DST Systems Inc. (NYSE:DST)
DST is the largest information processor for mutual funds in the US, and also offers software, securities processing and other services to financial services companies, insurance companies and third party administrators. DST’s offerings are high margin and high barrier to entry services that lower cost and increase service quality to its customers. DST has grown its book value at a 5-yearCAGR of over 14% and we think this growth will continue as DST continues to penetrate the “in-house” serviced mutual funds, still about 50% of the industry, and also as it grows into health care and insurance claims processing.
We have followed DST for many years, and were able to initiate a position on the heels of a choppy second quarter earnings report at a 20% discount to NAV, where the market became concerned about higher security and compliance investments and the risk of a large customer, Cigna, transitioning away a portion of its processing business. These short term concerns pressured the shares, and overlooked the positives of i) abating mutual fund sub account conversion activity, winding down by year-end 2015, ii) the continued monetization of non-core investments, including State Street shares, pacing at approximately $100 million per quarter and iii) robust share repurchase activity. Moreover, since his appointment in August 2014, CEO Steve Hooley has been undertaking a review of all business units, to drive margin expansion, exit non-core units including record keeping and UK accounting and strategically investing to leverage the emerging demand for data analytics from DST customers. We believe this quality franchise will see increasing demand for its services and increased margin leverage from internal initiatives that should drive double digit equity compounding over the foreseeable future.
From Third Avenue Management (Trades, Portfolio)'s Small-Cap Value Fund fourth quarter 2015 portfolio manager commentary.
