The Impact of Clearbridge, LLC Q3 2018 vs. Q4 2018 13F Holdings on Top Companies

Clearbridge, LLC is an Investment firm based in New York, NY that offers portfolio management and advisory services. In Q3 and Q4 of 2018, the company made some significant changes to its holdings, selling some top performing stocks and buying into other companies. This article will examine the impact of Clearbridge's transactions on some of the companies in which it held shares.

Starting with Google (GOOG), Clearbridge sold 21009 shares in Q3 which represented a value of $25,074. However, the company sold even more shares (20839) in Q4, which amounted to a value of $21,581, representing a 13.9% decrease.

Similarly, Clearbridge sold a significant amount of shares of Microsoft (MSFT), reducing its holdings by 6.5%. In Q3, the firm held 168899 shares of Microsoft, valued at $19,317,000. However, in Q4, the firm reduced its stake to 162545 shares, valued at $16,510,000, which is a reduction of 14.5%.

Oracle (ORCL) was another company in which Clearbridge LLC reduced its holdings, selling 13319 shares which represents a 16% reduction in its portfolio. In Q3 2018, Clearbridge held 333337 shares worth $17,187,000 and in Q4, the company had 319918 shares worth $14,444,000.

On the other hand, Clearbridge increased its holdings in some companies, one of which is Royal Gold Inc (RGLD). In Q3 of 2018, the firm held 92044 shares which amounted to a value of $7,093,000. However, by Q4, Clearbridge increased its stake in the company to 109260 shares, valued at $9,358,000, an increase of 31.9%.

Similarly, the firm increased its holdings in General Motors Co (GM), increasing its position from 94517 shares worth $3,182,000 in Q3 to 120750 shares worth $4,039,000 in Q4. This represents an increase of 26.9%.

One of the most surprising changes was the addition of Anheuser Busch Inbev Sa/NV (BUD) shares in Q4. Clearbridge didn't hold any shares of the company in Q3, but in Q4, the firm had 75780 shares worth $4,987,000.

In conclusion, Clearbridge's Q3 2018 vs. Q4 2018 13F holdings comparison shows that the firm was both buying and selling shares of well-known companies. Some of the reductions in holdings were significant, while some additions were unexpected. Regardless of the changes, Clearbridge LLC reinforces the importance of portfolio diversification to minimize risks while maximizing returns.