Israel Englander‘s Millennium Management in the current round of 13F filings, disclosed its largest holdings in PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL), Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI), and American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NYSE:AEP), among others. In PPL Corporation, Millennium currently owns over 8 million shares, with an aggregate value of $243.7 million. The stake surged by some 3.4 million shared during the third quarter.

In Baker Hughes and American Electric Power Company, Israel Englaner holds around 4.3 million shares, and 4.4 million shares respectively. The value of both positions amounts to $208.1 million, and $192.4 million respectively. In the latter, Millennium boosted its position by some 2.7 million shares during the third quarter.

Two other companies, in which the fund disclosed smaller positions are CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS), represented in the 13F by a $187.1 million stake, which amasses 7.1 million shares; and Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE), in which Millennium holds 1.8 million shares, worth $154.5 million.

Disclosure: none

Larry Robbins‘ Glenview Capital disclosed, in a newly amended filing, a press release regarding Health Management Associates Inc (NYSE:HMA)’s takeover by Community Health Systems. In the press release, that can be read below, Glenview stated that it will vote in favor of the proposal.

“In light of our leadership role to Revitalize HMA and given our stance as HMA's largest shareholder, Glenview offers the following statement regarding HMA's Q3 earnings, the Board's review of the pending Community Health System, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) ("CHS") transaction, the issuance of fairness opinions by UBS Securities LLC and Lazard Frères & Co. LLC and CHS's reaffirmation of its commitment to the transaction:

–We are disappointed to learn of the weakness at HMA as reflected in their Q3 results, which we believe reflects on the stewardship of the old Board and prior senior management.  However, we are gratified that the new Board and a refocused and reconstituted management team are actively stabilizing and addressing financial and operating performance.

–We appreciate the thorough and comprehensive review of the CHS proposal conducted by the new Board and the work done by Alvarez & Marsal, UBS and Lazard in conjunction with the issuance of fairness opinions.  Independent third party verification of fairness serves all shareholders' interests.

–Based upon this comprehensive review and transparent disclosure of financial and operating conditions that is being made today, Glenview confirms its intention to vote its shares in favor of the CHS proposal, which we believe represents full and fair value for HMA.

–As CHS's largest shareholder, we believe in the compelling strategic rationale driving the transaction and believe CHS is acquiring high quality assets whose fundamental performance will be significantly enhanced through the combined efforts of HMA and CHS leaders.  CHS is well positioned to apply its best practices in core operational areas like physician relationships and recruiting, vendor contracting and clinical management to further stabilize and improve HMA's quality, service delivery and financial performance.

–Finally, this experience reinforces the importance of shareholder engagement.  It was only several weeks after Glenview filed its Form 13D on May 6, 2013 that the old Board of HMA retained an investment bank to assist in a review of strategic alternatives, and it was only after a broad and diverse chorus of voices indicated their dissatisfaction with its lack of leadership that the old Board concluded to accept the CHS proposal.  All shareholders benefited from stronger shareholder engagement.

–Glenview thanks the men and women of HMA and of the new Board for their efforts to move HMA forward in preparation for embarking on a new chapter of quality, performance and growth with CHS."

Glenview holds almost 37.8 million shares of Health Management Associates, which amass 14.28% of the company’s Class A common stock.

Disclosure: none

John A. Levin‘s Levin Capital Strategies reported holding almost 5 million shares of Cott Corporation (USA) (NYSE:COT), which represents an increase from around 3.3 million shares disclosed in its latest 13F. The new position amasses 5.3% of Cott’s outstanding common stock.

Disclosure: none

Prem Watsa, and Fairfax Financial Holdings disclosed, in a new filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, that their stake in BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) has surged to almost 101.9 million shares, from some 51.9 million, disclosed in the latest 13F. Following the increase, Fairfax holds 17.7% of Blackberry’s common stock.

Disclosure: none

Arthur Cohen and Joseph Healey‘s Healthcor Management has added Five Prime Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:FPRX) to its equity portfolio, a new filing with the SEC revealed. Healthcor disclosed a passive stake in the company, which amasses 5.73% of the outstanding common stock. The position contains a total of 965,000 shares.

Disclosure: none

Marc Lasry, and his hedge fund Avenue Capital, have reported their equity portfolio as at the end of the third quarter. We have selected companies in which, Mr. Lasry disclosed largest holdings in terms of value. The list is led by Dynegy Inc. (NYSE:DYN), in which Avenue’s stake amounts to some $94.3 million, and amasses almost 4.9 million shares. In Magnachip Semiconductor Corp (NYSE:MX), the fund holds around 4.1 million shares, worth $76 million.

The fund also reported holding some 1.6 million shares of CIT Group Inc. (NYSE:CIT), as well as 7.4 million shares of Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE:STNG). The value of these two positions amounts to $75.9 million, and $71.8 million respectively. And the last but not the least, is Tronox Ltd (NYSE:TROX), in which Mr. Lasry’s fund reported a $50.8 million position, which contains around 2.1 million shares of Class A.

Disclosure: none

David Tepper‘s fund Appaloosa Management is yet another hedge fund, whose activity is important to track for retail investors. With this in mind, we have selected for you top five picks that represent the holdings with the highest value in Appaloosa’s equity portfolio as at the end of the third quarter. As follows, the fund disclosed the largest position in Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C), around $472.2 million. The stake amasses over 9.7 million shares. It is followed by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT), in which the fund owns some 18.8 million, worth an aggregate $423 million.

Some smaller holdings include United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL), and Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), each having values of $261.8 million, and $198.2 million, respectively. The fund owns around 8.5 million shares of United and 8.4 million shares of Delta. In HCA Holdings Inc (NYSE:HCA), David Tepper’s fund holds some 4.6 million shares, worth $195.5 million

Disclosure: none

James Dondero‘s Highland Capital Management  disclosed, in a new form 4, buying a total of 113,799 shares of Nexpoint Credit Strategies Fund (NYSE:NHF). The shares have been acquired in one transaction, the price amounting to some $8.79 apiece. Judging from the filing, Nextpoint Credit Strategies Fund is a new position in Highland’s equity portfolio.

Disclosure: none

Foresite Capital Management I disclosed, in a new filing with the SEC, a new passive stake in Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:KPTI), which amasses 5.6% of the company’s common stock. The position contains around 1.6 million shares.

Disclosure: none

One of the funds we track is Joel Greenblatt‘s Gotham Asset Management, which recently filed its 13F form, disclosing its equity portfolio as at the end of the third quarter of the year. The fund’s largest holding is United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR). Gotham holds currently 372,147 shares of the company, the value of the position amounting to around $29.3 million. In Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), Greenblatt’s fund reported a $24.4 million stake which amasses almost 1.5 million shares. The next on the list is Endo Health Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:ENDP), represented in Gotham’s 13F by a $23.7 million stake, and Warner Chilcott Plc (NASDAQ:WCRX), in which Gotham holds a $23.5 million position, which amasses over 1.02 million shares. And the last of the top five is PDL BioPharma Inc. (NASDAQ:PDLI), Gotham owning around 2.9 million shares, worth slightly above $23 million.

Disclosure: none

Tudor Just Picked Up Some Exposure To Loathed Emerging Markets (Barrons)
There aren't many broad market exposures more distrusted right now than emerging markets. So: Are we about to see a stampede of hedge funds? Tudor Investment Corp., the hedge-fund firm run by Paul Tudor Jones, picked up 2.8 million shares of iShares Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) during the quarter ending Sept. 30. The firm also disclosed call options to buy another 10.8 million shares of the ETF. Take the disclosure with a grain of salt. We don't even know for certain whether a manager is "long" a stock or fund, since 13-F filings don't disclose every type of security the manager owns. But it would be in keeping with a contrarian view that seems to be getting more traction.

Not going anywhere for the foreseeable future: FedEx CEO Fred Smith (CNBC)
FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) CEO Fred Smith told CNBC on Friday that he doesn’t plan on leaving the company in the near future, despite the recent introduction of controversial and activist hedge fund manager Dan Loeb as a major shareholder in his company. “Well the clock ticks on,” Smith said on “Squawk Box.” “We are are mortal, but I don’t plan on going anyplace in the near future.” Loeb, who has become known for writing acerbic letters to CEOs of companies in which he invests, revealed on CNBC this Tuesday that he bought a large stake in FedEx and met with Smith last week.

Paulson Raises Merger Bets by Adding to Vodafone, T-Mobile Stake (SFGate)
Paulson & Co., the $18 billion hedge-fund firm run by billionaire John Paulson, increased its stake in Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD) in a bet the phone company may be a takeover target. Paulson & Co., which is based in New York, added 17 million American depositary receipts of Vodafone last quarter, bringing its holding to 20 million ADRs valued at $703.6 million as of Sept. 30, according to a regulatory filing yesterday. The firm also raised its stake in T MOBILE US INC (NYSE:TMUS), adding 2.76 million shares and bringing the total value of its holding to $504.7 million.

Hedge funds and equity managers invest in Third Point Re (Artemis)
Institutional hedge fund and equity investment managers have taken stakes in Bermuda-based reinsurer Third Point Reinsurance Ltd. The hedge-fund type reinsurer clearly resonates with large hedge funds such as Citadel and equity focused managers like Cambiar, both of which hold large stakes. Citadel LLC, a large hedge fund owned by investor Ken Griffin, with around $17 billion of assets, owned 2.12 million shares at the end of September, valued at around $30.7 million. Citadel previously had its own catastrophe reinsurance-linked vehicles, such as CIG Re founded in 2004 and New Castle Re founded in 2005, and clearly continues to find the reinsurance strategy attractive.

SEC Charges Hedge Fund Trader With Insider Trading in Carter's Stock (NewsRoomAmerica)
The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced insider trading charges against a New York-based investment professional who used nonpublic information about youth clothing company Carter's Inc. to give the hedge fund where he worked a $3.2 million trading edge. The SEC alleges that Mark Megalli obtained the inside information through a consulting agreement he had with the former vice president of investor relations at Carter's, Eric Martin, who the SEC has previously charged among several others in its investigation into insider trading of Carter's stock.

Returning to Japan, hedge funds bet this time is different (Reuters)
Japan, a frustration for the world’s sharpest hedge fund minds for more than a decade, is proving one of the industry’s biggest winners this year. Big names from New York to London have made billions betting that “Abenomics” – the monetary stimulus programme launched under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – would send the yen sliding and stocks surging. And funds dedicated to Japanese markets have performed better than others – their percentage return on investments is more than triple the overall hedge fund average this year, according to data from Hedge Fund Research.

Leon Cooperman’s Q3 moves (CNBC)

John Griffin of Blue Ridge Capital has been trimming some of the fund’s biggest positions. The latest 13F filing with the SEC reveals Priceline.com Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN) as the fund’s biggest investment. Blue Ridge owns 404K shares with a reported value of $408 million. The second biggest position is American International Group Inc (NYSE:AIG), with 7.3 million shares reportedly worth $356 million.

In the third quarter, Griffin has reduced the fund’s stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) by 9%. Blue Ridge reported ownership of 3.7 million shares valued at $340 million. Another top pick of Griffin is Liberty Global Inc. (NASDAQ:LBTYA), with 4.1 million shares reportedly worth $330 million. Ending the top 5 is Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON), with Blue Ridge reporting 3 million shares worth approximately $318 million.

Disclosure: none

Recommended Reading:

Steven Cohen and SAC Capital Are Crazy About Yahoo!, Micron Technology

Eric Mindich Likes Twenty-First Century Fox, eBay and Dollar Tree

Nelson Peltz Still Loves Mondelez & PepsiCo, But Drops Sotheby's

Steven Cohen and SAC Capital Advisors have released their top equity positions from Q3 in a filing with the SEC. The latest 13F reveals that Cohen is extremely bullish on Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO), increasing their stake in the internet giant by 764%. SAC currently owns 7.5 million Yahoo! shares with a reported value of 251 million. The fund’s second biggest position is Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU), with 12 million shares valued at $212 million.

The third biggest equity investment is Zoetis Inc (NYSE:ZTS), followed by The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) and Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA).

Disclosure: none

Recommended Reading:

Eric Mindich Likes Twenty-First Century Fox, eBay and Dollar Tree

Nelson Peltz Still Loves Mondelez & PepsiCo, But Drops Sotheby's

Ricky Sandler, Eminence Capital Seek Shareholder Meeting at The Men's Wearhouse

Eric Mindich of Eton Park Capital is bullish on Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (NASDAQ:FOXA), having recently opened the position. In a recent 13F filing with the SEC, Eton Park has revealed that Twenty-First Century Fox is the fund’s top holding with 11.5 million shares valued at $385 million. Mindich is also confident in the performance of Liberty Global Inc. (NASDAQ:LBTYK), maintaining the fund’s $262 million stake in the telecommunications giant.

Eton Park has trimmed their holding of eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY), currently holding 4.5 million shares reportedly worth $251 million. Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLTR) is the fourth biggest position valued at $228 million. Eton Park also owns $184 million worth of shares of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA).

Disclosure: none

Recommended Reading:

Nelson Peltz Still Loves Mondelez & PepsiCo, But Drops Sotheby's

Ricky Sandler, Eminence Capital Seek Shareholder Meeting at The Men's Wearhouse

The Baker Brothers Cut Their Position in Incyte Corporation

We have gone through the most recent filing from billionaire Nelson Peltz's Trian Partners; here's what we found:

No new positions. In most quarters, Peltz and Trian maintain a very concentrated equity portfolio, and this filing was no different. The fund reported that it had $5.4 billion split between just 10 stocks.

The only boost. Likewise, the only boost the fund gave to any of its holdings was in Legg Mason, Inc. (NYSE:LM), the diversified asset management company. After upping its stake by less than 1% in the third quarter, Legg Mason now sits at the No. 6 spot in Trian's equity portfolio, and shares have boomed in 2013, returning 54% year-to-date.

The main driving factor behind any bull's investment in Legg Mason is likely the company's restructuring efforts. It has a new CEO to oversee a fairly large cost-cutting program, in which it closed its international equities unit while initiating layoffs in its auditing division. AUM inflows did grow by 1% over the past year, and long-term margin forecasts are promising due to Mason's fairly efficient asset manager/affiliate program, not to mention that the broader asset manager industry is trending upward.

The only reduction. Ingersoll-Rand PLC (NYSE:IR), meanwhile, was the only reduction Peltz and Trian made last quarter. The fund cut its stake in the large-cap industrial machinery company by 4% during the period, but it still sits at No. 3 in the equity portfolio. Shares of Ingersoll have risen by 40% year-to-date, driven by a continued recovery in the U.S. housing market, followed by improving health in European markets. The company plans to spinoff its commercial security business in early December, and Peltz's minor cut should not be taken as a 'bearish' signal, per say, due to the fact that he still holds a significant amount of Ingersoll shares. We'll be watching the spinoff closely, and it's likely this billionaire will too.

The top dogs. Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ:MDLZ) and PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) still account for more than 40% of Trian's equity portfolio, and it seems like just yesterday when Peltz was vocally pushing for both sides to merge their snack food businesses. He's been pretty quite lately, but the sheer fact that he's still very bullish on both companies indicates such a plan may still be a possibility. Under Peltz's plan, Pepsi would buy Mondelez so it could shift its focus away from soft drinks to snacks, which he thinks have greater growth potential in the future. Both stocks have largely tracked the market in 2013, and there's nothing scary about either from a growth or valuation standpoint. We'll be watching closely.

A couple big sales. Interestingly, it appears that Peltz wants nothing to do with Dan Loeb's efforts to boost shareholder value at Sothebys (NYSE:BID). The auctioneer did represent a near $80 million position for the billionaire in the second quarter, but he elected to sell his entire stake last quarter. State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT), meanwhile, was a $120 million position that Peltz elected to cut out of his equity portfolio entirely, as its quite possible that some profit-taking was in order.

Disclosure: none

Recommended Reading:

Ricky Sandler, Eminence Capital Seek Shareholder Meeting at The Men's Wearhouse

The Baker Brothers Cut Their Position in Incyte Corporation

Louis Bacon is Bullish on Financials & Facebook

Ricky Sandler's Eminence Capital, which recently revealed a 9.8% activist position in The Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. (NYSE:MW), disclosed, in a newly amended filing, a press release, in which the fund officially expressed its disappointment that The Men’s Wearhouse did not start negotiation with Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc (NASDAQ:JOSB) regarding the merger of the two companies.

“Eminence Capital believes that by allowing yesterday's deadline to expire, the Board has confirmed that it is not committed to exercising its basic fiduciary duties to shareholders and is satisfied with the status quo,” the fund said.

In light of these events, Eminence also announced that it has filed a solicitation with the SEC, requesting a special meeting of shareholders  ”to vote on a number of bylaw amendments that, if approved, will permit shareholders to remove directors without cause before the next annual meeting of shareholders.”

The full text of the press release can be accessed below:

Eminence Capital Press Release

Disclosure: none

Recommended Reading:

The Baker Brothers Cut Their Position in Incyte Corporation

Louis Bacon is Bullish on Financials & Facebook

Nelson Obus, Wynnefield Capital Buy More MAM Software Stock

Julian and Felix Baker and their hedge fund, Baker Bros. Advisors, reported slicing their exposure at Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ:INCY) to 19.53 million shares, from some 30.20 million held earlier. Following the decrease, though, Baker Bros. still holds 11.8% of Incyte’s common stock.

Disclosure: none

Recommended Reading:

Louis Bacon is Bullish on Financials & Facebook

Nelson Obus, Wynnefield Capital Buy More MAM Software Stock

Carl Icahn's New 13F Confirms What We Already Knew: He Likes Energy, Loves Apple

Louis Bacon‘s Moore Global Investments has revealed its top stock pics in a recent 13F filing with the SEC. Bacon is bullish on financial stocks with Hartford Financial Services Group Inc (NYSE:HIG) being his top dog. Moore Global holds 4.8 million shares valued at approximately $150 million. Next up is Assured Guaranty Ltd.(NYSE:AGO), with the position being worth a reported $130 million.

Bacon has also become a fan of Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) having opened a new position by buying 1.7 million shares valued at a little under $90 million. Another tech company that Moore Global is betting on is Cisco Systems, Inc.(NASDAQ:CSCO), their investment being valued at $85 million. The fifth biggest position is Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:COF), with Bacon increasing the position to 1.1 million shares reportedly worth $78 million.

Disclosure: none

Recommended Reading:

Nelson Obus, Wynnefield Capital Buy More MAM Software Stock

Carl Icahn's New 13F Confirms What We Already Knew: He Likes Energy, Loves Apple

Buffett's Energy Trade: Buy ExxonMobil, Sell ConocoPhillips

Wynnefield Capital, managed by Nelson Obus, reported buying 2,100 shares of MAM Software Group Inc. (NASDAQ:MAMS), after disclosing acquiring another 40,230 shares last week. The new shares have been bought in four transactions, at a price of $4.05 apiece. Wynnefield owns around 3.54 million shares of the company.

Disclosure: none

Recommended Reading:

Carl Icahn's New 13F Confirms What We Already Knew: He Likes Energy, Loves Apple

Buffett's Energy Trade: Buy ExxonMobil, Sell ConocoPhillips

Pentwater Capital Management Adds Stewart Enterprises to Equity Portfolio

In November, billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn's Icahn Capital filed its 13F for the third quarter of 2013 with the SEC. Many of the fund's moves weren't exactly news; because Icahn tends to take large positions, even in large-cap stocks, he is often forced to file 13Ds shortly after taking a position. Still, it can be useful to track what he has been doing over time.

Apple. We can't mention Carl Icahn's name without discussing Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). The entire world knew that the billionaire activist was long here because of a certain social media network, but his latest 13F tells us exactly how much stock he owned at the end of September: 3.8 million shares worth $1.8 billion.

In a now infamous letter to Tim Cook in late October, Icahn unveiled he has upped his stake in Apple to nearly $2.5 billion worth of stock, which we estimate would make it his third largest equity holding behind CVR Energy (NYSE:CVI) and Icahn Enterprises (NASDAQ:IEP). It remains unclear if Apple and Cook will follow Icahn's advice and boost their share buyback to $150 billion. Icahn has expressed concern that a "window" for such a move to take place only lasts a short while, but he has set a three-year price target of $1,250 on the stock if the buyback is boosted. We'll be watching closely, and keep a particular eye on Icahn's Twitter account.

Energy companies. You probably also know that Carl Icahn is an activist at Talisman Energy (NYSE:TLM). In an SEC filing at the beginning of October, Icahn disclosed that he owns a significant chunk of the oil and gas producer's outstanding stock, indicating that he believes there's value to unlock, as he so often states. In the case of Talisman, it's also worth noting that former Icahn pupil Keith Meister has a significant position in the company as well, though it's passive in nature.

Icahn's history of activism at energy companies like CVR, Chesapeake and Transocean (NYSE:RIG) should give investors confidence that a board shakeup or management restructuring will do the trick at Talisman. As we've noted before, the company has hidden value in its Iraqi assets, which could be realized via a sale. It's also possible that Talisman is open to selling assets in Asia, or the entire company if a bidder offers a good price. On a pure valuation basis, there's upside of 4% on the low side and up to 50% on the high side here, depending on what scenario Talisman chooses to pursue.

The activist also upped his stake in Chesapeake by 11% and increased his position in Navistar (NYSE:NAV), a heavy machinery company, by 12%.

Notable sales. As you probably expected, Icahn sold out of his Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) stake as the company went private earlier this year, and he also closed his entire stake in Hain Celestial (NASDAQ:HAIN) and WebMD (NASDAQ:WBMD). One move that didn't show up on this 13F, but should be mentioned anyway, is his decision to slash his Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) stake by more than half in late October. He still holds 4.5% of the streaming video company in his equity portfolio.

Disclosure: none

Recommended Reading:

Buffett's Energy Trade: Buy ExxonMobil, Sell ConocoPhillips

Larry Robbins, Glenview Capital Sell Some Tenet Healthcare at $73.77/Share

Christian Leone, Luxor Capital Buy Some Hemisphere Media Group Class A Shares