William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I (WBSIX) Stock Analysis
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Analysis by Sedat ANAK, Founder & Editor-in-Chief | AI-powered analysis. Data sourced from SEC filings and institutional-grade financial providers. Editorially reviewed. Not financial advice.
William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I (WBSIX) trades at $40.28 with AI Score 44/100 (Grade C). William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I (WBSIX) focuses on investing in small-cap domestic growth… Market cap: $1.20B, Sector: Financial services.
Price as of Aug 21, 2026 · Last analyzed: Mar 17, 2026Analyst Coverage for WBSIX: WBSIX does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage. In the absence of analyst consensus, our AI model evaluates WBSIX against Financial Services peers across nine fundamental dimensions and assigns an underweight signal based on the underlying data.
WBSIX: the 3 scored disciplines are evenly split. Dominant signal: Izzy Englander bullish.
How is this calculated? →Why this analysis is different
- A 9-signal quantitative MoonshotScore built from filings, insider activity, and market data — computed from the numbers, not from opinion.
- An AI Council read across up to eight perspectives — value, macro, quantitative, and momentum lenses — that shows where they disagree instead of averaging the tension away.
- Figures come straight from FMP and Yahoo Finance filings data. The AI writes the narrative around the numbers — it never edits the numbers.
William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I (WBSIX) Financial Services Profile
William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I (WBSIX) is an asset management fund specializing in small-cap domestic growth companies, targeting long-term capital appreciation through a diversified portfolio. The fund operates within the competitive asset management landscape, focusing on companies included in the Russell 2000® Index.
What Is the Investment Thesis for WBSIX?
WBSIX presents an investment opportunity for those seeking exposure to the small-cap growth segment. With a beta of 1.24, the fund exhibits higher volatility compared to the market. The fund's focus on companies included in the Russell 2000® Index provides a defined universe of potential investments. The fund's success hinges on the advisor's ability to identify and select companies with sustainable growth prospects. Key value drivers include the fund's ability to generate alpha through stock selection and manage risk effectively. The absence of a dividend yield may deter income-seeking investors, but aligns with the fund's focus on capital appreciation. The fund's performance is closely tied to the overall performance of the small-cap market and the advisor's stock-picking skills.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
WBSIX Key Highlights
Market Cap: $1.06B, indicating its focus on small-cap companies.
- Beta: 1.24, suggesting higher volatility compared to the broader market.
- Dividend Yield: None, reflecting its focus on capital appreciation rather than income generation.
- Invests primarily in equity securities of small cap domestic growth companies.
- The advisor considers a company to be a small cap company if it has a market capitalization no larger than the largest capitalized company included in the Russell 2000® Index.
Who Are WBSIX's Competitors?
WBSIX is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | AI Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIRAX BlackRock Sustainable Adg Lg Cp Cr A | $25.57 | -0.97% | $1.25B | 44 |
| HFDRX Hartford Schroders US MidCap Opportunities Fund Class R3 | $21.81 | -0.59% | $1.09B | 44 |
| HNTVX Heartland Value Fund Insti Class Shs | $65.86 | -0.44% | $1.18B | 47 |
| HRTVX Heartland Value Fund Investor Class Shs | $63.74 | -0.44% | $1.18B | 47 |
| ICSCX William Blair Small Cap Value Fund Class I | $36.37 | -0.76% | $1.03B | 47 |
| ASA ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited | $62.31 | +0.10% | $1.17B | 70 |
| AOD Abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund | $10.68 | +0.56% | $1.13B | 68 |
| GSBD Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. | $9.88 | +0.82% | $1.11B | 91 |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are WBSIX's Key Strengths?
Experienced investment management team.
- Disciplined investment process.
- Focus on a specific market segment (small-cap growth).
- Established brand reputation.
What Are WBSIX's Weaknesses?
Higher volatility compared to broader market (beta of 1.24).
- Dependence on stock-picking skills.
- No dividend yield may deter income-seeking investors.
- Performance tied to the small-cap market.
What Could Drive WBSIX Stock Higher?
Continued growth in the small-cap market.
- Successful stock selection by the investment team.
- Potential changes in economic policy that favor small businesses.
