Hedge Funds’ Favorite Consumer Goods Stocks: Mondelez, Coca-Cola, and More

We have been pooling 13F filings from hedge funds and other notable investors such as Warren Buffett in our database which we use to provide useful information to investors. Even with the delay associated with 13F filings, the most popular small cap stocks among hedge funds outperform the market by an average of 18 percentage points per year (learn more about imitating hedge funds’ small cap picks). We also like to see which stocks in different categories are the most popular overall, including in different sectors of the economy. Here are the ten consumer goods stocks that the largest number of hedge funds reported owning at the end of December:

The top consumer goods stock was Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ:MDLZ), with 59 hedge funds and other investors in our database of 13F filings reporting a position. Mondelez was created from the breakup of Kraft Foods; Mondelez now owns the global snack brands previously associated with Kraft. Boykin Curry’s Eagle Capital Management had over 17 million shares in its portfolio (research more stocks Eagle owned).

58 filers in our database reported a position in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), down from 66 three months earlier. Warren Buffett is well known for his position in Coca-Cola, as it is a classic example of a strong brand name and has a history of creating long-term value for shareholders. Berkshire Hathaway is still a major shareholder and owned 400 million shares of Coca-Cola (find Buffett’s favorite stocks).

Coca-Cola wasn’t the only soft drink company hedge funds loved: we counted 46 13F filings disclosing a position in peer PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) though Pepsi also owns a number of snack businesses as well. Renaissance Technologies, whose founder Jim Simons is now a billionaire, initiated a position of 2.6 million shares between October and December (see more stocks Renaissance was buying).

Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) was another hedge fund favorite as 46 funds and other notable investors owned shares of the cigarette company. It markets the Philip Morris brands in international markets following the breakup of Philip Morris several years ago. Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management reported owning 5.7 million shares of Philip Morris (check out more stocks Fisher likes).

Our database included 39 owners of upmarket accessories provider Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (NYSE:KORS), down from 48 in the third quarter of 2012. Lone Pine Capital, managed by billionaire and Tiger Cub Stephen Mandel, increased its stake in Michael Kors to a total of over 9 million shares (here are more stocks Mandel was buying).

See the 6th through 10th most popular consumer goods stocks among hedge funds: