Artisan Value Fund Sold Dollar General (DG) Due to Sustainability Concerns

Group 1 - Artisan Value Fund reported a continued equity market rally in Q3 2025, driven by strong corporate earnings, rising AI investment, and favorable US fiscal policies, resulting in fund returns of 0.83%, 0.91%, and 0.90% for its Investor, Advisor, and Institutional Classes respectively, compared to a 5.33% return for the Russell 1000 Value Index [1] - Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) experienced a one-month return of 24.98% and a 52-week gain of 81.38%, with a closing stock price of $137.52 and a market capitalization of $30.27 billion as of December 29, 2025 [2] - Artisan Value Fund exited its position in Dollar General Corporation, citing concerns about the sustainability of its business turnaround amid tough competition and a weak lower-income consumer market [3] Group 2 - Dollar General Corporation was held by 54 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, a slight decrease from 55 in the previous quarter, indicating a stable interest among hedge funds [4] - Despite recognizing Dollar General's potential, the company believes that certain AI stocks present greater upside potential and lower downside risk, suggesting a shift in investment focus [4]