TIAA-CREF Large-Cap Growth InstTILGX

Morningstar Rating

Fund Research and Analysis

by Courtney Goethals Dobrow

TIAA-CREF Large-Cap Growth is coming along.

Manager Susan Hirsch monitors a universe of 300 companies with the help of about 40 analysts. She favors sturdy blue chips with strong management and solid balance sheets that she thinks are currently undervalued. Read more

Kudos

Experienced manager with strong record elsewhere.

Although expenses will likely rise in 2009, they'll remain reasonable. Read more

Risks

Manager will build large stakes in individual sectors as she identifies opportunities.

Manager's experience is predominantly in a different part of the market-cap range. Read more

Strategy

Susan Hirsch deviates from TIAA-CREF's benchmark-centric path. Instead of keeping sector weightings aligned with the fund's benchmark, the Russell 1000 Index, Hirsch will build larger positions in areas she finds attractive. Read more

Management

Susan Hirsch began choosing stocks here in March 2006 and took over lead portfolio-management duties in August 2007. She formerly led Jennison U.S. Emerging Growth, now named Jennison Mid Cap Growth PEEAX from December 1996 through August 2005. In August 2008, TIAA-CREF named Andrea Mitroff, a Merrill Lynch (now BlackRock) veteran, as comanager, though she doesn't have a role in day-to-day management. Read more

Inside Scoop

With new management, this fund's future is likely to be better than its past. The fund mixes steady and fast growers, with a preference for the latter. With management's willingness to make large sector bets, don't expect the typical TIAA-CREF benchmark-hugger. Read more

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