Historical Micro-Cap Returns
Over time, micro-caps have outperformed equities in all other capitalization ranges. In our view, this makes a compelling case for the inclusion of micro-cap names in a diversified portfolio. The chart below shows the long-term outperformance of micro-caps versus other small-, mid- and large-cap stocks. The data reflects the total return of a hypothetical investment in each capitalization range from 1990 through December 31, 2019.
Hypothetical Growth of One Unit from 12/31/1990 to 12/31/2019
Source: Kenneth R. French, ©2020 Center for Research in Security Prices, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, 12/31/1990 to 12/31/2018
This is a hypothetical example for illustrative purposes only and does not represent the returns of any particular investment.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Many small-cap managers tend to gravitate toward the larger end of the market-cap spectrum, where information and liquidity are more readily available. In the micro-cap range, information is more scarce and liquidity less abundant. Generally, there are several analysts following the average company in the Russell 2000® Value. In contrast, smaller stocks are often ignored by brokerages and investment reports are scarce. The limited availability of information creates inefficiencies and provides an opportunity for investors willing to dig deeper. The lack of coverage, we believe, also causes many small-cap equity managers to stay away from micro-caps, which helps explain why they behave differently than larger small-caps.
Diversification Benefits
The table below illustrates correlations among stocks in four capitalization ranges. Returns on micro-caps have historically had a 0.73 correlation to large-caps, while mid-caps have tracked very closely to large-caps at 0.90. With a lower correlation this table suggests there is a benefit to including micro-caps in a broadly diversified portfolio.
Source: Kenneth R. French© and CRSP, 12/31/1990 to 12/31/2019
Favorable Upside/Downside Capture Ratio
Further analysis of the return profile by size shows additional benefits from the smallest stocks. The upside/downside capture ratio measures the relative participation in up markets versus that in down markets. A reading above 100% is favorable, indicating that up-market participation is greater. While micro-caps have shown the highest volatility compared with other capitalization ranges, in the context of this upside/downside measure they possessed the most favorable return dynamics.
Source: Kenneth R. French© and CRSP, 12/31/1990 to 12/31/2019
In our view, micro-caps often have more in common with private equity investments than other publicly traded stocks. For example, the biggest payoffs from micro-caps often occur upon the sale or merger of a holding. Similar to private equity, they also require longer holding periods to fully reap the benefits of the asset class. However, they have the advantage of being far more liquid than most alternative investments. We believe many investors do not realize the “quasi-alternative” characteristics of micro-caps.
Liquidity Considerations
Long-term return and correlation characteristics clearly suggest how micro-caps can benefit a portfolio. In the short or intermediate term, some caution is wise because micro-caps are more volatile and less liquid relative to their larger counterparts. This liquidity constraint can sometimes be a concern for institutional investors who may be wary of causing price movements when buying or selling micro-caps in quantity. We attempt to mitigate this through the way we manage the portfolio.
Balanced Approach
Our familiarity with the risks and rewards in the space is evident in our portfolio construction. The Small Cap Value portfolio generally includes more micro-cap names than larger small-cap names. But individual weights of the smallest names are typically reduced in an effort to mitigate the effects of constrained liquidity. This barbell approach helps moderate the volatility of the micro-cap space and is advantageous from the standpoint of liquidity.
Our Investment Philosophy
We apply our time-tested 10 Principles of Value Investing™ when evaluating micro-caps and our research is further enhanced by our more than 30 years of selecting companies in the asset class. Our long history of uncovering opportunities among some of the smallest publicly traded names provides us with expertise to thoroughly evaluate balance sheets and management—two elements we believe are key to successfully navigating the space. Our experience selecting micro-cap investments, we believe, gives us a clear competitive advantage relative to other small-cap managers.
The 10 Principles of Value Investing™
The 10 Principles™ provide a robust framework to assess any security. Internally generated fundamental research is particularly important in the micro-cap space, as coverage by the sell-side is often lacking and low trading volumes make it a time consuming process to build or liquidate a position. On this latter point, investors in micro-caps must be confident enough to be owners of the stock for an extended period. Such confidence, in our view, can only come from a proven research process. Heartland has faithfully applied the 10 Principles of Value Investing™ since the Firm’s founding in 1983.
Thoughts on Current Market Dynamics
Over the past several years, micro-caps’ performance relative to small-caps has fluctuated. Given the market turbulence that followed the financial crisis of 2008, that is not surprising. We believe the popularity of index funds, which reward larger names regardless of valuation, has prevented many micro-cap stocks from realizing their potential. The upshot has been a frustrating market in the near-term but a fertile hunting ground for investors committed to the space. Many of the smallest companies are niche players that specialize in unique industries where competition is limited. They are able to grow faster than larger diversified companies that trade at higher valuations. As sales growth becomes scarce in an aging expansion, we believe investors will rediscover the importance of organically driven results, which will lead to a rediscovering of micro-caps.