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Volatility Is the New Normal — Are You Ready?
Quality Low Volatility: The Smart Advantage for Institutional Portfolios
- Portfolio Construction
- Equity Insights
- Active Equity
- Factor Investing
Today, volatility isn’t a blip on your radar; it’s the landscape. The question isn’t if, but when the next market shaking event will hit your portfolio. So, are you equipped — or exposed?
At Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM), we’re not just navigating volatility; we’re redefining how sophisticated investors turn it into opportunity. Our Quality Low Volatility (QLV) strategies aren’t just a defensive play — they’re an institutional edge designed for today’s relentless uncertainty.
The Volatility Surge: Why Traditional Responses Fall Short
Since 2007, the frequency and magnitude of market shocks have multiplied. Traditional diversification models can leave you flat-footed when volatility strikes hardest.
EXHIBIT 1: Increase in One-Day Volatility Shocks Since 1990

1 Volatility increases are represented by any increase in the VIX daily, as of 5/31/2025.
2 Volatility shocks are any increase in the VIX daily greater than five points.
Source: Northern Trust Asset Management, Factset. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in any index.
Volatility spikes are more frequent and sharper on the downside, yet markets continue to climb — revealing an asymmetry that traditional diversification struggles to address.
Turning Volatility Into Alpha: The Northern Trust QLV Difference
This isn’t about hiding from risk — it’s about managing it on your terms. QLV strategies leverage proprietary research to identify equities that can navigate turbulent markets and support your portfolio's growth. By integrating forward-looking quality signals with disciplined volatility control, QLV avoids the sector biases and defensive drag common to conventional low-volatility approaches.
- Not Just Defensive, But Resilient: QLV is built to withstand market stress through disciplined exposure to quality and volatility factors — providing stability without sacrificing long-term growth potential.
- Asymmetric Return Profiles: QLV seeks to capture more upside while aiming to mitigate downside — developed with institutional mandates in mind that prioritize more than basic risk reduction.
- Quality Edge: QLV targets companies with strong fundamentals — profitability, cash flow, and management efficiency — using quality as a forward-looking signal to reduce future volatility and enhance risk-adjusted returns.
Asymmetric Return Profiles: Capture More Up, Protect More Down
Low volatility equities, with their defensive characteristics, have tended to demonstrate an asymmetric return profile — limiting losses in down markets while still participating in up markets. These characteristics are important for investors aiming to optimize their risk-return profile while effectively managing potential drawdowns. This balance is especially valuable in today’s environment of frequent market extremes.
Your Next Move: Lead With Intelligence
Volatility evolves — your strategy should too. NTAM’s Quality Low Volatility approach redefines resilience, helping institutional investors turn uncertainty into a durable edge.
Let’s talk about building a portfolio that keeps you on the offensive, no matter what the market throws at you.
Main Point
At NTAM, we’re not just navigating volatility; we’re redefining how sophisticated investors turn it into opportunity. Our Quality Low Volatility (QLV) strategies aren’t just a defensive play — they’re an institutional edge designed for today’s relentless uncertainty.
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All securities investing and trading activities risk the loss of capital. Each portfolio is subject to substantial risks including market risks, strategy risks, advisor risk, and risks with respect to its investment in other structures. There can be no assurance that any portfolio investment objectives will be achieved, or that any investment will achieve profits or avoid incurring substantial losses. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee returns or eliminate risk in any market environment. Risk controls and models do not promise any level of performance or guarantee against loss of principal. Any discussion of risk management is intended to describe NTAM’s efforts to monitor and manage risk but does not imply low risk.
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Performance returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. Performance returns contained herein are subject to revision by NTAM. Comparative indices shown are provided as an indication of the performance of a particular segment of the capital markets and/or alternative strategies in general. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in any index. Net performance returns are reduced by investment management fees and other expenses relating to the management of the account. Gross performance returns contained herein include reinvestment of dividends and other earnings, transaction costs, and all fees and expenses other than investment management fees, unless indicated otherwise. For U.S. NTI prospects or clients, please refer to Part 2a of the Form ADV or consult an NTI representative for additional information on fees.
Forward-looking statements and assumptions are NTAM’s current estimates or expectations of future events or future results based upon proprietary research and should not be construed as an estimate or promise of results that a portfolio may achieve. Actual results could differ materially from the results indicated by this information.
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Northern Trust Asset Management is composed of Northern Trust Investments, Inc., Northern Trust Global Investments Limited, Northern Trust Fund Managers (Ireland) Limited, Northern Trust Global Investments Japan, K.K., NT Global Advisors, Inc., 50 South Capital Advisors, LLC, Northern Trust Asset Management Australia Pty Ltd, and investment personnel of The Northern Trust Company of Hong Kong Limited and The Northern Trust Company.
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