There has been a marked increase in the demand for pets globally. A national pet owners survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association revealed that around 70% of the US households own a pet today. Out of these households, 69 million own a dog. The sense of insecurity and loneliness that came with the Covid-19 pandemic reportedly encouraged 33% of Americans to adopt a pet. 

The popularity of pets results in a great amount of revenue being generated for economies worldwide. For instance, as per the Pet Industry Distributors Association, Americans spent US$103.6 billion on pets in 2020 and were projected to spend $109.6 billion in 2021. Dog owners were reported to have allocated a significant amount of money to the well-being of their pets. Common annual expenses for dogs included routine vet visits, surgical vet visits, food treats, kennel boarding, and other supplements. 

The popularity of any dog breed depends upon several factors, including temperament of the breed, physical appearance, and price. The dog breed with an economical price, remarkable temperament and an appealing physical appearance is usually popular among dog enthusiasts. The cameo appearances of certain dog breeds on the international screen, especially in popular movies, could also play a crucial role in elevating the demand and popularity of a breed. 

According to APPA, 32% of Millennials are pet owners, which allude to the role of popular culture and social media in today’s world. Social media influencers and celebrities play a significant role in commercializing a certain breed. So, apart from the movie cameos, Instagram and Twitter appearances also play a pivotal role in the stardom of a certain dog breed. 

The American Kennel Club ranks the most popular dog breeds every year as per the registration statistics of each breed.  Some breeds are also well known among dog enthusiasts because of their inherent traits and usability factor; for example, a bulldog tends to be an excellent guard dog, making him a breed of choice for many housekeepers. Other breeds like German shepherds have inherent characteristics that align with the job descriptions of a police dog. Hence, apart from the physical appearance, price, and temperament, the usability factor is also considered when buying the desired breed. 

Photo by Karlo Tottoc on Unsplash

Our Methodology

We will consider data from the American Kennel Club (AKC) for our list of the 25 most popular dog breeds in the world. Each year, AKC evaluates and compares the number of total registered breeds, putting together a list of the most popular dog breeds. We will consider these registration statistics to rank the most popular dog breeds in the world. American Kennel Club is a non-profit organization with 197 dog breeds registered. It is the largest purebred dog registry in the world. It is known for its role to ensure canine rights and legitimate statistical readings.

With this context in mind, let’s now begin our list of the 25 most popular dog breeds in the world.

25 Most Popular Dog Breeds in the World

25. Cane Corso

The 25th spot is secured by Cane Corso. Cane Corso are an even-tempered and a reserved breed of dog that can prove to be a fierce protector for their family if trained well. Its life span ranges from 10 to 12 years, and it weighs 88 to 110 pounds. They are a working breed, so they are known to get bored easily. Diseases like hip dysplasia, eye entropion or ectropion, demodectic mange, and bloating are common in Cane Corso. 

24. Havanese

Havanese is a very playful and outgoing dog breed with long locks. They have a height between 8.5 to 11 inches. The dogs are easy to train and have moderate levels of energy which means they do not require as much physical activity as other breeds. Their playful nature makes them one of the most popular dog breeds in the world.

23. Pomeranian

Pomeranians originated from Germany and Poland. Pomeranian is known as a toy dog breed due to its size and a double-thick soft undercoat. Pomeranians are an active dog breed, but they prefer playing indoors rather than outdoors. However, they don’t handle isolation well. 

22. Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese Mountain Dog secures the 22nd rank in our list of the 25 most popular dog breeds in the world. It is a devoted, sensitive, and codependent breed of dog that weighs approximately 70-125 pounds and has an average life span extending from 6 to 8 years. 

21. Boston Terrier

On the 21st rank, we have Boston Terrier in our list of 25 most popular dog breeds in the world. Boston terriers are intrinsically alert, friendly, and comedic. Their lifespan ranges from 11 to 13 years. Terriers make excellent family pets due to their sociability and friendliness. They can weigh anywhere between 6 to 25 pounds with a height between 9 to 15 inches. 

20. Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu is a breed of dog that originated from China and Tibet, as the name suggests. They weigh 9 to 16 pounds with an average height of 8 to 11 inches. Their average life span ranges from 10 to 16 years. They are generally friendly and make a great family pet. However, they can get stubborn and difficult to train. 

19. Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzer ranks 19th in our list of the 25 most popular dog breeds in the world. They originated from Germany with a wiry and curly coat. The dog breed is known to be smart and weighs approximately 10-18 pounds, with an average height of 13-14 inches. Miniature Schnauzer’s average life span ranges from 12-14 years. They tend to be very friendly and are an excellent choice for new pet owners.

18. Doberman Pinscher

Doberman Pinschers also have a German heritage. They weigh approximately 60-80 pounds with an average height of 24-28 inches. Pinschers are ideal for families that are physically active with larger living spaces. They are intrinsically territorial, loyal, loving, and intelligent. Moreover, they are very easy to train because of their sharp learning abilities. 

17. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

On the 17th spot in our list of the 25 most popular dog breeds in the world is Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Charles Spaniels are very patient and social by nature. They are excellent family dogs as they are very affectionate and people-oriented. They generally weigh 13-18 pounds with an average height of 12-13 inches. This dog breed is known to be highly affable to strangers and other dogs, even the bigger ones. However, their pure breed costs a fortune. 

16. Siberian Husky

Siberian Husky ranks 16 on our list of the 25 most popular dog breeds in the world. They originated from East Siberia and were bred by the natives. Huskies are desirable because of their athletic prowess and attractive appearances. They are highly active and need to be trained properly or might end up being aggressive. Huskies are one of the most intelligent dog breeds with double coat types, making them ideal for colder regions. They can weigh anywhere between 35 to 60 pounds with a height between 20 to 23.5 inches. Siberian huskies have a lifespan that ranges from 12 to 15 years.

15. Great Dane

Great Dane is a breed of dog that may appear intimidating initially but it has a gentle and friendly disposition. They are one of the tallest breeds of dogs. While Great Danes are very affectionate with family members, they display some levels of awkwardness and shyness around strangers. The female breeds have an average height between 28-32 inches, while the height of male breeds ranges from 30-40 inches.

14. Boxer

Boxer is a well-known breed due to its distinct appearance. Boxers are very active and affectionate. Their average lifespan usually ranges from 9 to 13 years. Boxers might display dominance and aggression with other dogs of same-sex; hence proper training is necessary to avoid any conflict or aggressiveness. They can weigh anywhere between 50 to 70 pounds with a height from 21 to 25 inches. 

13. Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier originated from Northern England. It weighs 4 to 6 pounds with an average height that ranges between 8-9 inches. They have fine, silky, and long hair. Terriers are friendly with familiar faces but might be on guard with strangers. They enjoy the training process and are very intelligent; hence effective training can make them perform complex tricks and listen to the commands of their owner keenly. 

12. Australian Shepherd

At number 12, we have Australian Shepherd. It is one of the smartest and most focused dog breeds, weighing anywhere between 35 to 70 pounds. They are friendly, loyal, and affectionate. Australian Shepherds are remarkable family pets with intrinsic territorial traits, making them possessive of their space.

11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a breed of dog that originated from Wales. Weighing approximately 24 to 30 pounds, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are extremely intelligent and friendly but can be stubborn at times. These dogs like to be involved in activities and to be around people due to their upbeat nature.

10. Dachshund

Dachshunds are spirited, smart, and charming breeds of dogs that can get stubborn and willful sometimes. They are highly sensitive, so might need calm and patient owners. If trained well, they can be loyal family pets weighing anywhere between 16 to 32 pounds with a height between 8 to 9 inches. Dachshunds have a lifespan that ranges from 12 to 16 years

9. German Shorthaired Pointer

The 9th spot is bagged by German shorthaired pointer. They belong to an endearing breed of canines that are intelligent, adventurous, and loyal. German shorthaired pointers have a remarkable sense of judgment and are ideal dogs for families with everyday outdoor activities and exposure. They have an intrinsic need to please their owners; hence they are excellent with commands. They can weigh anywhere between 20 to 60 pounds with a height between 21 to 25 inches. German shorthaired pointers have an average  lifespan of 12 to 14 years.

8. Rottweiler

Rottweilers are working dogs that originated from Germany. They are generally reserved, and loyal. While the dogs might bond well with the owner, they can get aggressive with strangers which doesn’t make them an ideal family pet. Rottweiler is not a playful dog breed and can weigh anywhere between 75 to 110 pounds with a height from 22 to 27 inches. They have a lifespan that ranges from 8 to 10 years.

7. Beagle

Beagle is an intelligent breed of dogs but they are often considered single-minded and stubborn, making them hard to train. The Beagle has consistently been considered one of the top 10 popular dog breeds since it was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1885. Beagles are excellent at socializing. They can weigh anywhere between 20 to 35 pounds and have a height from 10 to 13 inches. Beagles have a lifespan that ranges from 13 to 16 years.

6. Standard Poodle

Standard Poodle is at the 6th position in our list of the 25 most popular dog breeds in the world. Poodles are known to be smart and pick up on both good and bad habits quite quickly. Standard Poodles are aesthetically pleasing which is an important factor in increasing their popularity. Poodles don’t enjoy isolation and might get aggressive if left alone. They are excellent family dogs and are easy to train. Standard Poodles weigh anywhere between 40 to 55 pounds and have an average height greater than 15 inches.

5. Bulldog

Bulldog is a well-known breed of dog, known for its muscular body and wrinkled face. Bulldogs are wilful, docile, and friendly in nature. They are excellent family pets with occasional outbursts of aggression towards unfamiliar dogs. Bulldogs can weigh up to 50 pounds with a height between 14 to 15 inches. The average lifespan of a bulldog ranges from 8 to 10 years. For the past 5 years, Bulldogs have maintained a position in the top 5 popular dog breeds in the American Kennel Club’s list. 

In this article, we discuss the top 10 stock picks of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of Smith’s history, investment philosophy, and hedge fund performance, go directly to the Top 5 Stock Picks of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners.

Robert F. Smith is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. He completed his Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University in 1985. After his graduation, Robert worked at notable organizations like Goodyear Tire and Rubber and Kraft General Foods. He then completed his MBA in Finance from the Columbia Business School in 1994 and joined the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs. During his stay there, Robert completed $50 billion worth of mergers and acquisitions in the tech sector.

In 2000, Robert founded Vista Equity Partners to invest in tech businesses. With assets under management (AUM) of $86 billion, the hedge fund oversees a portfolio of over 70 tech companies. Since its inception, Vista Equity Partners has completed more than 550 deals with a cumulative value of around $212 billion. In the past 12 months, Vista Equity returned private equity and permanent capital worth $7.3 billion, while the total capital raised was valued at $9.4 billion.

Last year, Vista Equity established a Sustainability Leadership Council to work with portfolio firms on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. In accordance with its aim of being a carbon-neutral company, Vista Equity Partners acquired Verified Carbon Standard credits to offset its emissions.

In the third quarter, the hedge fund initiated a position in 4 new stocks, reduced holdings in 10 stocks, and sold out of 2 stocks. As of Q3, Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners has a stake in popular companies like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Twilio Inc. (NYSE:TWLO), and Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER).

Our Methodology

In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 stock picks of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners. These stocks have been picked from the third quarter portfolio of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners.

10. Dynatrace, Inc. (NYSE:DT)

Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ Stake Value: $40,310,000

Percentage of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ 13F Portfolio: 0.38%

Number of Hedge Funds: 41

Dynatrace, Inc. (NYSE:DT) is a provider of software intelligence platforms that employ artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to monitor and optimize application development, performance and security, IT infrastructure, and user experience for corporations and government organizations globally. The Massachusetts-based organization has 50 offices around the world.

In a note issued to investors on October 28, Keith Bachman at BMO Capital increased the price target on Dynatrace, Inc. (NYSE:DT) from $72 to $81 and maintained an Outperform rating on the stock.

