Follow the Money: The 5 Most Popular Stocks in the Latest 13F Filings

“Do not follow the crowd. Learn from the best and find your own path” — Warren Buffett.

Introduction

The stock market is a playing field where information is key. One of the greatest privileges we have as retail investors is being able to know what major fund managers are buying and selling thanks to the 13F form, a mandatory report that asset managers with over $100 million in assets must file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Leveraging this data allows us to identify trends, and investment opportunities, and learn from the best.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to benefit from this information when I noticed that several major funds were accumulating Nvidia (NVDA) shares during the artificial intelligence revolution. I decided to follow the trend, and in less than a year, my position had grown by 120%. It’s not always that easy, but studying these movements gives us an informed edge.

What is the 13F Form and When is it Filed?

The 13F is a quarterly report that details investment funds’ holdings in U.S.-listed assets. However, there are three key aspects to consider:

1. Time lag: The reports reflect positions at the end of each quarter, but managers have up to 45 days to file them. For example, the 13Fs we see now in February 2025 correspond to portfolios as of December 31, 2024.
2. No short positions included: If an investor is betting against a stock, it will not appear in the report.
3. Only U.S.-listed assets: If a manager bought shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange, they won’t be reflected in the 13F.

Major Portfolio Moves in the Latest 13F

Now that we understand how it works, let’s look at the most relevant changes from the last quarter.

Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway)

• Still selling Apple: Reduced his position in Apple, though it remains his largest investment (28% of his portfolio).
• New buy: Constellation Brands: A beverage holding that includes Modelo and Corona, with a 0.47% portfolio weight.
• Bet on Domino’s and Sirius XM: Increased stakes in these two companies.
• Reduced financial sector exposure: Partial exit from Bank of America, Citigroup, and Capital One.

Michael Burry (Scion Asset Management)

• Reduced Alibaba (-25%) and JD.com (-40%): Still believes in China but with adjustments.
• New bet: Pinduoduo (+10%): One of the most purchased Chinese companies by top investors.
• Other significant buys: Estée Lauder (+10%), Oscar Health, and HCA Healthcare.

Bill Ackman (Pershing Square Capital Management)

• Big bet on Uber: Although not reflected in this 13F, he has confirmed purchases in January 2025.
• Nike: Converted his position into options to minimize risk and take advantage of a potential rebound.
• Growth in Chipotle and Brookfield Asset Management.

David Tepper (Appaloosa Management)

• Increased position in China: Added to Alibaba, JD.com, Baidu, and ETFs like QWEB and FXI.
• New purchase in Nvidia: Expanded tech exposure with Nvidia and AMD.
• Reduced Meta and Amazon: Trimmed positions in these tech giants after strong rallies.

Stanley Druckenmiller (Duquesne Family Office)

• New bet on Amazon.
• Bought United Airlines and Warner Bros.
• Sold regional banks and Philip Morris.

The Investment Thesis in Uber

One of the most discussed investments has been Bill Ackman’s stake in Uber.

Ackman argues that Uber has a scalable model, with user growth of 20%, while its workforce has only grown by 3%, improving profitability. Additionally, Uber already collaborates with 14 companies in the autonomous driving sector, which could boost its future without relying on human drivers. Another key point is that over 50% of its revenue comes from international markets, protecting it from local regulations.

Comparison of the Top 5 Positions of Each Investor

Conclusion

The 13F provides a unique insight into what major investors are doing. It doesn’t mean we should blindly copy their moves, but it does allow us to analyze their strategies and learn from them. Remember: Information is power, but intelligence lies in knowing how to use it.

• Datacamp Platform
• Follow me on Linkedin https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/kevin-meneses-897a28127/
• Medium https://medium.com/@kevinmenesesgonzalez/subscribe
• Subscribe to the Data Pulse Newsletter https://www.dhirubhai.net/newsletters/datapulse-python-finance-7208914833608478720
• Join my Patreon Community https://patreon.com/user?u=29567141&utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink