Overview
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA
- Average Client Assets
- $23.2 million
- SEC CRD Number
- 104596
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (DODGE & COX BROCHURE)
| Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $25,000,000 | 0.60% |
| $25,000,001 | and above | 0.40% |
Illustrative Fee Rates
| Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 million | $6,000 | 0.60% |
| $5 million | $30,000 | 0.60% |
| $10 million | $60,000 | 0.60% |
| $50 million | $250,000 | 0.50% |
| $100 million | $450,000 | 0.45% |
Clients
- HNW Share of Firm Assets
- 1.65%
- Total Client Accounts
- 740
- Discretionary Accounts
- 739
- Non-Discretionary Accounts
- 1
Services Offered
Services: Portfolio Management for Individuals, Portfolio Management for Companies, Portfolio Management for Pooled Investment Vehicles, Portfolio Management for Institutional Clients
Regulatory Filings
Additional Brochure: DODGE & COX BROCHURE (2026-04-17)
View Document Text
555 California Street
40th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Telephone: (415) 981-1710
www.dodgeandcox.com
Brochure
(Form ADV Part 2A)
April 17, 2026
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Dodge & Cox, an investment
adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). If you have any questions about the
contents of this Brochure, please contact us at (415) 981-1710. The information in this Brochure has not been
approved or verified by the SEC or by any state securities authority. Registration with the SEC does not imply that an
investment adviser has a certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about Dodge & Cox is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Material Changes
None of the changes in this Brochure since the annual update to the Brochure, dated March 31, 2026, are believed by us to
be material. We encourage clients to carefully review our amended Brochure in its entirety, and to contact us if you have any
questions, including any that may relate to immaterial changes to the Brochure.
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Table of Contents
Material Changes .............................................................................................................................................................. ii
Advisory Business ............................................................................................................................................................. 1
Fees and Compensation ................................................................................................................................................... 4
Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management ............................................................................................ 8
Types of Clients ................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss .................................................................................... 10
Disciplinary Information .................................................................................................................................................. 26
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ........................................................................................................ 27
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions, and Personal Trading ............................................. 28
Brokerage Practices ........................................................................................................................................................ 31
Review of Accounts ......................................................................................................................................................... 39
Client Referrals and Other Compensation ..................................................................................................................... 40
Custody ............................................................................................................................................................................ 41
Investment Discretion ..................................................................................................................................................... 42
Voting Client Securities ................................................................................................................................................... 44
Financial Information ...................................................................................................................................................... 45
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Advisory Business
Firm Description
Dodge & Cox provides investment management services to institutions, individuals, mutual funds and other pooled
investment vehicles on a fully discretionary basis, subject to the investment objectives and investment guidelines of
each client. In addition, Dodge & Cox also provides non-discretionary investment management services to clients in
certain circumstances. Established in 1930, Dodge & Cox is an independent organization with ownership limited to
active employees of the firm. No single person is considered a principal owner of the firm.
Advisory Services
Investing is our only business. Dodge & Cox provides equity, fixed income, and balanced investment services to our
clients. In addition to separately managed accounts, Dodge & Cox manages Dodge & Cox Funds, an SEC-registered
investment company consisting of the following seven series: Dodge & Cox Stock Fund, Dodge & Cox Global Stock
Fund, Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund, Dodge & Cox Emerging Markets Stock Fund, Dodge & Cox Balanced
Fund, Dodge & Cox Income Fund, and Dodge & Cox Global Bond Fund (the “Dodge & Cox Funds”). Dodge & Cox
also serves as investment manager to Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds plc, an investment company authorized and
regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland pursuant to the European Communities (Undertakings for Collective
Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations, 2011, as amended. Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds plc is an
umbrella company offering four sub-funds (the “Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds”). In addition, Dodge & Cox’s
Private Client Group manages a model portfolio that can be used as an investment strategy by a third-party manager
in the management of its client accounts. The model portfolio provides access to an investment strategy generally
reflecting Dodge & Cox’s investment style and outlook but is not based on any particular investor’s financial situation
or need.
Dodge & Cox’s investment philosophy is built on traditional principles—we conduct our own research, employ a
rigorous price discipline, and maintain a long-term investment horizon. We follow a disciplined approach to investing
in which investment ideas are considered and major investment decisions are made by investment committees.
Investment committee decisions are generally applied to all eligible fund and separate account clients after taking
cash flows, investment guidelines and restrictions, and other account-specific circumstances into consideration.
This process involves establishing target allocations that are applied across relevant client portfolios.
Please note that Dodge & Cox does not provide financial planning services. Accordingly, Dodge & Cox will
provide investment management services only with respect to the securities, cash, and other investments held in a
client’s account and, in making recommendations with respect to the account, Dodge & Cox will not consider any
other securities, cash, or other investments owned by the client when managing a client’s account except in limited
circumstances where instructed by a client and based on information provided by the client. Dodge & Cox has no
obligation to monitor investments or changes in accounts not under Dodge & Cox’s management. In addition,
Dodge & Cox does not provide tax, accounting, or legal services or advice.
Activities Dodge & Cox Does Not Engage In
Dodge & Cox seeks to avoid or limit certain business practices that create conflicts of interest. For example, Dodge
& Cox does not manage or offer hedge funds, trade with affiliated broker-dealers, use solicitors, or compensate
employees on the basis of sales.
Securities Lending
We do not enter into securities lending arrangements with or on behalf of separately managed account clients. To
the extent that a client chooses to enter into a securities lending agreement with a securities lending agent (which
may be its custodian), the client should be aware that Dodge & Cox is not a party to the agreement and that securities
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lending presents certain risks, including, but not limited to, delayed settlement, failed delivery, and the inability to
vote proxies or respond to corporate actions in a timely manner, which may hinder Dodge & Cox’s ability to manage
a client’s portfolio effectively. We are not responsible for any losses or expenses caused directly or indirectly by a
separately managed account client’s securities lending arrangements.
Legal Proceedings
We do not file claims or make decisions on a client’s behalf in legal proceedings (including bankruptcies and class
actions) relating to securities held or formerly held in a separately managed account or notify clients of any such
proceedings. Clients who wish to make an election to opt in or opt out of a class action should instruct their
custodians to forward applicable class action notifications to them. Dodge & Cox does not give legal advice,
including advice concerning participation in class actions.
Custodians and Broker-Dealers
We do not provide custody services and do not act as a broker-dealer in placing trades for a client’s portfolio. Clients
should obtain statements from their custodians on at least a quarterly basis showing all transactions in the client’s
custodial account during the period and listing assets held in each account as of the end of the period. We are not
responsible for the acts or omissions of any custodian, broker-dealer, securities lending agent, or other third party.
Client Investment Guidelines and Restrictions
We manage portfolios subject to client-imposed investment guidelines and restrictions. Our investment
management services can be tailored to a client’s needs, provided they are clearly stated and not unduly
burdensome or restrictive. See Investment Discretion on p. 42 for more information. The Dodge & Cox Funds and
other commingled vehicles we manage are not subject to an individual investor’s investment restrictions but are
managed in accordance with their prospectus and governing documents.
Considerations Relating to ERISA and Similar Laws
Clients are responsible for informing Dodge & Cox whether the assets in their account are subject to the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) or any state, local, non-U.S., or other laws that are
similar to ERISA (each a “Similar Law”). To the extent a client account is subject to ERISA or a Similar Law, the client
must inform us of any employer securities the client is not permitted to own. In addition, in order to rely on the class
exemption under ERISA for qualified professional asset managers, the client must provide us with a list of certain
“parties in interest” as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA and every party with the authority to appoint or terminate
Dodge & Cox as investment adviser or to negotiate the terms of an investment management agreement with
Dodge & Cox with respect to the account. If an ERISA client has identified a broker-dealer or other financial
counterparty as a “party in interest,” Dodge & Cox will restrict itself from transacting with that broker-dealer or
counterparty in its management of that client’s account absent an exemption under ERISA. An account with a
broker-dealer restriction will not be aggregated for execution purposes with orders for the same securities for other
accounts managed by Dodge & Cox if the transaction is effected by the restricted broker-dealer. In addition, the
account may be restricted from participating in new issues or tender offers depending on whether a broker-dealer
or financial industry affiliate plays a role in the transaction and how it is compensated. In the event that a purchase
or sale order is placed for multiple client accounts, orders for accounts giving Dodge & Cox full brokerage discretion
will generally be placed ahead of an account with a broker-dealer restriction with respect to such transaction. As a
result, it is possible that an account with restricted broker-dealers or counterparties will be subject to higher
commissions, less favorable net prices, and/or less favorable execution than would be the case if there were no
broker-dealer or counterparty restrictions on the account. Similar Laws may impose equivalent conditions on non-
ERISA accounts in certain circumstances and Dodge & Cox relies on clients to provide information sufficient for
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Dodge & Cox to manage such accounts in accordance with such restrictions. See also Dodge & Cox Brokerage
Practices on p. 31 of this Brochure.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2025, Dodge & Cox managed $465,578,143,930.46 on a discretionary basis and
$984,899,132.48 on a non-discretionary basis.
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Fees and Compensation
Compensation for Advisory Services
Dodge & Cox furnishes continuous investment management supervision to clients’ securities portfolios. Such
supervision, which is normally on a fully discretionary basis, is based on the investment objectives and investment
guidelines of each client. Management fees for services are based on a percentage of assets under management.
Current annual fees for separate accounts are listed below.
Institutional Separate Accounts
U.S. Equity and Balanced:
.60% on the first $25 million
.40% thereafter
Global and International Equity:
.60% on the first $500 million
.45% thereafter
Flat .45% for accounts $1.5 billion or greater
Core Fixed Income:
.35% on the first $25 million
.25% on the next $75 million
.15% on the next $150 million
.12% on the next $750 million
.11% thereafter
Long Duration and Credit-Benchmarked Fixed Income:
.35% on the first $25 million
.25% on the next $75 million
.15% on the next $150 million
.13% on the next $250 million
.12% thereafter
Intermediate Fixed Income:
.30% on the first $50 million
.25% on the next $50 million
.14% on the next $100 million
.11% on the next $300 million
.105% thereafter
Private Client Accounts
U.S. Equity and Balanced:
.60% on the first $25 million
.40% thereafter
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Municipal Bond:
.35% on the first $10 million
.25% on the next $20 million
.20% on the next $20 million
.15% thereafter
Dodge & Cox’s established fee schedules are not negotiable. Different fee schedules and/or minimum quarterly fee
requirements may apply to accounts with special mandates or service needs or accounts that do not meet a
minimum account size. Certain longstanding clients have lower fee schedules than those offered to new clients. To
focus on providing investment management services to existing clients, Dodge & Cox may from time to time decline
to accept new clients.
To the extent a separate account is invested in a Dodge & Cox-advised mutual fund (each a “Fund”), the account
is not assessed a management fee (at the separate account level) on the portion of the separate account invested in
the Fund. The Fund investment will, however, incur management and other fees, charges and expenses (at the Fund
level) at a rate which could be higher than the fee schedule that applies to the client’s separate account. Any such
Fund investment will be applied toward any applicable breakpoint on the account’s fee schedule. Certain clients
holding shares of a Fund outside of a separate account may also be permitted to apply those Fund assets toward
any applicable breakpoint on the account’s fee schedule, provided that the client notifies Dodge & Cox of its existing
Fund investments in advance and agrees to regularly provide updated Fund holdings information to Dodge & Cox.
Certain custodians and investment platforms charge their clients a fee for Fund transactions. These fees vary
depending on the custodian and are not paid to either Dodge & Cox or a Dodge & Cox Fund.
Certain clients have negotiated and may seek to negotiate “most favored nation” or “MFN” provisions in their
investment management agreements with Dodge & Cox. Such provisions typically require that if Dodge & Cox enters
into a lower fee schedule in the future with a new client for whom Dodge & Cox performs substantially similar services
with respect to assets of a comparable or lower value, it will also offer the lower fee schedule to the client with the
MFN provision. The applicability of an MFN provision may depend on a number of factors including the amount of
assets in an account, the overall relationship size, the similarity of the investment strategies, and the account’s
servicing and reporting requirements; and determining whether an MFN provision applies may require Dodge & Cox
to exercise judgment.
Model portfolio fees are based on a percentage of the assets being managed by reference to the model portfolio.
Payment of Fees
Management fees are generally billed and payable quarterly in arrears. Except when a minimum fee applies, fees are
based on the market value of the account as stipulated in the investment management agreement and are normally
adjusted for cash flows. When an account is opened or terminated, the fee is pro-rated to the opening or termination
date. The investment management agreement between Dodge & Cox and the client, once executed, generally
remains in effect until terminated by written notice from either party to the other. No such termination shall affect
transactions or commitments entered into for the client by Dodge & Cox prior to termination.
Dodge & Cox does not deduct fees directly from client assets unless instructed to do so by the client; otherwise,
clients are invoiced for management fees incurred for their accounts. Management fees paid to Dodge & Cox from
a client account require written authorization by the client to its custodian. If authorized by a particular client, fees
may be billed directly to the client’s account by sending a bill to both the client and the client’s custodian. In such
cases, it is Dodge & Cox’s understanding, as communicated to the client and its custodian that the custodian sends
statements directly to the client or its representative showing all assets and transactions in the account, including
fees paid to Dodge & Cox, no less frequently than quarterly.
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Other Fees and Expenses
As described under Brokerage Practices on p. 31, we effect brokerage transactions on behalf of client accounts
subject to our obligation to seek best execution. Clients pay brokerage commissions, mark-ups, and mark-downs as
well as spreads and/or transaction costs related to transactions effected for their accounts to executing broker-
dealers. The different types of transaction charges include:
Commissions: the amount charged by a broker for purchasing or selling securities and other investments
as an agent for the client, which is disclosed on the client’s trade confirmations or otherwise.
Mark-ups: the price charged to a client, less the prevailing market price, which is included in the price of
the security.
Mark-downs: the prevailing market price, less the amount a dealer pays to purchase the security from the
client, which is included in the price of the security.
Spreads: the difference between the current purchase or bid price (that is, the price someone is willing to
pay) and the current ask or offer price (that is, the price at which someone is willing to sell), which is
reflected in the price of the security. The difference or spread narrows or widens in response to the supply
and demand levels of the security.
Clients are responsible for selecting the custodian for their account(s) and compensating the custodian for its
services. Each custodian has its own schedule of fees, which may include transaction costs and fees (such as
overdraft fees) charged by the custodian that are not related to Dodge & Cox’s management of a client’s account.
