Should You Hold Avantor (AVTR)?

Group 1: Company Performance - Broyhill Asset Management reported a 3.7% net appreciation in its Broyhill Partners fund for Q2 2025, which is lower than the MSCI All Country World Index's return of 11.7% for the same period [1] - Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR) experienced a 17% decline in its stock price during Q2 2025, continuing its downward trend into Q3 after missing earnings and cutting guidance [3] - Avantor, Inc. reported flat revenue of $1.68 billion year-over-year on an organic basis for Q2 2025 [4] Group 2: Market Context and Competitors - The competitive environment in the biopharma and healthcare sectors has intensified due to budget cuts in academic research and commercial pharmaceuticals, leading to market share losses for Avantor [3] - Following the decline in Avantor's stock, Broyhill Asset Management shifted some exposure to competitor Thermo Fisher Scientific while evaluating market dynamics [3] Group 3: Investor Sentiment and Future Outlook - An activist investor has acquired a significant stake in Avantor and is pushing for a board overhaul or strategic review, indicating potential changes in governance [3] - Despite recent challenges, Broyhill Asset Management believes Avantor represents significant value at current levels and anticipates a positive shift with new board perspectives [3] - The number of hedge funds holding Avantor increased from 38 to 49 in Q2 2025, suggesting growing interest among institutional investors [4]