Long Leaf Partners’ Fund Increased Its Stake in Albertsons (ACI) on Weakness

Core Insights - Longleaf Partners Fund reported a return of -0.33% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's 8.12% and the Russell 1000 Value's 5.33% [1] - The fund focuses on investments in real assets and brands that generate growing free cash flow (FCF) per share, with an expectation that the FCF multiple could rise from ~10x to the mid-teens [1] Company Overview: Albertsons Companies, Inc. - Albertsons Companies, Inc. is a US-based supermarket operator with a market capitalization of $10.385 billion and a stock price of $19.06 per share as of October 23, 2025 [2] - The stock experienced a one-month return of 7.72% and a 52-week gain of 2.74% [2] Investment Strategy and Performance - Longleaf Partners Fund increased its position in Albertsons during Q3 2025 after a quarterly earnings report that met expectations but did not excite the market [3] - The company has been actively repurchasing shares at a high single-digit annualized pace, which is viewed positively by the fund [3] - Despite competitive pressures from Amazon's grocery initiatives, Albertsons maintains a strong market position due to its real estate, brand recognition, and alignment with owners [3] - Following the quarter, Albertsons reported solid results and announced a significant accelerated share repurchase, enhancing value per share [3]