Post Holdings Inc (POST), Herbalife Ltd. (HLF): Route One Increases Stakes In Its Top Small-Cap Picks

After initiating its stake in Chile-based beverage company Compania Cervecerias Unidas S.A. (ADR) (NYSE:CCU) during the fourth quarter of 2013, Route One has steadily increasing its stake from 120,000 shares initially to 3.87 million shares by March 31, which are currently valued at $80.41 million. While Route One continues to be bullish on the stock, analysts are not as optimistic, with the stock currently maintaining an ‘Underweight’ average recommendation. However, many of the hedge funds with positions in the company among those we track also seem to be bullish on the company, having increased their stakes in the first quarter. Among them are Jean-Marie Eveillard’s First Eagle Investment Management and Chuck Royce’s Royce & Associates.

Although Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) is third among the top small-cap picks of Route One, it happens to be the stock in which the fund increased its stake by the greatest amount during the first quarter. Route One now holds 1.77 million shares of the company, a 144% increase, with the stake now valued at $75.80 million. Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) has been in the news regularly over the past year due to the crusade against it by activist investor Bill Ackman, which resulted in its stock falling significantly in 2014. Even though the stock has managed to recover 40% this year, it is still well below the $80 highs it enjoyed in the beginning of 2014. However, as long as two of the most legendary investors on the Street, Carl Icahn and George Soros, continue to hold Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) in their portfolios, it doesn’t seem like other investors in the stock have as much to fear.

Disclosure: None