(Bloomberg) — Billionaire investor David Tepper capitalized on faltering Chinese stocks last quarter while trimming his stakes in high-flying U.S. technology companies, leading hedge fund managers who are slowly warming to China amid a record gap in valuations between the two markets.
Most read from Bloomberg
Tepper's Appaloosa Management doubled its investment in Alibaba Group Holdings in the first three months of the year, making the Chinese e-commerce giant the largest position in its $6.7 billion stock portfolio, according to a regulatory filing. The fund also raised its stakes in PDD Holdings and Baidu Inc., while adding JD.com and two Chinese exchange-traded funds as new purchases during the quarter.
As Tepper built his positions in Chinese stocks, he trimmed his holdings in so-called Magnificent Seven stocks, including Amazon.com and Microsoft Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. And Nvidia Corp. The result: Chinese stocks and ETFs accounted for 24% of total Chinese stocks. The fund's stock portfolio as of the end of the quarter.
Tepper is among global investors who are cautiously returning to Chinese stocks after the collapse earlier this year sent their valuations down to a record low compared to their U.S. counterparts. As a group, hedge funds raised their holdings in Alibaba, PDD and Baidu during the quarter, while trimming companies including JD.com and two e-car makers – Nio Inc. and Li Auto, according to quarterly filing data.
Their purchases were well timed. China's MSCI index has risen nearly 30% since its January low, as state-backed funds stepped in to support the market and Beijing's economic stimulus began to gain momentum.
Even after the rebound, the Chinese index is still trading at less than half the valuation of the Standard & Poor's 500, which set a new record this week. As of mid-April, net hedge fund allocations to China rose slightly above five-year lows, according to Goldman Sachs Group.
Michael Burry boosts bets on China's big tech companies as stocks rebound
Druckenmiller and Tepper Cash Out earn the “Magnificent Seven” jump.
JD's sales accelerated after dangling concessions to lure shoppers in China
Among China's bargain hunters, few hedge fund managers have been more aggressive than Tepper. The value of his investment in Alibaba amounted to more than $800 million at the end of March, or 12% of his shares, making him among the largest investors in the company. Appaloosa was also among the largest hedge fund investors in the $5.2 billion iShares China Large-cap ETF (FXI) and the $6.4 billion KraneShares CSI China Internet Fund (KWEB).
Tepper did not immediately respond to an email from Bloomberg News seeking comment.
Chinese tech giants reported mixed earnings this week. While JD.com reported better-than-expected revenue increases and Tencent Holdings Ltd.'s net income rose, Alibaba and Baidu reported lackluster results.
Tepper, who founded Appaloosa Management in 1993, is worth about $20 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
–With assistance from Amy Lee and Amanda Cantrell.
Most read from Bloomberg Businessweek
©2024 Bloomberg L.P
