Smart Money Pouring Into Applied Optoelectronics Inc (AAOI)

Now, key money managers have jumped into Applied Optoelectronics Inc (NASDAQ:AAOI) headfirst. Whale Rock Capital Management created the most valuable position in Applied Optoelectronics Inc (NASDAQ:AAOI). George McCabe’s Portolan Capital Management also made a $3.1 million investment in the stock during the quarter. The following funds were also among the new Applied Optoelectronics Inc investors: Renaissance Technologies, Paul Marshall and Ian Wace’s Marshall Wace LLP, and Israel Englander’s Millennium Management.

Let’s now review hedge fund activity in other stocks – not necessarily in the same industry as Applied Optoelectronics Inc (NASDAQ:AAOI) but similarly valued. We will take a look at Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE:SGY), Sonus Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:SONS), Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NASDAQ:SVA), and United Insurance Holdings Corp.(NDA) (NASDAQ:UIHC). This group of stocks’ market values are similar to Applied Optoelectronics Inc’s market value.

As you can see these stocks had an average of 11.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $27 million. That figure was $78 million in Applied Optoelectronics Inc’s case. Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE:SGY) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NASDAQ:SVA) is the least popular one with only 7 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Applied Optoelectronics Inc (NASDAQ:AAOI) is more popular among hedge funds and has more money invested in it. Considering that hedge funds are fond of this stock in relation to its market cap peers, it may be a good idea to analyze it in detail and potentially include it in your portfolio.