We recently published a list of Michael Burry Stock Portfolio: Top 8 Stock Picks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Olaplex Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:OLPX) stands against other Michael Burry’s top stock picks.
Legendary investor Michael Burry is best known for his contrarian strategies that often outperform the overall market. Burry is famous for having foreseen the subprime mortgage crisis that occurred from 2007 to 2010. He shorted the mortgage bond market, making $800 million for himself and his investors.
While he made a name for himself at the height of the financial crisis in 2007, the legendary investor has built a reputation on Wall Street on his ability to identify and invest in market-beating opportunities. His recent actions demonstrate a trend toward high-conviction investments in cheap, market-leading businesses.
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“Dr. Burry’s one of those investors who doesn’t just follow the crowd,” says Edward Corona, a market trader and publisher of The Options Oracle Newsletter. “He’s a true contrarian, digging deep into the numbers and spotting opportunities others might miss.”
China is one market in which the legendary investor is taking a keen interest, going by holdings in Scion Asset Management, a hedge fund he established in 2013. While the investment fund focuses on long-term capital appreciation, it also targets undervalued or misunderstood investment opportunities. That’s evident given that Burry’s biggest holdings are Chinese internet giants that have been battered in recent years amid a slowdown in the Chinese economy due to heightened regulatory pressure.
The changes in Scion Asset management came as Beijing stepped up its attempts to boost economic growth while putting breaks to regulatory pressure. Although the unexpected stimulus plan caused a wild surge in Chinese stocks, some market watchers are still wary of the industry’s long-term prospects. The CSI 300 Index, the nation’s equity benchmark, rose 32% in just two weeks following Beijing’s stimulus measures.
Despite identifying as a value investor, Burry tends to jump in and out of positions frequently rather than hold his stocks for an extended period. That was evident as he exited his position in a real estate company in the third quarter on concerns that the sector would capitulate amid high interest rates. His most significant action during the third quarter was selling all of his shares in a real estate investment trust (REIT) in Los Angeles. He used the money he received to hedge against potential losses on some of the company’s biggest investments.
Our Methodology
To make the list of Michael Burry Stock Portfolio: Top 8 Stock Picks we scanned Scion Asset Management portfolio. We then settled on the legendary investor top holdings and analyzed why they stand out as long term plays. Finally, we ranked the stocks in ascending order based on Scion Asset Management’s stake value in the companies.
At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A professional hairstylist styling a client’s hair with a variety of hair care products.
Olaplex Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:OLPX)
Scion Asset Management’s Stake Value: $2.35 Million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18
Olaplex Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:OLPX) is a specialty retailer that develops, manufactures, and sells hair care products. The company offers hair care shampoos and conditioners for treatment, maintenance, and hair protection. The stock has been under pressure, going by the 34% selloff in 2024, as the company faced a challenging landscape hurt by high inflation levels.
Nevertheless, Olaplex Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:OLPX) succeeded in maintaining high gross margins of 71%, even with revenues declining by 9% in the past 12 months. The beauty and personal care sector is still undergoing changes as a result of shifting consumer tastes, new technology, and heightened competition. Consequently, the company operates in an industry where growth and market share depend on innovation and brand loyalty.
Olaplex Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:OLPX) is in the process of releasing a thorough long-term roadmap and future vision. The strategic plan will cover consumer trends and market opportunities that Olaplex Holdings can take advantage of because of its innovative products and strong brand. It is anticipated that these actions taken together will increase its market share.
Overall, OLPX ranks 6th on our list of Michael Burry’s top stock picks. While we acknowledge the potential of OLPX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than OLPX but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
