Core Insights - The Optimist Fund achieved a return of +9.1% in Q3 2025, significantly outperforming its benchmark [5] - The fund's year-to-date return stands at 44.5%, compared to the benchmark's 11.1% [5] - The fund anticipates continued growth opportunities over the next three and a half years, similar to recent performance [4] Fund Performance - The fund's performance over various periods shows significant volatility, with a notable recovery from a -51.4% return in 2022 to 82.9% in 2023 [5] - Compound returns as of September 30, 2025, indicate strong performance across 1-year (61.2%), 2-year (65.6%), and 3-year (61.9%) periods [5] Top Contributors - **Wayfair**: Revenue increased by approximately 5% year-over-year to $3.27 billion, marking its fastest growth since Q1 2021. Adjusted EBITDA reached $205 million, indicating a margin above 6% for the first time since Q2 2021 [7][8][9] - **ThredUp**: Revenue rose 16% year-over-year to $77.7 million, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by around 100%. Active buyers grew by 17% to 1.47 million [10][11][12] - **Carvana**: Retail units sold increased by 41% year-over-year to 143,280 vehicles, with total revenue rising 42% to $4.84 billion. Adjusted EBITDA reached $601 million, reflecting a 12.4% margin [13][14][15] Top Detractors - **Monday.com**: Despite a 27% increase in revenue, the company reduced its second-half 2025 revenue guidance due to weaker performance marketing trends, causing investor concerns [20][21][22] - **Fiverr**: Results were below expectations, leading to a reduction in position size despite maintaining an attractive risk/reward profile [25][26] Portfolio Composition - The top 10 holdings comprise approximately 85% of the portfolio, including ThredUp, Monday.com, Carvana, Uber, Wayfair, DoorDash, First Advantage, Fiverr, Latham Group, and Medpace [27] Notable Changes - The fund exited positions in HelloFresh and Revolve due to management changes and reduced confidence in growth prospects, reallocating capital to more promising opportunities [29][30] Company Insights - **Medpace**: A leading contract research organization (CRO) focused on small and mid-sized biotech companies, showing strong revenue growth of 14.2% year-over-year to $603.3 million [31][18][35] - The company has a disciplined capital allocation strategy, with a history of share repurchases during market downturns, enhancing long-term growth potential [34][35]

Market Overview - Mid-cap stocks advanced in Q3, with the Russell Midcap Index returning 5.3%, driven by monetary policy shifts and stabilizing earnings [2] - Value stocks outperformed growth stocks, with the Russell Midcap Value Index returning 6.2% compared to 2.8% for the Russell Midcap Growth Index [2] Policy and Sentiment - Investor sentiment improved due to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill and progress on trade agreements, reducing policy uncertainty [3] - Earnings estimates stabilized, particularly in technology and AI sectors, despite some economic segments remaining weak [3] Portfolio Performance - The ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy outperformed its benchmark, with strong stock selection in consumer staples and health care [4] - Performance Food Group and Casey's General Stores were key contributors, benefiting from strategic initiatives and strong execution [4] Sector Contributions - Health care was a significant driver of outperformance, with companies like argenx and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals showing strong results [5] - AppLovin's stock rallied due to excitement around its new e-commerce business, indicating potential for cash flow growth [6] Challenges - Stock selection in consumer discretionary and materials sectors posed challenges, with Chewy and Crown Holdings underperforming [7][8] New Positions - A new position was initiated in QXO, a building materials distribution platform, expected to consolidate the industry and improve efficiency [9] - Bio-Techne was also added to the portfolio, capitalizing on recent weakness and offering durable revenue streams [10] Exits - The position in ATS Corporation was exited due to leadership changes raising concerns about future performance [11] Outlook - The outlook for mid-cap equities remains constructive, with expectations for selective stock picking amid potential volatility [13] - The focus will be on businesses with competitive advantages and resilient cash flows [14] Portfolio Highlights - The ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy saw contributions from 10 of 11 sectors, with IT and industrials being the largest contributors [16] - Stock selection in consumer staples, IT, and health care sectors positively impacted performance, while consumer discretionary and materials sectors detracted [17]

Core Insights - Fortrea Holdings Inc. is identified as a cheap stock with potential for growth over the next five years, with Barclays raising its price target to $8 from $6 while maintaining an Underweight rating [1][3] Financial Performance - In Q2, Fortrea reported quarterly revenue of $710.3 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.23% [1][2] - The company achieved an Adjusted EBITDA of $54.9 million and an adjusted net income per diluted share of $0.19, prompting management to raise its full-year 2025 revenue guidance to a range of $2.6 to $2.7 billion [2] - Despite revenue growth, Fortrea recorded a GAAP net loss of $374.9 million, or $4.14 per diluted share, primarily due to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $309.1 million [3] Business Overview - Fortrea Holdings Inc. operates as a contract research organization, providing biopharmaceutical product and medical device development solutions to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device customers [4] - The company's backlog stood at $7.547 billion, indicating a strong pipeline of future business [3] - Fortrea affirmed that its cost-saving initiatives are on track, which may enhance future profitability [3]

