Increased screen time


Putting durable growth themes to work

A thematic approach is a distinctive feature of Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund. The team analyzes global trends, as well as problems and potential solutions, to identify which themes could drive sustained growth for businesses over a multi-year time horizon.

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growth themes


THEME: Increased screen time

People are spending considerably more time consuming content on electronic devices. In 2019, for the first time, U.S. consumers spent more time with their mobile devices than they did watching TV, according to eMarketer. Smartphones account for 70% of that mobile time. Mobile device usage is growing rapidly as streaming platforms, newly created apps, social media, gaming, and targeted advertising campaigns increasingly cater to consumers outside the home.

American adults spent about 3 hours and 30 minutes a day using the mobile internet in 2019, an increase of about 20 minutes from a year earlier, according to measurement company Zenith.

STOCK: Apple (AAPL)

Apple’s iPhone and iPad account for more than 50% of U.S. smartphone and tablet markets.

  • A key growth driver is Apple’s robust services franchise (App Store, iTunes, iCloud, Music, Apple Care, News, TV, Arcade).
  • Another positive driver for Apple is the company’s considerable balance sheet optionality (it has more than $150 billion in cash).
  • We believe the services franchise can continue to grow at a faster pace, and iPhone demand remains resilient.

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Consumers now spend more time with mobile devices than TV


Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund

See how investing in companies with durable long-term growth prospects, high and/or improving capital returns, and a strong ownership culture drives 5-star performance as of 5/31/2020.

Morningstar performance


Get to know Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund

Learn more about the distinctive thematic approach and how the team analyzes global trends to identify which themes could drive sustained growth for Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund.

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The Morningstar Rating™ for funds, or "star rating," is calculated for managed products (including mutual funds, variable annuity and variable life subaccounts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and separate accounts) with at least a three-year history. Exchange-traded funds and open-ended mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product's monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and ten-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36 to 59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60 to 119 months of total returns, and 50% ten-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the ten-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the ten-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods. Ratings do not take into account the effects of sales charges and loads.