By Max Magee
Because most institutional investors are tasked with putting large sums of money to work, mega-caps like ExxonMobil (XOM) and Apple (AAPL) tend to dominate their portfolios. However, there are some smaller names that crop up near the top of these big portfolios from time to time.
Looking at companies with a market cap of less than $1 billion, Canadian firm Nordion (NDZ), the world's largest provider of isotopes to the healthcare industry, appeared among the top 15 U.S.-listed stocks in 17 institutional portfolios at the end of Q1.
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Small-cap autoparts makers are also garnering interest, as Accuride (ACW) and Titan International (TWI), both specializing in wheels, were each among the top 15 U.S.-listed stocks in 15 institutional portfolios at the end of Q1.
Other popular small-caps at the end of the first quarter included power equipment supplier Global Power Equipment Group (GLPW); mortgage REIT CreXus Investment (CXS); Hypercom (HYC), a payment systems provider that is in the process of being acquired by VeriFone Holdings (PAY) in a deal that is undergoing regulatory scrutiny; utility Dynegy Inc (DYN); and media firm Ascent Media (ASCMA). All six were in the top 15 U.S.-listed equity holdings of 10 or more pros at the end of Q1.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
