Investor Summary
Fund Strategy
FUND PERFORMANCE AS OF 31st December 2025
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.5% | 1.7% | 16.5% |
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| 16.5% | 7.9% |
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.5% | 1.7% | 16.5% |
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| 16.5% | 7.9% |
Appalaches Core LO generated 16.5% net returns in 2025 with a beta of 0.46, producing approximately 6.1 points of alpha through stock selection. The manager maintains a concentrated portfolio of 12 companies with steep competitive advantages, emphasizing quality over short-term performance metrics. Key contributors included large-cap stocks like Alphabet and ASML, challenging the conventional wisdom that alpha cannot be generated in efficiently priced large companies. The portfolio weathered significant market volatility in April when tariff announcements caused the S&P 500 to decline over 20%, but the manager used this dislocation to buy quality businesses at discounted prices. With ample cash reserves waiting for deployment, the strategy focuses on patient capital allocation to companies with durable value propositions and barriers to entry. The long-term approach prioritizes businesses that can maintain economic profitability for decades rather than those with temporarily high margins. Looking ahead, the manager remains confident in the process and expects it to prove its merit over a full market cycle.
Invest in 12-15 concentrated positions of high-quality companies with durable competitive advantages, buying at attractive prices with a long-term perspective to generate alpha through patient stock selection.
The manager expresses confidence in performance so far and believes the process will continue to prove its merit over a full market cycle, looking forward to many more years ahead.
| Date | Letter | Tickers | Keywords | Pitches | Quick Takes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 20 2026 | 2025 Q4 | ACGL, ASML, AZO, EXP, GOOGL, PGR, PM, VMC | alpha, Concentration, large cap, long-term, Patience, Quality, value |
GOOG ASML |
The manager emphasizes investing in companies with steep competitive advantages and durable value propositions. Portfolio construction focuses on 12-15 concentrated investments in unique, independent businesses… |
| Oct 20 2025 | 2025 Q3 | CSX, LRCX, PGR | Behavioral Finance, Concentration, Progressive Insurance, Scale Economies, Value Investing |
PGR CSX LRCX PGR CSX LRCX |
Appalaches maintained a concentrated, benchmark-agnostic portfolio of 12 holdings emphasizing disciplined value investing. The letter revisits scale economies shared, highlighting Progressive Insurance as a case… |
| Jul 19 2025 | 2025 Q2 | ASML, EXP, LRCX | barriers to entry, durability, Pricing Power, ROIC, Scarcity |
EXP US LRCX US ASML US |
The commentary emphasizes businesses with durable barriers to entry, pricing power, and high returns on invested capital. Examples include railroads, semiconductors, and cement producers benefiting… |
| Apr 21 2025 | 2025 Q1 | ACGL, ASML, AZO, CNR CN, CSX, LAD, LRCX | - | - | - |
| Jan 18 2025 | 2024 Q4 | CME, CPNG, GOOG, MKL, PLX FP, SAFT | - | - | - |
| Sep 30 2024 | 2024 Q3 | CME, CNI, CPNG, CSX, GOOG, OCI NA, PLX FP | - | - | - |
| Jun 30 2024 | 2024 Q2 | AZO, GOOG, LAD, PLX FP | - | - | - |
| May 2 2025 | 2024 Q1 | GOOG, PLX FP, SYENS BB, VSTS | - | - | - |
| Feb 8 2024 | 2023 Q4 | SAFT, VSTS | - | - | - |
| QUARTER | THEMES | TAGS |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q4 |
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 |
ValueManager emphasizes investing in controlled companies trading at significant discounts to NAV, with European holding companies showing discounts of 30-68%. The strategy focuses on securities mispricing where real value exists, contrasting with overvalued technology stocks. |
Discounts NAV Mispricing Undervalued Controlled | |
| 2025 Q3 |
InsuranceBerkshire's insurance operations generated pre-tax underwriting gains and grew float to $176 billion. The combined ratio of 87.1% across property and casualty businesses was exceptional. However, increased competition and rising claim cost trends may pressure future earnings. |
