After Nearly Dumping His Entire Portfolio, "The Big Short's" Michael Burry Just Bought 2 Abandoned Stocks Down at Least 40% This Year

分组1: Michael Burry and Scion Asset Management - Michael Burry gained recognition for betting against the housing market before the Great Recession, purchasing credit default swaps on mortgage bonds that paid out significantly [1] - In early 2023, Scion Asset Management sold nearly its entire portfolio and bought put options on large tech and AI stocks like Nvidia, which proved to be a timely decision as the stock market faced a downturn [2] - Scion's Q2 13F filing indicated a shift in strategy, with Burry becoming a significant buyer of stocks that had declined at least 40% this year [3] 分组2: UnitedHealth - UnitedHealth, the largest healthcare insurer in the U.S., has faced a challenging year, with its stock down nearly 41% as of August 20, primarily due to underestimated medical costs projected to be $6.5 billion higher than expected for 2025 [5][6] - The company revised its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) guidance for 2025 down to $16 from an initial estimate of $29.50 to $30 [6] - Despite challenges, hedge funds including Scion purchased shares in Q2, with Burry acquiring about 20,000 shares and 350,000 shares through long call options [7] - UnitedHealth maintains significant pricing power and generated enough earnings to manage debt payments, with a free cash flow yield over 9% and a dividend yield close to 3% [8] 分组3: Lululemon - Lululemon's stock has declined nearly 47% this year due to rising competition, tariffs, cautious consumer spending, and a slowdown in the exercise market post-COVID-19 [9] - Despite the stock's decline, Burry and Scion purchased 50,000 shares in Q2 and a total of 400,000 shares through long call options [10] - Lululemon reported EPS and revenue exceeding Wall Street estimates in its first fiscal quarter of 2025, but management lowered its full-year EPS guidance to $14.58 to $14.78 from $14.95 to $15.15 [11] - The company has a strong financial position with $1.3 billion in cash and no debt, and plans modest price increases to address tariff impacts, suggesting potential long-term opportunities despite near-term challenges [11]