The Clarkston Founders Institutional Fund has always tried to avoid volatility.
The Founder's Fund has lost about 2.8% in 2022, notably outperforming other mid-cap value funds, which are down an average 7.2%, and a Morningstar benchmark index, which is lower by 5.6%, all through Dec. 9.
As a result, the $610-million fund has a below average beta — a measurement of volatility relative to the broad market — of 0.85, according to Morningstar, versus 1.08 for all mid-cap value funds.
The fund ranks in the 15th percentile of all mid-cap value funds in 2022, and is in the 23rd percentile over the past five years.
Clarkston's investment policy emphasizes what it calls "quality value" stocks, regarded as high quality and considered undervalued relative to their long-term cash flows.