The Los Angeles Clippers finally got an answer on the NBA's cap circumvention investigation, but it's not the one they were hoping for. Despite claiming innocence and complying with the league throughout the process, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver came down with strict penalties, including a $30 million fine, the loss of five draft picks, and suspensions for several Clippers executives.
Instead of accepting their losses, however, the Clippers plan to fight with everything they have. After making their initial statement today, they shared their official email to the Commissioner, in which they called him out on the way this investigation was conducted. According to the Clippers, they worked tirelessly to comply with the league office, committing millions of dollars and many hours to prove their innocence.
"Almost one year ago today, you announced that the league would be investigating podcast allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers engaged in salary cap circumvention by funneling money to Kawhi Leonard through a 'no-show' contract with a Clippers sponsor, Aspiration. In announcing that investigation, you represented that 'due process' and 'a fundamental sense of fairness' would govern the process. You made clear that the 'burden [would be] on the league' to prove any violation through actual evidence, not 'mere appearances.' And you concluded by promising that everyone involved in the investigation would be treated 'the same way I would want to be treated if people were making allegations against me.'"
"Unfortunately, none of those promises have been kept. In the last year, Steve Ballmer has spent nearly $50 million funding an investigation by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz that has stretched far beyond the bounds of what the league set out to investigate, let alone the bounds of 'fundamental fairness.' The Clippers have produced more than 30,000 documents and provided more than 20 witnesses who have sat for 30 interviews."
"Third parties, including Clippers business partners and sponsors, have likewise provided documents, interviews, and statements to investigators. Mr. Ballmer has reimbursed the costs of at least six law firms, many of which were hired at the demand of the league's lawyers. To say the investigation has been a distraction would be an understatement—Clippers employees have spent thousands of hours scouring document repositories, phones, messaging systems, central files, and accounting records, working with counsel, and sitting for interviews. This investigation has permanently strained relationships with key Clippers stakeholders."

#angeles #commissioner #circumvention #innocence

Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SNEX) as a notable contributor. StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SNEX) operates as a US-based global financial services network that connects companies, organizations, traders, and investors to a market ecosystem. On August 31, 2026, StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SNEX) closed at $68.48 per share. StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SNEX) fell 8.97% over the past month while its shares gained 50.63% over the past 52 weeks. StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SNEX) has a market capitalization of $8.26 billion with a 52-week trading range between $36.45 - $94.66.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SNEX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SNEX), our financial services and clearing holding, was the portfolio's largest contributor as shares gained approximately 47% during the quarter. Elevated market volatility stemming from the Middle East conflict drove exceptional trading and clearing activity, and the stock ground steadily higher after quarterly earnings results. With shares having roughly doubled from their lows and valuation approaching the high end of historical ranges, we trimmed the position into strength while keeping it among our largest holdings. We continue to view it as an unusually durable compounder across market environments."

#group #NASDAQ #market

Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ATMU). Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ATMU), a US-based filtration products manufacturer, known for its Fleetguard brand, detracted from the strategy's performance this quarter. On August 31, 2026, Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ATMU) closed at $47.23 per share. Filtration Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ATMU) fell 14.31% over the past month while its shares gained 5.47% over the past 52 weeks. Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ATMU) has a market capitalization of $3.85 billion with a 52-week trading range between $42.60 - $66.50.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ATMU) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ATMU), the engine filtration business spun out of ******* mins (CMI), fell approximately 10% as readthroughs from the freight market turned mixed, with softer commentary on new truck builds and some margin pressure weighing on sentiment. We continue to like the durable, replacement-driven aftermarket core of the business, but we respected the change in tone and trimmed the position back to a standard weight during the quarter."

