Biography
David Barr, CFA, is the CEO of Pender and the portfolio manager of several of Pender’s funds. He began his investing career in 2000 and initially worked in private equity, which gives him a unique background to investing capital. The Pender Small Cap Opportunities Fund, which Barr managed, was recognized as a Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards Canada 2021 Winner and named the best Canadian Focused Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund over a 10-year performance period. It had previously won a Lipper Fund Award for Best Canadian Small/Mid Cap Fund over both three- and five-year performance periods in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Barr holds a bachelor's of science degree from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. He earned his CFA charter in 2003 and is an active member of the Vancouver chapter. Barr is a past president of CFA Society Vancouver and also served on its board of directors for four years.
Small-cap companies are poised for a rebound. The sector is best approached through an active investment strategy where expertise and a deep understanding of the individual businesses and their risk-and-reward characteristics are necessary for success.
Small-cap investing is a “negative art.” But in addition to steering clear of losers, small-cap investors have to demonstrate the “positive art” of picking winners.
The legendary musician Prince exhorted us to “Party like it’s 1999,” but today, as a small-cap stock investor, I’d flip the calendar one year ahead, to 2000.