Fred Alger Management, an investment management company, released its “Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund” first-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the first quarter of 2026, the Class A shares of the Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund underperformed the Russell 2500 Growth Index. The Information Technology and Consumer Staples sectors contributed to the relative performance, while Health Care and Financials detracted. US equities experienced volatility in the first quarter of 2026, with the S&P 500 Index falling 4.33%. The AI disruption and the U.S.-Iran conflict altered the economic landscape during this period. The Fund focuses on identifying companies that are leveraging AI technology for task automation and workflow management. In addition, please check the Fund’s top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund highlighted Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST). Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST) is a vertically integrated solid waste services company that offers resource management expertise and services. On May 22, 2026, Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST) closed at $87.41 per share. One-month return of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST) was 13.89%, and its shares lost 24.42% over the past 52 weeks. Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST) has a market capitalization of $5.56 billion.
Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund stated the following regarding Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
“Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST) is a vertically integrated solid waste services company operating primarily in the Northeastern United States, providing collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling services across residential, commercial, and industrial markets. We believe the company has a commanding position as a regional consolidator in an industry characterized by high barriers to entry, recurring revenue, and favorable pricing dynamics, with a long runway to acquire smaller operators and expand its geographic footprint. During the quarter, shares detracted from performance despite the company delivering solid results that extended its track record of double-digit growth in revenue, earnings, and free cash flow to a fifth consecutive year. Investor concerns centered on muted volume growth across the broader waste industry, a leadership transition as the company’s president was elevated to CEO, and ongoing integration challenges associated with operations acquired from a large industry peer in the Mid-Atlantic region. We believe the company has largely worked through these issues.”
