Investor Summary
Fund Strategy
FUND PERFORMANCE AS OF 31st March 2026
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 5.63% | 4.16% | 4.16% |
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 5.63% | 4.16% | 4.16% |
Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund outperformed the Russell 2500 Index in Q1 2026, gaining 4.16% versus 2.04% for the benchmark, driven largely by short positions. The fund maintains a structural bias toward high-quality companies for long positions while targeting lower-quality companies for shorts. After a challenging 2025 when lower-quality companies significantly outperformed by one of the widest margins in Wasatch's history, the dynamic began shifting in early 2026. While high-quality stocks have not yet reasserted leadership, speculative areas of the market sold off sharply, benefiting the fund's short positions. Top long contributors included RBC Bearings and Ensign Group, while software companies detracted due to AI disruption concerns. The manager believes investors have been undiscerning in repricing AI uncertainty, with quality companies possessing competitive advantages being unfairly sold off. Portfolio positioning was adjusted with net long exposure increased from 79% to 85% and short exposure reduced from 53% to 42%. The manager expects further evolution toward favoring quality companies.
The fund maintains a structural bias toward high-quality, long-duration growth companies for long positions while targeting lower-quality companies for shorts, believing that attractive relative valuations and strong fundamentals position the portfolio well as market dynamics shift back toward favoring quality.
The manager is encouraged by the shift away from lower-quality companies but believes there is further room for this trend to evolve. They expect high-quality companies to reassert leadership, which could be a meaningful tailwind for their long portfolio. The combination of durable business performance and attractive relative valuations positions the long portfolio well for potential outperformance.
| Date | Letter | Tickers | Keywords | Pitches | Quick Takes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30 2026 | 2026 Q1 | ASAN, CWST, ENSG, LITE, PCOR, RBC | AI, defense, Long/Short, mid cap, Quality, small cap, software |
RBC ENSG ASAN PCOR CWST LITE |
Wasatch Long/Short Alpha outperformed in Q1 2026 as speculative stocks sold off, benefiting short positions after a challenging 2025. The fund maintains its quality bias, increasing net long exposure to 85% while reducing shorts to 42%. Manager expects continued shift toward quality companies, with attractive valuations positioning the long portfolio well for outperformance. |
| Oct 24 2025 | 2025 Q3 | ENSG, FN, FOUR, FRPT, HQY, INSP, KAI, MEDP, MORN, MPWR, OPEN, OZK, RBC, ROP, SG, WDAY | AI, Biotech, healthcare, Long/Short, Quality, risk-on, small cap, Speculation | - | The fund declined 7.25% in Q3 as extreme speculation favored low-quality stocks over high-quality businesses, creating structural headwinds for the long/short strategy. The manager compares current conditions to bubble-like environments and increased gross exposure, positioning for when fundamentals matter again and the speculative rally in unprofitable companies ends. |
| Jul 21 2025 | 2025 Q2 | ENSG, FN, GWRE, HLP, HQY, INSP, KAI, MORN, NSA, OZK, RBC, RKLB, ROP, SG, SKY, WDAY | Beta, Defensive, Long/Short, Quality, risk-on, small cap, tariffs |
SKY NSA INSP GWRE HQY SKY NSA INSP FN GWRE HQY RKLB SG |
Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund underperformed in Q2 2025's risk-on environment that favored low-quality stocks over the fund's high-quality focus. Despite headwinds from tariff uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, the manager remains constructive on quality investing as valuation gaps narrow. The fund has adopted a more defensive posture with reduced beta targeting. |
| Mar 31 2025 | 2025 Q1 | AGYS, BROS, FRPT, ITCI, RBC | AI, growth, Quality, small cap, Trade Policy, volatility |
GLNT AGYS FRPT ITCI BROS RBC |
Wasatch Small Cap Growth underperformed in Q1 2025 as tariff concerns weighed on markets. Despite headwinds from Globant, Agilysys, and Freshpet, the strategy benefited from Intra-Cellular's acquisition by J&J and strong performance from Dutch Bros and RBC Bearings. Managers remain focused on high-quality companies with strong management teams that can navigate macroeconomic uncertainty. |
| Dec 31 2024 | 2024 Q4 | ACHC, ENSG, FND, GWRE, HLNE, HQY, ICFI, IONQ, KAI, MORN, NSA, PCTY, RBC, ROP | Beta, Defensive, Long/Short, Mid Caps, risk management, small caps |
PCTY HQY ICFI FND ACHC IONQ |
Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund's defensive strategy faced headwinds in Q4's risk-on environment, declining 8.28% as shorted speculative stocks rallied. Despite quarterly underperformance, the fund achieved its risk-adjusted goals with 7.24% annual returns and 0.60 beta. Manager increased defensive positioning to 0.45 beta target, citing elevated valuations and macro uncertainty. |
| QUARTER | THEMES | TAGS |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q1 |
AIAI continued to support infrastructure companies but sparked periodic selloffs in software stocks perceived as vulnerable to disruption. The manager believes investors have been undiscerning in repricing AI uncertainty, with companies possessing competitive advantages being unfairly sold off alongside more vulnerable businesses. |
Software Infrastructure Disruption Automation Platforms |
