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​Video: Finding the Right Mix of Mid Caps

Brandon Geisler

Brandon Geisler;

Senior Vice President
Portfolio Manager

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In this video, Alger Mid Cap Growth Portfolio Manager Brandon Geisler discusses why he takes a highly focused, three-category approach to his portfolio construction.

BRANDON GEISLER: The way we’ve tried to construct the portfolio is really kind of orientate ourselves towards businesses that we believe carry characteristics, like high returns on invested capital, high recurring revenue, very strong EBITDA margin profiles for the industries that participate in low debt. 
​Growth Compounders
One of the things we’ve tried to do is if you think about the portfolio, roughly 60 to 80 percent of this is what I’ll call compounding growth stocks. So, these are companies that we believe have those characteristics of returns on invested capital, of recurring revenue, of margin profiles, debt, and industry structures which is also important to us. We like to play with a top three player. We don’t want to necessarily participate in a languishing asset. 

Within healthcare, West Pharmaceutical – coming after the COVID bump – some of their products were heavily used in the vaccine administration across the world, frankly. And so, coming off the COVID high, it presented us, for example, an opportunity to participate in a class leading business that we thought was an attractive valuation.

We complement that with two other buckets in our portfolios. 

Aggressive Growers
One side of that is roughly zero to 20 percent can be aggressive growth stocks. And they might have qualities that you might think of in certain place of retail, or technology, or even healthcare for example. 

MongoDB is a company in the software space. And as of a few months ago there’s 300 companies, AI vendors, using their product. As of today, there’s 1500, for example. So that is a company that AI or generative AI wasn’t necessarily their core business, but their technology is adapting. 

Life Cycle Changers
The other side of that pendulum, is another zero to 20 is what I’ll call life cycle change. And you know, as you think about that name, it really represents a change. It could be a manager change. It could be a business model change. It could be a debt restructuring change. But we like the core business. It is mis-executing or being mis-appreciated by the market for one reason or another. And that we think presents an opportunity as it might go through this change, and hopefully beneficial to the portfolios. 

GFL, for example. It is a waste management company, actually based out of Canada, but has big business operations also here in the United States. But that is one where it was going under a transformational change of its balance sheet. They were digesting some M&A over the last couple of years, and likewise with that came some debt. And they decided this year to sell some of those assets, and we think this is the opportunity to participate in that transition of that business model. 

We try and have a matrix approach. Are we going to hit everything? No, we won’t. But I think what we’re trying to do is put the odds in our favor, be consistent with our process, be methodical. We’re not going to just chase a trade to chase a trade. 

I think it’s a great time to look at this space broadly. I think the companies carry that dual dynamic, risk and return. I think that’s why personally I have gravitated, my personal style. I love the characteristics that many of them present.





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In this video, Alger Mid Cap Growth Portfolio Manager Brandon Geisler discusses why he takes a highly focused, three-category approach to his portfolio construction.

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The views expressed are the views of Fred Alger Management, LLC (FAM) and its affiliates as of August 2023. These views are subject to change at any time and may not represent the views of all portfolio management teams. These views should not be interpreted as a guarantee of the future performance of the markets, any security or any funds managed by FAM. These views are not meant to provide investment advice and should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell securities. Holdings and sector allocations are subject to change. 

Important Information for US Investors: This material must be accompanied by the most recent fund fact sheet(s) if used in connection with the sale of mutual fund and ETF shares. Fred Alger & Company, LLC serves as distributor of the Alger mutual funds.

Important Information for UK and EU Investors: This material is directed at investment professionals and qualified investors (as defined by MiFID/FCA regulations). It is for information purposes only and has been prepared and is made available for the benefit investors. This material does not constitute an offer or solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction in which it is not authorised or permitted, or to anyone who would be an unlawful recipient, and is only intended for use by original recipients and addressees. 

The original recipient is solely responsible for any actions in further distributing this material and should be satisfied in doing so that there is no breach of local legislation or regulation. 

Certain products may be subject to restrictions with regard to certain persons or in certain countries under national regulations applicable to such persons or countries. 

Alger Management, Ltd. (company house number 8634056, domiciled at 78 Brook Street, London W1K 5EF, UK) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, for the distribution of regulated financial products and services. FAM and/or Weatherbie Capital, LLC, U.S. registered investment advisors, serve as subportfolio manager to financial products distributed by Alger Management, Ltd. 

Alger Group Holdings, LLC (parent company of FAM and Alger Management, Ltd.), FAM, and Fred Alger & Company, LLC are not an authorized person for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom (“FSMA”) and this material has not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of Section 21(2)(b) of the FSMA. 

Important information for Investors in Israel: This material is provided in Israel only to investors of the type listed in the first schedule of the Securities Law, 1968 (the "Securities Law") and the Regulation of Investment Advice, Investment Marketing and Investment Portfolio Management Law, 1995. The Fund units will not be sold to investors who are not of the type listed in the first schedule of the Securities Law.

Risk Disclosures: Investing in the stock market involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks as their prices tend to be higher in relation to their companies’ earnings and may be more sensitive to market, political, and economic developments. Local, regional or global events such as environmental or natural disasters, war, terrorism, pandemics, outbreaks of infectious diseases and similar public health threats, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on investments. A significant portion of assets may be invested in securities of companies in related sectors or industries, and may be similarly affected by economic, political, or market events and conditions and may be more vulnerable to unfavorable sector or industry developments. Investing in companies of medium capitalizations involves the risk that such issuers may have limited product lines or financial resources, lack management depth, or have limited liquidity. Assets may be focused in a small number of holdings, making them susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory event than a more diversified portfolio. Foreign securities involve special risks including currency fluctuations, inefficient trading, political and economic instability, and increased volatility. At times, cash may be a larger position in the portfolio and may underperform relative to equity securities. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

The following positions represent assets under management for the Alger Mid Cap Growth Strategy as of May 31, 2023: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., 2.72%; GFL Environmental, Inc., 3.85%; Mongodb, Inc., 1.84%.

Fred Alger Management, 100 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10004 / 800.223.3810 / www.alger.com



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