In this article, we will take a look at the top 5 stock picks of GuardCap Asset Management. To read our detailed analysis of GuardCap Asset Management’s profile, investment strategy, and 13F holdings, you can go directly to see the 10 Long-Term Stocks to Buy.
5. Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN)
GuardCap Asset Management’s Stake Value: $544,697,974
Percentage of GuardCap Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 7.56%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 56
Based in Dublin, Ireland, Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) is a global professional services company with leadership positions in providing digital, cloud and security. It employs more than 733,000 people and serves clients across more than 40 industries in more than 120 countries.
On June 13, Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) announced a $3 billion investment over three years in its Data & AI practice to accelerate adoption and implementation of AI services. The investment includes doubling of AI talent at the company to 80,000 people through hiring, acquisitions, and training.
So far in November, Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) has announced agreements to acquire Solnet, a New Zealand-based IT services provider; The Shelby Group, a leading provider of digital procurement and optimization services; Innotec Security, a Spanish cybersecurity company; and completed the acquisition of ConcentricLife, healthcare marketing agency and a subsidiary of Stagwell (NASDAQ:STGW).
As of Q2 2023, Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) shares were owned by 56 of the 910 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, for a total value of $2.1 billion. GuardCap Asset Management was the largest shareholder with ownership of 1.9 million shares valued at $576 million.
4. Mastercard Inc (NYSE:MA)
GuardCap Asset Management’s Stake Value: $607,860,023
Percentage of GuardCap Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 8.44%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 139
Mastercard Inc (NYSE:MA) is a global technology company focused on the payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, digital partners, businesses and other organizations worldwide, enabling them to use electronic forms of payment instead of cash and checks.
On October 26, Mastercard Inc (NYSE:MA) released its financial results for Q2 2023. Its net revenue increased by 14% y-o-y to $6.5 billion, while its net earnings increased by 28% y-o-y to $3.2 billion. It reported an EPS of $3.39 which surpassed the consensus by $0.16.
Following the earnings release, BMO Capital analyst James Fotheringham lowered the price target to $472 from $488 and maintained an ‘Outperform’ rating.
Mastercard Inc (NYSE:MA) is among the stocks most widely held by hedge funds according to Insider Monkey data on 910 hedge funds. As of Q2 2023, 139 hedge funds held shares in Mastercard Inc (NYSE:MA), valued at $14.7 billion. Charles Akre’s Akre Capital Management was the largest shareholder on record with ownership of 5.9 million shares valued at $2.3 billion.
3. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)
GuardCap Asset Management’s Stake Value: $688,912,470
Percentage of GuardCap Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 9.56%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 152
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), based in Mountain View, California, is the parent company of several companies including Google, Verily Life Sciences, GV (formerly Google Ventures), Calico, and X-the moonshot factory. Majority of its revenue is generated by Google Services which comprises of ads, Android, Chrome, hardware, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Photos, Google Play, Search, and YouTube.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is ranked #2 on the list of GuardCap Asset Management’s holdings based on its 13F portfolio weight of 9.56% with the investment manager owning 5.3 shares. Its stake decreased by 5% in Q3 2023, compared to the previous quarter.
On October 24, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) released financial results for the three months ended September 30. Its revenues increased by 11% y-o-y to $76.7 billion while net income surged by 42% y-o-y to $19.7 billion.
Following the earnings release, Oppenheimer analyst Jason Helfstein reiterated an ‘Outperform’ rating for Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) shares with a price target of $160 per share.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is the most owned stock among the 910 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey on our list. As of Q2 2023, 152 hedge funds owned shares of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), valued at $18.9 billion. Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management was the largest shareholder on record with ownership of 42.7 million shares valued at $5.1 billion.
2. CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME)
GuardCap Asset Management’s Stake Value: $808,365,625
Percentage of GuardCap Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 11.22%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 55
Based in Chicago, Illinois, CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) is the world’s leading derivatives marketplace. Through its trading facilities in New York and Chicago, and its CME Globex® electronic trading platform, the company provides access to products across all major asset classes, including futures and options based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, weather, and real estate.
On October 25, CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) released its financial results for Q3 2023. Its revenue increased by 9% y-o-y to $1.3 billion, while net income increased by 10% y-o-y to $750 million. It reported an EPS of $2.06 which missed the consensus estimates by $0.04. The company also declared a fourth-quarter dividend of $1.10 per share.
Following the earnings release, Barclays analyst Jeremy Campbell lowered the target price for CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) shares to $244 from $247 and maintained an ‘Overweight’ rating for the shares.
1. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)
GuardCap Asset Management’s Stake Value: $923,923,664
Percentage of GuardCap Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 12.83%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 78
Based in Norwalk, Connecticut, Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) is a leading provider of online travel and related services with a presence in more than 220 countries and territories across the world. The company provides its services primarily through six online platforms: Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, Rentalcars.com, KAYAK and OpenTable. It boasts more than 28 million listings of hotels, homes, apartments, and other unique places to stay across its platforms.
Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) is the #1 stock in GuardCap Asset Management’s 13F portfolio based on its portfolio weightage. The investment manager owns 0.3 million shares worth $924 million, making up 12.83% of the 13F portfolio.
As of Q2 2023, 78 of the 910 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), worth $6.6 billion. Its largest shareholder was Arrowstreet Capital with ownership of 0.5 million shares valued at $1.4 billion.
RiverPark Advisors, an investment advisory firm, made the following comments about Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) in its Q3 2023 investor letter:
“Booking is the world’s leader in online travel, operating in 200 countries with brands including Booking.com, priceline.com, agoda.com, Kayak, Rentalcars.com and OpenTable. The company has been a dominant on-line travel agency for more than a decade with a high-margin business model that requires limited capital expenditures, typically less than 3% of revenue, producing $6.2 billion of free cash flow for 2022 and $7.2 billion expected for 2024. The company has used its free cash flow for episodic acquisitions as well as to return cash to shareholders. BKNG is well positioned in travel as the largest player in online lodging bookings and the second largest player in alternative accommodations.”
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