Every quarter, many money managers have to disclose what they’ve bought and sold, via “13F” filings. Their latest moves can shine a bright light on smart stock picks.
Today, let’s look at Moore Capital Management, managed by billionaire Louis Moore Bacon. Bacon is known for employing a global macroeconomic focus in his investing, and has been among the top 20 money earners since the 1990s, per GuruFocus.com. Bacon’s fund has turned in some spectacular performances, but also some lackluster ones, and, after poor results in 2011, he returned $2 billion to shareholders, citing the fund’s size as an obstacle. Still, Bacon seems to have solid investing chops, with his flagship fund reportedly averaging nearly 19% in annual gains since its inception in 1989 (as of 2012).
The company’s reportable stock portfolio totaled $4.2 billion in value as of June 30, 2013.
Interesting developments
So, what does Moore’s latest quarterly 13F filing tell us? Here are a few interesting details:
American Capital Agency Corp. (NASDAQ:AGNC) is a mortgage REIT with a tantalizing dividend yield recently above 17% — though that reflects a 16% dividend cut earlier this year. American Capital’s stock has been volatile, shedding about 25% over the past year, but still averaging 29% annual gains over the past five. The company’s CEO is well-respected, but some worry about rising interest rates, the easing of quantitative easing, and mortgage REITs losing a valuable tax advantage. The company has been moving more into 15-year mortgages, and decreasing its focus on 30-year ones. The shorter loans are less volatile, but they also offer lower yields.
Among holdings in which Moore Capital Management increased its stake was Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:SNV). Georgia-based Synovus recently repaid its $968 million TARP debt, in part by issuing more stock. Its credit quality has been improving, and it has been posting strong return-on-equity (ROE) numbers. It just reported its fourth-profitable quarter in a row, too. Management aims to cut at least $30 million in costs this year, and has cut much more in recent years. Analysts at Zacks upgraded Synovus in July to a Strong Buy, noting, “A decline in non-interest expense, improvement in credit quality and strong capital ratios depict the scope of sustainable profitability in the forthcoming quarters.” Analysts at Drexel Hamilton downgraded the stock in August, though, on valuation concerns. The stock yields 1.2%.
Moore Capital Management reduced its stake in lots of companies, including Amarin Corporation plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:AMRN), a late-stage cardiovascular-focused biotech enterprise, with a promising (and FDA-approved) drug to lower triglycerides — its fish-oil-based Vascepa. It needs a big partner for Vascepa, though, and one likely suitor bought a competitor instead. Amarin recently collected its 30th patent for Vascepa, upping its ultimate commercial potential — though some see that potential significantly threatened by competition. Bears also see fish oil as a controversial and, therefore, problematic offering.