Some custodians offer different fee schedules to their customers depending on the investment manager for the
account. While Dodge & Cox may negotiate rates with certain custodians on behalf of its clients, it is possible that
Dodge & Cox's negotiated rates will differ from rates offered by the custodian to other investment managers or the
rates available through another custodian. Clients are responsible for reviewing the schedule of fees associated with
their accounts and evaluating the appropriateness of such fees when selecting a custodian. Because custodian
charges can vary by client and account, such fees are not generally factored into Dodge & Cox’s best execution
decisions. Dodge & Cox brokerage practices are discussed in detail beginning on p. 31 of this Brochure.
Cash balances in client separate accounts will generally be automatically “swept” or temporarily invested in one
or more unaffiliated short-term investment funds (“STIFs”) offered by the client’s custodian, which may include money
market funds. Typically, sweep arrangements are made by the client and its custodian and the client selects the
specific STIF (the availability of which may vary by custodian). Dodge & Cox’s sole responsibility in this regard is to
issue standing instructions to the custodian to sweep excess cash in the client’s account into their selected STIF. In
circumstances where the client has not made arrangements with its custodian, the client may consult with Dodge &
Cox regarding an appropriate STIF from those made available by the custodian, but the client retains discretion over
the selection of the STIF. Since current information about STIF holdings is generally not available, Dodge & Cox is not
able to assess the quality of the underlying assets of a STIF selected by a client or its custodian. Dodge & Cox does
not provide any advisory fee credit for client assets invested in a STIF, which means that assets swept into the STIF
will typically bear not only their proportionate share of any management fee and expenses of the STIF, but also
management fees charged by Dodge & Cox. In certain circumstances, Dodge & Cox may waive its management fees
with respect to limited cash balances in an account.
Fees Paid in Advance
Dodge & Cox does not bill clients in advance for management fees. If a client chooses to make a fee payment in
advance for tax planning or other reasons, Dodge & Cox will reconcile the fee invoice with any money that was paid
in advance and bill for, or provide a refund of, the difference, as applicable.
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Compensation for the Sale of Securities or Other Investment Products
Neither Dodge & Cox nor its employees receive commissions or service fees for the sale of securities or other
investment products that are recommended or chosen for a client account. In some cases, Dodge & Cox may deem
it appropriate to invest separate account assets in one or more Dodge & Cox-advised mutual funds. Please see
Recommendation of Dodge & Cox-Advised Funds on p. 29 for more discussion of the potential conflicts of
interest that exist when a separate account invests in a Fund. See also Other Financial Industry Activities and
Affiliations on p. 27.
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Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
Not applicable. Dodge & Cox does not charge performance-based fees for managing client accounts.
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Types of Clients
Dodge & Cox provides investment management services to individuals and institutions. Institutional clients include
banking or thrift institutions, investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing
plans, charitable organizations, state or municipal government entities, other investment advisers, insurance
companies, corporations, and other entities not listed above.
The minimum initial account size is as follows:
Institutional Separate Accounts:
U.S. Equity and Balanced: $60 million
Global Equity and International Equity: $500 million
U.S. Fixed Income (Core, Intermediate, Long Duration, Credit-Benchmarked, Other): $300 million
Private Client Accounts:
U.S. Equity and Balanced: $20 million
Municipal Bond: $10 million
Dodge & Cox will consider any departure from these minimums on a case-by-case basis and may impose a minimum
quarterly fee on accounts below the minimum account size.
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Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies, and Risk of Loss
General
Fundamental bottom-up research, rigorous valuation discipline, and a long-term investment horizon are central to
Dodge & Cox’s investment philosophy. Investment decisions are made by a team of seasoned investment
professionals based on key fundamental factors that we believe determine investment value over the long term.
Investment ideas are subject to committee review for both their merits as specific investments and their roles in an
overall portfolio managed by Dodge & Cox. Our approach stresses an evaluation of risk relative to opportunity and
we seek investments that we believe are undervalued by the market. This section discusses in more detail the
methods of analysis and investment strategies that Dodge & Cox uses when making investments. We also describe
some of the risks involved with investing in particular types of securities.
All investing involves risks, including the permanent loss of capital. Dodge & Cox does not guarantee the
future performance of a client’s account, the success of any investment decision or strategy, or the success
of the overall management of an account. Clients should understand that investment decisions made for their
accounts by Dodge & Cox are subject to various risks, including market, liquidity, commodity, currency, economic,
political, and business risks, and that those investment decisions will not always be profitable. Clients should be
prepared to bear the risk of loss that accompanies investing in securities, as well as other burdens and risks
associated with ownership of securities, including tax reporting, litigation, and safekeeping.
Principal Investment Risks
A client can lose money on the investments held in its account, and the account may underperform the market, its
benchmark, or other investments for many reasons, including those listed below. This is not a complete list of every
risk involved in investing in an account managed by Dodge & Cox and not all risks described below will apply to every
account. Furthermore, an account can have exposure to risks indirectly. For example, investments in equity
securities create indirect exposure to a variety of risks to which the issuers of those securities are exposed, which
may include interest rate, credit, and currency risk. Debt or equity investments in commodity-related issuers create
indirect exposure to commodity risk. The risks below are organized alphabetically. The order in which a risk appears
is not an indication that Dodge & Cox believes such risk is more or less significant than another. An account’s
investment risks will also depend on the specific investment guidelines governing the account.
Artificial Intelligence Risk. Developments in artificial intelligence (“AI”) and related technologies may
adversely affect the value of an account’s investments or make such investments more difficult to value.
Rapid advancements in AI may disrupt existing business models, competitive dynamics, and labor
markets across industries. AI technology is reliant on the collection and analysis of large amounts of
data and complex algorithms, but it is not possible or practicable to incorporate all relevant data into AI
models. Data used in AI models may contain inaccuracies, errors, or be inadequate or flawed, which
could degrade the effectiveness of AI technology and lead to operational errors and investment losses.
Companies that fail to adapt to technological change, including AI, may experience reduced revenues,
profitability, or market share. The adoption and use of AI may give rise to additional regulatory, legal,
ethical, data privacy, cybersecurity, and intellectual property risks. Market expectations regarding the
benefits of AI may prove to be overly optimistic. If anticipated productivity gains, cost savings, or
revenue growth related to AI adoption do not materialize to the extent anticipated, securities of
companies perceived as beneficiaries of AI technology may decline. Companies negatively affected by
AI-related disruption may underperform. As a result of these dynamics, AI-related developments may
increase volatility in the market and for an account’s investments.
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Asset Allocation Risk. In an account holding both equity and debt securities, the account’s ability to achieve
the client’s investment objective is affected by Dodge & Cox’s determination of the account’s broad asset
allocation mix. It is possible that Dodge & Cox’s evaluations and assumptions regarding asset classes will
not successfully achieve a client’s investment objective in view of actual market movements. The account’s
balance between equity and debt securities could limit its potential for capital appreciation relative to an all-
equity account and contribute to greater volatility relative to an all-fixed income account.
Below Investment-Grade and Unrated Securities Risk. Debt securities rated below investment grade,
also known as “high-yield” or “junk” bonds, have speculative characteristics and may be more volatile than
investment-grade debt securities. Below investment-grade securities are often issued by smaller, less
creditworthy companies or by highly levered (indebted) companies, which are generally less able to make
scheduled payments of interest and principal than more financially stable companies. These securities
typically yield a higher level of current income than higher-rated securities, but generally have greater credit
and call risk, more price volatility, and less liquidity. An economic downturn, rising interest rates, or negative
developments with respect to an issuer can affect the price and/or liquidity of a below investment-grade
security more than an investment-grade security and can reduce an account’s ability to sell these securities
at an advantageous time or price. A security downgraded to below investment grade could lose significant
market value even if no default occurs.
High yield bonds may include distressed bonds, which may present a high risk of default or be in default
at the time they are purchased. Distressed securities are speculative and involve even greater risks than
other high-yield bonds, including the risk that interest payments may not be made on a current basis, or that
principal will not be repaid in full. An account could incur significant expenses to the extent we are required
on its behalf to negotiate new terms with the issuer or seek recovery upon a default in respect of a distressed
bond. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding related to a defaulted security, an investor could lose
its entire investment or could be required to accept cash or securities (including equity or equity-linked
securities) with a value substantially less than its original investment.
The below investment-grade securities in which an account invests are not typically listed on any
exchange and the secondary market (if any) for such securities may have lower overall liquidity than other
securities, which may cause transactions in below investment-grade securities to be more costly. A lack of
publicly available information, irregular trading activity, and wide bid-ask spreads, among other factors, can
make these securities more difficult to sell at an advantageous time or price than other types of investments.
These factors can affect the value an account may realize in selling below investment-grade securities,
which could result in losses.
Dodge & Cox may invest in unrated securities (which are not rated by a rating agency) for an account if
Dodge & Cox determines, in its sole discretion, that the security is of comparable quality to a rated security
that the account may purchase. In making ratings comparability determinations, different factors may be
taken into account than those taken into account by rating agencies, and Dodge & Cox’s assessment of a
security may differ from the rating that a rating agency would give the same security. Unrated securities may
be less liquid than comparable rated securities and involve the risk that Dodge & Cox’s assessment of credit
risk may be incorrect. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of high yield securities may be more
complex than for issuers of higher-quality fixed income securities. To the extent that an account invests in
high yield and/or unrated securities, the account’s success in achieving its investment objective may depend
more heavily on credit analysis than if the account invested exclusively in higher-quality and higher-rated
securities.
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Call Risk. Issuers of callable bonds are permitted to redeem them before their full maturities. Buying a
callable bond exposes an account to economic risks similar to selling a call option. Issuers may call
outstanding securities before their maturity for a number of reasons, including decreases in prevailing
interest rates or improvements to the issuer’s credit profile. If an issuer calls a security in which an account
is invested, that account could lose potential price appreciation or anticipated income and be forced to
reinvest the proceeds in securities that bear a lower interest rate.
China Investment Risk. Investments in Chinese securities may be more vulnerable to political and
economic risks than investments in securities from other countries. The Chinese government has
historically exercised substantial control over China’s economy and financial markets. For example,
limitations exist on the ability of certain investors to invest in China A shares. Although economic reforms
have recently liberalized trade policy and reduced government control, changes in these policies could
adversely affect Chinese companies or investments in those companies. Changes in government policy
could also substantially affect the value of China’s currency relative to the U.S. dollar. Investments in
Chinese companies may become subject to additional restrictions as the result of changes in U.S. or
Chinese government policies and geopolitical tension between China and the U.S. or other trading partners,
including purchase and/or investment restrictions, tariffs, or sanctions. The Chinese economy is highly
dependent on exporting products and services and could experience a significant slowdown if there is a
reduction in global demand for Chinese exports or as the result of trade tensions with the United States or
other key trading partners. China is alleged to have participated in state-sponsored cyber attacks against
foreign companies and foreign governments. Actual and threatened responses to such activities and
strained international relations, including purchase restrictions, sanctions, tariffs or cyberattacks on the
Chinese government or Chinese companies could impact China’s economy and the value of Chinese
securities in which an account might invest. As a result of different legal standards, we may face the risk of
being unable to enforce rights with respect to holdings in Chinese securities and the information about
Chinese securities in which we invest may be less reliable or complete. Chinese companies with securities
listed on U.S. exchanges may be delisted if they do not meet U.S. accounting standards and auditor
oversight requirements, which could significantly decrease the liquidity and value of those securities.
Tensions between China and Taiwan or other countries could adversely affect the value of securities of
issuers in those countries.
Counterparty Risk. Non-cleared derivatives, such as currency forward contracts and currency swaps, and
other principal (i.e., non-exchange traded) transactions are subject to the risk that a counterparty may not
make payments or deliveries when required to do so. A number of broker-dealers and other financial
institutions have experienced extreme financial difficulty in the past, sometimes resulting in bankruptcy.
Counterparties may become subject to special resolution regimes in the United States and other
jurisdictions, which may affect an investor’s ability to terminate and exercise remedies in respect of
derivative positions. Although we monitor the creditworthiness of our counterparties, there can be no
assurance that a derivative counterparty will not experience financial difficulties, possibly resulting in losses
to an account. Cleared derivatives are subject to the risk that the central clearing counterparty does not
perform, which could occur in the event of large or widespread defaults by the members of the central
clearing counterparty.
Credit Risk. The value of a debt security may decline if the market believes it is less likely that the issuer
will make all payments of interest and principal as required. This could occur because of actual or
perceived deterioration (whether by market participants, rating agencies, pricing services, or otherwise)
in the issuer’s or a guarantor’s financial condition or, in the case of asset-backed securities, the
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likelihood that the loans backing a security will be repaid in full. An account could lose money if the issuer
or guarantor of a debt security becomes bankrupt or subject to a special resolution regime or is
otherwise unable or unwilling to make timely interest and/or principal payments or honor its obligations.
Securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, which may be reflected by their ratings; however,
such ratings may overestimate or underestimate the likelihood of default and may not accurately reflect
the true credit risk of a security. The credit risk associated with corporate debt securities may change
as the result of an event such as a large dividend payment, leveraged buyout, debt restructuring, merger,
or recapitalization; such events are unpredictable and may benefit shareholders or new creditors at the
expense of existing debt holders. Credit risk is likely to increase during periods of economic uncertainty
or downturns. Credit risk associated with non-U.S. dollar denominated securities may increase if the
value of an issuer’s home currency declines relative to the U.S. dollar. If a debt security owned by an
account ceases to be rated or is downgraded below a permitted threshold, Dodge & Cox may be
required by the account’s guidelines to sell the security at a disadvantageous time.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments, including futures contracts, forward contracts,
options and swaps, and other similar investments, the values of which are based on the value of one or more
underlying assets, such as stocks, market indices, and currencies. Derivatives involve risks different from,
and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying assets they reference
and other more traditional investments. Dodge & Cox's use of derivatives is subject to a client's investment
guidelines and may be subject to a client's completion of the necessary documentation with one or more
futures commission merchants, executing brokers, and/or counterparties (depending on the type(s) of
derivatives being used).
The market value of derivatives may be more volatile than that of other investments and can be affected
by changes in interest rates or other market developments. The use of some types of derivatives may
accelerate the velocity of possible losses. Each type of derivative instrument may have its own special risks,
including the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the possibility that a derivative may not correlate
perfectly or as expected with an underlying security, index, or currency to which it creates exposure. For
example, the return on a total return swap may not be identical to the return on its referenced security. As
another example, a hedging position referencing an index may be more or less correlated to an account’s
portfolio holdings than expected. Derivatives often create leverage because they can create exposure to an
amount of a security, index, or currency (a “notional amount”) that is substantially larger than the market
value of the derivative.
In accounts that have approved investments in U.S. Treasury futures contracts, Dodge & Cox may use
Treasury futures for a variety of purposes in connection with the management of the interest rate exposure
of client accounts. Dodge & Cox’s use of such contracts for an account could include, but not be limited to,
adjusting the overall interest rate exposure, or “duration,” of the account portfolio; changing the exposure
of the portfolio to different parts of the yield curve; offsetting the impact of special situations that affect
specific securities (e.g., tender offers); and maintaining portfolio interest rate exposure as large portfolio
contributions or withdrawals occur.
In accounts that have approved investments in a credit default swap index (CDX), Dodge & Cox may use
CDX to create or hedge exposure to corporate bonds as an asset class.
Often, the upfront payment required to enter into a derivative is much smaller than the potential for loss
(which, for certain types of derivatives, may be theoretically unlimited). A derivative may be subject to
liquidity risk, especially during times of financial market distress; and certain types of derivatives can be
terminated or modified early only following a default or with the consent of the derivative counterparty.
Derivatives typically require an account to post margin to secure outstanding exposure, which may cause
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the account to forego other investment opportunities. If an account has insufficient cash to meet daily
margin or payment requirements, Dodge & Cox may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet those
margin or payment requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. Derivatives are subject
to Counterparty Risk, as described above. Investing in derivatives can create additional operational and legal
risk. The use of derivatives may cause an account’s investment returns to be impacted by the performance
of securities the account does not own.
Derivatives are specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different
from those associated with securities. The successful use of derivatives will often depend on the ability to
accurately forecast movements in the market relating to the underlying instrument. Although the use of
derivatives is intended to enhance an account’s performance, it may instead reduce returns and increase
volatility, or have a different effect than Dodge & Cox anticipates, especially in unusual or extreme market
conditions. Suitable derivatives transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no
assurance that a particular derivative position will be available or used by Dodge & Cox or that, if used, such
strategies will be successful.
When a derivative is used for hedging purposes, any gains generated by the derivative will generally be
substantially offset by losses on the hedged investment and vice versa. Furthermore, while hedging is
intended to mitigate possible losses due to specific risks, if a derivative used for hedging purposes does not
correlate as expected with the risk(s) and/or asset(s) it is hedging or otherwise does not perform as
expected, an account could experience no benefit from the hedge or lose more than it would have without
the hedge, especially under extreme market conditions. An investor must also pay transaction costs
associated with investing in derivatives which further reduce potential gains or increase potential losses. In
addition, regulation of derivatives and related instruments by the U.S. and non-U.S. governments may make
derivatives more costly, limit availability, or otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of
derivatives and an account.
Economic Sanctions Risk. Foreign countries, companies, or individuals may become subject to
economic and financial sanctions or other government restrictions, which can negatively impact the value
or liquidity of an account’s investments. In addition, sanctions and similar measures can result in
downgrades in credit ratings of the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically exposed to
the sanctioned country or company, devaluation of the sanctioned country’s currency, and increased market
volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. We may be prohibited from
investing in securities issued by companies and/or sovereigns subject to such restrictions, and sanctions or
other similar measures can significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions. For
example, in 2020, the U.S. government imposed sanctions generally prohibiting U.S. investors from directly
or indirectly purchasing or otherwise gaining exposure to certain securities identified as having ties to
China’s military and related industries and in recent years intensified restrictions on commercial activity
with China in sectors that it believes may pose a threat to U.S. national security. In 2022, because of ongoing
regional armed conflict in Europe, many countries around the world, including the United States, imposed
sanctions on Russia. Sanctions have included, among others, freezing the assets of particular entities and
persons, banning Russia from global payment systems that facilitate cross-border payments, and
prohibiting transactions that involve Russia’s Moscow Exchange, National Clearing Center and National
Settlement Depository. Countermeasures taken by Russia in response to these sanctions and similar
measures have further impaired the value and liquidity of Russian securities and their ability to pay dividends
and interest. Furthermore, sanctions associated with Russian military actions and other threats (such as
cyberattacks and espionage) have also impacted Russia’s economy. These and potential similar future
sanctions may limit the potential universe of investible securities, require an account to freeze or divest
affected holdings and negatively impact an account’s investment performance.
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Emerging Markets Risk. Non-U.S. investment risk (described below) may be particularly high to the
extent an account invests in emerging market securities. Emerging market securities present issuer, market,
currency, liquidity, legal, political, and other risks different from, and potentially greater than, the risks of
investing in securities and instruments tied to U.S. or developed non-U.S. issuers. Emerging markets may
have less established legal, accounting and financial reporting systems than those in more developed
markets, which can reduce the scope or quality of financial information available to investors. Companies in
emerging markets are not subject to uniform standards with respect to disclosure, accounting and financial
reporting, and recordkeeping. These differences may affect Dodge & Cox’s ability to evaluate potential and
current investments. Relatedly, securities of companies in emerging markets that are listed on exchanges
may be delisted if they do not meet relevant accounting standards and auditor oversight requirements,
which could significantly decrease the liquidity and value of the securities. Governments in emerging market
countries may exercise greater control over their financial markets, more frequently make significant
changes to economic policy, be less stable and be more likely to take extra-legal action with respect to
companies, industries, assets, or foreign ownership than those in more developed markets. Moreover,
investor protection regimes may be more limited in emerging markets. For example, it may be more difficult
for shareholders to bring derivative litigation or for U.S. regulators to bring enforcement actions against
issuers in emerging markets.
The economies of emerging markets may be dependent on relatively few industries and thus affected
more severely by local or global changes. To the extent an account is invested in emerging market securities
that are economically tied to a particular region, country or group of countries, that portfolio will be more
sensitive to adverse political or social events affecting that region, country or group of countries. Economic,
business, political, or social instability may affect emerging market securities differently, and often more
severely, than developed market securities. In general, emerging market securities are also more volatile,
more difficult to value and have lower overall liquidity than securities economically tied to U.S. or developed
non-U.S. issuers.
Equity Risk. Equity securities represent an ownership interest in an issuer rather than a right to receive a
specified future payment. This makes equity securities more sensitive than debt securities to changes in an
issuer’s earnings and overall financial condition; as a result, equity securities are generally more volatile than
debt securities. Equity securities can lose value as a result of changes relating to the issuers of those
securities, such as management performance, financial leverage, or changes in the actual or anticipated
earnings of a company, or as a result of actual or perceived market conditions that are not specific to an
issuer. Even when the securities markets are generally performing strongly, there can be no assurance that
equity securities held by an account will increase in value. Because the rights of all of a company’s creditors
are senior to those of holders of equity securities, shareholders are least likely to receive any value or
recovery if an issuer files for bankruptcy.
Exchange-Traded Funds. In accounts that have approved investments in one or more exchange-traded
funds (“ETF”), Dodge & Cox may use ETFs as a means to gain exposure to a particular asset class, to
facilitate more efficient tax loss harvesting, and for short term investment purposes, including to equitize
cash. An ETF is a fund that is comprised of a basket of securities that is traded on an exchange. Investing in
an ETF is subject to the same primary risks as investing directly in the underlying securities in the basket. In
addition, ETFs are subject to certain unique risks including, but not limited to, the risk that: (i) the market
price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value; (ii) an active trading
market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be
halted by the listing exchange. When considering an ETF for investment by an account, Dodge & Cox will
consider various factors, including whether the ETF is suitable for implementing its investment strategy, the
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ETF sponsor, correlation to certain securities or sectors held in the portfolio, liquidity, and expenses, rather
than seeking solely to invest in the ETF with the lowest operating expense ratio. An account that invests in
an ETF bears a proportionate share of the ETF’s expenses, which include management and advisory fees
and other expenses, which are additional to Dodge & Cox’s fees. In addition, an account pays brokerage
commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. Other similar ETFs may have a
lower operating expense ratio, higher correlation, or better performance than a selected ETF.
Geographic Risk. From time to time, an account may invest a substantial amount of its assets in issuers
located in a single country or a limited number of countries. If an account focuses its investments in this
manner, risks relating to economic, political and social conditions in those countries will have a significant
impact on its investment performance. An account’s investment performance may be more volatile if it
focuses its investments in certain countries, especially emerging market or frontier market countries.
Hybrid Securities Risk. Hybrid securities combine both debt and equity characteristics and include,
without limitation, contingent convertible bonds, capital securities, convertible securities, preferred stock,
and warrants. Hybrid securities are typically subordinated to an issuer’s senior debt instruments; therefore
they are subject to greater credit risk than those senior debt instruments. Many hybrid securities are subject
to provisions permitting their issuers to skip or defer distributions under specified circumstances. Hybrid
securities may have limited or no voting rights and may have substantially lower overall liquidity than many
other securities. Certain types of hybrid securities, such as non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, are
issued predominantly by companies in the financial services industry and thus can present increased risk
during times of financial upheaval, which may affect financial services companies more than other types of
issuers.
Interest Rate Risk. Debt securities that pay interest based on a fixed rate are subject to the risk that they
will decline in value if interest rates rise. Changes in interest rates or yields can occur suddenly and
unexpectedly, and can be caused by a wide variety of factors including central bank monetary policies,
changing inflation or real growth rates, general economic conditions, market events, increased borrowings
and/or bond issuances by governments and other entities, and reduced market demand for low yielding
investments. In the United States, the Federal Reserve has significantly increased interest rates during
recent periods. An account may lose money as a result of such movements. The longer the remaining
maturity of a debt security, the more its value is likely to be affected by changes in interest rates. Debt
securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates, usually making them
more volatile than securities with shorter durations. The values of equity and other non-debt instruments
can also decline due to fluctuations in interest rates. An account may choose not to or be unable to hedge
itself fully against changes in interest rates. If an account uses derivatives to hedge against changes in
interest rates, those hedges may not work as intended and may decrease in value if interest rates move
differently than anticipated. Non-fixed rate instruments (i.e., variable and floating rate securities) generally
are less sensitive to interest rate changes but can decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much
or as quickly as interest rates in general. Conversely, non-fixed rate instruments will not generally increase
in value if interest rates decline. If an account holds variable or floating rate securities, a decrease in market
interest rates can adversely affect the income received from such securities.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell, which could
result in an account being unable to buy or sell an investment at an advantageous or desirable time or price.
As a result, an account could be forced to hold a security that is declining in value or to forego other
investment opportunities. An illiquid instrument is harder to value because there may be little or no market
data available based on purchases or sales of the instrument. Liquidity risk can result from the lack of an
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active market or a reduced number and capacity of traditional market participants to make a market in
particular investments. An account can also experience liquidity risk to the extent it invests in private
placement securities, securities of issuers with smaller market capitalizations, or securities with substantial
market and/or credit risk.
The liquidity of an issuer’s securities can decrease if its credit rating falls, it experiences sudden
unexpected cash outflows, or some other event causes counterparties to avoid trading with or lending to the
issuer. Liquidity risk is greater for below investment-grade securities and restricted securities, especially in
difficult market conditions. Over the past several decades, bond markets have grown more quickly than
dealer capacity to engage in fixed income trading. In addition, regulatory changes applicable to financial
intermediaries that make markets in debt securities have restricted or made it less desirable for those
financial intermediaries to hold large inventories of debt securities with lower overall liquidity. Because
market makers provide stability to a market through their intermediary services, a reduction in dealer
inventory can lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Additional
legislative or regulatory actions to address perceived liquidity or other issues in the debt securities markets
could alter or impair the ability to pursue an account’s investment objectives or use certain investment
strategies and techniques. Liquidity risk may intensify during periods of economic uncertainty. Debt
securities with longer durations may face heightened liquidity risk.
Macroeconomic Risk. An account is subject to the risks associated with financial, economic and other
global market developments and disruptions, including, but not limited to, those arising out of geopolitical
events, public health emergencies, such as the spread of infectious illness or disease, natural disasters,
terrorism, and governmental or quasi-governmental actions. These events may have an adverse effect on
the value of an account’s investments, which may be particularly sensitive to these types of market risks
given increased globalization and interconnectedness of markets, and on the ability of the investment
manager to execute investment decisions for an account.
Manager Risk. Dodge & Cox’s opinion about the intrinsic worth or creditworthiness of a company, security,
or other investment may be incorrect or the market can continue to undervalue the company, security, or
other investment. Dodge & Cox may not make timely purchases or sales of securities for an account, and an
account’s investment objective may not be achieved. Depending on market conditions, Dodge & Cox’s
investing style may perform better or worse than other managers’ investing styles.
Dodge & Cox uses financial and other models as part of its investment research, portfolio management,
and trading processes. Such models may not adequately account for all relevant factors, may rely on
inaccurate data inputs or assumptions, or may contain design flaws. The models depend on accurate market
data inputs. If inaccurate market data is entered into a model, the resulting information will be incorrect. Any
such issues could have a negative effect on Dodge & Cox’s investment selection process, or could prevent
Dodge & Cox from considering the full range of potential investments and/or outcomes, which could
negatively impact an account’s performance.
Dodge & Cox applies investment ideas, including target allocations, to all eligible client portfolios within
a particular strategy, including mutual funds and separate accounts. This means that we sometimes seek to
buy or sell very large amounts of particular securities. As a result, certain investment opportunities available
to an investment manager with a different approach or with fewer assets under management may not be
available to Dodge & Cox clients due to Dodge & Cox’s approach and the aggregate size of its client
accounts. For example, Dodge & Cox may not be able to establish significant portfolio positions in limited
investment opportunities or add significantly to existing positions. In addition, Dodge & Cox may not be able
to quickly dispose of certain securities holdings. Separate account clients that also hold shares of a Dodge
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& Cox-advised mutual fund may have security positions in the account that overlap with the mutual fund’s
portfolio.
For taxable clients, Dodge & Cox may occasionally enter into transactions intended to reduce a client’s
net realized taxable gains. Such transactions, which may or may not achieve their desired result, can
temporarily increase or decrease a client’s holdings of, and exposure to, one or more specific securities or a
Dodge & Cox Fund. If Dodge & Cox sells specific securities to recognize a loss, Dodge & Cox may employ
strategies to seek to maintain the account’s exposure to such securities, sectors, or markets more generally,
such as “doubling up” in the securities or investing in ETFs. Such strategies will incur additional transactions
costs. In addition, an ETF selected for this purpose may underperform the securities sold. Dodge & Cox’s
use of such strategies is subject to an account’s investment guidelines. Please note that Dodge & Cox does
not provide tax advice.
