Carillon Tower Advisers, an investment management company, released its “Carillon Eagle Small Cap Growth Fund” second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, equity markets experienced one of their most turbulent periods in recent history. Small-cap stocks managed a rebound in the quarter, recovering from declines at the beginning of the year. Among style indexes, the Russell 2000® Growth Index led the way with an 11.96% gain, outpacing the Russell 2000® Value Index, which rose by 4.96%. In addition, please check the fund’s top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.
In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, the Carillon Eagle Small Cap Growth Fund highlighted stocks such as Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM). Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) is an energy company that owns mineral and royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties. Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) stock fell 0.95% over the past month, and its shares declined 19.13% in value over the last 52 weeks. On August 19, 2025, Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) stock closed at $37.37 per share, with a market capitalization of $10.783 billion.
Carillon Eagle Small Cap Growth Fund stated the following regarding Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter:
“Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) owns and acquires mineral and royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties primarily in the Permian Basin. The company’s stock was under pressure following the decline in oil prices brought on by global macroeconomic concerns spurred by the ongoing trade war as well as the decision of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to bring more production online in the coming months. Despite this, we remain optimistic about the company’s prospects, as it continues to strengthen its position in the minerals space, partly through accretive acquisitions. Additionally, its relationship with its parent company, Diamond back, gives Viper Energy what we regard as unrivaled visibility to future growth, a characteristic that is currently lacking throughout most of the oil and gas industry.”
The sun rising over a sprawling network of oil & gas pipelines near Midland, Texas.
Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 40 hedge fund portfolios held Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) at the end of the first quarter, which was 35 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) 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.