The Ups and Downs of Advisor Group's Q3 2019 vs. Q4 2019 13F Holdings

It's common to hear that investing is all about buying low and selling high. However, it's not as easy as it sounds, as holding onto stocks or funds for too long can lead to missed opportunities. This is why constantly monitoring the changes in a fund's holdings is essential for maximizing your returns. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at Advisor Group, Inc.'s Q3 2019 vs. Q4 2019 13F holdings comparison, and what it means for the fund's investors.

Introduction

Advisor Group, Inc. is one of the largest networks of independent wealth management firms in the United States, with over 11,000 financial advisors and $268 billion in total client assets. As one of the most prominent players in the wealth management industry, Advisor Group's 13F filings are closely watched by investors and analysts alike. To understand the changes in the fund's holdings, we'll analyze the Q3 2019 vs. Q4 2019 13F holdings comparison.

Main Body

According to the 13F filings, Advisor Group's total holdings decreased from $3.54 billion in Q3 2019 to $3.52 billion in Q4 2019, a slight drop of 0.5%. The fund's top ten holdings accounted for over 50% of the total portfolio value, with the largest holdings being in iShares Trust USMV, Apple Inc., and Vanguard Tax Managed Intl FD. However, the fund saw significant changes in its holdings, with a mix of increases and decreases in shares and value.

One of the most significant changes was in the holdings of iShares Trust USMV, with a decrease of 13.9% in shares and 13.9% in value. This is notable as USMV is one of the largest holdings in Advisor Group's portfolio, accounting for 10.52% of total holdings in Q4 2019. On the other hand, AAPL, Advisor Group's second-largest holding, saw an increase in shares by 5.3%, and a remarkable increase in value by 23.9%.

The changes in holdings can also be seen through Advisor Group's holdings in ETFs. In Q3 2019, the fund had a substantial holding in iShares TR, with 27.80% of total holdings in the ETF. However, in Q4 2019, Advisor Group's largest holding shifted to Vanguard Index FDS, which accounted for 25.17% of the total holdings, reflecting a decrease in iShares TR's holdings by 1.2%.

Another interesting change was in the holdings of Invesco QQQ TR, which saw a decrease in shares by 5.8%, but an increase in value by 6.1%. In contrast, Vanguard Index FDS saw an increase in shares by 1.4%, but a remarkable increase in value by 10.1%. This suggests that Advisor Group's focus in Q4 2019 was on more profitable ventures, rather than increasing its portfolio's diversification.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 13F filings of Advisor Group, Inc. reveal the fund's focus on more profitable ventures in Q4 2019. While there were some decreases in shares and holdings, particularly in iShares Trust USMV, the fund's second-largest holding, Apple Inc., saw a significant increase in value. Moreover, the shift in holdings from iShares TR to Vanguard Index FDS indicates that the fund is paying close attention to opportunity costs and diversification. As always, investors should continually monitor their investment portfolios to maximize returns and minimize risk.