Billionaire Michael Price’s Best Ideas for 2016

MFP Investors LLC initiated a stake of 2.92 million shares in Trinity Place Holdings Inc. (NYSEMKT:TPHS) during the December quarter, which was worth $17.90 million. The real estate holding, investment and asset management company announced in December that its common stock was approved for listing on the NYSE MKT LLC (a market for small-cap companies), with the stock beginning to trade on December 21. The company’s main asset includes a property located in Lower Manhattan. However, Trinity Place Holdings Inc. (NYSEMKT:TPHS) also owns a shopping center located in Florida and other retail locations, in addition to controlling intellectual property assets focused on the consumer sector. Trinity Place Holdings is the successor to retailer Syms Corp., which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2011, and emerged from bankruptcy in 2012. It is believed that Trinity’s portfolio of assets has a lot of potential value, which probably explains Michael Price’s bullishness, though the company’s stock is down by 6% since the beginning of 2016. Richard McGuire’s Marcato Capital Management holds an ownership stake of 4.72 million shares in Trinity Place Holdings Inc. (NYSEMKT:TPHS) as of the end of December.

The New York-based hedge fund also increased its position in S&W Seed Company (NASDAQ:SANW) during the last three months of 2015, by 1.18 million shares, ending the year with 2.47 million shares valued at $10.44 million. The company focuses on breeding, growing, processing and selling agricultural seeds, mainly alfalfa seed. S&W Seed Company (NASDAQ:SANW)’s revenue for the six months that ended December 31 totaled $36.40 million, up from $21.96 million reported for the same period of the prior year. At the same time, the company managed to improve its bottom-line figure during the second half of 2015; S&W Seed reported a net loss of $512,447 for the six month period that ended December 31, compared to the $2.42 million net loss that it reported for the same period of the prior year. Nonetheless, shares of the producer and distributor of alfalfa seed have lost 15% over the past year. Nelson Obus’ Wynnefield Capital acquired a new stake of 767,700 shares in S&W Seed Company (NASDAQ:SANW) during the December quarter.

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