Ron Baron (Trades, Portfolio) is the founder of Baron Capital Management. He is co-portfolio manager of Baron Asset Fund and remains portfolio manager of the Growth and Partners Funds. His most recent trades according to GuruFocus' Real Time Picks, include the following.
His stake in United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) has been reduced by 87.70% with an impact of -0.51% on the portfolio.
The company is a distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods and non-food products in the U.S. and Canada. During the last quarter, net sales increased 1.5% and adjusted net sales increased 6.5% year over year.
GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 7 out of 10 with ROE of 9.46% and ROA of 5.12% that are outperforming 56% of the companies in the Global Food Distribution industry. Financial strength has a rating of 8 out of 10, with cash to debt of 0.03 that is below industry median of 0.60.
Another notable shareholder among the gurus is RS Investment Management (Trades, Portfolio) with 2.38% of outstanding shares, followed by Ken Fisher (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.38%, Joel Greenblatt (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.58%, Chuck Royce (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.53%, Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.49%, Jim Simons (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.35% and Paul Tudor Jones (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.02%.
Baron exited his stake in ITC Holdings Corp. (ITC) with an impact of -2.36% on the portfolio.
The company operates, maintains and invests in transmission infrastructure in order to enhance system integrity and reliability, to reduce transmission constraints and to allow new generating resources to interconnect to its transmission systems. During the last quarter, the company agreed to be acquired by Fortis Inc. (FTS). Operating earnings for the fourth quarter were 57 cents per diluted common share, compared to 48 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.
GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 8 out of 10 with ROE of 14.15% and ROA of 3.33% that are outperforming 57% of the companies in the industry. Financial strength has a rating of 6 out of 10, with cash to debt of 0.23 that is below the industry median of 0.36.
Diamond Hill Capital (Trades, Portfolio) is another notable shareholder of the company among the gurus with 0.78% of outstanding shares, followed by First Eagle Investment (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.52% and Chuck Royce (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.22%.
Baron exited his stake in Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC) with an impact of -0.16% on the portfolio.
The company is a designer and manufacturer of power generation equipment and other engine powered products serving the residential, light commercial, industrial and construction markets. During the fourth quarter, gross profit margin improved 230 basis points over the prior ÂÂyear quarter to 36.6%, and net income was 14 cents per share compared to 70 cents per share for the same period of 2014.
GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 8 out of 10 with ROE of 15.75% and ROA of 4.21% that are outperforming 58% of the companies in the Global Diversified Industrials industry. Financial strength has a rating of 8 out of 10, with cash to debt of 0.11 that is below industry median of 1.07.
Columbia Wanger (Trades, Portfolio) is another notable shareholder among the gurus with 5.01% of outstanding shares, followed by John Keeley (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.56% and Mairs and Power (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.24%.
The investor closed his stake in Capital Senior Living Corp. (CSU) with an impact of -0.14% on the portfolio.
The company is an operator of senior living communities in the U.S. Revenue in the fourth quarter for all communities had a 7.4% increase from the year-ago quarter.
GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 6 out of 10 with ROE of -10.38% and ROA of -1.52% that are underperforming 90% of the companies in the Global Long-Term Care Facilities industry. Financial strength has a rating of 6 out of 10, with cash to debt of 0.07 that is below industry median of 0.36.
Another notable shareholder among the gurus is Jim Simons (Trades, Portfolio), who holds 4.82% of outstanding shares.
Baron closed his stake in Targa Resources Corp. (TRGP) with an impact of -0.18% on the portfolio.
The company owns general and limited partner interests, including IDRs, in Targa Resources Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership. It formed the Partnership in October 2006 to own, operate, acquire and develop a portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets.
GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 3 out of 10 with ROE of 4.72% and ROA of 0.48% that are underperforming 67% of the companies in the Global Oil & Gas Midstream industry. Financial strength has a rating of 6 out of 10, with cash to debt of 0.02 that is below the industry median of 0.05.
Other guru shareholders include Leon Cooperman (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.78% of outstanding shares, followed by Jana Partners (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.51%, Jim Simons (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.3%, Paul Tudor Jones (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.02% and Pioneer Investments (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.01%.
