Shifting Holdings: Comparing YHB Investment Advisors, Inc.'s Q3 and Q4 2022 Portfolios

When it comes to investing, one of the keys to success is having a well-diversified portfolio that can weather market volatility. For investment firms like YHB Investment Advisors, Inc., it's essential to monitor the holdings of the funds they manage regularly. In this blog post, we'll analyze the changes in YHB's 13F holdings between Q3 and Q4 of 2022, looking at the top-performing stocks while noting any significant shifts or surprises.

First, a brief explanation of what the 13F is: it's a quarterly filing that all institutional investment managers with over $100 million in qualifying assets must submit to the SEC. These reports disclose the number of shares and value of each qualifying stock held by the investment firm, providing transparent information on the holdings of institutional investors.

Now, let's examine YHB's Q3 and Q4 13F filings. The firm's top-five holdings in Q3 by value were AAPL (Apple Inc.), MSFT (Microsoft Corp.), TMO (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.), BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.), and DHR (Danaher Corporation). These five stocks accounted for over 43 percent of YHB's total portfolio value. In Q4, the top holdings remained the same, but with a notable shift: the number of shares and value of each stock decreased. The exception was TMO, which increased in both shares and value.

One of the most surprising shifts was the decrease in the value of AMZN (Amazon.com Inc.). In Q3, AMZN was the seventh-largest holding in YHB's portfolio, but by Q4, it had dropped out of the top 10. Additionally, YHB reduced its shares of AMZN by over 16 percent, selling off over 42,000 shares. While it's unclear why YHB sold off AMZN, the stock's volatility in the second half of 2022 may have played a role.

Another significant shift was YHB's move to increase its holdings of SCHD (Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF) by over 31 percent, making it the firm's 10th largest holding by value in Q4. This shift is consistent with YHB's overall strategy of investing in well-diversified portfolios, as SCHD provides exposure to dividend-paying stocks across all sectors of the market.

In terms of the best-performing stocks, the clear winner was NKE (Nike Inc.), which increased in value by over 39 percent between Q3 and Q4. Other notable performers include SYK (Stryker Corporation), which increased in value by over 20 percent, and HD (Home Depot Inc.), which increased by almost 15 percent.

While YHB's Q4 portfolio saw some significant shifts compared to Q3, it's important to note that the firm remains focused on investing in high-quality, well-diversified portfolios. As with any investment strategy, there are risks to consider, and it's essential to stay informed and adapt to market conditions. Nevertheless, by choosing stocks with strong fundamentals and a long-term perspective, YHB is positioning itself for success in the years ahead.