#strategy #small #quarter

Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY). The Fund exited its position in Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY), a leading eyewear brand and retailer that offers eyeglasses and sunglasses, and contact lenses, during the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY) closed at $24.60 per share. Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY) fell 17.78% over the past month while its shares lost 3.72% over the past 52 weeks. Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY) has a market capitalization of $3.04 billion with a 52-week trading range between $14.96 - $31.00.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"We also sold Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY) and Canada Goose (GOOS) during the quarter as we redeployed capital into the new positions described above. WRBY is a name we like, though we believe a lot of AI hype was built into the stock around the glasses launch. The unveiling of the glasses was somewhat underwhelming and we would potentially underwrite the stock again at lower levels."
Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 36 hedge fund portfolios held Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY) at the end of the second quarter which was 48 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to

Nvidia (NVDA) reported blockbuster second-quarter fiscal 2027 results on Aug. 26, led by a solid surge in data-center revenue, which climbed by a whopping 117% year-over-year (YOY) to $89 billion. With the data-center business making up more than 90% of its top line, Nvidia has capitalized on the fact that more companies need large GPU clusters.
While the semiconductor industry leader faces "threats" that its near-monopoly on advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips may be coming to an end, Nvidia remains the primary beneficiary of the AI boom. The company is also reportedly set to buy open-source AI platform Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, aligning with CEO Jensen Huang's strategy of building the AI world on the American stack.
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#fans #hour #data #year

After months of speculation and anticipation, the NBA dropped the hammer on the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday over their reported scheme to circumvent the salary cap for Kawhi Leonard.
And what a hammer it was. The league has stripped the Clippers of five first-round draft picks, fined owner Steve Ballmer $30 million, fined Leonard $700,000 and suspended Ballmer, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and president of business operations Gillian Zucker.
It is a team-changing blow to LA, which many have noted also gave up five first-rounders, two pick swaps and future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a trade for Paul George at Leonard's request.
The Clippers have already released a statement rejecting the NBA's findings and promising to challenge them. It remains to be seen how that will play out, but the NBA has certainly thrown down a harsh first move.
But how harsh is it compared to other cheating scandals in recent sports history? Let's compare the Clippers' sanctions to the bites other teams have received for bending the rules for a competitive advantage in recent sports history, which we are cutting off at the year 2000.

#fined #operations

The long-awaited results of the NBA's investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers' alleged salary cap circumvention practices were finally released on Wednesday, Sept. 2, and the fallout is just beginning.
Among the punishments handed out, the Clippers must forfeit five first-round draft picks and pay a $30 million fine. Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers' superstar at the heart of the scandal, has been fined $700,000. Additionally, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker have been suspended by the league for one year. Lawrence Frank, the team's president of basketball operations, has been suspended for six months.
The official investigation report from the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz explicitly lays out why the organization is facing the brunt of the penalties. Throughout the 36-page document, investigators state the three individuals most responsible for the Clippers' rule-breaking are Ballmer, Zucker and Frank, and call out the organization for obfuscating the investigation's efforts.
The report also notes investigators "continue to receive information relevant to the subjects discussed in this report" and will supplement their findings as appropriate. Wachtell Lipton said it conducted 73 interviews of 60 people and reviewed 200,000 pages of documents.
Here are 13 must-read segments from the investigation. Each is quoted directly from the report.

#clippers #report #lipton #president

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#business #eligible #categories #blue

It's not often that we use "high yield" and "tech stocks" in the same sentence. However, some of the legacy software and consulting companies have joined the league, thanks to the drawdown in their stocks amid "AI-pocalypse" fears. With artificial intelligence (AI) looking to automate coding and back-office tasks, the "man-hours" model that IT services firms rely on could be at risk. Accenture (ACN) is among the names that have been in the penalty box amid fears that AI would cause large-scale business disruption for the sector. However, such fears have eased, and legacy tech companies, which were considered net AI losers, have jumped sharply from their lows. Looking at some specific stocks, Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM) have respectively risen 54% and 76% from their 2026 lows, while Accenture has soared 60%.
Despite the rally, Accenture still has a dividend yield of 3.4%, which is well ahead of the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) average. The company has a long history of paying dividends and started paying a semi-annual dividend in 2005, eventually transitioning to quarterly dividends beginning in 2019. It has increased its payouts every year since its initiation, with an impressive annualized growth of 11.1%. Last year, the company raised its quarterly dividend by 10.1% to $1.63 per share.
Corning vs. Applied Materials: One Stock Beat the Other by 75 Percentage Points. The Better AI Infrastructure Play Is Clear.
Nvidia Can Clearly Afford a Bigger Dividend. Why Its Payout Hasn't Grown.
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#legacy

