In this article we presented billionaire Steve Cohen’s top 10 small-cap stock picks.
Steve A. Cohen is the owner of Point72 Asset Management, one of the most successful hedge funds in the U.S. He started off his Wall Street career as a junior trader at Gruntal & Co., where he dealt with options arbitrage. Cohen started his first hedge fund known as S.A.C. Capital Advisors in 1992, enjoying some success which allowed him to own 8 percent of Major League Baseball team, the New York Mets. He has also been involved in philanthropic causes in which he contributed $715 million.
Unfortunately, SAC Capital was allegedly involved in an insider trading scandal which led to a hefty $1.8 billion fine, and Cohen had to shut down the fund. This pave the way for the birth of his current hedge fund.
Point72 Asset Management
This is Cohen’s current hedge fund, based in Stamford. It has 17 clients, and its core strategy is long/short equity with investments in various asset classes across the globe. It has a particular focus on systematic, long/short, macro, and discretionary long/short strategies. The hedge fund attributes its success to the following:
- Macro insights and highlights
- Sector-aligned model
- Multi-manager platform
- A fundamental bottom-up research culture
- Focus on multiple asset classes
Portfolio percentage
The fund has 10.5% of its portfolio invested in communications industry, 21.8% in healthcare was, 18.9% in information technology, 14.48% in consumer discretionary, and 14.74% in finance.
Point72 Asset Management’s performance highlights
The hedge fund’s market value in Q4 2020 was $20.5 billion, a notable improvement from the Q3 2020 market value of $19.53 billion. The performance in the last four quarters was up 35.28%. In comparison, the hedge fund gave a return of 14.9% net of fees in 2019. Point72 Asset Management added 357 new stocks to its portfolio and purchased additional shares in 216 stocks. The hedge fund also reported that 376 stocks were sold out. It also reduced its holdings in 287 stocks.
Some of the stocks at the top of Point72 Asset Management’s portfolio include Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD), SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ: FB), Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ: AZN), Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER), Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE: DELL), and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF.
Cohen is an exception in an industry that is reeling from losses. The entire hedge fund industry is feeling the reverberations of the changing financial landscape. Its reputation has been tarnished in the last decade, during which its hedged returns couldn’t keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. On the other hand, Insider Monkey’s research was able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs by more than 124 percentage points since March 2017. Between March 2017 and February 26th 2021 our monthly newsletter’s stock picks returned 197.2%, vs. 72.4% for the SPY. Our stock picks outperformed the market by more than 124 percentage points (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that significantly underperformed the market. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 and they lost 13% through November 16th. That’s why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. You can subscribe to our free newsletter on our homepage to receive our stories in your inbox.
Let’s take a look at Steve Cohen’s top 10 small-cap stock picks by analyzing his Q4’2020 portfolio.
Best Small-Cap Stocks to Buy According to Billionaire Steve Cohen
10. At Home Group Inc. (NYSE: HOME)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31
At Home Group owns home décor stores that sell wall décor, home furniture, furnishings, houseware, rugs, and decorative accents. At Home Group sells its products across the U.S. CAS Investment Partners was the largest hedge fund investor with 10.4 million shares.
- At Home Group reported a $1.08 non-GAAP EPS in Q4 2020, which was $0.38 more than the consensus estimate. Its GAAP EPS was $1.08, which was higher than the consensus estimates by $0.44.
- The company’s revenue for the quarter was $561.99 million, which outperformed the consensus estimate by $36.18 million and represented a 41.3% gain YOY.
- At Home Group’s adjusted EBITDA in Q4 2020 was $119.6 million, representing a 94.4% increase.
As of the end of the fourth quarter, 31 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database of 887 funds held stakes in HOME, compared to 34 funds in the third quarter. Clifford A. Sosin’s CAS Investment Partners is the biggest stakeholder in the company, with 10.4 million shares, worth $161.3 million.
Bonhoeffer Capital Management, in their Q4 2020 investor letter, said that At Home Group Inc. (NYSE: HOME)’s current opportunity for organic growth is high. Here is what Bonhoeffer Capital Management has to say about At Home Group Inc. in their Q4 2020 investor letter:
“At Home (HOME) is a home décor retailer. At Home provides home accessories (rugs, housewares, furniture, wall hangings, etc.) in a self-service format similar to Costco. The company has 219 stores in 40 states across the United States. The average size of an At Home store is 105,000 square feet offering over 50,000 SKUs. This is larger than other home décor retailer whose average store size is about 25,000 square feet. They also lease second-generation real estate resulting in a lower lease cost (average $6/ft2) than competitors. In Rochester, At Home is an old grocery location (the number two grocer in Rochester) which they have upgraded to remove the “grungy” grocer appearance.
The company’s value proposition is to provide a wide selection of goods at a low price point ($15 per item and less than $70 per basket). The stores have limited staff to support the self-service environment. In visits to local stores, At Home focuses on areas like carpets, barstools/seats, and wall decor of which other retailers have limited selections. Over 70% of the At Home merchandise is exclusive to At Home; so At Home can make both the retail and branded product margins for these products.
At Home is not the largest competitor in the home décor market. Much of home décor is sold by generalists such as Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Amazon, and Lowe’s. These firms have 35% of the home décor market. At Home is a home décor specialty store like HomeGoods (owned by TJ Maxx), Williams Sonoma, and Bed Bath & Beyond. The market is quite competitive and players who have not been able to generate profitability have gone bankrupt, including Pier 1, with 1,500 stores nationwide. At Home has also pivoted to provide “buy online, pick up in store” (BOPIS) during COVID to ensure sales
continue despite the pandemic.Why Do Customers Keep Coming Back?
Retailers who do not have recurring revenue can create recurring revenue by ensuring customers have a reason to return to the store or website. This brings to mind a local store in Rochester, Wegmans, that makes the shopping experience pleasurable and provides a wide selection of grocery items. The wide selection brings folks in, and the experience keeps them coming back. [read complete letter here]
9. Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AUPH)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24
This is a biopharma that develops immunosuppressive treatments. The stock jumped earlier this year after the company received FDA approval for LUPKYNIS (voclosporin) for adults with active lupus nephritis, a rare disease that affects about a third of people diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. Investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald expects the treatment to deliver over $00 million in sales for the company.
Healthcor Management LP currently owns 6.9 million shares of AUPH, worth $95.9 million. AUPH occupies 3.7% of Healthcor’s overall equity.
8. Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BOOT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20
It is one of the leading retailers in the U.S, with a robust portfolio of products that include apparel, footwear, and accessories for adults and children regardless of gender. It offers both lifestyle and work-related products from numerous brands. Boot Barn has 266 stores distributed across 36 states and an e-commerce website called bootbarn.com.
- Boot Barn Q3 2020 financials revealed that it underperformed its top and bottom lines.
- It reported a gross profit of $106.8 million from the previous $97 million, while its margin increased from 34.2% to 35.3%.
- Net sales were reported at $302.3 million, representing 6.5%. Same-store sales were up 4.6%, largely aided by the impressive 16.3% improvement in e-commerce sales, which overshadowed the meager 1.9% increase in same-store sales.
- Boot Barn’s operating income was $41.6 million, representing a 19% gain while margin improved from 12.5% to 13.8% during the quarterly period. The company’s net income for the same period was $29.6 million, an improvement from the $24.8 million reported in the previous quarter.
- The company had $76.3 million in cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter.
- Boot Barn CEO, Jim Conroy acknowledged the 150-basis-point improvement in the company’s operating margin, which he believes aligns with the growth observed in same-store sales.
Boot Barn’s performance during its fiscal Q3 2020 validates its inclusion in Steve Cohen’s top 10 small-cap stocks list.
Israel Englander’s Millennium Management currently holds 519,273 shares of Boot Barn that amounts $22.5 million. BOOT occupies 0.01% of Millennium Management’s total portfolio. Boot Barn attracted 20 hedge fund investors in Q4 2020, which was higher than 13 hedge funds in Q3 2020.
7. Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ: AMRN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24
Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ: AMRN) is an Ireland-based company that develops and sells medicines for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. One of the products that the company offers is the drug Vascepa, a prescription grade omega-3 fatty acid that competes against similar drugs made by bigger biotech firms. Amarin sells the medicines it makes to wholesale dealers and pharmacy providers. It was founded in 1989 and is placed first on our list of 10 best biotech stocks under $6 in 2021.
The firm is in partnership with Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to develop and sell drug products based on Vascepa. The Irish firm posted an annual revenue of more than $600 million in December 2020. Amarin was previously known as Ethical Holdings plc but changed the name to Amarin Corporation plc in 1999. Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, New York-based Baker Bros. Advisors hold the most shares in the firm – 27.9 million – worth more than $136 million. Eversept Partners was second with shares worth $78 million.
6. Knowles Corporation (NYSE: KN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27
It is one of the leading global players in the manufacture of precision device solutions and advanced micro-acoustic audio processing. Some of its markets include the communications, consumer mobile, automotive, defense, medtech, and industrial segments. The company leverages its advantageous position in advanced audio processing and MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) microphones to enhance user experience in IoT, ear, and mobile applications.
Knowles Corp is also one of the leading authorities in mmWave RF, high-end capacitors, and acoustic components. This makes it a key player in supplying important components for technologies such as 5G, strategic for growth.
- Knowles reported a $0.41 non-GAAP EPS in Q4 2020, outperforming the consensus EPS estimate by $0.04. Its GAAP EPS for the same period was $0.32, outperforming the estimate by $0.02.
- The company’s revenue for the quarterly period was $243.2 million, representing a 4.0% gain year-over-year.
As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2020, John W. Rogers’ Ariel Investments owns 4.6 million shares of Knowles Corp. worth $85.7 million. KN accounts for 0.96% of Ariel Investments’ total portfolio. There were 27 hedge funds that realized KN’s potential and invested in the company in the fourth quarter of 2020.
5. NMI Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: NMIH)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22
NMI Holdings is a mortgage insurance company that offers private mortgages and high-quality customer service. The company is currently waiting for approval from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to start providing mortgage insurance at the national level. Howard Marks is the company’s largest hedge fund investor with more than 4.9 million shares. NMIH is also one of Steve Cohen’s top 10 small-cap stock picks.