Dodge & Cox and the entities that support Dodge & Cox’s services to an account are subject to
operational and/or technology risks, including potentially related to human errors, processing errors,
communications errors, system failures, cybersecurity incidents (which may include hacking), and the use
of artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, and/or similar technologies (for the purposes of this
paragraph, “AI”). Any such incidents or risks could adversely impact an account. The use of AI presents
data risk, transparency risk, and operational risk. AI is generally highly reliant on the collection and analysis
of large amounts of data, may incorporate biased or inaccurate data, and it is not possible or practical to
incorporate all relevant data into such technologies. The output or results of AI may be incomplete,
erroneous, distorted, or misleading. Further, AI may lack transparency as to how data is utilized and how
outputs are generated. AI may also allow the unintended introduction of vulnerabilities into infrastructures
and applications. An account could be negatively impacted as a result of these risks. AI and its current and
potential future applications, and the regulatory frameworks within which it operates, continue to quickly
evolve, and it is impossible to anticipate the full scope of future AI capabilities or rules and the associated
risks to an account. Use of AI can also lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive
disadvantages. AI advancements could increase the foregoing risks, and competitors who adopt AI more
swiftly (or adopt different forms or types of AI) may gain a competitive advantage.
Market Risk. The market price of a security or other investment can increase or decrease, sometimes
suddenly and unpredictably. Investments can decline in value because of factors affecting markets
generally, such as real or perceived challenges to the economy, national or international political events, the
imposition of tariffs and/or trade restrictions, public health emergencies, such as the spread of infectious
illness or disease, natural disasters, changes in interest or currency rates, adverse changes to credit
markets, or general adverse investment sentiment. In recent years, developments such as sweeping
changes in U.S. trade and tariff policy, expectations of increased fiscal spending across major economies,
and global central bank responses to inflation trends, may present risks to markets and an account’s
investments, including but not limited to changes in interest rates, currency valuations, and risk premia. The
U.S. government’s inability at times to agree on a long-term budget and deficit reduction plan, has in the
past resulted, and could in the future result, in a government shutdown, which could have an adverse effect
on an account’s investments and operations. Additional and/or prolonged government shutdowns, as well
as other government policies, actions and announcements, may affect investor and consumer confidence
and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy, perhaps suddenly and to a significant
degree. The prices of investments may reflect factors affecting one or more industries, such as the price of
specific commodities or consumer trends, or factors affecting particular issuers. During a general downturn
in the markets, multiple asset classes can decline in value simultaneously. Market disruptions can prevent
Dodge & Cox from implementing investment decisions in a timely manner. Although it is not a principal
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investment strategy of any account to focus on a specific sector, Dodge & Cox’s research-oriented, bottom-
up approach towards security selection may at times result in significant exposure in an account to one or
more sectors, such as financials or health care. To the extent that an account has significant exposure to a
particular sector, its value may fluctuate in response to events disproportionately affecting that sector.
Examples of such events include, but are not limited to, changes in economic or business conditions, new
government regulations, and the availability of basic resources or supplies. Many countries have
experienced outbreaks of infectious illnesses in recent decades, including most recently, COVID-19. The
effects of infectious illnesses have in the past and, may in the future, adversely affect the global economy,
financial markets and the economies of certain nations and individual issuers, any of which may negatively
impact an account and its holdings. U.S. and global markets have experienced volatility, including as a result
of failures of certain U.S. and non-U.S. banks, which could be harmful to an account and issuers in which it
invests. For example, if an account’s custodian or a bank at which a securities issuer has an account fails,
any cash or other assets in bank or custody accounts, which may be substantial in size, could be temporarily
inaccessible or permanently lost. If a bank that provides a subscription line credit facility, asset-based
facility, other credit facility and/or other services to an issuer fails, the issuer could be unable to draw funds
under its credit facilities or obtain replacement credit facilities or other services from other lending
institutions with similar terms.
Mortgage and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject
to various risks, including prepayment risk, extension risk, interest rate risk, and credit risk. Prepayment risk
is the risk that principal will be repaid earlier than expected, which means the security will pay less interest
over its life. An account may have to reinvest early repayments of principal in securities that bear a lower rate
of interest or more credit risk. Prepayments are more likely at times when interest rates decline. Extension
risk is the risk that principal will be repaid later than expected, which delays the return of principal to an
account and could prevent an account from investing in securities that bear a higher rate of interest or less
credit risk. Delayed repayment of principal can increase the duration and volatility of a security. Extension
risk is more likely at times when interest rates rise. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can be
highly sensitive to rising interest rates, such that even small movements can cause a security to lose value.
Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to credit risk as described above. Credit risk is
greater for mortgage- and other asset-backed securities that are not directly or indirectly guaranteed by a
U.S. government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) (such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Home Loan
Banks, and the Federal Farm Credit Banks). However, GSEs are not guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and in
the event that a GSE cannot meet its obligations, there can be no assurance that the U.S. government will
provide support. Certain purchases of agency or GSE-guaranteed mortgage-backed securities are forward
transactions (called “to-be-announced” or “TBA” transactions) that can settle a month or more after the
trade date. If the counterparty to a TBA transaction does not perform its obligation to deliver the specified
mortgage-backed securities, an account could be required to replace those securities at a higher price.
Municipal Bond Risk. Like other bonds, municipal bonds are subject to credit risk, interest rate risk,
liquidity risk, and call risk. However, the obligations of some municipal issuers may not be enforceable
through the exercise of traditional creditors’ rights. The reorganization under federal bankruptcy laws of a
municipal bond issuer could result in the bonds being cancelled without payment or repaid only in part or in
delays in collecting principal and interest. Lawmakers may seek to extend the time for payment of principal
or interest, or both, or to impose other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. State or federal
regulation with respect to a specific sector could impact the revenue stream for a given subset of the market.
Municipal bonds can have lower overall liquidity than other types of bonds, and there may be less publicly
available and timely information about the financial condition of municipal issuers than for issuers of other
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securities. Therefore, the investment performance of an account investing in municipal bonds could be more
dependent on the analytical abilities of Dodge & Cox than if an account held other types of investments, such
as stocks or taxable bonds. The market for municipal bonds also tends to be less well-developed or liquid
than many other securities markets, which could adversely affect the ability to value municipal bonds or sell
such bonds at attractive prices.
Some municipal bonds are tax-exempt, which means that income from those bonds is non-taxable. A
significant restructuring of U.S. federal income tax rates or even serious discussion on the topic in Congress
could cause municipal bond prices to fall. The demand for tax-exempt municipal bonds is strongly
influenced by the value of tax-exempt income to investors. Lower income tax rates could reduce the
advantage of owning tax-exempt municipal bonds.
Non-U.S. Currency Risk. Non-U.S. currencies can decline relative to the U.S. dollar and affect an account’s
investments in non-U.S. currencies, in securities that are denominated in non-U.S. currencies, and in
securities of issuers that are exposed to non-U.S. currencies or in derivatives that provide exposure to non-
U.S. currencies. When a given currency depreciates against the U.S. dollar, the value of securities
denominated in that currency typically declines. A U.S. dollar-denominated depositary receipt is exposed to
currency risk if the security underlying it is denominated in a non-U.S. currency. Currency depreciation can
affect the value of U.S. securities if their issuers have exposure to non-U.S. currencies and non-U.S. issuers
may similarly be exposed to currencies other than those in which their securities are denominated and the
country in which they are subject to risk or domiciled. Dodge & Cox may not be able to accurately estimate
an issuer’s non-U.S. currency exposure and may not hedge or be successful in hedging an account’s
currency exposure. Hedging against currency-related losses may limit an account’s potential to benefit from
currency-related gains. An account engaged in currency hedging will bear transactions costs related to the
hedging transactions.
Non-U.S. Investment Risk. Non-U.S. securities (including ADRs and other securities that represent
interests in non-U.S. issuers’ securities) involve some special risks such as exposure to potentially adverse
foreign political and economic developments; market instability; nationalization and exchange controls;
potentially lower liquidity and higher volatility; harder to value; possible problems arising from accounting,
disclosure, settlement, and regulatory practices that differ from U.S. standards; foreign taxes that could
reduce returns; higher transaction costs and foreign brokerage and custodian fees; inability to vote proxies,
exercise shareholder or bondholder rights, pursue legal remedies, and obtain judgments with respect to
foreign investments in foreign courts; possible insolvency of, or lack of adequate protection by, a sub-
custodian or securities depository; and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates that decrease the
investment’s value (although favorable changes can increase its value). Issuers of depositary receipts may
discontinue issuing new depositary receipts and withdraw existing depositary receipts at any time, which
may result in costs and delays in the distribution of the underlying assets to an account and may negatively
impact an account’s performance. Non-U.S. stock markets can decline due to conditions unique to an
individual country or within a region, including unfavorable economic conditions relative to the United States
or political and social instability or unrest. Non-U.S. investments may become subject to economic
sanctions or other government restrictions by domestic or foreign regulators, which could negatively impact
the value or liquidity of those investments. There may be increased risk of delayed settlement of portfolio
transactions or loss of certificates of portfolio securities. An account’s non-U.S. securities and cash will
generally be held in foreign banks and securities depositories, which may be recently organized or new to
the foreign custody business and may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.
Governments in certain foreign countries participate to a significant degree, through ownership or
regulation, in their respective economies. Action by such a government could have a significant effect on the
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market price of securities issued in its country. These risks can be higher when investing in emerging market
issuers. Certain of these risks also apply to securities of U.S. issuers with significant non-U.S. operations.
Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the
possibilities that conditions in one country or region will adversely affect issuers in a different country or
region.
Regulatory Risk. New laws and regulations promulgated by governments and regulatory authorities can
affect the value and the liquidity of securities issued by specific companies, in specific industries or sectors,
or in all securities issued in an affected country. In times of political or economic stress or market turmoil,
governments and regulators may intervene directly in markets and take actions that adversely affect certain
industries, securities, or specific companies. Government and/or regulatory intervention can reduce the
value of debt and equity securities issued by affected companies and can also severely limit the ability to
trade those securities.
Sovereign and Government-Related Debt Risk. Sovereign debt includes investments in securities issued
or guaranteed by a sovereign government or its agencies, authorities, or political subdivisions. An
investment in sovereign or other government-related debt involves risk, including special risks not present
in other types of debt obligations. The issuer of the sovereign debt or the governmental authorities that
control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or interest when due. This
may result from political or social factors, the general economic environment of a country, or levels of foreign
debt or foreign currency exchange rates. Holders of sovereign or other government-related debt may be
asked to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental or
government-related entities. To the extent an account invests in sovereign or other government-related
debt, it will be exposed to the direct or indirect consequences of political, social, and economic changes in
various countries, as well as to changes in local tax, insolvency, or other regulatory regimes. An account may
have limited legal recourse in the event of a default with respect to certain sovereign debt obligations. For
example, bankruptcy, moratorium, and other similar laws applicable to issuers of sovereign debt can be
substantially different from those applicable to corporate debt issuers.
With respect to inflation-linked debt securities, there can be no assurance that an inflation index will
accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. In addition, there can be no
assurance that the rate of inflation in a non-U.S. country will be correlated with the rate of inflation in the
United States. While inflation-linked bonds are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends,
short-term increases in inflation may have an adverse effect on the value of those securities. If interest rates
rise, investors in inflation-linked bonds may still suffer losses. Repayment of the originally issued principal
amount of certain inflation-linked bonds upon maturity is guaranteed by the issuer; however, the current
market value of the bonds is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. To the extent an account invests in other
inflation-linked debt securities that do not provide a similar guarantee, the bond repaid at maturity may be
less than the original principal.
• To-Be-Announced (“TBA”) Transaction Risk. TBA mortgage securities transactions involve an agreement
under which a buyer agreed to purchase a pool of mortgage-backed securities for a fixed price with payment
and delivery at a scheduled future date. During the settlement period of a TBA transaction, the buyer is at
risk for any decline in the value of the securities to be delivered, which the seller is at risk that the value of
the securities may increase. If the difference in the value of a TBA transaction as compared to its value as of
the date on which it was purchased is large enough, the buyer or seller may be required to deliver margin to
its counterparty, which can increase an account’s cash needs and create additional operational risk. In order
21
to maintain TBA exposure past a transaction’s scheduled settlement date, a buyer must “roll” the
transaction by settling its original position and simultaneously entering into a similar transaction with a later
settlement date, which creates transaction costs.
Please also refer to Types and Risks of Equity Investments on p. 24 and Types and Risks of Fixed Income
Investments on p. 25 for additional risk information. The Dodge & Cox Funds prospectus and statement of
additional information contain further information about these and other risks.
In addition to the risks described above that primarily relate to the value of investments, there are various
operational and systems risks involved in investing, including but not limited to cybersecurity risk. As the use of
technology and frequency of cyber-attacks in the market has become more prevalent, Dodge & Cox and the client
accounts we manage have become potentially more susceptible to operational and information security risks
resulting from breaches in cybersecurity that could lead to financial losses. A breach in cybersecurity refers to both
intentional and unintentional events that could, among other things, cause Dodge & Cox to lose proprietary
information, suffer data corruption and/or destruction, lose operational capacity, or otherwise disrupt normal
business operations. This in turn could cause Dodge & Cox and/or a client account to incur regulatory penalties,
reputational damage, and/or financial loss. Additional costs could be associated with corrective measures, and/or
cybersecurity risk management. A cybersecurity breach could also result in a third party obtaining unauthorized
access to Dodge & Cox clients’ information, including social security numbers, addresses, account numbers,
account balances, and account holdings. Cybersecurity breaches can involve unauthorized access to digital
information systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding), and can also result from outside attacks
such as denial-of-service attacks (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). In addition,
cybersecurity breaches involving third-party service providers (e.g., an account’s custodian), trading counterparties,
or issuers of securities in which an account invests can subject an account to many of the same risks associated with
direct cybersecurity breaches. Moreover, cybersecurity breaches involving trading counterparties or issuers in
which an account invests could adversely impact such counterparties or issuers and cause an account to lose value.
Although Dodge & Cox has established business continuity plans and risk management systems designed to reduce
the risks associated with cybersecurity threats, there are inherent limitations in these plans and systems, including
that certain risks may not have been identified, in large part because different or unknown threats may emerge in the
future. As such, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because Dodge & Cox does not
control the cybersecurity systems of issuers in which an account may invest, trading counterparties, or third-party
service providers. There is also a risk that cybersecurity breaches will not be detected. There can be no assurance
that a client account will not suffer losses relating to cyber-attacks on Dodge & Cox, one of its service providers, or
an account’s service providers.
