Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Transocean LTD (NYSE:RIG), Priceline.com Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN), Cosan Limited (NYSE:CZZ), DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH), Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR), Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ)
You can find the original 13F here; hedge fund sentiment has historically served many investors as a market-beating indicator. Learn the secrets of this strategy here.
The top five
Looking at Highbridge’s top five, Cosan Limited (NYSE:CZZ) takes the number one spot. The fund’s stake in this ethanol and sugar company fell by 16% last quarter, though the remaining 26.5 million shares were still worth a reported $517 million at the end of March. The stock’s price has not been in a clear trend in 2013, but has appreciated by 16% on the whole, with shares currently trading a little over the $20 mark. Cosan Limited (NYSE:CZZ) sports an expensive P/E of 24.87, significantly higher than the industry average of 15.80, though its forward P/E isa bit more reasonable near 15 times year-ahead earnings estimates.
A dividend yield of 1.4% is a nice bonus, but the true bullish thesis behind Cosan lies in its ability to capitalize on rising ethanol prices. Any investor betting on shrinking corn supplies this season would find solace in Cosan Limited (NYSE:CZZ), though this investment depends heavily on the outcome of the crop; we’ll be watching closely.
The second largest position disclosed in the Highbridge 13Fis in satellite TV service provider DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH). The value of the fund’s investment now rests at$255.8 million, and while recent quarterly results didn’t hit what many investors wanted, DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH) can still come back if it can successfully attain some of the acquisitions it seeks. The most speculated may be its ongoing talks with Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR), though its $2 billion bid for Lightsquared‘s spectrum might be what bulls want the most. No matter the outcome, we’ll be watching it closely.
Dubin has significantly reduced the fund’s ownership of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ) shares. After selling 36% of the holding during the quarter, as of March 31, 2013, the fund holds approximately 9 million shares, with a reported value of a little over $200 million. Shares currently trade at approximately $25, surging 51% since the start of 2013. The stock has a beta of 2.78, a trailing P/E ratio of 37.16 and a forward P/E ratio of 10.24.
On Wall Street, four analysts recommend the stock as a Buy and another four consider it to be a Strong Buy, while only one expectsit to Underperform; analysts’ average price target on Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ) sees upside of another 10-11% from current levels. Although most investors assume synergies related to the Dollar Thrifty acquisition are driving this stock upwards, one underrated boon to Hertz’s business is related to Uncle Sam’s uncertainty. Macro-economically speaking, sequestration fears will continue to boost defensive stocks like Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ) until there’s more certainty in Washington.
