Seeking Alphaยท2025-09-29 15:59Performance Overview - Baron Durable Advantage Fund increased by 15.6% in Q2, outperforming the S&P 500 Index which gained 10.9% [2][5] - Year-to-date, the Fund is up 7.5%, compared to the Index's 6.2% [2][5] - Since inception in December 2017, the Fund has generated an annualized return of 16.34%, exceeding the Index by 258 basis points [10] Performance Attribution - Over 90% of the Fund's outperformance (469 basis points) was attributed to stock selection, with Information Technology being the best-performing sector [5][6] - Key contributors included Broadcom, NVIDIA, and Microsoft, which significantly rebounded in Q2 after prior losses [6][12][13] - UnitedHealth was the largest detractor, losing over 50% of its value due to missed earnings estimates and management issues [17] Investment Strategy - The Fund focuses on high-quality, well-managed companies at reasonable prices, avoiding poor businesses regardless of price [4][9] - The investment approach emphasizes long-term stability over short-term market fluctuations, with a focus on durable growth characteristics [9][40] - The portfolio is constructed based on bottom-up stock selection rather than benchmark composition [20] Sector Allocation - As of June 30, 2025, Financials and Information Technology represented 63% of the Fund, with other sectors including Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary making up the remaining 35% [21] - The top 10 positions accounted for 54.2% of the Fund's net assets, indicating a concentrated investment strategy [20] Recent Activity - The Fund initiated a new position in Amphenol and added to existing investments in companies like NVIDIA and CME Group [24][25] - Exited positions included UnitedHealth, Accenture, and Texas Instruments, reallocating to higher conviction opportunities [26][36] Outlook - The Fund remains optimistic about the long-term prospects of its holdings, focusing on companies with strong competitive advantages and high returns on invested capital [43] - The strategy includes a disciplined approach to capital allocation, aiming to return 50% of capital to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks [30]