Carl Icahn Stocks: Why the Billionaire Just Added to These Positions

Carl Icahn stocks are back in focus today after the activist investor announced several major new purchases.

Icahn announced a plan to purchase the auto-parts company Pep Boys-Manny Moe and Jack (NYSE: PBY) today for $837 million. He's unhappy with the company's decision to sell itself to tire company Bridgestone and is fighting back with his own takeover offer.

Carl Icahn stocks are in focus today as the activist continues to add to his positions in several major firms. Here’s what he’s buying today and why.With a 12.12% stake, Icahn is PBY's second-largest shareholder. Money Manager Mario Gabelli is the largest.

Monday, Icahn disclosed he had offered to buy Pep Boys for $15.50 a share, or $837 million. Bridgestone's offer was for $15 a share, or $835 million.

Icahn's move puts a serious wrinkle in the Bridgestone-Pep Boys deal. That transaction would have boosted Bridgestone's retail network by more than a third in the United States. The deal would add some 800 stores to Bridgestone's 2,200 tire and car service centers.
Pep Boys has been under pressure from investors for the last four years with revenue stalling. While other rivals benefited from a revitalized car market, Pep Boys stock is up just 29.6% in the last five years. The Dow is up 55% in that time.

Right now, PBY shares are trading above Icahn's offer. That suggests some expect a bidding war. At $16.19, PBY shares are up 65% year to date.

But PBY is just one of the Carl Icahn stocks we're watching today...

Late last month, Icahn disclosed a new 7.1% stake in Xerox Co. (NYSE: XRX). He called the business solutions company "undervalued." Icahn was also mentioned last week to be among those interested in acquiring Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO).

The billionaire investor is also targeting this beaten down natural gas company now...

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LNG Joins the List of Carl Icahn Stocks

Reports Monday confirmed Icahn has once again raised his stake in limping Cheniere Energy Inc. (NYSE: LNG).

The legendary activist lifted his LNG stake to 13.8% from 12.7%. That marks the eighth time Icahn has boosted his position in the liquefied natural gas company since his initial 8.2% stake in August.

Even before Icahn upped his LNG stake, he was already Cheniere's largest shareholder.

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Cheniere stock has fallen nearly 39% in 2015 as energy prices continue to fall. In Q3 2015, Cheniere posted a net loss of $297.8 million, or $1.31 per share.
Oil prices sank to a seven-year low of $36.64 Tuesday. Natural gas prices, at $2.039 MMBtu, sit at multiyear lows.

But Icahn still sees potential in Cheniere, which is poised to become the first exporter of natural gas from U.S. shale formations. That's why LNG continues to rank on the Carl Icahn stocks list.

Cheniere is expected to ship its first liquefied natural gas cargo from its Louisiana terminal in January. The terminal is the first new export site in 46 years.

"The idea of U.S. natural gas exports is so strong and unstoppable, it has the power to change the world," Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors said in April 2014. "It's the result of one of the biggest reversals of fortune I have ever witnessed."

The United States will be the third-largest supplier by 2020, according to the International Energy Agency.

At $42.77, LNG stock is down 23.7% in the last three months. However, LNG is still up more than 685% in the last five years and continues to be one of the most closely followed Carl Icahn stocks.

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