Investor Summary
Fund Strategy
FUND PERFORMANCE AS OF 31st March 2026
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 13.9% | 5.38% | 5.38% |
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 13.9% | 5.38% | 5.38% |
Hood River Small Cap Growth Fund delivered strong outperformance in Q1 2026, rising 5.38% versus the Russell 2000 Growth Index decline of 2.81%, driven primarily by stock selection across information technology, industrials, and consumer discretionary sectors. The quarter began with stable, fundamentals-driven markets but shifted as geopolitical developments and energy price volatility introduced uncertainty, with the Iran conflict creating oil price pressures. The fund maintained its disciplined, bottom-up research approach rather than making tactical macro adjustments. Within technology, positioning favoring AI-beneficiary companies over traditional software proved prescient as AI adoption matured from evaluation to active implementation across organizations. The managers see compelling opportunities in the current environment of elevated dispersion and macro-driven volatility, which historically favors research-intensive processes. Key risks include potential Strait of Hormuz escalation driving higher oil prices, while catalysts include maturing AI adoption and margin tailwinds from improved productivity. The fund continues prioritizing companies with strong execution, pricing power, and resilience across various scenarios.
Focus on identifying businesses with durable growth profiles, improving fundamentals, and attractive valuations through disciplined, bottom-up research process, believing long-term outcomes are ultimately driven by company execution and fundamental progress rather than short-term macro developments.
Finding a broad set of compelling, bottom-up investment opportunities driven by powerful secular trends. The current environment characterized by elevated dispersion, macro-driven volatility, and periodic disconnection from fundamentals is precisely the backdrop where research-intensive processes have historically thrived. Remain focused on seeking to identify mispriced opportunities, carefully managing risk, and building a portfolio of companies with strong execution, durable competitive advantages, and attractive risk-adjusted return profiles.
| Date | Letter | Tickers | Keywords | Pitches | Quick Takes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31 2026 | 2026 Q1 | - | AI, fundamentals, Geopolitical, growth, oil, small caps, technology, valuation | - | Hood River Small Cap Growth Fund outperformed by 819 bps in Q1 2026 through disciplined stock selection, particularly benefiting from AI-levered holdings while avoiding traditional software. Despite geopolitical uncertainty and oil price volatility from Iran conflict, managers maintain bottom-up research focus, seeing current macro-driven dispersion as historically favorable environment for identifying mispriced opportunities with strong fundamentals. |
| Jan 12 2026 | 2025 Q4 | - | AI, earnings, growth, small caps, stock selection, technology, Valuations | - | Hood River's small cap growth fund outperformed significantly in Q4 and full-year 2025, driven by strong stock selection particularly in AI-related technology investments. The portfolio has been rebalanced with more moderate exposure as valuations have risen meaningfully. Managers remain confident in their disciplined approach while acknowledging execution will be critical given elevated valuations and potential AI capex durability questions. |
| Oct 20 2025 | 2025 Q3 | - | AI, Drones, growth, infrastructure, semiconductors, small caps, technology, Valuations | - | Hood River's small-cap growth fund significantly outperformed in Q3 2025, driven by strong stock selection in AI infrastructure themes including semiconductors and drone technology. The fund maintains exposure to secular growth trends while reducing AI concentration. With small-cap valuations compelling relative to large-caps and Fed rate cuts supporting the outlook, managers see attractive opportunities ahead in 2026. |
| Jun 30 2025 | 2025 Q2 | - | AI, financials, growth, industrials, small caps, technology, Trade Policy | - | Hood River's small-cap growth fund outperformed significantly in Q2 as markets shifted from macro concerns to fundamentals. Strong stock selection in financials, industrials, and technology drove returns. The fund maintains AI overweight while managing trade policy risks. Small-cap valuations look attractive relative to large caps, and conservative guidance sets up favorable earnings revisions for the back half of 2025. |
| Mar 31 2025 | 2025 Q1 | FTAI | AI, earnings, growth, industrials, small caps, technology, valuation | - | Hood River's small-cap growth strategy underperformed in Q1 2025 due to geopolitical tensions and risk-off sentiment, but managers see opportunity in attractive small-cap valuations. Despite AI infrastructure uncertainty, they maintain conviction in technology overweights and focus on fundamentally strong companies positioned for earnings surprises as market conditions normalize. |
