The Value Fund returned +5.3% in 2018 net of fees and expenses (or approximately +7.1% gross). We managed to outperform both of our benchmarks in 2018. The S&P/TSX Total Return Index finished down -8.9% for the year. The S&P500 Total Return Index was down -4.4% for the year. Measured in Canadian dollars (the Value Fund’s reporting currency) the S&P500 Total Return was up +3.9% for the year.
There is a concept in cycling that has been adopted by famed value investor Tom Russo that resonates with us – namely the capacity to suffer. There will be times when our prudent value investing approach will be out of step with the markets and we will experience the pain of looking foolish for ignoring expensive and/or poor-quality stocks. But our long-term and patient approach when things aren’t going our way serves us well when panic returns. The ability to endure short-term pain (be it psychological, emotional and/or physical) often leads to long-term rewards. Buffett has often said that temperament is more important than intelligence in investing. Fortunately we were wired a certain way that happens to be helpful in the investing arena.
… Value Fund holding Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) is the world leader in diabetes care with a global market share of 27% by value (46% by insulin volume). The company was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Denmark. However, its origins have a uniquely Canadian connection…
… Health care is a very personal and sensitive subject. Most nations would prefer all of their citizens to have unlimited access to life saving drugs at reasonable prices. However, countries have limited means.
… The implication of the Value Fund’s significantly lower turnover rate is that we tend to hold stocks for long periods of time at GreensKeeper. An investment strategy with a high turnover incurs additional trading expenses and triggers taxable gains
… Express Scripts Holding Company (Nasdaq:ESRX) is the largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company in North America. It serves thousands of clients including managed-care organizations, insurance carriers, employers, third-party administrators, public sector and union sponsored benefit plans.