Small Cap Value Q4 2025
Equities shrugged off a retreat in early October and a poor start to November, closing higher for the quarter and posting the third straight year of double-digit gains for the major indices. A combination of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and strong corporate profitability fueled investor eagerness to buy the dips. Among larger cap stocks, value outperformed growth. Larger stocks also generally outperformed smaller ones, though returns among the AI-fueled mega caps were mixed. Indeed, the headline numbers disguised substantial variance across sectors and a pronounced low-quality bias that persisted for much of the quarter, particularly among smaller cap names, where many non-earning and pre-revenue companies posted remarkable gains.
Cooke & Bieler’s Small Cap Value Strategy significantly underperformed the Index during the fourth quarter, posting a -3.66% return gross of fees (-3.90% net of fees) against a 3.26% return for the Russell 2000® Value Index.
companies in our fully invested, concentrated portfolio
billion market capitalization range at initial purchase**
year track record
billion Small Cap Value assets under management as of 12/31/2025
billion AUM capacity, assuming no net inflows into other strategies
to new investors as of February 10, 2025
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Guides
Philosophy
- Fundamentals drive stock prices
- Capital preservation improves returns
- Culture shapes investment decisions
-
Shapes
Process
- Thorough, proprietary research by career analysts
- Focus on valuation and risk controls
- Team environment – group discussion/analyst decision
-
Generates
Portfolio
- Concentrated and diversified
- Long-term/low turnover
- Fully invested/limit on cash
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Performance
- Consistent pattern of results
- Objective: Outperform the benchmark over the longer term
Small Cap Value
Quarter 4 2025
Equity Composite Performance
- Cooke & Bieler - Gross of Fees
- Cooke & Bieler - Net of Fees
- Russell 2000® Value Index
Quality Characteristics1
- C&B Small Cap Value†
- Russell 2000® Value Index*
| ROC 5 Year Avg | Cash Interest Coverage | Debt/EBITDA | Forecasted P/E (Wtd. Harm. Avg.) | P/Normalized Earnings (Wtd. Harm. Avg.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12.2% | 6.0x | 2.6x | 14.0x | 9.9x |
| 6.0% | 4.5x | 3.4x | 32.4x | - |
| ROC 5 Year Avg | 12.2% | 6.0% |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Interest Coverage | 6.0x | 4.5x |
| Debt/EBITDA | 2.6x | 3.4x |
| Forecasted P/E (Wtd. Harm. Avg.) | 14.0x | 32.4x |
| P/Normalized Earnings (Wtd. Harm. Avg.) | 9.9x | - |
Portfolio Attributes1
- C&B Small Cap Value
- Russell 2000® Value Index
| # Holdings | Market Cap ($B) Range | Market Cap ($B) (Wtd. Avg.) | Annual Turnover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 0.1 - 11.5 | 4.8 | 43% |
| 1,426 | 0.0 - 31.3 | 3.5 | - |
| # Holdings | 48 | 1,426 |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap ($B) Range | 0.1 - 11.5 | 0.0 - 31.3 |
| Market Cap ($B) (Wtd. Avg.) | 4.8 | 3.5 |
| Annual Turnover | 43% | - |
Top 10 Holdings1
| Gildan Activewear | 4.7% |
| White Mountains Insurance | 3.5% |
| WSFS Financial | 3.3% |
| Columbia Banking System | 3.1% |
| Glacier Bancorp | 3.0% |
| Commerce Bancshares | 2.9% |
| MKS Inc. | 2.9% |
| Ryman Hospitality Properties | 2.8% |
| H.B. Fuller | 2.8% |
| Enerpac Tool Group | 2.8% |
Top 10 Holdings1
| Gildan Activewear | 4.7% |
| White Mountains Insurance | 3.5% |
| WSFS Financial | 3.3% |
| Columbia Banking System | 3.1% |
| Glacier Bancorp | 3.0% |
| Commerce Bancshares | 2.9% |
| MKS Inc. | 2.9% |
| Ryman Hospitality Properties | 2.8% |
| H.B. Fuller | 2.8% |
| Enerpac Tool Group | 2.8% |
Sector Weights1
- C&B Small Cap Value
- Russell 2000® Value Index
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Communication Services
C&B Small Cap Value 1.1% Russell 2000® Value Index 3.2% -
Consumer Discretionary
C&B Small Cap Value 15.7% Russell 2000® Value Index 9.9% -
Consumer Staples
C&B Small Cap Value 1.5% Russell 2000® Value Index 1.6% -
Energy
C&B Small Cap Value 3.3% Russell 2000® Value Index 7.0% -
Financials
C&B Small Cap Value 23.8% Russell 2000® Value Index 26.4% -
Health Care
C&B Small Cap Value 12.3% Russell 2000® Value Index 11.0% -
Industrials
C&B Small Cap Value 26.1% Russell 2000® Value Index 12.6% -
Information Technology
C&B Small Cap Value 6.0% Russell 2000® Value Index 7.7% -
Materials
C&B Small Cap Value 2.8% Russell 2000® Value Index 5.4% -
Real Estate
C&B Small Cap Value 2.8% Russell 2000® Value Index 9.5% -
Utilities
C&B Small Cap Value — Russell 2000® Value Index 5.7% -
Cash
C&B Small Cap Value 4.4% Russell 2000® Value Index —
Additional Cooke & Bieler Small Cap Value Disclosures
Small Cap Value Equity Composite
| Year | Total Return Gross of Fees (%) | Total Return Net of Fees (%) | Russell 2000® Value Index (%) | Russell 2000® Value Index 3-Yr Std Dev (%) | Composite 3-Yr Std Dev (%) | Composite Dispersion (%) | Market Value ($Millions) | Total Firm Assets ($Millions) | # of Portfolios |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 28.93 | 28.02 | 31.74 | 15.50 | 14.44 | 0.29 | 684.7 | 5,303.4 | 21 |