P&C Insurance Reinsurance Float Underwriting GEICO |
| 2025 Q2 |
Barriers |
| Date | Pitch Type | Author | Ticker | Company | Industry | Sub Industry | Bull / Bear | Exchange | Keywords | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 20, 2026 | Fund Letters | Jake Keys | GOOG | Alphabet Inc. | Communication Services | Interactive Media & Services | Bull | NASDAQ | advertising, AI, Largecap, mispricing, Search | Login |
| Jan 20, 2026 | Fund Letters | Jake Keys | ASML | ASML Holding N.V. | Information Technology | Semiconductor Equipment | Bull | NASDAQ | AI, Lithography, mispricing, Monopoly, semiconductors | Login |
| Oct 20, 2025 | Fund Letters | Jake Keys | PGR | Progressive Corp. | Financials | Property & Casualty Insurance | Bull | NYSE | combined ratio, Cost leadership, Flywheel, market share, Pricing power, Scale economies, Underwriting margin | Login |
| Oct 20, 2025 | Fund Letters | Jake Keys | CSX | CSX Corp. | Industrials | Railroads | Bear | NASDAQ | Competition, execution risk, Leadership Change, network effects, Pricing pressure, Rail consolidation | Login |
| Oct 20, 2025 | Fund Letters | Jake Keys | LRCX | Lam Research Corp. | Information Technology | Semiconductor Equipment | Bear | NASDAQ | capital intensity, Cycle risk, Export controls, multiple expansion, valuation, Wafer fab equipment | Login |
| Oct 20, 2025 | Fund Letters | Jake Keys | PGR | Progressive Corp. | Financials | Property & Casualty Insurance | Bull | NYSE | combined ratio, Cost leadership, Flywheel, market share, Pricing power, Scale economies, Underwriting margin | Login |
| Oct 20, 2025 | Fund Letters | Jake Keys | CSX | CSX Corp. | Industrials | Railroads | Bear | NASDAQ | Competition, execution risk, Leadership Change, network effects, Pricing pressure, Rail consolidation | Login |
| Oct 20, 2025 | Fund Letters | Jake Keys | LRCX | Lam Research Corp. | Information Technology | Semiconductor Equipment | Bear | NASDAQ | capital intensity, Cycle risk, Export controls, multiple expansion, valuation, Wafer fab equipment | Login |
| Jul 19, 2025 | Fund Letters | Jake Keys | EXP US | Eagle Materials Inc. | Materials | Construction Materials | Bull | NYSE | Barriers, Cement, construction, materials, Pricing | Login |
| Jul 19, 2025 | Fund Letters | Jake Keys | LRCX US | Lam Research Corporation | Information Technology | Semiconductor Equipment | Bull | NASDAQ | Cyclicals, Equipment, Foundries, semiconductors, technology | Login |
| Jul 19, 2025 | Fund Letters | Jake Keys | ASML US | ASML Holding N.V. | Information Technology | Semiconductor Equipment | Bull | NASDAQ | Equipment, Euv, Lithography, semiconductors, technology | Login |
| TICKER | COMMENTARY |
|---|---|
| ACGL | Shares of specialty insurer Arch Capital Group Ltd. rose on strong earnings results and active capital management. Third-quarter earnings per share beat Street expectations due to improved underwriting margins and very low catastrophe losses, as there were no landfall hurricanes in the U.S. this season for the first time since 2015. |
| ASML | ASML, TSMC, and Arista Networks are key players in the AI build out supply chain. |
| AZO | We initiated two new positions during the year—Greggs and AJ Bell, whilst reducing our exposure to NEXT and Compass Group; and selling out of AutoZone entirely during September. |
| EXP | On the other hand, you do not hear much about a company like Eagle Materials on CNBC, nor do you have a strong and decisive consensus from which to anchor yourself. |
| GOOGL | In the third quarter, Google, Kairos Power, and the Tennessee Valley Authority announced a major collaboration centered on a novel power purchase agreement. Google followed this announcement with another significant step forward. On October 27, Google and NextEra Energy announced plans to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center. |
| PGR | Cadence, Linde, United Rentals, and Progressive rounded out the top-five detractors in the quarter. |
| PM | New positions were initiated in Philip Morris |
| VMC | The Vulcan Materials and Philip Morrises of the world are fine examples of modestly profitable businesses that can turn out to be wonderful investments if those profits are protected for decades. |
| 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 | |||