Investment Committee Structure
Our investment process is team-based and typically consists of three primary phases:
Idea generation and in-depth research;
Sector committee review, vetting, and advocacy; and
Investment committee review and approval or denial.
The duration of each phase may vary with each investment under consideration.
We generally purchase securities only when (i) our analysis shows that they offer attractive relative value and
long-term total return potential and (ii) we have the opportunity to establish our desired position in the securities at
attractive valuations. If both criteria are met and the investment idea is approved, it is implemented across eligible
portfolios on an equitable basis in accordance with our allocation policies and procedures.
22
After selecting investments, we monitor portfolio holdings on an ongoing basis. Securities are generally sold
when our analysis suggests that we are no longer being sufficiently compensated for a security’s risks, or the
risk/reward profile of another investment is more compelling, or when a sale is mandated by a change in the needs
or objectives of the client. As is the case with purchase decisions, a decision to sell an existing holding (other than at
a client’s direction) generally goes through an extensive review process.
Dodge & Cox has the following investment committees, each consisting of a group of senior investment
professionals: the U.S. Equity Investment Committee, the International Equity Investment Committee, the Global
Equity Investment Committee, the Emerging Markets Equity Investment Committee, the U.S. Fixed Income
Investment Committee, the Balanced Fund Investment Committee, the Global Fixed Income Investment Committee,
and the Private Client Investment Committee. A brief description of each committee follows. Information about
committee members is contained in the Dodge & Cox Brochure Supplement, which is available upon request from
Dodge & Cox.
Dodge & Cox requires that all staff involved in determining or giving investment advice to clients have, either
through educational or work experience, a thorough knowledge of investment management. While there are no
specific educational requirements, most investment professionals at Dodge & Cox have advanced degrees and hold
the CFA® designation.
The U.S. Equity Investment Committee (“USEIC”) is the investment management decision-making body
responsible for domestic equity portfolios, including institutional separate accounts, the Dodge & Cox Stock Fund,
and the Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds plc – U.S. Stock Fund. In addition, the USEIC—together with the USFIIC
described below—is also responsible for asset allocation and portfolio management decisions for institutional
balanced separate accounts.
The International Equity Investment Committee (“IEIC”) is the investment management decision-making body
responsible for international equity portfolios, including institutional separate accounts and the Dodge & Cox
International Stock Fund.
The Global Equity Investment Committee (“GEIC”) is the investment management decision-making body
responsible for global equity portfolios, including institutional separate accounts, the Dodge & Cox Global Stock
Fund and Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds plc – Global Stock Fund.
The Emerging Markets Equity Investment Committee (“EMEIC”) is the investment management decision-
making body responsible for emerging markets equity portfolios, including the Dodge & Cox Emerging Markets
Stock Fund and Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds plc – Emerging Markets Stock Fund.
The U.S. Fixed Income Investment Committee (“USFIIC”) is the investment management decision-making body
responsible for domestic fixed income portfolios, including institutional separate accounts, and the Dodge & Cox
Income Fund. In addition, the USFIIC—together with the USEIIC—is also responsible for asset allocation and
portfolio management decisions for institutional balanced separate accounts. As part of its mandate to set and
review U.S. fixed income strategy, USFIIC responsibilities include setting portfolio targets for securities, issuers, and
sectors, setting target duration ranges for institutional fixed income and balanced separate accounts, and approving
all new types of debt securities.
The Balanced Fund Investment Committee (“BFIC”) is the investment management decision-making body
responsible for the Dodge & Cox Balanced Fund.
The Global Fixed Income Investment Committee (“GFIIC”) is the investment management decision-making
body responsible for the Dodge & Cox Global Bond Fund and the Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds plc – Global Bond
Fund.
Each of these committees meets regularly to (i) set and review investment strategy; (ii) review and approve
sector committee recommendations for additions to or deletions from the applicable buy list and source of funds
list; and (iii) oversee the implementation of investment strategy.
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The Private Client Investment Committee (“PCIC”) is the investment management decision-making body for
separately managed accounts within the Private Client Group and is responsible for making buy and sell decisions
with respect to equity securities, overseeing portfolio diversification, and reviewing fixed income and equity
allocations for private client balanced accounts, as well as managing a model portfolio based on their domestic
equity strategy. The PCIC meets regularly to discuss issues and strategies specific to individual private client
accounts. The PCIC consults on specific investments with the applicable investment committees, as well as
members of the fixed income department who focus on municipal bonds.
The investment management decision-making committees are supported by sector committees that consider
and vet investment ideas before they are proposed to the relevant investment committee(s). Sector committee heads
may participate in investment committee discussions with respect to proposed investments within their committees’
coverage areas and, in some cases, may be invited to participate in voting as to whether or not to add such
investments to accounts managed by that investment committee. The investment committees are also supported
by investment professionals focused on macroeconomic issues and quantitative risk analysis. Multiple investment
committees may sometimes consider investing in the same security, but each committee makes an independent
investment decision for the strategy over which it has responsibility. The investment committees may establish
different portfolio weightings and price limits when buying (or selling) a security. Each committee considers
numerous factors in selecting a particular issuer or security, including, but not limited to, cash inflows; redemption
or withdrawal requests; liquidity needs; diversification by country, region, sector or industry; availability; ownership
limitations; and the ability to establish a material position or place a material trade.
Equity Investing
Individual company research drives the selection of stocks for the equity portfolios we manage. Our independent
and bottom-up research process is critical to forming a well-founded thesis for each of our investments. Our team
of global research analysts, organized by industry, conducts detailed primary research, supplemented by third party
research and, in some cases, financial models, which provides us the necessary perspective about industry
dynamics to assess company fundamentals and compare valuations. Our long-term horizon enables us to focus our
research efforts on the factors—such as franchise strength, competitive dynamics, growth opportunities, and
management quality—that we believe ultimately determine business success. We make a conscious effort to
maintain representation in most major economic sectors and to avoid concentrating a portfolio in any one industry.
A strong price discipline is also an essential characteristic of our investment strategy.
The consistency of our team and long tenure of our investment professionals has allowed Dodge & Cox to build
and retain deep institutional knowledge of the industries in which we invest. All investment decisions are based on
the judgment and analysis of our team of investment professionals, not on outside recommendations. We encourage
regular and frequent interaction among our analysts and investment committee members (many of whom maintain
significant research responsibilities) to obtain feedback and suggestions for additional due diligence, and to
leverage the perspectives and experience of our entire investment team. We believe the collegial environment
fostered by having close interaction among our investment professionals is key to the development of our research
capabilities and the implementation of a consistent investment philosophy. To gain a broader perspective and test
their investment ideas, research analysts may also solicit feedback from and engage in investment-related
discussions with investment professionals outside the firm.
Types and Risks of Equity Investments
Equity investments for separate accounts are primarily made in a company’s common stocks that are exchange
listed. Investments may also be made in, but are not limited to, preferred stock, publicly traded REITs, mutual fund
shares, depositary receipts, and securities traded over-the-counter. Of the principal investment risks described
above, equity investments are generally subject to Equity Risk, Liquidity Risk, Manager Risk, Market Risk, and, where
24
applicable, China Investment Risk, Emerging Markets Risk, Hybrid Securities Risk, Non-U.S. Currency Risk, Non-
U.S. Investment Risk, and Regulatory Risk.
Fixed Income Investing
Security selection, asset allocation and duration/yield curve positioning are all important drivers of return and risk
for fixed income portfolios. Our fixed income investment team members are organized by bond market sector --
credit, securitized, and rates/macro -- and conduct bottom-up, independent research, while leveraging third party
resources. Valuation discipline and a long-term investment time horizon are important parts of our strategy. For
credit research, we leverage Dodge & Cox’s experienced and integrated team of global research analysts. Our
analysis focuses on issuer fundamentals, with a particular emphasis on downside outcomes, terms and structural
features of securities, and our perception of security valuation relative to the risk assumed as well as the
opportunities offered by alternative investments.
As investment ideas are considered by our sector and investment committees, assumptions are scrutinized and
debated, and prospective investment returns are analyzed over a broad range of interest rate, spread, and (if
applicable) prepayment environments. Market factors, such as liquidity and ease of execution, for particular ideas
are also considered. Security and portfolio-level risk analysis are also important parts of our process. We seek to
build portfolios that are diversified across many dimensions and not tightly tied to a single economic theme or
outcome.
Types and Risks of Fixed Income Investments
Fixed income investments are primarily made in U.S. government securities, corporate securities, mortgage-backed
securities, municipal bonds, and asset-backed securities (including re-securitizations). Dodge & Cox also invests
client assets in both U.S. dollar-denominated and non-U.S. currency denominated debt instruments across all
sectors, consistent with the client’s investment guidelines. Other fixed income securities in which we may invest
include, but are not limited to, sovereign debt including securities issued or guaranteed by a sovereign government
or its agencies, authorities, or political subdivisions, government-related debt including securities issued by non-
U.S. regional or local governmental entities or government-controlled entities, commercial paper; certificates of
deposit; repurchase agreements; convertible securities; hybrid securities; debt securities issued by publicly traded
partnerships; when-issued, forward-commitment, or delayed-delivery securities; collateralized loan obligations
(CLOs); index credit default swaps; exchange-traded funds; and U.S. Treasury futures. Of the principal investment
risks described above, fixed income investments are generally subject to Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Liquidity
Risk, Manager Risk, and, where applicable, Below Investment-Grade Securities Risk, Call Risk, Counterparty Risk,
Derivatives Risk, Emerging Markets Risk, Exchange-Traded Funds Risk, Hybrid Securities Risk, Mortgage- and
Asset-Backed Securities Risk, Municipal Bond Risk, Non-U.S. Currency Risk, Non-U.S. Investment Risk, Regulatory
Risk, Sovereign and Government-Related Debt Risk, and TBA Transaction Risk.
25
Disciplinary Information
Not applicable.
26
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Material Relationships with Related Financial Industry Firms
Dodge & Cox is the investment manager and administrator of each of the Dodge & Cox Funds. Dodge & Cox acts as
the Valuation Designee of the Dodge & Cox Funds to perform fair value determinations of Dodge & Cox Fund
investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Each Dodge & Cox Fund is registered as an open-
end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The investment advisory fee
paid to Dodge & Cox by each Fund varies and the administrative and shareholder services fee paid to Dodge & Cox
by each share class varies, each as described in the Funds’ current prospectus.
Dodge & Cox also serves as investment manager of Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds plc, an investment company
authorized and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland pursuant to the European Communities (Undertakings for
Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations, 2011, as amended. The management fee paid by each
Fund varies as described in the Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds’ current prospectus.
Please see Recommendation of Dodge & Cox-Advised Funds on p. 29 for a discussion of the potential
conflicts of interest that exist when a separate account managed by Dodge & Cox invests in one or more Dodge &
Cox advised funds.
Foreside Fund Services, LLC (“Foreside”), serves as the principal underwriter for the Dodge & Cox Funds.
Certain Dodge & Cox employees are registered representatives of Foreside. Foreside supervises these registered
representatives in connection with their activities related to the sales of shares of the Dodge & Cox Funds. Foreside
is not affiliated with Dodge & Cox. No commissions are paid to registered representatives for any transactions
involving the Dodge & Cox Funds.
Dodge & Cox has a UK subsidiary—Dodge & Cox Worldwide Investments Ltd.—that is registered with the UK
Financial Conduct Authority and acts as the distributor of Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds. Dodge & Cox also controls
and is the indirect 100% owner of Dodge & Cox (Europe) GmbH (“DC-EU”), a limited liability company established
in Germany and licensed by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority for the purpose of marketing and
acting as the sub-distributor of the Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds in European Union member countries. Dodge &
Cox also controls and is the indirect 100% owner of Dodge & Cox Investment Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“DC-
CN”), a limited liability company established in Shanghai under the laws of the People’s Republic of China that
prepares research and analysis of companies located in China and other Asian countries for Dodge & Cox’s use.
Both DC-EU and DC-CN are wholly owned subsidiaries of Dodge & Cox Worldwide Investments, Ltd., which in turn
is wholly owned by Dodge & Cox. We do not believe that these arrangements create any material conflict of interest
with Dodge & Cox clients.
Other Arrangements with Unaffiliated Service Providers
Dodge & Cox has entered into a number of service agreements with unaffiliated defined contribution employee
benefit plan service providers and recordkeepers (e.g., recordkeepers of 401(k) plans) pursuant to which Dodge &
Cox pays an administrative fee out of its own assets to the service providers/recordkeepers for certain recordkeeping
and/or administrative services intended to facilitate the investment of employee benefit plan participants’ assets in
the Class I shares of certain of the Dodge & Cox Funds and the maintenance of participants’ accounts. Dodge & Cox
does not promote the services of any recordkeepers to investors or prospective investors in the Dodge & Cox Funds,
and we do not believe that these arrangements create any material conflict of interest with Dodge & Cox clients. For
the Class I shares of the Dodge & Cox Stock Fund, Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund, Dodge & Cox Global
Stock Fund, and Dodge & Cox Balanced Fund, Dodge & Cox pays an annual administrative fee of up to 0.10% of the
market value of the plan’s account; for the Class I shares of the Dodge & Cox Income Fund and the Dodge & Cox
Global Bond Fund, Dodge & Cox pays an annual administrative fee of up to 0.08%. Please see “Payments to Financial
Intermediaries” in the Dodge & Cox Funds’ prospectus for further information.
27
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions,
and Personal Trading
Code of Ethics
Dodge & Cox has adopted the Dodge & Cox Group Code of Ethics (the “Code”) pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. A copy of the Code
is available to clients and prospective clients upon request.
Personal securities transactions by employees of Dodge & Cox and certain other persons designated in the
Code (collectively, “employees”) are subject to the restrictions and procedures described in the Code. The Code
encourages employees to manage their personal investments in a manner that does not distract the employee from
his or her professional responsibilities. The Code requires Dodge & Cox employees to pre-clear all transactions in
securities, unless specifically exempted. Subject to certain exceptions, the Code also prohibits employees from
engaging in short-term trading (e.g., purchase and sale (or the sale and subsequent repurchase) of the same (or
equivalent) security within sixty (60) calendar days) . Employees are permitted to invest in securities held by client
accounts managed by Dodge & Cox to the extent that those employees comply with the Code. It is possible that an
employee’s investments and/or transactions will be different from or be inconsistent with Dodge & Cox’s
recommendations to clients. Dodge & Cox’s compliance team regularly reviews reports of personal securities
transactions to determine compliance with the Code.
