Ensemble Fund
Annual Letter
October 31, 2020
The Ensemble Fund (the “Fund”) returned 16.73% for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020. For comparative purposes, the S&P 500® Index (“S&P 500”), which is the Fund’s benchmark, had a total return of 9.71% over the same time period.
The Fund began the fiscal year performing similarly to the S&P 500 up until February 19th, when the S&P 500 hit its peak level prior to the Coronavirus driven sell off. The Fund then slightly outperformed the market during the 33% decline that occurred over the following four weeks. But during the recovery of the market, the Fund materially outperformed the S&P 500 generating returns of 55.65% versus the S&P 500 up 47.71%. We attributed our outperformance during the market recovery to our portfolio companies as a group being less negatively effected by Coronavirus related headwinds than the average company in our benchmark and being more positively affected by the acceleration towards digital commerce triggered by the pandemic.
During the fiscal year, we owned 25 different companies of which 20 generated a positive return for the Fund. Significant detractors from the Fund’s total return included the following:
Significant contributors to the Fund’s total return included the following:
The 2020 fiscal year saw the fastest market decline of over 30% in history as well as one of the most whiplashing inducing market rallies as the market came to understand that the economy would be hurt by the pandemic but was likely to avoid entering a prolonged and deep recession or depression. We believe that many of the changes in commerce seen during the pandemic will reverse once people are safely able to spend time in public, while other important changes are likely here to stay. In managing the Fund, we will continue to prioritize investing in companies that have the ability to survive the Coronavirus recession as well as thrive as the world recovers.
We will continue to seek to identify outstanding companies that exhibit three core characteristics:
Moat: We seek companies that have strong and persistent competitive advantages and offer products and services from within this moat that we believe consumers will continue to value over the long term.
Management: We seek companies that are managed by executive teams who have displayed strong talent for creating value for their customers, generating value for shareholders, and delivering a positive impact to all of their stakeholders.
Forecastable: We seek companies that operate in industries and use business models that we believe make their financial results relatively forecastable over the long term and which we believe that our research team has the specific domain expertise to analyze as well or better than our competition.
In closing, we want to thank you for your investment in the Fund and we look forward to serving you into the future.
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end are available by calling 1-800-785-8165.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund. You may obtain a prospectus at www.EnsembleFund.com or by calling the transfer agent at 1-800-785-8165. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing.
An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be successful in meeting its objectives. The Fund invests in common stocks which subjects investors to market risk. The Fund invests in small and mid-cap companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility. The Fund invests in undervalued securities. Undervalued securities are, by definition, out of favor with investors, and there is no way to predict when, if ever, the securities may return to favor. The Fund may invest in foreign securities which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods. Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise. This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities. More information about these risks and other risks can be found in the Fund’s prospectus. The Fund is a non-diversified fund and therefore may be subject to greater volatility than a more diversified investment.
Fund Fees: No loads; 1% gross expense ratio. Distributed by Rafferty Capital Markets, LLC Garden City, NY 11530.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund. You may obtain a prospectus on this website or by calling the transfer agent at 1-800-785-8165. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing.
Important Risk Information
An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be successful in meeting its objectives. The Fund invests in common stocks which subjects investors to market risk. The Fund invests in small and mid-cap companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility. The Fund invests in undervalued securities. Undervalued securities are, by definition, out of favor with investors, and there is no way to predict when, if ever, the securities may return to favor. The Fund may invest in foreign securities which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods. Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise. This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities. More information about these risks and other risks can be found in the Fund’s prospectus. The Fund is a non-diversified fund and therefore may be subject to greater volatility than a more diversified investment.
Distributed by Arbor Court Capital, LLC member FINRA/SIPC.