Dynatrace, Inc. (NYSE:DT) was mentioned in the Q3 investor letter of Polen Capital. Here’s what the investment management firm said:

“Dynatrace outperformed during the quarter as the company reported earnings results that handily beat expectations. The company continues to increase its customer base and has expanded net revenues with existing customers.”

Apart from Dynatrace, Inc. (NYSE:DT), Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners also has a stake in popular companies like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Twilio Inc. (NYSE:TWLO), and Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) as of Q3 2021.

9. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW)

Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ Stake Value: $44,436,000

Percentage of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ 13F Portfolio: 0.42%

Number of Hedge Funds: 87

ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) is a developer of a cloud computing platform that operates as a provider of Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). The company provides technical management support like IT service management (ITSM) to other corporations. An example can be a ticketing tool that catalogs and processes requests for customer service. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) also employs machine learning to optimize the data and overflow for businesses to make them efficient and scalable.

On November 16, Phil Winslow at Credit Suisse initiated coverage of ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) with an Outperform rating and a price target of $850.

RiverPark Funds discussed its stance on ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) in its Q3 2021 investor letter. Here’s what the firm said:

“NOW shares were our final top contributor for 3Q on a strong beat and raise quarter. The company reported 31% subscription revenue growth, 30% subscription billings growth, and a 19% non-GAAP FCF margin for the quarter, while raising full year subscription revenue and billings guidance to 29% and 31%, respectively, as well as raising non-GAAP FCF margin by 100 basis points to 31%.

ServiceNow is a best-of-breed provider of both IT Service Management (ITSM) and IT Operations Management (ITOM) solutions to enterprise customers. The company’s products serve mainly its clients’ internal employee base with a current focus on automating the process of IT deployment, configuration and service and management of IT assets across an organization. Both its ITSM and ITOM solutions are delivered as a software-as-a-service (SaaS), and are each leading solutions in growing markets, driven by the secular trend of enterprises transitioning all aspects of their business and operations to the cloud. As the company maintains and adds customers, upsells them, and expands into adjacent markets, we believe NOW should sustain a strong long-term revenue and FCF growth trajectory.”

8. HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:HUBS)

Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ Stake Value: $52,671,000

Percentage of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ 13F Portfolio: 0.5%

Number of Hedge Funds: 48

HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:HUBS) develops and markets customer service, inbound marketing, and sales-related software. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company was founded in 2006 by two Harvard students, Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah.

Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners held 77,906 shares of HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:HUBS), worth over $52.6 million at the end of Q3 2021. The investment represents 0.5% of the overall portfolio. The hedge fund initiated a position in the stock in Q1 2016.

In a report issued on December 13, Gabriela Borges at Goldman Sachs started coverage of HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:HUBS) with a $953 price target and a Buy rating. The analyst thinks that HubSpot, Inc.’s (NYSE:HUBS) business strategy and its execution will result in analysts increasing their revenue and earnings estimates in the next five years.

Overall, 48 hedge funds held a position in HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:HUBS) at the end of Q3 2021, down from 54 in the preceding quarter.

7. Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (NYSE:LSPD)

Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ Stake Value: $133,759,000

Percentage of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ 13F Portfolio: 1.29%

Number of Hedge Funds: 26

Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (NYSE:LSPD) is a provider of cloud-based data analytics, point of sales (POS), and e-commerce software. The Montreal, Quebec-based organization offers services to hospitality, restaurants, and retail companies. The company has undertaken acquisitions worth $2 billion since the start of 2020 to consolidate its focus on the retail and restaurant industry. Vista Equity Partners initiated a long position in Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (NYSE:LSPD) stock during Q3 FY22 with 1.39 million shares.

On November 8, Mark Palmer at BTIG maintained a Buy rating on Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (NYSE:LSPD) and reiterated a price target of $112.

6. KnowBe4, Inc. (NASDAQ:KNBE)

Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ Stake Value: $360,868,000

Percentage of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ 13F Portfolio: 3.48%

Number of Hedge Funds: 18

KnowBe4, Inc. (NASDAQ:KNBE) provides training related to security awareness and a simulated phishing platform that can help overcome the ever-growing challenge of social engineering. The platform offers browser-based engaging and interactive training with unlimited fictitious scenarios related to social engineering attacks via email, phone, and text. KnowBe4, Inc. (NASDAQ:KNBE) claims to provide access to the world’s biggest database related to security awareness training in 34 languages.

On November 4, Brian Essex at Goldman Sachs upgraded the KnowBe4, Inc. (NASDAQ:KNBE) stock from Neutral to a Buy rating and also increased the price target from $33 to $34. The analyst highlighted that the company reported “another strong quarter of extension.”

In addition to KnowBe4, Inc. (NASDAQ:KNBE), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Twilio Inc. (NYSE:TWLO),  Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is also amongst the top 10 stock picks of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners as of Q3 2021.

Click to continue reading and see Top 5 Stock Picks of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners.

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Disclosure: None. Top 10 Stock Picks of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners is originally published on Insider Monkey.

In this article, we discuss the top 5 stock picks of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners. If you want to read our detailed analysis of Smith’s history, investment philosophy, and hedge fund performance, go directly to the Top 10 Stock Picks of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners.

5. Ping Identity Holding Corp. (NYSE:PING)

Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ Stake Value: $487,355,000

Percentage of Robert Smith’s Vista Equity Partners’ 13F Portfolio: 4.7%

Number of Hedge Funds: 20

Ping Identity Holding Corp. (NYSE:PING) provides federated identity management and self-hosted identity access management (IAM) services. These services are used by Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, other forms of private cloud, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Ping Identity Holding Corp. (NYSE:PING) was founded in 2002 by Andre Durand and Bryan Field-Elliot. Following multiple rounds of funding, Vista Equity Partners acquired majority ownership of the company through a leveraged buyout of $600 million in June 2016. Three years later, Vista Equity Partners decided to take the company public through an IPO.

During its investor day on December 1, Ping Identity Holding Corp. (NYSE:PING) revealed that it expects a total addressable market (TAM) of at least $50 billion by 2023. The company also shared its long-term revenue growth target of 20% to 25% until 2023 and more than 50% SaaS revenue CAGR from FY21 to FY24. Following the investor day, Patrick Colville at Deutsche Bank maintained a Hold rating on Ping Identity Holding Corp. (NYSE:PING) stock with a $25 price target. The analyst termed the targets set by the company as “impressive” but stated that it is a “show me” story that requires proof.

In its Q2 2021 investor letter, Baron Discovery Fund shared its stance on Ping Identity Holding Corp. (NYSE:PING). Here’s what the fund said:

“Ping Identity Corporation is a software company that provides secure user identification, mainly for large enterprises. We initially invested in Ping on its IPO in the third quarter of 2019. Ping’s products address employee access as well as customer access. Examples of Ping’s products include multi-factor identification (which might use mobile text verification or a biometric identifier like a fingerprint to add to a password protected identity), and single sign-on (SSO, which allows employees of a firm to log into multiple applications simultaneously). Ping secures over 2 billion identities globally. It is a well-run company with highly visible growth prospects, a strong balance sheet, and real free cash flow. Ping also trades at a reasonable valuation multiple, far below that of its closest competitors. In our opinion, this is because it has been growing slower than its rivals (low to mid-teens revenue growth versus 40% plus at the competitors). But with new products (recognized by leading consulting firms as industry leading) and a better focus on marketing, we surmise that growth will accelerate meaningfully. There is also a significant margin-expansion opportunity. If the expected growth and margin expansion occur, Ping’s share price should substantially increase.”

]]> Sun, 23 Jan 2022 13:22:27 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/zjPTUnu5s42uFELSC73tQQpx5_w21kha https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/zjPTUnu5s42uFELSC73tQYfjc6hd5eWF

Boredom is an inevitable and common feeling which is associated with feelings of indifference and dissatisfaction with an activity. Boredom can be experienced when an individual is quite energetic, but there appears to be no channel for utilization of that energy. It can also be experienced at intervals when focusing on a definite task becomes arduous, and dissociation of the attention span becomes common.

Boredom protects us from stagnation, both intellectual and emotional. It helps us to move forward and engage in novel activities so that we can express ourselves better. Boredom is followed by two choices which are either creativity or perpetual displeasure. Creativity and indulgence are the cure for depression and anxiety. According to Forbes, creativity (in any form) mitigates stress, depression, and anxiety by providing an effective channel to express emotions.

Photo by Gautam Arora on Unsplash

Our Methodology

For our list of the 50 things to do when bored, we would be using a few sources from Pinterest. Pinterest is a visual discovery engine used to find creative content and appreciate novel designs and illustrations put together by global artists.

Research shows that individuals that are prone to higher levels of boredom perform poorly on tasks that require attention. So, it is an individual choice (considering one’s attention span and level of boredom) whether one would like to indulge in something creative or just foster the displeasure somewhere less demanding. Boredom is usually an empty sort of feeling with a sense of frustration. It is important to differentiate boredom from anxiety or stress. Boredom could be replaced with feelings of usefulness and productivity, but anxiety and stress need to be addressed differently.

With this context in mind, let’s now begin our list of 50 things to do when bored.

50 Things to Do When Bored

50. Make Up a Song on Your Own

Write down random song lyrics and align them with a catchy tune. Sing it aloud and record it in the form of a voice note. Make changes in the lyrics and experiment with different tunes. Record all these songs and pick the best song to send to a friend.

49. Create an Obstacle Course and Time Yourself

This activity might appear to be foolish, but it can be beneficial in figuring out individual agility levels and the ability to dodge obstacles effectively. There are readings present online with normal agility levels and the minimum time required for an individual to perform such tests. A score below normal may indicate balance or posture problems. 

48. Make Something From Play Dough

Mold the dough into interesting new shapes and if you want to turn it into a permanent decoration piece, let it dry for a few days. The dried play dough structure could be painted and used to enhance the aesthetics of any room or living space.

47. Make a Photo Album

Assemble all of your pictures together and paste them on a photo album which you can decorate with tiny gemstones and dried colorful flowers.

46. Create a Play

Create your own play, picturing yourself as the director and producer. Put together the story, climax, characters, and venue on a notepad in an appropriate order.

45. Make a Playlist

Assemble all your favorite songs in the form of a playlist. You can also share the playlist with your friends and loved ones to make them feel special.

44. Play Balloon Volleyball

Convince any member of your household to play balloon volleyball with you. It will not only be an interesting way to warm up but also this kind of volleyball won’t hurt your ankles.

43. Learn Origami

Origami is the art of making shapes from paper. It is a very exciting form of art once learned. Try learning origami and experiment with different shapes and structures.

42. Make Some Puppets

Recycle your old socks and turn them into puppets. You can also organize a mini puppet show for your siblings or the kids of the neighborhood.

41. Solve a Puzzle

Whether it’s a complex jigsaw puzzle or a Rubix cube, solve it. Take your time and work to figure it out.

40. Sign Up for Volunteer Work

If you’re bored, you can sign up for volunteer work and turn your negative emotions into affirmative feelings

39. Make Popsicles

Blend your favorite fruits and ice into an icy mixture and pour them into Popsicle trays. Experiment with different fruits and flavors.

38. Watch a Documentary

If you wish to know more about a certain event, many documentaries are available online for this very reason. You can find some of the best documentaries on Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX),  YouTube, Amazon Prime Video (NASDAQ: AMZN), HBO Now, or AppleTV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL).

37. Research

Research about something you’ve been meaning to learn more about.

36. Find a New Affirmation for Your Week

Affirmations are words that motivate you and help foster affirmative or positive feelings in you. You can decide on a couple of affirmations to keep you motivated throughout the week.

35. Take a Long Bath

Take a long bath with scented candles and body lotions. Such long relaxing baths ought to foster feelings of self-love.

34. Listen to a Podcast

There are many useful podcasts present online. Dive in and find something that could help you in the long run.

33. Fix Your Resume

Edit your resume, adding new milestones and skills. You can also create a new resume with a different design and style.

32. Write a Letter to Your Younger Self

Address yourself and tell her everything that you learned so far about life and people. She could use some advice.

31. Make a Planner

Make a schedule for yourself to enhance productivity and to assign an adequate time range to each task.

30. Call Your Friends

Call your best friend and tell her about the happenings of your life. Reminisce old embarrassing stories and laugh together.

29. Play Some Board Games

Convince your friends or siblings to play a live board game with you, or you can play with anyone online.

28. Do Some Yoga

Practice new yoga positions, incorporating them with meditation. Try it out with a friend if you have anyone in mind.

27. Watch a Movie

Pick a genre and look for movies with the highest rating and best reviews in that specific genre.

26. Cook for Your Family

Ask your family what they’d like to eat and experiment in the kitchen with Chinese, Italian, or any kind of international cuisine.

25. Learn a New Skill

Learning a new skill can help you feel productive. The skill might be anything that fascinates you, from pottery to thread work.

24. Sell Your Old Clothes:

If you possess old clothes that you don’t wear anymore, there are many websites online where you can sell these clothes.

23. Search for Your Spiritual Animal

Research on different animals and compare their traits with your behavior patterns and instigate the quest for your spirit animal.

22. Explore a New Music Genre

If you are a fan of country music, try a new genre like rock or pop. Trying a new genre of music is always an interesting option.

21. Stargaze

If it is nighttime, and you seem to be bored. Lay down and stare at the sky. You can also count the stars, other than appreciating their beauty.

20. Plant Some Flowers in the Garden

Buy some seeds and dig them inside the garden or buy a grown plant and take care of it.

19. Do Some Online Shopping

You can scroll online stores for clothes, jewelry, food, or anything. You can surf through different stores before actually buying something.

18. Binge-Watch Your Favorite Show

New television shows can be demanding, but rewatching old shows not only relieves anxiety but resurfaces feelings of nostalgia, making an individual feel less stressed and displeased. You can find your favorite shows and movies on Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX),  YouTube, Amazon Prime Video (NASDAQ: AMZN), HBO Now, or AppleTV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL), subject to their availability.

17. Make a Bucket List

Take out a notepad and list down ten places you’d love to visit accompanied with a valid reason.

16. Edit some Pictures

Reassemble your good pictures and edit them to enhance the aesthetics or tweak up the dimensions of the image.

15. Connect with Your Siblings

While spending the entire day watching shows on Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX),  YouTube, Amazon Prime Video (NASDAQ: AMZN), HBO Now, or AppleTV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL) might appear very attractive, nothing beats bonding with your siblings. Listening to your siblings narrate the old embarrassing stories can never get boring.

14. Do Skincare

Follow an online tutorial and cleanse or scrub using natural products. Experiment with new skincare trends as per your skin type.

13. Read a Book

Reading a nice book with ample time at your disposal is never a bad idea. 

12. Put Some Makeup On

It is amusing to try new makeup trends, but if you’re still a beginner, it is never too late to start learning the basics.

11. Make a Fruit Salad

One can also slice down their favorite fruits into little cubes, make a fruit salad for themselves and enjoy the natural flavor it possesses.

10. Workout

Instead of spending time pointlessly scrolling through Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX),  YouTube, Amazon Prime Video (NASDAQ: AMZN), HBO Now, or AppleTV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL), take up a healthy physical activity. Workout can increase the endorphins in your body, making you feel satisfied and happy. It also fosters feelings of self-love and confidence, making it an ideal activity to perform during moments of despondency. 

9. Bake Some Cookies or Cake

Baking is a rewarding option to consider with ample time in one’s hand. Baking is a meticulous process that needs to be carried out with patience. Despite the hard work, freshly baked cookies and cake appear worthy of sweat and diligence.

8. Tidy your Photo Gallery

The unnecessary photos in our gallery take up a significant portion of space; tidying up the gallery is crucial before the cell phone memory collapses and one is left with the mere choice of restoration.

7. Put on a Face Mask

Self-care is extremely crucial amidst quarantine. It not only helps with boosting self-esteem but also improves the discreet connection with oneself.

6. Learn TikTok Dances

TikTok is a well-known application for Zoomers. Each day a new trend is resurfaced with modern dance moves and music. Learning some trendy dance moves can not only assist with stretching the hamstrings but could also be gratifying.

In this article, we discuss the 5 things to do when bored. If you want to read our detailed analysis of these activities, go directly to the 50 Things to Do When Bored.

5. Color on Some Printables

There are several adult coloring books available in the market that are ideal for activating the creative part of the brain and mitigating stress. Customized printable pages are available as well.

]]> Sun, 23 Jan 2022 13:11:08 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/zjPTUnu5s42uFELSC73tQYfjc6hd5eWF https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/zjPTUnu5s40yvMLpnINObUGT5aWO9DEx

In this article, we will discuss the 15 most valuable New Zealand companies in the world.  You can skip our detailed analysis of these companies, and go directly to 5 Most Valuable New Zealand Companies in the World.

Companies play a vital role in the economic as well as the social development of a country. The success of a country is therefore contingent on the success of companies, as an economic boom directly translates to the stability and growth of a country. This relation is formed since it is these companies that offer invaluable services, products, and wages to the public and therefore improve their quality of life drastically. The taxes generated through these companies also help in maintaining the infrastructure of a country – buildings, roads, hospitals, schools, etc. They also help in providing essential services such as access to healthcare, law officers, firefighters, and so on.

New Zealand’s Economy: An Analysis

By placing emphasis on the development of companies for economic and social prosperity, the island country of New Zealand has managed to turn itself from a regulated and agrarian economy to an industrialized and free-market economy in these past 40 years. As per New Zealand Government’s official site, New Zealand boasts a GDP of US$325 billion as of March 2021. Different sectors have played an integral part in achieving a quarterly growth of 1.6%. The major contributing sectors include the service industry along with the manufacturing and construction industries. Moreover, GDP from services in New Zealand rose to NZ $43804 million in the first quarter of 2021 from NZ $43181 million in the last quarter of 2020.

Increased amenities combined with an improvement in mean years of schooling has helped New Zealand in achieving a place in the top 15 countries in the Human Development Index.

In this article, we will discuss the companies that rank as the 15 most valuable New Zealand companies in the world. These companies can be considered as one of the most integral factors that are driving the country’s highly dynamic growth.

Our Methodology

For our list of the 15 most valuable New Zealand companies, we have used market capitalization as our metric.

Photo by Dan Freeman on Unsplash

Most Valuable New Zealand Companies in the World

15. Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (NZFX:FCG.NZ)

Fonterra is a multinational dairy co-operative that produces 30% of the dairy exports of the world. Owned by ten-thousand-five-hundred Kiwi farmers, it is an important distributor in more than a hundred countries and has great expertise in the dairy business. Fonterra was formed as a result of a merger in October of 2001 of New Zealand’s largest companies in the dairy industry. Despite the impact of COVID-19, Fonterra has shipped a record 2.59 million metric tons owing to its resilient supply chain.

14. Port of Tauranga Limited (NZFX:POT.NZ)

In regards to the cargo volume, Port of Tauranga Limited is the largest port in New Zealand. It is the most integrated port in the country, both vertically and horizontally. It has investments in stevedoring, logistics companies, New Zealand ports, and marshaling companies. The Port handles 41% of all shipping containers and 37% of the exports of the country. Despite facing delays and disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Port of Tauranga Limited has been reported to have earned better than expected profits.

13. Infratil Limited (NZFX:IFT.NZ)

Infratil Limited is an infrastructure investment company with operations based in New Zealand, United States, and Australia. Infratil is one of the most valuable New Zealand companies in the world. It has centered its investments in a number of sectors, including energy, health care, social infrastructure, and transport. Due to strong cost management during the pandemic, Infratil was able to undertake capital expenditure of $1235 million in multiple sectors, including a significant investment of $590 million in renewable energy in 2020.

12. EBOS Group Limited (NZFX:EBO.NZ)

EBOS Group Limited is one of the largest Australasian wholesalers, marketers, and distributors of pharmaceutical and healthcare products. It has also diversified its operations to include the distribution and marketing of animal care and consumer products. The group managed to generate close to $9 billion in revenue in 2020, a rise of 26.5% from the previous year. Moreover, it invested a total of $73.5 billion in various organic and inorganic growth opportunities. Owing to the pandemic, the high demand for healthcare products led to a 27.4% increase in revenue in 2020. The expansion of operations has allowed EBOS Group Limited to maintain its position as one of the most valuable New Zealand companies in the world.

11. Fletcher Building Limited (NZFX:FBU.NZ)

Fletcher Building is one of the leading companies in the building sector. Its retail services focus on building houses, insulation structures, and other types of infrastructure. Recently, its profits have been suffering due to the economic downturn initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the salaries of the senior executives dropped by as much as 30%. It has been reported that the pandemic induced a loss of a whopping $196 million. However, as of August 2021, the company reported a bounce-back in profits, as it earned $305 million in income, demonstrating the company’s resilience.

10. Contact Energy Limited (NZFX:CEN.NZ)

As the second-largest electricity generator of New Zealand, Contact Energy Limited produces 23% of the available energy, including wholesale business in liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, and electricity. The company originated in 1996 with the partition of the Electricity Corp. of New Zealand. It claims to offer customers a cost-effective, personalized experience by producing 85% of its electric supply from renewable energy resources. Contact Energy Limited operates 11 power plants, and its success is credited to the high electricity demand in an increasingly technologically advanced country like New Zealand. Even during a year in which the performance of the industry has been called into question, it has reported a 50% increase in profits after the widely applauded performance of its ‘Thermal Co’ proposal.

9. Ryman Healthcare Limited (NZFX:RYM.NZ)

With 34 operational villages in New Zealand, Ryman Health Care is a rest home and a retirement village. It has a business model which combines healthcare services with property development. Ryman Healthcare offers services that include access to hospitals, rest homes, and retirement living to its residents. It has a separate dementia wing which is highly beneficial for residents seeking specialized dementia care. Despite the multitude of challenges presented by the pandemic, it has managed to flourish and come out on top with a 54% increase in revenue.

8. Mercury NZ Limited (NZFX:MCY.NZ)

Mercury is a Kiwi electrical generation company as well as an electricity retailer. It ranks 8th in our list of the 15 most valuable New Zealand companies in the world. Following the recent demand for renewable energy sources, the company has managed to produce 100% of its electricity through geothermal, gas-fired, wind-powered, and hydro energy sources. Its customer base is spread all across New Zealand as it produces 17% of the total electrical supply of New Zealand. As per Mercury Limited’s Interim Report 2021, the company recorded an increase in operational earnings of $36 million. The renewable energy model has turned out to be highly lucrative in attracting investors.

7. Spark New Zealand Limited (NZFX:SPK.NZ)

Offering services such as mobile networks, internet connections, and fixed phone lines, Spark Limited is the second-largest New Zealand telecommunications company. Previously called Telecom, it has been criticized for holding a monopoly in the market. However, its division into three separate sectors ended the monopoly it had previously.  The company was also accused of advertising high prices, which it worked upon after an increase in market competition. Spark’s willingness to adapt is credited as the prime reason for the company’s undying success. The company, however, experienced a decline in revenue in 2021 due to a loss of $38 million in roaming revenues.

6. Mainfreight Limited (NZFX:MFT.NZ)

Headquartered in Auckland Main, Freight is a transport and logistics company based in New Zealand, which began its operations in 1978. It has over 280 branches all around the world, building a vast global network. The company is able to meet its customers’ delivery requirements through speedy and cost-effective services offered across oceans.

It has opened subsidiaries internationally in countries such as Australia and the United States and, recently, showed unwavering success despite the unprecedented nature of the worldwide pandemic. Managing to adapt to the current circumstances, it has installed strict hygiene and protective measures to minimize the spreading of the virus. In fact, it is reportedly on the way to becoming the first-ever company to crack one-hundred dollars per share on a local stock exchange.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Valuable New Zealand Companies in the World.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Most Valuable New Zealand Companies in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.

In this article, we discuss the 5 most valuable New Zealand companies in the world. If you want to read our detailed analysis of these companies, go directly to 15 Most Valuable New Zealand Companies in the World.

