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Billionaires From Warren Buffett to David Tepper and Michael Platt Are Piling Into This Dirt-Cheap Stock. Is It a Once-in-a-Decade Buying Opportunity?
The Motley Foolยท 2025-09-21 22:15
Core Viewpoint - The recent interest from several billionaires in UnitedHealth Group suggests a potential recovery opportunity for investors, as the stock appears undervalued despite recent challenges [3][4][11]. Group 1: Investor Activity - Warren Buffett opened a position in UnitedHealth, purchasing 5,039,564 shares, which constitutes 0.6% of Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio [6]. - David Tepper increased his stake in UnitedHealth by 1,300%, now owning 2,450,000 shares, representing over 11% of his portfolio [6]. - Michael Platt acquired 137,591 shares, making up 1.6% of his portfolio, while Michael Burry bought 20,000 shares and 350,000 call options, which account for over 19% of his portfolio [12]. Group 2: Company Challenges - UnitedHealth has faced significant challenges, including a Department of Justice investigation into its Medicare business and higher-than-expected healthcare costs, leading to a disappointing quarterly performance [7]. - The stock has declined more than 40% over the past year, reflecting investor concerns about its current situation [7]. Group 3: Competitive Advantage - UnitedHealth is the largest health insurer in the U.S., with a strong competitive advantage due to its market leadership and the operation of its services unit, Optum [8]. - This competitive moat makes it difficult for competitors to gain market share quickly [8]. Group 4: Recovery Potential - UnitedHealth is actively addressing its challenges by cutting costly plans and utilizing AI to streamline operations, indicating a potential for gradual recovery in earnings [9]. - The company's CEO expressed confidence in resolving current issues and regaining earnings growth potential [10]. Group 5: Valuation - The stock is currently trading at a trailing 12-month P/E ratio of about 14, which is near its lowest in five years, suggesting it may be undervalued given the company's market dominance and recovery focus [11].