Ron Baron Comments on CoStar Group Inc

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Jul 28, 2014

After doubling in 2013, real estate information and marketing services provider CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP) gave back gains in the second quarter. CoStar shares were negatively impacted by sudden and significant multiple compression in high growth, highly valued stocks, which sold off acutely early in the quarter. CoStar also completed an equity offering in the quarter, which we expect will be used to finance accretive M&A over the next six months. We continue to maintain our conviction in CoStar. (Neal Rosenberg)

The Fund added to its position in CoStar Group, Inc.,the leading provider of information and marketing services to the $50 trillion commercial real estate (CRE) industry. The company has spent 25 years building a proprietary CRE database, which has grown to include information on over four million properties and nine billion square feet of listings. The company monetizes its data through subscriptions to analytical tools, which are deeply integrated into clients’ workflows. Ongoing investments in R&D and a doubling of the sales force should allow CoStar to sell an expanded array of tools to new and existing customers. Additionally, the acquisitions of LoopNet and Apartments.com extend CoStar’s reach into marketing services and multi- family lead generation, creating vast new opportunities and offering the company dramatic revenue and cost synergies. Finally, the company’s high fixed cost base creates significant operating leverage, which we believe should help drive margins to above 40%. (Neal Rosenberg)

From Ron Baron (Trades, Portfolio)’s Baron Funds Second Quarter 2014 Report.