Investment styles abound on both Wall Street and Main Street. Day traders vie for mere penny gains. Momentum investors buy what’s going up, believing that rising stocks will continue to rise. Growth investors place wagers on equities they hope will be behind the “next big thing.” 

Meanwhile, contrarian investors emphasize out-of-favor securities with low price-to-earnings ratios. The contrary camp tends to sell when most people are buying, and will buy when most are selling, following the old Wall Street adage, “what appears obvious is obviously wrong.” It’s that kind of divergent thinking that has placed Intrepid Capital Management prominently and prestigiously on the investment world’s highly competitive map.

Since its founding in 1994, Intrepid has grown in both presence and prowess. President Mark F. Travis, who boasts three decades of financial experience, is highly respected in the industry. As a frequent guest on CNBC and Fox Business News, Travis has also been featured in “Barron’s,” “Financial Advisor Magazine” and “Smart Money.”

“We pride ourselves on independent thinking,” Travis told “The Suit.” “We don’t follow the Wall Street herd. We’re discerning, deliberate, disciplined and opportunistic. All our funds are filled with our best ideas to provide the best potential value to our shareholders.”

Indeed, Intrepid’s Small Cap Fund won the Lipper Award as Best Fund in its category (out of 266 qualified small cap funds) for three-year risk adjusted performance in both 2009 and 2010. Providing further evidence of the firm’s outstanding performance, Travis explained, “We emerged from 2008 (the Great Recession) virtually unscathed. Our small cap fund sported a modest 7 percent decline compared to the sector’s average 40-50 percent fall.”

Travis credits the firm’s disciplined investment approach, which concentrates on return, risk, liquidity and relative value. “We place a heavy focus on free cash flow – a representation that a company is able to generate cash after shelling out money to maintain or expand its asset base – when considering an investment. We seek to buy only good businesses at good prices, using detailed fundamental analysis. We don’t chase performance or buy ‘hot’ stocks. We remain flexible at all times and don’t have cash limits. We’ll sit on cash if we can’t find suitable investments,” Travis explained.

Intrepid represents a refreshing change from a large and growing herd on Wall Street that deems cash undesirable. It remains at the top of its game by staying cost competitive, tax efficient, maintaining open client communication, employing the best in the business and always upholding its integrity. “I tell all my employees it takes years to earn a stellar reputation and just seconds to lose it. I lead by example,” Travis said.

To be sure, sheep are herded. The road to financial greatness is led.

For more information, visit: www.intrepidcapital.net