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Juicy MOTU Stocks Kicking off 2025

Industry Ivan
14 min

Top 5 Stock Picks Big Investors Are Hyping in Their Latest 13F Filings

Ever wonder what stocks are catching the eye of Wall Street’s biggest whales and brightest investors? 🤔 Every quarter, hedge fund superstars dish out their 13F filings, revealing what they’ve been buying (or selling) recently. We’ve combed through the most recent 13F reports from legends like Warren Buffett, Stanley Druckenmiller, Bill Ackman, Jim Simons, and more. The result? A spicy list of 5 interesting stock picks these gurus have been loading up on (no boring old holdings here – we’re talking new positions or major add-ons).

And don’t worry – we’ll break it down MOTU style and tell you WHY they own each stock). Let’s dive in and see what stocks the GOATs of investing are betting on, and why! (Spoiler: We’ve got everything from pizza to AI to genetic testing – diversify much?)

1. Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) – Buffett’s Cheesy New Bet 🍕🧀

Who’s buying? The one and only Warren Buffett – the OG value investor and junk-food enthusiast – finally added some pizza to Berkshire Hathaway’s menu.

What’s up? Berkshire bought 1.3 million shares of Domino’s Pizza in Q3, a new stake worth about $550 million

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That’s a lot of dough (literally)! It’s a surprising move considering Buffett usually sticks to burgers (see: Coke & McDonald's) – but hey, even the Oracle of Omaha likes to spice things up. This Domino’s buy was one of Berkshire’s rare new positions while he was trimming huge holdings like Apple and Bank of America​.

Style & Rationale: Buffett is a deep value guy who loves businesses with wide moats and steady cash flows – and Domino’s fits the bill. The pizza chain runs a franchise-heavy, delivery-focused model that churns out delicious profit margins (18%+ EBITDA margins!)​

In plain English: Domino’s makes good money on each pizza thanks to its efficient delivery operations and franchise fees. Predictable earnings + strong brand = chef’s kiss for a value investor like Buffett​

Why it’s interesting: It’s not every day Buffett takes a slice of something new. Domino’s stock had been in a bit of a slump (competition from food apps and post-pandemic pizza fatigue, anyone?), which likely made its valuation tasty for a long-term investor. Buffett (or one of his portfolio managers) saw an opportunity to grab a global fast-food leader while it was out of favor. The bet also signals confidence that Domino’s tech-enabled delivery dominance will keep delivering in the years ahead. Plus, let’s be honest, who can resist a company that literally delivers happiness in 30 minutes or less? 😋📦

Fun fact: Shares of Domino’s jumped after Buffett’s buy was revealed – when the world’s most famous investor starts gobbling up a stock, others tend to follow​. No surprise, but it can be very profitable to follow Buffett's Fs.

While no other “super investors” from our list bought Domino’s this quarter, Buffett’s move highlights a trend of top investors craving consumer staples (Ackman’s long been into restaurant stocks like Chipotle and Burger King’s parent). It seems even hedge fund managers can’t resist a good pizza play – portfolio carbs don’t count, right? 🍕🏆

2. Nike (NKE) – The Swoosh Gets Some Hedge Fund Love 👟✅

Who’s buying? Two superstar investors from very different schools: Bill Ackman (Pershing Square’s activist value guru) and Jim Simons (Renaissance Technologies’ quant king). When a hardcore fundamentals guy and a math-genius quant both pile into the same stock, you know something’s up.

What’s up? Ackman basically said “Just Do It!” and boosted his Nike stake by a whopping 435% last quarter​.

At the same time, Jim Simons’ algorithms went on a Nike shopping spree, multiplying RenTech’s position over 14-fold – from just 185,000 Class B shares to about 2.6 million shares​. 😮 That is a rare alignment of conviction: one of Wall Street’s loudest activists and its most secretive quant both decided Nike was a buy. If that doesn’t make you pay attention, we don’t know what will.

Style & Rationale: Ackman is known for hunting undervalued premium brands and sometimes agitating for change. With Nike, he probably isn’t looking to oust the CEO or anything – it’s more of a classic value play. Nike’s stock had a rough 2024, dropping around 30% year-to-date by the time Ackman bought in​

Why? Slower sales in China, inventory gluts, and general market gloom made Mr. Market pessimistic on the swoosh. Ackman likely smelled an opportunity: a world-class brand on sale. His thesis: Nike’s “enduring appeal” and market dominance in athletic wear aren’t going anywhere​. Once supply chain kinks and regional lulls iron out, growth (and the stock) could sprint back. In other words, he’s betting on a turnaround for this iconic franchise.

Simons, on the other hand, ran a quantitative strategy – no emotional attachment to Air Jordans for him. RenTech’s models must have flagged Nike as either statistically undervalued or gaining momentum. Perhaps it’s as simple as Nike’s fundamentals improving or the stock showing a bullish pattern that RenTech’s supercomputers like. It’s notable that RenTech “massively upped” the position in Q4​ suggesting their signals flipped positive. A quant fund and an activist arriving at the same conclusion makes a pretty compelling bull case.

Why it’s interesting: This looks like a contrarian bet on a fallen giant. Nike had a tough year – declining stock price, investor skepticism – yet here come the smart money players scooping it up. The reasons range from value (it might be cheap) to macro trends (global sportswear demand is still strong, and a China re-opening could revive Asian sales) to company fundamentals (Nike is still innovating in sneakers and apparel, and its digital sales are growing). Ackman’s big buy shows high conviction – he’s not dabbling, he’s making Nike a top holding. For young investors, the takeaway is clear: even the trendiest brands can become value plays when their stock stumbles. And when both a stock-picking legend and a quant wizard independently bet on the same comeback…🚀 the bulls may be onto something. Keep an eye on Nike – the hedge fund brain trust certainly is.

3. Natera (NTRA) – Getting a DNA Upgrade 🧬💹

Who’s buying? This pick is a meeting of the minds between Stanley Druckenmiller (Duquesne Family Office – famed macro investor who never sleeps on a trend) and Cathie Wood (ARK Invest’s queen of disruptive tech investing). Talk about an odd couple! One made billions shorting the pound in the 90s, the other is known for hodling Tesla and DNA stocks – and both just doubled down on Natera.

What’s up? Druckenmiller ramped up his stake in Natera by 80% in Q4​, taking a significantly more bullish stance on this healthcare stock. Meanwhile, Cathie Wood couldn’t resist adding more: ARK Invest snapped up an extra 200,000 shares of Natera, making it one of the most significant additions to ARK’s portfolio in Q4. Natera is now Wood’s 28th-largest holding and a top-10 position in ARK’s Genomic Revolution ETF. In fact, ARK has made a 72% return on NTRA in the past year alone​ so clearly Cathie’s conviction has been rewarded so far.

Style & Rationale: Druckenmiller has a macro meets growth style – he’ll chase big-picture trends and isn’t afraid of high-growth stocks (despite being a “soros-esque” macro guy, he’s been all over tech and biotech when it suits him). Natera, a leader in genetic testing, ticks the box for long-term growth potential. Dr. Druck likely sees personalized medicine and genomics as a secular trend, and Natera’s tech (which includes non-invasive prenatal tests and cancer diagnostics) could be a big winner in healthcare’s future​

By upping his stake 80%, he’s signaling strong confidence – this isn’t a tiny flyer; it’s a meaningful bet. Perhaps he liked Natera’s latest earnings or product data, or maybe he’s hedging against some of his more cyclical bets by holding a high-growth healthcare name.

Cathie Wood’s interest in Natera is more straightforward: it’s smack in the middle of her “DNA revolution” theme. ARK Invest focuses on innovative growth, and Natera fits perfectly with Wood’s vision of genomic tech transforming healthcare. She’s been in NTRA since early 2024 and has been adding steadily​

The recent add suggests she still sees huge upside ahead – perhaps due to new tests in Natera’s pipeline, expanding markets for its current products, or simply because the stock hasn’t yet caught up to its intrinsic value in ARK’s models. With ARK’s position now nearly 888k shares strong​, it’s clear she’s got diamond hands on this one.

Why it’s interesting: It’s not every day you see Druckenmiller and Wood in the same trade. One is notoriously cautious and tactical, the other boldly rides volatility – yet Natera has both nodding in agreement. This convergence hints at a powerful narrative: biotech and genetic testing are attracting broad interest, from quants and macro funds to thematic tech investors. Macro trend? Aging populations and demand for early disease detection could drive this industry. Company-specific? Natera might be hitting an inflection point in revenues or tech breakthroughs. Also, NTRA stock had been performing well (hence ARK’s nice 72% gain) – momentum that likely caught Druckenmiller’s eye too. For young investors, the takeaway is that sometimes the “smart money” piles into cutting-edge sectors when the timing looks right. Genomics was so 2021… until it wasn’t. Now it’s back (revenge of the nerds edition 🧫👩‍🔬), and big players want a piece of that DNA action.

