TimesSquare Capital Management, an equity investment management company, released its “U.S. Mid Cap Growth Strategy” first-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Strategy fell 7.72% (net) in the quarter compared to -6.35% for the Russell Midcap Growth Index. In the first quarter, markets navigated geopolitical tensions and economic resilience alongside temporary global tariffs. High oil prices and supply chain disruptions followed U.S. and Israeli involvement in Iran, prompting a shift to safer assets and a reevaluation of supply chains and energy dependencies. Central banks maintained steady policies despite energy-driven inflation. In this environment, the Strategy remains focused on disciplined management teams with durable competitive advantages. Please review the Strategy’s top five holdings to gain insights into their key selections for 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, TimesSquare Capital U.S. Mid Cap Growth Strategy highlighted Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS). Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) is a US based commercial-stage biotechnology company, that develops and provides RNA-targeted medicines. On July 1, 2026, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) closed at $79.19 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $13.09 billion. Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) posted a one-month return of 5.40%, and its shares gained 84.16% over the past 52 weeks.
TimesSquare Capital U.S. Mid Cap Growth Strategy stated the following regarding Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
“Our preferences among Health Care stocks are those companies providing novel therapies for unmet needs that command premium pricing, or specialized service providers. New to the sector this quarter was Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS), a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on neurology and cardiovascular indications. They have several commercially approved drugs plus a deep pipeline with important clinical trial readouts this year.”
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 60 hedge fund portfolios held Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 62 in the previous quarter. In Q1 2026, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) reported total revenues of $246 million, an increase of 87% year-over-year. While we acknowledge the potential of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
