market folly

Dan Loeb's Third Point Offshore Fund recently released its January performance and the fund was up 3.9% for the month compared to a 2.4% return in the S&P 500. To date, Third Point has seen 18.9% annualized returns with a low correlation to the market (0.42).

Equity Exposure

In equities, Loeb's hedge fund has its highest net long exposure in basic materials at 16.4% net long. Their second highest exposure comes with a 12.9% net long position in the consumer sector. In total, Third Point is 68.9% long and -7.9% short, leaving the fund 61% net long.

Credit Exposure

Loeb is 31.1% net long credit with his largest exposure in mortgage backed securities (MBS) at 19.3% net long. He is also 12.3% net long distressed and -10.1% short Government bonds.


Top Positions

As of the end of January, Third Point's top positions remain unchanged from previous months:

1. Gold (physical)
2. Delphi (multiple securities held)
3. Chrysler (multiple securities held)
4. Potash (POT)
5. Lyondell Basell (LYB)


Top Winners & Losers

Third Point's portfolio attributed positive performance in the month to shares of Potash (POT), Smurfit-Stone Container (SSCC), Massey Energy (MEE), NXP Semiconductor (NXPI), and Aveta. We recently highlighted how Third Point opposes SSCC's takeover and other hedge funds have been active in the name as well. SSCC is one of the many post-reorganization equities found in Loeb's portfolio. Last year we cited how Third Point likes post-reorg equities and just recently we noted that John Paulson likes them too.

Regarding his position in NXP Semiconductor, Loeb highlighted NXPI in a recent letter. The company is involved in near field communications and is seen as a prime play on mobile payments. Third Point also saw solid performance from its position in Massey Energy as the company received a takeover offer from Alpha Natural Resources (ANR).

Positions that negatively affected Third Point's portfolio last month include Gold, Brenntag AG (ETR:BNR), Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN), African Barrick Gold (LON: ABG), and Accuride (ACW).

To learn to invest like this hedge fund manager, check out Dan Loeb's recommended reading list.