kayne.com - Home
CommentaryProcessPortfoliosMutual FundsAbout Us
Equity | Fixed Income | Balanced Saturday, October 11, 2008

as of June 30, 2008
Small Cap Sustainable Growth Portfolio
Quick Links
Investment Management Team
  Years of
Research Experience
Robert Schwarzkopf, CFA 27
Sandi Gleason, CFA 13
Craig Stone 19
Jon Christensen, CFA 13
Julie Kutasov, CPA 7
Todd Beiley, CFA 9
Craig Thrasher, CFA 3
Gregory Toppe, CFA 8
Investment Philosophy and Approach
  • Bottom-up stock selection
  • In-depth, independent fundamental research
  • High-quality companies with sustainable competitive advantages
  • Disciplined valuation approach applying multiple valuation measures
  • Long-term vision, resulting in low portfolio turnover
Defining Characteristics
  • Seek to achieve returns of the Russell 2000® Growth Index with S&P 500® Index risk
  • Focus on dependable, small-cap growth companies
  • Manage risk through diversification of sectors and focus on companies with low business and financial risk
  • Structure portfolios for higher quality, superior growth, and better value
  • Maintain average capitalization in line with the Russell 2000® Growth Index
Investment Process
Small Cap Sustainable Growth Investment Process
Screening

We screen a broad universe of 8,000 companies for the following criteria:

  • Strong, consistent growth
  • Low-debt balance sheet
 
  • High profitability
  • Rising free cash flow
Fundamental Research

Fundamental research process:

 

Develop independent conviction in:

  • Qualitative industry and business assessment
  • Financial analysis
  • Valuation modeling
 
  • Sustainability of competitive advantages
  • Management's commitment to shareholders
  • Superior return opportunity
Construction & Management

Diversification guidelines:

 

Holding period:

  • 20 to 35 securities
  • Economic sectors +/- 10% of Russell 2000® Growth Index
 
  • Generally, three to four years
Top 10 Holdings*
  • Aaron Rents
  •  
  • Power Integrations
  • Abaxis
  • Quality Systems
  • Cabot Microelectronics
  • Strayer Education
  • FactSet Research Systems
  • Tesco
  • Measurement Specialties
  • World Acceptance
  • Sector Diversification*
    Small Cap Sustainable Growth: Sector Diversification
    Portfolio Characteristics*
      KAR
    Small Cap
    Sustainable
    Growth
    Russell
    2000®
    Growth
    Index
    Description
    Quality
    Return on Equity—Past Five Years 19.9% 13.6% More Profitable
    Long-Term Debt/Total Capital 18.7% 35.4% Less Financial Risk
    Interest Expense Coverage 10.1 x 7.4 x Less Financial Risk
    Earnings Variance—Past Ten Years 48.8% 92.1% More Dependable
    S&P Stock Ranking (A+, A, A-) 11.0% 3.0% Better Quality
    Growth
    Earnings Per Share Growth—Past Five Years 20.7% 22.0% Comparable Earnings Growth
    Earnings Per Share Growth—Past Ten Years 14.0% 13.1% Higher Earnings Growth
    Capital Generation—(ROE x {1-Payout}) 18.1% 12.6% Faster Business Growth
    Value
    P/E Ratio—Trailing 12 Months 19.3 x 32.3 x Better Value
    P/E to 5-Year Growth 1.4 x 2.4 x Better Value
    Free Cash Flow Yield§ 4.1% 1.5% Better Value
    Market Characteristics  
    $ Weighted Average Market Cap—Four Qtr. Average $1.1 B $1.4 B Comparable Size
    Largest Market Cap—Four Qtr. Average $2.9 B $5.8 B Comparable Size
    Annualized Standard Deviation—Since Inception† 21.0% 27.4% Less Market Risk
    Risk-Return Analysis‡
    Inception† - June 30, 2008

