Tracking Francis Chou's Chou Associates Portfolio - Q3 2013 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Francis Chou's Chou Associates US long stock portfolio as of Q3 2013. For a look at how his portfolio has progressed, see our previous update:

 The significant purchases this quarter were a ~10% stake increase in Resolute Forest Products (RFP) and a ~18% stake increase in Sears (SHLD). Francis Chou has been bullish on RFP since 2010 when the company was named Abitibibowater and his average cost-basis is much higher. Sears is a very long term holding that has been in the portfolio for over 8 years. Chou also reduced significantly his holdings in Actavis (ACT), Overstock (OSTK), and Sprint Nextel (S) this quarter.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking Richard C. Blum's Blum Capital Partners Portfolio - Q3 2013 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Richard C. Blum's Blum Capital Partners US long stock portfolio as of Q3 2013. Please check out our previous update to have an idea on how the portfolio is progressing:

Blum Capital Partners runs a heavily concentrated portfolio with over 60% allocated to a single long position in CBRE Group (CBG). Also, that was the only position where new money was invested this quarter indicating a continuing bullish bias. Blum Capital has ownership of just under 5% of CBRE Group's and just under 5% of Career Education's outstanding shares.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Portfolio - Q3 2013 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's US long stock portfolio as of Q3 2013. Please check out our previous update to have an idea on how the portfolio is progressing:

The portfolio was largely untouched this quarter: the huge 46.90% position in Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) was further increased to a whopping 50.75% of the portfolio. The only other changes were a very small 0.53% of the portfolio position in Air Products & Chemicals (APD) and a marginal increase to the 1.56% of the portfolio position in BP PLC (BP).

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .
 

Tracking Jeffrey Ubben's ValueAct Holdings - Q3 2013 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Jeffrey Ubben's ValueAct Capital US long stock portfolio as of Q3 2013. Please check out our previous update to have an idea on how the portfolio is progressing:

Jeff follows an activist style value investing philosophy termed "Strategic Block Investing". Microsoft, his largest position by far at over 20% was increased by ~15% this quarter. Rockwell Collins (COL) was another position that was significantly increased (~17%) - it is now at over 8% of the US long portfolio. 

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy . 

Tracking Robert Karr's Joho Capital Portfolio - Q3 2013 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Robert Karr's Joho Capital US long stock portfolio as of Q3 2013. Please check out our previous update to have an idea on how the portfolio is progressing:

Karr's portfolio increased by around 14% this quarter from around $1.16B to $1.33B. Baidu (BIDU) and Google (GOOG) are his largest positions at 21.32% and 16.24% respectively. Position sizes in both were reduced this quarter. Baidu has returned over 55% so far this year compared to over 45% for Google. Two small new positions were added this quarter: Varian Medical (VAR) at 1.71% and Vipshop Holdings (VIPS) at 1.64%. Yelp saw a marginal increase while Youku position was doubled. Yelp have had a stunning performance this year returning over 200%. It accounts for just under 10% of Karr's US long portfolio.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking David Swensen's Yale Endowment Holdings - Q3 2013 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that shows the changes to Yale Endowment's US long portfolio holdings as of Q3 2013. To have an idea of how the endowment's holdings have progressed click on our previous update:

 To learn more about their investing style and philosophy and how to profit from such strategies, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking Leucadia National Portfolio - Q3 2013 Update

The spreadsheet below show Cumming's US stock holdings as of Q3 2013. Please visit our previous updates to get an idea on how the portfolio has progressed:

To learn more about their investing style and philosophy and how to profit from such strategies, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking WIlbur Ross's Holdings - Q3 2013 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that shows changes to Wilbur Ross's US long portfolio as of Q3 2013. To see how his portfolio has progressed, click on our previous update:

To learn more about their investing style and philosophy and how to profit from such strategies, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking Charles Akre's Akre Capital Management Portfolio - Q3 2013 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Charles Akre's Akre Capital Management US long stock portfolio as of Q3 2013. Please check out our previous update to have an idea on how the portfolio is progressing:

Significant activity in the quarter include: increasing American Tower (AMT) by ~50% to a large 9.49% allocation,  decreasing Directv (DTV) by ~50% to a 4.60% allocation, and increasing Markel (MKL) position by ~42% to an 8.17% allocation.


To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

 

Mathur Aqueduct & Thirparappu Falls - Trip Report

These two attractions are within 60KM of Kanyakumari and are both worth a visit. Getting to these places can be a problem and as first timers, we got lost a few times before locating the spots - the roads are narrow and not well maintained and direction markers are rare - so, you end up having to check with the locals and most of them don’t speak anything other than Tamil.

Mathur Aqueduct is one of the longest and highest aqueducts in South Asia. It was constructed in 1966 over the Pahrali River to carry water for irrigation from one hill to the other over a distance of about one kilometer. It is held up by 28 huge concrete pillars that reach a maximum height of 115 feet. The trough has a height of 7ft and width of 7.5ft. The concrete slabs on top of the trough allow visitors to walk on the bridge. A huge flight of stairs allow access to the trough from the level of the Pahrali river. The scenery from the top is fantastic - beautiful greenery flanked by the Western Ghats and the river flowing through the middle - and the mountain air is amazingly fresh.  Extra precaution must be taken when taking small kids up - there is a  gap between the concrete rails through which kids can easily slip through.

Thirparappu falls is located near Kulasekaram. The falls is in the Kodayar River, about 13KM from Pechiparai Dam. Thirparappu weir is a short distance up the river and that irrigates the adjacent farms. Between these two spots is a Siva Temple and a swimming pool is available there as well. The temple is famous for its many inscriptions dating back to the Pandiya King of the 9th century. The falls are around 300ft wide and drops about 50ft. There is a very nominal entry fee of Rs 5 for adults and there are changing rooms, separate for men and women. The rooms and the facilities in general are in poor condition (toilets are repulsive) but one can still enjoy what is on offer from mother nature, with the right mindset. 

Related Posts: 

1. Kanyakumari (Cape Comerin) Trip Report. 
2. Mathur Aqueduct & Thirparappu Falls - Trip Report. 

Last Updated: 11/2013.