Private equity firm Trident Management appears to be an early mover in bolting together small courier businesses onto a platform that can offer shippers greater regional density and reach as an alternative to large, legacy parcel carriers.
Trident-backed Priority Courier Experts, which serves B2B customers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and upper Midwest, last week said it acquired Priority Dispatch Inc. and Diamond Expedited, Midwest providers of same-day courier and box-truck freight services for the healthcare and e-commerce industries, and Atlanta-based Inpax Shipping Solutions.
Priority Dispatch was founded in Cincinnati in 1973. Diamond Expedited began serving the greater Chicago area in 1995. The companies, which were bought from the same individual, also cover Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo, Ohio; Indianapolis; Detroit and Milwaukee, with 43 employees and more than 500 independent-contractor drivers. Their combined delivery traffic is about 250,000 orders per year.
Inpax is active in seven markets across the South, including Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida. With 75 employees and more than 335 owner-operators it delivers more than 400,000 orders per year. In addition to e-commerce pickup and delivery, it offers local and regional truck brokerage and tractor trailer freight.
In December 2024, Priority Courier Experts purchased Indianapolis-based Now Courier.

#Experts #indianapolis

Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) operates in the railroad business. Valued at $178.6 billion by market cap, it connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the U.S. by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain, hauling a variety of goods, including agricultural, automotive, and chemical products.
Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks," and UNP definitely fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this threshold, reflecting its substantial size, influence, and dominance in the railroads industry. UNP's expansive North American network, including its stake in Mexico's Ferromex and strong cross-border freight business, gives it a distinct competitive advantage and supports a diverse customer base. Its long-standing reputation for reliability has built strong brand loyalty and long-term contracts, driving stable revenues and long-term growth.
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#strong

Our **** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Ads are coming for your LLM queries: OpenAI, the company behind the LLM, said this week its advertising business hit a $1 billion annualized run rate in well under a year.
OpenAI first slotted ads into ChatGPT in February in the U.S. and has slowly rolled out options for advertisers to purchase slots right in the LLM around the globe. On Monday, that option was extended to India, ⁠Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
But rather than the search engine optimization of the mid-2010s yore, which catalyzed a boom-and-bust cycle for digital media platforms like HuffPost and BuzzFeed, these ads are placed directly into ChatGPT's output alongside similar queries. OpenAI's about to find out if the 2020s version is any different.
Ask ChatGPT for a recommendation for the best pen for taking notes, and you might be served an ad for notebooks. And so forth. It's a burgeoning marketing-science (with a healthy dash of pseudoscience) field called GEO, or Generative Engine Optimization.

#NVIDIA #tell

Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is the second largest health insurer, and one of the largest commercial insurers in the United States. Shares rose during the quarter after the company reported quarterly earnings that beat consensus estimates. It was further supported by news that the US agreed to increase 2027 payments for private Medicare Advantage plans above the initial proposal. The company is priced at a discount to the market, driven by skepticism surrounding margins and growth, despite being a superior business that grows above GDP while returning most of its cash to shareholders."

#NYSE #fund #fundamental #wiley

First Eagle Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor update for "First Eagle Global Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Easing tensions in the Middle East led to a strong rally in risk markets in Q2. The S&P 500 Index rose 15.2%, while the MSCI EAFE Index gained 10.8%. Growth stocks outperformed, with the MSCI World Growth Index significantly exceeding value returns. A notable shift in U.S. interest rate expectations followed Kevin Warsh's appointment as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. Despite the optimistic market environment, concerns about fiscal constraints and limited policy flexibility remain. Tighter credit spreads and elevated equity valuations reflect strong demand for financial ****** ets, with household wealth in equities at a post-WWII high. Earnings expectations are buoyant, driven by AI infrastructure developments. Against this backdrop, Global Fund A Shares returned 2.86% in Q2 2026, with emerging markets and developed Europe as the primary contributors. Developed Asia (excluding ****** an) was the only detractor, and ****** an lagged. Information technology and financials led among equity sectors, while materials and energy detracted. The fund underperformed relative to the MSCI World Index during this period. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, First Eagle Global Fund highlighted Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR). Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a US-based broadband connectivity company. On August 31, 2026, Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) closed at $152.44 per share. The one-month return of Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) was -4.10%, and its shares lost -44.49% over the past 52 weeks. Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) has a market capitalization of $26.69 billion.
First Eagle Global Fund stated the following regarding Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The leading detractors in the quarter were gold bullion, Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), HCA Healthcare Inc., Exxon Mobil Corporation and Salesforce.com, Inc. Charter Communications is the second-largest broadband commu nications service company in the US, providing cable broadcasting, internet, voice and mass-media services. Cable providers in general remain under competitive pressure from mobile operators, which are scaling up entry-level fixed wireless service. We continue to view Charter as a high-quality business with difficult-to-replicate ****** ets that generate steady cash flows and returns cash to shareholders."

#charter #global #msci

(NewsNation) — "Rich Dad Poor Dad" author Robert Kiyosaki openly talks about being $1.2 billion in debt, but that doesn't mean he's personally on the hook for that amount.
The financial self-help guru's ex-wife and business partner, Kim Kiyosaki, confirmed the figure in a recent Vanity Fair interview but said it's been widely misunderstood, noting that it represents the total debt held by a group of real estate investors.
"We have a lot of apartment houses with our partners," she told the magazine, saying the portfolio includes 1,500 units.
13 fastest-growing jobs that pay over $100K
"So technically, yes, we have all this debt," she said, but pointed out that it's attached to real ****** ets and the best-selling author's personal share of the debt is relatively small.

#debt #real #newsnation

Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) as one of its leading individual contributors. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) offers multi-cloud application security and delivery solutions. On August 31, 2026, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) closed at $407.13 per share. Over the past month, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) declined 3.41%, while its shares are up 29.82% over the past year. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) has a market capitalization of $23.05 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $223.76 to $435.00.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) sells application networking and security software as well as data center appliances. The company's stock rose after it posted good quarterly results and raised both its revenue and EPS guidance. The company is misunderstood and gets incorrectly classified as a legacy IT hardware vendor, resulting in an attractive valuation for a company with better-than-average fundamental risk ratings. F5 has over 50% market share in traditional ADCs (application delivery controllers), along with various multi-cloud networking and application security products."

#ffiv

Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY). Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY), a leading enterprise software company that provides cloud applications for human resources and financial management, detracted from performance this quarter. On August 31, 2026, Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) closed at $197.45 per share. Over the past month, Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) returned 15.87%, but its shares are down 13.29% over the past year. Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) has a market capitalization of $47.59 billion.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) is a leader in cloud software for back-office business functions, spanning human capital management (HCM), financial management, and adjacent ERP (enterprise resource planning) products, with 60% of the Fortune 500 as HCM customers. Shares declined over the period, pressured by investor concerns that AI could disrupt application software vendors. The most recent quarter, however, did not show evidence of this. Subscription revenue grew 14%, 12-month backlog grew 16%, retention remained industry leading, margins expanded, and management reiterated full-year subscription revenue guidance while raising operating margin guidance. AI adoption also appears to be progressing, with Workday-developed agents now used by more

George Clooney is sounding the alarm on artificial intelligence.
The "Ocean's Eleven" star addressed the future of AI in the entertainment industry, telling reporters during a panel at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival that it will be a "very big" part of show business moving forward.
However, the obvious drawback, according to Clooney, is that it will become "harder and harder and harder" to discern fact from fiction.
"... So, it's a very complicated moment in time and we're gonna have to find a way to discern this," Clooney said. "And everybody's working furiously at it and I haven't seen any great strides yet in success."
He later added: "I would like to avoid being in a tampon commercial 20 years after I'm dead. I would like that. I would like to avoid that."

#harder #like #avoid #film

On August 25, The Marzetti Company (NASDAQ:MZTI) closed out a fiscal year of records, even as reported quarterly sales slipped 2.2% to $465.0 million. The drop traces to the planned expiration of a temporary supply agreement rather than any softness in the core business, and once that noise is stripped out, adjusted sales actually grew. Behind the headline number sits a company generating more cash and profit than it ever has, just as a fresh food safety scare threatens to interrupt the streak.
Fiscal 2026 marked the fourth straight year of record net sales and gross profit and the third straight year of record operating income, with fourth-quarter gross profit alone reaching $114.0 million. Gross margin expanded 220 basis points to 24.5%, the twelfth consecutive quarter of improvement, as procurement, manufacturing and network changes kept squeezing out costs. Adjusted operating income rose 17.5% to $52.2 million. Growth is increasingly coming from newer names. Bachan's, the barbecue sauce brand acquired mid-year, added $15.4 million in sales in its first two months and contributed 320 basis points to consolidated growth. Scanner data showed Bachan's sales up 8.7% for the quarter with distribution points up 16.6%, and household penetration climbing from 5% to 6% since the deal closed.
Management is now extending the brand into mayo, a category it pegs at $3.4 billion in potential, and into a wing sauce made at its own Kentucky plant. Texas Roadhouse dinner rolls kept up an even faster pace, up 28.1% in the quarter and 76% for the year to $58 million, selling nearly twice as fast per distribution point as the category average. New York Bakery grew 2.8% and took 220 basis points of share to a leading 45.5%, while branded croutons picked up another 100 basis points. Record operating cash flow of $283.8 million helped fund $36.3 million in buybacks and a 63rd straight annual dividend increase.
That momentum is about to run into a real headwind. A Cyclospora outbreak is expected to cut fiscal first-quarter net sales by roughly 250 basis points in both the retail and foodservice segments, and management is modeling the recovery on a similar 2018 episode that took about four months to fade. CFO Tom Pigott was blunt about the near-term cost, saying the company does "not expect to be able to grow our margins" in the first quarter, and Marzetti is guiding to a roughly 15% decline in first-quarter operating income.

#quarter #sales

Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. The fund achieved a strong quarter, gaining 24.6% (Institutional Shares), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index (16.7%) and the S&P 500 (15.2%). Year to date, it's up 11.7%, surpassing its benchmarks. The first half of 2026 mirrored the previous year, with a 10.4% drawdown in Q1 due to geopolitical tensions, similar to last year's tariff-related decline. However, the fund rebounded with a 24.6% gain in Q2 after a cease-fire and declining oil prices. Stock selection drove the outperformance, contributing 940bps, while sector allocation detracted 152bps. In a volatile market, the firm remains focused on identifying high-quality, competitively advantaged companies and is optimistic about long-term prospects, investing when prices align with intrinsic values. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund highlighted Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG). Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG), a Korean technology and e-commerce platform that operates through Product Commerce and Developing Offerings segments, detracted from the fund's performance this quarter. On August 31, 2026, Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) closed at $16.06 per share. Over the past month, Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) declined 4.29%, and its shares are down 43.47% over the past year. Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) has a market capitalization of $28.87 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $14.92 to $34.08.
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund stated the following regarding Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG), Korea's largest e-commerce platform, detracted from performance with shares down 7.7%. The stock came under pressure following first-quarter results, where in-line revenue was overshadowed by softer second-quarter guidance as capacity and supply chain investments made ahead of Coupang's 2025 data breach weighed on margins while customer volumes recovered. Sentiment was further weighed down by a record KRW 624.7 billion (about US $430 million) privacy fine stemming from an investigation into the breach, while a rotation of fast money into AI and semiconductor names added to the weakness. Despite these headwinds, our conviction remains intact. We view the margin pressure as temporary, and the fine removes a key overhang and reinforces our belief that the breach does not reflect a structural loss of market share. By the end of April, Coupang recovered roughly 80% of the post-breach decline in WOW Membership (its paid subscription program), with returning members resuming prior spending levels. We continue to view Coupang as a competitively advantaged e-commerce business gaining share in its core market while scaling Taiwan operations."

