Here is What Hedge Funds Think About FLIR Systems, Inc. (FLIR)

As aggregate interest increased, key hedge funds have jumped into FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLIR) headfirst. Marshall Wace LLP, led by Paul Marshall and Ian Wace, created the most outsized position in FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLIR). Marshall Wace LLP had $7.3 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Benjamin A. Smith’s Laurion Capital Management also made a $7.2 million investment in the stock during the quarter. The following funds were also among the new FLIR investors: Matthew Tewksbury’s Stevens Capital Management, David Costen Haley’s HBK Investments, and George Hall’s Clinton Group.

Let’s check out hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLIR). We will take a look at First American Financial Corp (NYSE:FAF), Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (NYSE:BWP), ICON plc – Ordinary Shares (NASDAQ:ICLR), and Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:EEFT). All of these stocks’ market caps are similar to FLIR’s market cap.

As you can see these stocks had an average of 22 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $271 million. That figure was $253 million in FLIR’s case. First American Financial Corp (NYSE:FAF) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (NYSE:BWP) is the least popular one with only 18 bullish hedge fund positions. FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLIR) is not the most popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still above average. This is a slightly positive signal but we’d rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. In this regard FAF might be a better candidate to consider taking a long position in.

Disclosure: None