With a name like the Needham Aggressive Growth Fund, you'd be forgiven for assuming portfolio manager John Barr hunts for growth at any cost. So yes, it's growth investing informed by value investing." The Needham Aggressive Growth Fund has returned over 25% year-to-date according to Morningstar, making it the best-performing small-cap fund on the market. Barr, a one-time software salesman turned investing pro, told Business Insider what he looks for in his investments, the market themes he's watching, and his favorite stock picks right now. But it's Barr's primary investment criteria that sets him apart from other growth-focused fund managers: finding "hidden-to-quality compounders."

---

Persons: you'd, John Barr, Barr, that's, Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett, Morningstar, I've, there's, —, they've Organizations: Berkshire Hathaway, Business, Fund, Micro, Google, Vishay, Vishay Group, Parsons Corporation, Missile Defense Agency, Department of Defense