Smart Money Sentiment in Southwest Airlines Co (LUV) Taking Off: Why Are They So Hyped?

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Now, specific money managers have jumped into Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) headfirst. Point72 Asset Management, led by Steve Cohen, initiated the largest position in Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV). Point72 Asset Management had $54.7 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Anand Parekh’s Alyeska Investment Group also initiated a $30 million position during the quarter. The following funds were also among the new LUV investors: Gregg Moskowitz’s Interval Partners, Robert Pohly’s Samlyn Capital, and Dmitry Balyasny’s Balyasny Asset Management.

Let’s check out hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV). We will take a look at Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited (ADR) (NYSE:CHU), CSX Corporation (NYSE:CSX), and Barrick Gold Corporation (USA) (NYSE:ABX). This group of stocks’ market caps resemble LUV’s market cap.

Ticker No of HFs with positions Total Value of HF Positions (x1000) Change in HF Position
BAX 50 4345509 -4
CHU 12 39176 5
CSX 43 734912 2
ABX 45 1718683 -8

As you can see these stocks had an average of 38 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $1.71 billion. That figure was $2.29 billion in LUV’s case. Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited (ADR) (NYSE:CHU) is the least popular one with only 12 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) is more popular among hedge funds. Considering that hedge funds are fond of this stock in relation to its market cap peers, it may be a good idea to analyze it in detail and potentially include it in your portfolio.

Disclosure: None

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