First Quarter 2016 Performance and Commentary Review

The first quarter was a tale of two halves. During the first half, the stock market came under significant pressure as oil prices fell to new lows, broader credit concerns became elevated, and recessionary risks rose.  The second half was marked by a bounce in oil prices on a hoped for production quota agreement from […]

2016-04-04T17:47:01-04:00April 4th, 2016|Blog, Economic Updates|

What If?

After a brief upswing, the markets were caught in a downdraft last week with many of the innovative growth companies we own coming under significantly greater selling pressure.  In the past, I’ve noticed that growth stocks, particularly those that are innovators and less susceptible to economic pressures, tend to do well in all types of […]

2016-02-08T18:56:28-05:00February 8th, 2016|Economic Updates|

What We’re Thinking

The markets are off to a rip-roaring start this year — in the wrong direction.   We are hearing all sorts of sensationalized firsts, including the fact that we just endured the worst first few days of January on record.  While this is a painful fact, it is also one that is perhaps more sensationalized than […]

2016-01-15T19:08:19-05:00January 15th, 2016|Economic Updates|

Fourth Quarter 2015 Commentary and Performance Review

Our portfolio and the stock market bounced back aggressively in the fourth quarter following the Chinese Yuan induced swoon during the third.  We finished the full year in positive territory, substantially ahead of our comparative indices and peer group. While there has been much gnashing of teeth over the narrowness of the market’s gains this […]

2016-01-05T17:01:26-05:00January 5th, 2016|Economic Updates|

Little League Trophies

The financial markets have worn many masks this year.  Like a ping pong ball, wide and powerful swings from Fed pronouncements, movements in the dollar, and the price of oil have contributed to violent and swift changes in mood.  Perception and reality are almost entirely a function of macroeconomic news, but for the very brief […]

2015-11-13T19:36:33-05:00November 13th, 2015|Economic Updates|

Earnings Voids and the Emergence of Plausible Risk

We had put the finishing touches on a market update celebrating our first ten years in business, but were rudely interrupted by the first violence in the markets we’ve seen in nearly a year. Yes, a year. We don’t want to minimize the severity or swiftness with which many stocks have been hit in the […]

2015-08-21T16:45:03-04:00August 21st, 2015|Blog, Economic Updates|

Second Quarter 2015 Commentary and Performance Review

The Broadleaf Growth Equity Portfolio (BGEP) enjoyed another nice gain in the second quarter, both on an absolute basis and relative to the S&P 500.  Performance gains were relatively broad based, both at the sector and individual security levels.  Technology and consumer discretionary related holdings were particular sources of strength during the quarter. Over the […]

2015-07-06T18:33:49-04:00July 6th, 2015|Blog, Economic Updates|

Many Shades of Grey

We’re getting towards the end of earnings season, which provides a little breathing room to make a few comments on the overall market.  The action has been choppy since the beginning of April, with a host of “firsts” leaving the typical investor more confused about the next move than necessarily concerned.  As we mentioned in […]

2015-05-07T19:22:04-04:00May 7th, 2015|Blog, Economic Updates|

Nevis & NASDAQ 5000

Fifteen years ago, the tech-stock heavy, dot-com laden NASDAQ hit 5000, a level it hasn’t seen since – until today – March 2nd, 2015.  Whether or not it will maintain a closing price above 5000 remains a work in progress, but in all likelihood, we’ll get there. To be honest, I wasn’t so sure that […]

2015-03-03T16:59:18-05:00March 3rd, 2015|Blog, Economic Updates|

Fourth Quarter 2014 Commentary and Performance Review

The Broadleaf Growth Equity Portfolio gained a solid 2.6% during the fourth quarter, bringing its full year return to 11.8%.  While lagging the overall market’s return for the year, our results on a one, three and five year basis remain in the top half of our peer group and are in solidly positive territory.  Our […]

2015-01-06T21:27:51-05:00January 6th, 2015|Blog, Economic Updates|
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