Investment Counsel Inc.'s Q4 2020 vs. Q1 2021: Insights on 13F Holdings Changes

As an investor, keeping track of funds and their portfolio changes can be challenging, yet critical for making informed investment decisions. The latest 13F holdings report for Investment Counsel Inc., a registered investment advisor, provides insights into the fund's portfolio changes in the Q4 2020 and Q1 2021 periods. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the changes in the fund's holdings and what they might mean for investors.

First, it's important to understand what a 13F filing is. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires all institutional investment managers with assets over $100 million to file a 13F form that lists their quarterly holdings of U.S.-traded securities. These public filings give investors a view of what leading institutional investors are buying or selling.

For Q4 2020, Investment Counsel Inc. reported holding 39 distinct securities in their portfolio, with the total value of their holdings worth $130,483,000. For comparison, in Q1 2021, the number of securities held decreased to 35, with a total worth of $120,571,000. This represents a 7.6% decrease in the number of securities held, while the total worth of the portfolio decreased by 7.6%. Let's dive into the individual changes in holdings to gain a better understanding of what's happening in the fund.

Top Gainers

One of the fund's top gainers in terms of the percentage increase in shares held was Applied Matls Inc. The fund increased its holdings by 13,128 shares or 71.2%, bringing its total holdings in the company to 31,578 shares. The stock of Applied Matls Inc. climbed 74.9% over the same period, making it one of the best-performing stocks in the fund's portfolio.

Other top gainers in the fund's portfolio include American Express Co. and Stanley Black & Decker Inc. The fund held on to the same number of shares in both companies, but the value of their holdings increased by 17% and 6.3%, respectively.

Top Losers

One of the fund's top losers in terms of the percentage decrease in shares held was Stryker Corporation. The fund reduced its holdings by 1,950 shares or 33.1%, bringing its total holdings in the company to 3,932 shares. The stock of Stryker Corporation declined 33.5%, reflecting the same drop in shares held by the fund.

Other top losers in the fund's portfolio include Disney Walt Co, PepsiCo Inc., and Merck & Co. Inc., all dropping by more than 17% in value.

New Holdings

Investment Counsel Inc. introduced three new holdings to its portfolio in Q1 2021: Church & Dwight Inc, General MLS Inc, and Chevron Corp New. Out of these three stocks, Church & Dwight Inc was the most significant in terms of the number of shares, with 3,365 shares being held by the fund. General MLS and Chevron were held, but the fund did not keep any shares in those companies by the end of Q1 2021.

Final Thoughts

Investment Counsel Inc. made notable portfolio changes during the Q4 2020 and Q1 2021 periods. The changes included reducing the number of securities held and their total worth. This decrease was primarily driven by the fund's selling of shares in Stryker Corporation, Pepsico Inc., and Merck & Co. Inc. On the other hand, Applied Matls Inc., American Express Co., and Stanley Black & Decker Inc. were some of the top gainers.

It's crucial to note that the changes in the fund's holdings may not represent a complete picture of the company's investment strategy or future performance. Investors should use this information as a starting point to conduct further research into the individual securities in which the funds are invested. With that information, they can make informed decisions to best meet their investment goals.