5. Auckland International Airport Limited (NZFX:AIA.NZ)

Auckland Airport is located near the residential suburb, Mangere. It is New Zealand’s busiest as well as the largest airport that offers flights to twenty-one million passengers each year. It conducts flights domestically as well as internationally and handles 71% of international passengers arriving in New Zealand. Due to its enormous size, it has the capacity to hold the Airbus A380 aircraft and the Boeing 747 aircraft. However, the company has suffered losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting its first-ever underlying loss of $41.8 million ever since 1998. In order to deal with the volatile nature of the situation, it has been making changes to its future plans with the revision of its expansion scheme and is adopting increasingly conservative assumptions towards planning, as it is expected that it will take until 2023 for global travel to make a full recovery and surpass pre-pandemic levels according to the International Air Transport Association.

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In this article, we discuss the top 10 stock picks of Rob Cope’s Columbus Point. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of Cope’s history, investment philosophy, and hedge fund performance, go directly to the Top 5 Stock Picks of Rob Cope’s Columbus Point.

Rob Cope joined Lazard Asset Management in 1996 as an analyst. In 2003, Rob co-founded Cantillon Capital Management. He was the Global Equity Strategist at Cantillon from 2005 to June 2016. In 2017, Rob Cope founded Columbus Point.

Columbus Point is a global equities hedge fund located in London. The Columbus Point Global Equity Strategy is the firm’s only product. The hedge fund has a history of making money by investing in firms with strong long-term growth potential.

As of the third quarter, Columbus Point holds significant stakes in several top companies, including Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), and Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT).

Photo by Nick Chong on Unsplash

Here is a list of top 10 stock picks of Rob Cope’s Columbus Point. We used Cope’s 13F portfolio for Q3 2021 for this analysis.

Top Stock Picks of Rob Cope’s Columbus Point

10. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Columbus Point Stake Value: $11,040,000

Percentage of Columbus Point’s 13F Portfolio: 5.25%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 95

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is a Minneapolis-based health insurance firm that offers private and public-sector organizations and individuals health benefit plans and services and Medicare programs.

Columbus Point added UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) to its portfolio in the third quarter of 2021 by purchasing 28,253 shares. On December 20, Mizuho analyst Ann Hynes boosted her price objective on UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) to $550 from $500 and kept a “Buy” rating on the shares.

At the end of the third quarter of 2021, 95 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $11.71 billion in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), down from 105 in the preceding quarter worth $13.12 billion.

Like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), and Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is one of the top stock picks of Rob Cope’s Columbus Point.

Third Point Management, in its third-quarter 2021 investor letter, mentioned UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH). Here is what the firm has to say:

“UnitedHealth is one of the largest healthcare companies in the world and a market leader in both its insurance and healthcare services (Optum) businesses. We initiated our position during the 2020 Presidential election at a time of heightened political and regulatory uncertainty.

We believe under its new CEO, Andrew Witty, UnitedHealth can not only preserve its market dominance and sustain industry-leading growth rates across most of its key segments but also enter new healthcare services markets. Witty is known as a mission-driven CEO who clearly articulates his view that providing high-quality, affordable health care services is a social good. He receives consistently high marks from former colleagues, and we believe that his leadership approach will ballast and even strengthen UNH’s already impressive management and employee ranks. The insurance and services businesses are synergistic and complementary, which entrenches United’s critical role in care financing, access, and management. This dynamic gives us confidence in the durability of United’s market leadership…” (Click here to see the full text)

9. Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ)

Columbus Point Stake Value: $13,196,000

Percentage of Columbus Point’s 13F Portfolio: 6.28%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21

Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) is a holding firm that provides trading, clearing, exchange technology, regulation, securities listing, and information services to public and private companies. On December 22, Piper Sandler analyst Richard Repetto boosted his price target on Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) to $220 from $200 and maintained an “Overweight” rating on the shares.

With a $203.91 million stake in Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ), Ric Dillon’s Diamond Hill Capital is the most significant shareholder of the company. In addition, our database shows that 21 hedge funds held stakes in Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) as of the end of the third quarter, versus 23 funds in the second quarter.

Artisan Partners mentioned Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) in its first-quarter 2021 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:

“We started new investment campaigns in Nasdaq. Nasdaq is the second-largest diversified global exchange and a technology provider for US and European capital markets. While the company is well-known for its US stock exchange, the current management team is transitioning Nasdaq away from this more mature and volatile business and toward faster-growing software and information service models. Most recently, the company’s acquisition of Verafin makes it a leader in software to help financial institutions detect financial crime (fraud, money laundering, etc.)—an increasingly critical regulatory challenge for customers. Over time, we think management can achieve its target of 70%-80% recurring revenues while increasing its revenue growth rate and margin profile.”

8. Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE:CNI)

Columbus Point Stake Value: $13,259,000

Percentage of Columbus Point’s 13F Portfolio: 6.31%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42

Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE:CNI) and its subsidiaries are involved in the rail and related transportation industries. Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE:CNI) is the latest addition in Rob Cope’s Columbus Point portfolio, as the hedge fund bought 114,440 shares of the company, worth $13.26 million.

On December 16, National Bank analyst Cameron Doerksen increased his price target on Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE:CNI) to C$170 from C$153 and reiterated a “Sector Perform” rating on the shares.

In the third quarter, hedge fund sentiment increased for Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE:CNI). Insider Monkey’s data shows that 42 elite hedge funds held stakes in the company at the end of the third quarter, up from 40 funds a quarter earlier.

7. PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL)

Columbus Point Stake Value: $13,391,000

Percentage of Columbus Point’s 13F Portfolio: 6.37%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 123

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) is a worldwide financial technology firm based in the United States that operates an online payment system. Terry Smith’s Fundsmith LLP is PayPal Holdings, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:PYPL) most significant stakeholder, with 12.29 million shares worth $3.20 billion.

In December, Wedbush analyst Moshe Katri decreased his price target on PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) to $220 from $240 and maintained an “Outperform” rating on the shares. According to the analyst, there is still evidence of erratic consumer spending, continued pandemic-related B&M shutdowns/travel slowdown, and likely decreased non-discretionary expenditures due to an inflationary price increase on essential goods.

Overall, 123 hedge funds monitored by Insider Monkey were bullish on PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) in the third quarter. The stakes of these funds are valued at $12.88 billion.

Baron Funds, in its third-quarter 2021investor letter, discussed PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL). Here is what the fund said:

“PayPal Holdings, Inc. – PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) first caught consumers’ attention as a peer-to-peer digital payment application, particularly as a convenient and trustworthy way for eBay buyers to pay eBay sellers in the early days of online shopping. Over the years it expanded to become a nearubiquitous online retail payments platform, while also offering other shopping tools and digital services, such as digital wallet, bill pay, Buy Now-Pay Later, crypto-currency, in-store retail, and more. According to PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL)’s CEO, these new acts enabled the company to increase the TAM it “play[s] in” by “over six times in the last three years.” PayPal has 403 million active accounts today and is on its way towards its 750 million target by 2025 and 1 billion longer term, for a total TAM sized at over $1 trillion.”

6. VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN)

Columbus Point Stake Value: $13,908,000

Percentage of Columbus Point’s 13F Portfolio: 6.62%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40

VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN) is a registrar of domain names and internet infrastructure providers. Columbus Point holds 67,840 shares in VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN), worth $13.91 million. This represents 6.62% of their portfolio. The hedge fund’s stake in VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN) decreased by 4% in the third quarter of 2021.

As of the end of the third quarter, 40 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database of 867 funds held stakes in VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN), compared to 41 funds in the second quarter.

Just like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), and Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT), VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN) is gaining the attention of Rob Cope’s Columbus Point.

Click to continue reading and see Top 5 Stock Picks of Rob Cope’s Columbus Point.

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Disclosure: None. Top 10 Stock Picks of Rob Cope’s Columbus Point is originally published on Insider Monkey.

In this article, we discuss the top 5 stock picks of Rob Cope’s Columbus Point. If you want to read our detailed analysis of Cope’s history, investment philosophy, and hedge fund performance, go directly to the Top 10 Stock Picks of Rob Cope’s Columbus Point.

5. Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Columbus Point Stake Value: $13,999,000
Percentage of Columbus Point’s 13F Portfolio: 6.66%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) specializes in medical technologies.

In December, Piper Sandler analyst Jason Bednar downgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) to “Neutral” from “Overweight” with a price target of $260, down from $285. Over the next six months, the analyst anticipates a lack of events for shares, as well as lingering doubts about Becton, Dickinson and Company’s (NYSE:BDX) ability to meet consensus profitability expectations later this year.

In its second-quarter 2021 investor letter, Madison Funds mentioned Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX). Here is what the fund said:

“Becton, Dickinson and Company (“BD”) is one of the world’s largest medical supply, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products manufacturers. We like BD because it is a leader in the medical and life science industries with a durable mid-single digit growth profile and attractive returns on capital. They generate about 85% of revenue from consumables and 15% from equipment, and each year, they manufacture billions of needles,

syringes, catheters, tubes, and medical devices which results in significant economies of scale that can be matched by few competitors. Their Life Sciences segment produces products that provide diversity in the steadily growing diagnostic testing and life sciences research fields.

Regarding the short-term issues, it’s been a challenging past 18 months for the company. In February 2020, they announced the FDA required an updated 510(k) clearance for their Alaris infusion pump. As a result, BD had to suspend selling new pumps until the updated regulatory filing received FDA clearance. In addition to the regulatory headwind, BD’s business was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as individuals postponed doctor office visits and hospitals deferred non-emergency medical procedures. We believe these postponements are just now normalizing. Lastly, while BD’s Life Sciences business swiftly brought COVID-19 tests to market, there is uncertainty over the magnitude and duration of these revenues.…” (Click here to see the full text)

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In this article, we discuss the top 10 stock picks of billionaire Michael Hintze. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of Hintze’s history, investment philosophy, and hedge fund performance, go directly to Billionaire Michael Hintze Portfolio: Top 5 Stock Picks.

Sir Michael Hintze is a British-Australian philanthropist and businessman who lives in the United Kingdom. He worked at CSFB as Managing Director and European Head of Convertibles and at Goldman Sachs as Head of UK Equity Trading and European Emerging Markets Trading before founding CQS Cayman LP.

IHS Markit Ltd. (NYSE:INFO), ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAC), and Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) are among the most notable stocks in Michael Hintze’s CQS Cayman LP’s broad portfolio, as of the third quarter of 2021.

Michael Hintze of CQS Cayman LP

Billionaire Michael Hintze Portfolio: Top Stock Picks

10. Liberty Broadband Corporation (NASDAQ:LBRDA)

CQS Cayman LP Stake Value: $20,976,000

 

Percentage of CQS Cayman LP’s 13F Portfolio: 1.19%

 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24

Liberty Broadband Corporation (NASDAQ:LBRDA) is a holding company involved in the cable, broadband, and mobile location technology industries. In November, Credit Suisse analyst Grant Joslin initiated coverage of Liberty Broadband Corporation (NASDAQ:LBRDA), rating the stock as “Outperform,” and gave a price target of $211.

In the third quarter of 2021, 24 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $885.75 million in Liberty Broadband Corporation (NASDAQ:LBRDA), down from 28 the preceding quarter worth $904.87 million.

9. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW)

CQS Cayman LP Stake Value: $21,878,000

 

Percentage of CQS Cayman LP’s 13F Portfolio: 1.25%

 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 73

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) is a network security company that provides services to businesses, service providers, and government agencies. In November, Argus analyst Joseph Bonner raised his price target on Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) to $620 from $530 and kept a “Buy” rating on the shares.

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) is also getting the attention of the smart money, as 73 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported owning stakes in the company in the third quarter of 2021, up from 69 funds a quarter earlier.

8. Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AMBC)

CQS Cayman LP Stake Value: $27,065,000

 

Percentage of CQS Cayman LP’s 13F Portfolio: 1.54%

 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15

Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AMBC) is a holding corporation based in the United States. Its subsidiaries supply clients in public and private sectors worldwide with financial assurance solutions such as bond insurance.

