Sterling Capital Management

What Sterling Capital Management does

Sterling Capital Management LLC is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based SEC-registered investment adviser founded in 1970 and operating as an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. within the Desjardins Group. The firm manages $75B in AUM + AUA as of 03.31.2026 through 192 investment professionals organized across five distinct investment teams covering Equities (including the Equity Opportunities Group), Fixed Income, Advisory Solutions, and Family Office & Foundations. It serves four primary client segments — affluent individuals, institutional investors, financial professionals, and family offices/foundations — through a hybrid go-to-market combining direct advisory relationships, separately managed accounts, mutual fund share classes (A, C, I, R6), and actively-managed ETFs listed on CBOE BZX.

The firm's core technology and product platform spans mutual funds across equity and fixed income strategies, separately managed accounts providing direct securities ownership, Advisory Solutions multi-asset class model portfolios delivered on a non-discretionary or outsourced CIO basis, and a family of actively-managed ETFs (SCEC, SCEP, SCMC, SCNM, SCSB, SCUB). The Hedged Equity Premium Income ETF (SCEP), sub-advised by affiliated Guardian Capital LP, represents the firm's most technology-forward product, applying AI/ML/LLM-driven multi-factor stock selection combined with a dynamic options overlay of covered calls and protective puts. Pricing is uniformly AUM-based, with disclosed expense ratios ranging from 0.35% (Total Return Bond Fund Class R6) to 2.03% (Small Cap Value Fund Class C) and 0.65% for the SCEP ETF.

Revenue mechanics are subscription/recurring, derived from management and advisory fees on AUM plus non-discretionary fees on AUA. Distribution runs through a wholly-owned subsidiary (Sterling Capital Distributors LLC), direct advisory channels, financial professional intermediaries for mutual funds and SMAs, and exchange listings for ETFs. Marketing is driven by content (The Lead, Market Recap, Market Update publications), webinars, and a LinkedIn presence, with subscription-based email insights. The firm has shown selective offensive expansion (SCEP ETF launch December 2025, targeted Fixed Income hiring) alongside defensive rationalization (Focus Equity ETF liquidation November 2025).

Name

Sterling Capital Management

Legal name

Sterling Capital Management LLC

Website

https://sterlingcapital.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sterling Capital Management is a Charlotte-based SEC-registered investment adviser managing $75B in AUM + AUA, serving affluent individuals, institutional investors, financial professionals, and family offices via mutual funds, actively-managed ETFs, separately managed accounts, and Advisory Solutions under the Desjardins Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Open-End Investment Funds (525910)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Advisory Portfolio Management (Non-Discretionary) (FSAAABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Large-Cap Equity (Active) (FSAAAIAA), Real Estate Portfolio & Fund Management (Institutional/REIT/PE) (BPAJAMAJ)

Keywords

• Investment advisory services
• Mutual fund management
• Separately managed accounts
• Actively managed ETFs
• Asset allocation solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory Services: Investment advisory services are available through SCM, managing customized investment portfolios, providing asset allocation analysis, and offering other investment-related services. Fees are based on assets under management (AUM).
2. Mutual Fund Management: Manages a diversified family of mutual funds covering equity portfolios, fixed income portfolios, and asset allocation strategies. Revenue is generated through management fees charged on fund assets. Total Return Bond Fund expense ratios: Class A 0.70%, Class C 1.45%, Class I 0.45%, Class R6 0.35% net.
3. ETF Management: Manages actively-managed ETFs including Hedged Equity Premium Income ETF (SCEP) with an expense ratio of 0.65%. Revenue generated through management fees on ETF assets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sterling Capital Management is a registered investment adviser that manages customized investment portfolios, provides asset allocation analysis, and offers other investment-related services to affluent individuals, businesses, and institutional clients. The firm delivers investment solutions across actively-managed mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), separately managed accounts, Advisory Solutions (multi-asset class models and outsourced CIO services), and Family Office & Foundations services. The product suite spans U.S. equities (small/mid/large cap, value, growth, dividend, real estate), fixed income (government, corporate, municipal), and AI-quantitative strategies, distributed directly and through financial professionals and exchanges.

