Market Overview - The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has increased the official cash rate to 3.85%, marking the first rate hike in over two years [2] - ASX 200 futures indicate a potential 40-point decline for Australian shares following the RBA's decision [1] - Wall Street's tech sector has faced a selloff, with the Nasdaq dropping as much as 1.4% due to concerns over potential AI disruptions [2] Company News - Resource Minister Madeleine King has warned that China's pause on rare earth controls may not last, impacting miners like BHP (ASX:BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) [5] - Rio Tinto's Australian listing has decreased nearly 2% amid Glencore merger discussions, while its London listing has increased by 9% [5] - Credit Corp (ASX:CCP) CEO Thomas Beregi stated that the company's bid for Humm Group (ASX:HUM) is not expected to be made public until finalized [6] - Synlait Milk (ASX:SM1) reported a net loss of NZ$82 million for the six months ending January 31 due to manufacturing issues [6] - Amcor Plc (ASX:AMC) is set to announce its earnings to shareholders today [6] Commodity and Forex Updates - The Australian dollar has risen above US 70 cents [7] - Iron ore prices are stable at $102.80 per tonne in Singapore [7] - Brent crude oil has increased by 3% to $68.08 per barrel [7] - Gold prices have surged to $5,054 per ounce [7] - US natural gas futures have risen by 4.2% to $3.37 per gigajoule [8]

Core Insights - Vulcan Value Partners reported positive results across all its investment strategies for Q4 2025, with the Large Cap Composite returning -1.5% in Q4 and 7.9% YTD, and the All-Cap Composite returning 1.3% in Q4 and 10.7% YTD, despite overvalued markets [1] Investment Performance - The Small Cap Composite (Net) gained 3.2% in Q4 and 9.5% YTD, while the Focus Composite (Net) and Focus Plus Composite (Net) both returned 0.1% in Q4, with YTD returns of 7.1% and 6.2% respectively [1] - The firm emphasized a focus on safety and long-term gains over short-term performance, drawing parallels to the late 1990s dot-com bubble [1] Company Specifics - Vulcan Value Partners exited its holdings in SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSNC) during Q4 2025, which had a one-month return of -4.23% and a 52-week gain of 7.31% [2] - As of January 22, 2026, SS&C Technologies had a market capitalization of $20.961 billion, with shares closing at $85.83 [2] Investment Rationale - The company had initially invested in SS&C Technologies in the summer of 2023, anticipating positive outcomes from its investments in sales, marketing, and product development [3] - SS&C Technologies exceeded expectations in organic revenue growth, margins, and free cash flow, leading Vulcan Value Partners to sell its position and reallocate to more attractive opportunities [3]

Core Insights - Vulcan Value Partners reported positive results across all its strategies for the year, with the All-Cap Composite returning 1.3% in Q4 and 10.7% YTD, despite overvalued markets [1] - The firm emphasizes safety and long-term gains over short-term performance, drawing parallels to the late 1990s dot-com bubble and current AI disruptions [1] Company Highlights: CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) - CarMax, Inc. was added to Vulcan's All-Cap Strategy, with a one-month return of 21.80% and a 52-week loss of 42.19%, closing at $47.83 per share with a market cap of $5.826 billion [2] - CarMax is the largest used car retailer in the U.S. and has faced underperformance due to macroeconomic, competitive, and operational factors, including a depressed used car supply and increased competition from Carvana [3] - Despite competitive pressures, CarMax's customer experience, brand strength, scale, vertical integration, and omnichannel approach are seen as competitive advantages that will help it gain market share in a fragmented market [3] - The company is making operational changes to increase volumes, lower costs, and expand profitability, with expectations of a recovery in earnings as the used car market normalizes [3] - CarMax has a solid balance sheet, generates significant free cash flow, and is actively buying back shares at a discount to intrinsic value [3]

Group 1: Investment Performance - Vulcan Value Partners' strategies delivered positive results in 2025, with the Large Cap Composite returning -1.5% in Q4 and 7.9% YTD, and the Small Cap Composite gaining 3.2% in Q4 and 9.5% YTD [1] - The Focus Composite and Focus Plus Composite both returned 0.1% in Q4, with YTD returns of 7.1% and 6.2% respectively, while the All-Cap Composite returned 1.3% in Q4 and 10.7% YTD [1] Group 2: Market Context and Strategy - Despite overvalued markets, the firm improved its price-to-value ratios, prioritizing safety and long-term gains over short-term performance, reminiscent of the late 1990s dot-com bubble [1] - The firm is maintaining its investment discipline in light of potential overvaluation in AI-related businesses [1] Group 3: Company Focus - Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. - Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. is a specialty products and solutions provider for insurance brokers, with shares trading between $48.90 and $77.16 over the past 52 weeks, closing at $50.40 on January 22, 2026 [2] - The company generates approximately 55% of its revenue from brokerage and 45% from delegated authority businesses, with the excess and surplus brokerage market representing 26% of commercial property and casualty premiums [3] - The excess and surplus market has grown at an 11% CAGR over the past 25 years, while the admitted market has grown at a 4% CAGR, indicating a favorable growth outlook for Ryan Specialty [3] - Ryan Specialty's delegated authority business does not retain balance sheet risk, and the company has experienced organic growth at a double-digit rate for the past 15 years [3] - Current pricing headwinds in the commercial property sector are viewed as a short-term issue, with the stock price currently below its long-term intrinsic value, presenting an investment opportunity [3]

Core Insights - Vulcan Value Partners reported positive results across all its investment strategies for the year, with varying returns in Q4 2025 and year-to-date (YTD) performance [1] - The firm emphasized a focus on safety and long-term gains, despite the overvalued market conditions reminiscent of the late 1990s dot-com bubble [1] - Vulcan Value Partners maintains a disciplined investment approach, aiming to improve price-to-value ratios while navigating current market challenges [1] Performance Summary - The Large Cap Composite (Net) returned -1.5% in Q4 and 7.9% YTD - The Small Cap Composite (Net) gained 3.2% in Q4 and 9.5% YTD - The Focus Composite (Net) returned 0.1% in Q4 and 7.1% YTD - The Focus Plus Composite (Net) returned 0.1% in Q4 and 6.2% YTD - The All-Cap Composite (Net) returned 1.3% in Q4 and 10.7% YTD [1] Company Highlight: Medpace Holdings, Inc. - Medpace Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:MEDP) is a healthcare company specializing in clinical research-based drug and medical device development services [2] - The stock traded between $250.05 and $628.92 over the past 52 weeks, closing at $606.27 on January 22, 2026 [2] - Medpace's one-month return was 6.82%, with a 0.18% gain over the last three months, and it has a market capitalization of approximately $17.078 billion [2] Valuation Insights - Vulcan Value Partners noted a weighted average price to value ratio in the mid-50s, indicating a portfolio trading at a significant discount to intrinsic value [3] - The firm acknowledged that while the majority of its MVP list is overvalued, its valuation methodology remains consistent and reliable [3] - The firm expressed confidence in its valuation approach, suggesting that its discounted companies are indeed undervalued compared to the broader market [3]

Core Viewpoint - The current economic environment characterized by inflation, high-interest rates, potential AI disruptions, and a weakening labor market makes dividend stocks an attractive investment option, particularly those with a long history of dividend payments [1]. Group 1: Economic Context - Inflation and high-interest rates are impacting the economy, leading to a preference for dividend stocks as a stable investment choice [1]. - The labor market is showing signs of weakness, further emphasizing the need for reliable income sources such as dividends [1]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - The focus is on investing in quality blue-chip stocks, Business Development Companies (BDCs), and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) that provide dividends [1]. - The investment strategy is centered around a buy-and-hold approach, prioritizing quality over quantity to build a sustainable retirement income through dividends in the next 5-7 years [1]. Group 3: Target Audience - The aim is to assist hard-working lower and middle-class workers in building investment portfolios that consist of high-quality, dividend-paying companies [1]. - There is a desire to provide a new perspective to investors to help them achieve financial independence [1].