    Small Cap Sustainable Growth: Risk-Return Analysis

      Rate of
    Return (%)
    Standard
    Deviation (%)
    Alpha (%) Beta
    Annualized  
    KAR Small Cap Sustainable Growth (Gross) 6.34 20.98 2.68 0.67
    KAR Small Cap Sustainable Growth (Net)§ 5.29 20.95 1.65 0.67
    Russell 2000® Growth Index 3.19 27.36 0.00 1.00
    Russell 2000® Index 5.74 21.48 1.90 0.75
    S&P 500® Index 4.35 16.84 0.32 0.56
    Citigroup 3-Month T-Bill 3.56 0.85 0.00 0.00
    Historical Returns
      KAR Small Cap
    Sustainable Growth
    (Gross)
    KAR Small Cap
    Sustainable Growth
    (Net)§
    Russell
    2000®
    Growth Index
    Annualized Returns (%)*  
    Second Quarter 3.84 3.59 4.47
    Year to Date -5.57 -6.04 -8.93
    One Year -8.67 -9.58 -10.83
    Three Years 5.89 4.84 6.08
    Five Years 8.29 7.22 10.37
    Seven Years 2.32 1.29 3.08
    Ten Years 5.69 4.64 2.80
    Inception† 6.34 5.29 3.19
    Annual Returns (%)
    2007 -0.59 -1.59 7.05
    2006 15.80 14.66 13.35
    2005 1.88 0.85 4.15
    2004 12.82 11.68 14.31
    2003 38.44 37.10 48.54
    2002 -23.82 -24.60 -30.26
    2001 0.48 -0.49 -9.23
    2000 6.28 5.22 -22.43
    1999 31.19 29.92 43.09
    1998 3.33 2.28 1.23
    Disclosure

    Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC has prepared and presented this report in compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®).

    Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd., is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC manages a variety of equity and fixed-income strategies focusing exclusively on securities the firm defines as high quality. Additional information regarding the firm’s policies and procedures for calculating and reporting performance is available upon request. The firm maintains a complete list and description of composites, which is available upon request.

    The composite is defined as all fully discretionary, non-wrap fee Small Cap Sustainable Growth Portfolios (including cash) under management for at least one full quarter. The minimum account size for this composite is $250,000. For comparison purposes, the composite is measured against the Russell 2000® Growth Index. The Russell 2000® Growth Index is a market capitalization-weighted index of growth-oriented stocks of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell Universe, which comprises the 3,000 largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with dividends reinvested. The composite was created in January 1998. There have been no changes in personnel responsible for the investment management process for this composite.

    The performance information is supplied for reference. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Results will vary among accounts. The U.S. dollar is the currency used to express performance. Returns are presented gross of management fees and net of transaction fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Trade date accounting is used. Performance has been calculated by geometrically linking monthly returns with accounts entering and exiting the composite quarterly.

    Gross annual returns will be reduced by investment management fees and other expenses that may be incurred in the management of the account. Net annual returns have been calculated after the deduction of an assumed maximum annual fee of 1%. The effect on performance would grow at a compounded rate. Over a five year period, if a $250,000 portfolio had an annual return of 10%, it would grow to $402,628. The net compounded effect of a 1% annual investment management fee would total $17,972 and result in a portfolio value of $384,656. A fee schedule is available upon request and is described in Part II of the firm’s ADV.


      Total Firm
    Assets
    ($ Millions)
    Total
    Composite
    Assets
    ($ Millions)
    Accounts
    at
    Year-End
    Percentage
    of Non-
    Fee-Paying
    Accounts
    Gross
    Annual
    Return (%)
    Net
    Annual
    Return (%)
    Russell 2000®
    Growth Index
    Annual
    Return (%)
    Annual
    Standard
    Deviation (%)
    1998 4,160 1 1 0 3.33 2.28 1.23 0.00
    1999 5,381 1 1 0 31.19 29.92 43.09 0.00
    2000 6,686 1 1 0 6.28 5.22 -22.43 0.00
    2001 8,384 2 2 0 0.48 -0.49 -9.23 0.00
    2002 8,612 1 3 0 -23.82 -24.60 -30.26 0.00
    2003 10,262 4 4 0 38.44 37.10 48.54 0.00
    2004 10,320 28 25 0 12.82 11.68 14.31 0.60
    2005 8,553 29 30 0 1.88 0.85 4.15 0.28
    2006 6,523 31 30 0 15.80 14.66 13.35 0.31
    2007 5,392 21 25 0 -0.59 -1.59 7.05 0.53

    If applicable, the annual standard deviation presented is an asset-weighted calculation of performance dispersion for accounts in the composite for the entire year.

    The Russell 2000® Growth Index is a trademark/service mark of Frank Russell Company. Russell® is a trademark of Frank Russell Company.