The Big Bets of the World’s Largest Hedge Fund Heading Into Fourth Quarter

#3 ENSCO PLC (NYSE:ESV)

Shares held (as of September 30): 2.21 million

Total Value (as of September 30): $31.07 million

Percent of Portfolio (as of September 30): 0.42%

A total of 1.36 million shares were added to the ENSCO PLC (NYSE:ESV) holding during the third trimester. The stock price of the $4 billion offshore contract drilling company has slid by more than 43% so far this year on account of low oil prices that hasn’t budged as fast as many energy companies hoped for. ENSCO’s third quarter EPS of $1.34 was $0.7 lower than the estimates, while revenues of $1.01 billion beat expectations by $113.72 million. Joe Huber‘s Huber Capital Management held some 4.21 million shares of ENSCO PLC (NYSE:ESV) at the end of September.

#2 The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO)

Shares held (as of September 30): 830,374

Total Value (as of September 30): $33.32 million

Percent of Portfolio (as of September 30): 0.45%

Bridgewater hiked its holding in The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO) by 13% in the last quarter. UBS recently reiterated its ‘Buy’ rating on the company and increased the price target to $49 from $48, which provides an upside potential of more than 14%. Recently The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO) got European Union antitrust approval for its merger with two other European bottlers, namely Coca-Cola Iberian Partners and the German bottling business of Coca-Cola. The company slightly missed the top line estimates in its financial results for the September quarter, but its bottom line results were slightly ahead of expectations. Legendary investor Warren Buffett‘s Berkshire Hathaway held 400 million shares of The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO) at the end of the second quarter.

#1 Centurylink Inc (NYSE:CTL)

Shares held (as of September 30): 1.34 million

Total Value (as of September 30): $33.59 million

Percent of Portfolio (as of September 30): 0.59%

During the September trimester, Bridgewater raised its Centurylink Inc (NYSE:CTL) holding by a massive 95%. The $15.36 billion integrated communications company has seen its stock price dive by almost 30% since the start of this year. Not only did the company beat the bottom line estimates in its third quarter financial results and deliver top line figures which were in line with the expectations, but it also revised its earnings estimate for the fiscal year recently. Now the EPS is expected at $2.58 up from $2.51 hinted earlier. Peter Muller’s PDT Partners owned more than 1.15 shares of Centurylink Inc (NYSE:CTL) at June-end.

Disclosure: None