Investor Summary
Fund Strategy
FUND PERFORMANCE AS OF 31st December 2025
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3% | 0.1% | 10.7% |
| 2025 |
|---|
| 11.0% |
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3% | 0.1% | 10.7% |
| 2025 |
|---|
| 11.0% |
Baron Discovery Fund returned 10.96% in 2025, trailing the Russell 2000 Growth Index by 2.05% due to market preference for low-quality, momentum-driven stocks over the fund's high-quality, long-term holdings. The fund's systematic approach focuses on competitively advantaged companies with significant growth potential, maintaining concentrated positions in software, healthcare, and defense sectors. Key contributors included Exact Sciences, which received a buyout offer from Abbott Laboratories, and Establishment Labs, benefiting from successful U.S. market penetration of innovative breast implants. The managers remain optimistic about 2026 prospects, citing favorable economic conditions including declining inflation, massive AI infrastructure investment, deregulation, GDP growth, and Federal Reserve rate cuts. Despite short-term headwinds from quality factor underperformance and AI disruption concerns in software, the fund maintains conviction in its anti-momentum strategy and expects the market environment to become more favorable for their disciplined, research-driven investment process.
The fund employs a systematic, long-term growth investing approach focused on competitively advantaged, well-managed companies with large untapped market opportunities, targeting 15% compounded returns through disciplined research and risk management processes.
We are extremely optimistic regarding the prospects for each holding in the Fund, and we look forward to a high growth, low inflation set-up for the 2026 economy.
| Date | Letter | Tickers | Keywords | Pitches | Quick Takes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 2026 | 2025 Q4 | ALKT, CWAN, CWST, DKNG, DT, ESTA, EXAS, FROG, GCI, GTLB, INDIE, LLYVA, LOAR, MRCY, PRMB, RGEN, S, SITM, TREX, VRNS, WAY | AI, defense, growth, healthcare, Quality, small caps, software |
EXAS ESTA CWAN WAY CAS FROG INDI VRNS LLYVA PRMB GLIBA CWST |
The fund discusses AI as a transformative force requiring careful alignment of goals with humanity's interests. They view AI advancement as creating massive capital investment… |
| Oct 28 2025 | 2025 Q3 | - | cybersecurity, defense, growth, Quality, small caps |
BIRK INSP WING KTOS BIRK PAR INSP WING KTOS |
The fund lagged amid speculative rallies in small caps but benefited from holdings in defense technology and cybersecurity such as Kratos, Mercury Systems, and Netskope.… |
| Jul 25 2025 | 2025 Q2 | ASIC, CWAN, INSP, KRMN, KTOS, MAC, MEG, RH, WYNN | early stage, innovation, long runway, small caps, volatility | - | The letter emphasizes early-stage and small-cap companies with long runways for growth and innovation. Volatility is framed as an opportunity to build positions in underappreciated… |
| Mar 31 2025 | 2025 Q1 | ACLX, AXON, EXAS, INDI, INSP, KRMN, KTOS, MEG, NARI, TEM, WING | - | - | - |
| Dec 31 2024 | 2024 Q4 | AXON, BC IM, CDNA, FND, GTLS, IRT, MAC, MEG, PAR, TTAN | - | - | - |
| Sep 30 2024 | 2024 Q3 | AXON, CDNA, GTLS, INDI, LMACA, MEG, NARI, TEM, TWFG | - | - | - |
| Jul 31 2024 | 2024 Q2 | ALAB, BASE, CDNA, EXAS, FND, GTLB, GWRE, INSP, ITGR, KNSL, MEG, NVMI, PCOR, RGEN, SILK, SITE, STVN, TEM, VCYT | - | - | - |
| Apr 15 2024 | 2024 Q1 | ALGM, CDNA, CYBR PM, DAVA, DKNG, ICHR, INTA, KNSL, MASI, NARI, NVTS, RGEN, RH, SMCI | - | - | - |
| Jan 30 2024 | 2023 Q4 | AAON, AEIS, DKNG, ESTA, GTLB, GTLS, KNSL, MRCY, S, VRNS | - | - | - |
| Sep 30 2023 | 2023 Q3 | CWAN, EWCZ, KNSL, LLYVK, MEG, NVTS, PAR, S, SILK, TXG | - | - | - |
| Jul 30 2023 | 2023 Q2 | DH, GTLB, KNSL, NVTS, RGEN, RVNC, SKIN, STYN, VRAY | - | - | - |
| Jan 25 2023 | 2023 Q1 | AXNX, AXON, CERT, CYBR, DKNG, FND, GTLB, INDI, MEG, NARI, NVTS, RVNC, SILK, SITM, VRAY | - | - | - |
| Dec 31 2022 | 2022 Q4 | ALGM, AXON, CDNA, DH, FORG, GTLS, MEG, QLYS, RVNC, SMAR | - | - | - |
| Sep 30 2022 | 2022 Q3 | AXON, CDNA, CWAN, DH, PING, RVNC, SFOR LN, SILK, SMAR, TXRH, WOOF | - | - | - |
| Jun 30 2022 | 2022 Q2 | ALKT, ASGN, CDAY, CWAN, DAVA, DH, ESTA, GTLB, GWRE, MEG, PGNY, REXR, SAIL | - | - | - |
| May 22 2022 | 2022 Q1 | ACC, AXNX, AXON, GTLS, JBGS, MRCY, PING, VLDX | - | - | - |
| QUARTER | THEMES | TAGS |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q4 |
AIAI has been integrated into RGA's research process through tools like NotebookLM, Gems in Gemini, and Claude Code. The firm views AI as a force multiplier for human judgment rather than a replacement, emphasizing the Kasparov Law principle. They believe the market narrative around AI displacement is swinging to unhelpful extremes, creating investment opportunities. |
Machine Learning Automation Software Productivity Innovation |
DefenseThe team initiated a position in Curtiss-Wright, believing the company is entering a period where multiple near-term growth drivers are converging, including rising defense budgets, commercial aerospace production ramps, nuclear power plant life extensions and new builds, and submarine production. |