| 2017 | 16.32 | 15.18 | 7.84 | 13.97 | 13.26 | 0.18 | 867.6 | 5,912.3 | 27 |
| 2018 | -10.56 | -11.46 | -12.86 | 15.76 | 15.61 | 0.26 | 821.3 | 5,084.6 | 37 |
| 2019 | 36.87 | 35.54 | 22.39 | 15.68 | 16.88 | 0.31 | 1,262.4 | 9,757.1 | 47 |
| 2020 | 9.52 | 8.43 | 4.63 | 26.12 | 27.55 | 1.02 | 1.936.0 | 9,540.8 | 52 |
| 2021 | 18.96 | 17.79 | 28.27 | 25.00 | 26.13 | 0.46 | 2,171.5 | 11,942.6 | 52 |
| 2022 | -18.12 | -18.95 | -14.48 | 27.27 | 27.47 | 0.42 | 1,675.8 | 10,678.1 | 50 |
| 2023 | 29.08 | 27.82 | 14.65 | 21.75 | 20.87 | 0.33 | 1,954.6 | 11,834.8 | 45 |
| 2024 | 2.41 | 1.39 | 8.05 | 23.44 | 22.01 | 0.22 | 1,666.5 | 11,366.4 | 42 |
| 2025 | -1.41 | -2.40 | 12.59 | 19.91 | 19.03 | 0.37 | 1,734.8 | 10,559.2 | 33 |
The Small Cap Value Equity Composite has been examined for the period from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2024. The examination report is available upon request.
The Cooke & Bieler Small Cap Value Equity Composite (Composite) has an inception date of August 1, 2008 and includes all fully discretionary, fee paying, small cap value equity portfolios managed for more than one month. The Composite was created in April 2010. For investment purposes, we generally define small cap equity securities as those of companies whose market capitalization is within the range of the Russell 2000® Index at initial time of purchase. Securities are selected using the firm’s fundamental, bottom-up approach. Portfolios are concentrated, typically holding approximately 40-60 securities.
The standard fee agreement is 1% per annum on the first $20 million, 0.90 of 1% per annum on the next $20 million, 0.85 of 1% per annum on the next $20 million, and 0.80 of 1% per annum on the remaining balance, however fees are negotiable. Effective 7/1/2016, net of fee returns are calculated monthly by deducting one twelfth of the annual model fee rate of 1% across all accounts in the Composite. The Composite includes accounts that pay performance-based fees. Prior to 7/1/2016, net of fee returns reflect the deduction of actual management fees and are net of any performance-based fees.
For comparison purposes, the Composite is measured against the Russell 2000® Value Index. The index returns are provided to represent the investment environment existing during the time periods shown and are not covered by the report of independent verifiers. FTSE Russell is a subsidiary of London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell® is a trademark of FTSE Russell Indexes.
Cooke & Bieler Additional Disclosures
Notes:
- Cooke & Bieler, L.P. claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®) and has prepared and presented this report in compliance with the GIPS standards. Cooke & Bieler has been independently verified for the periods January 1, 1993 through December 31, 2024. The verification report is available upon request.
A firm that claims compliance with the GIPS standards must establish policies and procedures for complying with all the applicable requirements of the GIPS standards. Verification provides assurance on whether the firm’s policies and procedures related to composite maintenance as well as the calculation, presentation, and distribution of performance, have been designed in compliance with the GIPS standards and have been implemented on a firm‐wide basis. Verification does not provide assurance on the accuracy of any specific performance report. - The Firm is defined as Cooke & Bieler, L.P., an independent investment management firm and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
- Rates of return are calculated in U.S. dollars. Portfolios are valued monthly on a trade date basis. Portfolio returns reflect the reinvestment of dividend and interest income.
- Returns are presented both gross and net of fees. Gross of fee returns do not reflect the deduction of investment advisory fees. Client returns will be reduced by investment advisory fees and other expenses they may incur in the management of their investment advisory accounts. Investment advisory fees are described in Part 2A of Form ADV. The actual fee charged is subject to negotiation and may depend on the asset size, client location, and type of portfolio.
- Dispersion is measured using an asset weighted standard deviation of portfolio gross returns represented within the Composite for the full year.
- A list of composite descriptions and a complete list of pooled fund descriptions for limited distribution pooled funds is available upon request. Policies for valuing investments, calculating performance, and preparing GIPS Reports are also available upon request.
- For comparison purposes, each index is fully invested and includes the reinvestment of income. The returns for each index do not include any transaction costs, management fees or other costs.
- The three-year annualized ex-post standard deviation measures the variability of the Composite (using gross returns) and the benchmark for the preceding 36-month period.
- GIPS® is a registered trademark of CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein.
- Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal.