Eads & Heald Investment Counsel Continues to Outperform S&P 500

Firm Reiterates Power of Asset Preservation Strategies During Economic Crisis

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Preliminary performance results for the third quarter of 2008 through September 30 indicate that Eads & Heald Investment Counsel continues to outperform the S&P 500 (preliminary results subject to revision).

“Our strong focus on diversification and quality with a long-term investment horizon has allowed the firm to outperform benchmarks in this volatile economy”

Eads & Heald’s average equity plus cash portfolio, net of management fees, through the third quarter of this year returned a minus 3.1 percent compared to the S&P 500 stock index return of minus 8.4 percent for the same period.

Year-to-date, the Eads & Heald average equity plus cash portfolio, net of management fees, returned minus 11.9 percent – better than the S&P 500 stock index return of minus 19.3% year-to-date.

With the technology bubble effectively ending in March 2000, Eads & Heald Investment Counsel’s average equity plus cash portfolio, net of management fees, returned a plus 1.5 percent on an average annual basis. During the same period, the S&P 500 stock index returned a minus 1.3 percent on an average annual basis.

“Our strong focus on diversification and quality with a long-term investment horizon has allowed the firm to outperform benchmarks in this volatile economy,” said Matthew Eads, CFA, portfolio manager at Eads & Heald Investment Counsel. “Since the technology bubble burst in 2000, the U.S. economy has seen very hectic periods. Investment strategies that emphasize asset preservation have been valuable relative to many other options.”

Eads added that investors would do well to understand that a few key, basic investment truths tend to serve as solid investment strategies in both good times and bad.

“One of these truths is that a longer time horizon allows portfolios to recover from shocks along the way. Remaining well-diversified across industries and economic sectors and owning quality stocks purchased at attractive prices further mitigates risk,” Eads stated.

Eads & Heald Investment Counsel has a 21-year history of managing customized investment portfolios through periods of economic euphoria and despair. See www.eadsheald.com.