A Shift in Wealth: Comparing Meristem Family Wealth's Q1 and Q3 2022 Holdings

As the economy continues to recover from the pandemic, investment strategies are constantly shifting. This is evident in the comparison of Meristem Family Wealth, LLC's 13F holdings from Q1 2022 to Q3 2022. The fund experienced significant changes in its portfolio, with many stocks being sold off entirely. In this blog post, we will delve into the details of the changes made and explore the potential reasons behind them.

Q1 2022 vs. Q3 2022: An Overview

The most striking change in Meristem Family Wealth's holdings is the significant reduction in positions. In Q1 2022, the fund had positions in 68 issuers, holding a total value of over $2.4 billion. However, in Q3 2022, the fund held positions in only 15 issuers, with a total value of just under $4 million. This represents a drastic reduction of 77.94% in position count and a staggering 99.83% decrease in position value.

Top Stocks Sold in Q3 2022

The fund's three largest positions from Q1 2022 did not make an appearance in Q3 2022. These were:

- iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV): In Q1 2022, Meristem Family Wealth held over 416,000 shares of this exchange-traded fund (ETF), with a value of $189 million. However, it sold its entire position in Q3 2022.

- iShares S&P 100 ETF (OEF): This ETF, which tracks the performance of the top 100 companies on the S&P 500, had over 580,000 shares held by the fund in Q1 2022, with a value of $121 million. Again, the position was entirely liquidated in Q3 2022.

- iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR): Another ETF, this one tracking the small-cap segment of the S&P 500, had over 1 million shares held by the fund in Q1 2022. The position had a value of $114 million, which was entirely sold off in Q3 2022.

Other notable stocks that the fund sold off entirely in Q3 2022 include:

- Centene Corp (CNC): In Q1 2022, Meristem Family Wealth held almost 500,000 shares of this healthcare company, with a value of $41.5 million.

- Apple Inc (AAPL): The fund held over 161,000 shares of the technology giant, with a value of $28 million.

- Amazon.com Inc (AMZN): The fund had a small position in this e-commerce giant, with just over 3,000 shares held in Q1 2022. However, the position had a relatively high value of $10 million.

Top Stocks Bought in Q3 2022

Meristem Family Wealth purchased positions in only four issuers in Q3 2022. The most significant was TWO Harbors Investment Corp (TWO), a mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT). The fund purchased over 387,000 shares of TWO, with a value of $2.1 million. Other significant purchases include:

- Belden Inc (BDC): Meristem Family Wealth purchased over 65,000 shares of this manufacturer of networking and cable products, with a value of $3.6 million.

- Donnelley Financial Solutions Inc (DFIN): The fund bought over 45,000 shares of this financial communications company, with a value of $1.5 million.

- Blackstone Strategic Credit Fund (BGB): Meristem Family Wealth purchased over 113,000 shares of this closed-end fund, which invests in loans and debt securities. The position had a value of $1.5 million.

Reasons for the Portfolio Changes

It is difficult to determine with certainty the reasons behind Meristem Family Wealth's significant portfolio changes. However, some possible explanations include:

- Rebalancing: The fund may have been rebalancing its portfolio to maintain its desired asset allocation or to reduce risk.

- Market conditions: The stock market has experienced significant volatility in recent months, and the fund may have decided to shift its portfolio to take advantage of changing market conditions.

- Managerial decisions: The fund's management team may have decided to adopt a new investment strategy or to focus on a different asset class.

Conclusion

Meristem Family Wealth, LLC's Q1 and Q3 2022 holdings comparison highlights the volatility and potential for change in investment strategies. While the reasons for the significant changes in the fund's holdings are not entirely clear, it is evident that the fund made drastic moves to sell off its previous holdings and invest in new positions. As always, investors should stay vigilant and continue to monitor their own portfolios to ensure that they are properly diversified and aligned with their investment goals.