Hidden Small Cap Gems: A Conversation with Canada's Top Hedge Fund Manager Jordan Zinberg (Bedford Park Capital)
Jan 23, 2025
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Jordan Zinberg, recognized as Canada's top hedge fund manager in 2024 and Founder of Bedford Park Capital, shares his journey and investment insights. He emphasizes the importance of return on equity and special situations in portfolio management. Jordan discusses the strategy of stealthily accumulating positions and learning from past mistakes, including insights on spin-offs like Constellation Software. He also highlights opportunities in emerging compounders and the balance between investing in high-growth small caps and stable large caps for effective risk management.
Jordan Zinberg emphasizes the importance of maintaining a high Return on Equity (ROE) and a concentrated investment strategy for superior performance.
The podcast discusses utilizing special situations like spin-offs and distressed sales to identify undervalued investment opportunities in the market.
Zinberg highlights the significance of continuous learning from both successes and failures to refine investment strategies and adapt to changing market conditions.
Deep dives
Achieving Number One Hedge Fund Status
Jordan Zinberg, founder and CEO of Bedford Park Capital, achieved recognition as the number one hedge fund in Canada for 2024, a title he earned due to exceptional performance amid favorable market conditions. The year's success was fueled by a concentrated and high-performing portfolio, where several of their stock holdings not only performed better than the market but some even doubled in value. This outperformance illustrates the importance of selecting quality investments and maintaining a tight portfolio focus. Investors placed their trust in the firm, and Zinberg expressed gratitude for being able to provide substantial returns, emphasizing the significance of having capital allocated to the best ideas.
Market Conditions and Investor Strategy
The discussion highlighted the contrasting conditions between 2023 and the following year, noting that while the market backdrop appeared similar, 2024 experienced notable multiple expansions that significantly benefited skilled investors. Companies previously trading at lower multiples saw a substantial increase in their valuations, forming a positive setup for future growth. The volatility experienced in 2023, marked by fluctuating investor expectations and geopolitical tensions, contrasts sharply with the rewarding market environment that followed. This change underscores the necessity for investors to remain vigilant and adaptable, aligning their capital with high-growth companies to capitalize on market opportunities.
Career Development and Investment Philosophy
Zinberg's investment philosophy evolved significantly during his career, particularly through his time as an analyst and trader under Jason Donville, which allowed him to refine his approach before launching Bedford Park Capital in 2018. He emphasized a flexible strategy that focuses on high Return on Equity (ROE) and momentum, while remaining open to investments outside the traditional framework. His strategy involves a 'special situations bucket' that allows for alternative investment opportunities, reflecting his capacity to identify and act on unique market circumstances. This flexibility, combined with an emphasis on continuous learning from both successes and failures, has been a key element in building a successful investment firm.
Identifying Special Situations for Investment
The podcast delved into the intriguing concept of special situations trading, which includes cleanup trades, spin-offs, and purchasing high-yield bonds in strategic contexts. For example, cleaning up on distressed sales allows investors to acquire shares at significant discounts during bulk sell-offs. The discussion also illustrated the potential benefits of investing in spin-offs, particularly how they can create value through market mispricing as larger institutions may need to divest shares due to restrictions. By capitalizing on these opportunities, investors can secure remarkable returns while navigating through the intricacies of the stock market.
Investment in Emerging Compounders
Zinberg defined emerging compounders as companies with a strong potential for growth but lacking a long-term track record compared to established counterparts. These firms often present unique investment opportunities when they trade at undervalued levels, despite demonstrating early signs of consistent growth. Propel Holdings serves as a prime example of an emerging compounder that has shown promising growth metrics, attracting investor interest due to its business model and strong management. This classification underscores the importance of evaluating companies not only on their current performance but also on their potential trajectory in the marketplace.
Valuation Discipline and Position Management
Zinberg stressed the importance of adhering to a disciplined valuation approach when selecting stocks, advocating for careful scrutiny of potential investments to ensure they align with the desired financial metrics. By sticking to a defined framework, investors can more efficiently dismiss ideas that do not fit within their established parameters, thereby optimizing their focus on high-potential companies. He has experienced both errors of omission and commission, recognizing that while it's essential to capitalize on opportunities, one must also be vigilant to cut losses and move on from investments that do not perform as expected. This continuous adaptation ensures that the investment strategy remains robust and aligned with changing market conditions.
In this engaging conversation, Jordan Zinberg, Founder and President of Bedford Park Capital, shares insights into his journey to becoming Canada's top hedge fund manager. He discusses the importance of return on equity, investment strategies including special situations, and the significance of both small and large cap companies in his portfolio. Jordan reflects on past mistakes, the lessons learned, and offers future investment ideas for 2025. He emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own investment style and the value of studying successful investors.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Jordan Zinberg is the founder and CEO of Bedford Park Capital, recognized as Canada's top hedge fund
The importance of return on equity (ROE) is crucial
Special situations are key strategies in Jordan's approach
Investing in spin-offs can provide unique opportunities
Stealthily accumulating positions in companies is a strategic trading approach
Concentration in a few high-conviction ideas can lead to better performance
Learning from past mistakes, such as with Payfare, is crucial for growth as an investor
Emerging compounders can offer significant upside potential in the market
Large cap companies can stabilize a portfolio while still providing growth
Investors should study the greats and find a strategy that works for them
This content is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as offering of investment advice or stock recommendations. This content is based on the author's independent analysis and research and does not guarantee the information's accuracy or completeness. The information contained in this video is subject to change without notice, and the author assumes no responsibility to update the information contained in this video. All information contained herein this video should be independently verified with the sources and companies mentioned. The author is not responsible for errors or omissions. The author does not purport to tell or suggest which investment securities viewers should buy or sell for themselves. Those viewers seeking direct investment advice should consult a qualified, registered, investment professional. The author is not a professional or financial advisor, and does not provide financial advice. Viewers are advised to conduct their own due diligence prior to considering buying or selling any stock. The author will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by a viewer's reliance on information obtained in any of this content. It’s important to understand that investing involves risk, including loss of principal. The author is not engaged in any investor relations agreements with any of the publicly traded companies mentioned. The author does not receive compensation of any kind from any publicly traded companies that are mentioned in any of this content. The author has acquired and may trade shares of some of the companies mentioned through open market transactions and for investment purposes only. Refer to the “author’s ownership disclosure” where applicable. There may be affiliate links to Amazon, and other companies in which the author is compensated if any of the affiliate products are purchased from Amazon.ca/.com or any other companies.
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