Billionaire Michael Hintze’s CQS Cayman LP is Ambac Financial Group, Inc.’s (NYSE:AMBC) largest stakeholder. The hedge fund owns 1.89 million shares of Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AMBC) as of the end of September.

In the third quarter of 2021, 15 hedge funds were bullish on Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AMBC), up from 13 funds in the preceding quarter.

In its fourth-quarter 2020 Investor Letter, Anabatic Fund mentioned a few stocks and Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AMBC) is one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“We sold our shares in Ambac (AMBC) during 2020. The decision was based on concerns about the creditworthiness of many of the state and local entities whose bonds Ambac has insured. The Covid-19 pandemic brought severe pain to many debt issuers, and the ramifications are going to be felt for years to come. There is little room for widespread credit deterioration given the inherent leverage in Ambac’s insured portfolio. And Ambac’s problems don’t end there.

A major reason for owning shares in AMBC for all these years was the pending litigation against Countrywide and Bank of America. The details can be found in prior letters, but the short version is that Ambac is pursuing litigation that was substantively identical to litigation that was filed and settled by a peer insurer in 2013. (2013 also happens to be the year we made our initial investment in Ambac shares, shortly after the company emerged from bankruptcy.…” (Click here to see the full text)

7. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WLTW)

CQS Cayman LP Stake Value: $27,185,000

 

Percentage of CQS Cayman LP’s 13F Portfolio: 1.55%

 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 75

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WLTW) is a risk management, insurance brokerage, and advising firm based in the United Kingdom and the United States. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WLTW) issued a quarterly dividend of $0.80 per share on December 8, the same as the previous quarter.

In November, Jefferies analyst Yaron Kinar initiated coverage of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WLTW), rating the stock as “Hold” and gave a price target of $258. In the third quarter of 2021, CQS Cayman LP increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WLTW) by 58%. The hedge fund first invested in Willis Towers Watson Public in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Vltava Fund, an investment management firm, in its third-quarter 2021 investor letter, mentioned Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WLTW). Here is what the fund said:

“The second position is much larger and was thrown into our hands by an unexpected turn of events. It is the stock of Willis Towers Watson. This is a British company with roots dating back to 1828. WLTW is the third-largest insurance broker in the world. This is a sector with which we are very familiar, as some time ago we held in our portfolio shares of its slightly larger competitor AON.

It was AON in fact that announced last spring it had agreed to merge with WLTW. In the merger, WLTW shareholders would have received AON shares. As is usually the case with such announcements, investors stepped in to conduct what is known as merger arbitrage. In this particular case, they bought WLTW shares and sold short AON shares in order to profit from the fact that the prices of the two stocks did not yet fully reflect the exchange ratio in the merger. Moreover, merger arbitrage commonly makes extensive use of leverage in order to increase profits…” (Click here to see the full text)

6. Starz Acquisition LLC (NASDAQ:STRZA)

CQS Cayman LP Stake Value: $27,295,000

 

Percentage of CQS Cayman LP’s 13F Portfolio: 1.55%

 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15

Starz Acquisition LLC (NASDAQ:STRZA) is an American entertainment company. Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:LGF-A) purchased Starz Acquisition LLC (NASDAQ:STRZA) for $4.4 billion to improve its market domination in premium scripted television and expand its worldwide distribution reach.

CQS Cayman LP sold 25,518 shares of Starz Acquisition LLC (NASDAQ:STRZA) in the third quarter, reducing its remaining stake by about 5%. The hedge fund still holds 575,007 shares of Starz, worth about $27.30 million.

Out of the 867 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in the third quarter of 2021, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is the biggest significant stakeholder in Starz Acquisition LLC (NASDAQ:STRZA). The Oracle of Omaha owns 43.21 million shares of Starz Acquisition LLC (NASDAQ:STRZA), worth $2.05 billion.

Just like IHS Markit Ltd. (NYSE:INFO), ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAC), and Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI), Starz Acquisition LLC (NASDAQ:STRZA) is gaining the attention of billionaire Michael Hintze.

 

Click to continue reading and see Billionaire Michael Hintze Portfolio: Top 5 Stock Picks.

 

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Disclosure: None. Billionaire Michael Hintze Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks is originally published on Insider Monkey.

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In this article, we discuss the top 5 stock picks of billionaire Michael Hintze. If you want to read our detailed analysis of Hintze’s history, investment philosophy, and hedge fund performance, go directly to Billionaire Michael HintzePortfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks.

5. Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE:UA)

CQS Cayman LP Stake Value: $28,080,000
Percentage of CQS Cayman LP’s 13F Portfolio: 1.6%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 48

Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE:UA) manufactures, markets, and sells branded performance clothes, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and youth in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, through its subsidiaries. In November, Telsey Advisory analyst Cristina Fernandez upgraded Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE:UA) to “Outperform” from “Market Perform” with a price target of $32, up from $25.

Michael Hintze, via CQS Cayman LP, holds a $28.08 million stake in Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE:UA), which accounts for 1.6% of his Q3 investment portfolio.

A total of 48 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE:UA) in the third quarter, with stakes amounting to $1.64 billion.

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In this article, we discuss the top 10 dividend increases of 2021. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of dividend investing and these stocks, go directly to Top 5 Dividend Increases of 2021. 

As the economy rebounded from the COVID-19 pressures in 2021, companies experienced a strong cash flow position and decided to pay out increased dividends to shareholders. In the United States, common dividends in 2021 increased to $78.6 billion, up 89.7% from $41.4 billion in 2020. Higher earnings, sales, and improving margins have enabled companies to start returning shareholder wealth once again. 

David Bahnsen, The Bahnsen Group founder and CIO, said in a CNBC interview on August 13 that the way to proceed with investments is to look for companies with strong cash flow, stable balance sheets, and good dividend payout ratios, since the returns on dividend stocks are higher than treasury and S&P 500 returns. According to Bahnsen, dividend growth stocks outperformed the market but investors tend to flock towards trending names, especially FAANG stocks, which is often a misguided notion on their part. 

Jack Ablin, Cresset Capital founding partner and CIO, joined CNBC’s ‘TechCheck’ on November 5 and stated that investors looking for earnings yield and dividend yield will benefit over the next five years, and cyclicals, energy stocks, and financial services stocks with low price to earnings ratios are going to be of great interest to investors in the upcoming years. In the US, the energy infrastructure sector is not properly funded by the government or by large-cap banks, hence it offers traders some interesting incentives to invest. 

The most notable stocks that offered dividend increases in 2021 include Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW), and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS).

Photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash

Our Methodology

We picked stocks that increased their dividends in 2021, have strong company fundamentals and positive hedge fund sentiment.

Top Dividend Increases of 2021

10. Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE)

Dividend Yield as of January 20: 1.92%

 

Dividend Increase in 2021: 23.5%

 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25

Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) is the largest steelmaker in the United States and is also known for recycling scrap. Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) produces steel and rebar products. 

On December 3, Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) increased its quarterly dividend by 23.5% to $0.50 per share, up from the prior dividend of $0.41. The dividend will be paid on February 11, to shareholders of record on December 31. 

Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) announced on January 12 that it plans to build a sheet mill in West Virginia, a project that will cost $2.7 billion. The new mill will have the capacity to produce 3 million tons of steel per year. Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) will access customers in the Midwest and the Northeast and penetrate the two largest sheet consuming regions in the United States. 

Wolfe Research analyst Timna Tanners downgraded Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) to Underperform from Peer Perform with a $102 price target on January 11. The analyst is moving to a “market underweight” rating on the steel sector for 2022. She is “most excited” about downstream/specialty metals names but sees a “trifecta of bad news” for steel names.

Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in Q3 2021, Cliff Asness’ AQR Capital Management is one of the largest Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) stakeholders, with 283,503 shares worth $27.9 million. Overall, 25 hedge funds were bullish on the stock in the third quarter. 

Here is what ClearBridge Multi Cap Growth Strategy has to say about Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) in its Q3 2021 investor letter:

“Our active approach also applies to being disciplined in managing positions in companies in more cyclical industries and taking profits during stronger periods of each cycle. We closed a position in steelmaker Nucor during the quarter after the shares had more than doubled over the last year as a direct participant in the recovery of the U.S. economy and rebound in industrial activity. At this point in the cycle, we no longer view the risk/reward as compelling and feel more confident in deploying the proceeds in more attractive areas discussed in this and previous letters.”

9. CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE)

Dividend Yield as of January 20: 3.42%

 

Dividend Increase in 2021: 26.5%

 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22

CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) is a Pennsylvania-based real estate investment trust that invests in self storage facilities. CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) offers household, moving, business, vehicle, climate controlled, and wine storage options. 

CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) on November 2 reported a 26.5% increase from its prior dividend of $0.34. The company paid a $0.43 per share quarterly dividend on January 18 to shareholders of record on January 3. 

On November 17, CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) proposed a public offering of 13.5 million common shares, priced at $51 per share. The company gathered $688.5 million under this program, and used $40.9 million to pay off the debt accumulated during the acquisition of Storage West from LAACO, which is an REIT offering 59 self storage facilities. 

Raymond James analyst Jonathan Hughes upgraded CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) to Outperform from Market Perform with a $60 price target on December 2, citing increased conviction in the outlook for the self storage sector heading into 2022. His revised 2022 earnings estimates are now about 4% above consensus due to better than expected outlooks for occupancy, rates, expenses, and external growth activity in the sector.

A total of 22 hedge funds were long CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) in the third quarter of 2021, with stakes totaling $225.4 million. Ric Dillon’s Diamond Hill Capital is the leading CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) stakeholder, with 3.1 million shares worth $153.1 million. 

In addition to Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW), and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) also elevated its dividends in 2021. 

8. Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN)

Dividend Yield as of January 20: 0.86%

 

Dividend Increase in 2021: 30.76%

 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29

Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN) is an American multinational corporation, based in Ohio, that manufactures precision dispensing equipment, testing and inspection equipment, and surface preparation and curing equipment. Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN)’s products are distributed globally. 

On August 11, Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN) lifted its quarterly dividend by 30.8% from its prior dividend of $0.39. On December 8, Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN) declared a $0.51 per share quarterly dividend, which was paid on January 4. 

Baird analyst Michael Halloran on December 17 lowered the price target on Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN) to $293 from $310 and kept an Outperform rating on the shares. The analyst stated that he would be a buyer on the recent pullback and said underlying demand is robust, backlog is at record levels, and cyclical and secular set up remains attractive. His estimates should move higher through F2022. 

Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in the third quarter of 2021, Ken Griffin’s Citadel Investment Group is the largest Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN) stakeholder, with 325,535 shares worth $77.5 million. Overall, 29 hedge funds were long Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN), down from 34 funds in the preceding quarter. 

Just like Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN) also offered shareholders higher dividends in 2021. 

7. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT)

Dividend Yield as of January 20: 1.61%

 

Dividend Increase in 2021: 32.35%

 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 49

Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is a big box department store, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) has more than 1900 retail outlets in the United States, with retail formats including discount stores and hypermarkets.

On June 9, Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) declared a 32.4% increase from its prior dividend of $0.68. On January 10, a quarterly dividend of $0.90 per share was announced by the company, to be paid on March 10, to shareholders of record on February 16.

JPMorgan analyst Christopher Horvers on January 14 removed Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) from the firm’s Analyst Focus List but kept an Overweight rating on the shares with a $292 price target. The analyst has short-term concerns on same store sales forecasts but remains positive on a “still solid” customer base, sustained share gains, and Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT)’s share repurchase initiatives.

In the third quarter of 2021, 49 hedge funds reported owning stakes in Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), worth $4.34 billion, as compared to 66 funds holding stakes valued at $5.8 billion in Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) in the preceding quarter. 

