Q1 Returns of Izzy Englander’s Top Picks as He Prepares to Launch Joint Venture With Top Trading Team

Izzy’s next energy pick was in Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD), which also stood as a top energy stock among billionaires. Izzy was one of eight billionaires with an investment in Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD), which had returns of 9.88% during the quarter. Izzy had the second largest investment among those exceedingly wealthy investors, with his 1.92 million shares valued at $286.50 million trailing only Andreas Halvorsen’s much larger holding of 6.59 million shares. Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD) is enjoyed a strong Q2 as well, up nearly 5% in April on strengthening oil prices.

Cameron International Corporation (NYSE:CAM) is Millennium’s next pick and another of its top energy picks. The fund was extremely bullish on both Cameron and Pioneer during the fourth quarter, increasing its positions by over 1,200% in each. In Cameron International Corporation (NYSE:CAM)’s case it was over 1,400%, to 5.69 million shares valued at $283.99 million. Where Pioneer excelled during Q1 however, Cameron International Corporation (NYSE:CAM) struggled, having a nearly identical performance to Pioneer, but on the flip-side, at -9.67%. Cameron has made a big move in April though, up by more than 17% during the month to make up for the Q1 losses after beating earnings estimates on April 23 and showing improved margins.Another large fund that utilizes quantitative analysis, D E Shaw, also had a large position in Cameron (though also small in relation to its portfolio’s size).

Izzy’s fifth and final top pick was McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD), which also stands as one of the most stable dividend stocks, having consistently increased its cash dividend payments to shareholders over its lengthy history as a publicly-traded company. With McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) coming off a disappointing 2014, one of its worst years ever, the company made the difficult decision to replace CEO Don Thompson with new leader Steve Easterbrook. Billionaire investors Bill Ackman and Larry Robbins have both expressed confidence was the change was a good one long-term for McDonald’s. In the first quarter shares rose by 4.90%, a strong start to the year and good news for Izzy who held a 2.63 million share position in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) valued at $246.38 million entering 2015.

Disclosure: None