BERKSHIRE BOUGHT ONE NEW STOCK, ACKMAN LOADS UP ON TECH, TRUMP IRAN WAR HEATING UP | MARKET OPEN
BERKSHIRE BOUGHT ONE NEW STOCK, ACKMAN LOADS UP ON TECH, TRUMP IRAN WAR HEATING UP | MARKET OPEN
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Quick Insights

Consider Meta Platforms (META) as it pulls back towards $630, a level where prominent investors like Bill Ackman have reportedly been buying heavily. NVIDIA (NVDA) remains a core AI play, bolstered by a massive new deal from Meta and a new chip announcement expected at its upcoming GTC conference. Following conviction from investor David Tepper, consider exposure to the memory chip recovery through individual stocks like Micron (MU) or the South Korea ETF (EWY). Palantir (PLTR) received a major upgrade to Outperform with a $195 price target from Mizuho, which sees an attractive risk/reward after its recent pullback. While top investors are divided on Amazon (AMZN), bulls believe the stock is significantly undervalued below $200.

Detailed Analysis

NVIDIA (NVDA)

  • Meta (META) announced a multi-year partnership to buy NVIDIA's chips and networking infrastructure (Spectrum-X Ethernet) for its AI data centers. The host speculates this could be a $20-$30 billion contract or more.
  • This news reinforces the strength of the AI Capital Expenditure (CapEx) cycle, with hyperscalers like Meta continuing to spend heavily, and NVIDIA being the primary beneficiary.
  • CEO Jensen Huang stated he doesn't see an AI bubble and teased a new chip that will "surprise the world" at the upcoming GTC conference.
  • 13F Filing Insights:
    • David Tepper trimmed his position by 10%, likely taking some profits.
    • Brad Gerstner (Altimeter Capital) added 454,000 shares.
  • A Morgan Stanley analysis noted that NVIDIA is the most under-owned mega-cap tech stock among active institutional investors, suggesting that if earnings are strong, institutions may be forced to buy in, pushing the price higher.

Takeaways

  • The partnership with Meta is a massive vote of confidence and a sign that demand for NVIDIA's products remains incredibly strong.
  • The upcoming GTC conference is a major potential catalyst, with the announcement of a new, highly anticipated chip.
  • Despite the stock's massive run, institutional investors are still underweight. A strong earnings report could trigger a wave of buying from these large funds.
  • The discussion suggests that the AI investment story, with NVIDIA at its center, is far from over.

Meta Platforms (META)

  • Announced a major, multi-year deal to buy NVIDIA's chips and networking technology to build out its AI infrastructure.
  • This is part of Meta's plan to spend $130 billion on CapEx. The market has been punishing stocks for high CapEx, but the host believes Meta will see a strong Return on Investment (ROI).
  • The company is already guiding for 33% revenue growth, and the host believes AI will unlock new revenue streams beyond advertising, justifying the massive spending.
  • 13F Filing Insights:
    • Bill Ackman added 2.6 million shares at an average price he believes is around $625.
    • David Tepper increased his position by 62%.
    • Meta was one of the top three most-bought stocks by super investors in Q4.

Takeaways

  • Despite the stock's recent weakness, top investors like Bill Ackman are buying, seeing value in the company's long-term AI strategy.
  • The key debate is whether Meta's massive spending on AI will pay off. The host is bullish, pointing to the company's strong growth and the potential for new AI-driven products.
  • The stock price has fallen significantly from its post-earnings high of $740 to around $630, approaching what is believed to be Bill Ackman's entry point. This could present an attractive entry for investors who share his long-term vision.

Palantir (PLTR)

  • Received a major upgrade from Mizuho, which changed its rating from Neutral to Outperform with a $195 price target.
  • Mizuho called Palantir a "category of one" and noted that after a 46% drop in its valuation multiple this year, the risk/reward is now attractive.
  • The stock is also seen as a potential beneficiary of rising geopolitical tensions, specifically the threat of a U.S. war with Iran. The host notes Palantir's software would be critical in such a conflict.
  • The company officially moved its headquarters to Miami, Florida.
  • The host mentions Michael Burry's bearish stance but feels the bull case is strengthening, suggesting a move above $160 would be a significant victory against the short thesis.

Takeaways

  • A major bank is now defending the stock after its recent pullback, suggesting the valuation has become more reasonable.
  • The company has two potential tailwinds: its fundamental business growth (highlighted by Mizuho) and its role as a key defense/intelligence software provider in a world with increasing geopolitical conflict.
  • For investors, the key level to watch is $160. A sustained break above this price could signal that the recent downturn is over and the uptrend is resuming.

