Agricultural chemicals companies will keep growing (pun intended) because they make chemicals that fertilize plants and feed the soil in which they grow. As such, these companies grow with the increased food demands of the world’s ever-growing population, so as long as the population is growing these companies are too, making them good investments.
The agricultural chemical companies on this list have significant hedge fund investment (i.e. over $100 million).
Mosaic Co. (MOS): Of the 300+ hedge funds we track, 38 owned positions in MOS at the end of the third quarter, down from 51 at the end of the second quarter. Total hedge fund investment in the company also declined, going from $2.50 billion to $1.15 billion. The difference may be significant, but so is the total amount invested. Hedge funds invested in MOS include Michael Kaufman’s MAK Capital One and Christopher C. Grisanti’s Grisanti Brown & Partners.
Monsanto Co. (MON): There were 37 hedge funds invested in MON at the end of the third quarter, down from 44 at the end of the second quarter. Total hedge fund investment in MON also decreased. It went from $1.59 billion at the end of June to $1.36 million at the end of September. Stephen Mandel’s Lone Pine Capital increased its stake in MON by +3% in the third quarter, boosting its total position in the company to $313.39 at the end of September.
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF): Hedge fund investment in CF moved from $1.19 billion spread across 37 funds at the end of the second quarter to $769.96 million spread across 35 funds at the end of the third quarter. Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies is a fan of CF. It upped its position in the company by +35% in the third quarter, finishing September with $71.10 million invested in the company.
Potash Corp Saskatchewan, inc. (POT): There were 29 hedge funds invested in POT at the end of the third quarter compared to 44 at the end of the second quarter. Total hedge fund investment also slipped in the third quarter, moving from $1.47 billion at the end of June to $951.27 million at the end of September. Richard Chilton’s Chilton Investment Company had $111.12 million in POT at the end of September after upping its stake in the company in the third quarter.
Agrium, Inc. (AGU): This company featured in 18 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the third quarter, down from 21 at the end of the second quarter. Total hedge fund investment in AGU also decreased, going from $410.75 million at the end of June to $252.43 million at the end of September. Richard Chilton’s Chilton Investment Company is a fan of the company, as is Daniel Bubis’ Tetrem Capital Management.
Intrepid Potash, Inc. (IPI): The number of hedge funds invested in IPI did not change in the third quarter but the total volume of hedge fund investment did decrease. It moved from $248.33 million spread across 11 funds at the end of June to $167.22 million across 11 funds at the end of September. IPI is a strong pick for Chuck Royce’s Royce & Associates.
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (SMG): There were 5 hedge funds invested in SMG at the end of the third quarter, down from 11 at the end of the second quarter. Total hedge fund investment in the company did decline by nearly as much. Instead, it moved from $156.42 million at the end of June to $109.53 million at the end of September. SMG is a favorite of Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management.