Stevens First Principles Investment Advisors Q1 2019 vs. Q2 2019 13F Holdings Comparison: Analyzing Changes in Top Stock Picks

When it comes to investment strategy, examining top stock picks is critical. Most institutional investors holding assets worth over $100 million are required to file a 13F report with the SEC outlining their holdings in publicly-traded companies every quarter. Stevens First Principles Investment Advisors recently filed its 13F report for Q2 2019, which we have analyzed and compared with their Q1 2019 report.

In this article, we will explore the most significant changes in holdings for this investment advisory firm. We will analyze the top-performing stocks and the ones that are losing their attraction, and attempt to gain insight into the firm's investment strategy.

CSX Corporation Remains The Largest Holding

The top pick for Stevens First Principles in both quarters was CSX Corporation. This company's transport and intermodal services division has seen increased demand and has been performing well on the market. The company's Q2 report showed a small decrease in their holdings in CSX, but it remains the top pick, with a value of $11,056,000.

PayPal Holdings Inc. Takes A Hit

PayPal Holdings Inc. was the second-largest holding in Q1 2019, but its value dropped by 33.5% in Q2 2019, falling from $16,231,000 to $10,787,000. Nevertheless, the company remains in the top five holdings for Stevens First Principles. The question now is whether they’ll continue to hold strong with PayPal, or look for other investment opportunities in the future.

Western Asset Claymore Inflation Linked Swept Out From Top Five

In Q1 2019, Western Asset Claymore Inflation Linked was the third-largest holding for the investor at a value of $9,589,000. However, this asset saw a 0.5% decrease in value in Q2 2019 and was replaced in the top five by Norfolk Southern Corp, a transportation holding that saw a 6.6% increase in value with a total investment of $7,596,000.

Tech Companies Make Their Way Up

The three top-performing stocks for Stevens First Principles since Q1 2019 were Apple Inc, Textron Inc, and Cyber-Ark Software Ltd. Apple experienced a small decrease in value in Q2, but its popularity among institutional investors continues to rise. Textron, on the other hand, saw a massive increase in value, growing from $387,000 to $1,271,000 between Q1 and Q2, a 228.4% increase. Cyber-Ark Software also enjoyed an increase in value of 7.1%, rising from $1,137,000 to $1,218,000 between Q1 and Q2.

Becton Dickinson and Co. Gets A Boost

Becton Dickinson and Co. had an excellent Q2 2019 showing for Stevens First Principles. Although it remained in 15th place for holdings, its value increased from $4,085,000 in Q1 to $4,120,000 in Q2. This upward trend can be attributed to the company announcing that it would sell its Advanced Bioprocessing business to Thermo Fisher Scientific for $477 million, which could potentially lead to better returns for investors.

Conclusion

Stevens First Principles Investment Advisors' Q2 2019 13F report displayed some surprising changes in investment strategy. While some top holdings, such as PayPal Holdings, dropped significantly in value, others saw significant growth, such as Textron Inc. and Cyber-Ark Software Ltd. It's important to note that the final outcome of these investment decisions remains to be seen, and Stevens First Principles may continue to adjust its holdings as market trends change.