Francis Chou - Chou Associates Management Investment Strategy & Portfolio Analysis
How Chou Associates Management allocates capital, manages risk, and constructs its portfolio — based on SEC 13F filings.
As of Mar 31, 2026, Francis Chou's Chou Associates Management portfolio reflects a concentrated, thematic approach across 30 reported 13F positions. Portfolio returns are primarily driven by a small set of mega-cap compounders, with the top five holdings accounting for approximately 62% of total exposure and Berkshire Hathaway alone contributing ~30%. While the portfolio includes 30 positions, economic outcomes are highly concentrated in a narrow set of large-cap financial names, indicating a meaningful divergence between structural diversification and return concentration. Exposure to high-growth and technology-oriented segments remains limited relative to peers, with performance instead anchored in durable, cash-generating businesses across financials, energy, and communication services. The portfolio exhibits extremely low turnover, reinforcing a long-term capital allocation approach centered on high-conviction, long-duration holdings. Distinctive traits include Long-Term Holder, Moderately Concentrated, Economically Concentrated.
Investment Style
Value, growth, quality, and behavioral classification from latest 13F holdings.
Primary type: Value Investor
Traits: Long-Term Holder, Moderately Concentrated, Economically Concentrated, Structurally Diversified
Turnover profile
Moderate
Holding horizon
Long-Term
Portfolio Construction
Concentration and position sizing in the latest filing.
Portfolio construction is moderately concentrated: top three names represent 49.5% of assets, top five 62.2%, and the largest single position is 29.7%.
Top 3 weight
49.5%
Top 5 weight
62.2%
Top 10 weight
82.4%
Largest position
29.7%
Top holdings: Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Alphabet Inc., Occidental Petroleum Corporatio, Synchrony Financial, Apple Inc. — view full holdings
Sector Preferences
Where capital is allocated by sector.
Capital is tilted toward Financial Services and Energy, with 10 sectors represented in the latest filing.
Leading sectors: Financial Services, Energy, Communication Services
Risk Framework
Concentration, diversification, and turnover tolerance.
This investor accepts moderate single-name risk (largest position 29.7%, top ten 82.4%) and moderate economic diversification (HHI 0.10). Turnover tolerance maps to a moderate profile.
Largest position
29.7%
Top 10 weight
82.4%
Max sector
56.2%
Diversification
Moderate
Strategy Evolution
How the strategy changed between the two most recent filing periods.
Dec 31, 2025 → Mar 31, 2026
- Position count increased from 28 to 30 (+2 names).
- Top-five concentration fell from 66.3% to 62.2%.
- Dominant sector mix shifted from Financial Services, Communication Services to Financial Services, Energy.
- Quarter-over-quarter portfolio weight turnover: 11.6%.
For trade-level changes, see the Activity page. View activity.
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