When Kopp acquired Robinson Capital Management in 2004, a unique, locally developed investing style—the Quality 100 index—came with the package. Since then, this blend of value and growth styles has become Kopp’s way of balancing clients’ portfolios. While most of the $750 million that the Edina firm manages is in emerging-growth stocks, about 10 percent goes into Q-100 stocks.
Kopp’s Marc Billeadeau selects the Q-100 by scrutinizing the commitment to total quality management of each company in the Standard & Poor’s 500—on the assumption that TQM leads to improved operating performance, customer satisfaction, profitability, and long-term value.
Kopp says that for the three years ended March 31, 2007, a portfolio of 40 Q-100 stocks generated an annualized return of 11.82 percent versus 10.07 percent for the S&P 500. Good news for investors—and for the cause of curing Wall Street myopia.
