Wedgwood Investment Partners is an independent investment management firm based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1991, the firm focuses on managing equity portfolios for institutions, advisors, and high-net-worth individuals.
The firm’s core investment philosophy centers around a concentrated, long-term, and fundamental approach. Wedgwood seeks to identify and invest in what they term “high-quality growth businesses” that demonstrate consistent, predictable, and sustainable earnings growth. They believe that these companies are best positioned to generate superior returns over the long run.
Wedgwood’s investment process is rigorous and research-intensive. The team conducts in-depth fundamental analysis of potential investments, focusing on factors such as a company’s business model, competitive advantages, management team, and financial strength. They seek companies with durable competitive advantages (often referred to as “moats”) that protect their market share and profitability. This includes evaluating factors like brand strength, proprietary technology, cost advantages, and network effects.
The firm employs a bottom-up stock selection approach, meaning they prioritize individual company analysis over macroeconomic forecasting or broad market trends. While they are aware of the broader economic environment, their investment decisions are primarily driven by the merits of each individual business. This allows them to remain focused on identifying companies with the potential to thrive regardless of short-term market fluctuations.
A key aspect of Wedgwood’s strategy is its concentrated portfolio. They typically hold a relatively small number of investments, usually between 30 and 40 companies. This concentration allows them to deeply understand each company in their portfolio and to generate potentially higher returns from their best ideas. However, it’s important to note that a concentrated portfolio also carries higher risk compared to a more diversified approach.
Wedgwood emphasizes a long-term investment horizon. They are patient investors who are willing to hold companies for several years, or even decades, allowing the power of compounding to work in their favor. They believe that frequent trading can erode returns due to transaction costs and missed opportunities. This long-term perspective also allows them to ride out short-term market volatility and focus on the underlying fundamentals of the businesses they own.
The firm is led by a team of experienced investment professionals, many of whom have been with the firm for a significant portion of its history. This stability and continuity are often seen as positive attributes in the investment management industry. Wedgwood Investment Partners is committed to providing exceptional client service and maintaining a high level of transparency in its operations.
In summary, Wedgwood Investment Partners offers a focused equity investment strategy rooted in fundamental research, a concentrated portfolio, and a long-term perspective. Their emphasis on high-quality growth businesses and durable competitive advantages aims to deliver superior long-term returns for their clients.