Hedge Fund Database
The curated database of hedge funds that publish investor letters. Research by geography, strategy, and schools of thought.
| # | Fund | Strategy | Style | Geography | AUM | Latest Letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The curated database of hedge funds that publish investor letters. Research by geography, strategy, and schools of thought.
| # | Fund | Strategy | Style | Geography | AUM | Latest Letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As of Aug 6, 2026
Smoak Capital returned -4.35% net in 1H 2026 versus the S&P 500's 10.2% gain, with underperformance driven by the manager's deliberate avoidance of AI-related stocks that powered most of the index's return. The manager views AI as in the too-hard pile and instead focuses on undervalued small-cap opportunities in South Korea and Japan. South Korea's comprehensive market reforms, including mandatory treasury share cancellation, expanded fiduciary duties, and high dividend tax incentives, are driving meaningful capital allocation improvements, though closing the Korea Discount will take years. Top performers included InBody, a Korean body composition device leader benefiting from GLP-1 adoption, trading at only 7.6x EV/2026e EBIT despite 86% YoY operating income growth, and QEPC, which was sold near fair value. Worst performers included Azeus Systems and PHI Group, though the manager remains comfortable holding both as undervalued with strong fundamentals. The fund has delivered 34% annualized returns since inception versus 15.3% for the S&P 500, turning $100,000 into over $1 million. The manager expects continued focus on undervalued small caps committed to capital allocation improvements.
Smoak Capital focuses on severely undervalued small-cap companies in South Korea and Japan that are committed to improving capital allocation, deliberately avoiding AI-related stocks despite their market dominance.
Manager expects continued focus on undervalued small-cap opportunities in South Korea and Japan, particularly companies committed to capital allocation improvements. While South Korea's market reforms will take years to close the Korea Discount, the manager believes looking for severely undervalued companies focused on improving capital allocation offers the most attractive opportunities. The manager remains confident that with patience, focus, and a process-oriented mindset, portfolio returns will continue to exceed the broader market over the long-term, despite near-term underperformance driven by avoiding AI-related stocks.
High Conviction Bullish
Market Conviction
Growth Outlook
Risk Appetite
Capital Deployment
Forward Guidance
Language Signal
Perceived Risk
Opportunity Density
Time Horizon
Top Conviction Themes
Key Catalysts
Every insight in this database connects to the original source. Read the actual thesis, see the actual concerns, and make your own call.
Buyside Digest has no business relationship, partnership, agency, sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation with Smoak Capital Management or any other manager whose content appears on the Service, except where expressly stated. We do not receive Manager Content directly from managers in most cases; content is collected from publicly available sources. Managers have not necessarily reviewed, approved, authorized, or endorsed our display of their content, our editorial commentary, our metadata extraction, or our classifications. Use of a manager’s name is for accurate attribution and identification purposes only, under principles of nominative fair use.
Buyside Digest does not independently verify the regulatory status, registrations, licensing, qualifications, credentials, or professional standing of managers whose content appears on the Service. We do not represent that managers are properly registered with applicable regulatory bodies, that their content complies with applicable securities laws, or that their performance representations are accurate. Inclusion of a manager in our database is based on the publicly available nature of their content, not on our verification of their regulatory status or content compliance. Users are responsible for conducting their own due diligence on any manager.
Performance data, returns, assets under management (“AUM”), and similar figures displayed on this page are sourced from publicly available manager communications (including investor letters), public filings, or other third-party sources. Buyside Digest does not independently verify performance figures, calculate returns, or audit manager-reported data. Such figures: May be selectively reported by the manager; May use non-standard calculation methodologies; May not reflect fees, expenses, taxes, or other costs; May be inconsistent across reporting periods; May be outdated. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance figures should not be relied upon for investment decisions without independent verification. Users should request audited performance data directly from the manager and conduct their own due diligence.