Waterfront Equity
The Waterfront Equity strategy is a concentrated portfolio focused on capital appreciation. The strategy is predicated on the belief that above-average profitability is an accurate measure of quality and that the market frequently underestimates its durability. The strategy seeks to invest in quality companies when they are attractively valued or out of favor.
Objective
The Waterfront Equity Strategy seeks to provide a total return in excess of the S&P 500.
Philosophy
The Waterfront Equity Strategy is a concentrated portfolio with high active share focused on capital appreciation. The strategy in the equity sleeve is predicated on the belief that above-average profitability is an accurate measure of quality and that the market frequently underestimates its durability. We seek to exploit the opportunity by opportunistically investing in quality companies when they are attractively valued or out of favor. The portfolio is diversified across sectors with security selection governed by a disciplined emphasis on finding reasonably priced profitable companies with sound capital structures.
Process
We screen the investable universe to identify companies with high sector-relative profitability with a strong capital structure and stable or improving free cash flow generation. We seek to enhance our chances of identifying ‘winners’ in this universe of profitable companies by investigating the durability of their success. The fundamental drivers of above-average profitability are diverse and complex. We seek to isolate the idiosyncratic attributes of these companies and assess their ability to suspend the ceaseless pull of reversion to the mean. Examples of structural competitive advantages we identify are brand equity, proprietary technology, economies of scale, geographical density, capital intensity and network effects to name just a few. This universe of companies is sufficiently small and relatively stable allowing us to adequately vet and identify candidates with durable profitability.
We build a portfolio of 45-50 names from this universe of profitable companies with an active share in the range of 65-85% and a portfolio beta generally between 0.9x and 1.1x the S&P 500. While seemingly incontrovertible, investors affinity for quality is surprisingly fickle. Although our ability to anticipate the ebbs and flows of investor psychology is limited, we use relative valuation as a barometer of the market’s affinity for quality. In essence, we use valuation to discipline our quality bias. In practical terms, we seek to initiate new positions or add to existing ones in quality companies when they are inexpensive relative to their historical relationship to the market as a whole. Equally important, we seek to reduce or eliminate positions when their valuation relative to the market indicates they are most cherished.
Portfolio Construction:
~The top 10 positions will represent 25-35% of the portfolio to allow security selection to drive alpha.
~Position sizes are representative of conviction, liquidity, timeliness, risk profile and valuation.
~The fund will not have more than 2x the benchmark weight in any sector with an absolute maximum sector exposure of 35%.
~The fund will not invest more than 5% in any individual security unless either its benchmark weight exceeds that level or its active weight at that level is less than 100bps. In either of those two scenarios, the fund will not invest more than 100bps in excess of the benchmark weight.
Our emphasis on sector relative profitability sharpens our focus and narrows our investable universe to a successful and proven cohort of companies whose pedigree inspires confidence across economic cycles. Our emphasis on relative valuation helps us opportunistically invest in these companies, improving our odds of producing excess returns. Equally important, it disciplines us to reduce or divest positions when relative valuation suggests their inherent characteristics are fully appreciated by the market, which reduces our risk of outsized factor and style exposure.
Across economic cycles and irrespective of market moods, we seek to maintain an emphasis on finding high quality, growing companies whose securities are trading at a reasonable valuation with visible catalysts to drive relative outperformance over the next twelve months.
Cash:
The funds cash position is a residual of the number of qualifying investments we can find and is normally between 0-3% of total fund assets. In times of uncertainty, cash is used to minimize downside capture; reduce daily NAV volatility; and to prepare to take advantage of opportunities created by declines in asset values.
Waterfront Equity has a $150,000 minimum with a 65 basis point management fee. Funds are held at First Clearing, our custodian.
We build a portfolio of 45-50 names from this universe of profitable companies with an active share in the range of 65-85% and a portfolio beta generally between 0.9x and 1.1x the S&P 500. While seemingly incontrovertible, investors affinity for quality is surprisingly fickle. Although our ability to anticipate the ebbs and flows of investor psychology is limited, we use relative valuation as a barometer of the market’s affinity for quality. In essence, we use valuation to discipline our quality bias. In practical terms, we seek to initiate new positions or add to existing ones in quality companies when they are inexpensive relative to their historical relationship to the market as a whole. Equally important, we seek to reduce or eliminate positions when their valuation relative to the market indicates they are most cherished.
Portfolio Construction:
~The top 10 positions will represent 25-35% of the portfolio to allow security selection to drive alpha.
~Position sizes are representative of conviction, liquidity, timeliness, risk profile and valuation.
~The fund will not have more than 2x the benchmark weight in any sector with an absolute maximum sector exposure of 35%.
~The fund will not invest more than 5% in any individual security unless either its benchmark weight exceeds that level or its active weight at that level is less than 100bps. In either of those two scenarios, the fund will not invest more than 100bps in excess of the benchmark weight.
Our emphasis on sector relative profitability sharpens our focus and narrows our investable universe to a successful and proven cohort of companies whose pedigree inspires confidence across economic cycles. Our emphasis on relative valuation helps us opportunistically invest in these companies, improving our odds of producing excess returns. Equally important, it disciplines us to reduce or divest positions when relative valuation suggests their inherent characteristics are fully appreciated by the market, which reduces our risk of outsized factor and style exposure.
Across economic cycles and irrespective of market moods, we seek to maintain an emphasis on finding high quality, growing companies whose securities are trading at a reasonable valuation with visible catalysts to drive relative outperformance over the next twelve months.
Cash:
The funds cash position is a residual of the number of qualifying investments we can find and is normally between 0-3% of total fund assets. In times of uncertainty, cash is used to minimize downside capture; reduce daily NAV volatility; and to prepare to take advantage of opportunities created by declines in asset values.
Waterfront Equity has a $150,000 minimum with a 65 basis point management fee. Funds are held at First Clearing, our custodian.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the strategy before investing. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy or approach will be successful or achieve any particular level of results. All investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal.
The information on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular investment product, strategy, investment manager or account arrangement and should not serve as a primary basis for investment decisions. Nothing in this website shall be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security, or any other product or service, to any person in any jurisdiction where such an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to another party’s informational accuracy or completeness.
Waterfront Wealth Inc. is currently registered as an investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission. State securities laws require that the firm be registered, or qualify for an exemption from registration, in order to provide investment advisory services to residents of a particular state. Should you choose to contact the firm, any substantive communication between you and the firm will be conducted by a representative who is appropriately licensed, registered, or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration in the state where the prospective client resides.
Waterfront Wealth Inc. and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice and nothing herein should be construed as such. Always consult with your tax advisor or attorney regarding your specific circumstances.
Waterfront Asset Management is a division of Waterfront Wealth, Inc., a registered investment advisor with the SEC that provides investment management services to institutional and individual investors.
The information on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular investment product, strategy, investment manager or account arrangement and should not serve as a primary basis for investment decisions. Nothing in this website shall be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security, or any other product or service, to any person in any jurisdiction where such an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to another party’s informational accuracy or completeness.
Waterfront Wealth Inc. is currently registered as an investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission. State securities laws require that the firm be registered, or qualify for an exemption from registration, in order to provide investment advisory services to residents of a particular state. Should you choose to contact the firm, any substantive communication between you and the firm will be conducted by a representative who is appropriately licensed, registered, or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration in the state where the prospective client resides.
Waterfront Wealth Inc. and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice and nothing herein should be construed as such. Always consult with your tax advisor or attorney regarding your specific circumstances.
Waterfront Asset Management is a division of Waterfront Wealth, Inc., a registered investment advisor with the SEC that provides investment management services to institutional and individual investors.
