These Are the Stocks America’s Billionaires Are Betting Big on in 2018
When hedge fund billionaires like Warren Buffett make financial moves, investors watch closely. People hurry to buy and sell stocks after just a few comments from these investors-turned celebrities. So, what companies do America’s billionaire investors think are good bets? WalletHub analyzed the top holdings of some of the wealthiest people in America to find out.
Here we’ll take a look at 10 of the world’s richest investors, their top stock holdings, and what they’ve been buying and selling lately. You just might notice a trend or two.
1. Carl Icahn
- Net worth: $16.9 billion
- Top 3 holdings: American International Group, CVR Energy, Herbalife
Carl Icahn has been called one of the greatest investors, to the point a company’s stock prices rise immediately when Icahn begins investing in it. The top three holdings of his fund, Icahn Enterprises, are American International Group, CVR Energy, and Herbalife.
Icahn Enterprises’ biggest recent stock buy has been SandRidge Energy, whereas its biggest sell was crane manufacturer The Manitowoc Company.
Next: This man’s fund earns 20% annually.
2. George Soros
- Net worth: $8 billion
- Top 3 holdings: Liberty Broadband, Caesars Entertainment, Altaba
George Soros founded Soros Fund Management in 1969. The fund is said to average a 20% annual rate for more than four decades. Its top three holdings are Liberty Broadband, Caesars Entertainment Corp., and Altaba (the company that resulted from Verizon’s acquisition of Yahoo’s Internet business in 2017).
Soros’ biggest buy was Caesars Entertainment Corp., whereas the biggest sell was Mondelez International.
Next: An investor whose fund has turned a $50 billion profit
3. Ray Dalio
- Net worth: $17.7 billion
- Top 3 holdings: PG&E Corp., Cardinal Health, CVS Health Corp.
Ray Dalio’s Bridgewater Associates is the world largest investment fund, managing $160 billion, according to its website. The fund has made a whopping $50 billion in profit since its inception. The fund’s top three holdings are PG&E Corp., Cardinal Health, and CVS Health Corp.
Bridgewater’s biggest recent stock buy has been PG&E Corp., and its biggest sell was The Kroger Co.
Next: Possibly the most successful investor of all time
4. Warren Buffett
- Net worth: $86.2 billion
- Top 3 holdings: Apple, Wells Fargo, Kraft Heinz
Warren Buffett is betting big on Apple. His Berkshire Hathaway holds 165.3 million shares as of late 2017, valued at $27.9 billion. He’s clearly watching Apple closely, which doesn’t appear to be slowing down. It sells millions of iPhones at a steady pace every quarter.
Berkshire Hathaway’s other top holdings are Wells Fargo (453 million shares) and Kraft Heinz (325 million shares). While his fund’s recent biggest buy has been Apple stock, its biggest sell has been another tech giant, IBM.
Next: A fund manager also owns sports teams.
5. David Tepper
- Net worth: $11 billion
- Top 3 holdings: Micron Technology, Facebook, Apple
Like Buffet, David Tepper’s fund Appaloosa Management invests heavily in Apple. Its two other top holdings are Micron Technology and Facebook. Tepper also invests in sports teams: He owns a 5% stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers and was recently said to be interested in becoming majority team owner of the Carolina Panthers.
When it comes to big recent transactions, Appaloosa’s biggest buy was Apple and its biggest sell was Alphabet, Inc.
Next: See the stocks an oracle of investing is buying.
6. John Paulson
- Net worth: $6.5 billion
- Top 3 holdings: Mylan, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, T-Mobile
John Paulson went from virtually unknown to becoming an oracle of investing when his fund Paulson & Co. made billions betting against the housing market in 2007. The fund’s top three holdings today are Mylan, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, and T-Mobile.
Paulson’s biggest recent buy was NXP Semiconductors, and its biggest recent sell was Altaba.
Next: What a frequent CNBC guest’s $3.7 billion fund invests in
7. Leon Cooperman
- Net worth: $3.2 billion
- Top 3 holdings: Alphabet, Inc., AMC Networks, and United Continental Holdings
Leon Cooperman, founder of investment firm Omega Advisors, is a frequent guest on CNBC where he talks politics and investment. His firm has around $3.7 billion under management, and its biggest holdings are Alphabet, Inc., AMC Networks, and United Continental Holdings.
The fund’s biggest recent buy was AMC Networks, Inc. Its biggest sell was Fidelity National Financial.
Next: What does a 49-year-old worth $1.35 billion invest in?
8. David Einhorn
- Net worth: $1.35 billion
- Top 3 holdings: General Motors, AerCap Holdings, Mylan
David Einhorn’s Greenlight Capital fund has delivered a 16.5% annualized return from 1996 to 2016. Greenlight’s current top holdings are General Motors, AerCap Holdings, and Mylan. In 2017, the fund had $9.3 billion in assets under management.
Greenlight’s biggest recent buy was Twitter (Twitter shares soared 52% after that), and its biggest recent sell was General Motors stock.
Next: He’s a director at the companies where he invests most heavily.
9. Nelson Peltz
- Net worth: $1.67 billion
- Top 3 holdings: Proctor & Gamble, Sysco Corp., Mondelez International
Nelson Peltz co-founded $12.7 billion asset management firm Trian Partners in 2005. The fund’s top three holdings are Proctor & Gamble, Sysco Corp., Mondelez International. Peltz is a director at all three of the companies.
Trian Partners’ biggest recent buy was industrial company Pentair, and its biggest sell was DowDuPont.
Next: He recently plunked down $365 million into Nike.
10. Bill Ackman
- Net worth: $1.1 billion
- Top 3 holdings: Restaurant Brands International, Mondelez International, Automatic Data Processing
Bill Ackman, founder of hedge fund Pershing Square, made recent headlines for a $365 million investment in Nike. The fund’s top three holdings are Restaurant Brands International, Mondelez International, and Automatic Data Processing. Pershing’s biggest recent buy was Mondelez International.
Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook!