Hedge funds are doubling down on commodities bets with some notching big gains

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Hedge funds have ramped up their commodity bets as costs surged throughout geopolitical turmoil, and managers with huge publicity are reaping sizable earnings.

The power sector noticed probably the most web shopping for from hedge funds final month in comparison with different teams of shares, in line with Morgan Stanley prime brokerage knowledge. The mix of the shopping for and power’s outperformance resulted in web publicity reaching a two-year excessive for the hedge fund group, the info mentioned.

Commodities have been a transparent winner on Wall Road this yr as international demand and the warfare in Ukraine strained provide. WTI crude oil topped $130 per barrel briefly final week — a 13-year excessive — throughout escalated geopolitical tensions. On the again of surging oil, the S&P 500 power sector has rallied 30% this yr, far outpacing the broader market.

Different commodities costs have additionally shot up amid the disruption. Aluminum not too long ago reached report highs, whereas wheat futures hit multiyear peaks amid a provide crunch. Nickel costs greater than doubled in a matter of hours on March 8, climbing above $100,000 a metric ton amid an enormous brief squeeze. Heating Oil futures have surged greater than 30% this yr.

Contrarian value-focused hedge fund Equinox Companions, which is targeting treasured metals miners and exploration & manufacturing corporations, has returned over 14% yr thus far, in line with an individual acquainted with the agency’s returns.

“They’re good inflation hedges and good geopolitical hedges,” mentioned Sean Fieler at chief funding officer at Equinox Companions. “There’s a long run story. Metals are the power of the longer term, and I feel it may take the market a while to get its head round that.”

In the meantime, Soroban Capital made no less than a number of hundred million {dollars} from its commodity bets since February, the Wall Road Journal reported. Soroban did not reply to CNBC’s request for remark.

Different notable traders are additionally doubling down on the power sector.

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway continued to scoop up shares of Occidental Petroleum this week, bringing its whole stake within the oil large to over $7 billion after the current shopping for spree.

Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman mentioned earlier this week power shares are low-cost relative to commodity costs. He mentioned his two favorites are Canadian corporations Tourmaline Oil and Paramount Sources.