- NMI has outperformed EPS estimates almost 9 out of 10 times in the last 2 years. It has also outperformed revenue projections 75% of the time.
- NMI Holdings’ EPS estimates were revised 7 times upward and downward 2 times in the last 3 months. Its revenue estimates had 2 upward revisions and 2 downward revisions.
With a $112.4 million stake in NMI Holdings, Oaktree Capital Management owns 4.96 million shares of the company as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2020. Our database shows that 22 hedge funds held stakes in NMIH as of the end of the fourth quarter, versus 19 funds in the third quarter.
4. Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25
It of the providers of fiber-based products such as packaging paper, specialty paper, fiber for cables, absorbent hygiene, and market pulp products. Domtar has 8,000 employees, and its products are sold in 50 countries. The wide market already contributes to a good profile for this company in Steve Cohen’s top 10 small-cap stock picks. Some of the company’s latest and notable developments include:
- The signing of an accelerated share repurchase agreement with JPMorgan Chase for Domtar’s shares worth $200 million.
- The agreement will facilitate the payment of $200 million for 4.43 million shares to be delivered initially.
- The company will determine the final number of shares to buy back through a daily volume-weighted average of its common stock at the time of the agreement’s valuation period.
- Domtar will fund the share repurchase activity through available cash. This includes the cash that it gained after selling its personal care division in March 2020.
The company is also getting the attention of the smart money, as 25 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported owning stakes in the company at the end of the fourth quarter, up from 24 funds a quarter earlier.
3. Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20
The company consists of a group of managers focused on delivering long-term success for institutional and individual investors through the provision of investment management products and services. Virtus has various investment strategies deployed in different segments to match investor needs. Some of the latest developments in the company include:
- Under its management, the portfolio of properties as of February 28, 2021, was worth $166.6 billion, a notable improvement from $132.9 billion in the previous month. Virtus also offered its services to other free-earning assets worth $3.4 billion that were not part of the assets under its management.
- AUM had open-end funds worth $72.6 billion in February compared to $51.2 billion in January.
- Institutional accounts for AUM amounted to $42.2 billion in February compared to $40.8 billion in the previous month. Retail separate accounts AUM gained by 17% to $35.4 billion.
As of the end of the fourth quarter, there were 20 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database that held stakes in VRTS, compared to 14 funds in the third quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors, with 137,361 shares of VRTS, is the biggest stakeholder in the company.
2. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCRX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26
The company develops treatments for inflammatory and contagious illnesses with key focus areas, including biochemistry, computer modeling, and biology. BioCryst also makes small-molecule treatments tested for hereditary angioedema, seasonal influenza, and uncomplicated influenza.
One of its latest milestones of the company is ORLADEYO’s approval as a treatment for hereditary angioedema in Japan. Torii Pharmaceutical Co. will be the BioCryst partner responsible for the commercialization and distribution of ORLADEYO in the Asian country. The company also announced that its prophylactic once-daily ORLADEY received the FDA’s approval for preventing hereditary angioedema attacks in pediatric patients above 12 years old.
Despite losing $46 million in Q3 2020, BCRX had healthy cash and cash equivalent profile at $148.5 million. It also received $325 million in funding from Athyrium Capital Management and Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ: RPRX). BioCryst’s commercialization of ORLADEYO in Japan is expected to deliver more value for investors, thus no surprise that it is on the list of Cohen’s favorite small-cap stocks.
A total of 26 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish BCRX at the end of the fourth quarter, up from 22 funds a quarter earlier.
1. Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXSM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22
This biopharmaceutical company makes novel therapies for treating and managing central nervous system (CNS) disorders, especially those with limited treatment options. Its current treatment pipeline earns it a spot in Point72 Asset Management’s top 10 small-cap stock picks. For the last quarter the company reported:
- R&D expenses reduced to $17.4 million courtesy of completing AXS-07 and AXS-05’s phase 3 safety and efficacy trials.
- Cash and cash equivalents in Q4 2020 dropped to $183.88 million from $220 million
- General and administrative expenses grew to $10.4 million courtesy of the expanded commercial operations and higher personnel costs linked to stock compensation.
- Axsome filed an NDA with the FDA for the use of AXS-05 as a treatment for major depressive disorder. It also plans to submit an NDA for AXS-07 as a potential treatment for acute migraines as soon as Q2.
- AXS-12 earned Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for treating narcolepsy patients. The same pipeline drug also received Breakthrough Therapy Destination for treating cataplexy in patients that suffer from narcolepsy.
- Axsome expects a YoY increase in operating expenses in 2021 as it continues to build out its commercial function and expand its pipeline. The $225 million term loan that the company secured is enough to fund its planned operations well into 2024.
Iridian Asset Management is one of the 22 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey having stakes in AXSM at the end of the fourth quarter. The fund owns over 2.06 million shares of the company.
You can also take a peek at 10 Best New Stocks to Buy in 2021 According to Billionaire Paul Singer and 10 Best Stocks to Buy According to Billionaire Mason Hawkins.
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This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