| Dec 31 2024 | 2024 Q4 | - | Deregulation, energy, financials, growth, healthcare, small cap, valuation | - | Hood River's small cap growth strategy delivered exceptional 2024 performance, outpacing benchmarks through disciplined stock selection. Small caps offer compelling relative value versus expensive large caps, trading at unusual discount to S&P 500. Expected deregulation from new administration should benefit small businesses. Portfolio positioned for 2025 opportunities with management teams expressing optimism about improved business environment. |
| Sep 30 2024 | 2024 Q3 | APLD, QXO | AI, consumer, growth, industrials, small caps, technology |
APLD QXO |
Hood River's Small Cap Growth Fund outperformed by 373 bps in Q3 despite early volatility, delivering +31.33% year-to-date returns. The team's fundamental research process identified unique opportunities including co-investments with NVIDIA. With the Fed easing cycle beginning and small caps trading at a discount to large caps, the managers see continued outperformance potential. |
| Jun 30 2024 | 2024 Q2 | - | AI, Data centers, growth, industrials, Outperformance, small caps, stock selection | - | Hood River outperformed by 562 basis points in Q2 through superior stock selection, particularly in industrials with AI/data center exposure. Small cap growth valuations remain attractive at historical discounts, with the team finding ample opportunities despite macro headwinds from higher rates and slowing consumer spending on big-ticket purchases. |
| QUARTER | THEMES | TAGS |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q1 |
AIAI adoption cycle is maturing with companies actively implementing AI across organizations rather than just evaluating it. Use cases are expanding from experimentation into operational improvements including optimizing sales processes, enhancing customer interactions, and improving workforce productivity. Companies are hiring fewer incremental employees per unit of growth, creating margin tailwinds over time. |
Artificial Intelligence Automation Productivity Software Implementation |
OilGeopolitical conflict with Iran has introduced uncertainty with oil prices responding sharply. The primary downside risk being monitored is further escalation in the Strait of Hormuz which could push oil prices meaningfully higher and create broader downstream impacts for industries reliant on petroleum-based inputs. However, energy as a share of consumer spending remains near historical lows. |
Energy Prices Geopolitical Risk Iran Strait of Hormuz Inflation | |
Small CapsRussell 2000 Growth Index trades at roughly 19.8x 2027 earnings, a modest premium to large-cap benchmark but well below the 20% premium that small caps have historically commanded. The current environment characterized by elevated dispersion, macro-driven volatility, and periodic disconnection from fundamentals is precisely the backdrop where research-intensive processes have historically thrived. |
Valuation Dispersion Research Fundamentals Outperformance | |
| 2025 Q4 |
AIAI remains a powerful secular theme with robust demand trends and earnings visibility. The fund benefited from select investments in AI and supporting infrastructure during Q4. However, managers are mindful of potential valuation compression if expectations extend beyond underlying earnings power and have selectively moderated exposure where expectations moved ahead of fundamentals. |
Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Secular Theme Valuation Capital Expenditure |
Small CapsSmall cap growth universe ended 2025 trading at 20.0x 2027 earnings, in-line with S&P 500 but attractively valued on a relative basis given historical 20% premium. Elevated valuations increase importance of execution as companies need to meet or exceed guidance. Dispersion between winners and losers likely to remain elevated. |
Valuation Execution Dispersion Russell 2000 Growth | |
GrowthFund focuses on companies with sustainable growth profiles, improving profitability, and valuations that appropriately compensate for risk. Stock selection was the dominant contributor with +1,321 bps for full year, consistent with fundamental research-driven investment process. Emphasis remains on disciplined, bottom-up stock selection. |
Stock Selection Fundamental Research Profitability Sustainable Growth Bottom-up | |
| 2025 Q3 |
AIThe buildout of AI infrastructure and associated power needs continue to reverberate across the economy. Demand for semiconductors, energy, industrial capacity, and drone technology remains robust. Nearly half of U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was driven by technology capital expenditures, with this elevated pace of investment poised to continue. |
Infrastructure Semiconductors Capital Expenditures Technology Growth |
SemiconductorsDemand for semiconductors remains robust as part of the AI infrastructure buildout. Infrastructure beneficiaries have largely delivered beat-and-raise quarters, demonstrating strong fundamentals and execution in this space. |
AI Infrastructure Beat-and-raise Technology Growth Demand | |
DronesDrone technology demand remains robust as part of the broader AI infrastructure buildout and represents one of the powerful secular trends that could create company-specific growth drivers less visible in larger-cap benchmarks. |
Technology Infrastructure Secular Trends Growth AI | |