QualityThe fund maintains a structural bias toward high-quality companies for long positions while targeting lower-quality companies for shorts. In 2025, this bias worked against performance as lower-quality companies significantly outperformed, but the dynamic began shifting in early 2026. |
Business Models Fundamentals Durability Competitive Advantages | |
DefenseCompanies tied to aerospace and defense industries had strong performance in Q1 as investors anticipated higher demand in a more geopolitically volatile environment. RBC Bearings, a defense-related holding, was one of the largest contributors to performance. |
Aerospace Geopolitical Volatility Demand | |
| 2025 Q3 |
QualityThe fund focuses on long positions in high-quality companies while shorting low-quality businesses. The manager emphasizes that high-quality stocks have historically outperformed over the long term despite recent underperformance. The fund screens companies based on financial characteristics like return on assets and operating profit margins. |
Quality Fundamentals Screening Long-term Outperformance |
Risk AppetiteThe quarter was characterized as an extreme risk-on environment where speculative, low-quality companies outperformed. The manager compares current market speculation to the internet bubble and post-Covid environment of 2020-2021. Capital has flowed to companies with highly speculative business models. |
Risk-on Speculation Bubble Low-quality Euphoric | |
AIArtificial intelligence is mentioned as one of the popular investment themes driving speculation in low-quality stocks. Fabrinet benefits from AI-related demand for data center products, though the manager doesn't hold it as a thematic AI play. AI is part of the speculative environment affecting market dynamics. |
Artificial Intelligence Data Centers Speculation Thematic Popular | |
| 2025 Q2 |
QualityThe fund focuses on high-quality companies with proven earnings growth track records, strong free cash-flow generation, and trusted management teams. This quality focus was a headwind during the quarter as lower-quality stocks outperformed in the risk-on environment, but the manager believes this creates better expected returns for quality investing over the next three-to-five years. |
Quality Earnings Cash Flow Management Valuation |
AIArtificial intelligence benefited portfolio holdings like Fabrinet, which makes optical components used in data centers. AI has been a popular investment theme that likely played a larger role in fueling stock rises for companies with AI exposure. |
AI Data Centers Technology Components | |
CloudCloud-based software solutions continued to gain traction, with Guidewire Software benefiting as insurance companies increasingly replace legacy on-premises software with centralized cloud-based offerings. The company's cloud technology suite is gaining momentum among insurers. |
Cloud Software Enterprise Migration | |
| 2025 Q1 |
AIBusinesses are in the early innings of implementing AI into their processes and Globant will be a key beneficiary of this trend over the long term. Global IT spending has been sluggish but AI implementation represents a significant opportunity. |
Artificial Intelligence IT Consulting Digital Transformation Enterprise Software Technology Services |
Trade PolicyTariffs and potential trade war have weighed on markets and raised concerns about global economic growth. The uncertainty surrounding tariffs and their macroeconomic impact underscores the importance of investing in high-quality businesses with good management teams. |
Tariffs Trade War Global Trade Economic Policy Market Volatility | |
| 2024 Q4 |
SPACsThe Fund has shorted stocks of special purpose acquisition companies because their business models are speculative and their paths to steady compounded earnings growth remain unclear. These stocks experienced sharp gains during the risk-on environment of the quarter. |
SPACs Speculation Risk-on |
Quantum ComputingThe Fund holds short positions in quantum computing companies like IonQ, believing enthusiasm surrounding these companies is out of touch with fundamentals. Google's unveiling of a new quantum chip heightened investor enthusiasm for the field during the quarter. |
Quantum Computing Speculation |
| Date | Pitch Type | Author | Ticker | Company | Industry | Sub Industry | Bull / Bear | Exchange | Keywords | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 2026 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | RBC | RBC Bearings, Inc. | Tools & Accessories | Industrial Machinery | Bull | NASDAQ | Aerospace, Defense, geopolitical, growth, industrial machinery, manufacturing, Precision Bearings | Login |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | ENSG | Ensign Group, Inc. | Medical Care Facilities | Health Care Facilities | Bull | NASDAQ | healthcare, Medicare, Occupancy, Real Estate, Revenue Growth, Senior Living, Skilled Nursing | Login |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | ASAN | Asana, Inc. | Software - Application | Application Software | Bear | New York Stock Exchange | AI disruption, cloud, Competitive Threat, Project Management, Short Position, Software, Work management | Login |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | PCOR | ProCore Technologies, Inc. | Software - Application | Application Software | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | AI Resilient, competitive moat, Construction Software, Contractor Network, network effects, Project Management, proprietary data | Login |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | CWST | Casella Waste Systems, Inc. | Waste Management | Environmental & Facilities Services | Bull | NASDAQ | Acquisitions, Integration, Recycling, Regional, Resource Management, Solid Waste, waste management | Login |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | LITE | Lumentum Holdings, Inc. | Communication Equipment | Communications Equipment | Bear | NASDAQ | AI infrastructure, Communications Equipment, Hedge Position, optical networking, Photonics, risk management, Short Position | Login |
