David Tepper - Appaloosa Management Portfolio

David Tepper - Appaloosa Management Q4 2024 Portfolio

Appaloosa Management, a hedge fund managed by David Tepper, disclosed 37 security holdings in their SEC 13F filing for the fourth quarter of 2024, with a total portfolio value of $6,463,902,000

David Tepper’s Appaloosa Management – Q4 2024 Top 10 Portfolio Holdings Analysis

Below is an updated snapshot of Appaloosa Management’s top 10 holdings under David Tepper for the fourth quarter of 2024. The data reflects notable moves in both Chinese and U.S. tech names, along with a strategic bet on power generation and Chinese markets.


1. Alibaba Group Holdings (BABA)

  • Portfolio Allocation: 15.54%
  • Recent Activity: Added 18.43%
  • Shares Held: 11,843,158
  • Reported Price: $84.79
  • Value at Reported Price: $1,004,181,000

Alibaba remains the portfolio’s largest holding, with a substantial addition this quarter. As a leader in Chinese e-commerce and cloud services, Alibaba’s expansion underscores Tepper’s conviction in China’s consumer market and the long-term prospects of its tech sector.


2. Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN)

  • Portfolio Allocation: 8.82%
  • Recent Activity: Reduced 18.75%
  • Shares Held: 2,600,000
  • Reported Price: $219.39
  • Value at Reported Price: $570,414,000

Amazon, a mainstay in U.S. e-commerce and cloud computing, saw a notable reduction. While still a significant holding, the trim may reflect profit-taking or a shift in capital toward other opportunities. Amazon’s position remains central to Tepper’s tech exposure, given its global leadership in online retail and AWS.


3. Pinduoduo Inc. (PDD)

  • Portfolio Allocation: 8.04%
  • Recent Activity: Added 1.04%
  • Shares Held: 5,356,132
  • Reported Price: $96.99
  • Value at Reported Price: $519,491,000

Pinduoduo, another major Chinese e-commerce player, saw a modest increase in shares. Known for its innovative social commerce model, PDD continues to benefit from China’s expanding digital retail landscape. The addition suggests Tepper remains bullish on China’s consumer sector despite potential market volatility.


4. Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)

  • Portfolio Allocation: 6.33%
  • Recent Activity: No change reported
  • Shares Held: 970,000
  • Reported Price: $421.50
  • Value at Reported Price: $408,855,000

Microsoft’s stake remains steady this quarter. A core holding for Appaloosa, Microsoft’s diversified revenue streams—spanning cloud computing (Azure), enterprise software, and AI—offer stable growth. This unchanged position indicates continued confidence in Microsoft’s leadership within the tech space.


5. Vistra Corp. (VST)

  • Portfolio Allocation: 5.76%
  • Recent Activity: Added 112.53%
  • Shares Held: 2,700,000
  • Reported Price: $137.87
  • Value at Reported Price: $372,249,000

Vistra, an integrated power generation and retail electricity provider, saw a substantial increase. This move reflects Tepper’s interest in the energy and utilities space, potentially aiming to capitalize on stable cash flows and the ongoing demand for reliable power solutions.


6. JD.com Inc. (JD)

  • Portfolio Allocation: 5.61%
  • Recent Activity: Added 43.37%
  • Shares Held: 10,465,885
  • Reported Price: $34.67
  • Value at Reported Price: $362,852,000

JD.com is yet another major Chinese e-commerce stake that Appaloosa boosted significantly. JD’s extensive logistics network and trusted consumer brand position it as a key beneficiary of rising online consumption in China. The addition underscores Tepper’s broader thesis on China’s tech-driven consumer growth.


7. Alphabet Inc. CL C (GOOG)

  • Portfolio Allocation: 5.54%
  • Recent Activity: Reduced 0.00% (No material change)
  • Shares Held: 1,881,963
  • Reported Price: $190.44
  • Value at Reported Price: $358,401,000

Alphabet, parent of Google and YouTube, remains a cornerstone in digital advertising, cloud computing, and AI research. The minimal change in shares indicates Tepper’s continued confidence in Alphabet’s diverse revenue streams and market dominance, while possibly fine-tuning exposure elsewhere.


8. Meta Platforms Inc. (META)

  • Portfolio Allocation: 4.44%
  • Recent Activity: Reduced 21.60%
  • Shares Held: 490,000
  • Reported Price: $585.51
  • Value at Reported Price: $286,900,000

Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) saw a notable cut. Despite this reduction, Meta remains an important holding, reflecting Tepper’s ongoing belief in social media, digital advertising, and the company’s pivot into virtual reality. The trim may reflect profit-taking following Meta’s strong performance or caution regarding its valuations.


