Are Leucadia National’s Bets On Harbinger Group (HRG) & Gold Worth Considering?

We move on to the SPDR Gold Trust (ETF) (NYSEARCA:GLD) next, an ETF which tracks gold bullion. One of the most popular ETFs in the world, Leucadia owned 121,894 shares of it on June 30, having hiked its position in the ETF by 210% during the quarter. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a great third quarter for gold prices, which led to a slight dip in the value of the ETF’s shares, which move in lockstep with the value of the precious metal.

72 hedge funds in our database were shareholders of the SPDR Gold Trust (ETF) (NYSEARCA:GLD) at the end of June, up by nine quarter-over-quarter. Among the other funds with large positions in the ETF on June 30 were Kenneth Mario Garschina’s Mason Capital Management, John Paulson’s Paulson & Co, and First Eagle Investment Management.

Lastly is Westar Energy Inc (NYSE:WR), the shares of which returned 1.9% during the third quarter. At the end of the second quarter, Leucadia owned 188,900 shares of the company valued at $10.60 million. The position was another new one added to the fund’s equity portfolio during the second quarter. The company is currently in the process of being acquired by Great Plains Energy.

A total of 24 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on this stock at the end of June, a 9% increase from one quarter earlier. Among these funds, Adage Capital Management held the most valuable stake in Westar Energy Inc (NYSE:WR), which was worth $125.1 million at the end of the second quarter. On the second spot was Magnetar Capital which amassed $109.2 million worth of shares. Moreover, Two Sigma Advisors, GAMCO Investors, and Driehaus Capital were also bullish on Westar Energy Inc (NYSE:WR).

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