Here is what Nelson Capital Management has to say about Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) in its Q2 2021 investor letter:

“We added Target (tkr: TGT) to our consumer staples sector. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) offers a broad array of products in owned and known brand items at affordable prices. Its omni-channel fulfillment centers allow customers to receive their items via in-store pickup, curbside pickup, same-day shipping and regular shipping while simultaneously reducing operating costs. With a significantly lower valuation than peers and a unique operating strategy, Target is an attractive holding.”

6. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Dividend Yield as of January 20: 1.36%

 

Dividend Increase in 2021: 33.3%

 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) is an American company that offers home improvement products to customers across the United States and Canada via a chain of retail stores. 

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) has a rich dividend history, and the company lifted its dividend by 33.3% from its prior dividend of $0.60 in May 2021. On November 12, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) declared a $0.80 per share quarterly dividend, payable on February 2, to shareholders of record on January 19. 

In its FY22 guidance, published on December 15, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) reported sales of approximately $95 billion, versus a consensus of $95.66 billion. The company also announced a share buy back plan of $13 billion. 

On January 18, Citi analyst Steven Zaccone raised the price target on Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) to $292 from $270 and kept a Buy rating on the shares. The analyst says sentiment has shifted toward “defensive, stable margin businesses” like home improvement and auto parts retail, however, he believes the recent pullback in growth stocks from the market backdrop and 2022 uncertainty “presents some compelling risk/reward opportunities” for long term investors.

60 hedge funds in the Q3 2021 database of elite hedge funds maintained by Insider Monkey were long Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW), with stakes totaling $5 billion. Pershing Square is the largest stakeholder of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW), with a $2 billion position. 

Here is what Pershing Square Holdings has to say about Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) in its Q2 2021 investor letter:

“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lowe’s has experienced a significant acceleration in demand driven by consumers nesting at home, higher home asset utilization and the reallocation of discretionary spend. In the three years since Marvin Ellison became CEO, the company has executed a multi-year transformation plan to bolster Lowe’s retail fundamentals, reduce structural costs, expand distribution capabilities, and modernize systems and the company’s online capabilities. This transformation has allowed Lowe’s to meet consumers’ needs during this highly elevated period of demand, and positioned the company for continued success and accelerated earnings growth.

In the second quarter, Lowe’s reported U.S. same-store-sales growth of 2.2%. Growth was bolstered by strength from the critical Pro consumer, where Lowe’s reported growth of 21%, off setting moderating do-it-yourself (“DIY”) demand. While DIY demand has receded from peak-COVID-19 periods, Pro customer demand has accelerated as consumers engage Pro’s for larger renovation projects.

Notwithstanding the headline growth fi gure, which is impacted by comparisons to COVID-19-aff ected months from spring of 2020, demand remains extremely elevated relative to baseline 2019 levels. July same-store-sales, the most recent full month for which the company has provided disclosure, were up 31.5% on a two-year basis and management indicated August month-to-date results are substantially similar. More significantly, Lowe’s reported Pro growth of +49% on a two-year basis in Q2, evidence that Lowe’s focus on the Pro is bearing fruit. Share gains with the critical Pro customer will provide a tailwind to growth that should allow Lowe’s to outperform market-level growth going forward.

Even as the robust demand experienced during the height of COVID-19 stabilizes at a new base, the medium and longer-term macro environment remain very attractive for the home improvement sector and Lowe’s in particular. This favorable context for the sector is evidenced by consumers’ enhanced focus and appreciation of the importance of the home, higher home asset utilization, rising home prices, historically low mortgage rates, an aging housing stock, strong consumer balance sheets, and the general lack of new housing inventory.

Against this backdrop, Lowe’s is focused on taking market share and expanding margins. Pro penetration today is still only 25% of revenue as compared to Lowe’s medium-term target of 30% to 35%, providing a runway for continued above market growth. Management continues to execute against various operational initiatives (Lowe’s “Perpetual Productivity Improvement” program) designed to improve the customer experience while enhancing the company’s margins and long-term earnings power. The company’s long-term outlook implies significant opportunity for continued margin expansion and earnings appreciation as it executes its business transformation.

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) currently trades at approximately 17 times forward earnings. Home Depot, its closest competitor, trades at approximately 22 times forward earnings despite Lowe’s superior prospective earnings growth. We find this valuation disparity to be anomalous in light of Lowe’s strong execution and potential for further operational optimization.”

 

Click to continue reading and see Top 5 Dividend Increases of 2021. 

 

 

 

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• Warren Buffett’s 5 Worst Performing Stock Picks From 2021
• Charlie Munger’s Daily Journal Portfolio: Top Stock Picks
• 10 Jim Cramer Stocks to Buy in January

Disclosure: None. Top 10 Dividend Increases of 2021 is originally published on Insider Monkey.

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In this article, we discuss the top 5 dividend increases of 2021. If you want our detailed analysis of dividend investing and these stocks, go directly to Top 10 Dividend Increases of 2021. 

5. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS)

Dividend Yield as of January 20: 2.80%

Dividend Increase in 2021: 100%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is a New York-based multinational investment bank and financial services company, offering a range of services including investment banking, sales and trading, commodities, prime brokerage, wealth management, and investment management. 

On July 15, 2021, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) increased its dividend by 100%, doubling the quarterly dividend from $0.35 to $0.70. On January 20, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) declared that it would distribute a $0.70 per share dividend on February 15, to shareholders of record on January 31. 

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) published its Q4 results on January 19, posting earnings per share of $2.08, beating estimates by $0.12. Revenue over the period equaled $14.52 billion, missing estimates by $66.39 million. The stock climbed 2.7% after the Q4 earnings beat and when Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) boosted its target for the return on tangible common equity to over 20%. 

Barclays analyst Jason Goldberg raised the price target on Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) to $123 from $110 and kept an Overweight rating on the shares on January 3. The analyst expects bank stocks to continue to outperform the market in 2022. He expects loan growth to accelerate and net interest margins to benefit from higher interest rates.

Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, Eagle Capital Management is the largest Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) stakeholder, with over 15 million shares worth $1.46 billion. Overall, 65 hedge funds were bullish on the stock in the third quarter of 2021. 

Here is what Artisan Value Fund has to say about Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) in its Q3 2021 investor letter:

“Morgan Stanley, a leading global financial services company, came into the portfolio in late 2020 as a result of its purchase of E*TRADE. The acquisition is a great fit for Morgan Stanley’s wealth management platform and provides a considerable amount of non-interest-bearing deposit funding. James Gorman, chairman and CEO, has steadily de-risked the business by adding less volatile fee streams to complement its leading positions in cyclical businesses such as advisory, equities and FICC (fixed income, currencies and commodities). We believe the company will prove its resiliency and value over the long term.”

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In this article, we will be taking a look at Morgan Stanley’s top 10 stock picks for 2022. To skip our detailed analysis on Morgan Stanley’s stock picks and their performance, you can go directly to see Morgan Stanley’s Top 5 Stock Picks for 2022.

In the aftermath of the breakout of the coronavirus pandemic in 2019, the world has been plunged into a whirl of unknowns. The economy is no exception to this development, plunging into a recession caused by the pandemic, marked by market liquidity, high inflation, and strained labor markets. Subsequent to these developments, the year 2022 is now being dubbed by investors and financial institutions as the critical year of recovery, during which the pandemic-wrought economic imbalances will get resolved, and the business cycle will recover. Morgan Stanley is one such commenter, as evidenced by their 2022 outlook report.

While the bank does not promise a return to the pre-pandemic market, it has commented that the economic and market environment in 2022 will be reflationary and marked by higher economic growth than 2021, alongside higher inflation and higher real interest rates. In such a market, Morgan Stanley has recommended that investors should focus on “technology takers,” or companies that are equipped to increase tech adoption.

The financial institution backed a number of big names in 2021, most of which performed exceptionally in the financial year. Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) is one such company. The stock is up 40% in the last 12 months. It has also received a Buy rating from Barclays analyst Jason Goldberg in January.

A popular stock pick for Morgan Stanley in 2021 was Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:FB), formerly Facebook. Last year, the firm commented that the metaverse was an $8 trillion addressable market. It added that the company’s growth durability and strong free cash flow despite investing billions in social networking makes it an obvious stock pick. In the fiscal third quarter, the company’s EPS was $3.22, beating estimates by $0.04.

Like JPMorgan Chase & Company (NYSE:JPM), The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), top stock picks by Morgan Stanley for 2022 worth a look.

Image by Blomst from Pixabay

Our Methodology

We have used Morgan Stanley analyst opinions, reports, and finance opinion articles to pick stocks considered to be top performers by the financial organization. They are ranked on the basis of the number of hedge funds holding stakes in them, from the lowest to the highest. For hedge fund information, we have used Insider Monkey’s hedge fund data for the third quarter of 2021, when 867 hedge funds were tracked.

Morgan Stanley’s Top Stock Picks for 2022

10. Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A

Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN) is a developer and manufacturer of electric adventure vehicles. The company offers five-passenger pickup trucks and sports utility vehicles to its customers, alongside electric SUVs and electric pickup vehicles. It has been reported that a team of Morgan Stanley analysts led by Adam Jonas ranked Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN) second on their list of favorite electric vehicle stocks for 2022, in a note released by the Autos and Shared Mobility team. It is thus among Morgan Stanley’s top stock picks for 2022.

This January, Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jonas also reiterated an Overweight rating on Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN) shares.

Comus Investment LLC, an investment management firm, mentioned Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN) in its fourth-quarter 2021 investor letter. Here’s what they said:

“Thesis investing ties hand-in-hand with the concept of intrinsic value, the all-important but equally useless term which suggests investors can estimate what companies are worth, with these estimates frequently supported by data which don’t exist, or which are expected to appear in the future, and which often deviate substantially from that shown in the past or present. These estimates of intrinsic value can vary dramatically based on our inputs of growth and profitability, and they are all incorporated into the stock pricing we currently see. Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN), for example, with its $90 billion valuation and complete lack of any revenue (though it does have pre-orders), must incorporate the idea that this venture, which is currently smaller than your local coffee shop, will be wildly successful. People are clearly paying good money for it and have optimism about its future.”

9. FREYR Battery (NYSE:FREY)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20

FREYR Battery (NYSE:FREY) is a company based in Norway, working on manufacturing battery cells with sustainable energy. The company ranked third on Morgan Stanley’s favorite electric vehicle stock for 2022 list, courtesy of analyst Adam Jonas, making it one of Morgan Stanley’s top stock picks for 2022 in the EV sector.

Adam Jonas from Morgan Stanley holds an Overweight rating on FREYR Battery (NYSE:FREY) shares as well, as of this January.

The EPS for FREYR Battery (NYSE:FREY) in the fiscal third quarter was -$0.42. It has gained 12.7% in the past six months.

Our hedge fund data shows 20 hedge funds holding stakes in FREYR Battery (NYSE:FREY) in the third quarter of 2021, with a total stake value of $378 million. The largest stakeholder for the quarter was Sylebra Capital Management, holding 12,419,240 shares worth over $122 million.

Like JPMorgan Chase & Company (NYSE:JPM), The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), FREYR Battery (NYSE:FREY) is a noteworthy stock to invest in this year.

8. Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27

Like the two stocks above, Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE) is among Morgan Stanley’s top stock picks for 2022, ranking first on the Adam Jonas-led team’s list of favorite EV stocks for 2022. The stock has replaced General Motors as Morgan Stanley’s top pick this year. Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE) itself designs, engineers, produces and sells luxury performance sports cars, and is a prospective big player in the EV sector.

Analyst Adam Jonas at Morgan Stanley holds an Overweight rating on Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE) shares as well, as of January 2022.

The company’s fiscal third quarter report shows an EPS of $1.29, beating estimates by $0.13. Its revenue of $1.22 billion was up 17.4% year over year. Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE) has also gained 20.2% in the past six months.

For Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE), our data shows 27 hedge funds long the stock in the third quarter. Their total stake value was $1.2 billion approximately, higher than the $992 million figure in the second quarter.

