These Oil and Biotech Stocks Are in the Crosshairs of Elite Investors

While many hedge funds are still preparing their third quarter filings with the SEC, providing the main ingredients for our delectable small-cap investment strategy, some managers are already disclosing even more recent moves. The latest wave of filings includes two oil and gas companies, and one biotech stock. Let’s analyze the deals and also how other hedge funds are positioned with regard to these stocks.

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John H. Scully has decided to further reduce his exposure to Resolute Energy Corp (NYSE:REN), with his fund, SPO Advisory Corp having reported the disposal of 2 million shares in a recent Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, the fund now holds approximately 14.9 million shares, the equivalent of 19.3% of the company’s common stock. Resolute Energy Corp (NYSE:REN) gained popularity among top hedge funds during the second quarter, with the number of funds reporting long positions in the stock as of the end of June increasing to 15, while their combined holdings accounted for 40% of Resolute’s outstanding stock. Edward Gilhuly and Scott Stuart, the managers of Sageview Capital, are also betting big on Resolute Energy, having reported ownership of 5.07 million shares as of the end of the second quarter.

Resolute Energy Corp (NYSE:REN) has been a terrible performer so far this year, having lost nearly 62% of its value year-to-date. The stock has been severely hit by the slump in the energy market, having traded around the $8 level in July 2014 before oil prices started to slide. Revenues were also affected, with Resolute Energy reporting $48.4 million in revenues for the second quarter of 2015, down by 45% year-over-year, and a loss of $0.66 per share, triple the loss reported for the second quarter of 2014. Analysts expect the situation to improve however, having estimated revenues of $54.9 million and a loss of $0.12 per share for the current quarter, with Resolute Energy set to release its latest financial report on November 9.

Robert Atchinson and Phillip Gross have signaled their bullishness for Acorda Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ACOR), having more than doubled their stake in the company. According to a recent filing, Adage Capital now holds 2.2 million shares, 5.13% of the company’s common stock, up from 1 million shares reported as of the end of June. Christopher Medlock James is also betting on the stock, with his fund, Partner Fund Management having reported ownership of 817,396 shares of Acorda as of June 30, up by 76% during the second quarter. At the end of June, 16 elite hedge funds held roughly 8.9% of the company’s common stock.

On October 22, Acorda Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ACOR) released its third quarter results, beating market expectations. Revenues came in at $148 million, up by nearly 40% year-over-year, while earnings adjusted for stock option expense and non-recurring costs stood at $0.31 per share, beating expectations of $0.18 per share. The stock is traded at a massive trailing Price to Earnings (P/E) ratio of 715.xx, more than triple the industry average P/E ratio of 201.90.

Andreas Halvorsen, in the mean time, has concentrated his attention on Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD), having upped his investment in the company by more than 40%. As reported in a filing with the SEC, Viking Global now holds 8.96 million shares of the oil and gas exploration company, which account for roughly 6% of Pioneer’s outstanding stock. Hedge funds seem to like Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD), as 58 of the funds we follow held stakes in the company at the end of June, with their aggregate positions representing approximately 20% of the company’s common stock. Scully’s SPO Advisory Corp is the largest holder of the stock among the funds we follow, owning a stake that amassed 7.35 million shares at the end of the second quarter.

Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD) is set to release its third quarter results today after the market close. Wall Street is looking for revenues of $784 million and a loss of $0.03 per share. Like the majority of oil companies, Pioneer has been affected by the slump in oil prices, which is also reflected in its stock price. So far this year, the stock has lost 7.8% of its value and is currently trading at a trailing P/E ratio of 40.xx, higher than a big portion of its competitors. The company has a market cap of $20.3 billion and pays an annual dividend of $0.08, which represents a yield of 0.1%.

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