Elevator Discuss: Jeff Wrona, One Rock Fund (ONERX)

Because the variety of funds we are able to cowl in-depth is smaller than the variety of funds worthy of in-depth protection, we’ve determined to supply one or two managers every month the chance to make a 300-word pitch to you. That’s in regards to the variety of phrases a barely manic elevator companion may share in a minute and a half. In every case, I’ve promised to supply a fast capsule of the fund and a hyperlink again to the fund’s website. Aside from that, they’ve received 200 phrases and exactly as a lot of your time and a focus as you’re prepared to share. These aren’t endorsements; they’re alternatives to be taught extra. 

One Rock Fund (ONERX) launched on March 6, 2020, the one public providing by – and solely shopper of – Wrona Funding Administration of Pinehurst, NC.  The agency was based by, and the fund is managed by, Jeff Wrona.

If Jeff’s title is acquainted to you, you’ve both received an extended document as an investor and an excellent reminiscence, otherwise you’re a market historian.

Jeff was final outstanding within the Nineties as one of many guys who most successfully exploited the dot-com bubble as a supervisor, first, for Munder (1990-97) after which for PBHG (1997-2001).  Within the latter submit, he was answerable for managing over $10 billion in belongings in funds reminiscent of PBHG Know-how & Communications and PBHG Core Development funds. He, greater than most, skilled each the period’s highs (up 240% one 12 months) and lows (down 44% one other).

For private causes, he left PBHG and the world {of professional} funding administration in 2001. Life received rocky, then life received higher. After an 18-year hiatus, throughout which he invested his household cash, he launched One Rock Fund. The fund’s title displays his profound private non secular conviction. The fund’s homepage begins with the reflection, “I hope ONE ROCK Fund can be a blessing to others as we have now been blessed.”

One Rock invests within the shares of firms with “enterprise momentum.” That’s solely distinct from inventory momentum; he’s in search of accelerating corporations. Right here’s an outline of the funding course of:

a bottom-up, basic analysis strategy to every firm and trade with a technical evaluation overlay to realize a greater understanding of investor sentiment and potential future dangers. The Adviser expects that many, or probably all, of those corporations, can be within the expertise sector and exhibit robust progress in revenues, earnings, and/or money flows, though vital investments can also be made in different sectors.

The fund additionally excludes corporations “concerned within the manufacturing or wholesale distribution of alcohol, tobacco, vaping tools, playing tools, playing enterprises, pornography, or which offer services or products that don’t enable the suitable to life in any respect levels.” (Using index futures may not directly expose traders to these industries.) The portfolio at present holds about 50 shares, with an exceptionally excessive turnover ratio that may make it most acceptable for a tax-sheltered account. Jeff makes use of futures and choices to fine-tune each market publicity and to hedge place danger. These derivatives helped a bit in 2022 and held again efficiency a bit in 2023.

How have these 30 years of expertise manifested themselves in an investor’s portfolio? Jeff and I chatted about that very query in December 2023.

My spouse retains chiding me that I’m the worst marketer for my very own fund that I could be. Nonetheless, I’ll attempt to clarify how that have serves as a differentiator.

2022 – keep in mind, I’ve been investing for over 30 years – out of all these years, final 12 months was one in all my greatest years ever by way of decision-making and actions taken. 2008 helped me tremendously as a result of I lived by way of that historical past, I didn’t simply examine it in an MBA class. The primary 5 days of 2022 and the top of 2021 felt loads like the primary 5 days of 2008 and the top of 2007. Ultimately, for aggressive progress shares, 2022 was worse than 2008. I used to be known as to remembrance, received defensive. Raised some money. Received out of our lengthy futures. Layered out brief name choices. We had been web 70% invested in components of 2022.

Plenty of our friends had been down 50 or 60% final 12 months. With a 60% drawdown, they want a 150% return to get again to zero. We drew down 42% and wanted 72.5% to make it up. As of right now, we’re there. Not quite a lot of the basics modified between 2022 and 2023; the distinction (between a 40% loss and a 70% achieve) is sentiment triggered by rate of interest fears.

