Polar Capital LLP's Q3 2020 Report: Bold Moves in 13F Portfolio with Notable Gains and Losses

Investment management firm Polar Capital LLP recently released its Q3 2020 report, detailing the changes in holdings for its 13F portfolio. While the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many industries and rattled the global economy, the report shows that Polar Capital LLP has been able to make smart investment moves to navigate the uncertainty, resulting in a few notable gains and losses.

Notable Changes in Holdings

One of the most notable changes in holdings for Polar Capital LLP in Q3 2020 was its significant increase in shares of Match Group Inc., the company behind popular dating apps such as Tinder and Hinge. According to the report, the fund didn't hold any shares of the company in the previous quarter, but in Q3 2020, it acquired 784,643 shares with a value of $86,821,000. This represents a new investment for Polar Capital LLP, and it will be interesting to see how the position develops in the coming quarters.

Another significant increase in holdings for Polar Capital LLP was its acquisition of 17,875,000 shares in Akamai Technologies Inc., a company that provides cloud services for content delivery and security. The report indicates that Polar Capital LLP did not hold any shares in the company in the previous quarter, but in Q3 2020, the fund acquired 17,500,000 shares worth $20,246,000. This reflects Polar Capital LLP's bullish outlook on the growth potential of Akamai Technologies Inc.

On the other hand, the report shows that Polar Capital LLP sold all its shares in several well-known tech giants, including Microsoft Corp. (3,517,102 shares), Apple Inc. (5,978,225 shares), Facebook Inc. (2,157,948 shares), Amazon.com Inc. (128,949 shares), Alphabet Inc. (210,157 shares), and Nvidia Corp. (502,841 shares). While it can be concerning for some investors to see such large companies being sold off, it's important to remember that the fund may have other investments that it considers more promising or sees a better upside potential.

Other notable investments include the acquisition of 5,000,000 shares in Summit Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company that develops treatments for rare diseases. The report shows that Polar Capital LLP did not hold any shares in the company in the previous quarter, but in Q3 2020, the fund acquired 5,000,000 shares worth $17,200,000. It's possible that Polar Capital LLP sees significant growth potential in the company's rare disease treatments and is bullish on Summit Therapeutics' future prospects.

Similarly, the report shows that Polar Capital LLP acquired 12,000,000 shares in Snap Inc., the company behind popular social media app Snapchat. While it's unclear what exactly led to the acquisition, it's possible that Polar Capital LLP sees significant upside potential in the company's user growth and potential for increased revenue.

Conclusion

Overall, Polar Capital LLP's Q3 2020 report shows that the investment management firm is not afraid to make bold moves in its 13F portfolio. While the sale of shares in well-known tech giants may give some investors reason for concern, it's important to remember that the firm likely has other investments it considers more promising. The acquisition of new positions in Match Group Inc., Akamai Technologies Inc., and Summit Therapeutics Inc. suggests that Polar Capital LLP is optimistic about the growth potential of these companies. As always, it's important for investors to do their own due diligence before making investment decisions.