| Jul 21, 2025 | Fund Letters | Mick Rasmussen | NSA | National Storage Affiliates Trust | Real Estate | Self-Storage REIT | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | Acquisitions, consolidation, Interestrates, REIT, Selfstorage | Login |
| Jul 21, 2025 | Fund Letters | Mick Rasmussen | INSP | Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. | Health Care | Medical Devices | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | Adoption, innovation, Medicaldevices, Procedures, Sleepapnea | Login |
| Jul 21, 2025 | Fund Letters | Mick Rasmussen | GWRE | Guidewire Software, Inc. | Information Technology | Application Software | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | Cloudmigration, Insurancesoftware, Modernization, SaaS, Switchingcosts | Login |
| Jul 21, 2025 | Fund Letters | Mick Rasmussen | HQY | HealthEquity, Inc. | Financials | Asset Management & Custody | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | Custody, cybersecurity, Healthcarefinance, Hsas, Operatingleverage | Login |
| Jul 21, 2025 | Fund Letters | Mick Rasmussen | SKY | Champion Homes, Inc. | Consumer Discretionary | Homebuilding | Neutral | New York Stock Exchange | affordability, Housing, Interestrates, Margins, Modularhousing | Login |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | SG | Sweetgreen, Inc. | Consumer Discretionary | Restaurants | Bear | NYSE | Consumer Discretionary, consumer spending, Economic Sensitivity, Fast casual, Hedge Position, Restaurants, Short Position | Login |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | SKY | Champion Homes, Inc. | Consumer Discretionary | Homebuilding | Bull | NYSE | Consumer Discretionary, homebuilder, Housing, Interest Rate Sensitive, margin compression, Modular Homes, Revenue Growth | Login |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | NSA | National Storage Affiliates Trust | Real Estate | Specialized REITs | Bull | NYSE | Acquisitions, consolidation, Interest Rate Sensitive, Management Quality, Real Estate, REIT, Self-storage | Login |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | INSP | Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. | Health Care | Health Care Equipment & Supplies | Bull | NYSE | healthcare, Inventory Cycle, Medical devices, Minimally Invasive, Neurostimulation, product launch, sleep apnea | Login |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | FN | Fabrinet | Information Technology | Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | Bull | NYSE | AI Theme, Artificial Intelligence, data centers, infrastructure, manufacturing, Optical-Components, technology | Login |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | GWRE | Guidewire Software, Inc. | Information Technology | Software | Bull | NYSE | cloud migration, Digital transformation, Enterprise software, Insurance Technology, Legacy Replacement, Property & Casualty, SaaS | Login |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | HQY | HealthEquity, Inc. | Financials | Consumer Finance | Bull | NASDAQ | consumer finance, Custodial Services, cybersecurity, financial services, Health Savings Accounts, Healthcare Benefits, market leader | Login |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | RKLB | Rocket Lab USA, Inc. | Industrials | Aerospace & Defense | Bear | NASDAQ | Aerospace, Competitive Disadvantage, Growth Uncertainty, Rocket Manufacturing, Short Position, Space Exploration, Spacecraft | Login |
| Mar 31, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | ITCI | Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. | Health Care | Biotechnology | Bull | NASDAQ | acquisition target, biotechnology, Caplyta, CNS disorders, drug development, Pharmaceutical | Login |
| Mar 31, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | GLNT | Globant SA | Information Technology | IT Consulting & Other Services | Bull | NYSE | AI implementation, Digital transformation, Global, growth, It consulting, Technology Services | Login |
| Mar 31, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | AGYS | Agilysys, Inc. | Information Technology | Application Software | Bull | NASDAQ | Business Mix Shift, Hospitality Software, Point of Sale, recurring revenue, SaaS, Software Growth | Login |
| Mar 31, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | FRPT | Freshpet, Inc. | Consumer Staples | Packaged Foods & Meats | Bull | NASDAQ | consumer staples, Fresh Food, margin expansion, Pet Food, Refrigerated Products, Scaling Operations | Login |
| Mar 31, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | RBC | RBC Bearings Incorporated | Industrials | Industrial Machinery | Bull | NASDAQ | acquisition integration, Aerospace, Commercial Aviation, Defense, Industrial Components, Precision Bearings | Login |
