Every quarter, many money managers have to disclose what they've bought and sold. Their latest moves can shine a bright light on smart stock picks.
George Soros is known to some folks these days for his politics and philanthropy, but most of his fame stems from his wealth, which is a result of his outstanding investing prowess. He founded Soros Fund Management back in 1973, and under its umbrella, the Quantum funds racked up an amazing record, reportedly averaging close to 20% annual growth over four decades.
As The New York Times has explained, "His huge gains have come from macro bets, which aim to profit from global economic trends by trading currencies, commodities, bonds and other securities. Mr. Soros made his name, however, betting on currencies."
Soros' stock portfolio totaled $6.8 billion in value as of March 31, 2012.
Interesting developments
So what does Soros' latest quarterly 13-F filing tell us? Here are a few interesting details:
New holdings include VIVUS
Among holdings in which Soros increased his stake was networking specialist JDS Uniphase
Soros reduced his stake in lots of companies, including Baidu
Finally, Soros unloaded several companies, such as Affymax
We should never blindly copy any investor's moves, no matter how talented the investor. But it can be useful to keep an eye on what smart folks are doing. 13-F forms can be great places to find intriguing candidates for our portfolios.
If you're worried about Baidu and China's shrinking appeal, check out our special free report "3 Stocks to Own for the New Industrial Revolution ," which focuses on a future made in America.