Hedge Funds Were Piling Into These 5 Stocks In Q3

#3 Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ:MDLZ)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders (as of September 30): 69
Total Value of Hedge Fund Holdings (as of September 30): $6.88 billion
Hedge Fund Holdings as Percent of Float (as of September 30): 10.20%

Consumer staples companies aren’t sexy but they tend to outperform the market over long stretches of time due to their durable cash flows and inelastic demand. If a consumer staples company also has considerable international growth exposure and cost-efficiency opportunities, that’s even better. To many hedge funds, Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ:MDLZ) fits the desired long criteria. The number of elite funds long the stock increased to 69 by the close of the third quarter from 49 at the start of it, while the total value of their holdings rose to $6.88 billion from $4.81 billion. Among the new shareholders of Mondelez is Bill Ackman‘s Pershing Square, which owns a new stake of over 43 million shares of the company as of September 30.

#2 Priceline Group Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders (as of September 30): 86
Total Value of Hedge Fund Holdings (as of September 30): $7.08 billion
Hedge Fund Holdings as Percent of Float (as of September 30): 11.30%

Given the strong U.S economy, hedge funds are increasingly bullish on Priceline Group Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN), with 86 hedge funds long the stock at the end of September, up from 71 elite shareholders owning the stock at the end of June. Because consumers are more confident and businesses are spending again, the provider of online travel and travel-related reservation and search services has beaten analyst earnings and revenue estimates every quarter this year. Among the new believers in the stock during the third quarter were Jim Tarantino and Chris Galvin’s Westerly Capital Management, and William B. Gray’s Orbis Investment Management. Priceline shares are up by 8.77% year-to-date.

#1 Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders (as of September 30): 129
Total Value of Hedge Fund Holdings (as of September 30): $11.3 billion
Hedge Fund Holdings as Percent of Float (as of September 30): 2.60%

Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is becoming more and more like a hedge fund hotel, with the number of elite funds long the holding company of the internet search provider increasing to 129 at the end of September from 115 at the end of June. Among the new shareholders of Alphabet are Doug Silverman and Alexander Klabin’s Senator Investment Group, and Mark Kingdon’s Kingdon Capital. William Von Mueffling’s Cantillon Capital Management also increased its position by 127% to 888,378 shares. Although Alphabet Inc continues to spend substantial amounts of cash on money-losing moon shots such as automated cars and wearable technology, investors are beginning to warm up to those moon-shots’ potential. Alphabet Inc shares are up by 45% year-to-date and are still trending higher.

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