Don Merrell Profile Picture Individual Investor

Don Merrell

Consultant,Real Estate

  • Education Arizona State University

Small to Mid-Cap Value

This is a value investing model with a small- to mid-cap bias and long term holding periods. The manager primarily holds long positions, but may occasionally sell short.
The manager uses fundamental analysis, including discounted cash-flow assessment, to invest in equities he determines to be undervalued by the market. The model primarily holds U.S. equities, though some U.S.-listed foreign companies may also be held.
Via primary research, secondary sources, and proprietary software, the manager creates a relative ranking of equities based on several factors including P/E ratio, return on tangible net assets, return on enterprise value, discounted returns (cash flow, earnings, dividends), price to book, PEG and dividend yield. Upon selecting stocks from this ranked list, the manager will also take into account competitive and industry trends.
The primary focus is on identifying undervalued equities, with very little attention to industry diversification. The manager typically holds 20-25 positions. His average holding period is 8-9 months, though some positions may be sold far sooner or held longer.
The manager closes a position when the investment reaches a pre-determined exit price or when changing fundamentals or other screening criteria become unfavorable to the investment strategy. The manager does not use stop losses.
When standard valuation metrics are overridden by information entering the market that moves stocks with unusual directional force, the manager may adjust the portfolio accordingly.

Risk score

4
19.0%

Best 30 days

-20.7%

Worst 30 days

Performance

  • 1.0%
    30 day
  • 1.1%
    90 day
  • 24.3%
    365 day
Monthly vs S&P500
don merrell - small to mid cap value
0.4% 12 months
  • $10,000 subscription min
  • Margin account required
  • 1.5% fee

Replicability

100.0%
  • Replicable

Top 5 Holdings View all

90.4%
6.4%
3.1%

Model commentary

  1. 7 stocks I'm buying this summer

    19 August 2012

    My short investment theses for five new positions.

  2. The quick thesis for my four new positions 19 January 2012
  3. Don Merrell seeks value in Small to Mid-Cap stocks (ROST, DOV, AMAT) 9 May 2011

show more


Performance detail

  • Manager
  • S&P 400 Midcap
  • S&P 500

Performance

Inception February 01, 2011
as of May 23, 2013 Manager S&P 400 Midcap S&P 500 Average Subscriber
Past 30 days 1.0% 4.9% 4.5% -
Past 90 days 1.1% 8.1% 8.9% -
Past 365 days 24.3% 27.8% 25.1% -
Since Inception (Annualized) 10.7% 10.9% 10.6% -
2013 (YTD) 10.2% 16.9% 15.7% -
2012 15.1% 16.1% 13.4% -

Risk Metrics

Last 365 days
as of May 23, 2013 Manager S&P 400 Midcap S&P 500
Best 30 days 12.1% 9.7% 8.2%
Worst 30 days -8.4% -5.0% -7.0%
Volatility 15.9% 14.8% 12.7%
Sharpe Ratio 1.52 1.88 1.97
Sortino Ratio 2.07 2.55 2.85
Maximum Drawdown -13.1% -7.9% -7.7%
Value-at-risk (95%, 1 week) -3.7% -3.4% -2.9%
vs. S&P 400 Midcap vs. S&P 500
Information Ratio -0.37 -0.09
Alpha 0.6% -0.6%
Beta 0.88 1.02
R-Squared 0.66 0.66
  • $10,000 subscription min
  • Margin account required
  • 1.5% fee

Latest transactions view all

Average trades per month 4.5
Executed Symbol Security Replicable Type Price
05/09/13 JCOM J2 GLOBAL INC Yes Sell $40.88
04/05/13 CMI CUMMINS INC Yes Sell $110.28
03/19/13 TESS TESSCO TECHNOLOGIES INC Yes Sell $21.52
03/19/13 INTX INTERSECTIONS INC Yes Sell $9.47
02/26/13 EZPW EZCORP INC-CL A Yes Sell $20.79
02/25/13 TKR TIMKEN CO Yes Sell $53.14
02/21/13 WDC WESTERN DIGITAL CORP Yes Sell $45.27
02/21/13 RES RPC INC Yes Sell $16.00


Important Information

1. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

2. Performance of the model manager's account is calculated by Covestor on a daily time-weighted basis, including cash, dividends and earnings distributions, and broker commissions. Manager returns include trades that fail Covestor's trading rules, do not reflect any Covestor suitability or risk score restrictions and are exclusive of Covestor fees. More

3. Average subscription returns ("Avg Sub" or "Avg Client") are calculated by Covestor and are composed of the average, daily, time weighted returns of all active subscriptions to the underlying model. These daily average returns are then linked together for the timeframe requested. In addition, these returns include cash, dividends and earnings distributions, brokerage commissions, Covestor advisory fees, and reflect individual client suitability and risk score restrictions. More

4. All graph data is as of the end of day for the referenced period, unless otherwise specified. The subscription minimum is the minimum subscription required to follow a particular model. The minimum amount is determined by Covestor, based on the characteristics of the underlying model. It should not be considered as specific investment advice for your investment situation.

5. The performance charts are provided for informational purposes only, and should not be used as the basis for making an investment decision. Variables such as corporate actions or foreign exchange may affect daily performance displays. We rely on mathematical formulas, computer programs, and pricing information from third-party vendors to provide these returns. Neither Covestor nor any of its data or content providers shall be liable for any errors in this information or any actions taken by you in reliance upon this information.

6. Benchmark returns have been calculated by Covestor using a time-weighted calculation of daily index valuations and do not include cash, dividends and earnings distributions, or transaction costs. More

7. Leverage indicates the level of margin utilized and is calculated by dividing gross exposure by portfolio net liquidation value.

8. All Model Manager information including personal data, profiles, strategies, monthly investment reports, and historical results outside of Covestor has been provided by the Model Manager. Covestor makes no representation or warranty of its accuracy, completeness or relevance and it does not represent the opinions of Covestor. Transaction history is available upon request. Model classifications (Approach, Asset Class) are provided by Covestor, and are intended to serve as a general guide.

9. Top Replicable Holdings: These securities are currently held in the model manager's brokerage account. Those marked as "Replicable Holdings" currently pass Covestor's trading rules, subject to individual client constraints. Eligibility for replication may change over time. Actual client subscription holdings may vary.

10. Latest Transactions: These transactions were executed in the model manager's brokerage account. Those marked as "Replicable" () passed Covestor's trading rules and were eligible for replication at the time of execution, subject to individual client constraints. Eligibility for replication may change over time. Actual client subscription trade activity may vary.

11. S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index compiled by Standard & Poor´s Corp. Index returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs or expenses. Individuals cannot invest directly in an Index. S&P 500 index data: S&P/Dow Jones Indices LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies Copyright © 2013.