Commentary

Painting with a finer brush | Fixed income market commentary 1Q 2026

March 31, 2026

Since COVID, market narratives seem to form more quickly and be applied more broadly. I suspect passive flows, real-time information, and momentum-driven strategies all contribute to this phenomenon, but the result is really what matters: once a narrative takes hold, it becomes the dominant lens through which everything is viewed.

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OPINION PIECE. PLEASE SEE ENDNOTES FOR IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES.

Important Disclosures

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Fixed income risks include interest-rate and credit risk. Typically, when interest rates rise, there is a corresponding decline in bond values. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the bond issuer will not be able to make principal and interest payments. Bond values fluctuate in price so the value of your investment can go down depending on market conditions.

The Oakmark Bond Fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of bonds and other fixed-income securities. These include, but are not limited to, investment grade corporate bonds; U.S. or non-U.S.-government and government-related obligations (such as, U.S. treasury securities); below investment-grade corporate bonds; agency mortgage backed-securities; commercial mortgage-and asset-backed securities; senior loans (such as, leveraged loans, bank loans, covenant lite loans, and/or floating rate loans); assignments; restricted securities (e.g., Rule 144A securities); and other fixed and floating rate instruments. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in equity securities, such as common stocks and preferred stocks. The Fund may also hold cash or short-term debt securities from time to time and for temporary defensive purposes.

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 25% of its assets in investment-grade fixed-income securities and may invest up to 35% of its assets in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly known as “high-yield” or “junk bonds”).

These and other risk considerations such are described in detail in the Fund’s prospectus.