Billionaire Bill Ackman goes bargain hunting: 2 stocks he bought for his FTSE 100-listed fund

The renowned hedge fund manager behind this FTSE 100 trust has been scooping up these two stocks during the second quarter.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Bill Ackman is one of the sharpest investors on Wall Street, with a stellar track record of market-beating returns. The good news is that investors can put their money behind him through FTSE 100-listed Pershing Square Holdings (LSE: PSH).

This investment trust essentially serves as a vehicle for Pershing Square Capital Management, the hedge fund managed by the billionaire investor. The shares are up 139% in five years.

Typically, Ackman scoops up shares of industry-leading firms when they’ve hit a rocky patch. For example, he acquired a significant stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill in 2016 after food safety issues sparked a massive slump in the restaurant group’s share price.

He repeated the trick last year with Google parent Alphabet after a ChatGPT-triggered sell-off. Both positions have roughly doubled the S&P 500‘s gains since he first bought shares.

Interestingly, he slashed those holdings in the second quarter. But perhaps more eye-raising was the two stocks he bought, as this strongly suggests he thought they were on sale.

A new pair

The first stock Ackman snapped up was Brookfield Corporation. He bought just over 6.8m shares of the global asset manager for a value of $285m. This made it 2.7% of the overall portfolio.

The second stock was more interesting to me as this is one that I sold earlier this year! That’s sportswear giant Nike (NYSE: NKE). Ackman acquired just over 3m shares worth $229m, making it 2.2% of assets.

Back in June, the Nike share price cratered 20% in a single day, marking its worst ever session in its 44 years on the stock market. Thankfully, I got out before then.

The company’s growth has stalled recently as cash-strapped consumers avoid discretionary purchases on things like branded sportswear. In FY24 (which ended on 31 May for Nike), the company’s year-on-year revenue was flat at $51.4bn.

Created at TradingView

This year (FY25) however, management expects revenue to be down by mid-single digits, worse than the drop pencilled in by Wall Street. This helps explains the huge decline in the share price (23% year to date).

Previous history with the firm

What might Ackman see here? Well, we know that he favours established firms that generate consistent profits. And despite its challenges, Nike’s net profit actually grew 12% last year as it reduced overheads.

Created at TradingView

Moreover, the last time Pershing Square invested in the firm back in 2017, it made a $100m profit. So he already knows the business inside out.

Happy shareholder

The stock’s trading at a multi-year low of 22 times earnings, making it a potential bargain. Yet I’m worried about increasing competition from the likes of Hoka and On Running. It’s also facing intense competition in China from domestic sportswear brands like Li-Ning.

However, as a shareholder in Pershing Square Holdings, I’m happy to let Ackman crack on and try extract market-beating gains from Nike stock.

As mentioned, his performance has been excellent. In the five years to June, the hedge fund roughly doubled the returns of the S&P 500.

I don’t expect that run to continue forever and there’s a risk the portfolio could decline in value if the US enters a recession. But long term, I’m expecting good things from this FTSE 100 stock.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Ben McPoland has positions in Pershing Square. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Alphabet and Nike. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Mindful young woman breathing out with closed eyes, calming down in stressful situation, working on computer in modern kitchen.
Investing Articles

Stock market meltdown? I’m following Warren Buffett’s golden rule

When there's massive stock market volatility, it's always worth remembering what's arguably Warren Buffett's most famous piece of advice.

Read more »

Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

Should I start considering US stocks as a second income opportunity?

As tariff fears hit the S&P 500, should Stephen Wright be looking across the Atlantic for the best shares to…

Read more »

Young Black woman looking concerned while in front of her laptop
Investing Articles

2 top exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to consider as stock markets dive

A lump sum investment in these rock-solid funds could help investors weather the current storm on global stock markets.

Read more »

Young Black woman looking concerned while in front of her laptop
Investing Articles

This recovering FTSE 100 dividend share has a 9.5% yield!

M&G is a struggling UK dividend share that's begun to show signs of a moderate recovery this year. But is…

Read more »

Middle-aged white man pulling an aggrieved face while looking at a screen
Investing Articles

Here’s what £10,000 invested in Tesla shares yesterday is worth today

Harvey Jones says plunging Tesla shares are either a magnificent buying opportunity or a terrifying gamble. As ever with Elon…

Read more »

Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

Down 25% in a week! Is this beaten-down FTSE growth stock suddenly an unmissable buy to consider?

The Melrose share price caught the attention of Harvey Jones following a torrid week. Is this his chance to buy…

Read more »

Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in Scottish Mortgage shares 2 years ago is now worth…

Scottish Mortgage shares have rebounded from their post-pandemic lows. Dr James Fox explains what’s behind the surge and where they…

Read more »

Investing Articles

As US stocks plummet amid Trumpian uncertainty, these could be standout investment opportunities to consider

US stocks, notably growth-oriented companies and consumer discretionary businesses, have slumped as Trump keeps the market guessing.

Read more »