Normally 13Fs are among the most useless pieces of actionable information for investors, because not do they encourage imitation instead of original thought - and why imitate an industry that has failed to outperform the market for 8 years in a row - but they also reveal a portfolio snapshot in time that was a month and a half ago, a fact which the savviest investors put to good use to sell into the copycat retail bid, but also exclude the entire short book of a given hedge fund. This time around, the just released torrent of 13Fs is especially worthless as they fail to account for the October market collapse which sent stock tumbling the most in 7 years and forced countless fund managers to drastically reorganize their portfolio (assuming they haven't been redeemed to death). Still, one can sometimes find glimmers of relevant information or at least patterns of activity across the hedge fund universe when comparing and contrasting what hedge funds did at the end of last quarter. The first thing to note is that former hedge fund darlings, Facebook and NXP Semiconductors, two stocks which were among the top 10 most widely held hedge fund stocks as recently as March 31, were among the biggest losers from the Q3 13F parade. Separately, as we reported earlier, banks were among the winners after a big bet from Warren Buffett, who not only bought new stakes in JPM and PNC, but also became the largest shareholder in Bank of America, Bank of New York, Wells Fargo and US Bancorp while adding to its Goldman position. Buffett also sold out of Walmart and Sanofi in the quarter. But back to Facebook which in the same quarter as its historic Q2 earnings fiasco, in which the company lost over $100 billion in market cap in the manner of minutes, a procession of hedge funds including Third Point, Jana and Sachem Head sold off their positions in the social network in Q3, while David Tepper, Stanley Druckenmiller’s family office, and Philippe Laffont’s Coatue Management reduced their stakes according to Bloomberg. Third Point, Jericho, Magnetar and Moore Capital were among funds that exited their stakes in NXP Semiconductors after its deal with Qualcomm was terminated. And while AAPL earlier today entered a bear market from its all time highs just over a month ago, losing over $200 billion in market cap in the process, some funds added new Apple stakes in the quarter including Tiger Global, Appaloosa and Columbus Circle, while Renaissance Technologies exited its position. Elsewhere: A bunch of hedge funds boosted stakes in Alibaba, including Lone Pine, Viking Global and Tiger Global. With GE imploding in recent weeks, investors have been curious who is selling (and/or buying), and here one of the biggest moves was by Viking. It almost doubled the number of shares it owned in the third quarter as the industrial conglomerate's shares sunk. Looking at energy holdings, PointState Capital, a hedge fund firm run by Druckenmiller's acolytes, reported a healthy dose of shares in the sector including Marathon Petroleum and Cheniere Energy. Given the recent crash in oil prices, they can't be too happy with their decisions today. Another unhappy camper is Rob Citrone of Discovery Capital, who also added to energy in the quarter. Its biggest new buy was Encana... which has plunged 40% since the end of the third quarter. David Tepper's Appaloosa decreased its exposure to U.S. stocks. He pared holdings of 27 companies, and sold out of 14. Finally, courtesy of Bloomberg, here are the biggest changes in the holdings of some of the marquee money managers as of Sept. 30: ADAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS GP Top new buys: ETR, TXT, CXO, EGN, WAB, LIN, GNTX, BLD, SRE, RTN Top exits: SHW, NOC, RS, MPC, JAZZ, NGG, RXN, PCAR, ZAYO, TFX Boosted stakes in: SHPG, AA, COL, WMT, WM, BURL, CNP, AAL, ESRX, TIF Cut stakes in: DLTR, WFC, LMT, EVRG, GE, EMR, MMM, FB, AAP, HII ANCORA ADVISORS Top new buys: CFG, UIS, MGM, VRA Top exits: SPSC Boosted stakes in: HSIC, AAPL Cut stakes in: MATW, ACCO, VREX, VOYA APPALOOSA MANAGEMENT Top new buys: STT, WMB, AAPL Top exits: WFC, ALLY, UBS, KEY, WDC, SYMC, CFG, KNX, UAL, EDU Boosted stakes in: PCG, COOP, NRG, VST, BYD, SUM Cut stakes in: MU, FB, BABA, AGN, GOOG, BAC, TMO, LRCX, TMUS, BSX BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT Top new buys: EFX, C, APC, USB, GD, ABT, QQQ, MS, CHTR, FEYE Top exits: ETFC, BIDU, DUK, FB, XOM, AEE, GM, MA, ERJ, PYPL Boosted stakes in: DIS, CNP, NFLX, SRE, V, IR, TSN, COP, CAT, ETR Cut stakes in: CMA, STI, DLTR, ADS, SBUX, IP, EVRG, BA, WFC, ALL BAUPOST GROUP Top new buys: YPF, UNVR Top exits: T Boosted stakes in: PCG, FOXA, FOX, TRCO, ABC, MCK, SBGI Cut stakes in: SYF, AMC, VRTV, CAH BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Top new buys: JPM, ORCL, PNC, TRV Top exits: SNY, WMT Boosted stakes in: AAPL, BAC, USB, GS, DAL, BK, GM Cut stakes in: PSX, WFC, AAL, CHTR, UAL, LUV BLUECREST CAPITAL MANAGEMENT Top new buys: FSAC, AMLP, USWS, PBCT, AIMC, MFAC, VZ, NRCG, CMCSA, TKKS Top exits: PFE, IT, BP, GSK, CTAS, AVGO, SEE, MOH, CENX, PSTG Boosted stakes in: T, AAPL, HYAC, ESRX, AET, VRRM, GOOGL, FOXA, IFF, SHPG Cut stakes in: KNX, PEP, LFUS, MPWR, CXO, AZPN, MKSI, LOPE, RDS/A, CELG BLUE HARBOUR GROUP Top new buys: BERY, JACK, G Top exits: FCE/A, AXTA Boosted stakes in: ON, GWR, WCC Cut stakes in: COMM, IWM, SPY, XLNX BRIDGEWATER ASSOCIATES Top new buys: GE, PVH, DVA, WYNN, SWKS, M, ILMN, CL, DHI, MOS Top exits: PCG, KMB, DISCA, INTU, UPS, SBUX, VZ, KO, DIS, CCL Boosted stakes in: INTC, X, GPS, PHM, WHR, RY, URBN, TD, LYB, WU Cut stakes in: CVS, ORCL, WBA, CAH, CAT, MCD, CMI, CVX, XEC, CLF CITADEL ADVISORS Top new buys: BABA, TSM, EXC, ICE, AMD, ELLI, DBX, BF/B, OIBR/C, TRCO Top exits: CHD, BKNG, SGEN, IEMG, EFA, VCSH, ECL, BKH, HII, MKC Boosted stakes in: MS, T, NFLX, LOW, LMT, PNC, MCHP, INTC, QQQ, FB Cut stakes in: GS, KDP, KEY, DVN, DE, AMAT, CSX, NOC, GM, K CLINTON GROUP Top new buys: PYPL, BAX, DRI, ICE, CTAS, PXD, CPRT, ETN, NKE, CMCSA Top exits: EL, CAT, ABBV, LMT, VZ, CAG, HRB, BA, ZBRA, NEM Boosted stakes in JPM, JNJ, NEE, SPGI, FTV, MSFT, AEE, MO, PEG, EBAY Cut stakes in PGR, AVY, MCK, AA, HUM, COLM, LPX, KGC, VIAB, MRK COATUE MANAGEMENT Top new buys: QCOM, ROKU, DATA, NKE, MSI, WDC, V, PDD, CRM, VMW Top exits: JD, INTC, AAXN, QD, CNK, HLF, NDLS, GPS, PETS, AEO Boosted stakes in: AAPL, NOW, CMG, HTZ, DDS, PLAY, SIG, HABT, SBUX, JWN Cut stakes in: TWTR, EA, FB, SHOP, TAL, MU, ATVI, ADBE, AMZN, NFLX CORVEX MANAGEMENT Top new buys: DLTR, FLMN, VMC, TSG Top exits: CRM, CHTR, T, FOXA, CTL, PAGP Boosted stakes in: MHK, GOOGL, MGM Cut stakes in: BAC, FB, JBLU, NXPI, TMUS, ICE, MDCO, NOW, FG, MSFT DUQUESNE FAMILY OFFICE Top new buys: PYPL, ABT, C, NOW, MDT, ZEN, FOXA, TMUS, QCOM, ALXN Top exits: MPC, DVN, ATVI, TAL, CLVS, CTRP, SQ, FCX, NBR, PAGS Boosted stakes in: MSFT, IBB, ADBE, GOOGL, GILD, XLE, EA, ACIU Cut stakes in: FB, BABA, NFLX, STMP, SPLK, ADSK, AMZN, WDAY, OIH, COUP ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT Top new buys: FE, NLSN, XOP, SABR, CYH, SMH, VNQ, RIG, MITK, IGV Top exits: ISBC, WIT Boosted stakes in: SRE, DVN, HES, QEP Cut stakes in: NXPI, BTU, CDK, QQQ, IMPV, VMW, DISH, MD EMINENCE CAPITAL Top new buys: NCLH, PEGA, FSCT Top exits: MGM, ADSK, FB, YELP, HAIN, MHK, CTRP Boosted stakes in: IQV, WEN, CF, BERY, MSFT, QSR, TTWO, ICE, INXN, EFX Cut stakes in: LEN, ELLI, PTC, CSOD, CYBR, USFD, ABG, P, MSTR, GOOG ENGAGED CAPITAL Top new buys: INWK, PBYI, ASTE Top exits: CASY, CCRN Boosted stakes in: NCR, PETX, BHE, ANIK, GRPN Cut stakes in: RCII, BW, CLS, UEIC FAIRHOLME CAPITAL Top new buys: BRK/B Top exits: C, OAK, CLPR Boosted stakes in: SPB Cut stakes in: JOE, T, SHLDQ, VSTO, VST GLENVIEW CAPITAL Top new buys: NXPI, NUAN, SYMC, DLTR, WP, BHC, LYB, ALB Boosted stakes in: HOLX, ESRX, CVS, ARMK, AET, FDX, ANTM, CHTR, MTOR, FBHS Cut stakes in: SHPG, FLEX, WBA, NWL, CI, LH, EBAY, LOW, WMB, VER GREENLIGHT CAPITAL Top new buys: SDRL, TSCO, SHW, KORS Top exits: MYL, TWTR, AAPL, MU, CLPR, DSW, GPS, DG, TJX, AZO Boosted stakes in: IAC, ADNT Cut stakes in: GM, PRGO, VOYA, MDCO, AER HIGHFIELDS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT Top new buys: MGM, LLY Top exits: DIS, TV, FDX, CVS, MIK Boosted stakes in: SHPG, MHK Cut stakes in: NXPI, CMCSA, TEVA, FOXA, GOOGL ICAHN ASSOCIATES Top exits: CI Boosted stakes in: EGN, IEP, NWL Cut stakes in: VMW, LNG IMPALA ASSET MANAGEMENT Top new buys: DAL, VALE, JNUG, PLCE, URI, LVS, UAL, ALK, SWK, HTHT Top exits: SCCO, GPS, JCP, JWN, NTNX, TLRD, NTR, BLDR, HOME, MNST Boosted stakes in: LUV, NSC, RCL, CAT, STZ, RIO, TECK, TTWO, THO, HES Cut stakes in: NVR, KNX, HOG, NAV, BC, CCL, NFX, DHI, MAR, BLL JANA PARTNERS Top new buys: EXAS, KDP, FLMN, HAIN, DLTR, FTCH, CVNA, EDU, SVMK, ARLO Top exits: FB, WFC, GOOGL, RPM, GRUB, LRCX, ADP, BV, GSKY, MRVL Boosted stakes in: GDX, AAPL, ADBE, EA Cut stakes in: TIF, ADSK, ANTM, HDS, MSFT, JACK, BSX, BABA, A, ZAYO LAKEWOOD CAPITAL Top new buys: UTX, WUBA, CWK, YNDX, CI Top exits: RLGY, FB Boosted stakes in: CMCSA, ASND, LAD, BIDU, FDX Cut stakes in HCA, ADNT, MA, GOOGL, ALLY LAND & BUILDINGS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Top new buys: LPT Top exits: LSI Boosted stakes in: MGM Cut stakes in: CLI, SBAC LONE PINE CAPITAL Top new buys: FDC, UNP, NIO Top exits: BKNG, DLTR, SBAC, SQ, MHK, PAGS Boosted stakes in: BABA, ADBE, MSFT, GOOG, CP, ATVI, NVDA, WYNN, NOW, STZ Cut stakes in: UNH, CSX, FLT, MELI, AMZN, TRU, PYPL, IQV MAGNETAR FINANCIAL Top new buys: EGN, CA, IDTI, Top exits: NXPI Boosted stakes in: SHPG Cut stakes in: PE MARCATO Top new buys: IMAX, CPLG Boosted stakes in TEX, THRM Cut stakes in IAC, ITRI, DXC, BLDR, AIR, TPHS, VRTS MAVERICK CAPITAL Top new buys: CBS, STZ, BAX, YUM, AAL, PVH, UAL, MTCH, TXRH, FL Top exits: DLTR, AAOI, FLT, AMRX, HD, DECK, WMT, GPS, GRUB, URBN Boosted stakes in: ANTM, LRCX, BIDU, COMM, ALNY, AMAT, TMUS, MA, LUV, AZO Cut stakes in: FB, GOOG, MHK, V, CIEN, CNC, BABA, ADBE, TIF, CASY MARSHALL WACE Top new buys: TMUS, AXGN, TSM, BRX, IDXX, GPS, CMG, ACGL, JEC, MTN Top exits: SCI, NTRS, CME, NKE, MU, SRCL, JPM, IBN, FLT, AXP Boosted stakes in TFX, ATVI, BBY, DGX, SPGI, MCD, BURL, ROST, ZTS, VRTX Cut stakes in BABA, BAC, DISCK, AVGO, UNH, SAGE, GS, AJG, GILD MELVIN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT Top new buys: NFLX, SPOT, NVDA, IQV, WP, IT, PANW, SYK, PLNT, ADS Top exits: THO, BIDU, FLT, USFD, IAC, GIL, H, MGM, GPS, ADBE Boosted stakes in: STZ, WYNN, MSFT, EA, PAGS, RACE, RCL, FDC, BABA, MA Cut stakes in: AMZN, GOOGL, V, YNDX, PYPL, ADSK, TTWO, CRM, EDU, DPZ MOORE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT Top new buys: EEM, NFLX, WP, ETFC, NCLH, ORLY, RL, TPX, FDS, DG Top exits: NXPI, Z, YNDX, TGT, AVGO, NVDA, SPY, LNG, GPS, ATVI Boosted stakes in: FDC, PVH, AMP, SIVB, VOYA, V, GOOGL, SPOT, RCL, ULTA Cut stakes in: FB, FBP, MOMO, GDS, WFC, HUD, LIN, CME, DOMO, BABA NEUBERGER BERMAN GROUP Top new buys: FL, EBS, FDC, SODA, ARES, CRTO, STM, BL, UNVR, PODD Top exits: ICLR, SPOT, ARRS, BAP, DOX, PZZA, CLB, TSEM, NATI, MTCH Boosted stakes in: MCD, MSI, CXO, RHT, ATVI, BKNG, UTX, BRK/B, CMCSA, CVS Cut stakes in: FB, MLM, ADI, SYMC, ET, MHK, RYAAY, OKE, KSU, EXPE OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT Top new buys: COOP, SMCI, BBD, YUMC, NXPI, PAM, HK, OIBR/C, TGS, FPI Top exits: SPY, SMH, RYAM, NCMI, BMA Boosted stakes in: TSM, PCG, CX, VALE, IBN, CEO, TEO, BRFS, AZUL, SIGA Cut stakes in: VST, TRCO, INFY, VRS, ITUB, EURN, VICI, UPL, NOG, BXE OMEGA ADVISORS Top new buys: NLSN, CI, COOP Top exits: AER, SYF, HUM, PYPL, IQV, VVV, LEN, SPB, KKR, ADSK Boosted stakes in: MGY, SBGI, FRAC, BC, NBR, TCRD Cut stakes in: HES, FDC, ADBE, FB, GOOGL, EMN, MXL, PE, MU, NEWM PAULSON & CO. Top new buys: NLSN, DNB, P, CME, BSIG, ESRX Top exits: VST, EGN, CTL, CMCSA, HAIN Boosted stakes in: DISCK, SHPG, AET, GOLD, NXPI Cut stakes in: TMUS, AKRX, MITL, MNK, AGN, T, COL, MYL, HZNP, ENDP PERSHING SQUARE Top exits: MDLZ Boosted stakes in: LOW, UTX Cut stakes in: CMG, HHC, ADP POINT72 ASSET MANAGEMENT Top new buys: QCOM, NFLX, AAPL, PVH, AOS, WFC, NVDA, NVS, ZBH, FEYE Top exits: FOXA, MU, GPS, PNC, MRK, H, KNX, HSIC, COP, WCG Boosted stakes in: CI, PXD, SPOT, APC, ATVI, RCL, HCA, CVS, A, PANW Cut stakes in: GOOGL, TTWO, RRR, CXO, AMZN, PE, BIDU, GILD, HAL, SYK POINTSTATE CAPITAL Top new buys: URI, MA, GWRE, PTC, BAC, FANG, RCL, CAT, TDG, XLV Top exits: FB, FE, TEVA, VRTX, JD, ALXN, PXD, LRCX, NXPI, STM Boosted stakes in: NSC, NOW, LNG, SU, CRM, BA, SHPG, XOP, LYB, PAGP Cut stakes in: AET, CVX, FOXA, CI, TRGP, ADSK, MSFT, GOOGL, MDCO, CLVS RAGING CAPITAL Top new buys: TRCO, LNTH, NTP, TLRY, MNKD Top exits: QCOM, WAGE, AINC Boosted stakes in: BLDR, SBGI, MRAM Cut stakes in: AMBC, RDCM, JELD, BMCH, BPOP, PKE, XLNX, SPLP, UAN, HLIT RENAISSANCE TECHNOLOGIES Top new buys: JPM, GOOGL, KO, MDT, ORCL, ADP, TXN, EDU, AMAT, PSX Top exits: AAPL, AMZN, WMT, GS, LMT, AXP, AMD, CMI, SFLY, NSC Boosted stakes in: FOXA, PANW, MOH, CMG, CVX, HUM, NVDA, HD, PGR, VRSN Cut stakes in: JNJ, CMCSA, EA, PM, CELG, ISRG, BBY, ABEV, NOC, WM SANDELL ASSET MANAGEMENT Top new buys: AET, FOXA, DNB, ESRX, FCE/A, WP, MA, V, PYPL Top exits: NXPI, OCLR, ALLY, LHO, MGI Boosted stakes in: ZAYO, CSX, MGM Cut stakes in: AVA, COL, ORBK, TMUS SENATOR INVESTMENT Top new buys: CHTR, UNP, C Top exits: FOXA, HD, BKI Boosted stakes in: EFX, ICE, XPO Cut stakes in: FB, DHI, AGN, LNG, CZR SOROBAN CAPITAL Top new buys: BKNG, BABA, FB, QRVO Top exits: GOOGL, MGM, FWONK Boosted stakes in: MHK, GRA, NXPI Cut stakes in: AVGO, NSC, AXTA SOROS FUND MANAGEMENT Top new buys: TRCO, ADM, DIS, KHC, MDLZ, MU, IDTI, ELAN, HSY, CF Top exits: NXPI, COL, NOW, EA, SIGM, FB, TTWO, IAC, DISCA, URBN Boosted stakes in: MSFT, I, ESRX, SIVB, COUP, AAPL, GSKY, ATVI, UNH, QCOM Cut stakes in: SPOT, NFLX, JPM, WFC, BAC, AET, C, USB, T, TIVO STARBOARD VALUE Top new buys: SYMC Top exits: MAC, ASRT, SCOR Boosted stakes in: RPM, BAX, MRVL Cut stakes in: NWL, MLNX, BMS STEADFAST CAPITAL Top new buys: NTES, AVGO, BABA Top exits: FB, MTCH, NOW Boosted stakes in: IQV, WMB, NRG Cut stakes in: MSFT, ULTA, IAC TEMASEK HOLDINGS Top new buys: FTCH, BP, AYX Top exits: VRTX, AMGN, XTN, CELG, INCY, MDT, DIS, AMRS, NETS Boosted stakes in: RDS/B, ACIU, COUP Cut stakes in: BABA, JD, BMRN, TRQ, ILMN, ALXN, REGN, NFX, AVGO TIGER GLOBAL MANAGEMENT Top new buys: EB, SVMK, AAPL, ZEN, TWLO, PDD, FTCH, TENB Top exits: GDS Boosted stakes in: BABA, ADBE, NOW, MDB, SE, SWCH, RUN, BKNG, EDU, UXIN Cut stakes in: TWTR, FB, DESP, TDG, MELI, HUYA, RDFN, MSFT THIRD POINT Top new buys: AXP, MRK, SHPG, IQV, FANG, WPX, ARCE Top exits: NXPI, FB, VMC, WYNN, EA, SHW, EGN, PVH, CWH, A Boosted stakes in: CPB, MSFT, UTX, STZ, ADBE, WP, MPC, DE, BABA Cut stakes in: NFLX, LEN, SPGI, PYPL, CRM TRIAN Boosted stakes in: PPG, MDLZ, GE Cut stakes in: SYY TUDOR INVESTMENT Top new buys: HNGR, KMG, AYX, TPR, TIF, EGL, FTCH, MNST, ORLY, DLR Top exits: EBAY, MDLZ, IQV, ORCL, QCOM, DG, SRPT, ADP, EXAS, BZUN Boosted stakes in: FCE/A, LHO, MPC, AAPL, MSFT, TXN, NXPI, T, ADBE, ROKU Cut stakes in: COL, HD, BIDU, JD, JPM, NKE, VZ, UNH, VIPS, FOXA VALUEACT Top new buys: XRAY, HE, SYMC Top exits: FOX Boosted stakes in: C, MS, STRA, SLM, EVA, STX Cut stakes in: AWI VIKING GLOBAL INVESTORS Top new buys: PCG, BERY, RACE, WYNN, MYL, BSX, ADI, EXAS, PGR, AON Top exits: BUD, X, CP, DPZ, HBI, MELI, EQH, EFX, AET, XRAY Boosted stakes in: BABA, DIS, GE, MPC, ANTM, CRM, AMZN, BMRN, OLN, NFLX Cut stakes in: FB, GOOGL, UTX, HIG, ADSK, V, PE, RJF, LEN, LNC WHALE ROCK Top new buys: WDAY, OKTA, CRM, NOW, PS Top exits: VMW, Z, ALVR, HUBS, LITE Boosted stakes in: TWLO, AMZN, CDAY, SQ, MTCH, ROKU Cut stakes in: TLND, SGMS, FB, KLIC, BABA Source: Bloomberg