T. Rowe Price is both a legendary investor, Thomas Rowe Price Jr., and the global asset management firm he founded. The firm, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., is a publicly traded giant in the investment world, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, and managing hundreds of billions of dollars for individuals and institutions. Founded in 1937, it rose to prominence by championing a philosophy that, at the time, was revolutionary: growth investing. This approach stands in contrast to the classic value investing doctrine of Benjamin Graham, focusing not on what a company is worth today, but on what it could be worth tomorrow. The firm is best known for its large family of mutual funds, which provide everyday investors with access to its disciplined, research-intensive investment process. For many, T. Rowe Price is synonymous with a long-term, patient strategy of buying into high-quality companies with bright futures.
Thomas Rowe Price Jr. (1900-1983) was a trailblazer who challenged the conventional investment wisdom of his day. In an era where most investors hunted for stocks paying high dividends or trading at low prices, Price looked for something different: sustainable, long-term growth. He wasn't rummaging through the market's bargain bin; he was scouting for the financial equivalent of a future superstar athlete. His philosophy was simple yet powerful: identify well-managed companies operating in industries with long-term growth potential and hold on to them. He believed that the power of compounding in a superior business would ultimately deliver far greater returns than buying and selling mediocre companies at cheap prices. He looked for businesses with unique products, dominant market positions, and management teams that skillfully reinvested profits to fuel further expansion.
At its heart, the T. Rowe Price philosophy represents a different starting point from the value investing that is the core of this dictionary. Understanding the distinction is key.
While they seem like opposites, legendary investors like Warren Buffett have famously stated that the two concepts are “joined at the hip.” After all, a company's future growth is a critical component of its intrinsic value. A stagnant company, no matter how cheap, may not be a bargain at all.
Even if you are a committed value investor, the principles pioneered by T. Rowe Price offer invaluable lessons that can make you a more well-rounded and successful investor.