Conestoga Capital Advisors, an asset management company, released its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter. As many believe, US equities experienced solid returns in 2025, with double-digit gains across all major indices, yet underlying conditions revealed extreme volatility and market leadership. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In Q4 2025, Conestoga Capital Advisors Small Cap Strategy returned -1.89% net-of-fees, trailing the Russell 2000 Growth Index’s 1.22% return. The returns were volatile i ...

Core Insights - Baron Health Care Fund reported a 13.10% increase in the fourth quarter, outperforming the Russell 3000 Health Care Index's 11.92% and the Russell 3000 Index's 2.40% [1] - For the full year, the Fund returned 10.28%, while the benchmarks gained 14.56% and 17.15% respectively [1] - The Fund focuses on investing in businesses with sustainable competitive advantages and strong management, particularly in the healthcare sector, which is expected to show positive momentum through 2026 [1] Company Specifics - Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) was highlighted as a key stock in the Fund's fourth-quarter letter, with a one-month return of -12.36% and a 52-week loss of 5.09% [2] - As of February 5, 2026, Thermo Fisher's stock closed at $542.36, with a market capitalization of $203.769 billion [2] - The Fund has increased its position in Thermo Fisher, citing improving end markets for life sciences tools and stable biopharmaceutical R&D investment [3] - Management of Thermo Fisher anticipates organic revenue growth of 3% to 6% for 2026 and 2027, with potential for mid-to-high single-digit adjusted operating income growth [3] - Long-term growth drivers in the life sciences tools industry are expected to enable Thermo Fisher to achieve over 7% organic revenue growth beyond 2027 [3]

Company Overview - Tecan Company is participating in the 44th JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, with a presentation led by CEO Monica Manotas [1] - The presentation is structured to last for 30 minutes, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session [1] Leadership Background - Monica Manotas has been with Tecan for approximately 5 months and has over 25 years of experience in the life sciences tool industry [2] - Prior to her current role, she had significant interactions with Tecan while at Thermo Fisher, which provided her familiarity with Tecan's product portfolio and the team behind it [3] - Manotas joined the Board of Tecan in 2024, indicating a long-standing interest and connection with the company [3]

Group 1: Procter & Gamble (PG) - Procter & Gamble is highlighted as a favorite tech stock by Cramer, who emphasizes its significant investment in innovation, spending over $2 billion annually on new product development [2] - The company, known for brands like Pampers and Gillette, has seen a nearly 13% decline year-to-date, which Cramer attributes to a de-risking rather than a fundamental issue [2] - Cramer notes that Procter & Gamble has successfully utilized artificial intelligence to enhance its supply chain, leading to substantial cost savings and faster product market introduction [4] Group 2: Danaher (DHR) - Danaher is identified as one of the "out-of-favor stocks to buy," with Cramer suggesting it is poised for recovery after a period of negative performance [4][5] - The company, which provides tools and technologies to the healthcare sector, has experienced a recovery over the past six months, gaining more than 12% [5] - Wells Fargo has raised its price target for Danaher from $230 to $240, anticipating increased organic growth in the life sciences tools industry next year [5]

Core Insights - Tempus AI (TEM) experienced a significant quarter with improved diagnostics volumes and pricing, alongside extended data partnerships enhancing visibility [1] - Investors are evaluating growth sustainability against GAAP losses and the timing of multi-year data deal conversions [1] Revenue Growth and Performance - In Q3 2025, revenues surged 84.7% year-over-year to $334.2 million, driven by a 117% increase in genomics to $252.9 million and a 26.1% rise in data and services to $81.3 million [2] - The company conducted 217,000 clinical tests, marking a 33% year-over-year increase, with oncology testing revenue at $139.5 million and hereditary testing at $102.6 million [2] Margin and Profitability Trends - Gross profit increased by 98% to $209.9 million due to higher volumes and improved average selling prices [3] - Adjusted EBITDA reached $1.5 million, a notable improvement from the previous year's loss, although GAAP net loss was substantial at $80.0 million [3] Pricing and Regulatory Developments - Average reimbursement improved by mid-teens percentage per test, narrowing the gap with competitors [4] - Approximately one-third of xT CDx volume is on FDA-approved pathways, with plans to migrate most by 2026, and xF submission for FDA approval expected by the end of 2025 [4] Data Monetization and Future Visibility - Data and services are showing momentum in multi-quarter bookings, which are expected to convert over time, enhancing operating leverage [5] - The company is building a backlog through Compass CRO awards and real-world data collaborations, although the conversion cycle may limit near-term revenue growth [5] Financial Position and Guidance - Tempus AI ended Q3 with $764.3 million in cash and marketable securities, providing sufficient capacity for AI compute, regulatory filings, and commercial investments [6] - For 2025, management anticipates approximately $1.265 billion in revenue and around $20 million in adjusted EBITDA, with a target for positive annual earnings per share by 2027 [6]

Group 1 - Wolfe Research upgraded Waters Corporation (WAT) to Outperform from Peer Perform [2] - The upgrade is based on potential tailwinds from Waters' proposed merger with Becton, Dickinson (BDX) Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions unit [2] - The merger is expected to enhance Waters' market position and growth prospects in the life sciences tools sector [2]

Group 1 - Harding Loevner's Global Equity Strategy reported a gross return of 2.62% and a net return of 2.52% for Q3 2025, underperforming the MSCI All Country World Index and MSCI World Index, which returned 7.74% and 7.36% respectively [1] - Year-to-date, the strategy has risen 10.61% net, compared to 18.86% and 17.83% for the respective indexes [1] - The last six months have been characterized as one of the strongest momentum phases in over 70 years, with high-momentum stocks outperforming low-momentum stocks by 45 percentage points, largely driven by advancements in AI [1] Group 2 - Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) was highlighted as a key stock, with a one-month return of 2.56% and a 52-week gain of 11.44% [2] - As of December 3, 2025, Thermo Fisher's stock closed at $580.45 per share, with a market capitalization of $218.08 billion [2] Group 3 - The investor letter indicated that the Health Care sector is showing signs of recovery despite previous sales declines attributed to pandemic-inflated levels [3] - Operating fundamentals in key end markets are stabilizing, with improved hospital finances in early 2025 as volumes normalized and revenue growth outpaced expenses [3] - Medical technology and services companies are expected to gain better pricing power and a favorable sales mix if patient utilization stabilizes, while life sciences tools may benefit from improved capital budgets [3] - Thermo Fisher's management forecasted 3-6% organic revenue growth for the next year and 7% beyond 2027, which was better than investor expectations, leading to a positive stock performance [3]

Core Insights - 10x Genomics has launched its next-generation Chromium Flex assay, which significantly enhances the capacity for single-cell experiments by supporting up to 384 samples and processing as many as 100 million cells per week [1][2]. Group 1: Product Launch and Features - The new Chromium Flex assay is designed for high cell-number applications like CRISPR screens and high sample-number applications such as FFPE-based translational research [2]. - This release allows laboratories to achieve throughput levels previously only possible with bulk methods while maintaining single-cell resolution, marking a "transformational step forward" for foundational and translational research according to CTO Michael Schnall-Levin [2]. Group 2: Market Target and Applications - The Chromium Flex assay is now globally available and targets academic, biotech, and pharmaceutical labs that require automated, high-throughput solutions for precision cell profiling [3]. - 10x Genomics specializes in life sciences tools, developing platforms for single-cell and spatial biology, enabling high-resolution molecular analysis across various research domains including oncology, immunology, and neuroscience [3].

Core Viewpoint - Baron Health Care Fund's performance in Q3 2025 was a 5.39% increase, slightly outperforming the Russell 3000 Health Care Index's 5.05% gain, but lagging behind the broader Russell 3000 Index's 8.18% increase, primarily due to stock selection offset by negative impacts from sub-industry allocations and cash holdings during a rising market [1] Group 1: Fund Performance - The Baron Health Care Fund rose 5.39% in Q3 2025 compared to a 5.05% gain for its benchmark [1] - The fund's performance was similar to the benchmark, with solid stock selection being offset by negative effects from active sub-industry allocations and cash holdings [1] Group 2: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) - Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is highlighted as a key stock in the fund's portfolio, with a one-month return of 4.31% and a 52-week gain of 2.15% [2] - As of October 31, 2025, Thermo Fisher's stock closed at $567.39, with a market capitalization of $214.253 billion [2] - The fund added to its position in Thermo Fisher, which is expected to achieve 3% to 6% organic revenue growth in 2026 and 2027, with potential for mid-to-high single-digit adjusted operating income growth [3] - Management anticipates that beyond 2027, Thermo Fisher could deliver over 7% organic revenue growth due to positive long-term drivers in the life sciences tools industry [3] - Thermo Fisher Scientific's revenue grew 3% to $10.85 billion in Q2 2025, and it ranks 26th among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 117 hedge fund portfolios holding its shares [4]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks maintained momentum in Q3, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching new records due to improved confidence from tariffs, legislative actions, and a Federal Reserve rate cut [3] - Strong earnings from major companies in communication services, information technology, and consumer discretionary sectors contributed to the market rally [3] Sector Performance - Information Technology sector outperformed, particularly semiconductor companies like Broadcom, Intel, and Taiwan Semiconductor, driven by increased spending on artificial intelligence [4] - Health care stocks faced regulatory pressures, but companies like UnitedHealth and Thermo Fisher Scientific showed resilience, offsetting weaknesses in others like Novo Nordisk [5] - Utilities sector, led by Sempra, saw double-digit gains as it regained investor confidence and strengthened its financial position [6] - Communication services faced challenges, with Alphabet performing well but Comcast struggling with market share losses [7] - Financials experienced slight underperformance, with a shift from U.S. Bancorp to PNC due to better execution confidence [8] - Materials sector faced demand softness, particularly in China and Europe, impacting companies like Air Products and Deere [9] Portfolio Positioning - The strategy has been adjusted to address underperformance, focusing on high-quality companies and reducing exposure to high-volatility stocks [10][11] - A tighter risk framework has been implemented, monitoring key performance indicators to enhance decision-making [11] Outlook - The market outlook remains cautiously optimistic, emphasizing high-quality companies with durable business models amid rising inflation and interest rates [13] - The investment landscape is shifting, with opportunities in overlooked, high-quality businesses as capital flows away from high-growth stocks [13] Portfolio Highlights - The ClearBridge Large Cap Value Strategy outperformed its benchmark, with positive contributions from IT, health care, and utilities sectors [14] - Stock selection and sector allocation were key drivers of outperformance, particularly in IT and health care [15] - Top contributors included Sempra, Broadcom, and Taiwan Semiconductor, while detractors included Deere and Novo Nordisk [16]