Which Hedge Funds Have Been Killed by Apple Inc (AAPL)’s Decline?

Apple Inc (AAPL)Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a darling of the hedge fund industry. It’s no secret. We know that it’s the most popular stock among the world’s richest money managers; in case you didn’t see our segment with the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch it’s worth a gander. Thus, it’s Apple’s popularity that begs the question: which hedge funds have been hurt the most by the stock’s free fall over the past month, which has seen shares lose nearly 20% since the stock eclipsed the $700 mark for the first time in its storied history?

Enough of us gabbing, we’ll let the chart do the talking. Below is a list of the top ten funds invested in Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) at the midway point of 2012. Option positions are excluded from this list, and managers are arranged in order of the size of their Apple investment in dollar terms.

Click here for the entire hedge fund industry's sentiment toward Apple Inc (AAPL)As can be seen quite clearly, Rob Citrone’s Discovery Capital Management has the largest long-only position in Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), to the tune of $1.14 billion dollars, good for more than one-fifth of his overall 13F portfolio. D.E. Shaw is the only other hedge fund manager that holds more than a billion dollars worth of the tech company, though it represents a rather small portion of his overall portfolio.

Aside from this duo, the gang’s all here, including David Einhorn, Jim Simons, and Stephen Mandel. There’s even a tiger cub in the crowd, who has more than 13% of his 13F portfolio invested in Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL). Our of our top ten, the only fund manager to increase his position in Apple by triple digits at the midway point of 2012 was Viking Global’s Andreas Halvorsen, who held over $570 million worth of the stock at the end of the most recent filing period.

Going forward, the financial world’s sentiment toward Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) remains mixed; just check out some of our recent analyst coverage:

Apple is Oversold, Analyst Says

Apple Has Reasons for Bearish Outlook: Analyst

Apple Gets Buy Ratings, Up to $900 Price Target

Apple Leads Top 3 Stock Picks List: Analyst

Apple: Jeff Gundlach Sees a Return to $425

For even more Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) news, check out the company’s profile page here on Insider Monkey.