#fund #baron

On August 25, The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) reported third-quarter results that hit a target management had been promising for the medium term, not the near term. Return on equity reached 14.2%, adjusted net income climbed to $2.97 billion, and adjusted earnings per share rose to $2.28 from $1.88 a year earlier, a 21% jump. CEO Scott Thomson signaled that 14% won't be the high-water mark for the bank's returns going forward. With every division growing at once, the quarter reads like a strategy finally clicking into place.
Canadian Banking earned $1.1 billion, up 12% year over year, with return on equity jumping 160 basis points sequentially to 19.4%. That came from a fifth straight quarter of margin expansion, plus commercial loan growth that accelerated to 3% sequentially after 2% the quarter before, with small business lending up 10% year over year. Credit card premium mix rose to 45% of new acquisitions, up from 35% a year ago.
Global Banking and Markets posted its best quarterly net income ever, $647 million, up 37% year over year, helped by a net interest margin that expanded more than 30 basis points and a run of marquee deals, including the two largest debt capital markets issuances ever done in Canada and the country's biggest IPO since 2021. Loans in that segment grew 7% sequentially as the bank reinvests after a period of deliberate optimization.
Global Wealth Management earnings rose 23% to $515 million as the segment posted net sales of $3 billion for the quarter, a Q3 record, while **** ets under management reached $474 billion. Referrals between Canadian Banking and Wealth Management hit $14 billion year to date, with commercial-to-wealth referrals up 33%. International Banking added $725 million, up 6% on a constant dollar basis, with retail loans growing 5% as management leans into primary banking relationships. The bank also logged its tenth straight quarter of positive operating leverage.
The quarter wasn't friction-free. Expenses grew 14% year over year, driven largely by performance-based pay and a 16% increase in technology spending to $1.5 billion. Chief Risk Officer Shannon McGinnis flagged, "We continue to monitor some pockets of weakness, including elevated mortgage delinquencies," even with the retail book carrying an average FICO score of 798. International Banking's provision for credit losses ran at 138 basis points, well above the 42 basis points booked in Canadian Banking, and the segment absorbed an incremental $57 million provision tied to a corporate account in Brazil that management said it continues to work through.

#quarter #billion #points #wealth

On August 25, SelectQuote (NASDAQ:SLQT) told investors that cash generation, not growth, is now the entire point of owning the stock. Fiscal 2026 revenue reached $1.62 billion, up 6% year over year, and operating cash flow climbed $44 million from the prior year. But the same release showed a fourth-quarter net loss of $16.8 million, a reversal from $12.9 million in net income a year earlier, and a fiscal 2027 guide that points meaningfully lower on the top line. That gap between the narrative and the numbers underneath it is worth sitting with.
Healthcare Services, built around the company's SelectRx pharmacy, generated $845 million in revenue for fiscal 2026, up 14% even as Inflation Reduction Act drug pricing changes cut into the segment starting in the back half of the year. That business exited the fourth quarter at an annualized adjusted EBITDA run rate of nearly $50 million, roughly double the $25 million it produced across the full year, and management expects those margins to keep expanding as more prescriptions route through the company's Olathe, Kansas facility, which is already shipping about 30% more efficiently than its older sites.
Layered on top, SelectQuote identified more than $30 million in annualized run rate savings from AI-enabled enrollment tools and workflow automation. The Senior segment, meanwhile, held a 26% adjusted EBITDA margin for a fourth straight year in the mid-20% range, evidence that the agent-led distribution model keeps producing steady profit even when Medicare Advantage carriers shift benefits underneath it. Add in a commissions receivable balance north of $1 billion, and the company argues its underlying earnings power is bigger than its stock price reflects.
The guidance tells a different story. SelectQuote expects fiscal 2027 revenue of $1.35 billion to $1.45 billion, roughly 14% below fiscal 2026 at the midpoint, with Medicare Advantage approved policies projected to fall another 10% to 15% after already declining 4% this past year. Senior segment revenue already dropped 4% in fiscal 2026 to $576 million, partly because a major carrier partner pulled back its own marketing spending, a reminder of how much SelectQuote's results depend on decisions made by insurers it does not control.
The Inflation Reduction Act will keep pressuring Healthcare Services revenue through fiscal 2027, with especially messy comparisons in the first half. SelectRx membership already moderated to 109,039 members and is expected to dip further before recovering. Underneath all of it sits $800 million in debt and preferred equity carrying a roughly 12% funding cost, translating into $45 million of annual cash interest that has to be paid regardless of how enrollment season goes. Management itself called the term life insurance market competitive on customer acquisition costs, a small but telling admission that not every corner of the business is running cleanly.