Ensemble Capital, an investment management firm, mentioned Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE) in its second-quarter 2021 investor letter. Here’s what they said:

“Ferrari: After posting standout performance in 2020, beating the S&P 500 by over 20%, Ferrari’s share price performance has lagged for much of this year. The main issue this quarter was the company pushing out their medium-term financial targets due to development and production delays caused by COVID, but this only led to a 1% decline in the stock price for the full quarter. While we believe the company did a fantastic job maintaining production in light of COVID, it did not surprise us that some of their longer-term, new model introductions might be delayed by a couple of quarters. While disappointing of course, Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE) is curating a set of extremely exclusive mechanical works of art and we are much happier seeing them take the time to do things right, rather than rushing to meet a self-imposed financial target.”

7. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is an aerospace and defense company operating through its Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems, and Space Systems segments. The company was dubbed as the “preferred Defense prime” for investors by Morgan Stanley analyst Kristine Liwag in December 2021. Liwag added that the stock was her preferred pick to “play the Great Power Competition theme in 2022,” making it one of Morgan Stanley’s top stock picks for 2022.

In December 2021, Liwag reiterated an Overweight rating on Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) shares.

With an EPS of $6.63, beating estimates by $0.65, and a revenue of $8.72 billion, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) exceeded expectations in the fiscal third quarter of 2021.

Out of the 29 hedge funds holding shares in the company in the third quarter, Yacktman Asset Management was the largest stakeholder. The fund held 437,931 shares in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), worth about $157 million.

Like JPMorgan Chase & Company (NYSE:JPM), The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is a stock investors are vying after today.

6. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is a security and aerospace company, working on the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services. The company is among Morgan Stanley’s top stock picks for 2022, with analyst Kristine Liwag backing its performance.

Liwag holds an Overweight rating on Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) shares as of December 2021.

According to the company’s fiscal third quarter earnings report, Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) had an EPS of $6.93, beating estimates by $0.13.

Out of 867, 51 hedge funds were long Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to 58 hedge funds in the previous quarter.

Vltava Fund, an investment management firm, mentioned Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) in its fourth-quarter 2021 investor letter. Here’s what they said:

“Of course, not all of our companies are doing better than we expected. Lockheed Martin fell somewhat short of our expectations last year. In the cases of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) disruptions in the supply and logistics chains. Lockheed uses a great many subcontractors from various countries and could not avoid issues with continuity of supplies. As a result, production will be slightly lower than we had expected.”

 

Click to continue reading and see Morgan Stanley’s Top 5 Stock Picks for 2022.

 

 

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Disclosure: None. Morgan Stanley’s Top 10 Stock Picks for 2022 is originally published on Insider Monkey.

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In this article, we will be taking a look at Morgan Stanley’s top 5 stock picks for 2022. To read our detailed analysis on Morgan Stanley’s stock picks and their performance, you can go directly to see Morgan Stanley’s Top 10 Stock Picks for 2022.

5۔ Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is another automobile manufacturer among Morgan Stanley’s top stock picks for 2022. The company works with electric vehicles and energy generation and storage systems. Analyst Adam Jonas at Morgan Stanley ranked it fourth on the firm’s list of favorite EV stocks for 2022.

Jonas also holds an Overweight rating on Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) shares as of this January.

In the third quarter of 2021, 60 hedge funds were long Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), with a total stake value of $10.6 billion.

]]> Sat, 22 Jan 2022 16:54:24 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/zjPTUnu5s43yLvdNOR3Flovmyuk5fxzE https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/zjPTUnu5s43yLvdNOR3Fllw3HFUzDTIP

Warren Buffett is an American business investor born on 30th August 1930. He is among the highly successful investors worldwide. Buffett’s strategies are based on the concept of value investing and have been adopted by many investment companies today.

According to the Forbes List of 2021, Warren Buffett, has a total net worth of 105.4 billion dollars as of December.

Warren Buffett helps people become rich. The world’s most successful investor is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, and he owns company stock. He invested his savings of $10,000, which increased to millions of dollars by purchasing stocks while in school.

With his incredible talent and experience, thousands of people have made the same investment. After decades of making money with stocks, horse races, newspapers, and real estate, he had accumulated a wealth of experience in investment strategy.

Invest In The Right Stock Market

Investor Paul Getty once said: “The excitement of good investments never goes away. It’s a bit like being in love.” While he’s talking about making money in stocks or real estate, the point is still the same. Making money with investments has been a way of life for centuries. And while it’s not an easy path to take, there are ways to earn a living searching for great investments and trading stocks that can produce relatively stable dividends over time.

Warren Buffett’s investment strategy is straightforward. He advises people to look for good companies with substantial competitive advantages. And then you put your time and energy into understanding those companies the way best you can. Warren has adopted the strategy to read everything he can find, spend time with management, poke around the business, and get to know the competitors. Then he buys billions of dollars worth of stock and holds it as long as possible.

The Key to success

Warren Buffett, the world’s Tenth-richest man with a net worth of more than $103 billion, has established himself as probably the best investor of our time. What’s his secret? Buffett reads one page of the annual reports of hundreds of companies every year. This simple habit helps him find undervalued stocks and excellent investment opportunities. At the end of the year, he buys shares only in those companies he considers the best and sells shares in those companies that do not perform as expected.

This simple trick helps Barren find stocks that can provide exceptional returns. One of his favorite areas of investing are small technology companies with a product or service that is disruptive to an established industry. Such companies have so called competitive advantage, that is, any factor that allows an enterprise to provide a good or service that is similar to those offered by its competitors and, at the same time, outperform those competitors in profits.

Convenient Mode of Payment

An online business can be faced with so many challenges especially having a mode of transaction that assures clients of the safety of their money and privacy of their credentials. Warren Buffet says that the stock market is like a device that investors transfer money from impatient to patients.

E-transfer makes business transactions more accessible and convenient as most people and organizations have taken their business online. E.g., purchasing stock and video gaming companies like Epic, Zwift, and so on.

When making transactions online, go for a company that offers you incomparable services and convenient payment methods.

Are you overthinking yourself on a company that gives you irresistible offers like safety, convenience, and surety of your money? Worry no more, instead choose the one with a secure payment system regardless of what type of service or enterprise it is. Only this way you might avoid problems or financial theft.

Money-Making Strategies To Help You Earn Without Working

Warren Buffett is the world’s most successful investor. He is the head of Berkshire Hathaway, an investment company with more than 60 business units, including ice cream, underwear, or insurance. Buffett has never worked a day in his life, and he earns $10 billion just by sitting at home to read annual reports.

Warren Buffett is among the richest, globally. He lives in a modest home, drives a Cadillac XTS, and dresses casually. Warren earns $100,000 per year, and his fortune grows by millions every day.

Berkshire Hathaway’s most successful investor isn’t just an average workaholic. He doesn’t toil over spreadsheets or slave all night over a hot keyboard. Instead, he lives in his opulent office – a $10 million Omaha penthouse overlooking the city – and takes long, luxurious naps every afternoon across his favorite cashmere throw while dreaming of doughnuts.

Conclusion

Buffett’s strategy is simple. If a company is undervalued and shows that it can grow over time, it’s worth buying. Then he takes this a step further: he waits for the value to be shown in the market rather than basing his decisions on current earnings or future projections. That might sound like common sense, but as you’ll see in this article, there are plenty of investors out there who would prefer to rely on their own estimates and projections instead of the hard evidence of the market itself.

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iGaming is the online gaming and gambling industry. It encompasses the playing or betting on the outcome of a game or an event online. This can include betting on the outcome of a video game or a sports event, poker betting, and playing online casino games for real money. The majority of iGaming involves sports betting and casino games and we are going to take a closer look at how they fared in 2021 across the globe.

Every industry on the planet was forced to deal with an unpredictable and often difficult 2021. There were times when people were limited in what they could do and when they could do it but one thing that remained open at all times was iGaming. However, that is not to say iGaming did not take a hit and the online sports betting industry was looking to recover from an extremely difficult 2020. There is no doubt 2021, not without its own problems, was far superior to that of 2020 for the iGaming industry.

There was an upward trend in terms of growth as people became more accustomed to doing things digitally. It is believed that by the end of 2021, the online gaming industry exceeded $75 billion, which is an incredible figure. Interest in land based casino gambling has dropped, despite the fact most land based casinos around the world have now reopened. The same cannot be said for iGaming and having seen growth in 2021, this is expected to continue at a potential rate of 11.4% in 2022 onwards. That would mean, by the time we reach 2026, the online gambling market could be worth over double what it is today, which is incredible.

The iGaming industry would struggle to expand if it were not for countries passing legislation to legalise online gambling. The Netherlands and Germany are two good examples of countries who have issued first licenses for iGaming and Ireland are not far behind. There are several other emerging iGaming regions across the world that saw growth in 2021. In New Zealand, online casino gambling remains illegal but playing in foreign online casinos is allowed, with Casumo online casino being one of the top licensed offshore casinos offering their services in the country.

Technology was one of the leading developments within the iGaming industry in 2021. As more people started using cryptocurrency to make payments online, iGaming brands were forced to look more closely at blockchain systems. Virtual reality and augmented reality also took steps forward in 2021.

eSports was adopted by several online gambling brands in 2021 having seen how successful it was during the previous year. When everything else stopped in the world of professional competitive sport, eSports kept going due to the fact players could participate from their own home. As a result, more online bookmakers introduced eSports betting markets and that continued in 2021, something that has proven popular with online gamblers.

So, 2021 was a strong year for the iGaming industry and we expect to see more of the same in 2022 and beyond.

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The massive shift in individuals working from home has been life-changing, to say the least. Whether forced to do so due to the recent pandemic or your new job is predominantly remote work the change is something that can be incredibly disrupting. The following article will take a look at easily adoptable steps to make the change seamless. Even if you have been working remotely for some time these steps could help improve your productivity and overall workflow.

Bring on the Apps

While there are several things you can do to declutter your new workspace in your home, some of which will be covered, the first place to start is to empower your performance with readily available apps. This can be a daunting task as the IT infrastructure, including aspects like storage, security, and privacy, might be as readily tappable as when you were in the office.

Several great apps have been developed to help mitigate these problems. Apps like Dropbox, Google Drive, Gmail, Zoom, and Slack can be used to facilitate communication between teams, storage, and allowing the team to access important data when needed. If these apps are adopted it is better to designate an app for a specific purpose. For instance, Dropbox can be used exclusively for data access and storage, email to communicate to clients, and Slack for team communication.

Another, sometimes underrated, the tool is a screen recorder for PC to assist in both the transition to and continued remote work experience. By being able to record presentations or meetings you and your team can make sure no information regarding the meeting is lost. The recorded meeting using the right screen recorder can keep information in high definition for as long as is needed once stored in a cloud. Further, you can make quick videos to better get a point across and avoid lengthy meetings just to clear up a potential mistake.

The Great Declutter

Decluttering not only applies to your physical space but also your digital space. There are several great resources for decluttering your physical space so this article will focus on how to declutter your digital space. The first port of call should be your Internet Browser as your browser will often be the tool most used during your migration to a remote working solution. Modern browsers boast great functionality for managing bookmarks. These can be arranged in groups for added ease of access. Further, tab groups can be set up to focus purely on certain aspects of your work life.

The next place commonly needing a good cleaning is your desktop. Over time your desktop will begin to look more and more like a Jackson Pollock painting if he used icons instead of splashes of paint. Documents here, there, and everywhere intermingled with folders and application shortcuts not only look a mess but make it incredibly difficult to find anything. Keeping app shortcuts to those most used as long as dedicated folders for active projects will simplify your desktop substantially. Your peace of mind will thank you that’s a promise.

Streamline Communication

When you are no longer a stone’s throw away from your team, communication can be a nightmare. Above we mentioned how you can choose a messaging app solely for team communication and this is a good start. Further, as a group, you can set rules for appropriate response times to messages or emails as well as what platform to use and when.

Several apps now also come with handy features like on-the-fly polling which can help prevent lengthy chats where other team members may miss important information. To that extent setting up different chats for certain functions is important. Memes while funny should not be in chats relating to important projects, leave those for work and only work.

