Paul Isaac - Arbiter Partners Capital Management Investment Strategy (Jun 30, 2025)


As of Jun 30, 2025, the Arbiter Partners Capital Management portfolio managed by Paul Isaac demonstrates a sophisticated investment approach with 41 positions and an average holding period of 684 quarters. The strategy focuses on Basic Materials, Communication Services, Consumer Cyclical, Consumer Defensive, Energy, Financial Services, Healthcare, Real Estate, Technology sectors with a typical position size of 6.1% of the portfolio.


The portfolio's risk management approach includes a maximum position size of 6.11% and sector diversification of 9%, exemplified by the case study of GRAIL INC (GRAL). This strategic framework provides insights into Paul Isaac's investment philosophy, risk management practices, and long-term value creation approach.

Investment Strategy Metrics

Key metrics revealing investment style, risk management, and performance characteristics

MetricValueCategoryDescription
Holding Period1.9 yearsStyleAverage duration positions are maintained
Position Count41StyleNumber of active positions in portfolio
Position Size6.1%RiskTypical allocation per position
Win Rate49.4%PerformancePercentage of profitable positions
Average Return20.0%PerformanceMean return across positions
Sharpe Ratio0.23PerformanceReturn per unit of risk taken

Investment Case Study: GRAIL INC (GRAL)

6/30/2024 - 11/9/2025

Performance Metrics

Total Return: 552.92%

Holding Period: 497 days

Max Position Size: $53,368,715.00

Position Weight: 16.14%

Key Events

6/30/2024: ENTRY(140,000.00 shares) @ $15.37
9/30/2024: INCREASE(129,108.00 shares) @ $13.76
12/31/2024: INCREASE(561,534.00 shares) @ $17.85
3/31/2025: INCREASE(194,400.00 shares) @ $25.54
6/30/2025: INCREASE(12,856.00 shares) @ $51.42

Investment Thesis

Entry Context: Initial position established based on fundamental analysis

Sector Conditions: Favorable market conditions in the sector

Risk Factors:
  • Market volatility
  • Sector-specific risks

Key Learnings

  • Position sizing is critical for portfolio management
  • Important to monitor sector exposure

Sector Allocations