Dodge & Cox has a policy prohibiting insider trading, which was adopted in accordance with Section 204A of the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The policy establishes procedures designed to prevent the misuse of material
nonpublic information by Dodge & Cox and its employees. From time to time, Dodge & Cox and its employees may
come into possession of material non-public information that, if disclosed, might affect an investor’s decision to buy,
sell, or hold a security. Under applicable law, Dodge & Cox and its directors, officers, and employees are prohibited
from trading on such information for their personal benefit or for the benefit of any other person, regardless of whether
such other person is a client of Dodge & Cox. Should Dodge & Cox or any of its employees come into possession of
material nonpublic information with respect to any company, they are prohibited from communicating such
information to, or entering into securities transactions based on such information for the benefit of, their respective
clients. Dodge & Cox and its employees will have no responsibility or liability for failing to disclose material nonpublic
information to, or use such information for the benefit of, their respective clients.
From time to time, Dodge & Cox employees receive gifts and/or entertainment in connection with their
employment at or work with Dodge & Cox. To reduce the potential for conflict between an employee’s personal
interests and the interests of Dodge & Cox clients, Dodge & Cox has a gifts and entertainment policy in its Code
based on the principle that employees should not accept or solicit anything of value that is intended or designed to
cause, or would reasonably be judged to have the likely effect of causing, such employee to act in a manner that is
inconsistent with the best interest of Dodge & Cox clients.
Under the policy, any employee who receives a gift of more than a nominal value (as defined in the Code) in
connection with the employee’s work with Dodge & Cox is not permitted to retain the gift. The policy also prohibits an
employee from accepting any lavish or extensive business entertainment from any broker/dealer, consultant, bank,
corporation, or supplier of goods or services to Dodge & Cox or client accounts. From time to time, employees are
offered complimentary tickets to sporting and other events. Complimentary tickets and business entertainment that
do not constitute “lavish or extensive” business entertainment may be accepted in certain circumstances and,
depending on the amount, subject to pre-clearance as described in the Code.
In addition, the Code restricts outside business activities that may create conflicts of interest.
28
Recommendation of Dodge & Cox-Advised Funds
In some cases, Dodge & Cox may deem it appropriate to invest all or a portion of a U.S. client’s separate account
assets into one or more of the Dodge & Cox Funds (each a “Fund”). This may occur when, for example, a Fund
provides an efficient or cost-effective way to diversify an account (including based on the size of the account), or
when we offer a particular strategy only through a Fund. Assets of separate accounts invested in a Fund are not
subject to the advisory fee otherwise applicable to the account; however, those assets are subject to the Fund fees,
expenses and charges applicable to shareholders in the Fund, as set forth in the Fund’s current prospectus. Under
some circumstances, the management fee rate paid by a Dodge & Cox Fund to Dodge & Cox will be higher than the
management fee rate payable to Dodge & Cox with respect to the separate account. As a result, depending on the
size of the account and the specific Dodge & Cox Fund or Funds, the aggregate fees paid to Dodge & Cox, either
directly or indirectly, could be higher than if Dodge & Cox were to invest the account directly in other securities or in
funds not managed by Dodge & Cox. Accordingly, Dodge & Cox has a conflict of interest when recommending
investments in a Fund rather than direct investments in individual securities or investments in unaffiliated mutual
funds, particularly where an unaffiliated mutual fund could be viewed as having a similar investment objective or
strategy, lower fees, and/or higher performance relative to the Dodge & Cox Fund. Dodge & Cox will invest separate
account assets in a Fund only where permitted by the account guidelines and consistent with the client’s objectives.
Personal Trading
Dodge & Cox will from time to time recommend for its clients various securities that are also owned by Dodge & Cox
or its employees, or their immediate family members. Dodge & Cox is not obligated to purchase or sell or to
recommend for purchase or sale for any client any security that Dodge & Cox or its employees, or their immediate
family members, purchase or sell for their own account(s) or for the account of any other client. Dodge & Cox may
give advice and take action with respect to any of its clients or for its own account that differs from or is inconsistent
with the timing or nature of action(s) taken for other clients. Transactions in a specific security may not be
recommended or effected for all client accounts for which such transaction will be recommended or effected at the
same time or at the same price. Dodge & Cox generally purchases short-term debt securities for its own account
and may also engage in proprietary trading of other types of securities in connection with expanding its research and
investment capabilities and testing new investment strategies. Dodge & Cox also maintains a Profit Sharing Plan
and Trust for employees that is invested at plan participants’ discretion in the Dodge & Cox Funds and other
investment companies that are not affiliated with Dodge & Cox.
Dodge & Cox employees and their immediate family members may invest in the same securities that Dodge &
Cox recommends to clients to the extent permitted under the Code. The Code requires pre-clearance of personal
securities transactions, subject to limited exceptions, and seeks to prevent insider trading and other types of
prohibited transactions and improper trading behavior and avoid or minimize conflicts of interest by restricting the
type and timing of employee trades.
Other Potential Conflicts
While Dodge & Cox’s Code of Ethics and compliance program are designed to address the types of conflicts
described herein, they may not address, minimize, or detect every situation where a conflict of interest may arise.
Potential conflicts of interest can arise in connection with investment committee members’ management of multiple
accounts, including potential conflicts of interest related to the knowledge and timing of trades, investment
opportunities, broker-dealer selection, and investments. Investment committee members and research analysts are
at times aware of the size, timing, and possible market impact of the firm’s trades. It is possible that investment
committee members could use this information to benefit themselves and the accounts they manage, or to favor
some accounts with higher investment management fees, to the potential detriment of other Dodge & Cox accounts.
It is possible that an investment opportunity may be suitable for accounts managed by investment committee
29
members or a Dodge & Cox proprietary account but may not be available in sufficient quantities for other accounts
to participate fully. Similarly, there may be limited opportunities to sell an investment held by multiple accounts.
Some investment committee members and client portfolio managers oversee separate accounts of friends and/or
relatives, which could provide an incentive to favor those accounts over others. Research analysts are sometimes
invited to dinners and events with company management in conjunction with performing their research
responsibilities, which could provide an incentive to favor those companies over other investments. As noted above,
acceptance of gifts and entertainment is subject to the restrictions in the Code.
Conflicts of interest can also arise in cases where Dodge & Cox makes new investments in an issuer in which
one or more other Dodge & Cox accounts are expected to invest or in which one or more other Dodge & Cox accounts
hold existing interests, or invests in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure for clients with different strategies,
such as when one client owns debt obligations of an issuer and another client owns equity in the same issuer. For
example, if an issuer in which different clients own different classes of securities encounters financial problems,
decisions over the terms of any workout will raise conflicts of interests (such as conflicts over proposed waivers and
amendments to debt covenants). A debt holder could be better served by a liquidation of the issuer in which it may
be paid in full, whereas an equity holder might prefer a reorganization that holds the potential to create value for the
equity holders. Similar conflicts of interest can arise from the decision whether to make or exit an investment, the
terms on which the investment is made, proxy voting and other corporate actions (such as reorganizations, exchange
offers, conversion privileges or restructurings) taken on behalf of client accounts, and such decisions can differ
between client accounts for various reasons, including operational complexity, account guidelines, and/or account
authorizations.
Conflicts of interest may arise in connection with Dodge & Cox’s provision of a model portfolio that includes
securities or other investments in which Dodge & Cox clients invest, for example if a manager using the model
portfolio is buying or selling investments at or near the time Dodge & Cox is buying or selling the same investments
for its clients. To mitigate this conflict, the model portfolio is generally updated after Dodge & Cox has completed its
trading activities with respect to the related investment decision on behalf of Private Client Group accounts for which
Dodge & Cox has full brokerage discretion and that have standard account guidelines and no additional constraints
to be considered.
Although in some cases Dodge & Cox will refrain from taking certain actions or making investments on behalf of
certain clients because of these conflicts of interest (potentially disadvantaging other clients who might have
benefitted from an action or investment), in other cases Dodge & Cox will take certain actions or make investments
on behalf of some clients that have the potential to disadvantage other clients. Any of the foregoing conflicts of
interest will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Any review will take into consideration the interests of the relevant
clients, the circumstances giving rise to the conflict, and applicable laws. Clients (and investors in Dodge & Cox-
advised funds) should be aware that conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of their interests. Dodge & Cox
will attempt to resolve such matters fairly, but even fair resolution could favor certain clients, including Dodge & Cox-
advised funds, that pay Dodge & Cox higher fees. It is possible that an actual or potential conflict of interest could
result in a particular client or group of clients receiving less favorable investment terms in certain investments than
if such conflicts of interest did not exist.
30
Brokerage Practices
Factors Considered in Selecting or Recommending Broker-Dealers for Client Transactions and
Determining the Reasonableness of their Compensation
General
When given full brokerage discretion, Dodge & Cox’s objective in effecting portfolio transactions in securities and
derivatives is to seek best execution with respect to portfolio transactions. In deciding which broker, counterparty,
or trading venue should be used for a particular transaction, the determinative factor is not simply quantitative, e.g.,
the lowest possible transaction cost, but also whether the transaction represents the best qualitative execution given
relevant facts and circumstances. We believe that the selection and monitoring of the broker-dealers through which
we execute client transactions is critical to achieving the best results for our clients. In selecting broker-dealers,
counterparties, and venues, Dodge & Cox will consider and weigh multiple factors believed relevant to seeking best
execution.
In addition to placing and executing orders through traditional broker-dealers, Dodge & Cox uses electronic
trading platforms to seek best execution. Algorithmic and liquidity seeking trading tools may be used, among other
reasons, to (i) minimize explicit and implicit execution costs, (ii) seek fragmented liquidity, (iii) preserve anonymity;
and (iv) enhance trade execution efficiency.
Dodge & Cox seeks to obtain best execution of clients’ trades through monitoring and managing the quality of
trade decisions. Because determining best execution involves qualitative judgments on a variety of factors, Dodge
& Cox does not use a single basis of measurement that can be applied to all trades. Rather, Dodge & Cox views best
execution as a process that should be evaluated over time as part of an overall relationship with a broker-dealer
rather than on a trade-by-trade basis. Therefore, we focus on establishing the appropriate level of oversight, checks
and balances, and documentation of best execution processes.
Equity Securities
Factors used to select broker-dealers and/or electronic trading venues to execute equity transactions include, but
are not limited to, our knowledge of negotiated commission rates; the nature of the security being traded; the size
and type of the transaction; research and brokerage services provided by the broker-dealer; the nature and character
of the markets for the security to be purchased or sold; the desired timing of the trade; the activity existing and
expected in the market for the particular security; confidentiality; the execution, clearance, and settlement
capabilities as well as the reputation and perceived operational/financial soundness of the broker-dealer; our
knowledge of actual or apparent operational problems of any broker-dealer; the broker-dealer’s historical
transaction and execution services; and the reasonableness of spreads or commissions. Dodge & Cox will also, at
times, use algorithmic trading wheels to select electronic brokers and evaluate their performance. From time to time,
Dodge & Cox may transact with a broker-dealer acting as a principal (i.e., a broker-dealer buying securities for its
own account or selling from its own inventory).
Dodge & Cox’s Equity Trade Execution Committee (which includes at least one member of the Dodge & Cox
Board of Directors, the Equity General Manager, the Head of Equity Trading, the Chief Compliance Officer, the
General Counsel, and others as deemed appropriate) assesses the quality of trade executions and/or soft dollar
policies and procedures. The Equity Trade Execution Committee meets at least once a year to review best execution
practices and strategies, trade execution activity and related costs, and the use of soft dollars and potential conflicts
of interest, including reasonableness of commissions paid to brokers providing research services, and use of
commission sharing agreements.
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Debt Securities
Dodge & Cox buys and sells debt securities through broker-dealers that make markets in the relevant securities or
security types as well as on various electronic trading venues. As trades in debt securities are typically executed on
a principal basis, the broker-dealers through whom we execute client trades generally do not charge explicit
commissions or commission equivalents (i.e., separately identifiable mark-ups and mark-downs) in such
transactions.
When effecting a debt securities transaction in the secondary market, Dodge & Cox generally will select broker-
dealers or electronic trading platforms deemed likely to provide best execution for the specific transaction based on
certain factors. These factors may include, but are not limited to, access to offerings; market familiarity; integrity
(ability to maintain confidentiality); history of competitive pricing; trade settlement capability; expertise; financial
condition (credit risk); and reliability and willingness to commit capital. Dodge & Cox may choose to trade debt
securities individually or as part of a group of different securities with a single broker-dealer (a “portfolio trade”).
While the goal of a portfolio trade is best execution for the group of securities in aggregate, it is possible that certain
securities within such a portfolio might be executed at better prices if traded individually.
There are many occasions when it is neither practical nor advisable to solicit bids or offers from multiple broker-
dealers. Such occasions include, but are not limited to, those where we (i) wish to participate in a primary (new)
offering of an issue and are limited to purchasing the securities from the specific underwriter(s) that have been given
the mandate to sell the securities by the issuer; (ii) seek to purchase or sell securities with very specific
characteristics and are limited in our selection of broker-dealers because there are few broker-dealers who are able
to offer such securities for purchase or are willing to buy them; or (iii) seek to minimize the market impact of a
transaction.
The Fixed Income and Derivatives Trade Execution Committee (consisting of fixed income traders, investment
team members, legal and compliance personnel, and others as deemed appropriate to the discussion of specific
issues) evaluates and approves Dodge & Cox’s fixed income and derivatives trading practices, policies and
procedures, and the broker-dealer selection and approval process for debt securities. The Committee meets
periodically to review and assess market developments, policies and procedures, and compliance testing, among
other topics.
Derivatives
Dodge & Cox may engage in derivative transactions that are traded through a central counterparty, such as a futures
exchange, or entered into subject to a negotiated agreement with a counterparty, including, but not limited to, swaps
and futures. Agreements governing the trading of derivatives must be in place prior to effecting any transaction. If
we are unable to negotiate acceptable terms with a counterparty or if we restrict ourselves from engaging certain
counterparties for an account, for example, based on our assessment of a counterparty’s creditworthiness and
financial stability at any given time, the universe of counterparties that we can choose from will be limited. The
standard for best execution may vary with the type of investment involved in a particular transaction.
