Performance Overview - Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund gained 24.9% in Q2, outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index (17.8%) and the S&P 500 Index (10.9%) [2][4] - Year-to-date performance shows the Fund up 8.2%, compared to 6.1% for the Russell 1000 Growth Index and 6.2% for the S&P 500 Index [2][4] Annualized Performance - The Fund's annualized performance for various periods shows strong returns, with 1-year performance at 25.15% for Institutional Shares, compared to 17.22% for the Russell 1000 Growth Index [3] - Over the last 3 years, the Fund achieved 28.45% annualized returns, significantly higher than the 25.76% for the Russell 1000 Growth Index [3] Stock Selection and Sector Performance - The Fund's outperformance in Q2 was driven by stock selection, contributing 743 basis points, while sector allocation had a modest negative impact [5] - Notable performance in Information Technology (34.0% gain) and Consumer Discretionary (23.6% gain), outperforming the Index in these sectors [5] Key Contributors and Detractors - Top contributors included NVIDIA (4.07%), Cloudflare (2.86%), and Meta Platforms (2.23%) [14] - NVIDIA's stock rose 45.8% in Q2, driven by strong demand for AI infrastructure [14] - Key detractors included argenx SE (-0.23%) and Eli Lilly (-0.12%), with argenx facing lower-than-expected sales and Eli Lilly impacted by competitive concerns [17][18] Recent Activity and Portfolio Adjustments - The Fund added to positions in Eli Lilly, Samsara, Illumina, TSMC, ASML, Datadog, KKR, and Trade Desk during Q2 [24] - The largest addition was Eli Lilly, focusing on its GLP-1 medications for diabetes and obesity, which are expected to drive significant revenue growth [26] Market Outlook and Investment Philosophy - The company emphasizes a long-term investment approach, focusing on fundamentals rather than short-term market volatility [38] - The outlook suggests a wide range of potential outcomes, indicating that extreme market volatility is likely [38] Portfolio Structure - As of June 30, 2025, the top 10 holdings represented 58.0% of the Fund's net assets, with a total of 32 investments in the portfolio [22] - The portfolio is heavily weighted in Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, Health Care, and Financials, comprising 98.0% of net assets [22]
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund Q2 2025 Shareholder Letter