When investors think about how small-cap positions generate returns, they typically think of earnings growth or valuation recovery. There is a third path that receives far less attention: acquisition. Larger companies consistently look to smaller competitors for growth, technology, talent, and market share.
In this clip from our latest webinar, CIO Don Collins explains why acquisition activity is a persistent feature of small-cap investing, what healthy corporate balance sheets suggest about the deal environment, and how acquisitions have contributed a meaningful share of the realized sales within Ironwood’s strategy.
Highlights include:
- Why larger companies consistently acquire smaller competitors
- What healthy corporate balance sheets and limited growth options mean for deal activity
- How acquisitions contribute to realized returns in small-cap portfolios
- Why quality businesses at reasonable valuations tend to attract acquirers
Important Disclosures
| Ironwood Small Cap Core Composite Performance 3/31/2026 | QTD | YTD | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | Inception (1/1/1999) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross of Fees: | 1.94% | 1.94% | 43.97% | 22.55% | 8.35% | 13.99% | 11.88% |
| Net of Fees: | 1.69% | 1.69% | 42.55% | 21.34% | 7.28% | 12.86% | 10.77% |
| Russell 2000 | 0.89% | 0.89% | 25.72% | 13.05% | 3.77% | 9.88% | 8.18% |
Footnotes to Performance
Ironwood Investment Management®, LLC (Ironwood) is an independently managed investment advisory firm providing investment advisory services to institutional clients, mutual funds and high-net-worth clients. The firm is a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SEC Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Accounts in the Small Cap Core composite include separately managed, fully discretionary, fee-paying portfolios. Portfolios are invested in undervalued securities, the majority of which will have market capitalizations under $2.5 billion at cost, including securities with growth and/or value characteristics. Securities are considered undervalued when management believes the current share price does not accurately reflect the long-term economic value of the underlying company. Ironwood Investment Management, LLC claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®) and has prepared and presented this report in compliance with the GIPS standards. Ironwood Investment Management, LLC has been independently verified for the periods January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2021. A firm that claims compliance with the GIPS standards must establish policies and procedures for complying with all the applicable requirements of the GIPS standards. Verification provides assurance on whether the firm’s policies and procedures related to composite and pooled fund maintenance, as well as the calculation, presentation, and distribution of performance, have been designed in compliance with the GIPS standards and have been implemented on a firm-wide basis. The Small Cap Core composite has had a performance examination for the periods July 1, 2002 to December 31, 2021. The verification and performance examination reports are available upon request. GIPS® is a registered trademark of CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein. The creation date of the composite: July 2002. Performance inception date of the composite: January 1, 1999. Prior to July 2002, portfolios were included in the composite when at least 75% of the portfolio was invested in equity securities and when at least 75% of the portfolio was invested according to the investment style of the composite. Subsequent to July, 2002, portfolios are included in the composite after the first full month of being fully invested. Returns are presented gross and net of management fees and include the reinvestment of all income. Net returns are calculated based on the highest fee of 1.00%. Investment management fees are 1.00% on the first $25 million, 0.90% on the next $25 million, 0.80% on the next $50 million, and 0.75% over $100 million on an annual basis and a client’s return will be reduced by these and other related expenses. The actual fee charged to an individual portfolio may vary by size and type of portfolio and may be negotiated. Actual investment advisory fees incurred by clients may vary. The Russell 2000 Index consists of the 2000 smallest stocks in the Russell 3000 Index that represents approximately 8% of the U.S. equity market capitalization. The indices have been reconstituted annually since 1989. Ironwood returns and Index performance reflect reinvested interest income and dividends, in U.S. dollars. A list of composite descriptions and a list of limited distribution pooled fund descriptions are available upon request. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Policies for valuing investments, calculating performance and preparing GIPS Reports are available upon request. Prior to May 2006, the Firm was known as Ironwood Capital Management, LLC.