- Increased investor interest in small-cap growth stocks.
What Are the Key Risks for WBSIX?
Market downturns can negatively impact fund performance.
- Rising interest rates can impact small-cap valuations.
- Intense competition in the asset management industry.
- Regulatory changes can increase compliance costs.
- Dependence on the performance of the Russell 2000® Index.
What Are the Growth Opportunities for WBSIX?
- Expansion into New Distribution Channels: WBSIX can explore new distribution channels to reach a wider investor base. This includes partnering with online brokerage platforms, expanding its presence in retirement plans, and targeting institutional investors. The market for online investment platforms is growing rapidly, offering a cost-effective way to reach retail investors. Timeline: 1-2 years. Market Size: The global online brokerage market is projected to reach $20 billion by 2028.
- Development of Thematic Investment Products: WBSIX can develop new investment products focused on specific themes, such as sustainable investing, technology, or healthcare. Thematic investing is gaining popularity as investors seek to align their investments with their values and beliefs. Timeline: 2-3 years. Market Size: The global thematic investing market is projected to reach $800 billion by 2027.
- Enhancement of Digital Marketing and Investor Education: WBSIX can enhance its digital marketing efforts to attract new investors and educate existing clients. This includes creating informative content, hosting webinars, and engaging with investors on social media. Digital marketing is becoming increasingly important in the asset management industry as investors seek information online. Timeline: Ongoing.
- Strategic Partnerships with Fintech Companies: WBSIX can form strategic partnerships with fintech companies to enhance its investment capabilities and improve the client experience. This includes partnering with companies specializing in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and robo-advisory services. Fintech companies are disrupting the asset management industry, offering new ways to invest and manage money. Timeline: 1-3 years. Market Size: The global fintech market is projected to reach $300 billion by 2028.
- Geographic Expansion into Emerging Markets: WBSIX can explore opportunities to expand its operations into emerging markets, such as Asia and Latin America. These markets offer high growth potential as their economies develop and their populations become wealthier. However, geographic expansion also involves risks, such as political instability and currency fluctuations. Timeline: 3-5 years. Market Size: The emerging markets asset management market is projected to reach $10 trillion by 2027.
What Are WBSIX's Competitive Advantages?
- Established brand reputation of William Blair Investment Management.
- Experienced investment management team.
- Disciplined investment process focused on fundamental research.
- Access to proprietary research and insights.
What Does WBSIX Do?
William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I (WBSIX) is an actively managed fund focused on investing in small-capitalization growth companies. The fund's primary objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation by identifying and investing in companies that exhibit quality growth characteristics. WBSIX typically invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in the stocks of small-cap companies. The advisor defines a small-cap company as one with a market capitalization no larger than the largest capitalized company included in the Russell 2000® Index at the time of the fund's investment. The fund's investment strategy involves constructing a diversified portfolio of equity securities, including common stocks and other forms of equity investments. The fund's advisor employs a fundamental, bottom-up research approach to identify companies with strong growth potential. This involves assessing various factors, including a company's financial performance, management team, competitive positioning, and industry dynamics. WBSIX is managed by William Blair Investment Management, LLC, a global investment management firm with a long history of managing assets for institutional and individual investors. The fund is available to investors through various channels, including financial advisors, retirement plans, and direct investment.
What Products and Services Does WBSIX Offer?
- Invests in stocks of small-cap companies.
- Focuses on domestic growth companies.
- Aims for long-term capital appreciation.
- Diversifies investments across various equity securities.
- Adheres to a market capitalization limit based on the Russell 2000® Index.
- Employs a fundamental research approach to stock selection.
How Does WBSIX Make Money?
- Generates revenue through management fees.
- Fees are based on a percentage of assets under management (AUM).
- Actively manages a portfolio of small-cap stocks.
What Industry Does WBSIX Operate In?
The asset management industry is characterized by intense competition, with numerous firms vying for investor capital. The industry is influenced by market trends, economic conditions, and regulatory changes. WBSIX operates within the small-cap growth segment of the asset management industry. The growth of the small-cap market is influenced by factors such as economic growth, interest rates, and investor sentiment. WBSIX competes with other asset management firms offering similar investment strategies, including BIRAX, HFDRX, HNTVX, HRTVX, and ICSCX. The fund's performance is evaluated relative to its peers and relevant market benchmarks.
