Richard Pzena’s 9 New Stock Picks

Published October 24, 2021 at 5:09 am EDT Updated September 7, 2026 at 1:43 pm EDT

In this article, we discuss Richard Pzena’s 9 new stock picks.

Richard Pzena founded Pzena Investment Management in 1995, and he serves as the managing principal, co-chief investment officer, and portfolio manager for the firm. He single-handedly constructed the firm’s robust investment strategy and proprietary screening model upon inception.

Richard Pzena completed his Bachelor’s and MBA from Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1980. He previously worked at Amoco Corporation in financial and planning roles. After Amoco Corporation, Richard Pzena joined Sanford C. Bernstein, where he worked in multiple positions over the course of his tenure, including director of the U.S. equity investments, chief research officer, chief investment officer of small-cap equities, and oil industry analyst.

Pzena’s investment portfolio is concentrated in utilities and telecommunications, information technology, industrials, healthcare, finance, energy, and communications sectors. The top 10 holdings comprise 33.74% of the investment portfolio at Pzena Capital Management.

General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC), and Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) are some of the most popular stocks in Pzena’s Q2 2021 portfolio.

Richard S. Pzena of Pzena Investment Management

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With this context in mind, let’s discuss Richard Pzena’s 9 new stock picks.

Pzena’s fund initiated new stakes in these companies in the second quarter.

Richard Pzena’s New Stock Picks

9. Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK)

Pzena Investment Management’s Stake Value: $86,000

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26

Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) is a Finnish multinational company dealing in telecommunications, information technology, and consumer electronics, since its inception in 1865. Nokia Corporation was the largest mobile phone and smartphone vendor in the world from 1998 to 2002, but suffered in that category afterwards. Nokia Corporation sold its mobile manufacturing division to Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) in 2014, and shifted its focus on telecommunications infrastructure, IoT, virtual reality, and digital health via strategic acquisitions. Nokia Corporation remains a key patent licensor for most big mobile phone vendors to date.

Pzena Investment Management holds an $86,000 stake in Nokia Corporation as of the end of June, and it is one of the newest stock picks by Richard Pzena.

Arrow Street Capital is the leading stakeholder in Nokia Corporation, with stakes worth $133.1 million. Overall, 26 hedge funds were long Nokia Corporation at the end of June, up from 21 in the previous quarter.

On October 18, it was announced that Nokia Corporation will provide the equipment for 5G coverage in Slovenia, to businesses and customers alike from its AirSpace 5G equipment portfolio. Similarly, it was reported on October 14 that Nokia Corporation would deploy 5G coverage to Japanese companies, SoftBank Group Corp. (OTC:SFTBY) and KDDI, thus enhancing the company’s global footprint.

Nokia Corporation is a good stock to purchase according to Richard Pzena, much like General Electric Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Wells Fargo & Company, and Ford Motor Company.

8. Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ)

Pzena Investment Management’s Stake Value: $275,000

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 34

Next, we have Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ) on our list of Richard Pzena’s 9 new stock picks. Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ) is an Irish biopharmaceutical company which focuses on developing medical drugs for deadly diseases, to transform the lives of critical patients for the better. Their medical expertise extends to sleep disorders, oncology, neuroscience, solid tumors, and epilepsy. Their medicines are available in 75 countries, and Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ)’s clinical trials are thoroughly focused on oncology and neuroscience.

Pzena Investment Management owns 1,546 shares in Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ), valued at $275,000.

Akash Tewari at Jefferies assumed coverage of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ) with a Buy rating, setting a price target of $172 on October 6. He stated that the biopharmaceutical company had a strong and attractive valuation, and the solid IP on Epidiolex definitely contributed towards the rating.

Of the 873 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 34 held stakes in Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ) at the end of the second quarter, down from 37 in Q1. The company’s largest stakeholder is Aubrey Capital Management, with a $498.2 million stake in Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ).

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ) is a suitable investment opportunity according to Richard Pzena, just like General Electric Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Wells Fargo & Company, and Ford Motor Company.

7. United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Pzena Investment Management’s Stake Value: $412,000

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45

Another stock on our list of Richard Pzena’s 9 new stock picks is United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR), which is an American biotech company aiming to offer life-extending technology in the fields of lung disease and organ manufacturing. The drugs and therapies by United Therapeutics Corporation have received several FDA approvals in the United States, and the company’s medical products are sold in the US, Canada, Central and South America, Middle East, and Asia.

Richard Pzena owns 2,296 shares in United Therapeutics Corporation, worth $412,000. The leading stakeholder in the biotech corporation is Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies, holding 3.1 million shares valued at $557.9 million.

Insider Monkey tracks the movement of 873 elite hedge funds diligently, and at the end of June, 45 funds were bullish on United Therapeutics Corporation, up from 42 in the first quarter.

6. Qorvo, Inc. (NASDAQ:QRVO)

Pzena Investment Management’s Stake Value: $444,000

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40

Qorvo, Inc. is the next stock on our list of Richard Pzena’s 9 new stock picks. Qorvo, Inc. is an American semiconductor company that designs and manufactures radio frequency systems for apps that use wireless and broadband communications, in addition to foundry services. The North Carolina-based company was formed as a result of a merger between TriQuint Semiconductor and RF Micro Devices in 2015. Qorvo, Inc. is traded as a S&P 500 Component.

