We recently published a list of Billionaire David Tepper’s Top 10 Stock Picks Heading into 2025. In this article, we are going to take a look at where JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) stands against other Billionaire David Tepper’s top stock picks heading into 2025.
David Tepper is one investor who stands out in squeezing and generating optimum returns from distressed debt and undervalued equities. Born into a middle-class family, he has risen up the ranks to become one of the most successful investors on Wall Street. The billionaire investor started Appaloosa Management LP in 1993 after quitting his job at Goldman Sachs after being overlooked for promotion twice.
It is a decision the billionaire investor can never regret, as Appaloosa Management LP has grown to become one of the most followed hedge funds on Wall Street. It had one of its best performances in 2001 when it returned 61% on investing in distressed bonds after the dot com crash.
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Additionally, Appaloosa made $7 billion at the height of the great recession in 2009, when it opportunistically bought into distressed financial stocks and bonds. The focus on distressed situations has always defined Tepper. The investment strategy has allowed Tepper to accrue significant wealth, based on his net worth of about $21 billion. His hedge fund has made billions of dollars over the years, averaging 28% returns annually.
Tepper is already sensing a window of opportunity with Chinese equities trading at highly discounted valuations in response to deteriorating economic conditions. In the aftermath of the Chinese government initiating a series of stimulus packages to try and prop up the economy, Tepper believes it is time to take a closer look at Chinese equities.
“Everything,” Tepper said when asked what Chinese stocks to buy in an interview with CNBC. “Everything… ETFs, I would do futures, everything.” The investment thesis is based on the notion that it is wrong to fight the Fed, which in this case is the Chinese government and the central bank.
Tepper’s sentiment comes on China cutting key interest rates and announcing liquidity support for the stock market. China’s central bank has lowered bank reserve requirements and encouraged companies to buy back stocks. Appaloosa Management has already responded to China’s monetary policy changes by tweaking its portfolio. The hedge fund trimmed stakes in some of the big US tech companies whose valuations have exploded over the past year amid the artificial intelligence-driven rides. In return, it has ramped up stakes in Chinese internet giants.
“I don’t love the US markets on a value standpoint, but I sure as heck won’t be short, because I’d be nervous as heck of the setup with easing money everywhere, a relatively good economy, and China just doing massive stimulus coming in, so it would make me nervous not to be somewhat long the US,” Tepper said.
Amid the sentiments, technology stocks both in the US and China account for the most significant share of billionaire David Tepper’s top 10 stock picks. Additionally, the billionaire investor is heavily invested in the services sector and basic materials as part of his diversification strategy.
Our Methodology
To compile billionaire David Tepper’s top 10 stock picks heading into 2025, we scanned Appaloosa Management LP’s Q3 ’2024 portfolio. We identified the top ten stocks from the hedge fund’s portfolio. Then, we ranked these stocks in ascending order according to the size of the hedge fund’s investments in them.
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 wide and imposing view of a supply chain distribution center, illustrating the company’s technology capabilities.
JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD)
Appaloosa Management LP’s Stake Value: $292 Million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 75
JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) is a Chinese internet retail giant that offers computers, communication, and electronic products. It operates as a supply chain-based technology and service provider. The stock is up by over 37%, outperforming the S&P 500, that’s up by about 26%. The outperformance comes from the e-commerce giant successfully navigating a challenging market environment amid a slowing Chinese economy.
With the help of its strong logistics network and reputation for genuine goods, JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) has become a major player in China’s e-commerce market. The company’s direct sales strategy gives it more control over its inventory and clientele. Likewise, it delivered better-than-expected third-quarter results on November 14, 2024, despite fierce competition from Alibaba and PDD holdings.
Its net profit was up 48% year-over-year to $1.62 billion, which was helped by a 5.1% increase in revenue to $260.39 billion. Retail sales, which account for the most significant share of the company’s revenue, were up 6.1% as logistics sales increased 7.9%. Strong performance in specific product categories demonstrates JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD)’s competitive differentiation in the Chinese e-commerce market. The appliance segment’s robust sales have primarily driven the company’s strong third-quarter projections for 2024.
The company’s ability to effectively navigate China’s declining consumption has further strengthened its position in the market. Over two years, JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) has increased its net margin from 2.0% to 3.6%, exhibiting sound management and operational fortitude in the face of economic challenges.
Ariel Investments stated the following regarding JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) in its Q3 2024 investor letter:
“China-based E-commerce company, JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) was the top contributor in the quarter as the People’s Bank of China’s (PBOC) comprehensive stimulus measures bolstered investor confidence in the Chinese economy. The improving economic sentiment is fueling consumer spending which benefits the company’s retail operations. Additionally, the company’s strategic decision to diversify general merchandise product offerings, expand its third-party marketplace business and monetize advertising streams has contributed to consecutive quarterly earnings beats. JD.com is also poised to capitalize on the home appliance trade-in program, which is one of its largest product categories. Given the favorable market environment, the company’s strategic positioning and supply chain efficiency improvements, we continue to like its long-term growth prospects.”
Overall, JD ranks 7th on our list of Billionaire David Tepper’s top stock picks heading into 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of JD, our conviction lies in the belief that under the radar 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 JD 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.
