Polen Capital Management

Polen Capital Management

Polen Capital Management, founded by David Polen in 1979, is an independent investment manager headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. Starting as a boutique firm, it has since grown into a respected global player offering a range of strategies focused primarily on high-quality growth equities. Over time, it has expanded beyond U.S. large-cap stocks to include global, international, and emerging market mandates, always maintaining its core emphasis on rigorous fundamental research.

Key personnel who have shaped the firm’s trajectory include long-standing leadership figures such as CEO Stan Moss and experienced portfolio managers like Damon Ficklin. The investment team operates cohesively, applying a consistent, disciplined philosophy passed down from the firm’s early days. This philosophy is rooted in identifying exceptional companies with durable competitive advantages, strong balance sheets, and sustainable earnings growth. Polen Capital’s process involves thorough bottom-up analysis, a concentrated portfolio of high-conviction names, and a long-term investment horizon, often holding positions for many years.

This approach has historically delivered strong results. Polen Capital’s flagship strategies, like its Focus Growth and Global Growth portfolios, have, over extended timeframes, often outperformed their benchmarks. These strategies minimize turnover and transaction costs while benefiting from the compounding effect of owning superior businesses over the long run. The firm’s success rate can be attributed to its unwavering commitment to quality, patience, and consistency, avoiding fads or market swings that conflict with its investment criteria.

In the world of investment managers, Polen Capital occupies a niche that marries growth investing with a value-like emphasis on business quality and capital preservation. While some competitors rely on high-frequency trading, macroeconomic bets, or distressed assets, Polen’s hallmark is a steady, research-intensive style aimed at delivering attractive, risk-adjusted returns. As socially responsible and long-term considerations gain prominence, Polen Capital’s methodical, quality-focused philosophy continues to resonate with institutional and retail investors alike.