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Fund Returns
QTD+8.69%
YTD+3.98%
Annualized+10.01%
Positioning StanceNEUTRAL
Market CapMid Cap
GeographyUS
Digest Analysis
Quick Take
"Madison Mid Cap underperformed in Q2 2026 as markets became hyper-concentrated in AI infrastructure plays, with nine of the Russell Midcap's ten largest companies being direct AI beneficiaries."
Executive Summary
The Madison Mid Cap Fund returned 8.69% in Q2 2026, underperforming the Russell Midcap Index's 13.83% return as market performance became highly concentrated in AI infrastructure beneficiaries. Nine of the ten largest companies in the Russell Midcap Index are direct AI data center construction beneficiaries, with the largest rising 257% in the quarter. The fund's AI-exposed holdings (MKS, Amphenol, Arista Networks) led performance, benefiting from semiconductor capacity expansion, data center interconnect demand, and networking equipment growth. However, defensive businesses and asset-light companies perceived as AI-disruptable lagged. The managers express concern that current AI euphoria reflects excessive risk appetite and willingness to pay high prices for uncertain outcomes, warning that obvious winners today may not be winners tomorrow. They added to seven positions trading at attractive valuations that are being overlooked, including high-quality industrials facing cyclical headwinds and companies with solid fundamentals but depressed valuations. The portfolio is positioned in companies with excellent long-term growth prospects and resiliency to potential negative outcomes, with 36 holdings and 96.95% active share.
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Algorithmic conviction, macroeconomic posture, and risk appetite signals extracted from this quarterly letter with qualitative explanations.
Signal Matrix
Market Conviction
68%
CautiousHigh
Moderate (68%)
The fund demonstrates moderate-high conviction through a concentrated portfolio of 36 holdings with 96.95% active share and 42.98% of assets in the top 10 positions. The managers name specific positions, explain detailed theses, and describe explicit position sizing actions (adding to seven names, trimming Ross Stores, selling Arista and Liberty Broadband). They provide specific reasoning for each holding with clear catalysts and risk assessments. However, the portfolio is more diversified than extreme conviction funds (36 vs. 5-10 holdings), and some hedging language exists around timing and market conditions. The 17% annual turnover suggests patient conviction but not permanent capital mentality. The detailed company-specific commentary and willingness to add to positions at depressed valuations demonstrates meaningful conviction, placing this in the moderate-high range rather than extreme conviction territory.
Growth Outlook
30%
BearishBullish
Bearish (30%)
The managers express clear caution about market conditions, warning that current narrowness will not continue indefinitely and that investor willingness to pay high prices for uncertain outcomes will dissipate. They note multiple macro concerns including unpredictable federal administration, partisan gridlock, expanding budget deficits, lingering inflation and rate risks, stretched consumer balance sheets, and volatile geopolitics. They characterize current AI euphoria as reflecting excessive risk appetite and gambling behavior. While acknowledging AI as significant, they warn that booms may be followed by busts and that obvious winners today may not be winners tomorrow.
Risk Appetite
15%
DefensiveAggressive
Defensive (15%)
The fund maintains a fully invested posture with 36 holdings but is actively rotating away from extended valuations (trimming Ross Stores, selling Arista Networks) and toward overlooked quality companies at attractive valuations. They added to seven positions during the quarter, focusing on high-quality businesses facing cyclical headwinds or trading at depressed valuations. This represents selective deployment rather than aggressive risk-on positioning, with emphasis on resiliency and margin of safety rather than momentum exposure.
Capital Deployment
25%
De-riskingDeploying
De-risking (25%)
The fund executed moderate net deployment during the quarter, adding to seven positions while trimming one and selling two. The activity represents capital rotation with a modest net deployment bias, as the managers describe purchasing overlooked opportunities at attractive valuations. However, no specific cash level changes are disclosed, and the activity appears to be funded partially through trims and sales rather than pure cash deployment. The language suggests selective opportunistic buying rather than aggressive deployment, with emphasis on taking advantage of market dislocations to add to quality names. This represents modest positive deployment activity but not aggressive capital commitment.
Forward Guidance
45%
CautiousExpansionary
Neutral (45%)
The managers are selectively deploying capital into overlooked opportunities but with clear emphasis on patience and waiting for the market's narrow focus to dissipate. They state experience tells them market narrowness will not continue indefinitely, implying a wait-and-see posture for broader deployment. Their additions focus on companies trading at attractive valuations that are currently being overlooked, suggesting opportunistic rather than aggressive deployment. The tone is one of positioning for eventual rotation rather than immediate bullish action.
Language Signal
38%
BearishBullish
Balanced (38%)
The letter contains significantly more cautionary and risk-focused language than bullish language. Terms like euphoria, gambling, risk-taking, uncertain outcomes, thin margins of safety, unpredictable, volatile, stretched, and warnings about booms followed by busts dominate the outlook section. While they describe some holdings positively (tremendous growth, excellent, attractive valuations), the overall directional language balance tilts negative with multiple warnings about market conditions, AI concentration risks, and macro concerns. The managers explicitly state they find it hard to shake the feeling that current market behavior reflects excessive risk appetite.
Perceived Risk
70%
Low RiskElevated
Elevated Risk (70%)
The managers identify and discuss multiple specific risks in meaningful detail. They warn explicitly about AI concentration risks, noting that obvious winners today may not be winners tomorrow and that booms may be followed by busts. They express concern about excessive risk appetite and gambling behavior in markets, with investors willing to overlook inevitable bumps in the road. They enumerate specific macro risks including unpredictable federal administration, partisan gridlock, expanding budget deficits, lingering inflation and interest rate risks, stretched consumer balance sheets (except upper tiers), and volatile geopolitics. They note thin margins of safety in AI-related investments and warn that investor willingness to pay high prices for uncertain outcomes will dissipate. The depth and specificity of risk discussion, combined with explicit warnings about market behavior, places this in the meaningfully elevated risk perception range.
Opportunity Density
60%
ScarceAbundant
Selective (60%)
The managers see selective opportunities in defined areas rather than broad opportunity abundance. They describe adding to seven positions at attractive valuations that are being overlooked by the market, suggesting they can find compelling ideas but must be selective. They characterize the market as fixated on a single theme (AI), leaving other quality businesses behind, which creates opportunities for patient investors. However, they also sold positions due to valuation concerns (Arista Networks, Ross Stores) and structural challenges (Liberty Broadband), indicating not all areas offer compelling value. The tone suggests a market of pockets of opportunity rather than widespread attractiveness, with emphasis on selectivity and patience required to find compelling ideas. This represents moderate opportunity density in specific overlooked areas rather than broad market opportunity.
Time Horizon
72%
Short-TermLong-Term
Decade+ (72%)
The managers demonstrate a multi-year investment horizon with emphasis on long-term growth prospects and resiliency. They describe Copart as a long-term holding and note they are willing to hold through cyclical headwinds that will ultimately be resolved. They discuss companies with several promising long-term opportunities and emphasize positioning for companies with excellent long-term growth prospects. The 17% annual portfolio turnover indicates patient holding periods averaging 5-6 years. They reference Jay Adair's 30+ year role in building Copart, suggesting appreciation for long-term value creation. However, they also respond to near-term valuation concerns (trimming Ross Stores, selling Arista) and discuss quarterly results, indicating they are not purely permanent capital investors. The combination of multi-year thesis orientation, low turnover, and willingness to hold through cycles places this in the upper-moderate range of the time horizon spectrum.