Securities Denominated in Non-U.S. Currency —Restricted versus Unrestricted Currency Markets
Dodge & Cox’s ability to seek best execution in currency transactions will depend on whether a currency market is
deemed to be restricted or unrestricted. Non-U.S. currency exchange transactions may be conducted either by the
client’s custodian bank as part of the services offered to its custody clients, or by Dodge & Cox through a trading
counterparty. In some cases, a client may require that its custodian bank execute all currency exchange transactions
for its account; in addition, particular markets (or certain instruments in particular markets) may be restricted such
that exchange transactions in those currencies can only be executed by the client’s custodian bank (or sub-
custodian bank). With respect to non-U.S. dollar-denominated portfolio holdings in unrestricted currency markets,
Dodge & Cox will generally execute spot and forward currency transactions with counterparties on behalf of
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accounts provided that Dodge & Cox has agreed to perform such service and the client has given Dodge & Cox such
authority. By contrast, in restricted currency markets, or where a client has not granted Dodge & Cox such authority,
conversion of currencies into and out of the base currency of an account, and income repatriation generally, is the
responsibility of a client’s custodian. To the extent that a client’s custodian performs such transactions, Dodge &
Cox will not have the ability to control and will not supervise or assess the quality of those transactions. Whether a
currency market is considered to be restricted will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to,
country specific statutory documentation requirements, country specific structural risks, operational constraints,
requirements imposed by a client’s custodian, and convertibility issues. Dodge & Cox’s determination of a currency
market’s restricted or unrestricted status may change over time and may also differ depending on the type of
transaction.
Commission Rates or Equivalents Policy
Dodge & Cox strives to be aware of current commission rates or commission equivalents (collectively
“commissions”) of eligible broker-dealers and to minimize the expense incurred for effecting portfolio transactions
to the extent consistent with the interests and policies of our accounts. We negotiate commissions based upon:
the nature of the security being traded;
the size, complexity, and type of the transaction;
the nature and character of the markets for the security to be purchased or sold;
the activity existing and expected in the market for the particular security; and
the nature and quality of research and brokerage services provided.
Dodge & Cox does not select broker-dealers solely on the basis of purported or “posted” commissions, nor do we
always seek in advance competitive bidding for the most favorable commission applicable to any particular portfolio
transaction. Although we generally seek competitive commissions, we will not necessarily select a broker-dealer
based on the lowest commission charged in a given transaction, particularly when we believe that a broker-dealer
charging a higher commission offers greater liquidity or improved price or execution. Brokers, dealers and electronic
communications networks may be selected using an automated process based on a variety of factors including
execution quality and cost. We may also select a broker-dealer in recognition of research and/or brokerage services
provided or expected to be provided.
“Soft-Dollar” or Research/Execution Policy
Dodge & Cox receives research and brokerage services from certain broker-dealers with which we effect
transactions. The research services received may be produced by the broker-dealer effecting the trade (“proprietary
research”) or by a third party that is not involved in effecting the trade (“third party research”). Arrangements under
which products or services other than execution of securities transactions are obtained by an adviser from or through
a broker-dealer in exchange for the direction by the adviser of client brokerage transactions to the broker-dealer are
also known as “soft dollar” practices. All research and brokerage services knowingly acquired with soft dollars in
connection with broker-dealer relationships are required by Dodge & Cox policy to constitute eligible research and
brokerage services for purposes of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Research services received by Dodge & Cox include, without limitation, information on the economy, industries,
groups of securities, and individual companies; statistical information and databases; accounting and tax law
interpretations; political developments; legal and regulatory developments affecting portfolio securities; pricing and
appraisal services; industry consultants; issuer disclosure services; credit, risk measurement, and performance
analysis; and analysis of corporate responsibility issues. Research services can also include providing opportunities
to meet with company executives, which allows Dodge & Cox analysts to gather information about a specific
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company, industry, or sector and to directly evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of an issuer’s management
team.
When Dodge & Cox receives broker-dealer research services in connection with client brokerage commissions,
we receive a benefit because we do not have to produce or pay for the research services ourselves. As a result, we
have an incentive to select a broker-dealer based on our interest in receiving the research provided by that broker-
dealer rather than solely on clients’ interest in receiving the most favorable price and execution.
We believe that both the research and brokerage services provided by broker-dealers and the broker-dealers’
ability to achieve quality execution are important for, and assist us in fulfilling our overall responsibilities to, our
clients. The receipt of broker-dealer investment research and information and related services permits us to
supplement our own research and analysis and provides access to the views and information of individuals and
research staffs of other firms, including persons having special expertise on certain companies, industries, areas of
the economy, market factors, and other topics. Therefore, broker-dealers selected by Dodge & Cox may be paid
commissions for effecting transactions for our clients in excess of the amounts other broker-dealers would have
charged for effecting these transactions if we determine in good faith that such amounts are reasonable in relation
to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by those broker-dealers, viewed either in terms of a
particular transaction or our overall duty to our discretionary accounts. In addition, in connection with the purchase
of securities in certain fixed-price offerings, we may designate that a portion of the selling concession be paid to a
broker-dealer that provides research services to Dodge & Cox.
Research services acquired with soft dollars are subject to internal analysis before being incorporated into
Dodge & Cox’s investment process. Dodge & Cox research analysts periodically assess the quality of research
provided and evaluate broker-dealers based on the relevance, depth, and breadth of research coverage. While
research analysts occasionally suggest commission targets for particular broker-dealers, and broker-dealers
sometimes state in advance the amount of brokerage commissions they expect to receive for certain research or
brokerage services, Dodge & Cox traders are not required to meet any such targets. Dodge & Cox has not entered
into any written or unwritten agreements that would contractually obligate it to direct a specific amount of brokerage
transactions or commissions to any broker-dealer. While Dodge & Cox evaluates the quality and relative value of
broker-dealer services, we do not believe it is practicable to assign a specific cash (i.e., hard dollar) value to all of the
research or execution services received or to allocate the relative costs or benefits of those services among clients.
In certain circumstances we use brokerage commissions to acquire research and related services from third
party vendors and broker-dealers through commission-sharing arrangements (CSAs). CSAs are agreements
between an investment adviser and a broker-dealer in which the executing broker allocates a portion of brokerage
commissions to a “commission pool,” which can be used to acquire third party research from another broker.
Dodge & Cox may also use “step-outs” or similar transactions with broker-dealers. In a step-out arrangement, the
investment adviser executes a trade through one broker-dealer but instructs that broker-dealer to allocate all or a
portion of the trade and commissions to a second broker-dealer that provides research and/or brokerage services
to Dodge & Cox. This second broker-dealer will clear and settle, and receive commissions for, the stepped-out
portion of the trade.
Research services generally benefit multiple accounts, but each and every research service does not benefit
each and every account we manage, and it is possible that brokerage commissions paid by one account will be
applied towards payment for research services that are not used in the service of that account. In addition, research
can be used by all investment personnel, regardless of whether they work directly on client accounts with trading
activity that generates client commissions.
Dodge & Cox also uses hard dollars out of our own assets to pay for third party research.
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Client-Directed Brokerage Transactions
Clients may limit Dodge & Cox’s discretionary authority in certain situations. In particular, a client may direct
Dodge & Cox to use a specific broker-dealer, or broker-dealers, to execute portfolio transactions for its account or
may preclude the use of certain broker-dealers for its account. To the extent a client directs the use of a specific
broker-dealer or broker-dealers, Dodge & Cox is not in a position to negotiate commission rates or price, or select
broker-dealers on the basis of best price and execution. Additionally, transactions for a client that directs brokerage
generally will not be aggregated for execution purposes with orders for the same securities for other accounts
managed by Dodge & Cox. As a result, directed brokerage arrangements can result in higher commissions,
less favorable net prices, and/or less favorable execution than would be the case if Dodge & Cox were
authorized to select broker-dealers to execute transactions for the client’s account. In the event that a
purchase or sale order is placed for multiple Dodge & Cox client accounts, orders for accounts giving Dodge & Cox
full brokerage discretion will generally be placed ahead of directed brokerage orders or those where Dodge & Cox’s
discretion to select brokers has otherwise been restricted.
Clients may ask Dodge & Cox to direct a portion of their trading dollars to a specific brokerage firm to lower
commission rates, provide a rebate, or for social reasons (such as requiring the use of minority owned brokerage
firms). If the timing and use of the preferred broker is at Dodge & Cox’s discretion, the preferred brokers may not be
used when placing trades for multiple client accounts because of the potential benefits of aggregated orders.
Aggregation of Orders and Security Allocation for Client Accounts
General
Decisions to purchase or sell a security or security type and investment decisions with respect to derivative
instruments are typically implemented for a number of client accounts, and trade orders are usually aggregated (or
“blocked”) and executed in a single transaction or series of transactions. This approach is intended to facilitate
equitable treatment of client accounts and provide more efficient execution, consistent with Dodge & Cox’s
obligation to seek best execution of client transactions. Trade orders for Private Client Group accounts are typically
aggregated separately from and following blocks created for fund and institutional accounts. Reasons for excluding
an account from a block include, but are not limited to, client directed brokerage or other broker restrictions, liquidity
needs, tax considerations and other client-specific constraints, or investment guidelines. Orders excluded from a
block are typically executed after the block is completed. Equity securities held by a Dodge & Cox Fund that would
otherwise have been included in a sell block may from time to time instead be delivered pursuant to a redemption-
in-kind transaction, as described below. Updates to the model portfolio may be communicated contemporaneously
with or following the execution of orders for other Dodge & Cox accounts but typically following the execution of
orders for those Private Client Group accounts for which Dodge & Cox has full brokerage discretion and that have
standard account guidelines and no additional constraints to be considered.
If there is an insufficient supply of securities to fill the aggregated orders, Dodge & Cox will allocate the securities
in accordance with policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that allocation decisions are
made on a fair and equitable basis over time. These policies and procedures also apply to the allocation of new issues
and initial public offerings. The initial step of the allocation process is to identify accounts eligible for the allocation.
For a proposed sale of a security, accounts that hold the security are eligible, subject to review of client mandates
and guidelines as described below. Proposed buys of a security or investments in a derivative instrument are subject
to a client’s objectives and guidelines. If an account’s guidelines do not permit the relevant security or derivative to
be held, or if a security or derivative is not consistent with a client’s objectives, the account is excluded from the
eligibility list.
Allocating orders among accounts can create potential conflicts of interest, particularly in circumstances where
there is limited availability of a security or investment. These potential conflicts include the receipt of higher fees with
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respect to some accounts relative to others or our affiliation or relationship to certain accounts, such as the Dodge
& Cox Funds and the Dodge & Cox Worldwide Funds. While Dodge & Cox strives to allocate securities and other
investments on a fair and equitable basis over time, any particular allocation may be more or less advantageous to
one or more accounts relative to any one or more other accounts and certain allocations will deviate from a pro rata
and/or distance-from-target basis in order to address circumstances including inflows and withdrawals from
accounts, differences in legal, tax, and/or regulatory considerations as well as differences among investment
management agreements and investment guidelines applicable to various accounts. When allocating securities with
respect to any proprietary account(s) (or other accounts in which one or more Dodge & Cox employees have a
financial interest), Dodge & Cox policy is to treat the account as if it were any other client account and subject to
Dodge & Cox’s allocation policies and procedures. No special or favorable treatment is permitted for a proprietary
account, but neither is it required to be placed at a disadvantage with respect to other Dodge & Cox client accounts.
Fees are not considered in allocating orders. Dodge & Cox receives no additional compensation of any kind as a
result of “blocked” orders.
Equity Allocation Policy
Generally, in order to be included in a block on any trading day, an order must be submitted before the close of
trading in the relevant market. If a security is being traded in more than one market in different time zones, a block
will be created for each market. Exceptions to the foregoing may be made under certain circumstances, such as
when trading American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and local shares in the same security, when a client has directed
a sale, in response to a significant cash flow, or when a transaction is intended for tax purposes.
If an equity order is only partially filled, it is allocated among the participating accounts (i) pro rata based upon
each account’s portion of the original order amount, (ii) according to a random order sequence, and (iii) subject to a
minimum share allocation/leave. Due to the minimum share allocation/leave, it is possible that some accounts will
not receive an allocation in a given trade. The accounts in a block are randomized again on each trading day until all
accounts have received the full amount of their orders, or as much of their order as can be filled. If Dodge & Cox is
trading in more than one market on the same day, these rules will be applied to the block executed in each such
market. Orders that result in small or minimum allocations can, under certain circumstances, cause an account to
incur additional trade ticket charges from its custodian bank if it receives multiple partial allocations. In seeking best
execution, Dodge & Cox does not consider fees that may be assessed by a client’s custodian.
Pro rata allocations of partially filled orders may be subject to adjustment under certain circumstances, for
example, to avoid having a client hold odd lots or a de minimis number of shares. In such cases, Dodge & Cox will
adjust the number of shares that would otherwise be allocated to each account by reallocating the shares in a manner
that Dodge & Cox deems fair and equitable to clients over time.
An account may be excluded from a block trade for various reasons, including, but not limited to, client directed
brokerage, brokerage restrictions, liquidation instructions, individual client tax considerations or other client-
specific constraints, and investment guidelines requirements or restrictions. Orders completed before a block is
formed and orders subject to automated execution are not included in block orders. From time to time, Dodge & Cox
may satisfy redemptions from the Dodge & Cox Funds “in kind” by delivering securities to a redeeming shareholder
in lieu of cash, including securities that would otherwise be sold by Dodge & Cox as part of a block order. Dodge &
Cox typically notifies a redeeming shareholder of the securities being delivered through a redemption in kind by the
settlement date of the redemption, and we understand that shareholders redeeming in kind may sell or hedge some
or all of the securities to be delivered, which could adversely affect the market price of those securities. While Dodge
& Cox typically seeks to deliver securities with respect to redemptions in kind only after completing its sale of the
same securities for the accounts of other clients, there may be circumstances in which such securities are delivered
at or around the same time that we are selling those securities for other accounts.
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Securities may be reallocated prior to settlement if it is discovered that one or more accounts were mistakenly
left out of (or included in) an allocation.
Fixed Income Allocation Policy
We seek to treat clients fairly by allocating fixed income investment opportunities on an equitable basis over time,
acknowledging the impracticality of taking a pro rata approach on individual fixed income transactions under most
circumstances. Our procedures are designed to ensure that no set of trade allocations is implemented in order to
unfairly advantage one client over another, even though a specific trade or limited series of trades might have the
effect of benefitting one client as against another if viewed in isolation. In allocating debt securities, traders review
Dodge & Cox-established portfolio targets with respect to existing portfolio composition including, for example,
security, issuer, or program concentration; sector and/or industry concentration; credit rating concentration;
average portfolio credit rating; portfolio duration; and various other factors. An account will be removed from the
allocation if the purchase (or sale) of the security would run counter to account objectives or guidelines or is deemed
incompatible with the account’s investment mandate.