Core Insights - The healthcare sector requires companies to develop unique technologies or products to maintain long-term success and withstand competition [1] - Identified companies with potential for sustained success include argenx SE, ICON plc, and Edwards Lifesciences Corp [2] Company Summaries Argenx SE - Argenx specializes in treatments for autoimmune diseases, particularly with its FDA-approved drug efgartigimod (VYVGART), which targets chronic autoimmune conditions like myasthenia gravis [2][3] - The company reported a 97% year-over-year increase in product sales, indicating strong market demand and growth potential [4] - All 21 analysts covering argenx have assigned a Buy rating, reflecting confidence in its future performance [4] ICON plc - ICON is a leading contract research organization (CRO) that provides outsourced development and commercialization services, particularly excelling in decentralized clinical trials [6][7] - Following its $12 billion acquisition of PRA Health Sciences, ICON has solidified its position as one of the largest CROs globally [6] - The company has demonstrated revenue resilience, with a commitment to shareholder value through $250 million in share repurchases and an authorization for up to $1 billion in additional buybacks [8] Edwards Lifesciences Corp - Edwards Lifesciences is a leader in medical devices for structural heart disease, particularly known for its transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system [9][10] - The company has a strong market share in TAVR, with a favorable shift towards this minimally invasive procedure among surgeons [10] - Despite a slight decline in earnings per share year-over-year, analysts project over 12% earnings growth for the upcoming year, supported by robust R&D investments [11][12]

Core Viewpoint - A class action lawsuit has been filed against Fortrea Holdings, Inc. and certain officers for alleged violations of federal securities laws during the Class Period from July 3, 2023, to February 28, 2025, seeking damages for misleading statements regarding the company's business and financial prospects [1][6]. Company Overview - Fortrea is a global contract research organization (CRO) that provides biopharmaceutical product and medical device development solutions to various customers [4]. - The company was spun off from Labcorp Holdings Inc. in June 2023, becoming a standalone publicly traded entity [4]. - Fortrea claims to have the scale and expertise to deliver tailored solutions to its customers, with a focus on operational agility and financial flexibility [5]. Financial Performance and Projections - In March 2024, Fortrea targeted an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 13% for 2025, which was later revised to a range of 11% to 12% in August 2024, still representing a projected increase of 30% to 40% in adjusted EBITDA dollars [6]. - The lawsuit alleges that Fortrea overestimated revenue contributions from Pre-Spin Projects and overstated cost savings from exiting transition services agreements (TSAs), leading to inflated EBITDA targets [6]. Market Reactions and Analyst Reports - On September 25, 2024, Jefferies downgraded Fortrea from buy to hold, citing weaknesses in the business model amid pressure on biotechnology funding, resulting in a stock price drop of 12.29% [8]. - Following the cancellation of two scheduled conferences, Baird Equity Research downgraded Fortrea to neutral on December 6, 2024, leading to an 8.06% decline in stock price [9]. - On March 3, 2025, Fortrea announced that its revenue and adjusted EBITDA trajectories for 2025 were not aligned with prior expectations, causing a significant stock price drop of 25.05% [10]. Credit Rating and Future Outlook - After the Class Period, Fitch Ratings downgraded Fortrea, projecting a 2025 EBITDA margin of 7.0% to 8.0%, a significant decline from earlier targets of 13% and 11%-12% [11].

Core Viewpoint - A class action lawsuit has been filed against Fortrea Holdings, Inc. for allegedly misleading investors regarding the progress and financial expectations of its Pre-Spin projects [1][2][4]. Company Overview - Fortrea Holdings, Inc. is a global contract research organization (CRO) that provides development solutions for biopharmaceutical products and medical devices [1]. - The company was spun off from Labcorp Holdings Inc. in June 2023 and operates as a standalone publicly traded entity [2]. Financial Performance - On March 3, 2025, Fortrea announced that its revenue and adjusted EBITDA projections for 2025 were not meeting prior expectations, indicating that its Pre-Spin projects were underperforming [3]. - The company reported that its Pre-Spin projects were "late in their life cycle" and had lower revenue and profitability than anticipated for 2025 [3]. - Fortrea's stock price dropped by $3.47 per share, or 25.05%, closing at $10.38 per share following the announcement of disappointing financial results [3]. Allegations and Misstatements - The lawsuit claims that Fortrea overestimated the revenue contributions from its Pre-Spin projects and overstated potential cost savings from exiting transition services agreements (TSAs) [4]. - It is alleged that the company's previously announced EBITDA targets for 2025 were inflated, leading to an overstatement of its post-Spin-Off business model viability and financial prospects [4].