Real-Time Rodeo and Round Up - Reduction Trades

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May 24, 2013
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The month of May is when rodeo season heats up around the U.S. and cowboys, just like investors, prove their timing, finesse and skill in riding something risky and unpredictable. A review of the GuruFocus "Real Time Picks" report shows the month of May was a virtual rodeo of reductions made by the world’s top investors. Let’s round up the riders and the horses for a real-time reduction rodeo:

Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH, Financial)

First out of the chute is Edward Lampert riding the bucking bronco, Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH). Lampert could have been thrown off a long time ago, but it looks like he is hanging on and possibly riding it all the way to an out-of-court agreement with lenders. As of May 17, 2013, Lampert reduced his position with OSH by 8.88%, selling 21,180, shares at an average price of $1.51. According to GuruFocus, he still holds 217,399 shares after this trade.

The current OSH share price is $1.67 with a change from average up 11%.

Tenet Healthcare Corp. (THC, Financial)

Next up, rough-riding Larry Robbins has full control of his pony, Tenet Healthcare Corp. (THC). Robbins reduced his position with THC by 28.9% as of May 14, 2013, unloading 4 million shares at $47.57. THC has been making excellent gains for Robbins in all five quarters in which he held. He holds around 9.8 million shares after the trade that made an impact of minus 1.98% to his portfolio.

The current THC share price is $45 with a change of average down 9%.

Overstock.com Inc. (OSTK, Financial)

Investor cowboy Francis Chou is up next, fast out of the chute, with a firm grip on his horse, Overstock.com Inc. (OSTK). Chou reduced his position by 3.48% as of May 10, 2013, selling 50,612 shares at $25.75.

Francis Chou holds over 1.4 million shares after the trade, according to GuruFocus.

This trade made an impact of -0.4% on his portfolio.

The current OSTK share price is $25.44.



Service Corporation International Inc. (SCI, Financial)


Activist cowboy investor Mason Hawkins is next, leaving the chute on a very calm pony, Service Corporation International Inc. (SCI), well under his command for 18 quarters of gains. Hawkins reduced his position by 43.81% as of May 10, 2013, selling around $16.83.

He holds over 13.8 million shares after the trade that impacts his portfolio by -0.82%.

The current SCI share price is $17.19 with a change from average up 2%.



Career Education Corp. (CECO, Financial)


The last cowboy investor in today’s reduction rodeo is Richard Blum, springing out of the chute on a temperamental pony, Career Education Corp. (CECO). Once again, Blum reduced his position with CECO by 7.36% as of May 10, 2013, selling shares at around $2.55 per share.

Blum owns around 9.2 million shares after the trade that impacts his portfolio by -0.31%.

The current CECO share price is $3.04 with a change from average up 17%.

That’s all for this week’s Real-Time Rodeo and Round Up, so in rodeo slang, "Reach for the sky," and have a look at the GuruFocus "Real Time Picks" reports for stock purchases and sales made within the last two weeks.



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