We've compiled it recently According to John W. Rogers of Ariel Investments. In this article, we will explore Lazard, Inc. (NYSE:LAZ) position against other shares of John W. Rogers.

John W. Rogers Jr. Ariel Investment. Rogers graduated from Princeton University in 1980 and worked as a stockbroker for two and a half years at William Blair. Three years later, he founded Ariel Investments, the first black-owned mutual fund company in the United States, backed by family and friends $200,000. Howard University will be the initial client of Ariel Investments, which received $100,000 to manage its donations. The following year, the city of Chicago granted Ariel a $1 million pension plan. By 2009, Ariel Investments had managed $3.3 billion in assets and has since increased to a staggering $12.9 billion.

It is worth noting that investors' flagship Ariel Foundation faced one of its first obstacles on October 19, 1987 (known as Black Monday). The next major test came after the 2000 Internet crisis, with the Ariel Fund rebounding strongly, returning 29% that year and 14% in 2001. During the 2008 financial crisis, Rogers' investment in stocks, such as real estate investment firm CBRE Group and newspaper publisher Gannett, lost 48% before the fund returned 63% in 2009.

Rogers appreciates patience as he is looking for companies he believes will reach its full potential in the year. Famous investors Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham pioneered the strategy of seizing value stocks involve buying stocks whose value may be estimated by the market. Speaking at the Bloomberg Investment Conference, investors said that market enthusiasts may be overly focused on short-term trends, and those who are ready for three to five years may still find opportunities.

Even within the current market atmosphere, Ariel Investment still firmly believes in value investing. The fund's first-quarter 2025 investor letter reiterated its confidence in its strategy. Here is what Ariel Fund must say:

Most major U.S. indexes ended red in the first quarter of 2025, with investors fleeing security, a victory over the U.S. another year, surpassing economic momentum, while the new administration’s pro-business stance was quickly replaced by fear of tariffs and policy uncertainty. The huge seven have driven the growth of most markets over the past three years, with leaders falling, down nearly 15%. The growth of value destiny and the big hat are better than its little hat brothers. International stock markets led by Europe and China surged - with the strongest quarter in the United States in 15 years. Meanwhile, worsening confidence and concerns about the global trade war are aggravating fears of the recession. Although Wall Street sits on the edge and the market remains unstable, we actively tend to volatility by wisely obtaining stakes in high-quality companies whose value should be realized in the long run.