| Mar 31, 2025 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | BROS | Dutch Bros Inc. | Consumer Discretionary | Restaurants | Bull | NYSE | Beverage Retail, Consumer Discretionary, Drive-Through Coffee, Growth Concept, Restaurant Chain, store expansion | Login |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | HQY | HealthEquity, Inc. | Financial Services | Specialized Finance | Bull | NASDAQ | Employee Benefits, financial services, growth, Health Savings Accounts, HSA, Interest Rate Sensitive, market leader | Login |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | ICFI | ICF International, Inc. | Commercial & Professional Services | Research & Consulting Services | Bull | NASDAQ | contrarian, Government Consulting, Government Contractor, Outsourcing, Policy Consulting, professional services, Technology Consulting | Login |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | FND | Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. | Consumer Discretionary | Home Improvement Retail | Bull | NYSE | Category Killer, Direct Sourcing, Flooring, home improvement, retail expansion, Self-funded growth, Specialty retail | Login |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | ACHC | Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. | Health Care | Health Care Facilities | Bear | NASDAQ | Bear, Behavioral health, Business Model Deterioration, Government Investigation, Healthcare Facilities, Regulatory risk, Short Position | Login |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | PCTY | Paylocity Holding Corp. | Software & Services | Application Software | Bull | NASDAQ | growth, HR Management, Payroll Software, recurring revenue, SaaS, Software, technology | Login |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Fund Letters | Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund | IONQ | IonQ, Inc. | Technology | Technology Hardware & Equipment | Bear | NYSE | Bear, Fundamental Disconnect, overvalued, Quantum Computing, Short Position, Speculative, technology | Login |
| TICKER | COMMENTARY |
|---|---|
| RBC | In the first quarter, one of the largest contributors among our long positions was RBC Bearings, Inc. (RBC). The company is a U.S. industrial manufacturer of highly engineered precision bearings and components used in critical aerospace, defense, industrial and energy applications. Companies tied to the aerospace and defense industries tended to have strong stock-price performance in the first quarter, as investors anticipated higher demand for their products in a more geopolitically volatile environment. Separately, fundamentals for RBC Bearings remain strong, and we continue to like the growth potential of this longtime holding. |
| ENSG | Another top contributor was Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG). Ensign operates skilled nursing and senior living facilities. The company also acquires and leases health care real estate. Ensign's shares moved higher after the company reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, in which annual revenues were up 18.7% from the prior year. Management also issued full-year 2026 earnings and revenue guidance that was well received by market participants, and cited year-over-year improvements in occupancy, skilled nursing days, and Medicare revenue in its same-store and transitioning portfolios. Ensign is a longtime Wasatch holding and we continue to view it as one of the best operators in the health-care sector. |
| ASAN | Among short positions, contributors to Fund performance were those stocks that declined in price. The largest contributor on the short side was Asana, Inc. (ASAN). The company is best known for its cloud-based work management platform, which helps teams organize, track, and manage projects, tasks and workflows. Software stocks such as Asana's sold off broadly in the first quarter due to concerns that AI could displace some software services. When it comes to Asana, we believe it would be fairly easy for AI or a competitor to replicate its services. While we maintained a short position, we reduced it during the quarter after the stock sold off. |
| PCOR | One of our largest detractors, ProCore Technologies, Inc. (PCOR), serves as an example of a business where the investors may be underappreciating the durability of its competitive moat. ProCore's software helps businesses manage construction projects. Procore's competitive advantage lies not in its software code, but in its extensive network of contractors and the proprietary data generated across thousands of projects. That network effect and dataset are significantly more difficult to replicate than the software's underlying functionality, and we believe they position the company well in an AI-driven environment. |
| CWST | Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (CWST) also detracted. Casella is a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management firm in the U.S. Earnings per share growth was a little ahead of expectations in Casella's most recently reported financial results. But profitability declined, which might have weighed on the stock. Although Casella's stock price declined, we continue to like the business and the management team, which has a long history of successfully integrating acquisitions. |
| LITE | Turning to short positions, detractors from Fund performance were those stocks that rose in price. One of the largest detractors among our shorts was Lumentum Holdings, Inc. (LITE). We hold the short position to offset the risk of some of our long holdings tied to the AI buildout. We believe the short position in Lumentum will help to mitigate the downside should the stocks of companies tied to AI infrastructure sell off broadly. But on a fundamental basis, we don't think Lumentum has as powerful an economic engine as some of our long holdings tied to the AI buildout, nor do we think Lumentum will be as profitable. |
| Ticker | Put/Call | Amount Bought | Shares Bought | % Change | Weight % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Ticker | Put/Call | Amount Sold | Shares Sold | % Change | Weight % | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Recent Sells Data | ||||||
| Industry | Prev Quarter % | Current Quarter % | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| No industry data available | |||