Polen Capital, an investment management company, released its first-quarter 2026 investor letter for “Polen 5Perspectives Small-Mid Growth Strategy”. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Polen 5Perspectives Small-Mid Composite Portfolio returned -3.4% gross and -3.6% net of fees, respectively, in the first quarter of 2026, compared to the -3.5% return of the Russell 2500 Growth Index. Rapidly shifting, marked narrative-driven volatility stemmed in the first quarter. Initial concerns centered on AI disruption in software and the related “HALO” trade, followed by rising private credit worries, culminating in geopolitical risks stemming from the war in Iran. The firm expects ongoing volatility in the foreseeable future. The firm believes the SMID-cap universe in the US consists of innovative, dynamic companies, and the portfolio performance is driven by the accelerating pace of change. In addition, please check the Strategy’s top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Polen 5Perspectives Small-Mid Growth Strategy highlighted SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI). SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI) is a financial technology company that operates through Lending, Technology Platform, and Financial Services. On June 18, 2026, SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI) closed at $17.91 per share. One-month return of SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI) was 14.66%, and its shares gained 17.83% over the past 52 weeks. SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI) has a market capitalization of $22.97 billion.
Polen 5Perspectives Small-Mid Growth Strategy stated the following regarding SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
“The most significant detractors from the Portfolio’s relative performance in the quarter were SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI), Figure Technology Solutions , and Affirm Holdings . SoFi Technologies started its life in 2011 as a student loan refinancer and has rapidly evolved into a full-service digital banking platform. Its integrated ecosystem is designed to provide a one-stop solution for consumers, while leveraging technology to drive efficiency and cross-sell opportunities. Shares underperformed as investor sentiment toward consumer lending and fintech remained pressured amid interest rate volatility and macro uncertainty. Concerns around loan growth, funding costs, and credit performance weighed on the group more broadly. While SoFi continues to demonstrate solid member and product growth, the market has taken a more cautious view on near-term earnings trajectory.”
SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 47 hedge fund portfolios held SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 56 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI) 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 SOFI TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (NASDAQ:SOFI) and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
In another article, we covered SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI) and shared a bullish thesis on the company. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q1 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.
