Changes in Waddell & Reed Financial's 13F Holdings from Q4 2020 to Q1 2021

The financial world is ever-changing, and investors need to be informed about shifts in the market to make sound decisions. For this reason, 13F filings, which detail institutional investment managers' holdings, come in handy. In the case of Waddell & Reed Financial, the company's Q4 2020 results are now available alongside those from Q1 2021. This blog post will analyze the changes in the company's 13F holdings over this period.

Introduction

Waddell & Reed Financial has a history spanning over 80 years of providing investment solutions to clients. The company leverages a team of experienced professionals across the world to manage individual and institutional investments. With a diverse range of products on offer, the company caters to different investors' needs. Its latest 13F filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) give insights into changes in the company's holdings from Q4 2020 to Q1 2021.

Main Body

Microsoft and Apple, two of the world's tech giants, have always been among the company's top holdings. This trend remained unchanged from Q4 2020 to Q1 2021. Waddell & Reed Financial did, however, reduce its investment in Apple, selling over 654,000 shares, a 12.2% decline. Microsoft, on the other hand, saw a negligible decrease of 0.3% or around 26,000 shares.

Amazon, another big tech player, faced a similar fate, with Waddell & Reed Financial selling over 12,000 shares, a 7.6% decline. The company's Facebook shares also took a hit, with a 9% reduction in the number of shares held. Alphabet, Google's parent company, got a boost, with Waddell & Reed Financial increasing its holdings by 29.1%, adding an extra 43,977 shares.

Micron Technology Inc. maintained its position among Waddell & Reed Financial's top holdings. The company's investment in Micron saw an increase of 17.3%, with the company buying an additional 51,214 shares. In contrast, the company reduced its holdings of Electronic Arts Inc by 6.9%, selling over 41,000 shares.

Aspen Technology Inc and Union Pacific Corp also had a positive showing, with Waddell & Reed Financial increasing its holdings in both firms by 7.7% and 1.5%, respectively. However, the company reduced its investment in Motor Solutions Inc by 12.4%, selling over 1.1 million shares. Teradyne Inc also saw a minor loss, with a 0.3% reduction in holdings.

In other sectors, Waddell & Reed Financial saw significant gains in Marketaxess Holdings Inc, with a 5.1% increase in holdings, equivalent to an additional 96,688 shares. Five9 Inc, another emerging player in the software industry, received a substantial investment boost, with Waddell & Reed Financial buying an additional 1,093,067 shares, a 53.4% increase.

Conclusion

Waddell & Reed Financial's Q1 2021 13F filings indicate a mixed bag of results. While some holdings, such as Alphabet and Micron Technology, had positive outcomes, others, such as Apple and Amazon, had reductions in shares held. With companies increasing their digital transition and technological advancements, there is potential for some holdings, such as Five9 Inc, to rise significantly in value. Investors must monitor these movements to make informed financial decisions.