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Oberweis Asset Management Inc
Oberweis Asset Management, founded in 1989 by James Oberweis, is a Naperville, IL-based small-cap growth specialist managing ~$581M.
Oberweis Asset Management Inc
Oberweis Asset Management was founded in 1989 by James Oberweis, whose family had built a regional dairy and ice cream empire in the Midwest. The firm manages small-cap growth equity portfolios for institutional and individual clients. Its investment philosophy centers on identifying companies with strong earnings momentum and favorable valuations. The firm focuses on U.S. small-cap growth stocks, targeting companies with market capitalizations typically below $3 billion. Sector exposures have historically included enterprise software, healthcare services, industrials, and consumer discretionary. Oberweis runs separately managed accounts and a flagship mutual fund (Oberweis Small-Cap Growth Fund, OBEGX). Known public holdings have included Cognex Corporation, Qualys Inc., and ICON plc. As of December 2023, the firm reported approximately $581 million in assets under management (per form ADV). The investment team includes John W. O'Brien and William T. Palin as senior portfolio managers. Oberweis maintains a single office in Naperville, Illinois, with no additional locations disclosed. The firm's structural differentiator is its earnings-momentum discipline combined with a generational family heritage in business ownership. Unlike many small-cap managers that rely on quantitative screens, Oberweis applies fundamental research to identify inflection points in corporate earnings. The Oberweis family's own capital remains invested in the firm's strategies, aligning interests with external clients.
General information
Firm type
Small Cap Growth Specialist
Year founded
1989
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Naperville
Corporate office
Naperville, IL, United States
Principals
James Oberweis
President and Portfolio Manager
John W. O'Brien
Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
William T. (Bill) Palin
Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who makes investment decisions at Oberweis Asset Management?
James Oberweis serves as President and lead portfolio manager. He is supported by John W. O'Brien and William T. Palin, both Senior Vice Presidents and portfolio managers. The team form decisions through a fundamental research process focused on earnings momentum.
Does Oberweis Asset Management operate as a family office or a traditional asset manager?
It operates as a registered investment adviser and asset manager, not a single-family office. The Oberweis family's capital is co-invested in the firm's strategies, but the firm primarily manages external client assets through mutual funds and separate accounts.
What investment strategy does Oberweis Asset Management employ?
The firm pursues a small-cap growth strategy that targets U.S. companies with accelerating earnings growth, strong relative strength, and reasonable valuation. The process is fundamental and bottom-up, with a focus on identifying inflection points in corporate earnings trends.
How does the Oberweis family's wealth relate to the asset management business?
The Oberweis family wealth originates from the Oberweis Dairy, founded in 1915 by Peter Oberweis. The asset management business was launched separately in 1989 by James Oberweis. The family remains involved but the firm is structured as an independent asset manager.
What kinds of clients does Oberweis Asset Management serve?
Clients include institutional investors such as pension funds, endowments, foundations, as well as high-net-worth individuals. The firm offers both mutual funds and separately managed accounts tailored to client mandates.
Does Oberweis Asset Management participate in direct private investments or only public equities?
Based on public filings, the firm's primary activity is public equity investing in small-cap growth stocks. There is no public record of significant direct private investment activity.
What is Oberweis Asset Management's regulatory status?
The firm is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser, filing Form ADV. It has a disclosed AUM of approximately $581 million as of December 2023.
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