Product overview

Sterling Capital Management offers a comprehensive investment management platform consisting of mutual funds (equity and fixed income), actively-managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs), separately managed accounts, Advisory Solutions (multi-asset class models), and Family Office services. The product suite spans across asset classes including U.S. equities (large/mid/small cap, value, growth), fixed income (government, corporate, municipal), and specialty strategies (real estate, dividend growth). The firm manages $75 billion in AUM and AUA across 192 investment professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hedged Equity Premium Income ETF (SCEP): Actively-managed ETF seeking long-term capital growth, income and capital preservation through equity investments and dynamic option overlay strategy.
• Sterling Capital Funds
• Sterling Capital Active ETFs

Products and services

• Mutual Funds A diversified family of mutual funds covering equity and fixed income portfolios plus asset allocation strategies, available through financial professionals with multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6) for different investor types and minimums.
• Actively-Managed Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) Actively-managed ETFs listed on the CBOE BZX Exchange, including Hedged Equity Premium Income ETF (SCEP), Enhanced Core Bond ETF (SCEC), Multi-Strategy Income ETF (SCMC), National Municipal Bond ETF (SCNM), Short Duration Bond ETF (SCSB), and Ultra Short Bond ETF (SCUB). Made available to investors through standard brokerage accounts.
• Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) Customized investment portfolios distributed through financial professionals, providing diversification similar to mutual funds while clients own underlying securities directly. Used by financial professionals to deliver institutional-quality strategies to their end clients.
• Advisory Solutions Customized multi-asset class models provided by Sterling Capital's Advisory Solutions Team for financial professionals and institutional clients, including model portfolios and outsourced CIO services on a non-discretionary basis.
• Family Office & Foundations Services Personalized wealth management services for family offices and foundations, managing complex portfolios and preserving financial legacy across generations. One of Sterling Capital's five distinctive investment teams.
• Equity Investment Strategies Diverse equity products built on a value investing philosophy, targeting long-term risk-adjusted performance across multiple capitalizations and styles. Delivered through mutual funds, ETFs, and separately managed accounts.
• Fixed Income Investment Strategies Fixed income investment strategies delivered through a multi-faceted approach emphasizing consistent risk-adjusted performance and active risk management, across government, corporate, and municipal sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 Star Morningstar Rating for Total Return Bond Fund (out of 418 funds as of 05.31.2026)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Guardian Capital LPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSub-adviser for Hedged Equity Premium Income ETF and Multi-Strategy Income ETF. Guardian Capital LP, founded in 1962, is an SEC-registered investment adviser located at 199 Bay Street, Commerce Court West, Suite 2700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5L 1E8. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Guardian Capital Group Limited and an affiliated person of Sterling Capital.
• CBOE BZX ExchangecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary exchange for listing and trading Sterling Capital ETFs including Hedged Equity Premium Income ETF (SCEP).
• Sterling Capital Distributors LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of Sterling Capital Funds and ETFs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hartford Funds: Active mutual fund and ETF franchise of The Hartford serving financial professionals and institutions with multi-asset strategies, directly comparable to Sterling Capital's mutual fund and ETF offering to advisors.
• Touchstone Investments: Active mutual fund company with multi-affiliate and sub-advisor model selling through financial professionals; has comparable product breadth (equity, fixed income, multi-asset) and similar mid-size AUM profile.
• Manning & Napier: Active asset manager offering mutual funds, SMAs, and unified managed accounts across equity and fixed income. Similar investment approach to Sterling Capital and similar mid-size, advisor-focused distribution.
• Cohen & Steers: Specialty active manager with a heavy real estate and income focus, offering mutual funds, SMAs, and ETFs including actively-managed products. Comparable to Sterling Capital's mid-cap value and real estate strategies and similar AUM scale around $80B.
• American Century Investments: Privately held active asset manager managing equity and fixed income mutual funds and ETFs, with similar private ownership structure and active management focus serving financial advisors, institutions, and individual investors.
• Victory Capital Management: Multi-affiliate active asset manager with shared distribution, mutual funds, ETFs, and SMAs across equity, fixed income, and multi-asset franchises — analogous to Sterling Capital's diversified product platform.
• Artisan Partners: Multi-boutique active asset manager with high-conviction equity strategies distributed via financial advisors and institutions. Comparable to Sterling Capital's value-oriented equity boutique structure.

Broad incumbents

• Eaton Vance (Morgan Stanley Investment Management): Long-established active manager offering mutual funds, ETFs, SMAs, and customized portfolios across equity, fixed income, and alternatives — overlapping with Sterling Capital's product mix but at substantially larger scale within Morgan Stanley.
• WisdomTree Investments: ETF-led asset manager with actively-managed and quantitative ETFs, including income-oriented products. Comparable as a competitor in the actively-managed ETF category where Sterling is also launching income and hedged equity products.
• Nuveen (TIAA): Large asset manager offering active and income-oriented mutual funds and ETFs across equity and fixed income, including municipal bond strategies that directly overlap with Sterling's municipal franchise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sterlingcapitalmanagement

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sterling Capital Management