Investing in Q3 vs. Q4 2022: Changes in Holdings of Boston Common Asset Management

Boston Common Asset Management, LLC just released its Q3 and Q4 2022 13F holdings, showing the firm's latest moves in stock trading. From established healthcare companies to tech giants, the portfolio saw some significant changes as the market faced unpredictability and the pandemic continued to impact the economy. In this article, we'll go over some of the most impactful moves that Boston Common Asset Management made in the last quarter of the year.

Starting with the positive gains, Merck & Co. (MRK) saw the most significant jump in Boston Common's portfolio. The firm added 24,752 shares, increasing its holdings from 625,943 to 650,695 shares and the value from $53,906,000 to $72,195,000. This move signals the firm's confidence in the company as Merck continues to raise its revenue forecast for 2022 and beyond.

Similarly, Boston Common added to its position in Gilead Sciences (GILD), increasing its holdings by 23,333 shares to 501,796 in Q4. This pharmaceutical company specializes in antiviral drugs and saw a surge in demand last year due to the ongoing pandemic. Boston Common's additional shares suggest it sees further potential in the industry and company.

Even without adding shares, American Water Works Co. (AWK) saw a 20% increase in value in the portfolio in Q4. By the end of the quarter, the value of holdings went up from $31,078,000 to $37,308,000. It's worth noting that the previous quarter saw the firm adding an additional 46,133 shares of AWK, so this value increase is due to the stock price's growth during Q4.

Contrarily, Boston Common reduced holdings and value in its Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) position the most this quarter. The firm sold 287,273 shares, bringing its new total down to 354,207. TSM's value also decreased from $43,980,000 to $26,385,000. It's worth noting that global supply chain issues and a lower revenue forecast from TSM likely contributed to this decision.

Other well-established companies saw their impact on the portfolio shift. For example, holdings in Apple Inc. (AAPL) decreased for the second straight quarter, falling to 272,180 shares from 274,222 shares. This decrease may have also contributed to the portfolio's overall negative returns for the quarter.

Finally, Quest Diagnostics Inc. (DGX) was the only new company added to Boston Common's portfolio in Q4, with 116,092 shares. This move, combined with the reduction in TSM holdings, shows that Boston Common is rearranging its tech holdings with the future market outlook in mind.

All in all, Boston Common Asset Management, LLC made some significant adjustments to its portfolio in Q4 2022. A more significant focus on healthcare and pharmaceutical companies and reductions in tech holdings lead the way. These moves suggest some confidence in the future for these industries and more significant uncertainty surrounding tech companies.