What the world’s biggest investors bought (and sold)!
WHAT ARE 13F FILINGS?
13Fs are quarterly reports that the largest U.S. investment funds file with the Securities and Exchange Commission . Through them, we can see exactly which stocks the superinvestors are buying.
It’s one of the few “windows” we have into the investment thinking of people like Warren Buffett, for example.
⚠️ But beware: they come with a 6-week delay. Meaning, today we’re seeing what their portfolios looked like at the end of June. So, a lot may have already changed.
Still, 13Fs give us a valuable picture of where the world’s top investors were putting their money, and most importantly, they help us recognize patterns and opportunities in the market.
WARREN BUFFETT
At the end of June, Buffett revealed a new position in UnitedHealth ($UNH) worth $1.6 billion. This was one of his largest moves in recent years, and it came at a time when the stock was trading at less than half its previous high.
At the same time, he trimmed his Apple ($AAPL) stake by 20 million shares and his Bank of America ($BAC) stake by 26 million shares. Two companies he has long believed in, but perhaps he felt it was time for a partial cash-out.
He also bought 3 million more shares of Chevron ($CVX), continuing his strategy in the energy sector, while leaving his holdings in Coca-Cola ($KO) and American Express ($AXP) unchanged. Classic Buffett picks, giving him stability and dividends.
He completely exited T-Mobile ($TMUS) and nearly halved his stake in Charter Communications. His telecom bet seems to have ended.
He also increased his exposure to more “industrial” names like D.R. Horton ($DHI) and Lennar ($LEN) in the homebuilding sector, signaling optimism about the U.S. housing market.
MICHAEL BURRY
In Q2, Burry radically reshaped his portfolio.
From bearish bets with put options, he switched to bullish bets with call options on stocks such as:
Alibaba ($BABA)
JD.com ($JD)
Meta ($META)
Lululemon ($LULU)
Estee Lauder ($EL)
Regeneron ($REGN)
and of course, UnitedHealth ($UNH)
He also built direct positions in companies like MercadoLibre ($MELI), Bruker ($BRKR) and Lululemon ($LULU), while slightly reducing his direct stake in Estee Lauder ($EL).
The most interesting part? The notional value of his call options was over $500 million. Meaning, he made a huge pivot toward bullish investments. From a complete market skeptic, he turned into an investor looking for rebound opportunities.
BILL ACKMAN
Next up, Bill Ackman and his Pershing Square fund – an investor who prefers long-term growth and strong brands.
Ackman bought Amazon ($AMZN) for the first time, acquiring over 5.8 million shares worth $1.3 billion!
He also strengthened his positions in Alphabet ($GOOG), Hertz ($HTZ), Hilton ($HLT) and Brookfield ($BN). He is steadily betting on technology, travel, hospitality, and real estate.
He now has very strong exposure to tech and e-commerce, with Amazon ($AMZN), Alphabet ($GOOG) and Uber ($UBER) among the top holdings in his portfolio.
The message is clear: he believes in U.S. growth and a consumer recovery.
UNITEDHEALTH
What’s the deal with UnitedHealth?
This stock ended up at the center of attention for both Buffett and Burry. It’s not often we see so many top investors buying the same stock, at the same time.
And it does seem like an unlikely choice. Why?
Because the company is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for possible Medicare billing irregularities. It has faced corruption scandals that damaged its reputation, while its CEO resigned abruptly. On top of that, it suffered a massive cyberattack that affected millions of Americans and raised data security concerns.
As if that weren’t enough, UnitedHealth’s stock has lost more than 50% of its value in just 9 months.
So why are the superinvestors buying now?
Because, as Buffett says: “We buy great companies in temporarily difficult situations.”
Despite the problems, it remains the largest healthcare provider in the U.S., with strong financials and a history of consistent profitability.
The return of former CEO Stephen Hemsley signals an effort to recover and restore trust.
So when the market saw both Buffett and Burry buying… it started to wake up.
Posted Using INLEO