Conclusion

There is a multitude of your migration to remote working can be simplified. This article has included just a few, focusing on how you use technology and how technology can be used to improve productivity. This is not to say your physical space and the way you work are not important. These are, developing exercise routines, healthy eating habits, and taking regular breaks can be just as beneficial to your new remote working life as the tech used.

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The SEC has Blocked Anthony Scaramucci’s Bitcoin ETF (CNN Business)
New York – US regulators have rejected former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci‘s hedge fund’s filing to list a bitcoin exchange-traded fund. The proposal from First Trust Advisors and SkyBridge, the hedge fund founded by Scaramucci, would have been called the First Trust SkyBridge Bitcoin ETF and tracked the “spot,” or current, price of bitcoin. It’s the latest in a series of Securities and Exchange Commission rejections of spot bitcoin ETFs, which seek to provide easy exposure to the cryptocurrency.

What’s Behind EcoR1’s Healthy Returns (Institutional Investor)
The one-time II Rising Star posted another strong gain in a year when many other life sciences hedge funds lost money. EcoR1 Capital has once again posted strong results. The life sciences fund headed by Oleg Nodelman was up 29 percent last year, according to an investor. This is especially impressive given that 2021 was a rough year for many life sciences hedge funds, especially those that load up on fledgling biopharma stocks…

Wall Street Titans Support One of Their Own, David McCormick, in Senate Bid (The Wall Street Journal)
David McCormick, the former chief executive of hedge fund giant Bridgewater Associates who is running for the open Senate seat in Pennsylvania, has the backing of some of Wall Street’s biggest names. Stephen Schwarzman and Ken Griffin are among those hosting a fundraiser in March for Mr. McCormick at Paul Tudor Jones’s home in Palm Beach, Fla., according to an invitation viewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Image by MayoFi from Pixabay

Renaissance Technologies Sees USD15bn in Outflows Despite Double-Digit Returns (Hedge Week)
Quant-focused Renaissance Technologies has seen almost USD15 billion in outflows over the past 14 months, according to a Bloomberg report, despite the firm’s three publically-available hedge funds having delivered double-digit returns for investors in 2021. The reports says that the outflows initially started in 2020 after the RIEF, RIDA and RIDGE funds delivered negative returns of 19 per cent, 31 per cent, and 31 per cent respectively in 2020, while Renaissance’s private Medallion strategy generated positive returns of 76 per cent over the same period.

Carlson Capital Lost More than $1 Billion in Assets and Dozens of Employees Last Year Despite Above-Average Performance (Business Insider)
Billionaire Clint Carlson‘s flagship hedge fund outperformed the average fund last year. The firm’s hedge funds now manage $1.5 billion, down $1.3 billion from a year ago. Firm headcount fell from 93 to 69 as well, with just 31 people working in investment roles now. Usually when assets and employees are fleeing, it’s because investors aren’t happy with returns and workers aren’t getting paid.

Novogratz’ Galaxy Digital Hires Blackstone Executive for Asset Management Arm (Reuters)
BOSTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd (GLXY.TO), a crypto-oriented financial services firm, on Thursday said it hired an executive from asset management giant Blackstone Group (BX.N) to help grow its business and expand product offerings.

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In this article, we discuss the 10 best dividend stocks according to John Overdeck and David Siegel’s Two Sigma Advisors. You can skip our detailed analysis of the hedge fund and its performance, and go directly to read 5 Best Dividend Stocks According to John Overdeck And David Siegel’s Two Sigma Advisors. 

John Overdeck and David Siegel co-founded Two Sigma Advisors, a New York-based hedge fund, in 2001. The hedge fund utilizes technological advances and data sciences in global financial markets to make investments while managing risks. The use of a scientific approach in investment management comes with the founders’ propensity for data and technology, especially machine learning and distributed computing.

Before founding Two Sigma, both Overdeck and Siegel worked at some of the most prominent hedge funds, like D E Shaw and Tudor Investments. This polished their strategy of deploying scientific rules in financial markets. Currently, the hedge fund has over 1600 employees in research and development roles. In 2019, Overdeck and Siegel received a lifetime achievement award at Institutional Investors’ 17^th annual Hedge Fund Industry Awards. The data-driven hedge fund managed to generate positive returns over the years through its technology-based investment methods. The hedge fund’s Compass Fund rebounded in 2021, gaining 8.75% through November, after posting a loss of 12.21% in 2020.

As of Q3 2021, Two Sigma Advisors’ portfolio value stands at over $38.5 billion, up from $37.9 billion in the preceding quarter. The hedge fund invests heavily in technology, healthcare, and services sectors, among others. Some of the hedge fund’s major holdings in Q3 include Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:FB). However, in this article, we will focus on the dividend stocks in Two Sigma Advisors’ 13F portfolio as of Q3.

David Siegel of Two Sigma Advisors

John Overdeck of Two Sigma Advisors

Our Methodology: 

In this article, we will focus on the dividend stocks in Two Sigma Advisors’ portfolio. For this list, we considered the hedge fund’s 13F portfolio as of Q3.

10 Best Dividend Stocks According to John Overdeck And David Siegel’s Two Sigma Advisors

10. Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45

 

Dividend Yield as of January 18: 7.10%

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is an American manufacturing company that mainly specializes in tobacco, cigarettes, and related products. In Q3 2021, Two Sigma Advisors increased its stake in the company significantly by 481% and now holds roughly 2.6 million shares, worth over $118 million. Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) represented 0.3% of John Overdeck and David Siegel’s portfolio in Q3.

On December 9, Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) announced a quarterly dividend of $0.90 per share, with a dividend yield of 7.10%. 2021 marked the company’s 56^th dividend increase in the past 52 years. Moreover, Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)’s long-term payout ratio target of 80% indicates that the company will continue to distribute a significant amount of its cash flow to shareholders. Recently, Morgan Stanley set a $52 price target on Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), while keeping an Equal Weight rating on the shares.

At the end of Q3 2021, 45 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported owning stakes in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), down from 47 in the previous quarter. These stakes hold a consolidated value of roughly $830 million. With over 5.1 million shares, Harris Associates was the company’s largest shareholder in Q3.

Like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:FB), Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is one of the most notable stocks in Two Sigma Advisors’ Q3 portfolio.

Broyhill Asset Management mentioned Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) in its Q2 2021 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

“Altria (MO) shook off the prospects of a ban on menthol and a potential cap on nicotine and gained 20%. We shared our thoughts on these regulations during the quarter, which are available here.

MO Valuation. MO is up ~ 18% YTD (even accounting for the recent sell-off). We expect MO to generate close to $5 in annual FCF per share over the next few years, putting the stock at ~ 10x, which is less than half the market’s multiple today. Over the last decade, shares have traded at an average multiple of 15x and within a range of ~ 10x – 20x (+/-1 standard deviation). The stock yields 7.2% at the current price, close to a 6% premium to treasuries. Historically, shares have traded closer to a 3% premium to the 10Y, which would imply a ~ $75 share price.”

9. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 66

 

Dividend Yield as of January 18: 7.60%

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is an American holding company that offers telecommunications, media, and tech services to its consumers. On December 16, the company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.52 per share, with a dividend yield of 7.60%. Though AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has been increasing dividends for the past 36 years, analysts are expecting dividend cuts in 2022 and 2023.

As per Insider Monkey’s Q3 data, 66 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), down from 68 in the preceding quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is over $3.2 billion, up from $2.8 billion in Q2.

Recently, Citigroup added AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) to its ‘positive catalyst watchlist’ as the company is expected to see growth in postpaid phone net sales. The firm lifted its price target on the stock to $29, while keeping a Buy rating on the shares. In Q3 2021, Two Sigma Advisors increased its stake in AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) by 99%, which now represents 0.87% of its 13F portfolio.

Nelson Capital Management mentioned AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) in its Q1 2021 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

“Nelson Capital stayed busy in the first quarter, making several adjustments within our core portfolio. In the communication services sector, we sold AT&T (tkr: T). Over the years, AT&T has made several poor acquisitions, especially in the content realm, leaving the company saddled with debt and unable to change directions.”

8. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 61

 

Dividend Yield as of January 18: 1.64%

An American multinational beverage corporation, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) has a 59-year track record of consistent dividend growth.

Two Sigma Advisors started investing in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) during the fourth quarter of 2010. In Q3 2021, the hedge fund increased its stake in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) by 58%, which represented 0.88% of its 13F portfolio. As The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) reported growth in its on-premise sales despite low vaccination rates, in January, Guggenheim upgraded the stock’s shares to Buy, while lifting its price target to $66.

With stakes worth $25.1 billion, 61 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held positions in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) in Q3, compared with 62 in the previous quarter.

7. Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62

 

Dividend Yield as of January 18: 2.34%

Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) is an American-Irish medical device company, which is best known for its revolutionary cardiac devices. Two Sigma Advisors started investing in the company during the third quarter of 2016. In Q3 2021, the hedge fund owned a stake worth over $373.4 million in Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), which accounted for 0.96% of its 13F portfolio.

On December 10, Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) announced a quarterly dividend of $0.63 per share, with a dividend yield of 2.34%. The company has maintained a 44-year streak of consistent dividend growth. However, the dividend growth rate has declined to 8% in the past three years, which was previously recorded at 16%. Recently, Morgan Stanley set a $120 price target on Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), with an Equal Weight rating on the shares.

In Q3 2021, 62 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), down from 68 in the previous quarter. The total value of these stakes is over $2.27 billion. Diamond Hill Capital was the company’s largest shareholder in Q3, owning shares worth over $575.6 million.

6. Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 46

 

Dividend Yield as of January 18: 2.08%

Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) is an American confectionery and food holding company based in Chicago. In January, Morgan Stanley appreciated the company’s strong pricing power and lifted its price target on the stock to $73, with an Overweight rating on the shares.

At the end of Q3 2021, 46 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported owning stakes in Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ), compared with 53 in the previous quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is roughly $2 billion.

In Q2 2021, Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) increased its quarterly dividend by 11%  to $0.35 per share, with a dividend yield of 2.08%. The company has been raising its dividend consecutively for the past eight years and has increased its dividend at a CAGR of 13.4% in the past five years. In Q3 2021, Two Sigma Advisors increased its stake in Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) by 40%, which represented 0.99% of its 13F portfolio.

Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) is one of the most prominent stocks in Two Sigma Advisors’ portfolio, like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:FB), Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO).

 

 

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best Dividend Stocks According to John Overdeck And David Siegel’s Two Sigma Advisors. 

 

 

Suggested articles:

• 10 Dividend Stock Picks of Ira Unschuld’s Brant Point Investment
• 10 Canadian Dividend Stocks to Buy
• 10 Healthcare Dividend Stocks with Over 3% Yield

Disclosure. None. 10 Best Dividend Stocks According to John Overdeck And David Siegel’s Two Sigma Advisors is originally published on Insider Monkey.

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In this article, we discuss the 5 best dividend stocks according to John Overdeck and David Siegel’s Two Sigma Advisors. If you want to read our detailed analysis of the hedge fund and its performance, go directly to read 10 Best Dividend Stocks According to John Overdeck And David Siegel’s Two Sigma Advisors. 

5. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 74
Dividend Yield as of January 18: 3.33%

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) is an American multinational pharmaceutical company and is also known for its biological research. In Q3 2021, the number of hedge funds having stakes in the company increased to 74, from 73 in the previous quarter. These stakes hold a consolidated value of $4.75 billion. Berkshire Hathaway held a stake worth $1.3 billion in Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY), becoming its largest shareholder in Q3.

On December 13, 2021, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) announced a quarterly dividend of $0.54 per share, an increase of 10% from the previous quarter. The stock’s current dividend yield stands at 3.33%. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) has been increasing its dividend for the past 15 years consecutively. This December, JPMorgan lifted its price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) to $80, while maintaining an Overweight rating on the shares.

Two Sigma Advisors started investing in Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) during the fourth quarter of 2010, with shares worth over $5.2 million. In Q3 2021, the hedge fund increased its stake in the company by 710%, which accounted for 1.01% of its 13F portfolio.

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