15 Most Feared Activist Hedge Funds

8. ValueAct Capital

Portfolio Size: $4.54 Billion

As one of the most feared activist hedge funds on Wall Street, ValueAct Capital is known for its soft activist approach, as the one pursued at The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS). While the hedge fund focuses on a long-term investment approach, it boasts a low turnover.

Unlike most popular and large hedge funds known for their aggressive activist campaigns, Value Act Capital deploys a friendlier investing style of negotiating with the management. Upon taking long-term positions in large companies, like at The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), the activist hedge fund engages in private discussions with management and pushes for changes to unlock additional value.

Consequently, Value Act Principals are on the boards of half of the portfolio positions in which they have invested. They have maintained 56 public company board seats over the past 23 years. Its latest position is in Disney, where the activist investor has maintained discussions with the board.

With a portfolio value of $4.5 billion, Value Act Capital, the hedge fund posted a 39% return in 2023.  Thanks to its investments in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT),  The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), and Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM), which posted double-digit gains,  Value Act Capital’s chief investment officer joined the Salesforce board in 2023 after a successful campaign. The hedge fund also agreed to defend entertainment giant Walt Disney, which is under immense activist pressure.