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Conestoga’s Smid-Cap Strategy Fell 10% in Q1, Lagging Russell 2500 Growth

The letter blames stock selection together with sector headwinds for the drop.

Overview

  • Conestoga reported its Smid Cap Composite declined 10.24% net of fees in Q1 2026, versus a 3.52% decline for the Russell 2500 Growth Index.
  • The firm said negative stock picking and weakness in Technology, Industrials, and Health Care drove the shortfall.
  • Conestoga described a tougher backdrop as conflict in the Middle East and shifting interest-rate views pushed energy prices higher and rattled small-cap shares.
  • Balchem, a specialty ingredients company, helped results with record quarterly revenue of $271 million and net income up about 17%.
  • Q2 Holdings weighed on performance after management guided roughly 10% revenue growth for 2026, even as Q1 revenue rose 14% to $216.5 million.