Success of Price-to-Tangible-Book Value Investing
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 24 2026
0mins
Source: Benzinga
- Long-Term Return Advantage: Since 1980, Donald Smith & Co.'s investment strategy has achieved a 16.8% compound annual return by focusing on companies in the lowest decile of price-to-tangible-book ratios, significantly outperforming the overall lowest decile's 13.4% and the S&P 500's 12.1%, demonstrating the effectiveness of their long-term investment approach and market recognition potential.
- Philosophical Foundation: Founder Donald G. Smith was influenced by Benjamin Graham during his time at UCLA Law School, establishing an investment framework centered on buying companies with the lowest price-to-tangible-book value, emphasizing fundamental analysis and patient holding to avoid short-term market fluctuations.
- Asset Allocation Strategy: Currently managing over $5 billion in assets, Donald Smith & Co. employs a concentrated investment strategy with individual positions capped at 5% and industry exposure generally limited to around 20%, ensuring stable portfolio performance amid market volatility.
- Current Investment Targets: Recent 13F filings reveal significant positions in asset-heavy companies like West Fraser Timber, Brazilian steel producer Gerdau, and Harley-Davidson, all trading at substantial discounts, reflecting their deep conviction in cyclical asset investing and expectations for market recovery.
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Analyst Views on GGB
About GGB
Gerdau SA is a Brazil-based manufacturer of steel products. The Company is engaged in the production and commercialization of steel products in general, through its mills located in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the United States, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Firm’s product portfolio includes crude steel; finished products for the construction industry, such as rebar, wire-rods, structural shapes, hot-rolled coils and heavy plates; finished industrial products, such as commercial rolled-steel bars, light profiles and wires; agricultural products, such as stakes, smooth wire and barbed-wire; and special steel items. The Company’s activities include also operations of iron ore mines located in the state of Minas Gerais.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Contrarian Capital Reduces Stake in Core Natural Resources
- Stake Reduction Details: Contrarian Capital Management reduced its stake in Core Natural Resources by 187,676 shares in Q4 2026, resulting in a decrease to 0.7359% of the fund's 13F assets, indicating a waning market confidence in the stock.
- Financial Impact Analysis: This reduction led to a decline in the quarter-end value of Core Natural Resources by approximately $15.51 million, highlighting how both market price movements and share sales have affected the company's market performance.
- Market Performance Comparison: As of February 13, 2026, Core Natural Resources shares were priced at $91.51, reflecting an 8.03% increase over the past year, yet underperforming the S&P 500 by 3.76 percentage points, suggesting insufficient market competitiveness.
- Investor Outlook: The coal market has stabilized post-global energy shock, and Core's future earnings will depend on whether coal prices remain above production costs, making it crucial for investors to monitor this gap to assess the sustainability of the company's cash flow.
See More
Success of Price-to-Tangible-Book Value Investing
- Long-Term Return Advantage: Since 1980, Donald Smith & Co.'s investment strategy has achieved a 16.8% compound annual return by focusing on companies in the lowest decile of price-to-tangible-book ratios, significantly outperforming the overall lowest decile's 13.4% and the S&P 500's 12.1%, demonstrating the effectiveness of their long-term investment approach and market recognition potential.
- Philosophical Foundation: Founder Donald G. Smith was influenced by Benjamin Graham during his time at UCLA Law School, establishing an investment framework centered on buying companies with the lowest price-to-tangible-book value, emphasizing fundamental analysis and patient holding to avoid short-term market fluctuations.
- Asset Allocation Strategy: Currently managing over $5 billion in assets, Donald Smith & Co. employs a concentrated investment strategy with individual positions capped at 5% and industry exposure generally limited to around 20%, ensuring stable portfolio performance amid market volatility.
- Current Investment Targets: Recent 13F filings reveal significant positions in asset-heavy companies like West Fraser Timber, Brazilian steel producer Gerdau, and Harley-Davidson, all trading at substantial discounts, reflecting their deep conviction in cyclical asset investing and expectations for market recovery.
See More
Gerdau Reports Q4 2025 Earnings with Revenue Growth
- Earnings Overview: Gerdau's Q4 2025 GAAP EPS stands at -R$0.66, indicating pressure on profitability amid the current macroeconomic environment, which could undermine investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: Despite the negative EPS, the company reported revenues of R$1.49 billion for the fourth quarter, reflecting an 8.0% year-over-year increase, suggesting some growth potential in sales that may lay the groundwork for future recovery.
- Market Reaction: The decline in profitability has led to a downgrade in Gerdau's rating, reflecting investor concerns about the company's future performance, which may result in increased stock price volatility.
- Historical Data Comparison: Analyzing historical earnings data reveals a discrepancy in Gerdau's current financial performance compared to past profitability trends, indicating a potential need for strategic adjustments to address future market challenges.
See More
Gerdau Releases 4Q25 Financial Results
- Report Submission: Gerdau S.A. submitted its 4Q25 financial results to the SEC and CVM on February 23, 2026, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and maintaining transparency.
- Information Access: Investors can access the financial report and related information on Gerdau's website, enhancing communication with stakeholders and boosting market confidence.
- Valuation Guide Release: Gerdau also published its 4Q25 Valuation Guide on its website, providing investors with deeper financial analysis tools to make informed investment decisions.
- Compliance Emphasis: The timely submission of the financial report and information disclosure demonstrate Gerdau's commitment to compliance, aiming to enhance the company's credibility and transparency in the capital markets.
See More
Gerdau S.A. Highlights from 4Q25 Financial Results
- Adjusted EBITDA Performance: In 4Q25, Gerdau S.A. reported an adjusted EBITDA of R$2.4 billion, reflecting a 13% decrease from 3Q25 but remaining consistent with 4Q24, indicating robust performance in North America, which contributed 62% of the total EBITDA for 2025.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company recorded R$1.5 billion in capital expenditures in 4Q25, totaling R$6.1 billion for the year, with a projected investment plan of R$4.7 billion for 2026, demonstrating a strong commitment to future growth.
- Dividend Distribution: Gerdau announced a dividend of R$0.10 per share, amounting to approximately R$197.5 million, to be paid on March 18, 2026; in 2025, the company distributed R$2.4 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, achieving a remarkable 182.3% shareholder return.
- Share Buyback Program: The company completed its 2025 share buyback program, totaling around R$1.0 billion, and the Board approved a new buyback program for up to 56.4 million shares, with a term of up to 18 months, reflecting a strong focus on enhancing shareholder value.
See More
Gerdau Stock Rises 2.95% Amid Mixed Jobs Report
- Stock Performance: Gerdau's stock closed up 2.59% at $4.35 on Wednesday, reflecting investor reactions to the mixed U.S. jobs report, which shapes expectations for future interest rate adjustments.
- Surge in Trading Volume: Trading volume reached 63 million shares, about 286% above the three-month average of 16.3 million shares, indicating a significant increase in market interest and potentially signaling enhanced investor confidence in the steel sector.
- Industry Outlook: With 130,000 jobs added in January and unemployment falling to 4.3%, investors are optimistic about a recovery in steel-intensive sectors like construction, which could drive steel prices higher and provide strong market support for producers.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: Gerdau's stock has surged 1,370% since its IPO in 1999, currently trading near a 52-week high and up 45% over the past six months, showcasing the company's robust performance and future growth potential in the steel market.
See More
Contrarian Capital Reduces Stake in Core Natural Resources
- Stake Reduction Details: Contrarian Capital Management reduced its stake in Core Natural Resources by 187,676 shares in Q4 2026, resulting in a decrease to 0.7359% of the fund's 13F assets, indicating a waning market confidence in the stock.
- Financial Impact Analysis: This reduction led to a decline in the quarter-end value of Core Natural Resources by approximately $15.51 million, highlighting how both market price movements and share sales have affected the company's market performance.
- Market Performance Comparison: As of February 13, 2026, Core Natural Resources shares were priced at $91.51, reflecting an 8.03% increase over the past year, yet underperforming the S&P 500 by 3.76 percentage points, suggesting insufficient market competitiveness.
- Investor Outlook: The coal market has stabilized post-global energy shock, and Core's future earnings will depend on whether coal prices remain above production costs, making it crucial for investors to monitor this gap to assess the sustainability of the company's cash flow.
See More
Success of Price-to-Tangible-Book Value Investing
- Long-Term Return Advantage: Since 1980, Donald Smith & Co.'s investment strategy has achieved a 16.8% compound annual return by focusing on companies in the lowest decile of price-to-tangible-book ratios, significantly outperforming the overall lowest decile's 13.4% and the S&P 500's 12.1%, demonstrating the effectiveness of their long-term investment approach and market recognition potential.
