Core Equity
Minimum Investment
$5 million
More Information
Overview
Our core equity strategy invests across the market cap spectrum with the goal of creating high conviction portfolios of out-of-favor companies with identifiable catalysts for growth.
Account Details
In our separately managed core equity accounts, clients own a portfolio of securities. For these accounts we are able to customize each portfolio based on individual needs such as equity exposure levels, legacy positions, specific investment restrictions, income needs, etc. that may not be met by a mutual fund.
Performance
Core Equity Composite (as of 12/31/23)
In our Core Equity accounts Osterweis has the discretion to decrease or increase equity exposure in an effort to reduce risk.
| QTD | YTD | 1 YR | 3 YR | 5 YR | 7 YR | 10 YR | 15 YR | 20 YR | INCEP (1/1/1993) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Equity Composite (gross) | 13.59% | 22.16% | 22.16% | 5.13% | 13.73% | 10.93% | 8.57% | 11.55% | 9.33% | 11.25% | |
| Core Equity Composite (net) | 13.30 | 20.97 | 20.97 | 4.11 | 12.62 | 9.84 | 7.49 | 10.45 | 8.22 | 10.10 | |
| S&P 500 Index | 11.69 | 26.29 | 26.29 | 10.00 | 15.69 | 13.42 | 12.03 | 13.97 | 9.69 | 10.15 | |
Philosophy
We employ a risk-averse investment strategy predicated on the belief that strong long-term investment results are best achieved through a compounding of reasonable gains and the avoidance of major losses. We, therefore, consciously strive to limit downside exposure as much as to generate upside returns.
We focus on out-of-favor, undervalued situations with low P/E, P/B and P/FCF ratios and strong or rapidly improving cash flow dynamics. We seek to avoid fads and speculatively priced stocks, where the risk of mistakes is high.
We continually search for under-researched, growth situations that can be purchased for modest multiples. As such companies gain recognition and are accorded multiples more in line with their growth rates, we may become sellers. We also tend to focus on asset rich companies with improving earning prospects. In short we often follow the old saying, “Buy assets, sell earnings.” This tends to reduce the risk of earnings disappointments.
Underlying everything we do is an intense focus on cash flow, especially a company’s ability to generate free cash flow after all expenses and capital spending. Cash flow is more real than reported earnings, which are subject to accounting manipulation. Companies that generate strong free cash flow are able to repay debt, repurchase shares, and grow through acquisitions or reinvestment in their businesses. They are also attractive acquisition targets for both other companies and financial buyers. Because of these characteristics, companies with rising free cash flow are often better able to grow, regardless of stock market conditions and, at the same time, may offer downside protection during periods of market weakness.
Investment Team
John Osterweis
Founder, Chairman & Co-Chief Investment Officer – Core Equity
After graduating from business school, John Osterweis served as a Senior Analyst concentrating on the forest products and paper industry for several regional brokerage firms and later for E.F. Hutton & Company, Inc. In addition to his activities as an analyst, Mr. Osterweis served as Director of Research for two firms and managed equity portfolios for over ten years.
In late 1982, Mr. Osterweis decided to devote himself full time to his portfolio management activities, and in April of 1983 launched Osterweis Capital Management. Mr. Osterweis has served as Director of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Director on the Stanford Alumni Association Executive Board, Trustee of Bowdoin College, Director and Vice Chairman of Mt. Zion Hospital and Medical Center, and President of the Board of Directors for Summer Search Foundation. He currently serves as a Trustee of the San Francisco Ballet Association, Director of the San Francisco Free Clinic, and President Emeritus of the San Francisco Ballet Endowment Foundation, as well as Trustee Emeritus of Summer Search Foundation and of Bowdoin College.
He is a member of the firm’s Management Committee, a principal of the firm, and a co-lead Portfolio Manager for the core equity, growth & income, and flexible balanced strategies.
Mr. Osterweis graduated from Bowdoin College (B.A. in Philosophy, cum laude), and Stanford Graduate School of Business (M.B.A. with top honors in Finance).
Gregory Hermanski
Co-Chief Investment Officer – Core Equity
Prior to joining Osterweis Capital Management in 2002, Greg Hermanski was a Vice President at Robertson Stephens and Co. where he was in charge of convertible bond research. Prior to that, Mr. Hermanski was a Research Analyst covering convertible, high yield, and distressed securities at Imperial Capital, LLC, and a Valuation Consultant for Price Waterhouse, LLC.
He is a principal of the firm and Co-Lead Portfolio Manager for the core equity, growth & income, quality cyclical growth, and flexible balanced strategies.
Mr. Hermanski graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (B.A. in Business/Economics).
Nael Fakhry
Co-Chief Investment Officer – Core Equity
Prior to joining Osterweis Capital Management in 2011, Nael Fakhry worked as an Associate at American Securities, a private equity firm, and as an Analyst in the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley.
He is a principal of the firm and Co-Lead Portfolio Manager for the core equity, growth & income, quality cyclical growth, and flexible balanced strategies.
Mr. Fakhry graduated from Stanford University (B.A. in History, Phi Beta Kappa) and the University of California Berkeley, Walter A. Haas School of Business (M.B.A., C.J. White Scholar).
Jasmine Shen, CFA
Senior Research Analyst – Core Equity
Prior to joining Osterweis Capital Management in 2024, Jasmine Shen was an Investment Analyst on the event-driven team at Farallon Capital. Prior to that, Jasmine was an Investment Research Associate on the quality value equity team at Wellington Management.
She is a Senior Research Analyst for the core equity strategy.
Ms. Shen graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern University (B.A. in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences and Economics, with a third major in Statistics, Phi Beta Kappa and with interdisciplinary honors). She holds the CFA designation and is a member of the CFA Society of San Francisco.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Rates of return for periods greater than one year are annualized. The information given for these composites is historic and should not be taken as an indication of future performance. Performance returns are presented both before and after the deduction of advisory fees. Account returns are calculated monthly, using a time weighted return method. Account returns reflect the reinvestment of dividends and other income and the deduction of brokerage fees and other commissions, if any, but do not reflect the deduction of certain other expenses such as custodial fees. Monthly composite returns are calculated by weighting account returns by beginning market value. Net returns reflect the deduction of actual advisory fees, which may vary between accounts due to portfolio size, client type, or other factors. From 1/1/2021 onward, net returns also reflect mutual fund fee waivers in certain periods.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) is an unmanaged index and is widely regarded as the standard for measuring U.S. stock market performance. This index does not incur expenses and is not available for investment. Index returns reflect the reinvestment of dividends. The S&P 500 Index data are provided for comparison of the composite’s performance to the performance of the stock market in general. The S&P 500 Index performance is not, however, directly comparable to the composites’ performance because accounts in the composites generally invest by using a portfolio of 30-40 stocks and the S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index that is widely regarded as the standard for measuring U.S. stock market performance.
The fee schedule is as follows: 1.25% on the first $10 million, 1.00% on the next $15 million up to $25 million, and 0.75% in excess of $25 million. A discounted rate is available for tax-free institutions, eleemosynary accounts and large institutions.
Clients invested in separately managed core equity accounts are subject to various risks including potential loss of principal, general market risk, small and medium-sized company risk, foreign securities and emerging markets risk and default risk. For a complete discussion of the risks involved, please see our Form ADV Brochure and refer to Item 8.
The Core Equity Composite includes all fee-paying separately managed accounts that are predominantly invested in equity securities, and for which OCM has the discretion to increase and decrease equity exposure in an effort to reduce risk. The non-equity portion of the account may be invested in cash equivalents, fixed income securities, or mutual funds. Individual account performance will vary from the composite performance due to differences in individual holdings, cash flows, etc.