Defense Budgets Aerospace Nuclear Submarines | |
HealthcareHealthcare was the strongest relative contributor in the quarter with holdings increasing nearly +16% compared to benchmark returns of roughly +12%. Exact Sciences was acquired for a significant premium by Abbott Laboratories resulting in an +86% return, while other strong performers included Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Glaukos following approval of a new product, Penumbra, and Repligen driven by strong earnings results. |
M&A Product Approval Earnings Biotech | |
Software |
||
| 2025 Q3 |
CybersecurityCybersecurity companies are using AI in core algorithms to better identify anomalies and block malicious traffic. CrowdStrike is seeing reacceleration in growth with new Falcon Flex offering, while Netskope continues gaining SASE market share with strong competitive win rates. |
Security AI Detection Enterprise Cloud Protection |
DefenseThe team initiated a position in Curtiss-Wright, believing the company is entering a period where multiple near-term growth drivers are converging, including rising defense budgets, commercial aerospace production ramps, nuclear power plant life extensions and new builds, and submarine production. |
Defense Budgets Aerospace Nuclear Submarines | |
QualityThe company emphasizes investing in businesses with excellent economics, durable competitive advantages, and high-integrity management. This quality focus is evident in concentrated equity holdings and operating business acquisitions. |
Durable Advantages Management Quality Economic Moats Competitive Position | |
| 2025 Q2 |
SmallCaps |
| Date | Pitch Type | Author | Ticker | Company | Industry | Sub Industry | Bull / Bear | Exchange | Keywords | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2025 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | BIRK | Birkenstock Holding plc | Consumer Discretionary | Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | Bull | NYSE | Brand Equity, direct-to-consumer, expansion, gross margins, vertical integration | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | VRNS | Varonis Systems Inc. | Information Technology | Security Software | Bull | NASDAQ | cybersecurity, Data Governance, recurring revenue, SaaS, Subscriptions | Login |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | INSP | Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. | Health Care | Health Care Equipment | Bear | NYSE | Competitive therapies, Execution, guidance, procedure volumes, Reimbursement | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | LLYVA | Liberty Live Group | Communication Services | Entertainment | Bull | NASDAQ | Live entertainment, NAV discount, Pricing power, Sponsorship, Ticketing | Login |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | WING | Wingstop Inc. | Consumer Discretionary | Restaurants | Bull | NASDAQ | Commodity costs, Comps, Digital, Franchising, Unit economics | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | PRMB | Primo Brands Corp. | Consumer Staples | Household Products | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | Bottled Water, cashflow, consumer staples, Margins, recurring revenue | Login |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | KTOS | Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. | Industrials | Aerospace & Defense | Bull | NASDAQ | backlog, Defense spending, Hypersonics, operating leverage, Unmanned systems | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | GLIBA | Liberty Broadband Corp. | Communication Services | Cable & Satellite | Bull | NASDAQ | broadband, cable, corporate actions, holding company, NAV discount | Login |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | BIRK | Birkenstock Holding plc | Consumer Discretionary | Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | Bull | NYSE | Brand Equity, direct-to-consumer, expansion, gross margins, vertical integration | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | CWST | Casella Waste Systems Inc. | Industrials | Waste Management | Bull | NASDAQ | consolidation, infrastructure, Margins, Pricing power, Waste bManagement | Login |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | PAR | PAR Technology Corporation | Information Technology | Application Software | Bull | NYSE | ARR, Cloud pos, Enterprise wins, operating leverage, Restaurant technology | Login |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | INSP | Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. | Health Care | Health Care Equipment | Bear | NYSE | Competitive therapies, Execution, guidance, procedure volumes, Reimbursement | Login |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | WING | Wingstop Inc. | Consumer Discretionary | Restaurants | Bull | NASDAQ | Commodity costs, Comps, Digital, Franchising, Unit economics | Login |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | KTOS | Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. | Industrials | Aerospace & Defense | Bull | NASDAQ | backlog, Defense spending, Hypersonics, operating leverage, Unmanned systems | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | EXAS | Exact Sciences Corp. | Health Care | Diagnostics & Research | Bull | NASDAQ | acquisition, Cancer Screening, cashflow, diagnostics, healthcare | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | ESTA | Establishment Labs Holdings Inc. | Health Care | Medical Devices | Bull | NASDAQ | Aesthetics, growth, innovation, market share, Medical devices | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | CWAN | Clearwater Analytics Holdings Inc. | Information Technology | Application Software | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | Fintech, Margins, private equity, recurring revenue, Software | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | WAY | Waystar Holding Corp. | Health Care | Health Care Technology | Bull | NASDAQ | AI, Automation, cashflow, Healthcare IT, Revenue cycle | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | CAS | Casella Waste Systems Inc. | Industrials | Waste Management | Bull | NASDAQ | consolidation, infrastructure, Margins, Pricing power, waste management | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | FROG | JFrog Ltd. | Information Technology | Application Software | Bull | NASDAQ | AI, cybersecurity, Devops, Free Cash Flow, Software Supply Chain | Login |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Fund Letters | Andrew Peck | INDI | indie Semiconductor Inc. | Information Technology | Semiconductors | Bull | NASDAQ | Ad As, Auto-Semiconductors, Content, design wins, Electrification | Login |
| TICKER | COMMENTARY |
|---|---|
| CWAN | With Clearwater, the market was overly focused on the debt and large acquisitions while missing how core Clearwater was growing strongly still and had a tailwind from rate cuts. Clearwater Analytics ended getting bought out and would've netted me a large gain but in the meantime due to the size of the position I took and the options leverage, the weak performance was causing me to question my conviction until I decided to sell my position for a 30% loss, 2 weeks before the buyout news came through. |
| CWST | The fortunes of Casella Waste Systems waxed and waned during the quarter. At the beginning of the quarter, Casella's shares slipped ahead of its fiscal quarterly report. After showing revenues and earnings higher than anticipated, along with better full-year guidance, its share price recovered and ended the quarter up 3% for this provider of solid waste collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling services for residential, commercial, municipal, and industrial customers. |
| DKNG | We exited DraftKings due to concerns related to the Railbird acquisition and an increasingly complex competitive environment, including the proliferation of prediction markets. |
| DT | Dynatrace detracted from relative quarterly performance |
| ESTA | Establishment Labs sells next-generation Motiva breast implants that have meaningfully lower safety risks and aesthetic benefits compared to competitors. In particular, Motiva implants cause significantly less capsular contracture (where surrounding tissue squeezes the implant) and no known cancer risks. Motiva also comes in a more natural Ergonomix shape with a natural-feeling softer fill as well as potentially a smaller implant scar. The company's implants have captured significant share in many international markets, and the U.S. launch is now underway and progressing well, having already captured about 20% of U.S. aesthetic breast augmentation market. |
| EXAS | The largest single contributor was Exact Sciences, which was acquired for a significant premium by Abbot Laboratories in November, resulting in an +86% return in the quarter for one of our higher-conviction positions. |
| FROG | Lastly was JFrog Ltd., the portfolio's strongest performer this quarter. JFrog manages the software supply chain and enables organizations to securely deliver software updates across their enterprises. Demand for security increased following the recent NPM supply chain attack. JFrog's security add-on—which secures open-source packages before organizations onboard them—has seen significant pipeline growth, driving a 32% rally in its shares. |
| GCI | During the quarter, we initiated a position in GCI Liberty, Inc. GCI is the leading broadband cable provider in Alaska. GCI generates revenue from broadband and wireless services. Roughly 97% of the Alaskans live within GCI's network footprint and about 80% have access to high-speed tiers (2.5 Gbps+). We estimate that GCI has 70% to 80% market share of high-speed broadband in Alaska. However, our decision to invest in GCI extends beyond the attractive free cash flow characteristics. A guiding principle of the firm is we invest in people and GCI offers the opportunity to participate in one of the final acts of John Malone's legendary career. |
| GTLB | We identified GitLab (GTLB) as a short opportunity based on structural and competitive risks to its business model. GitLab provides a Development, Security, and Operations platform designed to help organizations build, secure, and deploy software across the development lifecycle. The company monetizes its platform through a subscription model primarily priced on the number of developer "seats" at each customer. We believe this model is increasingly vulnerable as advances in Generative Artificial Intelligence reshape how software is developed. Over the past several years, GenAI has emerged as one of the defining investment themes, driving significant investment in AI infrastructure and spurring rapid innovation in AI‑enabled coding tools such as Claude Code, Cursor, and Windsurf. These tools have expanded developers' productivity and, in some cases, reduced the amount of manual coding required, raising questions about long‑term demand for traditional seat‑based pricing models. In addition, GitLab's unified platform faces growing competitive pressure from AI‑native point solutions as enterprises increasingly favor best‑of‑breed tools rather than bundled offerings. Competitive intensity is further heightened by GitHub, owned by Microsoft, which continues to benefit from Microsoft's substantial distribution advantages and has increasingly become a widely adopted platform for developers. Recent operating trends have reinforced these concerns, with net customer additions at higher spending tiers, slowing meaningfully compared to the prior year. Taken together, we believe these dynamics increase the risk of revenue growth underperformance and valuation pressure should expectations fail to be met. |
| LLYVA | Liberty Live Holdings, Inc. was a detractor during the period. Shares traded sharply lower following Live Nation's third quarter earnings release. During the quarter, concert segment earnings fell short of investor expectations, a divergence from a string of significant earnings beats in the business line. Management also lowered its outlook for ticketing in 2026 due to measures taken in response to regulatory action around ticket buying bots and costs associated with the FTC lawsuit. |
| PRMB | Primo Brands Corp. was one of the top five losers for the quarter, excluding hedges. |
| RGEN | Other strong performers in the quarter, primarily driven by strong earnings results, included Repligen |
| SITM | SiTime Corp (SITM) was the largest contributor to our long book during the fourth quarter. SiTime is the leading provider of precision timing solutions to the global electronics industry. Personal electronics including your phone, computer, and car require extremely precise clocks to keep everything in sync. So too, do AI data centers. Traditionally, companies used quartz crystals, however, Micro-Electro-Mechanical System oscillators, like the ones SiTime produces, are smaller, more precise, and easier to program. SiTime is a leading provider with a primary focus on precision timing applications. Although the total addressable market is relatively small ($4.5 billion oscillators, $4.5 billion resonators, and $2 billion clocks with $315 million in estimated FY 2025 revenues), we believe SiTime has excellent growth potential. We believe CEO Rajesh Vashist's execution has been strong, and the company's Communications, Enterprise and Datacenter ("CED") segment sales grew 115% year-over-year in Q3 2025. This is the sixth consecutive quarter of triple-digit growth in CED, a segment that represents slightly more than 50% of consolidated sales. In a response to a question on the Q3 call regarding the sustainability of growth from the data center ecosystem, Rajesh said, "we are in the early innings … we're selling to semiconductor companies, hyperscalers, OEMs, ODMs, module makers and active cable makers. SiTime has an embarrassment of riches." While we are bullish on SITM's prospects, its recent appreciation took the stock to a valuation where we no longer saw material upside, and we exited the position. |
| TREX | TREX Company, a leader in composite decking, was our biggest laggard in Industrials during the fourth quarter, as an increasingly competitive environment and weaker end-market trends led to poor Q3 results. TREX saw business fall off after Labor Day, which is inconsistent with results from other peers and surveys. It was quite surprising and may be a function of its higher DIY business. Regardless, this contradicts our thesis, so we exited the position. |
| VRNS | security software company Varonis and Wix.com, a website and application creation platform, both of which had minor disappointments that led to material stock price overreactions. We continue to have conviction in the idiosyncratic growth opportunities at each of these profitable and attractively valued businesses, both of which can benefit from the proliferation of AI adoption. |
| WAY | Offsetting these gains were negative returns from Waystar |
| Ticker | Put/Call | Amount Bought | Shares Bought | % Change | Weight % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Recent Buys Data | |||||
| Ticker | Put/Call | Amount Sold | Shares Sold | % Change | Weight % | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Recent Sells Data | ||||||
| Industry | Prev Quarter % | Current Quarter % | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| No industry data available | |||