Since inception, the fund has returned a median of 29.4% yearly (by way of 11/30/2023, per MFO Premium). That’s greater than double the return of its Lipper multi-cap progress friends.

Comparability of Lifetime Efficiency (04/2020 – 11/2023)

The fund is 3.7 years previous, so the utmost timeframe for an in depth comparability at MFO Premium between One Rock and its 124 fund and ETF friends is the previous three years. In that point, One Rock has returned 11.2% yearly, fourth amongst all 125 multi-cap progress funds. Its volatility is considerably larger than its friends (32% versus 22%) however its returns have been a lot stronger that its risk-adjusted returns, measured by its Sharpe ratio, dwarves its peer common (0.28 vs -0.04) and place it within the high 20 of all multi-cap progress funds.

The extra well-known of the deeply devoted tech traders is Cathie Woods, whose ARK Investments had been named after the Ark of the Covenant, and whose ARK Innovation ETF is roughly 6oo occasions bigger than One Rock. If one had dedicated $10,000 to ARKK on the day ONERX launched, your portfolio right now can be value $10,313 (although your antacid invoice can be substantial). If you happen to had dedicated the identical $10,000 to ONERX, you’d be sitting on $26,936 right now, nicely over double with far fewer thrills.

Supply: Morningstar.com, 12/29/2023

It’s, in brief, a really robust performer. Nonetheless, there are already 125 different funds fishing the identical waters, resulting in the query “Did we want fund #126?” Does One Rock actually provide a possibility not discovered elsewhere? Relatively than guess, we put the query to Mr. Wrona: “If you happen to occurred to search out your self in an elevator with a curious if barely skeptical potential investor, how would you reply their cheap query, ‘Why would I wish to take into consideration One Rock?’” Listed below are his 242 phrases in response:

Ideally, who would you need managing your cash? 

You’d need somebody with an extended historical past of investing within the inventory market, like 30+ years.

You’d select somebody who is obtainable and acts when shares transfer probably the most, which is when new data comes out, together with company earnings. Nearly all of this occurs earlier than the market opens at 9:30 am, or after the market closes at 4:00 pm EST. 

You’d need somebody who’s nimble and may transfer out and in of shares rapidly.  So ideally, somebody who’s managing a smaller sum of money fairly than bigger, as a result of somebody managing $10 billion will most probably not carry out in addition to that very same particular person managing $100 million, as a result of they’ll’t transfer the cash as quick.  Bigger belongings are often a hindrance to stronger outcomes. 

You positively need somebody who has all their monetary investments proper alongside yours, and they also present by way of their actions, what they consider to be the very best funding.  

Most significantly, should you’re a follower of Jesus, the Christ, you need the particular person investing your cash to be like minded; somebody who believes within the One so unmovable and so unshakable that when occasions of turmoil come, and they’re going to, that they’re unwavering. 

And at last, all this must be evident by way of a powerful monitor document of monetary success.   One Rock Fund, and the one who manages it, has all of the belongings you’re in search of. Right here’s my enterprise card.

One Rock Fund (ONERX) has a $2,000 minimal preliminary funding. It’s obtainable solely by way of direct buy from the adviser. The fund fees 1.75% on belongings of about $15 million. (Sure, that’s not Walmart pricing however with a 1% administration charge Mr. Wrona shouldn’t be getting wealthy working this fund for you.) The fund has seen small, constant inflows throughout the years. One of many charms of a boutique fund is that Mr. Wrona sees every buy and redemption request and, on the finish of 2022 when traders had been anxious, took time to name a few of his traders to speak with them about their issues. Some, he reviews, selected to remain (and loved a achieve of over 70% in 2023) whereas some nonetheless selected to go. 

The fund’s homepage is modest however straightforward to navigate.