Distinguishing Features

Uncovering value companies

• The AIC Private Portfolio Counsel U.S. Small to Mid Cap Pool has a maximum of 35 holdings selected by John W. Rogers, Jr., Ariel's Founder, Chairman, Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer.
• Ariel's disciplined long-term strategy seeks to identify the very best undervalued small and medium-sized companies that are market leaders in industries with sustainable competitive advantages.
• The firm looks for companies with price-to-earnings ratios of 13 times (or less) of next year’s earnings, or that are trading at a 40% discount to their private market value.
• Through an exhaustive, investigative research process, Ariel's investment analysts look to unveil all that can be known about a company’s performance and prospects. The analysts review company financials, call reports, press releases, and more than 150 magazine, newspaper and trade publications. Independent verification completes this important process.
• The firm sells businesses at full value, or when reasons for purchase no longer apply. (Ariel believes a company is fully valued when it’s trading at a price/earnings ratio of more than 20 times next year's earnings).