
Michael Burry, a well-known hedge fund manager, has been making big bets on a market crash. He's been vocal about his concerns, even going so far as to short the stock market.
Burry's predictions are based on his analysis of the market's volatility and the potential for a collapse. He's been warning investors about the dangers of excessive borrowing and the resulting debt bubble.
In 2008, Burry's fund, Scion Asset Management, made a significant short bet on the housing market, which ultimately paid off when the market crashed. This experience has shaped his views on the market's potential for a crash.
Investing and Predictions
Michael Burry is known for his unique approach to investing, often diverging from the herd mentality. He considers himself a value investor and has been critical of government financial policy, especially that of the Federal Reserve.
Burry's investment career started as a hobby, but he quickly made a name for himself in the investing space through his online presence and blog. His strategies and insights were unique from others in the field, and he even wrote that "Everything I do in investment is just very different."
Burry's firm, Scion Capital, was a success, with a return of 55% in 2001, unlike the S&P 500 which declined by 11%. He capitalized on the dot-com bubble by shorting overvalued tech stocks.
What Kind of Investor
Michael Burry is a value investor who diverges from the herd mentality, as seen in his bold move to short the mortgage bond market for CDOs in 2007.
He's been critical of government financial policy, particularly the Federal Reserve, which he believes either willfully or ignorantly aided and abetted the real estate bubble.
Burry has also expressed his disappointment in the Fed's handling of the financial crisis, calling out leaders in Washington for underestimating the severity of the problem.
In a 2010 New York Times op-ed, Burry wrote that the Fed's epic and unfair taxpayer-financed bailouts could have been avoided if they had taken a different approach.
The Fed's intentions are questionable, as Burry tweeted in 2022, "The Fed has no intention of fighting inflation."
Burry's Current Short Positions
Michael Burry is known for shorting high-flying technology stocks and funds.
In the third quarter of 2023, he decided to hedge against the global semiconductor market.
Burry has a history of making successful bets against certain companies.
He shorted BlackRock Inc.'s semiconductor fund, but unfortunately for him, BlackRock's success has not abated.
Burry has also shorted Cathie Wood's flagship ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) and Elon Musk's Tesla Inc. (TSLA) in past years.
The Big Short
The Big Short is a fascinating story about Michael Burry, a hedge fund manager who predicted the 2008 stock market crash and made a fortune from it. He founded Scion Capital and shorted mortgage-backed securities, resulting in $700 million for his investors and $100 million personally.
Burry's success can be attributed to his unique focus on lenders rather than borrowers. He believed that lenders would always try to justify lending money to unqualified borrowers, and that's exactly what happened. He coined the term "the extension of credit by instrument" to describe this phenomenon.
In 2007, Burry shorted the mortgage bond market for CDOs, making a substantial profit. He's been praised for his technical analysis and ability to remain uninfluenced by trending market sentiments. Burry's investment strategy diverges from the herd mentality, and he's not afraid to take calculated risks.
Burry's prediction of the 2008 stock market crash was largely credited to his focus on lenders rather than borrowers. He said, "What you want to watch are the lenders, not the borrowers." The lenders had lost their restraint, constantly degrading their own standards to grow loan volumes.
Today, Burry is still an active investor and hedge fund manager, and he's betting on a Wall Street crash. He's purchased $866 million in put options against a fund that tracks the S&P 500 and $739 million against a fund that tracks the Nasdaq 100.
Business and Wealth
Michael Burry's business and wealth are a testament to his investment prowess. He started his investment career as a hobby, but quickly made a name for himself in the investing space through his online forums and blog.
Burry launched his own investment fund, Scion Capital, in 2000 with an initial capital of $1 million from Joel Greenblatt. This fund was a huge success, returning 55% in 2001 while the S&P 500 declined 11%.
Burry's success continued as he founded Scion Asset Management LLC in 2013, which had $52.5 million in assets under management as of June 2024. His top holdings in the firm include Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Shift4 Payments, Inc.
Scion Asset Management
Michael Burry's journey with Scion Asset Management began in 2013, as a rebrand of his prior fund.
After facing criticism and shutting down Scion Capital in 2008, Burry relaunched his investment firm with a new focus.
Scion Asset Management targets investments in gold, water, and agricultural land, reflecting Burry's conviction that water is the most valuable asset of the future.
Burry's decision to rebrand and refocus his firm was driven by his desire to explore new investment opportunities and capitalize on emerging trends.
By targeting water and agricultural land, Burry is betting on the potential scarcity of these resources and the long-term benefits of investing in them.
As a seasoned investor, Burry has a track record of making savvy decisions and predicting market trends, making his current investments worth paying attention to.
$300 Million
Michael Burry's net worth is estimated to be $300 million, according to celebritynetworth.com. This estimate is based on his successful investments and predictions, including correctly predicting the 2008 housing market collapse.
In 2004, Burry had over $600 million in assets under his management, showing his impressive track record in the financial industry. His ability to identify and bet against markets has led to significant profits.
Burry's net worth has continued to grow since his correct prediction of the 2008 housing market collapse, demonstrating the importance of making informed investment decisions. He has profited the most from identifying and betting against markets, making him a renowned figure in the business world.
What Does He Own?
Michael Burry is a private investor and the founder of Scion Asset Management LLC, which had around $52.5 million in assets under management as of June 2024.
One of his top holdings is Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, making up about 21% of his portfolio. He also has a significant stake in Shift4 Payments, Inc, which accounts for 14% of his assets.
Another notable holding is Molina Healthcare, Inc, also valued at 14% of his portfolio. His investment in Baidu, Inc is worth around 12% of his assets.
JD.com Inc is another company he has a substantial stake in, with a value of 12% of his portfolio. He also owns shares in Hudson Pacific Properties Inc, which makes up 11% of his assets.
In addition to these holdings, Burry also invests in The RealReal, Inc, American Coastal Insurance Corporation, Olaplex Holdings, Inc, and BioAtla Inc, with values ranging from 6.1% to 1.7% of his portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Michael Burry invest in now?
Michael Burry's current top investments include Alibaba Group Holding, JD.com, Shift4 Payments, Baidu, and Molina Healthcare. His portfolio as of September 2024 reveals a diverse mix of tech and healthcare stocks.
What stocks did Michael Burry buy?
Michael Burry bought 250,000 shares of JD.com and 50,000 shares of Baidu, increasing his fund's stakes by 100% and 66.7% respectively. These investments were revealed in Scion's 13F filing.
How much money did Michael Burry make in 2008?
Michael Burry earned $100 million in personal profits by the end of 2008, while his hedge fund investors netted over $700 million. His successful bet on CDS contracts made 2008 a lucrative year for him.
What is Michael Burry stock strategy?
Michael Burry's stock strategy focuses on deep value investing, seeking undervalued companies with low price-to-earnings ratios and discounted cash flows. He uses rigorous fundamental research to identify hidden gems trading below their true worth.
Did Michael Burry sell his stocks?
No, Michael Burry is not selling his stocks, instead he's investing in undervalued sectors that he believes will offer better returns. He's taking a contrarian approach, unlike his 2008 strategy of shorting stocks.
Sources
- https://www.investopedia.com/who-is-michael-burry-5235600
- https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/15/investing/michael-burry-stock-market-crash/index.html
- https://www.foxbusiness.com/business-leaders/who-is-michael-burry
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-burry-the-big-short-investor-us-is-in-recession-by-any-definition/
- https://timdenning.com/michael-burry/
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