Mar Vista Investment Partners, LLC, an investment management company, released its “Mar Vista U.S. Quality Strategy” second-quarter 2026 investor letter. You can download a copy here. In Q2 2026, the Strategy achieved a net return of +12.71%, trailing the Russell 1000® and S&P 500® indices, which returned +15.14% and +15.20%, respectively. Stock picks in industrials and consumer discretionary sectors boosted performance, while holdings in information technology and healthcare detracted. Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, US equities gained in Q2, supported by resilient economic growth and expanding market leadership. AI remained a key investment theme, but investors shifted focus toward AI companies capable of delivering sustainable earnings growth. The fund targets high-quality companies with durable competitive advantages, strong management, and the ability to grow intrinsic value over time, while maintaining disciplined valuation and risk controls. Review the top five holdings to understand their key strategies for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Mar Vista U.S. Quality Strategy highlighted ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) as a newly added position. ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) is a Dutch-based semiconductor company that provides lithography solutions. On July 9, 2026, ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) closed at $1,804.25 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $695.39 billion. ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) posted a one-month return of -3.18%, while its shares gained 124.99% over the past 52 weeks.
Mar Vista U.S. Quality Strategy stated the following regarding ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
“During the quarter, we initiated positions in ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) and StandardAero (SARO). Our purchase of ASML reflects our conviction that the long-term demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturing remains firmly intact. As the sole provider of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems, ASML occupies one of the most strategically important positions within the global semiconductor ecosystem. While investor attention has focused on AI chip designers, we believe enabling technologies such as advanced lithography represent an equally critical and often underappreciated component of the AI value chain. ASML’s technological leadership, substantial switching costs, and indispensable role in semiconductor manufacturing create one of the strongest competitive advantages in our investment universe.”
ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 133 hedge fund portfolios held ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) at the end of the first quarter, up from 101 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
In another article, we covered ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) and shared best QQQ stocks to invest in. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2026 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
