
Tom Bancroft
Tom Bancroft is the founder and Managing Partner of Makaira Partners, a boutique investment firm he established in La Jolla, California in 2007. Prior to founding Makaira, Bancroft spent 13 years at GEICO's Plaza Investment Managers, working alongside legendary investors Lou Simpson and Warren Buffett. He served his last six years at GEICO as Portfolio Manager and Senior Managing Director of the company's $3.5 billion equity portfolio, the only independently managed portfolio at Berkshire Hathaway. Bancroft's investment philosophy reflects the patient, concentrated, and long-term approach of his mentors at Berkshire Hathaway. Makaira Partners focuses on high-quality public companies with durable competitive advantages that can compound intrinsic value per share over time, typically holding investments for at least five years. The firm runs a concentrated portfolio of public equities for a global client base including individuals, family offices, endowments, and foundations. Before entering the investment industry, Bancroft began his career as a journalist, writing for Forbes Magazine. He graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Avg. holding
10.3 qtrs
Longest current
26 qtrs
Fox Corporation · FOXA
Win rate est.
64%
based on 22 of 46 closed positions
Turnover rhythm
2.6 / qtr
100% coverage · 149 entries + exits over 58 filed qtrs
One year after exit est.
est. +11.4%
based on 13 of 54 closed positions
| Security | Period | Return est. |
|---|---|---|
| Cdw Corp | Q4 2013–Q1 2026 | est. +477.6% |
| Zebra Technologies Corporation | Q2 2016–Q1 2024 | est. +376.9% |
| Heico Corporation | Q1 2020–Q1 2026 | est. +187.1% |
| Progressive Corp/oh/ | Q4 2021–Q2 2025 | est. +185.3% |
| Bel Fuse Inc /nj | Q1 2025–Q1 2026 | est. +161.5% |
based on 22 of 46 closed positions
| Security | Period | Return est. |
|---|---|---|
| Charter Communications, Inc. | Q4 2023–Q1 2026 | est. -46.5% |
| Flutter Entertainment Plc | Q3 2024–Q1 2026 | est. -35.4% |
| Commscope Holding Company, Inc. | Q2 2016–Q1 2019 | est. -28.6% |
| Carmax, Inc. | Q1 2020–Q3 2025 | est. -25.3% |
| Kirby Corporation | Q3 2015–Q1 2016 | est. -24.5% |
based on 22 of 46 closed positions