Market Insights

Why the Rally in Bank Stocks Can Continue, Part 1

We recently published a blog entitled Banks in 2008 Versus 2020: This Time Part of the Solution, in which we contrasted the role banks played in the Global Financial Crisis versus the COVID-19 pandemic. We view banks as part of the COVID solution, evidenced by facilitation of the PPP program. With...

Industry Spotlight: Property-Casualty Insurance for Personal Lines

When consumers purchase insurance for cars and homes (or rental homes), the concept is relatively easy to understand. From an investment standpoint, there are many positive attributes of the property-casualty business model:

Management Access: A Surprising Bright Spot for Investors During Pandemic

As we discussed in an earlier blog post (see here) we place a high premium on direct contact with management while researching potential investments, and also as part of our ongoing work on current holdings. This was the case in a pre-pandemic world, and remains the case today, despite the ongoing...

How Could an Unprecedented Hurricane Season Affect Insurance Stocks?

As we move firmly into hurricane season, the number of storm systems heading toward (or already making contact with) the eastern United States is already breaking records.

Update on Inflation and U.S. Interest Rate Policy

On Thursday, August 27, 2020, Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell spoke at the highly anticipated virtual version of the Fed’s annual Jackson Hole conference. In providing an update on inflation, Mr. Powell took a majorly dovish tone and reiterated the Fed’s desire for 2% inflation,...

Meet the Team | Steve Labbe, CFA

We believe the best partnerships are built upon strong relationships between people. In order for you to get to know us better, here’s the newest addition to our “Meet the Team” blog series.

Meet Steve Labbe, Portfolio Manager and Analyst at Prospector Partners. Mr. Labbe has been with the firm...

Playing the Recession Playbook in Defense, Part 2

Last week, we discussed how we have been active investors in the defense industry for years. There are a number of aspects we find attractive in the industry:

• Solid free cash flow yields
• Strong growth since the 2015 budget trough following the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and the Budget Control Act...

Playing the Recession Playbook in Defense, Part 1

We have been active investors in the defense industry for a number of years. There are a number of aspects we find attractive in the industry:

A Wild Second Quarter & Outlook for Remainder of 2020

Coronavirus Pandemic

The COVID-19 global pandemic continued to have massive implications during the second quarter, as cases continued to rapidly rise in the United States. The unemployment rate reached 14.7% in April, and U.S. GDP is estimated to have contracted by over 30% in the quarter after...

Pandemic Continues to Differentiate Restaurant Business Models

From publicly traded entities to mom and pop operations, restaurants have been one of the hardest hit industries during the coronavirus pandemic. With some U.S. regions facing a new surge in virus cases, restaurant business models are again under investors’ microscope.

In this blog, we share how...