Richard Pzena holds a stake valued at $444,000 in Qorvo, Inc. as of the second quarter. Seth Klarman’s Baupost Group holds stakes worth $1.04 billion in Qorvo, Inc., making him the largest stakeholder of the semiconductor company.

At the end of the second quarter, 40 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long Qorvo, Inc., down from 41 in the previous quarter.

5. Pure Storage, Inc. (NYSE:PSTG)

Pzena Investment Management’s Stake Value: $449,000

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31

Pure Storage, Inc. (NYSE:PSTG) is an American technology company developing all-flash data storage hardware and software products. It has its own patented flash storage hardware as of 2015. Before becoming publicly listed in 2015, Pure Storage, Inc. raised over $470 million in venture capital. The company is traded as a Russell 1000 Component.

Pzena Capital Management owns 23,003 shares in Pure Storage, Inc., amounting to $449,000. The tech company is one of the newest additions in Pzena’s 13F portfolio.

At the end of Q2, 31 hedge funds observed by Insider Monkey were bullish on Pure Storage, Inc., up from 30 in the previous quarter.

On September 29, BofA analyst Wamsi Mohan kept a Buy rating on Pure Storage, Inc., owing to the firm’s long-term goals for its subscription-based business and FY25 estimates, as well as the resultant higher profit and earnings estimates in 2023. The price target was set at $32, up from $28.

4. SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSNC)

Pzena Investment Management’s Stake Value: $474,000

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 49

The next stock on our list of Pzena’s 9 new stock picks is SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc., an American financial technology company specializing in software-as-a-service for the financial services industry. The Connecticut-based company has operations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, classifying SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. as a multinational firm. SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. provides fintech markets with services like fund administration, wealth management accounting, and handling pension funds and insurance, via its numerous acquired subsidiaries.

Pzena holds a stake valued at $474,000 in SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. as of the end of June.

The fintech company is popular among hedge funds as of the end of the second quarter. 49 funds were bullish on SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc., down from 54 in Q1.

Vulcan Value Partners mentioned SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. in its Q4 2020 investor letter. Here is what they said:

“SS&C Technologies Holdings Inc. is the leading provider of services to the financial sector. It owns several companies including ALPS Fund Services, Advent, GlobeOp, Intralinks, Eze, and DST. It operates an array of technology offerings for the financial services industry and provides mission-critical software. We like the company’s recurring revenue, high retention rates, strong free cash flow generation, and high rates of return on capital. Regulatory pressure, the need for greater transparency, and the growth of its core asset classes have led to greater demand for its services.”

3. PRA Health Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:PRAH)

Pzena Investment Management’s Stake Value: $558,000

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43

One of Richard Pzena’s recent stock picks is PRA Health Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:PRAH), which is a global biopharmaceutical company, operating in more than 90 countries. PRA Health Sciences, Inc. focuses on drug development, and conducts clinical trials locally in its 90 locations around the globe for efficient and accurate studies. PRA Health Sciences, Inc. was recently acquired by ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR), and the transaction will be completed in Q3 2021.

PRA Health Sciences, Inc. shareholders will own 34% of the shares in the combined company, and the parent company’s stakeholders will own 66%. ICON Public Limited Company was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral by JPMorgan analyst Tycho Peterson on September 29, with the price target at $320, up from $230. Peterson said that the rating was due to the acquisition of PRA Health Sciences, Inc., a high quality asset with a proven track record, that will result in a very strong financial outlook for the combined company.

Richard Pzena owns 3,378 shares in PRA Health Sciences, Inc., amounting to $558,000.

Of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey at the end of June, 43 funds reported owning stakes in PRA Health Sciences, Inc., up from 35 in Q1.

2. Vtech Holdings Limited (OTC:VTKLY)

Pzena Investment Management’s Stake Value: $1,457,000

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A

Vtech Holdings Limited is a Hong Kong-based global market leader in electronic learning products for children, and the largest manufacturer of residential phones in the United States. Vtech Holdings Limited has been in business since 1976, and has mastered the craft of fun and innovative educational toys and cordless phones that elevate the user experience. With manufacturing and R&D facilities in mainland China, Malaysia, Mexico, Germany, Canada, and the US, Vtech Holdings Limited is afforded the best technology upgrades and an efficient cost structure to stay abreast with the competition.

Richard Pzena recently invested in Vtech Holdings Limited, purchasing 139,730 shares valued at $1.45 million. The investment will result in a huge payoff for Pzena’s clients, since Vtech Holdings Limited is a dividend stock, with a yield of 10.88%.

1. Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ:HBAN)

Pzena Investment Management’s Stake Value: $48,063,000

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33

Ranking first on our list of Richard Pzena’s 9 new stock picks is Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, an American bank holding company from Ohio. Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is known for being the second largest originator of Small Business Administration loans. The Huntington National Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, operating 920 branches across the US. Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is traded as a S&P 500 Component.

Pzena’s largest investment recently was in Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. He purchased stocks worth $48.06 million in the American bank holding company. Ken Griffin’s Citadel Investment Group is the leading stakeholder in Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, with a stake of $171.3 million as of the end of June.

Out of the 873 hedge funds monitored by Insider Monkey, 33 funds were long Huntington Bancshares Incorporated at the end of Q2, up from 27 in the previous quarter.

On September 7, Baird analyst David George reiterated his Outperform rating on Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, with a price target of $17.

You can also take a look at 10 Stocks to Buy According to James Mitarotonda’s Barington Capital and Analysts are Cutting Price Targets of These 10 Stocks.

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