RBC's Bond Fund Secures Second Consecutive Lipper Award for Excellence

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – April 06, 2026 – In a powerful affirmation of its investment strategy, RBC Global Asset Management-U.S. ("RBC GAM-U.S.") has once again been recognized for its prowess in the fixed-income space. The firm announced that its RBC BlueBay Core Plus Bond Fund (RCPRX) has received a 2026 LSEG Lipper Fund Award, marking the second consecutive year it has earned the top honor in its category.

The fund was named "Best Core Plus Bond Fund" over a three-year period, distinguishing itself among a field of 69 peers. The award, based on risk-adjusted performance for the period ending November 30, 2025, underscores the fund's ability to deliver consistent results for its investors.

"This award reflects the dedication and experience of our BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income team," said Stu Kedwell, Global Chief Investment Officer at RBC Global Asset Management. "Our active management and disciplined investment strategies reflect our ongoing commitment to pursue strong, consistent results for our investors. This recognition, for the second year in a row, is an honor for the team."

The back-to-back wins signal a sustained level of outperformance, a feat that is particularly noteworthy in the complex and often volatile fixed-income market.

The Gold Standard of Fund Recognition

For investors and financial advisors navigating a sea of investment options, industry awards can serve as crucial guideposts. However, not all accolades are created equal. The LSEG Lipper Fund Awards, with a history spanning more than three decades, are widely regarded as a benchmark for excellence in the asset management industry. Their prestige stems from a rigorously quantitative and entirely objective methodology.

Unlike awards that can be influenced by subjective panels or marketing budgets, the Lipper Awards are based on the proprietary "Lipper Leader for Consistent Return" rating. This metric evaluates a fund's performance over 36, 60, and 120-month periods, but it goes far beyond simply ranking total returns. The methodology employs a utility function rooted in behavioral finance theory, which heavily penalizes periods of underperformance relative to peers. This ensures that the winners are not just funds that have had a few great quarters, but those that have demonstrated a superior ability to manage risk and deliver steady performance over time.

To win a Lipper Award, a fund must achieve the highest Lipper Leader score within its specific classification. In the case of the RBC BlueBay Core Plus Bond Fund, this means it has proven to be the most effective at delivering strong, risk-adjusted returns compared to dozens of other Core Plus Bond funds. This independent and uncompromised assessment provides a clear, data-driven validation of the fund management team's skill.

Thriving in a Turbulent Bond Market

RBC GAM's achievement is all the more significant when viewed against the backdrop of the recent fixed-income environment. The years leading up to 2026 have been characterized by economic turbulence, shifting central bank policies, and significant interest rate movements designed to combat inflation. Such conditions create a challenging landscape for bond investors, where the risk of capital loss can be elevated.

In this environment, the value of consistency and skillful risk management cannot be overstated. The award's focus on risk-adjusted returns highlights the fund's success not just in generating yield, but in protecting investor capital during periods of market stress. For individuals and institutions relying on fixed income to provide stability and income within a diversified portfolio, this is a critical differentiator.

The Core Plus Bond category itself is designed for such markets. These funds start with a base of investment-grade U.S. fixed-income securities but have the flexibility to add a "plus" component—allocating a portion of the portfolio to higher-yielding sectors like high-yield corporate bonds, foreign debt, or emerging market securities. Successfully managing this blend requires deep expertise and a nimble approach.

The Case for Active Management

The consecutive wins by the RBC BlueBay Core Plus Bond Fund also serve as a powerful testament to the value of active management in the fixed-income world. While passive, index-tracking strategies have gained immense popularity in equity markets, many experts argue that bond markets are a different beast altogether. Fixed-income markets are generally considered less efficient, with greater dispersion in pricing and liquidity.

This inefficiency creates opportunities for skilled active managers to generate alpha—returns above the market benchmark. The BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income team, a specialized group of over 38 investment professionals within RBC GAM, leverages this dynamic. Their investment philosophy is built on a foundation of research-driven fundamental analysis and a focus on capital preservation.

Active managers can dynamically adjust a portfolio's duration in response to changing interest rate expectations, shift allocations between different credit sectors to capture the best relative value, and conduct deep credit research to avoid issuers with deteriorating fundamentals. This hands-on approach, as cited by Mr. Kedwell, is central to the fund's strategy. The fund's success, validated by the Lipper award and a "Gold" Medalist Rating from Morningstar, demonstrates how a disciplined, active process can translate into superior long-term, risk-adjusted outcomes for investors.

Furthermore, the fund's competitive expense ratio, which sits in the lowest quintile among its peers, ensures that a greater share of the returns generated by the management team's expertise is passed on to the end investor. This combination of top-tier active management and cost-efficiency presents a compelling proposition for those seeking to strengthen the fixed-income allocation of their portfolios.