Unlike the financial sector that dominated Crescent’s 2016 returns, there wasn’t any one sector that was an unusual driver of performance year to date. However, Arconic (NYSE:ARNC) was one company that did stand out, increasing 42.41% in the quarter, which added 0.73% to the Fund’s first-quarter return.
Arconic’s recent stock price performance was neither a function of great industry fundamentals nor of the company successfully executing on plan. It was more a function of Elliott Management Corp., an activist investor, seeking a change in leadership.1 We would view such a change favorably as well.
My partner and co-portfolio manager, Brian Selmo, recently authored a letter to Arconic’s Board of Directors, expressing our disappointment with both the company’s board and management given their collective failure to manage the business and deliver shareholder value. Their destructive action (and inaction) left us little alternative but to publicly voice our opinion.
From Steven Romick (Trades, Portfolio)'s first quarter 2017 FPA Crescent Fund commentary.
