Sterling Capital Funds

What Sterling Capital Funds does

Sterling Capital Funds is a U.S. mutual fund family managed by Sterling Capital Management LLC (SCM), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. and ultimately part of Desjardins Group, one of Canada's largest cooperative financial groups. The firm operates from its headquarters at Two Wachova Center, 301 S. College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina, and runs a diversified product platform spanning equity funds (Behavioral Large Cap Value, Behavioral Small Cap Value, Dividend Growth, Equity Income, Mid Cap Relative Value, Real Estate, Small Cap Value, Special Opportunities), fixed income funds (Intermediate U.S. Government, Long Duration Corporate Bond, four state-specific intermediate tax-free municipal funds, Quality Income, and Total Return Bond), Exchange-Traded Funds, Separately Managed Accounts, and Advisory Solutions including outsourced CIO and model portfolio services. Most funds are offered in multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6) to serve retail, retirement-plan, and institutional investors through differentiated distribution channels.

The underlying technology is a traditional mutual fund investment management platform covering equity, fixed income, and asset allocation strategies, with proprietary portfolio construction methodologies — notably behavioral finance-based equity selection in the Behavioral Large Cap Value and Behavioral Small Cap Value funds. There is no disclosed proprietary technology platform, patents, or AI/ML-based systems in the source data. Fund administration is operated through an external investor portal hosted by Ultimus Fund Solutions, and distribution is executed via Sterling Capital Distributors LLC, the firm's principal underwriter.

The business model is asset-based recurring revenue: SCM earns investment advisory fees calculated as a percentage of fund assets under management, with expense ratios ranging from roughly 0.02% to 5.55% (SEC 30-Day yield with waivers) depending on share class and fund. Customer segments include Individual Investors, Financial Professionals (RIAs, broker-dealers, wealth managers), and Institutional Investors (pensions, endowments, foundations), each served through dedicated investor portals and segment-specific go-to-market motions. Combined disclosed fund net assets exceed $3.58B, with the Total Return Bond Fund ($1.51B) as the largest vehicle.

Name

Sterling Capital Funds

Legal name

Sterling Capital Management LLC

Website

https://sterlingcapitalfunds.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sterling Capital Funds is a U.S. mutual fund family managed by Sterling Capital Management LLC, a Charlotte-based indirect subsidiary of Desjardins Group, offering equity, fixed income, ETF, SMA, and advisory solutions to individual, financial-professional, and institutional investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory Fees: Sterling Capital Management LLC serves as investment adviser to the Sterling Capital Funds and is paid a fee for its services. Fees are calculated as a percentage of fund assets (expense ratios ranging from approximately 0.02% to 5.55% SEC 30-Day yield with/without waivers depending on share class and fund).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sterling Capital Funds is a diversified family of mutual funds managed by Sterling Capital Management LLC, offering equity funds (behavioral value, dividend growth, equity income, mid cap, real estate, small cap value, special opportunities), fixed income funds (U.S. government, corporate bond, tax-free municipal, total return bond), and asset allocation strategies. Funds are available in multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6) to accommodate individual investors, financial professionals, and institutional clients. Combined net assets exceed $3.58 billion across the fund family.

Product overview

Sterling Capital Funds is a diversified family of mutual funds managed by Sterling Capital Management LLC, an indirect subsidiary of Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. The fund family offers a comprehensive range of investment products across three main categories: (1) Equity Funds including Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund, Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund, Dividend Growth Fund, Equity Income Fund, Mid Cap Relative Value Fund, Real Estate Fund, Small Cap Value Fund, and Special Opportunities Fund; (2) Fixed Income Funds including Intermediate U.S. Government Fund, Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund, N. Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund, Quality Income Fund, S. Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund, Total Return Bond Fund, Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund, and W. Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund; and (3) Asset Allocation Strategies and other investment products including ETFs, Separately Managed Accounts, and Advisory Solutions. Each mutual fund is available in multiple share classes (A, C, I, and R6) to accommodate different investor types and fee structures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund An equity mutual fund focusing on large cap stocks using a behavioral finance approach to identify undervalued securities. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6). Fund net assets of $63.71MM as of 06.30.2026.
• Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund An equity mutual fund focusing on small cap stocks using behavioral finance strategies. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6). Fund net assets of $69.48MM as of 06.30.2026.
• Dividend Growth Fund An equity mutual fund focused on companies with growing dividend payouts. Available in Institutional share class (I). Fund net assets of $42.00MM.
• Equity Income Fund An equity mutual fund targeting income through dividend-paying stocks. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6). Fund net assets of $628.59MM, one of the largest funds in the family.
• Mid Cap Relative Value Fund An equity mutual fund investing in mid-cap companies using a relative value approach. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6). Fund net assets of $51.81MM.
• Real Estate Fund An equity mutual fund focusing on publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate-related securities. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6). Fund net assets of $59.43MM.
• Small Cap Value Fund An equity mutual fund targeting undervalued small-cap companies. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6). Fund net assets of $174.40MM.
• Special Opportunities Fund An equity mutual fund seeking capital appreciation through special situations including turnarounds, spin-offs, and other corporate events. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6). Fund net assets of $311.99MM.
• Intermediate U.S. Government Fund A fixed income mutual fund investing primarily in U.S. government securities with intermediate duration. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I). Fund net assets of $20.36MM.
• Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund A fixed income mutual fund investing in corporate bonds with longer duration. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6).
• N. Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund A fixed income mutual fund investing in North Carolina municipal bonds with intermediate duration, offering tax-free income for state residents. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I).
• Quality Income Fund A fixed income mutual fund focused on investment-grade bonds targeting quality and income. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I). Fund net assets of $146.00MM.
• S. Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund A fixed income mutual fund investing in South Carolina municipal bonds with intermediate duration, offering tax-free income for state residents. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I).
• Total Return Bond Fund A fixed income mutual fund seeking total return through a diversified bond portfolio. The fund is the largest in the family with $1.51B in net assets. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I, R6).
• Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund A fixed income mutual fund investing in Virginia municipal bonds with intermediate duration, offering tax-free income for state residents. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I).
• W. Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund A fixed income mutual fund investing in West Virginia municipal bonds with intermediate duration, offering tax-free income for state residents. Available in multiple share classes (A, C, I).
• Exchange-Traded Funds Exchange-traded funds offered by Sterling Capital covering various asset classes and strategies.
• Separately Managed Accounts Customized investment management services for individual client portfolios.
• Advisory Solutions Investment advisory services including model portfolios and outsourced Chief Investment Officer solutions.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sterling Capital Distributors LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Funds are distributed by Sterling Capital Distributors LLC, the principal underwriter and distributor for Sterling Capital Funds.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lord, Abbett & Co. Privately-held, mid-sized US-based active mutual fund manager with diversified equity and fixed income strategies distributed through advisor and institutional channels. Closely comparable in scale, product mix, and distribution model to Sterling Capital Funds.
• Victory Capital Management: Multi-affiliate US asset manager operating multiple investment franchises in equity, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies, with significant mutual fund AUM distributed through advisors and institutions. Directly comparable multi-boutique model.
• Federated Hermes: Publicly-traded US asset manager operating a multi-affiliate model with equity, fixed income, money market, and multi-asset mutual funds distributed through advisors and institutions. Comparable in multi-affiliate structure and product diversity.
• Eaton Vance Management: Historically a publicly-traded mid-sized US active manager offering equity, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies through advisor and institutional channels (now part of Morgan Stanley). Highly comparable in product breadth and intermediary distribution focus.
• Calamos Asset Management: Mid-sized US-based active manager with multi-strategy equity and fixed income mutual funds, plus ETFs and SMAs, distributed through financial advisors. Comparable in scale, product architecture, and channel strategy to Sterling.
• American Century Investments: Privately-held mid-to-large US active mutual fund manager with diversified equity, fixed income, and asset allocation strategies distributed through advisors and institutions. Comparable in product breadth and US intermediary distribution.
• MFS Investment Management: Established global active manager with a long history of US-domiciled mutual funds across equity and fixed income, distributed through advisor and institutional channels. Comparable in product breadth and traditional active-manager positioning.
• Cohen & Steers: Specialist US asset manager focused on real estate securities and value-oriented strategies, with mutual fund, SMA, and institutional offerings. Comparable in product specialization, scale, and US intermediary distribution focus.
• Virtus Investment Partners: Multi-boutique US asset manager offering equity, fixed income, and real estate mutual funds through affiliated managers, distributed via advisors and institutions. Closely comparable multi-affiliate structure and product mix.

Broad incumbents

• T. Rowe Price: Large publicly-traded US active asset manager with a comprehensive mutual fund lineup spanning equity, fixed income, multi-asset, and retirement strategies. Comparable in product categories and advisor-distribution orientation, but at meaningfully greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sterling-capital-management

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Sterling Capital Funds