The Art of Analyzing Q4 2019 vs. Q1 2020 13F Holdings: A Comprehensive Guide

Investment firms are required to disclose their portfolio holdings at the end of every quarter through a filing known as a 13F. These filings provide a snapshot of the firm's investment decisions during the quarter, offering a glimpse into what stocks they are buying and selling. In this article, we will analyze the Q4 2019 vs. Q1 2020 13F holdings of Stratford Consulting, LLC using a comprehensive guide and provide insights into their investment strategy.

Stratford Consulting, LLC is a California-based investment advisory firm. According to the 13F filings submitted to the SEC, the company manages around $389 million in assets under management (AUM) as of Q1 2020. They hold a diversified portfolio consisting of 44 stocks, with the largest holding representing just over 7% of their AUM. Here, we will explore the top gainers and losers in terms of shares and value, as well as the changes made in holdings during Q4 2019 and Q1 2020.

Top Gainers and Losers by Shares and Value

Among the top gainers in terms of shares, we see the Vanguard Index Funds (VNQ) gain 1,403.2%, moving from 2,677 shares in Q4 2019 to 53,371 shares in Q1 2020. The next biggest gainer was Southwest Airls Co (LUV), with a 35.8% gain moving from 45,580 shares to 44,336 shares. In terms of value, the biggest gainer was Vanguard Strategic Funds (VCSH), with a 5.1% increase in value moving from $10,425,000 to $9,894,000. The second biggest gainer in terms of value was SPDR Series Trust (SPY), with an increase of $3,875,000 moving from no holdings in Q4 2019 to 15,034 shares in Q1 2020.

Looking at the biggest losers in terms of shares, we see that the biggest loser was SPDR Series Trust (SDY), with a loss of 8,547 shares moving from 330,036 shares to 338,583 shares. The second biggest loser was iShares Trust (IJR), with a loss of 29,396 shares moving from 185,604 shares to 156,208 shares. In terms of value, the biggest loser was iShares Trust (HDV), with a 41.6% decrease in value moving from $37,068,000 to $21,635,000. The second biggest loser in terms of value was iShares Trust (IJR), with a 43.7% decrease in value moving from $15,563,000 to $8,765,000.

Changes in Holdings

Looking more closely at Stratford Consulting's changes in holdings, they added eight new stocks to their portfolio and increased their holdings in 14 stocks while decreasing their holdings in 17 stocks. Among the new additions were JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM), Apple Inc (AAPL), and Berkshire Hathaway Inc Del (BRK-B). The largest increase in holdings was in the Vanguard Scottsdale Funds (VCSH), with an increase of 2,572 shares moving from 128,657 shares to 125,085 shares. On the other hand, the largest decrease in holdings was in the iShares Trust (DVY), with a decrease of 8,950 shares moving from 20,814 shares to 11,864 shares.

Conclusion

In summary, Stratford Consulting's Q4 2019 vs. Q1 2020 13F filings provide insights into the firm's investment strategy and their positions in different stocks during the period. While they made some significant gains, such as in VNQ and LUV, they also suffered some losses, such as in HDV and IJR. It is important to note that 13F filings are backward-looking and only provide a snapshot of an investment firm's holdings at a particular point in time. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze these filings in conjunction with other information to make informed investment decisions.