If the available amount of the security is insufficient to immediately bring all eligible accounts to target weighting,
a prioritization order is established to allocate the available supply equitably. Fixed income traders, with input from
senior managers when needed, determine appropriate prioritization factors. Typically, the prioritization considers a
portfolio’s distance from the investment committee’s “target” weightings, which may reference specific securities,
issuers, industries and/or sectors. Other factors that may be considered in prioritizing accounts include distance to
other types of portfolio targets such as program/collateral type, portfolio duration, portfolio cash position, or
portfolio yield curve positioning, as well as the size of the available investment relative to the account, and whether
the allocation would result in an account receiving a trivial amount or an amount below the established minimum
quantity or position size. Priority may be given to accounts with a specific investment mandate or size that either
results in a smaller investment universe and fewer investment opportunities or creates a greater need for specific
security types relative to other accounts. Allocations are also subject to an account’s investment guidelines. An
account may receive a full allocation if it would otherwise fall short of its target by a nominal amount.
Securities may be reallocated prior to settlement if it is discovered that one or more accounts were mistakenly
left out of (or included in) an allocation.
Derivative Instrument Allocation Policy
Portfolio targets for derivative instruments are determined based on the relevant investment committee decisions
in conjunction with individual account portfolio guidelines, which relate to a number of portfolio characteristics,
limits, and requirements, including, but not limited to, portfolio duration, yield curve positioning, credit ratings,
security or issuer concentration, and liquidity/cash requirements.
If the target weightings of a derivative instrument for all eligible accounts cannot be achieved through a single
transaction (for example, during the roll period for certain large futures positions), each derivative transaction will
typically be allocated on a pro rata basis. In certain cases, a portfolio’s distance from a relevant investment
committee target or portfolio guideline will also be considered. Derivatives may be subject to a minimum contract or
position size that affects the amount that can be allocated.
An account may be given priority in an allocation to prevent a violation of the account’s investment guidelines.
In addition, priority may be given to an account with a specific investment mandate that either results in a smaller
investment universe (and fewer investment opportunities) or creates a greater need for specific derivatives than that
of other accounts.
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Limits on Ownership
Dodge & Cox monitors the aggregate ownership of individual securities across all client accounts. Prudential,
regulatory, and/or legal considerations may limit aggregate ownership levels. These limits affect how much of a
security can be purchased for or held in client accounts and could disadvantage an account that, in the absence of
an aggregate ownership limit, would have purchased or held a security (or more of that security). Such limits could
also cause Dodge & Cox to sell securities that we would prefer to hold in the absence of such considerations.
Trade Errors
Dodge & Cox has adopted a policy to correct trading errors caused by Dodge & Cox, including, but not limited to,
buying or selling a security when the reverse was intended, buying or selling a security in the wrong account, buying
or selling the wrong security or amount of a security, or otherwise buying or selling a security that violates an
account’s investment guidelines. Dodge & Cox will reimburse a client for any actual losses caused by a trade error,
but is not responsible for indirect, consequential, or hypothetical losses, including lost opportunity costs. Typically,
if a client realizes a gain as the result of a trade error, the client will retain the gain if the erroneous transaction has
settled. Dodge & Cox may net gains and losses of errors that result from a related set of transactions, if Dodge & Cox
believes it is reasonable and practical to do so. Dodge & Cox may establish an error account at one or more brokers
to facilitate resolution of trade errors. Gains credited to such an error account may be used to offset losses. Dodge
& Cox determines in its discretion whether a trade error has occurred; whether it was caused by Dodge & Cox; and
the loss (or gain) resulting from the error.
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Review of Accounts
Dodge & Cox reviews client accounts on a regular basis. Each separate account is assigned a client portfolio
manager and a client service associate. Client portfolio managers or client service associates are available to meet
or speak with each client as often as is reasonably requested (typically at least annually, and more frequently as
needed). Dodge & Cox does not review clients’ financial plans.
The target portfolio weights for each security or issuer held are set by the investment committees as described
on p. 23. For equity separate accounts and the equity portions of balanced separate accounts, Dodge & Cox’s
portfolio implementation team regularly reviews account positioning relative to the policy targets of the relevant
investment committee, in accordance with the specific objectives and restrictions of the account. For fixed income
separate accounts and the fixed income portions of balanced separate accounts, the fixed income trading team
regularly reviews each account’s portfolio relative to established targets (see Fixed Income Allocation Policy on p.
37 for more details). For certain private client accounts, a Client Portfolio Manager may participate in these reviews.
Accounts may be subject to special review when there is a material cash flow or a specific decision is made by
an investment committee that directly affects the account. Whenever an account is reviewed, the relevant client
portfolio manager, together where applicable with the portfolio implementation team or trading team, considers
such matters as any changes in policy targets; the objectives and investment guidelines of the client; the current
structure of the portfolio; and the effect on the portfolio of any known additions to or withdrawals from the account
in the future. Because of these considerations and others such as transaction costs, possible tax consequences, and
custody costs, private client accounts managed by Dodge & Cox do not always hold the same number of securities
or same issues as institutional accounts.
Dodge & Cox generally provides separate account clients with one or more of the following written reports for
their accounts:
Appraisals—a monthly or quarterly appraisal listing the portfolio holdings, costs, market values, and
estimated annual income.
Investment Reports—a monthly or quarterly report that includes investment performance, holdings and
a summary of transactions.
Dodge & Cox may agree to provide alternative or additional reporting for certain clients upon request.
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Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Dodge & Cox does not compensate any person or entity for referring clients to Dodge & Cox (apart from nominal
administrative fees).
Dodge & Cox may make payments to investment consultants or other investment professionals for analytical
services or for research in their (or their affiliate’s) capacity as broker-dealers executing trades on behalf of Dodge &
Cox clients. Dodge & Cox may also pay to attend or sponsor conferences organized by an investment consultant. To
identify potential conflicts of interest, individuals or entities that have been referred to Dodge & Cox by an investment
consultant should request that the consultant disclose any pre-existing or former relationships with Dodge & Cox
and any potential conflicts of interest in connection with the referral and ask Dodge & Cox to comment on any
conflicts of interest disclosed by the consultant.
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Custody
Dodge & Cox separate account clients select their own custodians to hold the cash and securities in their accounts.
A client custodian may be a broker-dealer, bank, or other financial institution that satisfies the SEC’s definition of
“qualified custodian”. Dodge & Cox is not a qualified custodian and does not provide custody services.
Clients receive account statements directly from their custodians and should carefully review those statements.
Dodge & Cox is not responsible for reviewing charges assessed by a client custodian on the client’s account. Clients
should contact their custodians directly with any questions about these charges. Clients may compare the account
statements received from their custodians with the account statements received from Dodge & Cox.
Dodge & Cox clients may receive preferential rates from certain custodians, but Dodge & Cox does not endorse
or recommend any particular custodian.
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Investment Discretion
Generally, Dodge & Cox is retained on a discretionary basis and is authorized to make the following determinations
in accordance with the client’s specified investment objectives and investment guidelines without client consultation
or consent before a transaction is effected:
Which securities (or other investment instruments) to buy or sell;
The total amount of securities (or other investment instruments) to buy or sell;
The broker-dealer(s), counterparties, and trading platforms through whom transactions are effected;
and
The prices and commission rates at which transactions for client accounts are effected.
Dodge & Cox occasionally accepts advisory accounts with more limited discretion or where investments are client
directed pursuant to the investment management agreement.
Assumption of Discretionary Authority
Investment discretion and investment authorization are described in the investment management agreement signed
by Dodge & Cox and the client. Investment guidelines, which are generally included as an exhibit to the agreement,
are typically reviewed by investment and compliance personnel.
Limitations on Discretionary Authority
Dodge & Cox normally receives investment guidelines for new accounts that set forth the objectives of the client and
any specific investment restrictions and limitations. The guidelines typically describe the types of securities that are
eligible for (or prohibited from) the account, the investment strategy, and, for balanced accounts, the general
allocation between equity and debt investments. If the guidelines permit an investment in the Dodge & Cox Funds,
the terms of the Fund prospectus (rather than a separate account’s own guidelines) will govern any investments by
the Fund.
With respect to guidelines that contain restrictions on investing in specific industries or that are based on socially
responsible criteria, Dodge & Cox generally relies on a third-party screening service and/or company classification
system to identify companies that fall within a particular restriction. To the extent a company is not covered by the
screening service and/or company classification system, Dodge & Cox may be unable to apply such guidelines or may
be unable to apply such guidelines in a way that a client may expect.
To the extent that a client’s investment guidelines impose restrictions on holdings relative to an index, clients
should be aware that Dodge & Cox’s classification of a security with respect to certain characteristics may differ from
that of the index, and that Dodge & Cox will in certain circumstances use its own classifications of securities in
determining compliance with applicable guidelines.
Dodge & Cox’s ability to effect its investment and trading strategies for an account will in certain situations
depend on the client’s willingness and ability to open custody accounts and/or enter into agreements with, and
provide documentation required by, trading counterparties and other third parties. If a client imposes specific
requirements or limitations on the terms of any such agreement, Dodge & Cox may be constrained in its ability to
enter such agreements on the client’s behalf, which may limit the trading counterparties available for that client. In
addition, Dodge & Cox’s ability to participate in corporate actions depends on the timely performance of a client’s
other service providers. For example, if a custodian or sub-custodian does not timely deliver information and
documentation, Dodge & Cox may be unable to participate in a corporate action. Dodge & Cox is not responsible for
the acts or omissions of, or for monitoring the performance of, any third-party service provider retained by a client.
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Consideration of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance Issues
When evaluating investment opportunities, Dodge & Cox considers environmental, social, and/or corporate
governance factors, along with many other factors, as part of our research-intensive investment decision-making
process to determine whether such factors are likely to have a financially material impact on a company’s or issuer’s
risk/reward profile by affecting a company’s current or future valuation or an issuer’s ability to fulfill its debt
obligations. As financially material factors may differ for each investment considered, and the evaluation of these
factors and risks does not lend itself to explicit rules or metrics, a company’s factors are assessed in the context of
its particular industry, domicile, and history. Any such impacts are weighed against valuation in determining whether
to invest (or continue to invest) in particular issuers. Dodge & Cox does not apply exclusionary environmental, social,
and governance screens in its investment process and may invest in a company with financially material
environmental, social, and governance-related risk(s) if we believe that the company is making progress on those
issues or if we conclude that an investment is compelling for other reasons, such as an attractive valuation. Such
factors may not be determinative with respect to any particular investment decision. Dodge & Cox’s assessment of
the materiality and potential financial impact of environmental, social, and/or corporate governance factors is
inherently subjective and may differ from the views and assessments of other managers and investors.
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Voting Client Securities
Clients Who Delegate Proxy Voting Authority to Dodge & Cox
Dodge & Cox maintains a policy of voting proxies that we believe best serves the interests of our clients in their
capacity as shareholders of a company. As an investment adviser, Dodge & Cox is primarily concerned with seeking
to maximize the value of its clients’ investment portfolios. For all clients that have assigned proxy voting responsibility
to Dodge & Cox, we typically vote in support of company management, but vote against proposals that we believe
would negatively affect the long-term value of shares of a company. In addition, when we believe adequate
information on a proposal has not been provided, we may abstain or vote against such proposals. If a client has
delegated proxy voting authority to Dodge & Cox, the client may not direct our vote in a particular solicitation, though
the client can revoke Dodge & Cox’s proxy voting authority with respect to all proxies at any time.
While Dodge & Cox uses reasonable efforts to vote proxies, in certain circumstances it will be impractical or
impossible to do so. For example, when a client has loaned securities to a third party, such securities are not readily
available for proxy voting and Dodge & Cox will not recall those securities to vote them absent exceptional
circumstances. Securities lending programs may also prevent voting for clients who have lent securities in certain
markets where split voting (different vote recommendations for one meeting for the same beneficial owners) is not
allowed. Dodge & Cox may also be prohibited from voting certain shares or may be required to vote in proportion to
other shareholders under applicable state, federal, or non-U.S. regulatory requirements, company governance
provisions, or for other reasons. Special considerations are made for stocks traded on non-U.S. exchanges.
Specifically, if voting a proxy requires the security to be “blocked” or frozen from trading, Dodge & Cox may elect not
to exercise its voting rights in order to preserve liquidity. Additionally, Dodge & Cox may not be able to vote proxies
in connection with certain non-U.S. securities if it does not receive timely information about the meeting or does not
meet the requirements necessary to vote the securities.
Dodge & Cox is sensitive to conflicts of interest that may arise in the proxy decision-making process. Dodge &
Cox has developed proxy policies and procedures to serve the best interests of clients and, accordingly, will generally
vote pursuant to those proxy policies and procedures when conflicts of interest arise. When there are proxy voting
proposals that give rise to material conflicts of interest not addressed by Dodge & Cox’s proxy voting policies and
procedures, the Proxy Officer or delegate may escalate the issue to Dodge & Cox’s Proxy Policy Committee who will
consult Dodge & Cox’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and senior management. The Proxy Policy Committee,
CCO and senior management may consult with an independent consultant or counsel to resolve material conflicts
of interest.
When Dodge & Cox-managed separate accounts hold shares of one or more of the Dodge & Cox Funds that
have filed a proxy statement, Dodge & Cox will, where possible, vote client proxies relating to the Dodge & Cox Funds
by voting the shares in the same proportion as the votes of other shareholders in the relevant funds (this is sometimes
referred to as “echo voting”).
Separate account clients can obtain a copy of Dodge & Cox’s proxy voting policies and procedures and
information about how Dodge & Cox voted proxies related to securities held in the client’s account by contacting the
Client Service Associate assigned to their account. Information regarding Dodge & Cox’s voting of proxies on behalf
is available at
of the Dodge & Cox Funds for the most recent twelve-month period ending June 30
www.dodgeandcox.com/proxy.asp or the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.
Clients Who Do Not Delegate Proxy Voting Authority to Dodge & Cox
For clients that have not delegated proxy voting responsibility to Dodge & Cox, we have no involvement in the voting
process. Such clients should contact their custodians about receiving their proxies or other solicitations.
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Financial Information
Not applicable. Dodge & Cox does not require or solicit prepayment of any fees from clients. Dodge & Cox knows of
no financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair its ability to meet contractual commitments to clients and
has never been the subject of a bankruptcy petition.
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