Core 20
Our flagship 20-stock portfolio. Strong returns, smoother ride. The one we'd pick if we could only pick one.
All figures are backtested → · benchmark: S&P 500 TR
Growth of $10,000
Data through May 20, 2026•Log scale
Performance
LiveAll three windows use the same data source as the chart. YTD spans the most recent rebalance; the rebalance window is one holdings composition only.
Year by Year Returns
Annual returns through May 20, 2026 · 2026 YTD live through August 21, 2026
Annual returns vs S&P 500 TR. Green is a positive year, red is a negative one. The taller bar won that year.
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Risk and reward
Both reads below are computed from the strategy's realized return history, not from a snapshot of today's holdings. The score only moves when the strategy's real behavior changes.
Over its full record this strategy has been paid for the risk it takes relative to the S&P 500. The last 12 months have run cooler than that record. Right of center means the strategy earned more return per unit of downside than the S&P 500 over the window. The last 12 months marker is a rear view read of the strategy, not a forecast.
In its worst historical year Core 20 fell about -39%, and its deepest drawdown was -44.3%.
On the same scale: cash sits near 2, investment grade bonds near 18, a 60/40 mix near 45, and the S&P 500 near 72. Every portfolio we publish is a 100% equity, concentrated book, so each one is aggressive relative to a blended account. Size it to your own tolerance by blending in safer assets.
Rolling 3 year window. Above the dashed line: paid for the risk versus S&P 500. Below: not paid.
Rolling 3 year window on the same 0 to 100 scale. Risk breathes with market regimes; a snapshot score would hide that arc.
Backtested Quarterly Returns
Backtested return for each quarter, measured on the locked record's month-end grid. Closed quarters run month end to month end, so they sit within about ten days of the rebalance dates rather than exactly on them. The row marked Live is the current quarter, measured daily from the last locked date forward. Different time period than YTD, which covers Jan 1 forward and spans quarters.
| Period | Dates | Days | Portfolio | S&P 500 TR | Alpha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Current (from Q2 2026)Live | May 20, 2026 → Aug 21, 2026 | 93 | +5.5% | +3.5% | +1.9% |
Q1 2026 | Feb 28, 2026 → May 20, 2026 | 81 | +6.5% | +8.3% | -1.8% |
Q4 2025 | Nov 30, 2025 → Feb 28, 2026 | 90 | +3.6% | +0.7% | +2.9% |
Q3 2025 | Aug 31, 2025 → Nov 30, 2025 | 91 | +10.6% | +6.3% | +4.3% |
Key Characteristics
- •20 well-researched stocks across key sectors
- •Built by studying what the best stock pickers actually buy
- •Quarterly rebalancing to keep the portfolio fresh
- •Designed for strong returns with a smoother ride
- •Our flagship. The one we'd pick if we could only pick one
Rebalance Schedule
Rebalance Window OpenCore 20 rebalances four times a year, on the 20th to 25th of February, May, August, and November, for two reasons: the quarterly 13F window shows us where institutional money is moving, and buying on this schedule means every position is held through at least one full earnings season. We own businesses that prove themselves quarter after quarter, not trade around the proving. Pro members get the trade list by email the moment we publish.
Core 20 vs S&P 500
Sector weights as of 2026-05-04. Posture is one of several lenses we use to read a portfolio — never used in isolation.
Current Holdings
Weekly Model Report
Full sector breakdown
The trophy room. Yes, this is cherry-picked. That is the point. The full record, including the picks that did not work, is on the Track Record page.
Core 20 Hall of Fame
The 10 biggest closed-position wins from this portfolio. Total returns include dividends, verified against YCharts.
These are closed positions in the model portfolio, ranked by total return percentage (price + dividends). Hypothetical, backtested performance based on the methodology applied to historical data. Members who execute the same trades may not achieve the same results due to timing, fees, taxes, and individual circumstances. Past performance does not guarantee future results.