Core Insights - Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund's third-quarter 2025 investor letter indicates that equity markets continued to rise, with the S&P 500 Index increasing by 8.12% [1] - The fund's Class A shares underperformed compared to the Russell 2500 Growth Index during the same period [1] Company Overview: Vertex, Inc. (NASDAQ:VERX) - Vertex, Inc. provides enterprise tax technology solutions for various industries, including retail trade, wholesale trade, and manufacturing [2][3] - The stock experienced a one-month return of 3.51% but has lost 40.05% of its value over the past 52 weeks, closing at $25.66 per share with a market capitalization of $4.092 billion on October 27, 2025 [2] Financial Performance - For Q2 2025, Vertex, Inc. reported revenue of $184.6 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 14.6% [4] - Despite strong quarterly results, the company lowered its full-year revenue guidance due to a more uncertain demand environment, leading to a negative impact on stock performance [3] Market Position - Vertex, Inc. is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 25 hedge fund portfolios holding its shares at the end of Q2 2025, down from 27 in the previous quarter [4] - The company is viewed as having potential, but certain AI stocks are considered to offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]