episode features an informal conversation with a Brown Advisory expert about their insight, gathered from a book or article, a conversation, speaker, conference, podcast, compelling data point, or even a personal event. At its heart, the podcast invites you to explore how broad insights can challenge assumptions, deepen understanding, and inspire more intentional decision‑making. We hope each episode encourages you to stay curious, reflect on what influences your own thinking, and remain open to learning from the world around you.

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The views expressed are those of the author and Brown Advisory as of the date referenced and are subject to change at any time based on market or other conditions. These views are not intended to be and should not be relied upon as investment advice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance and you may not get back the amount invested. The information contained herein has been prepared from sources believed reliable but is not guaranteed by us as to its timeliness or accuracy, and is not a complete summary or statement of all available data. This piece is for informational purposes only.

The information provided in this material is not intended to be and should not be considered to be a recommendation or suggestion to engage in or refrain from a particular course of action or to make or hold a particular investment or pursue a particular investment strategy, including whether or not to buy, sell, or hold any of the securities mentioned. It should not be assumed that investments in such securities have been or will be profitable. To the extent specific securities are mentioned, they have been selected by the author on an objective basis to illustrate views expressed in the commentary and do not represent all of the securities purchased, sold or recommended for advisory clients.