PK - Tracking Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Portfolio - Q4 2022 Update

Summary

• Bill Ackman’s 13F portfolio value increased from $7.88B to $8.78B this quarter.
• Pershing Square increased Howard Hughes Corp. substantially this quarter.
• The largest three 13F positions are Lowe's Companies, Restaurant Brands, and Chipotle Mexican Grill. They together account for ~59% of the portfolio.

This article is part of a series that provides an ongoing analysis of the changes made to Pershing Square's 13F portfolio on a quarterly basis. It is based on Ackman's regulatory 13F Form filed on 2/13/2023. Please visit our Tracking Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Holdings article for an idea on how his holdings have progressed over the years and our previous update for the fund's moves during Q3 2022.

Ackman's 13F portfolio value increased ~12% from ~$7.88B to ~$8.78B this quarter. The number of positions remained steady at 6. The portfolio remains heavily concentrated with a few huge bets. The top three positions account for ~59% of the total portfolio value: Lowe's Companies, Restaurant Brands, and Chipotle Mexican Grill.

In addition to partner stakes, the fund also invests the capital from Pershing Square Holdings ( OTCPK:PSHZF ), a public entity that had debut in Euronext Amsterdam in October 2014. This was set up primarily to increase the amount of capital invested that is permanent. Pershing Square Holdings had underperformed the S&P 500 since its EOY 2012 inception. This changed in 2019 as they compounded at ~50% in the three years through 2021. For 2022, they were down 9.1% and for 2023 through 2/21, they are up 3.7%. Their original flagship fund's (2004 inception) track record is excellent with annualized returns of ~15.9% compared to ~8.9% for the S&P 500 index.

Note 1: Pershing Square Holdings has always traded at a discount to NAV. It currently trades at $34.80 per share compared to NAV of $53.67.

Note 2: They have disclosed the following regarding their hedging strategy, principles, and performance: " Principles : asymmetric payoff structures along with monetization that provides liquidity during periods of market dislocation. Strategy : Interest rate hedges since late 2020. Performance : 2021-22 timeframe saw proceeds of $2.7B from $384M in premiums paid for out-of-the-money interest rate swaptions. They still have hedges with a market value of $367M compared to $328M in premiums paid."

Note 4: Pershing Square has a ~10% stake in Universal Music Group ( OTCPK:UMGNF ) at a cost-basis of ~€18 per share. It currently trades at €22.31.

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Stake Increases:

Howard Hughes Corp. ( HHC ) : HHC is now a ~14% of the 13F portfolio position. The stake was first established in 2010 as a result of its spin-off from GGP Inc. The vast majority of the current stake is from the addition of ~10M shares in Q1 2020 at ~$50 per share through a private placement. Q1 2021 saw a ~25% stake increase at prices between ~$78 and ~$102. This quarter saw another ~17% stake increase at an average cost of ~$72 per share. The stock is currently at ~$83.

Kept Steady:

Lowe's Companies ( LOW ): LOW is currently the largest position at ~24% of the portfolio. It was established in Q2 2018 at prices between $81 and $101 and increased by ~9% next quarter at prices between $95 and $117. There was also a ~40% stake increase in Q1 2020 at ~$84 per share. The four quarters through Q2 2021 had seen a ~20% selling at prices between ~$136 and ~$211. The stock currently trades at ~$202. Last several quarters have seen only minor adjustments.

Note: Pershing Square's cost-basis on LOW is ~$85 per share.

Restaurant Brands International ( QSR ): The QSR stake is a large (top three) ~18% of the portfolio stake. Pershing Square's original cost-basis was ~$16. Q3 2017 saw a ~32% selling at prices between $59 and $66. That was followed with a ~22% reduction in H1 2018 at prices between $53 and $64. The four quarters through Q3 2019 had also seen a ~28% selling at prices between $52 and $79. In June 2020, they increased the position by roughly two-thirds through forward contracts at $44.20 cost-basis. The stock currently trades at ~$65. Last several quarters have seen only minor adjustments.

Chipotle Mexican Grill ( CMG ): CMG is a large (top three) ~18% of the portfolio position. The stake was established in Q3 2016 at a cost-basis of ~$405 per share. The position was sold down by ~30% in Q3 2018 in the high-400s price-range and that was followed with a ~17% trimming over the next four quarters. Q1 2020 also saw a one-third selling at ~$860 per share. There was a ~7% trimming in Q1 2021 at ~$1340 per share. Q3 2021 saw a ~3% increase at ~$1910 per share. The stock currently trades at ~$1477.

Hilton Worldwide Holdings ( HLT ): The large 14.43% portfolio stake was established in October 2018. It was purchased at prices between $64 and $78. Q1 2020 saw a ~30% stake increase at a cost-basis of ~$70. Q1 2022 saw a ~20% selling at prices between ~$129 and ~$158. The stock currently trades at ~$145. Last few quarters have seen only minor adjustments.

Note 1: Their overall cost-basis is ~$72 per share.

Note 2: In Q4 2018, Hilton Worldwide Holdings came back into the portfolio after a gap of eighteen months. The previous position was purchased in Q3 2016 and disposed a year later. Pershing Square has said that the new position was acquired at a better valuation compared to their previous purchase. Also, the business structure has transformed into a capital-light model following the spinoff in early 2017 of Park Hotels & Resorts ( PK ) and Hilton Grand Vacations ( HGV ).

Canadian Pacific Railway ( CP ) : CP is a ~13% of the portfolio position purchased in Q4 2021 at prices between ~$64.50 and ~$78. The position was built this quarter at prices between ~$67 and ~$83. The stock currently trades at ~$76.

Note: the position was not in their Q4 2021 13F report but was disclosed in an amended filing last March.

Fannie Mae ( OTCQB:FNMA ) and Freddie Mac ( OTCQB:FMCC ) are other long positions in the partnership - the holdings were disclosed in 13D filings on November 15, 2013 - as they are not 13F securities , they are not listed in the 13F report. Ackman held just under 10% of the outstanding shares of both these businesses - 115.57M shares of FNMA at a cost-basis of $2.29 and 63.5M shares of FMCC at a cost-basis of $2.14. The combined investment outlay was ~$400M. FNMA & FMCC currently trade at ~$0.46 per share. In March 2018, Pershing Square said their Fannie/Freddie pfds now amounts to 21% of the total investment in the two GSEs. Their Q4 2022 Annual Investor Presentation had the following regarding Fannie/Freddie: " Confident in long-term value despite adverse court rulings effectively ending shareholder litigation - believe re-privatization is an eventuality but may take some time ".

The spreadsheet below highlights changes to Pershing Square's 13F stock holdings in Q4 2022:

For further details see: