Earlier this month, mutual fund company Southeastern Asset
Management, where investing Guru
Mason Hawkins
serves as CEO and chairman, has reported three transactions.
Apart from declaring itself the
largest shareholder of Saks Inc.
, it also sold some of its shares in two stocks: Liberty
Interactive Corp. (
LINTA
) and Vulcan Materials Company (
VMX
).
Southeastern Asset Management, which is the adviser to Longleaf
Partners Funds, decreased in Vulcan by 18.47 percent on Dec. 5,
and then reduced in Liberty Interactive by 43.41 percent five
days later, according to
GuruFocus Real Time Picks
.
Both stocks are trading near their highs; Liberty is trading
close to its five-year high at $19.25 and Vulcan is trading near
its one-year high at around $52. Additionally, both stocks were
listed as Southeastern's 13th and 14th largest holdings in the
third quarter, according to
Mason Hawkins' GuruFocus Portfolio
details. Liberty represented 3.3 percent of the fund's portfolio
while Vulcan represented 2.6 percent of the fund's portfolio.
Southeastern has continuously reduced its shares of digital
company, Liberty Interactive Corp., since the fourth quarter of
2010. Its stock price had been on the rise since 2009. The more
Liberty stock surged, the more Southeastern's trade activity
seemed to correspond with the stock's every shift.
With a market cap of $9.86 billion, Liberty is known for
operating various digital commerce businesses. On Dec. 11,
Liberty announced that it acquired Trip Advisor, now controlling
majority voting stake. On the same day, Liberty's stock hopped
from $18.92 to $19.30.
In 12 months, Liberty has maintained positive numbers in revenue
growth, EBITDA growth, free cash flow growth and book value
growth (view its 10-Year Financials).
It has a 7 in Profitability and Growth and 5 in Financial
Strength. Its Business Predictability rank is 1 star.
Also with a Business Predictability of 1 star is Alabama-based
Vulcan Materials Company. With a market cap of $6.74 billion,
Vulcan has built a reputation as the nation's leading producer of
construction aggregates and major producer of other construction
materials.
Southeastern began its holding with Vulcan in the third quarter
of 2010. Over the following quarters, the fund has purchased a
total of 12.8 million shares, and has sold 616,710 shares.
Starting off with 5.3 million shares, Southeastern grew its
holding to 9.9 million shares.
Vulcan's Warning Signs reveal a dividend yield close to a
five-year low, a P/B ratio close to a three-year high and a P/S
ratio close to a two-year high. The signs also indicate a
declining per share revenue and gross margin, as well as poor
financial strength.
In its 10-Year Financials, Vulcan shows lack of stability in
revenue, EBITDA, free cash flow and book value.
To view more of Mason Hawkins' recent trades, visit his latest
stock picks. Also view his high-yield stocks, top growth
companies and undervalued picks.
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