Insight into Viking Global's Q4 Moves: Major Sells and Strategic Buys
Andreas Halvorsen (Trades, Portfolio), a renowned figure in the investment world, has recently made significant changes to his portfolio according to the latest 13F filing for the fourth quarter of 2023. As a founding partner of Viking Global Investors LP, Halvorsen's strategies are closely watched by the investment community. Viking, now under the stewardship of CIO Ning Jin, was established in 1999 and operates from Greenwich, Connecticut. The firm is known for its research-intensive, long-term investment philosophy, focusing on fundamental analysis to select equities across various industries and regions. Viking's decentralized research and centralized risk management structure allow it to leverage diverse expertise while maintaining a comprehensive risk oversight.
Summary of New Buys
Andreas Halvorsen (Trades, Portfolio)'s Viking Global Investors has expanded its portfolio with the addition of 18 new stocks. Noteworthy new positions include:
- Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD, Financial), purchasing 4,737,399 shares, which now comprise 2.56% of the portfolio, valued at approximately $698.34 million.
- Deere & Co (DE, Financial), acquiring 1,406,562 shares, making up about 2.06% of the portfolio, with a total investment of $562.44 million.
- Alphabet Inc (GOOGL, Financial), with a new stake of 3,293,461 shares, accounting for 1.69% of the portfolio, valued at $460.06 million.
Key Position Increases
Halvorsen also bolstered positions in 23 existing holdings, with significant increases in:
- Progressive Corp (PGR, Financial), adding 4,718,237 shares for a total of 5,863,559 shares, marking a 411.96% increase in share count and a 2.75% portfolio impact, valued at $933.95 million.
- Mastercard Inc (MA, Financial), with an additional 864,943 shares, bringing the total to 1,157,231 shares, a 295.92% increase in share count, valued at $493.57 million.
Summary of Sold Out Positions
In a notable portfolio shake-up, Andreas Halvorsen (Trades, Portfolio) exited 20 positions during the fourth quarter of 2023, including:
- Microsoft Corp (MSFT, Financial), selling all 3,024,399 shares, which had a -3.89% impact on the portfolio.
- Block Inc (SQ, Financial), liquidating all 12,324,808 shares, resulting in a -2.22% portfolio impact.
Key Position Reductions
Halvorsen also trimmed stakes in 21 stocks, with the most substantial reductions in:
- UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH, Financial), cutting 1,397,162 shares, a -75.2% decrease, impacting the portfolio by -2.87%. UNH traded at an average price of $533.34 during the quarter and has seen a -4.16% return over the past three months and -1.95% year-to-date.
- Amazon.com Inc (AMZN, Financial), reducing the position by 3,820,344 shares, a -43.66% decrease, with a -1.98% impact on the portfolio. AMZN's average trading price was $140.18 for the quarter, with a 16.63% return over the past three months and 11.91% year-to-date.
Portfolio Overview
As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, Andreas Halvorsen (Trades, Portfolio)'s portfolio contained 78 stocks. The top holdings included 5.43% in Visa Inc (V, Financial), 4.73% in United Parcel Service Inc (UPS, Financial), 4.35% in APi Group Corp (APG, Financial), 4.16% in Workday Inc (WDAY, Financial), and 3.88% in Meta Platforms Inc (META, Financial). The investments are predominantly spread across 10 of the 11 industries, with significant allocations in Healthcare, Financial Services, Industrials, Technology, Communication Services, Consumer Defensive, Consumer Cyclical, Basic Materials, Real Estate, and Energy.
This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.
