BrightSpring & The Comfort of 10%

My aunt Mildred, a woman who believes all financial advice should come from tea leaves, recently asked me about BrightSpring Health Services. “Is it a good stock?” she inquired, as if I held some sort of oracle certification. I mumbled something about home healthcare and, truthfully, a rather aggressive portfolio allocation by Alta Fox Capital Management. They’ve sunk nearly 10% of their funds into this company, which, let’s be honest, feels…substantial. Like a commitment. Like admitting you’ve finally accepted the inevitability of aging parents and the need for in-home assistance.

Alta Fox, it turns out, bought 776,975 shares in the fourth quarter. Roughly $26 million, if you’re keeping track. And, predictably, the stock has been doing quite well. Up 74% in a year. Which is…a lot. It makes my own investments look particularly pathetic. Mostly antique thimbles and a questionable collection of porcelain kittens.

What fascinates me isn’t just the return, but the amount. Nearly 10%. It’s not a polite dip of the toe; it’s a full-body plunge. They’re saying, “We believe in BrightSpring. We believe in the future of in-home care. And we’re willing to put a significant chunk of our money where our mouth is.” It’s a level of conviction I usually reserve for deciding between Earl Grey and English Breakfast.

Looking at their top holdings—NATL, DAKT, CARG—it’s a surprisingly diverse portfolio. But BrightSpring is now right up there, nudging REZI for the fourth spot. It’s like they’re building a financial ark, stocking up on healthcare, transportation, and…whatever NATL is. (I looked it up. It’s National American Family Life Insurance. My aunt Mildred would approve.)

BrightSpring, for those unfamiliar, isn’t building rockets or designing the next social media platform. They’re providing pharmacy and healthcare services in people’s homes. It’s decidedly unglamorous work, but it’s also essential. And increasingly, it’s where the money is. People are living longer, and they want to stay in their homes as long as possible. It’s a trend that’s not going away, and Alta Fox seems to have recognized that.

Here’s a quick rundown of the numbers, if you’re inclined: $13.3 billion in revenue, $110.3 million in net income, and a market cap of $7.01 billion. As of February 12th, the stock was trading at $37.79. It’s not going to make you a billionaire overnight, but it’s a solid, if somewhat unexciting, investment.

The company’s strategy is simple: expand access to care in non-institutional settings. It’s a logical approach, and it’s one that’s likely to pay off in the long run. They’re essentially betting on the fact that people will always need healthcare, and that they’ll increasingly prefer to receive it in the comfort of their own homes. It’s a safe bet, I think. And frankly, a little reassuring.

So, what does all this mean for investors? Well, it suggests that healthcare is shifting away from hospitals and clinics and towards the home. It’s a secular trend, and it’s one that’s likely to continue for years to come. And it suggests that Alta Fox believes BrightSpring is well-positioned to benefit from that trend. They’ve put their money where their mouth is, and that’s saying something.

BrightSpring generated $3.33 billion in revenue in the third quarter, up 28% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA climbed 37% to $160 million. Net income swung to $37.5 million from a loss a year earlier. Management is projecting revenue of up to $12.8 billion for the full year, with adjusted EBITDA between $605 million and $615 million. It’s not exactly explosive growth, but it’s steady and sustainable. And in today’s market, that’s a rare and valuable commodity.

Ultimately, if BrightSpring can continue converting top-line growth into durable cash flow while navigating the complexities of reimbursement risk, this run may prove to be more than just a temporary blip. And my aunt Mildred, well, she’ll probably just keep asking me about tea leaves. But at least now I have a slightly more informed answer.

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2026-02-17 00:53