Analyzing the Holdings of S. R. Schill & Associates: Insights from their Q3 and Q4 13F Filings

In the world of investing, one of the key metrics investors look at is the holdings of a particular fund. The 13F form is a quarterly report filed by institutional investment managers in the United States with assets under management of $100 million or more. This report details their holdings of stocks, bonds, and other securities. One such firm is S. R. Schill & Associates, whose third and fourth quarter 13F filings have been analyzed in this blog post.

In the third quarter of 2022, S. R. Schill & Associates held 24 different stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in their portfolio, worth a total of $187,993,000. By the end of the fourth quarter, they had reduced their holdings to 23 securities worth $191,545,000.

A few of the notable changes in holdings included a reduction in their position in the iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF (USRT) by 13.7%. This fund primarily invests in real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the United States. It’s possible that S. R. Schill & Associates was taking profits on this fund, or that they saw some negative indications in the real estate market.

On the other hand, the firm increased their position in the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) by 12.3%. This ETF tracks the performance of stocks in developed markets outside of North America. It’s possible that the firm is bullish on the prospects of international equities, or that they see undervalued opportunities in this space.

Another interesting change was the addition of 134,780 shares of the iShares International Select Dividend ETF (IDV), which had not been present in their portfolio in the third quarter. This fund invests in high dividend yielding companies in developed markets outside of North America. It’s possible that the firm was seeking to add more diversification through international securities that pay dividends.

The firm also increased their position in the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF (VTWO) by 10.9%. This ETF tracks the small-cap segment of the Russell 3000 index, meaning that it invests in stocks of smaller companies based in the United States. It’s possible that the firm sees value in the small-cap space, or that they are potentially taking on more risk by investing in smaller companies.

One of the biggest drops in holdings was seen in the shares of Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), which were reduced by 34.5%. This reduction of 2,463 shares was accompanied by a decrease in value of $806,000. This could be seen as a bearish indication, or it could be that the firm had better opportunities for investment elsewhere.

Other notable changes in holdings included the addition of 281,680 shares of Medical Properties Trust Inc. (MPW) and 13,107 shares of Toll Brothers Inc. (TOL). Medical Properties Trust is a real estate investment trust that invests in healthcare facilities, while Toll Brothers is a luxury home construction company. It’s possible that the firm sees value in these two companies, or that they are diversifying into real estate or construction stocks.

In summary, S. R. Schill & Associates made several interesting changes to their portfolio from Q3 2022 to Q4 2022. They added more international exposure, with increased positions in IEFA and IDV, and increased their holdings in the small-cap space through VTWO. They also reduced their position in USRT and AMZN, while adding positions in MPW and TOL. Only time will tell if these moves will pay off for the firm, but these changes provide insights into how S. R. Schill & Associates is making investment decisions for their clients.