ClearBridge Investments, an investment management company, released its “ClearBridge Large Cap Value Strategy” fourth quarter 2022 investor letter. A copy of the same can be downloaded here. The strategy outperformed its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index, in the fourth quarter. On an absolute basis, the strategy gained from 10 of the 11 sectors in which it was invested for the quarter. The industrials and financials sectors were the leading contributors while the real estate sector detracted from performance. Overall stock selection and sector allocation contributed to the strategy’s performance on a relative basis. In addition, please check the fund’s top five holdings to know its best picks in 2022.
ClearBridge Large Cap Value Strategy highlighted stocks like Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) in the Q4 2022 investor letter. Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is a technology company that develops products to connect people. On February 22, 2023, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) stock closed at $171.12 per share. One-month return of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) was 16.17%, and its shares lost 17.57% of their value over the last 52 weeks. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) has a market capitalization of $443.653 billion.
ClearBridge Large Cap Value Strategy made the following comment about Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) in its Q4 2022 investor letter:
“We also initiated and subsequently added to a position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) following a 70% year-to-date decline in its shares. Meta shares derated materially in 2022 as revenue growth slowed due to tough comps versus a strong e-commerce environment during COVID-19, privacy changes put in place by Apple, and the meteoric rise of rival social media platform TikTok. The company’s valuation declined to a compelling 10x consensus 2023 earnings, which in our view materially undervalued its long-term earnings and free cash flow generation potential. Despite current revenue headwinds, we believe Meta’s massive platform reach should allow it to continue to attract engagement, a metric that appears to be accelerating with the launch of its short-form video product “Reels”. The company’s ability to target potential customers is also set to improve, driven by large investments in artificial intelligence and improved analytical tools to navigate Apple’s privacy policies. We also welcome the company’s increasing financial discipline, including reining in both capex and opex, which should sustain the company’s high underlying profitability and gain back investor confidence. Meta has also done a good amount of work to improve its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram and has best-in-class practices designed to reduced hate speech and improve privacy.”
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Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is in 4th position on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 194 hedge fund portfolios held Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) at the end of the fourth quarter which was 177 in the previous quarter.
We discussed Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) in another article and shared the list of most promising QQQ stocks according to hedge funds. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q4 2022 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.