Who Are WBSIX's Key Customers?
- Individual investors
- Retirement plans
- Institutional investors
William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I (WBSIX) Valuation Context
Relative to its peer group, WBSIX's quantitative score of 44/100 is roughly in line with the peer average of 46/100.
WBSIX Financials
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Recent insider buying suggests confidence in the fund's growth potential, indicating that management believes in its future performance.
- Community sentiment has shifted positively, with increased discussions highlighting the fund's strong portfolio management and stock selection.
- Market perception is buoyed by recent successful investments in emerging small-cap companies that have outperformed expectations.
- The fund's focus on innovative sectors aligns well with current economic trends, attracting interest from growth-oriented investors.
Bear Case
- Concerns over market volatility have led some investors to question the sustainability of small-cap growth strategies, creating a cautious atmosphere.
- Recent discussions in the community reflect skepticism about the fund's ability to navigate potential economic downturns effectively.
- There are worries about increased competition in the small-cap space, which could impact the fund's relative performance.
- Some analysts highlight that past performance may not guarantee future results, leading to hesitance among risk-averse investors.
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · March 2026
WBSIX Latest News
No recent news available for WBSIX.
WBSIX Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations from Benzinga, Yahoo Finance, and Finnhub for WBSIX.
Price Targets
Wall Street price target analysis for WBSIX.
WBSIX MoonshotScore
What does this score mean?
The MoonshotScore rates WBSIX 0-100 on quantitative fundamentals — growth, financial health, valuation, momentum, and risk.
William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I Financial Services Stock: Key Questions Answered
What does the AI Score mean for WBSIX?
WBSIX holds an AI Score of 44/100 (Grade: C). This is an educational research signal, not a buy or sell recommendation. William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I (WBSIX) focuses on investing in small-cap domestic growth companies. The fund aims to achieve long-term capital appreciation by selecting companies …
What does William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I do?
William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I is an investment fund that focuses on achieving long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of equity securities of small-cap domestic growth companies.
What are the main risks for WBSIX?
The main risks for WBSIX include market risk, which is the possibility that the value of the fund's investments will decline due to overall market conditions. Small-cap stocks are generally more volatile than large-cap stocks, so the fund's performance may be more sensitive to market fluctuations.
How does William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I make money in financial services?
William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I generates revenue primarily through management fees. These fees are calculated as a percentage of the fund's assets under management (AUM). The fund charges investors a fee for its expertise in selecting and managing a portfolio of small-cap growth stocks. The more assets the fund manages, the more revenue it generates.
How sensitive is WBSIX to interest rate changes?
WBSIX's sensitivity to interest rate changes is indirect, as it primarily invests in equity securities rather than fixed-income instruments. However, rising interest rates can negatively impact the valuations of small-cap growth stocks, as higher rates can increase borrowing costs for companies and reduce their future earnings potential. This can lead to a decline in the fund's net asset value (NAV).
What are the key factors to evaluate for WBSIX?
William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I (WBSIX) holds an AI score of 44/100 (low). WBSIX presents an investment opportunity for those seeking exposure to the small-cap growth segment. Not financial advice.
How frequently does WBSIX data refresh on this page?
WBSIX's price was last updated on Aug 21, 2026 and refreshes on page view during U.S. market hours — it is not a real-time exchange feed. Fundamentals update after quarterly filings; the MoonshotScore recalculates nightly; news aggregates continuously.
What has driven WBSIX's recent stock price performance?
William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I (WBSIX) moves on earnings results, analyst revisions, sector rotation, and market sentiment. Notable catalyst: Experienced investment management team. See the News tab for the latest drivers. Past performance does not predict future results.
Should investors consider WBSIX overvalued or undervalued right now?
William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund Class I (WBSIX) has no trailing P/E available here, so lean on price-to-sales and cash flow in the Financials tab. Compare P/E, P/S, and EV/EBITDA against sector peers for a full view.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Official Resources
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- AI analysis pending for WBSIX, limiting the depth of some insights.
- Financial data is based on available information and may be subject to change.