Sterling Capital's Portfolio Rebalance
Sterling Capital Actively Rebalances Q1 Portfolio, Adjusting Major Stakes in Telecom, Auto, and Finance
Key Points
Beyond Sterling Capital's 11.9% trim to 234,365 shares of Raymond James Financial, the report notes that 83.83% of RJF stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds, highlighting a highly institutional ownership base.
Analyst coverage around AT&T during the quarter featured multiple ratings actions and price targets, including Arete Research upgrading AT&T to neutral with a $28 target, Morgan Stanley initiating coverage with an overweight rating and a $30 target, BNP Paribas Exane trimming to a neutral with a $26 target, and RBC restating an outperform with a $31 target.
General Motors had a high concentration of ownership by institutions, with institutional investors and hedge funds owning about 92.67% of GM stock, underscoring the stock’s heavily managed ownership profile.
In Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, several other institutions stepped up or opened positions in Q1, including Venturi Wealth Management increasing by 4.7% to 25,184 shares, Maridea Wealth Management increasing by 10.5% to a larger stake, and Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group opening a new position.
Crh Plc remained heavily owned by institutions (62.50% of stock), and NewEdge Advisors boosted its CRH stake by a substantial 158.5% to 8,670 shares in the quarter, alongside modest increases from Empowered Funds and others.
Sterling Capital Management LLC sold 90,712 shares of CRH Plc in the first quarter of 2026, slashing its stake by 37.3% to 152,638 shares worth about $16.05 million, according to MarketBeat. The Charlotte-based firm simultaneously boosted its AT&T position by 23.9% and its General Motors stake by 27.0%, signaling a broad pivot toward domestic value over international construction.
The moves came as Sterling Capital completed a major ownership change. On March 31, Canadian financial giant Desjardins Group finished acquiring Guardian Capital Group, Sterling's parent, making Sterling an indirect subsidiary of Desjardins Global Asset Management, per Sterling Capital Focus Equity Commentary.
CRH Stake Cut as London Delisting Reshapes Ownership
Sterling's 37.3% cut in CRH shares was the sharpest reduction in its Q1 portfolio. CRH announced plans to delist from the London Stock Exchange in March 2026, consolidating its primary listing on the NYSE. That delisting became effective on April 20, per CRH Investor Relations. The corporate shift triggered broad institutional reshuffling.
Not everyone was selling. MarketBeat reported that NewEdge Advisors surged into CRH, boosting its stake by 158.5% to 8,670 shares in the same quarter. Institutions overall still owned 62.50% of CRH stock. Some firms, like NewEdge, bet that the NYSE-only listing would push CRH's valuation closer to US peers like Vulcan Materials.
AT&T and GM Buys Reflect a Bet on Domestic Stability
Sterling bought 78,168 AT&T shares in Q1, growing its position to 405,521 shares worth $11.76 million. Multiple analysts backed the stock during the quarter. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage with an "Overweight" rating and a $30 target, while RBC reiterated an "Outperform" with a $31 target, per Benzinga. AT&T carries a roughly 5.0% dividend yield, making it attractive to managers wary of tech volatility.
Sterling also added 23,068 General Motors shares, lifting its stake 27.0% to 108,500 shares worth $8.08 million. The buy followed a strong GM earnings report, where the automaker posted a 7.6% revenue increase to $43.01 billion in Q1, according to Bullfincher. Institutional and hedge fund investors own 92.67% of GM stock, meaning large managers like Sterling drive most of the price action.
Raymond James and Taiwan Semi Trimmed for Different Reasons
Sterling cut its Raymond James Financial stake by 11.9%, selling 31,552 shares and leaving it with 234,365 shares worth $33.93 million. Analysts view the trim as profit-taking after RJF's strong late-2025 run. Institutional investors own 83.83% of RJF stock, per MarketBeat, making it highly sensitive to moves by large managers.
The firm also trimmed Taiwan Semiconductor by 5.2%, selling 1,328 shares down to 24,228 shares worth $8.19 million. That cut came even as other firms jumped in. Venturi Wealth Management grew its TSM stake by 4.7% to 25,184 shares, and Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group opened a brand-new position, per SensaMarket. The split signals a divide: some managers are locking in AI-era gains while others are just starting to build.
Desjardins Takeover Adds New Dimension to Portfolio Shifts
Sterling's rebalancing happened at the same moment its ownership changed hands. CEO Scott Haenni said after the Desjardins deal closed that "our investment teams will continue to operate with the same processes," per a Sterling press release. But the timing raises questions about whether new risk guidelines under Desjardins shaped the Q1 trades.
Portfolio Manager Charles Wittmann described the firm's current focus as finding "quality, earnings stability, and valuation" — language that fits the AT&T and GM buys closely. The firm filed its official Form 13F with the SEC on April 21, 2026, locking in the Q1 figures, according to SensaMarket. Sterling manages roughly $75 billion in assets.
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