Exploring the Fund's Strategic Portfolio Adjustments

T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund (Trades, Portfolio) recently submitted its N-PORT filing for the fourth quarter of 2024, revealing strategic investment decisions made during this period. Established in 1985, the fund is managed by John Linehan since November 2015 and is part of the Baltimore-based asset management firm T. Rowe Price. The fund employs a conservative, value-oriented approach, focusing on large-cap stocks with a strong dividend track record or those considered undervalued. Its primary objective is to achieve high dividend income and long-term capital growth by investing at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks.

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Summary of New Buy

T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund (Trades, Portfolio) added a total of 9 stocks, among them:

• The most significant addition was Boeing Co (BApA.PFD), with 1,166,229 shares, accounting for 0.42% of the portfolio and a total value of $71,011,680.
• The second largest addition to the portfolio was South Bow Corp (TSX:SOBO), consisting of 2,360,000 shares, representing approximately 0.33% of the portfolio, with a total value of C$55,660,690.
• The third largest addition was Adobe Inc (NASDAQ:ADBE), with 120,000 shares, accounting for 0.32% of the portfolio and a total value of $53,361,600.

Key Position Increases

T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund (Trades, Portfolio) also increased stakes in a total of 28 stocks, among them:

• The most notable increase was ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP), with an additional 1,140,000 shares, bringing the total to 1,745,000 shares. This adjustment represents a significant 188.43% increase in share count, a 0.68% impact on the current portfolio, with a total value of $173,051,650.
• The second largest increase was Schlumberger Ltd (NYSE:SLB), with an additional 1,510,000 shares, bringing the total to 2,255,000. This adjustment represents a significant 202.68% increase in share count, with a total value of $86,456,700.

Summary of Sold Out

T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund (Trades, Portfolio) completely exited 6 holdings in the fourth quarter of 2024, as detailed below:

• Marathon Oil Corp (MRO): T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund (Trades, Portfolio) sold all 2,796,236 shares, resulting in a -0.42% impact on the portfolio.
• Stericycle Inc (SRCL): T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund (Trades, Portfolio) liquidated all 902,489 shares, causing a -0.31% impact on the portfolio.

Key Position Reduces

T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund (Trades, Portfolio) also reduced positions in 87 stocks. The most significant changes include:

• Reduced Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) by 421,951 shares, resulting in a -32.41% decrease in shares and a -0.38% impact on the portfolio. The stock traded at an average price of $154.85 during the quarter and has returned -9.86% over the past 3 months and 1.70% year-to-date.
• Reduced Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ:AMAT) by 280,000 shares, resulting in a -29.17% reduction in shares and a -0.32% impact on the portfolio. The stock traded at an average price of $180.98 during the quarter and has returned 4.59% over the past 3 months and 17.57% year-to-date.

Portfolio Overview

At the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund (Trades, Portfolio)'s portfolio included 124 stocks. The top holdings included 2.34% in Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC), 2.19% in MetLife Inc (NYSE:MET), 2.03% in Southern Co (NYSE:SO), 1.91% in Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:QCOM), and 1.87% in GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE).

The holdings are mainly concentrated in 11 industries: Financial Services, Healthcare, Industrials, Technology, Energy, Consumer Defensive, Utilities, Consumer Cyclical, Real Estate, Communication Services, and Basic Materials.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.