Small CapsSmall-cap equities have rallied strongly since Liberation Day, with fundamentals taking center stage. Valuations remain compelling as the Russell 2000 Growth Index trades at similar multiples to the S&P 500 despite historically commanding a premium, creating attractive opportunities for small-cap investors. |
Valuations Fundamentals Opportunities Growth Outperformance | |
| 2025 Q2 |
AIThe fund remains overweight artificial intelligence as a theme, though exposure has moderated from earlier in the year. They are finding selective opportunities where capital expenditures among hyperscalers are translating into improving fundamentals, with anticipated continued earnings revisions and momentum in those names. |
Hyperscalers Capital Expenditures Earnings Revisions Technology |
Trade PolicyTariffs remain a headline topic but the market is growing more comfortable with tapering trade tensions over time. The market is increasingly pricing in a 10% baseline rate on most non-China trading partners. The fund focuses on companies less exposed to global trade volatility to manage risk while seeking upside. |
Tariffs Trade Tensions China Global Trade | |
Small CapsFrom a valuation perspective, the US Small Cap Growth group continues to look attractive on a relative basis. The Russell 2000 Growth Index's 21.4x multiple represents a 5% discount to the S&P 500 Index, well below its typical premium to the larger-cap index. |
Valuation Russell 2000 Relative Value Discount | |
| 2025 Q1 |
AIOver the past three years, AI and its supporting infrastructure has been identified as a primary global growth driver, representing a significant portion of technology and industrial exposure. Despite heightened uncertainty this quarter around scalability and capital expenditures, management discussions reinforce positive outlook with robust spending projections. The launch of China's Deepseek has catalyzed infrastructure expansion plans rather than stalling development. |
Infrastructure Capital Expenditures Deepseek Technology Growth |
Small CapsThe Russell 2000 Growth is trading at roughly a 10% discount despite typically trading at a 20% premium to broader markets. From a valuation perspective, US small caps remain attractive going forward. The recent selloff has taken some air out of valuations, creating opportunities in the small-cap space. |
Valuation Russell 2000 Discount Attractive Opportunities | |
| 2024 Q4 |
Small CapsSmall cap growth appears much more attractive than large caps, trading at a 17% discount to the S&P 500 for 2026 compared to a typical 20% premium. The Russell 2000 Growth Index's absolute valuation of 17.7x '26 earnings is slightly higher than normal but not too far from normal. Expected deregulation is anticipated to benefit small businesses, further supporting the favorable outlook on small caps heading into 2025. |
Valuation Discount Deregulation Small Business Russell 2000 |
| 2024 Q3 |
Small CapsThe fund focuses on US small cap growth stocks and believes small caps have the ability to outperform over the coming quarters given the Fed has begun its easing cycle and small caps typically outperform during easing cycles. The Russell 2000 Growth Index currently trades at a slight discount to the S&P 500 despite typically trading at a 20% premium. |
Russell 2000 Easing Cycle Valuations Outperformance Growth |
AIThe portfolio had an embedded tilt towards AI which faced headwinds in July during the rotation from growth to value. The fund co-invested with NVIDIA in Applied Digital Corporation at a discounted price, demonstrating continued exposure to AI-related opportunities. |
NVIDIA Applied Digital Technology Growth Co-investment | |
| 2024 Q2 |
AIAI and digital currency data centers continue to change the supply/demand balance in several industries, primarily in industrials, technology, materials, and utilities. The buildout of capabilities is requiring more power, land, hardware, and chips. Some companies with ancillary exposure to these dynamics stand to benefit, yet the market is not fully pricing this in. |
Data Centers Power Hardware Semiconductors Infrastructure |
Data CentersAI and digital currency data centers are driving significant changes in supply/demand dynamics across multiple industries. The buildout requires substantial power, land, hardware, and chips, creating opportunities for companies with ancillary exposure that may not be fully priced in by the market. |
AI Power Infrastructure Hardware Real Estate |
| Date | Pitch Type | Author | Ticker | Company | Industry | Sub Industry | Bull / Bear | Exchange | Keywords | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2024 | Fund Letters | Hood River Capital - Small Cap Growth Fund | APLD | Applied Digital Corporation | Information Technology | IT Services | Bull | NASDAQ | AI, Co-investment, data centers, digital infrastructure, high-performance computing, Nvidia partnership, technology infrastructure | Login |
| Sep 30, 2024 | Fund Letters | Hood River Capital - Small Cap Growth Fund | QXO | QXO Inc | Industrials | Industrial Conglomerates | Bull | NASDAQ | Brad Jacobs, Business Platform, business services, management team, PIPE, Private Investment, Proven Operator | Login |
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