Huge Jumps In Hedge Fund Popularity For These 5 Healthcare Stocks

#3. Shire PLC (ADR) (NASDAQ:SHPG)

– Number of Hedge Funds With Long Positions (as of June 30): 64

– Aggregate Value of Hedge Funds’ Holdings (as of June 30): $3.77 billion

Shire PLC (ADR) (NASDAQ:SHPG) experienced a significant second quarter increase in the number of hedge funds long its stock, as the figure rose by 15 to 64 on June 30. Large shareholders included Andreas Halvorsen’s Viking Global with 1.16 million shares and Dan Loeb’s Third Point, which started a new stake in the company comprising 950,000 shares.

Shire PLC (ADR) (NASDAQ:SHPG) has lost more than 7.4% since the beginning of the year, but has gained more than 5% since the third quarter started. In early-2016, the company announced its $32 billion acquisition of Baxalta, which was completed in June, creating the biggest rare-disease drugmaker in the world. Now, rumors about a new acquisition have surfaced. Chatter suggests the firm recently made an $800 million bid for another rare diseases-focused biopharmaceutical, Raptor Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:RPTP), which sent shares up on the rumors.

#2. Medivation Inc (NASDAQ:MDVN)

– Number of Hedge Funds With Long Positions (as of June 30): 65

– Aggregate Value of Hedge Funds’ Holdings (as of June 30): $2.83 billion

After an increase in hedge fund support of more than 32% between April and June, Medivation Inc (NASDAQ:MDVN) counted 65 hedge fund shareholders from our database, which held more than 28% of its float at the end of June. One of the newcomers was Jason Karp’s Tourbillon Capital Partners, which purchased 4.72 million shares (or more than 2.8% of the company’s outstanding shares) in the second quarter. Similar was the case of Eric Mindich’s Eton Park Capital, as the fund bought 3.08 million shares, or roughly $185 million in stock during the quarter.

Medivation Inc (NASDAQ:MDVN)’s stock has spiked by more than 66% year-to-date, and hedge funds have scored big on their second quarter investment, as shares have gained more than 31.5% in the third quarter. Over the last weekend, shares skyrocketed after the announcement that Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) was acquiring the company for $81.50 per share, in a deal valued at approximately $14 billion. The deal is expected to close by the fourth quarter of this year.

#1. Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB)

– Number of Hedge Funds With Long Positions (as of June 30): 73

– Aggregate Value of Hedge Funds’ Holdings (as of June 30): $4.04 billion

Finally, there’s Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB), in which the number of hedge funds in our database long its stock rose to 73 from 64 during the second quarter. One of the largest new positions was that of Arthur B Cohen and Joseph Healey’s Healthcor Management LP, which acquired 475,000 shares of the company during the quarter.

Shares of Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB) are relatively flat year-to-date, but have gained 29% since the beginning of the third quarter, largely helped by rumors about a potential takeout from Allergan plc Ordinary Shares (NYSE:AGN) or Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK).

Disclosure: Javier Hasse holds no interest in any of the securities or entities mentioned in this article.