Core Insights - The Baron Asset Fund underperformed for the second consecutive quarter, declining 4.23% in Q3 2025, while the Index gained 2.78% [3] - The underperformance was primarily due to the Fund's underexposure to Momentum, Beta, and Residual Volatility factors, which led the market higher [3] - The Fund's overexposure to Earnings Quality negatively impacted performance as lower quality stocks rallied during the quarter [3] Sector Performance - Stock selection in IT and Communication Services accounted for about three-quarters of the underperformance, with significant declines from Gartner, Inc. and StubHub Holdings, Inc. [4] - Weakness in Consumer Discretionary was broad-based, with notable declines from Choice Hotels International, Inc. and On Holding AG [5] - Financials were hindered by FactSet Research Systems Inc. and Morningstar, Inc., affected by industry-wide concerns regarding AI and a shift in investor focus [7] - Health Care showed solid stock selection, driven by strong performance from IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. [8] Key Contributors - IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. contributed 1.13% to returns, benefiting from improved foot traffic and revenue growth in its Companion Animal segment [9] - Amphenol Corporation gained 1.01% as expectations for data center spending rose, bolstered by a significant acquisition [10] - SpaceX reported substantial growth in its Starlink service and continued advancements in rocket technology [11][12] Key Detractors - Gartner, Inc. detracted 2.31% from performance due to disappointing earnings and decelerating contract value growth [13] - StubHub Holdings, Inc. faced challenges post-IPO, with investments impacting near-term results [16] - Verisk Analytics, Inc. was affected by a conservative outlook and concerns about the property and casualty insurance market [17]

Market Overview - U.S. equities experienced broad gains in Q3, driven primarily by the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, alongside healthy corporate earnings and reduced trade tensions [2][3] - The "Magnificent Seven" stocks contributed significantly, accounting for 62% of the S&P 500 Index's quarterly gains, with Information Technology, Communication Services, and Consumer Discretionary sectors outperforming the broader market [3] Fund Performance - The Baron Asset Fund underperformed, with Institutional Shares declining 4.23% in Q3, trailing the Russell Midcap Growth Index's gain of 2.78% [9] - The Fund's performance was negatively impacted by underexposure to Momentum, Beta, and Residual Volatility factors, which led the market higher during the quarter [9][10] Sector Analysis - Stock selection in Information Technology and Communication Services was a major contributor to underperformance, particularly due to declines in holdings like Gartner, Inc. and StubHub Holdings, Inc. [11] - Consumer Discretionary sector faced challenges, with notable declines from Choice Hotels International, Inc. and On Holding AG, despite On's strong revenue growth of 38% [12][13] - Financials were hindered by performance issues at FactSet Research Systems Inc. and Morningstar, Inc., while Verisk Analytics, Inc. faced challenges in the Industrials sector [14] Top Contributors and Detractors - IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. was a top contributor, with a 1.13% contribution to return, driven by better-than-expected financial results and improved foot traffic to veterinary clinics [16] - Gartner, Inc. and StubHub Holdings, Inc. were significant detractors, with contributions of -2.31% and -1.39% respectively, due to disappointing earnings and challenging market conditions [19][23] Portfolio Structure - As of September 30, 2025, the Fund held 55 positions, with the top 10 holdings representing 47.2% of net assets, and the largest sector being Information Technology at 24.9% [25][26] - The Fund's investment strategy focuses on long-term holdings in companies with competitive advantages and strong management teams [26] Recent Activity - The Fund initiated a position in Loar Holdings Inc., a niche aerospace parts manufacturer, highlighting the attractiveness of the aerospace industry due to strong growth and pricing power [29][30] - Investments were also made in Skyryse, Inc., which is developing a universal flight operating system aimed at improving aviation safety and accessibility [32] Outlook - The Fund's management remains optimistic about the growth opportunities and competitive positions of its portfolio companies, despite the challenging market environment for high-quality stocks [34][36]

Core Insights - McKesson Corporation has a market capitalization of $97.9 billion and is a leader in healthcare services and information technology, operating through four segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, Prescription Technology Solutions, Medical-Surgical Solutions, and International [1] Financial Performance - McKesson is expected to announce its fiscal Q2 2026 results on November 5, with analysts forecasting an adjusted EPS of $8.92, representing a 26.2% increase from $7.07 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2026, analysts predict an adjusted EPS of $38.12, a 15.3% increase from $33.05 in fiscal 2025 [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, McKesson's stock has increased by 54.9%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's rise of 15.1% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund's decline of 3.1% [4] Recent Developments - Despite reporting a better-than-expected Q1 2026 adjusted EPS of $8.26 and revenue of $97.83 billion, McKesson's shares fell by 5.8% the following day due to a 10.7% drop in GAAP EPS to $6.25, attributed to a $189 million bad debt provision related to the Rite Aid bankruptcy [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus rating for McKesson stock is bullish, with a "Strong Buy" rating from 12 out of 17 analysts, while the average price target is $839.27, indicating a potential upside of 6.3% from current levels [6]

Group 1 - Corporations report profits that may not always lead to higher stock prices due to the quality of earnings, which refers to their reliability, sustainability, and whether they stem from actual sales or accounting practices [1] - The market evaluates earnings based on the risk associated with them, leading to situations where increased earnings do not necessarily result in higher stock valuations [1] - The oil industry's earnings have shown improvement from poor to mediocre, indicating that despite better numbers, the overall situation remains concerning [1] Group 2 - A chart shows average annual total returns from 2000 to 2024 for various asset classes, indicating that the stock market generally outperforms bonds over time [2] - The gap of approximately 4 percentage points between the stock market and bonds aligns with historical trends, but low-risk stocks performed better than expected relative to the market [4] - The performance of low-risk stocks during periods of economic downturns suggests that riskier stocks faced challenges in outperforming the market [4] Group 3 - A subsequent chart displays average annual total returns for the 10 years ending September 25, 2025, where the market significantly outperformed low-risk stocks and bonds [5] - Electricity and water stocks outperformed oil stocks during this period, highlighting a shift in performance among low-risk categories [5]

Group 1 - Zillow's stock experienced an increase following an upgrade from Bernstein, which highlighted improving earnings quality and the potential for interest rates to decrease [2] - Z stock rose by 2.28% to $90.57 in pre-market trading, while ZG stock increased by 2.98% to $87.64 [2]

Core Insights - The article introduces a new contributing analyst to Seeking Alpha, emphasizing the opportunity for individuals to share investment ideas and gain exposure [1] Group 1 - The new analyst specializes in long-term investment opportunities through disciplined, fundamentals-driven research, with a strong academic background in finance, accounting, computer science, and risk management from Columbia University [2] - The analyst's work focuses on earnings quality, accruals analysis, and the residual income model to evaluate corporate performance sustainability, covering sectors such as Financials, TMT, and Healthcare [2] Group 2 - The article highlights the importance of uncovering economic value beyond headline metrics, indicating a thorough approach to investment analysis [2]