Amazon (AMZN)

  • There was conflicting activity from "super investors" in Q4, creating a "battle of the titans" scenario.
    • Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett's firm) sold 77% of its position.
    • Bill Ackman did the opposite, increasing his stake by 65%.
    • Stanley Druckenmiller bought call options on the stock.
    • Brad Gerstner added 48,000 shares.
  • Despite Berkshire's sale, Amazon was the second most-bought stock by the super investors tracked in the podcast.
  • The host sides with Ackman, stating that Amazon appears "deeply, deeply undervalued" below $200.

Takeaways

  • Top investors are divided on Amazon, but the bulls appear to have the upper hand based on the number of buyers.
  • The host believes the company is undervalued, and the fact that many top investors are adding to their positions suggests they see significant upside from current levels.
  • This is a classic value vs. growth debate playing out among the world's best investors. If you believe in the long-term growth of AWS and e-commerce, the current price may be an opportunity.

The New York Times (NYT)

  • This was the one new stock that Berkshire Hathaway purchased in Q4, buying over 5 million shares.
  • To fund this, Berkshire sold off 77% of its Amazon stake.
  • The host and market commentators are puzzled by the move. One theory is that in the age of AI and deepfakes, trusted brands like the NYT will command a premium.
  • Another angle is that the NYT could license its vast archive of high-quality content to AI companies for training their models, creating a new revenue stream.

Takeaways

  • This is a highly contrarian and speculative bet by one of Warren Buffett's successors at Berkshire.
  • The investment thesis is not obvious, but it could be a long-term play on the value of trusted brands and proprietary data in an AI-driven world.
  • This is not a straightforward growth or value play and requires a belief in a narrative that has yet to play out.

Memory & Semiconductor Sector

  • Micron (MU): David Tepper significantly increased his position, adding 200% to his stake in Q4. The stock was showing strength in the pre-market.
  • South Korea ETF (EWY): Tepper also bought 1.87 million shares of this ETF, which is heavily weighted towards memory giants Samsung and SK Hynix.
  • General Sentiment: The host notes that a memory company (referred to as "Sandus") is diluting shares but is seeing "oversubscribed demand," indicating strong investor confidence in the memory cycle continuing. Tepper's large, concentrated bets reinforce this bullish view.

Takeaways

  • One of the world's top investors, David Tepper, is making a strong bet that the memory chip cycle has a long way to run.
  • Investors looking for exposure to this theme can look at individual stocks like Micron (MU) or gain broader exposure through international ETFs like EWY (South Korea).
  • The strong demand for share offerings suggests that despite recent price increases, institutional money is still eager to get into this sector.

Geopolitical & Macro Themes

  • Energy & Defense: An Axios report suggested a U.S. war with Iran could be "imminent," causing oil prices to surge.
    • This is seen as a direct catalyst for energy stocks like Exxon (XOM) and Chevron (CVX), as well as the broader energy ETF (XLE).
    • Defense contractors like Raytheon (RTX) and Lockheed Martin (LMT) also saw a bid on this news.
  • Financials (XLF): Stanley Druckenmiller added to the financial sector ETF, XLF. The host agrees with this sentiment, believing that a potential increase in IPOs, M&A activity, and deregulation could benefit the big banks.
  • International Diversification: Super investors are looking outside the U.S. for growth.
    • Stanley Druckenmiller bought the Brazil ETF (EWZ).
    • David Tepper bought the South Korea ETF (EWY).
  • Precious Metals (Gold & Silver): Following the Iran news, Gold was up 1.4% and Silver was up 4%, reversing losses from the previous day as investors sought safe-haven assets.

Takeaways

  • For a potential hedge against geopolitical risk, the energy and defense sectors are seeing increased interest. A flare-up with Iran would likely push these stocks higher.
  • For a potential economic recovery play, top investors are positioning in financials (XLF), betting on a rebound in investment banking activity.
  • Don't neglect international markets. Smart money is diversifying into countries like Brazil (EWZ) and South Korea (EWY) to capture growth outside of the U.S. tech giants.

Bitcoin (BTC) & Ethereum (ETH)

  • A firm called BM&R reportedly bought 45,000 ETH last week, showing continued institutional interest.
  • The Trump administration, including the Trump brothers, are making a very public push to make crypto mainstream, framing it as a way to democratize finance and strengthen the U.S. dollar via stablecoins.
  • Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase (COIN), appeared on CNBC to advocate for the Clarity Act, a major piece of crypto regulation, stating he hopes it will pass by April.
  • The price action remains volatile, with Bitcoin seeing a $1,000 pump and subsequent dump within minutes during the show.

Takeaways

  • The political and regulatory environment in the U.S. appears to be shifting in a more pro-crypto direction, which could be a significant long-term tailwind.
  • Passage of the Clarity Act by the rumored April deadline would be a major catalyst, providing a clear framework for institutions to operate in.
  • Despite the positive long-term narrative, investors should be prepared for extreme short-term volatility, as evidenced by the price action during the podcast.
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About Amit Kukreja
Amit Kukreja

Amit Kukreja

By @amitinvesting

Breaking down stocks, business, tech. Thank you for following along the journey!