#million #fiscal #already

Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. The fund achieved a strong quarter, gaining 24.6% (Institutional Shares), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index (16.7%) and the S&P 500 (15.2%). Year to date, it's up 11.7%, surpassing its benchmarks. The first half of 2026 mirrored the previous year, with a 10.4% drawdown in Q1 due to geopolitical tensions, similar to last year's tariff-related decline. However, the fund rebounded with a 24.6% gain in Q2 after a cease-fire and declining oil prices. Stock selection drove the outperformance, contributing 940bps, while sector allocation detracted 152bps. In a volatile market, the firm remains focused on identifying high-quality, competitively advantaged companies and is optimistic about long-term prospects, investing when prices align with intrinsic values. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund highlighted Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP). Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP), a Canada-based e-commerce technology company that provides a cloud-based platform for individuals and companies to create and manage their operations, detracted from performance in the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) closed at $147.37 per share. Over the past month, Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) returned 19.52%, but its shares are up 5.99% over the past year. Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) has a market capitalization of $189.59 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $94.00 to $182.19.
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund stated the following regarding Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP), a leading global commerce platform serving merchants across online and offline channels, detracted from performance in the second quarter with the stock down 3.7%. The decline was driven by multiple compression (its P/E was down 8.5%11) rather than any deterioration in the underlying business or fundamental outlook. Shopify continued to post healthy growth in gross merchandise volume and revenue, which were up 30% and 32% year-on-year, respectively. Instead, the pressure reflected investor concerns about the company's long-term positioning in a future state of e-commerce that may rely more heavily on AI-driven applications than traditional websites. We view those concerns as misplaced and see Shopify as an AI winner. Two decades of proprietary data across millions of merchants provide Shopify with a strong foundation for AI tools that improve merchant outcomes. Recent product releases also embed the platform more deeply within the emerging agentic commerce ecosystem while creating new monetization opportunities. We continue to believe that Shopify is the category-defining platform for modern commerce, benefiting from durable secular growth

Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. The fund achieved a strong quarter, gaining 24.6% (Institutional Shares), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index (16.7%) and the S&P 500 (15.2%). Year to date, it's up 11.7%, surpassing its benchmarks. The first half of 2026 mirrored the previous year, with a 10.4% drawdown in Q1 due to geopolitical tensions, similar to last year's tariff-related decline. However, the fund rebounded with a 24.6% gain in Q2 after a cease-fire and declining oil prices. Stock selection drove the outperformance, contributing 940bps, while sector allocation detracted 152bps. In a volatile market, the firm remains focused on identifying high-quality, competitively advantaged companies and is optimistic about long-term prospects, investing when prices align with intrinsic values. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund highlighted Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) as a notable contributor to performance. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is the world's leading contract chip manufacturer, producing advanced semiconductors for major global technology companies. On August 31, 2026, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) closed at $415.32 per share. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) fell 0.44% over the past month, while its shares gained 81.85% over the past 52 weeks. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) has a market capitalization of $1.97 Trillion.
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund stated the following regarding Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is the world's largest contract chipmaker and the leading manufacturer of advanced logic semiconductors used in modern AI accelerators. Shares rose 41.6% during the quarter as the company continues to report stellar financial results underpinned by AI demand with revenue growth of 35% year-on-year and EPS growth of 58%, with 66% gross margins and 58% operating margins. High-performance computing now represents the majority of TSMC's business. AI demand is consuming so much leading-edge capacity that smartphone and PC production is increasingly shifting to older technology nodes, reversing a dynamic that defined the foundry industry for much of the past decade. Management also raised its full-year outlook and increased capital spending to support demand that remains well above available supply. We retain long term conviction in TSMC and view its leading-edge manufacturing monopoly, pricing power, and technology roadmap as durable advantages that support a long duration of growth."

#baron

Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE). Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE), a US-based education services company, detracted from performance this quarter. On August 31, 2026, Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) closed at $148.13 per share. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) fell 1.77% over the past month, and its shares are down 27.09% over the past 52 weeks. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) has a market capitalization of around $3.86 billion with a 52-week trading range between $134.27 - $223.04.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOPE), the education services provider, declined approximately 16% and was the portfolio's largest detractor. Our investment thesis remains intact; LOPE's steady, profitable, countercyclical enrollment business was simply left behind in a market that rewarded beta and speculation. Enrollment trends and cash generation remain consistent with our expectations, and we continue to hold the position."

