Water Oaks Capital seeks to invest in great businesses that serve distinct market trends by deploying investor equity alongside the Harper Family capital.
Jonathan is the Managing Partner at Water Oaks Capital. Prior to starting Water Oaks Capital, Jonathan sourced and analyzed transaction opportunities at E2M Partners, a real estate private equity fund. Jonathan worked early in his career with the Trammell Crow Company in both its Dallas and London offices. Jonathan holds a B.A. from Wake Forest University and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.
Water Oaks Capital has developed its investing rules principally from the long-term study of renowned value investors Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett. Our principal investing rules all focus on one fundamental goal: to acquire businesses and assets below their intrinsic value.
Assets trade at odds of intrinsic value over long periods of time. Always buy well below intrinsic value to ensure margin of safety.
“You cannot do well in investing unless you think independently. You are neither right nor wrong because people agree with you. You are right because facts and reasoning are right.” –Warren Buffett
Imagine that you have a card with 20 investment “punches” in a lifetime. Every investment decision uses one punch. Resist the temptation to dabble.
Capital preservation is our primary goal. Always question whether financial leverage or a certain level of financial leverage creates unnecessary risk.
The Harper Family ancestors migrated to Northeast Texas in 1838. Around 1900, the family ancestors purchased 200 acres of land in Pittsburg, TX. It was on that land that Jonathan Harper’s grandfather, William Rex Spencer, was born and raised.
During the Korean War, Spencer earned the title Pacific Air Commander of the United States Air Force. Throughout his military service, Colonel Spencer would send his hard-earned savings back to his parents in Pittsburg to purchase land contiguous to the family homestead.
Before his death in 1976, he had built his dream home, accumulated approximately 1,000 acres that focused on loblolly pine timber production, and named it Water Oaks Farm.
Today, six generations removed from the original land purchase, the Harper Family gathers regularly to enjoy the fruits of their ancestors’ hard work and sacrifice. Jonathan Harper is the active manager of the family timber business and named Water Oaks Capital in honor of his family heritage and legacy. Jonathan’s goal is to steward his family resources for his three boys and for the many generations to come.
Old Parkland (Freedom Place Building)
4143 Maple Avenue, Suite 140
Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: 1.214.293.9107
Email: jharper@wateroakscapital.com
