Disciplined Growth Investors Investment Strategy and Performance

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Disciplined Growth Investors have a straightforward investment strategy that focuses on long-term growth. They target companies with high-quality financials and strong competitive advantages.

Their approach is built around a few key principles, including a focus on quality and a willingness to be patient.

They look for companies with strong balance sheets, high returns on equity, and a competitive advantage that will allow them to maintain their market share.

This strategy has delivered impressive results, with the fund outperforming the S&P 500 in several years.

Related reading: Piper Sandler Companies

Fund Information

Disciplined Growth Investors Inc has a total AUM of $5.8 billion as of 2025-03-31, with 142 client accounts. The firm has a 45% investor and 41% broker workforce, with 22 employees in total.

The firm's Disciplined Growth Investors Fund, with the symbol DGIFX, has an ISIN of US2103226575 and is a Moderately Aggressive Allocation fund. It was applied in the United States and has a type of Moderately Aggressive Allocation.

Here is a list of the firm's Form 13F Holdings, which include Super Micro Computer Inc, Pure Storage Inc, Chesapeake Energy Corp, and others.

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Assets, Funds, Holdings

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The Disciplined Growth Investors Inc has a list of funds under its management, including Boston Firms, Boston Hedge Funds, and Cornell Alumni Firms. The firm also manages the CalPERS Portfolio and the NYSCRF Portfolio.

Their assets under management (AUM) are approximately $5.8 billion, as of 2025-03-31. The firm has 22 employees, with 45% being investors and 41% being brokers.

The firm's address is 150 South Fifth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402-1227, and their phone number is 612-317-4100. You can find more information about the firm on their website or through the IAPD and EDGAR databases.

The firm has a range of holdings, including Super Micro Computer Inc, Pure Storage Inc, and Chesapeake Energy Corp. These holdings are valued at approximately $0.5 billion, $0.3 billion, and $0.3 billion respectively.

Here is a list of some of the firm's Form 13F Holdings:

  • Super Micro Computer Inc: 0.5
  • Pure Storage Inc: 0.3
  • Chesapeake Energy Corp: 0.3
  • Garmin Ltd: 0.3
  • Plexus Corp: 0.2
  • Interdigital Inc: 0.2
  • Arista Networks Inc: 0.2
  • Alarmcom Holdings Inc: 0.2
  • Microchip Technology Inc: 0.2
  • Cabot Oil & Gas Corp: 0.2

The firm has also filed Form 13D/13G reports for several companies, including Ziprecruiter Inc, Myriad Genetics Inc, and Core Laboratories Inc /DE/.

Top Executives

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Meet the top executives at Disciplined Growth Investors (DGI), the team behind the investment strategies. Jason Lima is the current Lead Portfolio Manager, taking on the role in 2021 and still in position today.

Jason has a long history with DGI, starting in 2011. He's a CFA and has been a fund manager since October 2021.

Nick Hansen is also a Lead Portfolio Manager, taking on the role in 2019 and still in position today.

Rob J. Nicoski has been with DGI since 2011 and is currently a Portfolio Manager. He's been in the financial services industry since 1993 and has a long history with DGI.

Here are the key facts about the top executives at DGI:

Fred K. Martin is the President of DGI, taking on the role in 2011 and still in position today. He's also the Chief Investment Officer and oversees all investment aspects of the firm.

As the "keeper of the culture", Fred mentors senior members of the firm to help build a sustainable entity through multiple generations.

Investment Details

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The investment strategy of disciplined growth investors seeks long-term capital growth with modest income and reasonable risk. This is achieved by investing approximately 65% of assets in equity securities and 35% in fixed-income securities and cash equivalents.

The fixed-income securities typically have a weighted average maturity of five to 10 years. The adviser focuses on mid-sized companies with market capitalizations between $1 billion and $15 billion at the time of purchase.

Disciplined growth investors employ detailed fundamental analysis, a strong awareness of macroeconomic conditions, and an understanding of secular market megatrends like the digital revolution and artificial intelligence.

Consider reading: Stock Market Traders

Investment Strategy

The investment strategy of this fund is geared towards long-term capital growth, with a secondary objective of generating modest income at a reasonable risk level.

The fund typically allocates 65% of its assets to equity securities, which means it invests heavily in stocks.

Fixed-income securities and cash equivalents make up the remaining 35% of its portfolio.

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Top Growth Stocks

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I write The Disciplined Growth Investor, a free Saturday morning newsletter detailing one top stock idea each week. I'm an ex $1B+ investment fund manager with a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

My investment approach involves detailed fundamental analysis, a strong awareness of macroeconomic conditions, and an acute awareness of secular market megatrends. I've helped lead strategies for a private pension and multiple growth-equity mutual funds, and now I'm building my one-person investment firm.

Disciplined growth investing is an incredibly powerful, winning strategy, when done correctly. My goal is to help you build long-term, life-changing wealth by positioning yourself to do extremely well over the long-term.

By building a prudently-concentrated portfolio of top ideas, trading at attractive prices and benefiting from macroeconomics and secular megatrends, you can position yourself to do extremely well over the long-term.

Recommended read: Investor Awareness

Performance Metrics

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Performance Metrics are a crucial aspect of disciplined growth investing.

The performance of an investment can be measured in various ways, but one key metric is the percentage change in value over time. For instance, the Performance Current Year is 9.85%, indicating a positive return over the past 12 months.

The Performance since Inception is a more comprehensive measure, showing a staggering 409.72% return over the entire investment period. This highlights the power of long-term investing.

A high 1-year return of 26.84% is also impressive, but it's essential to consider the associated risks. In this case, the Maximum Loss 1 Year was -12.54%, demonstrating the importance of risk management.

The Alpha 1 Year is -7.51%, indicating that the investment underperformed the market over the past year. However, the Alpha 10 Years is -1.61%, showing a more modest underperformance over the longer term.

The Average Gain 1 Year is 3.92%, while the Average Loss 1 Year is -3.48%. These figures illustrate the importance of understanding the average returns and losses associated with an investment.

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Here's a summary of key performance metrics:

These performance metrics provide valuable insights into the investment's behavior over time. By analyzing these metrics, disciplined growth investors can make informed decisions and refine their strategies.

Fees and Charges

As a disciplined growth investor, it's essential to understand the fees and charges associated with your investments.

The advisor fee expense is a significant charge, coming in at 1.5500% of your investment.

You'll notice that the total expense is also 1.5500%, which means the advisor fee expense is the only fee charged.

Here's a breakdown of the fees you can expect to pay:

It's worth noting that these fees are consistent across all investments, so you can expect to pay the same percentage regardless of the specific investment you choose.

Angie Ernser

Senior Writer

Angie Ernser is a seasoned writer with a deep interest in financial markets. Her expertise lies in municipal bond investments, where she provides clear and insightful analysis to help readers understand the complexities of municipal bond markets. Ernser's articles are known for their clarity and practical advice, making them a valuable resource for both novice and experienced investors.

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