Pfizer Inc. (PFE), Anthem Inc (ANTM), Aetna Inc (AET): Swedish Fund, Healthinvest’s Top Bullish Picks In First Quarter

Next in line is the $217.06 billion biopharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), in which Healthinvest owns 528,000 shares valued at $18.37 million. Recently, Pfizer’s antibody-drug conjugate, for leukemia has successfully met one of its two primary efficacy endpoints. The other primary endpoint is still being assessed. Moreover, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) got the Breakthrough Therapy status from the FDA for Xalkori, which treats patients with a rare type of lung cancer. Among the billionaires that we track, 10 had an aggregate investment of $1.56 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014, including Ken Fisher of Fisher Asset Management, which held about 31.20 million shares valued at $971.77 million.

Healthinvest acquired an additional 30,000 shares of Anthem Inc (NYSE:ANTM) during the first quarter to raise its total stake to 109,700 shares valued at $16.94 million. The stock of the $40.9 billion health benefits company has risen by about 22.38% year-to-date. Anthem Inc (NYSE:ANTM) is collaborating with Careevolution to produce the cFHR app for Apple Watch, which connects consumers to their healthcare providers, and will be one of the first apps available for the users of Apple’s new gadget. Larry Robbins‘ Glenview Capital held about 3.59 million shares of Anthem Inc (NYSE:ANTM) valued at $451.49 million at the end of 2014.

During the first quarter 46,000 shares of Aetna Inc (NYSE:AET) were added to Healthinvest’s equity portfolio, taking the stake to 158,900 shares valued at $16.93 million. Aetna is a $37.69 billion company operating in the life & health insurance industry, whose stock has gained nearly 22.6% since the beginning of the year. At the end of the fiscal year 2014, nearly 40% of Aetna Inc (NYSE:AET)’s health premiums came from its Government business, beating the industry  growth rates in both the Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage during the last fiscal year. Billionaire David Einhorn’s Greenlight Capital held about 1.35 million shares of Aetna Inc (NYSE:AET), according to its latest 13F filing.

The investor’s position in LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. (NASDAQ:LPNT) was increased by 21% and now comprises some 171,400 shares valued at $12.59 million. In the last decade, the provider of close to home healthcare services has grown to more than 60 hospital campuses in 21 states from 23 hospitals in 1999. In our hedge fund database, the largest shareholder of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. (NASDAQ:LPNT) as of the end of 2014 is Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell’s Arrowstreet Capital with about 640,600 shares valued at $46.07 million.

Disclosure: None