- Philosophical Foundation: Founder Donald G. Smith was influenced by Benjamin Graham during his time at UCLA Law School, establishing an investment framework centered on buying companies with the lowest price-to-tangible-book value, emphasizing fundamental analysis and patient holding to avoid short-term market fluctuations.
- Asset Allocation Strategy: Currently managing over $5 billion in assets, Donald Smith & Co. employs a concentrated investment strategy with individual positions capped at 5% and industry exposure generally limited to around 20%, ensuring stable portfolio performance amid market volatility.
- Current Investment Targets: Recent 13F filings reveal significant positions in asset-heavy companies like West Fraser Timber, Brazilian steel producer Gerdau, and Harley-Davidson, all trading at substantial discounts, reflecting their deep conviction in cyclical asset investing and expectations for market recovery.
See More
Gerdau Reports Q4 2025 Earnings with Revenue Growth
- Earnings Overview: Gerdau's Q4 2025 GAAP EPS stands at -R$0.66, indicating pressure on profitability amid the current macroeconomic environment, which could undermine investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: Despite the negative EPS, the company reported revenues of R$1.49 billion for the fourth quarter, reflecting an 8.0% year-over-year increase, suggesting some growth potential in sales that may lay the groundwork for future recovery.
- Market Reaction: The decline in profitability has led to a downgrade in Gerdau's rating, reflecting investor concerns about the company's future performance, which may result in increased stock price volatility.
- Historical Data Comparison: Analyzing historical earnings data reveals a discrepancy in Gerdau's current financial performance compared to past profitability trends, indicating a potential need for strategic adjustments to address future market challenges.
See More
Gerdau Releases 4Q25 Financial Results
- Report Submission: Gerdau S.A. submitted its 4Q25 financial results to the SEC and CVM on February 23, 2026, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and maintaining transparency.
- Information Access: Investors can access the financial report and related information on Gerdau's website, enhancing communication with stakeholders and boosting market confidence.
- Valuation Guide Release: Gerdau also published its 4Q25 Valuation Guide on its website, providing investors with deeper financial analysis tools to make informed investment decisions.
- Compliance Emphasis: The timely submission of the financial report and information disclosure demonstrate Gerdau's commitment to compliance, aiming to enhance the company's credibility and transparency in the capital markets.
See More
Gerdau S.A. Highlights from 4Q25 Financial Results
- Adjusted EBITDA Performance: In 4Q25, Gerdau S.A. reported an adjusted EBITDA of R$2.4 billion, reflecting a 13% decrease from 3Q25 but remaining consistent with 4Q24, indicating robust performance in North America, which contributed 62% of the total EBITDA for 2025.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company recorded R$1.5 billion in capital expenditures in 4Q25, totaling R$6.1 billion for the year, with a projected investment plan of R$4.7 billion for 2026, demonstrating a strong commitment to future growth.
- Dividend Distribution: Gerdau announced a dividend of R$0.10 per share, amounting to approximately R$197.5 million, to be paid on March 18, 2026; in 2025, the company distributed R$2.4 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, achieving a remarkable 182.3% shareholder return.
- Share Buyback Program: The company completed its 2025 share buyback program, totaling around R$1.0 billion, and the Board approved a new buyback program for up to 56.4 million shares, with a term of up to 18 months, reflecting a strong focus on enhancing shareholder value.
See More
Gerdau Stock Rises 2.95% Amid Mixed Jobs Report
- Stock Performance: Gerdau's stock closed up 2.59% at $4.35 on Wednesday, reflecting investor reactions to the mixed U.S. jobs report, which shapes expectations for future interest rate adjustments.
- Surge in Trading Volume: Trading volume reached 63 million shares, about 286% above the three-month average of 16.3 million shares, indicating a significant increase in market interest and potentially signaling enhanced investor confidence in the steel sector.
- Industry Outlook: With 130,000 jobs added in January and unemployment falling to 4.3%, investors are optimistic about a recovery in steel-intensive sectors like construction, which could drive steel prices higher and provide strong market support for producers.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: Gerdau's stock has surged 1,370% since its IPO in 1999, currently trading near a 52-week high and up 45% over the past six months, showcasing the company's robust performance and future growth potential in the steel market.
See More
