According to the most recent reported 13F filings, institutional investors showed constructive and increasingly broad buying interest in Avantor Inc. (AVTR), with activity led by value-oriented hedge funds, quantitative managers, and long-term fundamental investors.
The accumulation suggests growing confidence in Avantor’s ability to benefit from ongoing demand across life sciences, biopharma, healthcare, and advanced laboratory research markets despite continued macroeconomic uncertainty and slower funding conditions across parts of the biotech sector. Below are the most notable buyers from the latest reported quarter:
GREENHAVEN ASSOCIATES INC (Ed Wachenheim)
Shares: 22,593,838 Change: +2,093,185 Value: $0.18B
Ed Wachenheim’s Greenhaven Associates led activity with the largest increase this quarter, significantly expanding an already very large position. The continued accumulation suggests strong conviction that Avantor remains undervalued relative to its long-term earnings power, recurring revenue profile, and strategic positioning within the global life sciences supply chain. The purchase may also reflect confidence in margin recovery and improving operational efficiency over time.
GOTHAM ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC (Joel Greenblatt)
Shares: 1,328,179 Change: +965,823 Value: $0.01B
Joel Greenblatt’s Gotham Asset Management dramatically increased exposure during the quarter. The aggressive addition aligns with Gotham’s quantitative value-oriented investment framework, which often targets companies with strong normalized cash flows trading at discounted valuations. Avantor’s recurring consumables business and durable customer relationships likely screen attractively within the firm’s methodology.
AQR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC (Cliff Asness)
Shares: 4,867,208 Change: +475,611 Value: $0.04B
AQR added meaningfully to its already sizable position this quarter. The increase likely reflects favorable quantitative signals tied to valuation, profitability, and earnings quality. Avantor’s combination of defensive end markets, recurring laboratory demand, and improving operational leverage may continue to fit well within AQR’s systematic framework.
OLSTEIN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P. (Rob Olstein)
Shares: 1,210,000 Change: +392,000 Value: $0.00B
Rob Olstein’s Olstein Capital Management also expanded its position during the quarter. Olstein often focuses on companies where market sentiment may have become overly pessimistic relative to underlying fundamentals. The addition suggests growing confidence that Avantor’s long-term growth opportunities in biopharma production, laboratory solutions, and research services remain intact despite near-term cyclical pressures.
YACKTMAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LP (Donald Yacktman)
Shares: 4,745,000 New Position Value: $0.04B
Donald Yacktman initiated a substantial new position in Avantor during the quarter. Yacktman is known for targeting high-quality businesses with durable competitive positions and strong free cash flow generation trading at attractive prices. The sizable new investment may indicate a view that Avantor’s market position and recurring customer demand offer compelling long-term value.
BRIDGEWATER ASSOCIATES, LP (Ray Dalio)
Shares: 128,209 New Position Value: $0.00B
Ray Dalio’s Bridgewater also established a new position this quarter. The addition may reflect broader macro positioning toward healthcare, research infrastructure, and defensive growth businesses that could remain resilient across varying economic environments.
GRANTHAM, MAYO, VAN OTTERLOO & CO. LLC (Jeremy Grantham)
Shares: 106,700 New Position Value: $0.00B
Jeremy Grantham’s GMO initiated a new stake in Avantor, signaling interest in companies trading at more reasonable valuations relative to broader market multiples. The investment may reflect expectations that long-term secular demand for laboratory and biopharma services will continue supporting earnings growth over time.
MAVERICK CAPITAL LTD (Lee Ainslie)
Shares: 100,814 New Position Value: $0.00B
Lee Ainslie’s Maverick Capital also established a new position during the quarter. The purchase suggests growing institutional interest in Avantor’s recovery potential as life sciences spending stabilizes and operational execution improves.
Overall Takeaway
Collectively, these filings highlight improving institutional sentiment toward Avantor shares, led by major additions from Greenhaven Associates, Gotham Asset Management, AQR, and several notable new positions from respected long-term investors.
The concentration of buyers among value managers, quantitative firms, and fundamentally driven hedge funds suggests growing confidence that AVTR may still be undervalued relative to its long-term earnings potential, recurring revenue characteristics, and strategic positioning within the life sciences ecosystem. As research spending normalizes and demand across laboratory, healthcare, and biopharma markets remains durable, Avantor appears well-positioned to benefit from operating leverage, recurring cash flow generation, and continued institutional accumulation.
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