The Ira Sohn conference -- one of the most closely-watched investor conferences of the year -- kicks off Monday afternoon.

Some of the biggest names in the hedge-fund world -- Greenlight Capital's David Einhorn, Omega Advisors' Leon Cooperman, Pershing Square Capital Management's William Ackman, and many more -- will take the stage to deliver a mix of stock picks, companies they're betting against, and macro investment ideas. All of this is for the benefit of the Ira Sohn foundation, which finances initiatives to cure and treat pediatric cancer.

Stock prices will rise and fall as these investors state their opinions. MoneyBeat will bring you all the presentations live from Lincoln Center.

2:39 pm | by David Benoit

Speaking right now is New York Jets linebacker Trevor Reilly who is talking about his own child's fight with cancer.

2:31 pm | Brookdale Activists | by David Benoit

On Brookdale: By far the easiest thing to bet on is the aging population, Robbins says.

This is, essentially, a demographics investment. He says the senior-living center has nice free-cash flow growth.

He said he supports management's spending to increase the investments that have been announced to spruce up their properties.

And in regards to a pitch from Sandell, an activist, to monetize the real-estate, Robbins says he would like to see something like that as well.

2:30 pm | Abbvie Deal Possibilities | by David Benoit

Robbins says there's a chance AbbVie could either be a target or the Pac-Man, as in, it could buy a company or be gobbled up itself. He thinks, in sum, the stock could double.

2:28 pm | Brookdale Capital | by David Benoit

He thinks there are lots of real-estate options that can add value to Brookdale, and believes that can double its return on capital rates, thereby driving up the value.

2:22 pm | Humira | by David Benoit

Robbins says he like Abbvie as a pharmaceutical company because management is well disciplined and shares are trading pretty cheaply. While some have suggested pharma companies should be cutting R&D, he doesn't think they should.

He says the pipeline for AbbVie is underappreciated and could have huge returns in the next couple of years, even after Humira expires.

2:18 pm | AbbVie Thesis | by David Benoit

Robbins says he like AbbVie as a pharmaceutical company because it is trading pretty cheap and that while some have suggested pharma companies should be cutting R&D, he doesn't think they should and are well disciplined.

He says they have the ability for a big debt borrowing and could either buy back their own shares or strike another acquisition.

2:16 pm | AbbVie and Brookdale | by David Benoit

Robbins says he has a stake in AbbVie and he'll address his thoughts on Brookdale Senior Living.

2:15 pm | A Joke | by David Benoit

Larry Robbins starts with best joke of the day: He says he got his haircut and he used "hedge clippers" a sly reference to a group that's begun protesting big hedge funds recently, something of an Occupy Wall Street for the biggest hedge funds.

2:14 pm | Robbins taking stage | by David Benoit

The last time Larry Robbins appeared at an investment conference earlier this year, he made a bit of a splash saying he had built a position in McDonald's, which was the center of many rumors about activism. Robbins doesn't consider himself an activist, but something of a "suggestivist" and a friendly investor with some ideas.

Some of the ideas he had listed for McDonald's included franchising more stores and raising the possibility of a real-estate spin off. Earlier Monday, McDonald's announced some plans that matched his suggestions, though not the real estate plans.

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