By adhering to our disciplines of primary research, objective valuation analysis, and “variable ratio” management, we have been able to achieve superior and consistent returns in managed portfolios. We firmly believe that the constant application of these disciplines to fixed income and equity securities alike protects our supervised portfolios from the temptation of investing in temporary investment fads and “popular” stocks.

Over time, we believe stock performance is highly correlated with growth in earnings. We are long-term investors in financially strong, well managed companies with sustainable growth prospects. Our objective is to provide our clients with long-term growth of their capital as owners of successful well managed enterprises. To this end and in an effort to preserve capital, the D. F. Dent Equity Composite has experienced only four negative return years over the last 33 years versus seven negative return years for the S&P 500 Index. In three of those four down years, the D.F. Dent Equity Composite outperformed the S&P 500 Index. We structure portfolios to reduce exposure to a disappointing year resulting from any one market sector or mistakes in individual security selection. By sticking to our knitting and not getting caught up in short-term investment fads, our investments have demonstrated significant excess returns in both up and down markets.