4. Brookfield Corporation (BN) – Ackman’s Infrastructure Power Play 🏗️💰

Who’s buying? Bill Ackman again! Yep, the Pershing Square titan makes a second appearance on our list – this time with an even bigger bet. Ackman dramatically increased his stake in Brookfield Corporation (BN), an alternative asset manager, making it his largest holding after the buys​

This is basically Ackman yelling “I’m all in!” on Brookfield. 🎲

What’s up? Pershing Square’s portfolio moved Brookfield front-and-center by ramping up the position +377% last quarter​

That’s a massive allocation jump – Brookfield went from a smaller position to Pershing’s portfolio heavyweight. In fact, Ackman’s Brookfield bet is so bold that it overshadowed most of his other moves (yes, even that huge Nike buy we discussed). Clearly, he sees major upside (or major undervaluation) in Brookfield’s diversified empire of assets.

Style & Rationale: Ackman’s style is typically concentrated value investing with an activist twist. With Brookfield, activism might not be on the menu (Brookfield is a behemoth run by savvy management already), but value certainly is. Brookfield Corp is a complex beast – it owns a bit of everything: infrastructure projects, real estate, renewable energy, private equity, asset management fees, you name it. Such conglomerates can sometimes trade at a discount because they’re hard to categorize. Ackman likely believes Brookfield is undervalued, perhaps due to the sum-of-the-parts being worth more than the stock price implies (Wall Street might be sleeping on some hidden assets). He’s praised companies with strong asset management prowess before, and Brookfield has that in spades​

Think of Brookfield as a picks-and-shovels play on global growth: if infrastructure, real estate, and renewables do well, Brookfield should benefit. Lately, rising interest rates and economic uncertainty have knocked down asset managers’ valuations. But Ackman could be betting that as the global economy normalizes, Brookfield’s diversified portfolio will shine – and that it’s better to buy it before that happens, while it’s cheap. According to analysis, Brookfield boasts a treasure trove of infrastructure and real estate assets that could be undervalued in a recovering economy​

In other words, he sees a coiled spring of value ready to pop.

There’s also a macro angle: Brookfield is big in renewables and infrastructure, which might get tailwinds from government policies. (For example, trends toward on-shoring manufacturing and hefty infrastructure spending bills can boost companies like Brookfield that invest in ports, pipelines, and power grids). One report noted that rising demand for on-shore infrastructure (amid deglobalization) could boost Brookfield’s profits​

So this could be Ackman’s way of playing a long-term trend of rebuilding and reindustrialization in North America and beyond, without picking a single industrial stock – he gets a whole basket via Brookfield.

Why it’s interesting: Ackman doubling (tripling...!) down on Brookfield shows high conviction in a somewhat under-the-radar stock. Brookfield isn’t a flashy tech name or a household consumer brand, but it’s a giant in the world of alternative investments. Seeing it become Pershing Square’s top holding is a signal: big money is rotating into infrastructure and real assets. No other top hedge fund on our watchlist made a similarly big move on Brookfield this quarter, which actually makes Ackman’s bet even more of a standout (gotta love a contrarian). If he’s right, he’ll be way ahead of the pack on this one.

For young investors, Brookfield might not sound exciting, but remember, this is “boring is good” territory. Cash flows from toll roads and wind farms may not make TikTok headlines, but they can make investors very rich over time. Ackman clearly wants in on that game, big time. Keep an eye on Brookfield – sometimes the best stock stories are the ones nobody’s shouting about… yet.

(Side note: Ackman also trimmed some of his hotel stock (Hilton) to free up cash for moves like this​

Talk about reallocating from hospitality to infrastructure – sounds like he’s getting more defensive and future-focused. Always interesting to read between the lines of a 13F filing! 🕵️)

5. Corning (GLW) – Tepper’s Glassy New Obsession 🔮🏭

Who’s buying? David Tepper, the billionaire behind Appaloosa Management (and owner of the Carolina Panthers 🏈). Tepper is an opportunistic, high-conviction investor who swings big when he sees an opening. In Q4, he made one and only one new buy: Corning Inc., the 170-year-old glass and materials company​

Yes, the Gorilla Glass on your iPhone and the fiber optic cables powering the internet both likely come from Corning. Talk about an “iconic” industrial company making a comeback play!

