10 stocks the market's best-performing hedge funds are piling into right now ' and 9 more they're buying for the long haul

Many hedge funds posted their best gains in years during 2019, even as the broader industry struggled to keep up with the stock market's returns.The list below features hedge funds that have delivered the best three-year returns on an annualized average basis according to TipRanks.It also shows each fund's biggest buy in the fourth quarter and largest overall holding.Click here for more BI Prime stories.The hedge fund industry shrank for a fifth straight year in 2019 as dull returns and hefty fees drove investors away.Even though many hedge funds posted their best gains in many years, most of them lagged investors who simply tracked an index of US stocks. The $3.3 trillion industry gained 9% according to Bloomberg's Hedge Fund Indices, well below the S&P 500's 29% increase.Some of the biggest funds that shut their doors to outside investments included Appaloosa Management and Moore Capital. The year also saw the exit of star fund managers like Steve Mandel of Lone Pine Capital.Despite the industry's struggles, some managers are keeping their clients happy with strong returns, and attracting new investors who are willing to pay up for performance.The list of US 10 funds below is in ascending order of their three-year annualized average performance according to data compiled by TipRanks.It also lists each hedge fund's biggest holding and the stock it acquired the most of in the fourth quarter based on recent 13-F filings. Amazon took both spots on one fund's list, bringing the final number of stocks to 19.SEE ALSO:A Wall Street firm lists its 5 best hedges for an unusual coronavirus-driven market crash ' and shares what to do if it's successfully contained10. David Craver, Lone Pine CapitalTop buy in Q4: PayPalLargest holding: Alibaba3-year annualized average performance: 20.9%Source: TipRanks9. Donald Yacktman, Yacktman Asset ManagementTop buy in Q4: News Corp.Largest holding: Procter & Gamble3-year annualized average performance: 23.8%Source: TipRanks8. Boykin Curry, Eagle Capital ManagementTop buy in Q4: NetflixLargest holding: Microsoft3-year annualized average performance: 27.3%Source: TipRanks7. William Duhamel, Route One Investment CompanyTop buy in Q4: BellRing BrandsLargest holding: Post Holdings3-year annualized average performance: 28.7%Source: TipRanks6. John Burbank, Passport CapitalTop buy in Q4: AmazonLargest holding: Amazon3-year annualized average performance: 28.7%Source: TipRanks5. David Blood, Generation Investment ManagementTop buy in Q4: Baxter InternationalLargest holding: Alphabet3-year annualized average performance: 30.2%Source: TipRanks4. Philippe Laffont, Coatue ManagementTop buy in Q4: TwitterLargest holding: Liberty Broadband3-year annualized average performance: 31.2%Source: TipRanks3. Chuck Akre, Akre Capital ManagementTop buy in Q4: CoStar GroupLargest holding: American Tower3-year annualized average performance: 41%Source: TipRanks2. John Kim, Night Owl Capital ManagementTop buy in Q4: RingcentralLargest holding: Mastercard3-year annualized average performance: 43.2%Source: TipRanks1. Brad Gerstner, Altimeter Capital ManagementTop buy in Q4: UberLargest holding: United Airlines3-year annualized average performance: 45.6%Source: TipRanks
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