On this article, we examined Massive Brief’s Michael Burry bets on 11 shares amid his warning over the inventory market collapse forward. Click on to skip forward and see Michael Burry’s High 5 Inventory Picks.
Scion Asset Administration chief Michael Burry, who is known for his billion-dollar wager on the US housing crash in 2008, warned traders of the potential inventory market crash forward. The Massive Brief claims that the speculative market setting and dealer’s technique of utilizing borrowed cash for betting on shares have pushed the market right into a harmful spot. “The market is dancing on a knife’s edge,” Burry stated in a tweet. Burry says Wall Avenue has beforehand ignored his warnings on the housing bubble and nobody is listening now. “Individuals say I didn’t warn final time,” he stated. “I did, however nobody listened. So I warn this time. And nonetheless, nobody listens. However I’ll have proof I warned.”
Earlier than shifting on to Michael Burry’s high 11 shares for 2021, let’s briefly assessment Massive Brief’s total portfolio changes within the fourth quarter.
Though Scion Asset Administration missed GameStop’s (NYSE: GME) Reddit-related bull-run in 2021, Massive Brief nonetheless earned $270 million from its video gaming retailer wager. The hedge fund has offered out the complete GameStop stake in the course of the fourth quarter.

Michael Burry of Scion Asset Administration
Scion Asset Administration founder remained lively all through the fourth quarter. The agency’s 13F filings revealed that Scion has offered out of its Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) name choice place in the course of the fourth quarter. The father or mother firm of Google had represented 17.8% of Scion’s total portfolio on the finish of the third quarter of 2020. A name choice contract means the customer is bullish concerning the future prospects of inventory efficiency. Burry’s hedge fund has additionally closed a name choice place in CVS Well being Company (NYSE: CVS) in the course of the fourth quarter. General, the agency offered out 21 shares and lowered its positions in 9 shares, in response to the fourth quarter submitting.
As well as, Burry has diversified its portfolio to beat the market volatility. The highest 10 positions represented 65% of the 13F portfolio on the finish of the fourth quarter. Beforehand, the agency’s portfolio focus was solely centered on few shares. The true property sector remained Michael Burry’s most favourite space of funding for 2021. The well-known worth investor can be in search of to capitalize on potential positive factors from the power sector, which accounted for 14% of the portfolio on the finish of This autumn in comparison with simply over 1% of the portfolio weighting within the earlier quarter.
It additionally seems that Burry’s technique of increasing its funding in direction of the power sector labored in favor of Scion Asset Administration as a result of the S&P 500 power sector, which posted massive losses in 2020, is main the broader market index to this point in 2021. He added three new power shares into the portfolio together with Now Inc (NYSE: DNOW), SunCoke Vitality (NYSE: SXC), and Hollyfrontier (NYSE: HFC) in the course of the fourth quarter. Luckily, all three shares are up nearly 50% because the starting of this yr.
Whereas Michael Burry’s repute stays intact, the identical can’t be stated of the hedge fund trade as an entire, as its repute has been tarnished within the final decade throughout which its hedged returns couldn’t sustain with the unhedged returns of the market indices. Then again, Insider Monkey’s analysis was capable of determine upfront a choose group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs by greater than 124 share factors since March 2017 (see the small print right here). We had been additionally capable of determine upfront a choose group of hedge fund holdings that considerably underperformed the market. We’ve been monitoring and sharing the record of those shares since February 2017 and so they misplaced 13% by way of November 16. That’s why we imagine hedge fund sentiment is an especially helpful indicator that traders ought to take note of. You possibly can subscribe to our free publication on our homepage to obtain our tales in your inbox.
Let’s begin reviewing how Michael Burry is in search of to make income from inventory markets, which in his view getting ready to collapse. For that, we determined to look at Scion Asset Administration’s high 11 shares picks that signify near 70% of their 13F portfolio. Massive Brief’s Michael Burry Is Betting On These 11 Shares:
11. Wells Fargo & Firm (NYSE: WFC)
Massive Brief Michael Burry’s technique of shopping for Wells Fargo & Firm (NYSE: WFC) in the course of the fourth quarter seems to be working. It’s because shares of a diversified monetary companies firm rallied 24% because the starting of this yr, up considerably from S&P 500 development of round 4%. Scion Asset Administration purchased 250,000 shares of WFC in This autumn valued at $7.5 million.
Argosy Buyers, which posted a 29.8% return for 2020, highlighted few shares together with Wells Fargo in a This autumn investor’s letter. Right here’s what Argosy Buyers said:
“I imagine that there’s nothing basically improper with Wells Fargo’s enterprise that can not be mounted, and as soon as they will return to regular operations with out the pretend account nonsense then I count on they are going to return to incomes returns barely decrease than historic norms. If Wells Fargo makes use of 100% of its earnings to repurchase shares over the subsequent 3 years, Wells can retire 25% of its excellent inventory. By 2023, WFC might earn $6+ per share. At 10x earnings, a really low a number of given the remainder of the inventory market trades at 22x earnings, Wells Fargo might fetch $60 per share. WFC’s present share worth is $33 and our price foundation is round $25 per share. If it takes 5 years for Wells to get out of the penalty field and commerce at $60 per share, we will earn a 20% annual return on our funding, together with dividends.”
10. Qurate Retail, Inc. (NASDAQ: QRTEA)
Though the hedge fund has slashed its 36% stake in Qurate Retail, Inc. (NASDAQ: QRTEA) in the course of the fourth quarter, the net retailer is among the many 11 high shares Massive Brief’s Michael Burry is betting on in 2021. The agency has benefited from its wager on Qurate Retail as shares of the net retailer rallied 10% yr up to now.
Weitz Funding Administration, a boutique employee-owned agency, said within the This autumn investor’s letter that Qurate Retail is buying and selling at low cost. Right here’s what Weitz Funding Administration stated:
“The strongest quarterly efficiency got here from Qurate Retail, a extra modestly sized holding. Qurate’s dwelling buying choices throughout pay-TV, dot-com and different digital channels had been effectively suited to the present setting, driving a return to gross sales development within the second quarter (the primary in additional than a yr). Administration additionally took steps to focus on the corporate’s resilient money circulate era, paying a $1.50 money dividend and distributing new 8% cumulative most popular securities to house owners as a part of a broader capital construction shuffle. We had been inspired by these bulletins and acquired extra shares of the frequent fairness, which additionally allowed us to obtain extra most popular shares. As buying and selling in the popular started, technical pressures led the shares to commerce at a big low cost to par, giving us one other alternative to additional construct our place at engaging costs. Within the days that adopted, the strain eased, and shares recovered to commerce at a modest low cost to par worth.”
9. The Allstate Company (NYSE: ALL)
Scion Asset Administration’s technique of shopping for The Allstate Company (NYSE: ALL) shares in the course of the third quarter and holding them for 2021 has additionally been shifting in the best path. It’s because shares of Allstate grew 16% within the final six months. As well as, the agency additionally returned hefty money to shareholders within the type of dividends. The corporate presently presents a dividend yield within the vary of three%.
Technology PMCA, an funding administration agency, has defined in a second-quarter investor’s letter why Allstate Company is an effective inventory to purchase. Here’s what Technology PMCA said:
“Allstate, the second-largest private auto and residential insurance coverage author within the U.S., ought to see earnings increase this yr, throughout a difficult interval when most corporations aren’t anticipated to ship year-over-year earnings development. Larger mortality charges from coronavirus are being offset by decrease mortality outdoors of virus-related deaths and expense management. In auto, the advantages of decrease miles pushed as a result of pandemic offset auto rebates. Traditionally, Allstate’s scale and conservative underwriting have translated to superior profitability metrics. The corporate is on tempo to realize a mid-teen return on fairness for ’21, effectively above friends. Nevertheless, with shares presently at 1.3x ebook worth, Allstate trades at a reduction to rivals. We imagine skepticism round latest acquisitions to diversify away from life and auto insurance coverage (e.g., determine theft and warranties) is the explanation for its discounted valuation. We count on the corporate to proceed to forged its web additional afield given the long-term menace of autonomous autos to its car franchise. We’re comfy with the technique, particularly since these acquisitions are immaterial. In the meantime, the corporate ought to proceed to put up peer-beating outcomes. Our FMV estimate is $120.”
8. Western Digital Company (NASDAQ: WDC)
Massive Brief’s Michael Burry is betting on Western Digital Company (NASDAQ: WDC) in 2021 and it seems that the wager has labored in favor of his hedge fund. Shares of Western Digital are up 22% to this point in 2021, extending the six-month positive factors to 60%. The agency has initiated a place in WDC in the course of the third quarter of 2020 and lowered its stake by 40% in This autumn to three.70% of the general 13F portfolio. WDC share worth rally is backed by enhancing demand for DRAM.
7. Uniti Group Inc. (NASDAQ: UNIT)
Michael Burry’s hedge fund has been holding a place in Uniti Group Inc. (NASDAQ: UNIT) because the second quarter of 2020. It’s the seventh-largest inventory holding of Scion Asset Administration, in response to the most recent filings. Shares of Uniti underperformed to this point in 2021 in comparison with the S&P 500 index however the inventory worth positive factors of 18% within the final six months topped the broader market index.
Uniti is an internally managed actual property funding belief. It’s engaged within the acquisition and development of mission-critical communications infrastructure, and likewise presents wi-fi infrastructure options for the communications trade.
6. RPT Realty (NYSE: RPT)
Massive Brief Michael Burry’s wager on RPT Realty (NYSE: RPT) additionally doesn’t go the improper means as a result of shares of RPT Realty rallied 27% yr up to now, enlarging six months positive factors to nearly 80%. Scion Asset Administration has initiated a place in RPT in the course of the third quarter and lowered its stake by 25% in the course of the fourth quarter. Regardless of that, RPT accounts for 3.85% of the general portfolio, in response to the most recent filings. RPT Realty owns and operates a nationwide portfolio of open-air buying locations principally situated in high U.S. markets.
Click on to proceed studying and see Michael Burry’s High 5 Inventory Picks.