#Education #lope #market #partners

Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT). LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) is a medical device company focusing on the manufacturing and development of products and services for vascular surgery. On August 31, 2026, LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) closed at $80.28 per share.LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) declined 24.11% in a month and 15.52% over the past 52 weeks. LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) has a market capitalization of $1.84 billion with a 52-week trading range between $78.27 - 118.01.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT), our peripheral vascular device holding, declined approximately 12% in a quarter when nearly everything profitable in small cap health care went down and nearly everything speculative went up. The company's niche leadership, pricing power, and consistent execution are unchanged, and we view the weakness as sentiment-driven rather than fundamental."
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 22 hedge fund portfolios held LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) at the end of the second quarter which was 26 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI sto

Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE:OII). Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE:OII), a subsea engineering and offshore services company that serves the offshore energy, defense, aerospace, and manufacturing industries, was added to the portfolio in the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE:OII) closed at $51.76 per share. The one-month return of Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE:OII) was 2.64% and its shares gained 112.92% over the past 52 weeks. Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE:OII) has a market capitalization of $5.15 billion.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE:OII) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Within energy, we repositioned toward services. We initiated Oceaneering International (OII), a leader in subsea robotics and offshore services, as offshore and subsea capital spending emerges from a seven-year drought and the U.S. rig count climbs; the position was funded in part by our exit of natural gas producer CNX Resources (CNX)."

#small #riverwater #investor #letter

Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN). The Fund added Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN) which engages in transporting truckload shipments of general commodities in interstate and intrastate commerce, to its portfolio during the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN) closed at $39.18 per share. The one-month return of Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN) was 2.27% and its shares gained 37.43% over the past 52 weeks. Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN) has a market capitalization of $2.35 billion with a 52-week trading range between $23.06 to $47.49.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Late in the quarter we initiated Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN), one of the largest truckload carriers. A landmark liability ruling now places responsibility for driver safety squarely on carriers with the balance sheets to insure it, a change we believe will force as much as a third of industry capacity, concentrated among small and marginal operators, to consolidate or exit. Large, well-capitalized carriers such as Werner should be the direct beneficiaries through pricing power and share gains. Only two of fifteen covering ****** ysts rated the stock a buy when we purchased it, which is precisely the setup we look for: identifying the inflection before the upgrade cycle begins."

#wern

Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted Stevanato Group S.p.A. (NYSE:STVN) as a new holding. Stevanato Group S.p.A. (NYSE:STVN) is an Italian company that designs and distributes products and processes that offer integrated solutions for the biopharma and healthcare industries. On August 31, 2026, Stevanato Group S.p.A. (NYSE:STVN) closed at $21.03 per share. Stevanato Group S.p.A. (NYSE:STVN) gained 9.06% in the past month while its shares lost 5.39% over the past 52 weeks. Stevanato Group S.p.A. (NYSE:STVN) has a market capitalization of $5.85 billion and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $12.89 to $28.00.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding Stevanato Group S.p.A. (NYSE:STVN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"In addition, we initiated positions in Stevanato Group S.p.A. (NYSE:STVN), a leading global provider of drug containment, drug delivery, and diagnostic solutions to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life sciences industries. The stock sold off following the launch of oral GLP-1s, which many believe will end the need for injectable forms. Experts believe an expanding GLP-1 TAM, coupled with varying use cases, will necessitate ongoing need for injectable forms. Indeed, 25% of drugs approved in 2025 were biologics which will require injectable devices. This market overreaction offered an attractive entry valuation of 12.5x FY2026E EBITDA vs. STVN's historic multiple of 20X and its nearest comp West Pharmaceutical (WST) at approximately 22–25x."

#stevanato #partners #investor

Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT) as a new addition. NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT) provides carrier service ****** urance, cybersecurity, and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) solutions to protect digital business services against disruptions. On August 31, 2026, NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT) closed at $38.83 per share. The one-month return of NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT) was -8.01% and its shares gained 57.59% over the past 52 weeks. NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT) has a market capitalization of $2.82 billion with a 52-week trading range between $24.27 - $45.28.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"We initiated a position in NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT) in April. Founded in 1984, NetScout Systems, Inc. (NTCT), with a stated mission of "Guardians of A Connected World," has been a technology innovator providing service ****** urance and cybersecurity solutions based on its pioneering deep packet inspection technology at scale. While high-growth competitors trade at significant premiums, NetScout offers a more attractive valuation for what we view as a durable software business with deeply embedded customer relationships among the Fortune 500. Its deep packet inspection technology is increasingly critical as enterprises navigate complex digital transformations, cloud migrations, and a heightened threat landscape. We view NTCT as a disciplined way to gain exposure to secular technology tail