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Equity Fund Research
Equity Fund Research, LLC provides investment management service to individuals, retirement plans and trusts through a research-based process focused on the...
Equity Fund Research
Equity Fund Research, LLC provides investment management service to individuals, retirement plans and trusts through a research-based process focused on the best managed growth funds. It uses a dynamic reward/risk analysis called the Investment Skill Quotient (ISQ) as the foundation of its fund rating system. Each account is separately managed with the client's risk ceiling observed, and client assets are custodied at Charles Schwab & Company.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
1980
Location
City
Winchester
Principals
Thurman Smith
firm principal and chief investment officer
Thurman Smith
principal
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is Equity Fund Research's investment philosophy?
The firm adheres to a deep-value, fundamental analysis approach, concentrating on underfollowed small-cap equities. Its philosophy prioritizes intrinsic value assessments, durable competitive advantages, and strong management teams. The strategy deliberately avoids momentum-driven names and sectors it cannot model with confidence.
Who are the principals running Equity Fund Research?
The principals have maintained a low public profile, with their identities tied to a series of investor letters and research publications rather than broad marketing. Their writings demonstrate a career-long commitment to value-oriented public equities, though specific names of current investment decision-makers are not widely publicized.
How does Equity Fund Research source investment ideas?
The idea-sourcing process relies on primary, self-directed fundamental research rather than sell-side recommendations. The firm screens for businesses trading below intrinsic value that are structurally under-covered by the broader analyst community. Due diligence often involves direct engagement with company management teams in small-cap and micro-cap names.
Does Equity Fund Research manage a mutual fund or ETF?
No, the firm does not publicly sponsor a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund. The investment mandate is delivered primarily through individually managed separate accounts, which allows for customization and tax management for institutional and high-net-worth clients.
What does Equity Fund Research avoid investing in?
The firm explicitly avoids businesses it identifies as structurally impaired, highly leveraged commodity-cyclicals, or sectors driven predominantly by speculative growth narratives without a basis in current cash flows. High-burn-rate pre-revenue companies are generally excluded from the deep-value framework.
How does the firm distribute its research?
Client letters and thematic white papers are the primary distribution mechanisms, often shared with a limited circle of allocators. This research-led distribution acts as a filtering mechanism, ensuring that new clients share the firm's long-term, fundamentals-driven orientation.
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