BlackRock International V.I. Fund Q1 2026 Commentary
BlackRock·2026-06-25·via All Articles on Seeking Alpha
Summary
The fund posted a return of -1.36% (Class I shares) for the first quarter of 2026.
Shell contributed to relative returns as it benefited from higher oil and gas prices due to supply disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
SAP detracted amid concerns about potential disruption caused by artificial intelligence (AI), a slower migration to cloud services, and weaker cloud backlog data.
The fund exited the UBS position as the risks, especially within the U.S. wealth management franchise, made the risk-reward profile unattractive.
Holdings with a lower dollar exposure and carry positions, notably Indian banks, detracted amid higher oil prices, though we remain constructive over the longer term.
Torsten Asmus/iStock via Getty Images
• The fund posted a return of -1.36% [[Class I shares]] for the first quarter of 2026.
• Stock selection and overweight positions in the financials, industrials, and consumer discretionary sectors detracted, while security selection in the materials, communication