Howland Capital Management LLC Q4 2022 vs. Q1 2023 13F Holdings Comparison

Investment firms and hedge funds holding large positions of publicly traded companies in the US are required to file quarterly reports known as 13F filings. The filing discloses the firm's holdings and changes in positions over the quarter. This blog post will explore the changes in holdings of Howland Capital Management LLC in Q4 2022 versus Q1 2023, based on the latest 13F filings.

Howland Capital Management LLC increased holdings in 19 companies and decreased holdings in 13 companies. The total value of the portfolio decreased by 1.4% from $1.47 billion to $1.45 billion.

One of the largest increases in holdings was in Vanguard International Equity Index Fund (VEU). Howland Capital Management LLC increased its position by 13.7%, from 2,369,595 shares to 2,500,337 shares, worth $118.8 million and $133.7 million, respectively. VEU is a broad-based international stock fund with exposure to more than 6,000 stocks in over 40 countries.

Another significant increase in holdings was in Alphabet Inc (GOOGL). The firm increased its position by 2.1%, from 414,264 shares to 422,806 shares, worth $36.6 million and $43.9 million, respectively. Google's parent company has been one of the best-performing FAANG stocks in recent years, with steady revenue growth and dominant market shares in search and mobile operating systems.

On the other hand, Howland Capital Management LLC decreased its exposure in several blue chips stocks, including Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK-B), CVS Health Corp (CVS), Procter & Gamble Co (PG), and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). The largest decrease in holdings was in Berkshire Hathaway Inc, down by 13.3%, from 206,438 shares to 179,127 shares, worth $63.8 million and $55.3 million, respectively. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has underperformed the broader market in the past few years due to its significant exposure to the financial sector.

In terms of sector allocation, Howland Capital Management LLC maintained a bullish view on technology stocks with a 30.5% allocation, followed by consumer staples (11.6%), healthcare (10.9%), financials (10.6%), and industrials (10.2%). The firm significantly reduced its exposure to energy stocks, down from 4.0% to 2.7%.

In conclusion, the latest 13F filings reveal that Howland Capital Management LLC increased its exposure to international stocks and technology companies while cut holdings in the financial and energy sectors. However, the firm's total portfolio value decreased slightly from the previous quarter. It will be interesting to see how these moves play out in the coming months and whether Howland Capital Management LLC's investment strategies will result in significant returns for its clients.