Michael Clarfeld

Michael Clarfeld is a Portfolio Manager at ClearBridge Investments, based in New York, NY. He leads the firm’s Dividend Strategy, focusing on constructing diversified portfolios of high-quality companies with robust and sustainable dividend growth, applying disciplined valuation and active management to navigate changing market cycles. His primary investment focus areas include dividend-growth equities across multiple sectors, with particular emphasis on conservatively valued large-cap stocks, as he seeks resilience and risk mitigation amid economic and policy uncertainty.

Before joining ClearBridge in 2006 as a Research Analyst and later advancing to Portfolio Manager in 2009, Michael served as an Equity Analyst at Hygrove Partners and as a Financial Analyst at Goldman Sachs, bringing more than 25 years of experience in the investment industry. He is a CFA charterholder and an active member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society New York, further demonstrating his commitment to professional excellence.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Duke University, reflecting a broad analytical foundation. He is recognized for his thought leadership on dividend strategies and market risk, regularly sharing perspectives through industry podcasts, videos, and publications, including ClearBridge’s quarterly strategy updates and outlooks.