TW Telecom Inc (TWTC), Graham Holdings Co (GHC), and ViaSat, Inc. (VSAT): Billionaire Mason Hawkins Loves These Stocks

In 1975, Mason Hawkins decided to take the next step in his career and founded Southeastern Asset Management. Prior to that, he had worked as director of research at First Tennessee Investment Management. Hawkins focuses on value stocks and uses both fundamental and quantitative analysis to identify investment opportunities in public equity markets. Southeastern Asset Management’s equity portfolio is heavily invested in financial and energy stocks, 32% and 22%, respectively, with utilities and telecommunication stocks coming in third with 15%. According to its latest 13F filing, Southeastern Asset’s portfolio has a market value of roughly $18.8 billion, up from $18.4 billion at the end of the first quarter.

Mason Hawkins

Mason Hawkins believes TW Telecom Inc (NASDAQ:TWTC) is still a Buy, with Southeastern Asset boosting its stake in the company serving as testimony to that. The fund currently holds 15.2 million shares, up 40% during the second quarter, a position valued at $612 million. Hedge fund guru, Jim Simons is also optimistic about the prospects of TW Telecom Inc (NASDAQ:TWTC) and has increased his investment in the company by 3% during the same period of time. His fund, Renaissance Technologies, reportedly holds 9.19 million TW Telecom Inc (NASDAQ:TWTC) shares, valued at roughly $370 million.

Graham Holdings Co (NYSE:GHC) is another company Hawkins is fond of. During the second quarter, he has raised Southeastern Asset’s stake in the company by 11%. In its latest 13F filing, the fund reported ownership of approximately 601,400 shares worth $431 million. Legendary value investor, Warren Buffett also has a stake in Graham Holdings Co (NYSE:GHC), but has chosen to dump 93% of it in a deal with the company. According to its latest 13F filing, Berkshire Hathaway owns just 107,600 shares, valued at approximately $77.2 million.

Mason Hawkins is bullish on ViaSat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) and has added it to his portfolio during the second quarter. Southeastern Asset Management’s stake in the companies amounts to approximately 684,800 shares, valued at $39.7 million. Seth Klarman, the manager of Baupost Group, is also betting big on ViaSat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) and has increased his fund’s holding by 2% during the quarter. Baupost has reported ownership of 11.5 million shares of ViaSat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT), a position valued at $668 million and which accounts for roughly 11% of the fund’s equity portfolio.

Disclosure: none.