Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) remains the top holding of Renaissance Technologies, with an ownership of 12.74 million, worth $883.6 million. The stake is slightly up from 12.58 million shares the fund held previously. Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) is a $62.1 billion market cap consumer products company, and pays an annual $1.52, on a yield of 2.21%. Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) posted net income of $542 million in the first quarter of 2015, an increase from $388 million in the same period last year. EPS for the quarter was $0.59 versus $0.42 in 2014. However, the company’s worldwide net sales decrease by 6.0% to $4.1 billion. Other investors with big positions in the company include First Eagle Investment Management, which held 4.87 million shares at the end of the first quarter.
Next up is Novo Nordisk A/S (ADR) (NYSE:NVO), in which Renaissance Technologies disclosed holding 14.51 million shares, down from 15.61 million shares the held earlier. The holding is valued at $774.9 million. Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) is a healthcare company, with a market cap of $114.4 billion. Novo Nordisk has risen by an impressive 167.69% since May 2014. It has gained 33% since January. Novo Nordisk’s net profit in the first quarter rose by 53% to 9.88 billion Danish kroner, or $1.48 billion, from DKK 6.46 billion in the same period last year. The company reported a 24% increase in revenues for the quarter to 25.20 billion kroner from 20.34 billion kroner last year. Other largest shareholders of the company include Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management and Arrowstreet Capital.
Third largest holding is represented by Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE:ALK), in which Renaissance Technologies held 6.82 million shares, valued at $451.6 million. The stake represents over 10% decrease from 7.81 million shares the fund held previously. Shares of the company gained 39.12% during the past year. The company posted record net income of $149 million in the first quarter, representing a 67% increase over a year ago. Reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) was $1.12, up from First Call analyst consensus estimate of $1.10 per share. On May 15, Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) CFO Brandon Pedersen unloaded 5,000 shares of the company’s stock at an average price of $66.36. Following the sale, Pedersen still owns 19,124 shares of the company. Other shareholders that see value in Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE:ALK) include PAR Capital Management, led by Paul Reeder and Edward Shapiro. The investor held 4.55 shares of the company at the end of March.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) occupies the fourth position. Renaissance Technologies disclosed a new position in Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), owning 1.15 shares, valued at $429 million. The $198.4-billion market cap e-commerce titan booked a net loss of $57 million in the first quarter, versus net income of $108 million a year ago. Net sales increased 15% to $22.72 billion in the first quarter, compared with $19.74 billion in first quarter 2014. The company’s stock has increased by 43.1% since May 2014. This also led to Bernstein hiking Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s price target to $600 from $450, while reiterating its ‘Outperform’ rating.
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