Aon PLC (NYSE:AON) has experienced an increase in support from the world’s most elite money managers recently.
To the average investor, there are a multitude of indicators investors can use to watch stocks. A duo of the most under-the-radar are hedge fund and insider trading interest. At Insider Monkey, our research analyses have shown that, historically, those who follow the top picks of the best money managers can outclass their index-focused peers by a healthy margin (see just how much).
Just as integral, optimistic insider trading activity is a second way to break down the financial markets. As the old adage goes: there are plenty of stimuli for a bullish insider to downsize shares of his or her company, but only one, very clear reason why they would buy. Several empirical studies have demonstrated the market-beating potential of this method if investors understand where to look (learn more here).
Now, it’s important to take a look at the key action encompassing Aon PLC (NYSE:AON).
Hedge fund activity in Aon PLC (NYSE:AON)
Heading into 2013, a total of 28 of the hedge funds we track held long positions in this stock, a change of 8% from the third quarter. With the smart money’s sentiment swirling, there exists a few notable hedge fund managers who were increasing their stakes meaningfully.
Of the funds we track, Southeastern Asset Management, managed by Mason Hawkins, holds the most valuable position in Aon PLC (NYSE:AON). Southeastern Asset Management has a $1.145 billion position in the stock, comprising 5% of its 13F portfolio. Coming in second is Eagle Capital Management, managed by Boykin Curry, which held a $791 million position; 2% of its 13F portfolio is allocated to the stock. Remaining hedgies that are bullish include Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell’s Arrowstreet Capital, Jeffrey Tannenbaum’s Fir Tree and Larry Robbins’s Glenview Capital.
As industrywide interest jumped, specific money managers were leading the bulls’ herd. Arrowstreet Capital, managed by Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell, established the most outsized position in Aon PLC (NYSE:AON). Arrowstreet Capital had 391 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Andrew Sandler’s Sandler Capital Management also initiated a $13 million position during the quarter. The other funds with brand new AON positions are Curtis Macnguyen’s Ivory Capital (Investment Mgmt), Charles Davidson’s Wexford Capital, and Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell’s Arrowstreet Capital.
How have insiders been trading Aon PLC (NYSE:AON)?
Insider purchases made by high-level executives is most useful when the company we’re looking at has seen transactions within the past 180 days. Over the last half-year time frame, Aon PLC (NYSE:AON) has seen 1 unique insiders purchasing, and 4 insider sales (see the details of insider trades here).
With the results shown by the aforementioned research, retail investors should always keep an eye on hedge fund and insider trading sentiment, and Aon PLC (NYSE:AON) applies perfectly to this mantra.
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