The broad-based under-performance was driven by a number of RenTech’s key funds. The Institutional Diversified Alpha Fund, launched on March 1, reported a 1.28% loss for 2012, while its Renaissance Institutional Futures Fund lost 3.17% versus a gain of 1.84% in 2011. Meanwhile, its Renaissance Institutional Equities Funds, which trades both U.S. and non-U.S. equities listed, was up 8.4% in 2012, but the return still lagged that of the S&P 500, which was up over 13%.
Despite Simons’ off year, many of the companies he lost big on could still be solid investment opportunities. Although Simons is no longer involved in the daily operations of RenTech, he remains non-executive Chairman and a visionary for the firm’s direction (check out Simons’ portfolio). Two of Simons’ bets that caused his firm to lag the broader market are pharma picks Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) and Eli Lilly. Bristol is Simons’ fourth largest 13F holding and Eli is its second as of the third quarter. Bristol was relatively flat for the year, which helped contribute to Simons’ under-performance. Going into 2012, Simons had Bristol as his fourth largest holdings and it remained in the top five for most of the year (per his third quarter 13F).
Bristol Myers, does however pay a solid dividend yield of 3.7%, and could be a growth story going forward. Recent quarterly results showed that earnings came in down 11% on a year over year basis, with earning hampered by a reduction in sales of its drugs coming off of patent protection. Although recent performance has been rocky for the company, Bristol Myers boasts a robust pipeline for the future. One of the company’s most interesting candidates is its type II diabetes play, Forxiga. Further strengthening Bristol Myers’ diabetes market penetration is the acquisition of Amylin in 2012.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) is the well known tech company, and one that Simons had as his second largest 13F holding as of the end of the third quarter, owning 15.8 million shares after upping his stake 88% during 3Q. Then, at the third of the third quarter, Microsoft was his largest holding. However, it was over the second half of 2012, just as Simons was doubling down on Microsoft, that the tech company was down almost 10%.
The compelling investment opportunity embedded in Microsoft is its robust product portfolio. This includes its Windows operating system, which accounts for around 25% of revenues. The other big revenue generators, accounting for around 25% each, is its business division and server segment, giving the company a bit of a diversified portfolio. Microsoft has traded with a price to earnings multiple that has ranged from 8.6 to 18.2 over the last five years, but the stock is only at 8.8 times next year’s earnings. What’s more is that Microsoft is trading below the industry average on an EV/EBITDA multiple basis. The industry EV/EBITDA is north of 8.6, where Microsoft is at around a 35% discount to the industry at a 5.6 multiple.
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) is a chip-making giant, and as of the end of the first quarter of 2012 it was Simons’ seventh largest 13F holding. Then in the second quarter, the fund upped its stake over 100%, but Intel had already peaked at $29 in April and through the second half of the year fell by 25%. Simons still owned over 423 million shares at the end of the third quarter. I remain weary of Intel, despite its 4%-plus dividend yield. The company has been pressured due to its over-exposure to the PC market, and revenues from this segment are around 60% of the company’s profits.
Coach, Inc. (NYSE: COH), the high end accessory retailer, fell almost 30% from the end of the first quarter to the third quarter. Just as Coach was in decline, Simons was making big bets on the company, upping his shares owned by 150% during the second quarter. During the third quarter, the retailer rose to $62 before falling to $49. After the decline, Simons sold off 80% of his shares, but the damage had already been done.
The company was in steady decline in 2012 due to a tough economic environment, which has led to a tightening of consumer spending. Recently, the stock took a 10% nose-dive after releasing earnings last quarter. The company continued to blame the broader economy and conditions for the poor earnings release. The one bright spot for the company is international results and outlook. International sales were up 12% last quarter on a year over year basis, with China being the stronghold. The Chinese segment saw sales up 40% and this should be a key part for its expected rebounding performance. Wall Street estimates have EPS expected to grow 13.5% annually over the next five years.
Another stock that took a big hit during 2012 was the semi-fast-food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG). At the end of the second quarter Chipotle was Simons’ fifteenth largest holding, with over 630,000 shares owned. During this quarter the stock tanked 15%. Yet, Chipotle’s stock may well offer investors solid growth, not to mention a debt-free balance sheet. Economic headwinds and poor consumer-spending has put pressure on the stock. However, the fast-food retailer does have industry leading comp sales, and management has been concentrating on improving its workforce, introducing a new loyalty program and higher food quality. All of these things should help drive the 20% annual earnings growth expected by Wall Street analysts.
Don’t be fooled.
Bristol and Microsoft both pay solid dividends, and appear to be value plays. I would consider making a bet on their rebound in 2013, just as it appears that Simons is doing. Intel remains a questionable play; the stock’s exposure to the PC market has put the earnings visibility in question, and so I remain cautious on the tech giant. Coach’s prospects are not quite as questionable as Intel, but I remain on the sidelines given the stock’s over-dependence on the high-end consumer market. Chipotle’s decline has brought its valuation to a much more intriguing level, and I continue to like the company’s prospects (read more about Simons’ top picks).
The article Why Has Billionaire Jim Simons Been Slipping? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Marshall Hargrave.
