Arista Networks: A Wonderful Company At A Not-So-Fair Price (NYSE:ANET)

Core Insights - Arista Networks (ANET) is characterized by excellent capital allocation, with a return on capital (ROC) of 30% on a trailing twelve months (ttm) basis [1] - The company has demonstrated strong double-digit growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last 10 years for revenue, net income, and free cash flow (FCF) of approximately 26%, 38%, and 50% respectively [1] - Arista Networks maintains high margins, reporting around 64% gross margin, 43% operating margin, and 40% net margin [1] - The company has a robust balance sheet, holding $10 billion in cash [1] Investment Strategy - The investment approach focuses on acquiring high-quality companies with significant growth potential at attractive prices, regardless of market capitalization or industry [1] - A bottom-up analysis combining fundamental and technical assessments is employed to identify leading sectors and stocks, particularly at the onset of a bull market [1] - The strategy emphasizes capital appreciation through growth stocks and dividend growth stocks, while avoiding high-yield dividend stocks and deep value stocks [1] - The portfolio is managed with long positions only, minimizing risks and avoiding margin, shorting, and derivatives, with occasional use of options for enhancing overall returns [1] - A concentrated portfolio of 15 to 20 stocks is maintained to ensure focus on the best investment ideas, aiming for good returns with acceptable volatility [1]