What’s up? Tepper sold out of Adobe and some other positions, then took all that cash and poured it into Corning (GLW) as his sole new position of the quarter​

Appaloosa bought about 1.5 million shares of Corning in Q4 at an average price of ~$46.34. By year-end, that stake was worth $71 million (and growing – GLW stock jumped ~10% by early Feb 2025)​. Corning rocketed up to become Appaloosa’s 26th largest holding, comprising ~1.1% of the fund – not huge, but for a new position in a concentrated hedge fund, that’s notable. Interestingly, it’s Appaloosa’s only materials stock – highlighting that this isn’t just some index filler; Tepper specifically chose GLW, likely for company-specific reasons​.

Style & Rationale: Tepper’s style is often contrarian and fundamentals-driven. He’s famous for saying “there’s time to make money and there’s time not to lose money” – meaning he times the market cycles well. So why Corning? Well, Corning had been a bit sleepy in 2022-2023, dealing with sluggish smartphone demand and LCD panel gluts. But come end of 2024, things started looking up. Corning’s Q4 2024 earnings were stellar: core revenue up 18% year-over-year, and core EPS up 46% year-over-year​

After a couple of tough years, Corning’s growth is back – and Tepper noticed. In particular, Corning’s Optical Communications division (think fiber optic cables for 5G, data centers, etc.) went gangbusters, with enterprise sales up 93% year-over-year thanks to the AI and cloud boom fueling network investments​. In short, the AI revolution isn’t just about software – it’s also about laying lots of fiber. Corning happens to be a major supplier for that, and it’s humming now​.

So Tepper likely saw a few things he likes: (1) Strong earnings momentum (nothing gets a value investor’s attention like a big earnings beat 🔥). (2) A clear macro tailwind – Corning is selling the picks and shovels (or rather, glass and fiber) for the AI/data gold rush. (3) Reasonable valuation – even after the pop, GLW’s multiples aren’t crazy for a company of its caliber. Analysts are generally bullish too, with many rating it a buy and price targets in the high-$50s to mid-$60s​ above where the stock was trading. That indicates Wall Street sees upside, and Tepper likely agrees. He’s opportunistic, remember – he jumped out of high-flying tech (Adobe) to rotate into this more old-school name​. That smacks of “value rotation”: sell the expensive software stock, buy the solid industrial that’s on the upswing.

Why it’s interesting: Corning is a classic “stealth” pick. It’s not a meme stock or a FAANG, but it has elements of both offense and defense. It’s a real economy company that also benefits from high-tech trends (5G, cloud, AI). Seeing Tepper make it his singular new bet is a huge vote of confidence. No other marquee hedge fund in our group made a new bet on GLW at the same time – this is Tepper planting his flag alone on Planet Corning. It tells us that savvy investors are looking beyond Big Tech for AI plays; some are finding value in the infrastructure behind tech.

For younger investors, Tepper’s move is a reminder: sometimes the best way to ride a hot trend (like AI) is through an unexpected angle (like glass fibers). And when a billionaire known for his sharp moves says this is the place to be, at the very least, do your homework on it. Corning just went from geeky to chic in the hedge fund world. 🤓➡😎

(Fun meme-y thought: Picture David Tepper holding up a shiny piece of Gorilla Glass like Mufasa presenting Simba, proclaiming “It is time.” 🦁✨ – That’s basically him anointing Corning as the chosen one in Q4 2024.)

The Bottom Line

The latest 13F filings gave us a peek into where the big dogs are placing their bets. From Buffett’s classic value plays (who knew pizza could be a value investment?) to Ackman’s high-conviction moves in infrastructure and apparel, to Druckenmiller and Cathie Wood tag-teaming a genomics play, and Tepper finding tech-related value in an old-line manufacturer, there’s a lot for investors to chew on.

A few key takeaways and trends to leave you with:

Investing can seem intimidating, but with a bit of sleuthing (and maybe a meme or two to keep it fun), you can learn a ton from the pros. Who knows – next quarter’s 13F darlings might include your portfolio favorites. Until then, stay curious and keep hunting for your next “most interesting pick”! 🚀🙌

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