9. Oracle Corp. (ORCL)

  • Portfolio Allocation: 3.61%
  • Recent Activity: Reduced 11.02%
  • Shares Held: 1,400,000
  • Reported Price: $166.64
  • Value at Reported Price: $233,296,000

Oracle, a leader in enterprise software and cloud solutions, experienced a moderate reduction. Though still a key tech holding, the cut could indicate Tepper’s desire to rebalance within the broader tech sector. Oracle’s consistent performance in database management and cloud services continues to attract investor interest.


10. iShares China Large Cap ETF (FXI)

  • Portfolio Allocation: 3.13%
  • Recent Activity: Added 13.75%
  • Shares Held: 6,637,128
  • Reported Price: $30.44
  • Value at Reported Price: $202,034,000

Appaloosa’s increased position in FXI, an ETF tracking large-cap Chinese equities, underscores Tepper’s broad bullishness on China’s market. By diversifying into an ETF, he gains exposure to various leading Chinese companies beyond individual e-commerce or tech names, hedging some of the single-stock risk.


Analysis of David Tepper’s Q4 2024 Portfolio Strategy

1.  Reinforced Bet on Chinese Markets
Alibaba, Pinduoduo, JD.com, and the iShares China Large Cap ETF collectively highlight Tepper’s conviction in China’s consumer and tech sectors. Substantial increases in Vistra (U.S. energy) also indicate a preference for stable, potentially undervalued plays.

2.  Selective Reductions in U.S. Tech
Amazon, Meta, and Oracle all saw meaningful cuts, suggesting Tepper is locking in gains or moderating exposure to higher-valuation segments. Microsoft and Alphabet remain core holdings, signaling continued faith in established U.S. tech leaders.

3.  Balancing Growth with Defensive Plays
The jump in Vistra, a utility-like energy provider, points to a desire for more predictable cash flows alongside higher-growth e-commerce and cloud companies. This dual approach aims to cushion volatility while maintaining upside potential.


Conclusion

David Tepper’s Q4 2024 portfolio underscores a strong focus on Chinese e-commerce (Alibaba, Pinduoduo, JD.com) and a balanced approach in U.S. tech, with selective trimming of high-valuation names (Amazon, Meta, Oracle) and stability-oriented additions like Vistra. Overall, Appaloosa Management’s moves reflect Tepper’s strategy of capturing growth in rapidly expanding markets while rebalancing risk across more defensive holdings and broad-based exposure to China’s equity landscape.


Disclaimer:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Investing involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should conduct their own research or consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.

 

Who is David Tepper ?

1957:

·      David Alan Tepper is born on September 11 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1978:

·      Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Pittsburgh.

1980:

·      Begins working for Equibank as a credit analyst in the treasury department.

1982:

·      Earns an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.

1984:

·      Joins Keystone Mutual Funds in Boston.

1985:

·      Is recruited by Goldman Sachs to work as a credit analyst in its high yield group in New York City, and within six months becomes head trader.

1992:

·      Leaves Goldman Sachs after being passed over for partner and starts trading his personal account.

1993:

·      Founds Appaloosa Management.

2001:

·      Generates a 61% return by focusing on distressed bonds.

2009:

·      Earns about $7 billion for his hedge fund by buying distressed financial stocks, with $4 billion going to his personal wealth, making him the top-earning hedge fund manager of the year.

2011:

·      Awarded Institutional Hedge Fund Firm of the Year in June.

2013:

·      Donates $67 million to Carnegie Mellon University, leading to the business school being named the Tepper School of Business. Forbes ranks him as the top hedge fund earner of 2012.

2016:

·      Divorces Marlene Tepper.

2018:

·      Purchases the Carolina Panthers for $2.2 billion in May, becoming the owner. Praises President Trump’s corporate tax cuts in January. Awarded an honorary doctorate degree and serves as the keynote speaker at Carnegie Mellon University’s 121st Commencement.

2019:

·      Marries Nicole Bronish.

2020:

·      Donates $2.65 million through the David A. Tepper Foundation to help Chicago with the coronavirus pandemic. His cumulative donations toward COVID-19 relief efforts exceed $22 million in April. Returns a portion of his portfolio to Alibaba and Amazon, making them the largest parts at 13% and 11%, respectively.

2021:

·      Announces a $1 million donation to the Hurricane Ida relief effort through the Nicole & David Tepper Foundation and the David A. Tepper Charitable Foundation in September.

2023:

·      Fined $300,000 by the NFL for throwing a drink at a fan during the Panthers’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 31.

David Tepper's Investing Principles

I think when it comes to decisions, I try not to be emotional. To drown out the noise and look at the important facts.

David Tepper

There is a time to make money and a time to not lose money

David Tepper

This company looks cheap, that company looks cheap, but the overall economy could completely screw it up. The key is to wait. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to do nothing.

David Tepper

We keep our cool when others don’t. The point is, markets adapt. People adapt. Don’t listen to all the crap out there.

David Tepper

We don’t really buy high-flyers. We buy before they get high-flyers.

David Tepper

Those who keep their heads while others are panicking do well.

David Tepper

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