Polen Global Growth Strategy Sold ICON plc (ICLR) Due to Short-Term Growth Challenges

Group 1 - Polen Capital's fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter indicates a challenging environment for its quality-heavy portfolio, which returned -2.5% gross of fees, lagging behind the MSCI All Country World Index's 3.3% gain [1] - The stock market experienced a significant 5% sell-off in Q4 2025 but quickly rebounded to all-time highs, reflecting a V-shaped recovery similar to that seen from April lows [1] - The portfolio's software holdings underperformed despite revenue and earnings growth, contributing to the overall performance headwinds faced by the Fund [1] Group 2 - ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is highlighted as a stock in the Polen Global Growth Strategy, with a market capitalization of $8.56 billion [2] - The stock of ICON Public Limited Company closed at $110.03 per share on March 09, 2026, with a one-month return of -23.88% and a 52-week loss of 37.40% [2] - Polen Global Growth Strategy decided to exit its position in ICON Public Limited Company due to short to intermediate-term growth challenges, reallocating to opportunities with stronger business momentum [3] Group 3 - ICON Public Limited Company is not among the 40 most popular stocks among hedge funds heading into 2026, with 41 hedge fund portfolios holding the stock at the end of Q4, down from 43 in the previous quarter [4] - While acknowledging ICON's potential, the strategy suggests that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and less downside risk [4]