Core Viewpoint - David Tepper's Appaloosa fund significantly increased its exposure to artificial intelligence (AI) stocks during Q3 2025, particularly through substantial investments in Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Baidu, and Qualcomm [2][16]. Group 1: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) - Appaloosa's largest new position in Q3 was a stake in AMD, with the fund purchasing 950,000 shares valued at $153.7 million [3]. - AMD aims to close the gap with its main competitor, Nvidia, and Tepper's investment in AMD was notably larger than the 8.6% increase in Appaloosa's position in Nvidia [4]. - Since the end of Q3, AMD's share price has surged nearly 70%, attributed to the company's recent business advancements, including a strategic partnership with OpenAI and a goal for a revenue compound annual growth rate exceeding 35% [6][7]. Group 2: Baidu - Tepper increased Appaloosa's stake in Baidu by 67.2% in Q3, indicating a bullish outlook on the Chinese tech stock [8]. - Baidu, often referred to as the "Google of China," operates a leading search engine and provides cloud services and autonomous ride-hailing [9]. - Baidu's stock has risen over 30% since the end of Q3, and it remains attractively valued with a forward price-to-earnings ratio below 16 [11]. Group 3: Qualcomm - Appaloosa significantly increased its position in Qualcomm by 255.7% during Q3 [12]. - Qualcomm generates over 60% of its revenue from phone chips, with Apple as its largest customer, but is also experiencing growth in automotive and IoT sectors [12]. - Qualcomm's stock has seen only a low single-digit percentage increase since the end of Q3, but the company's entry into data center and robotics markets, along with new AI accelerators, could yield long-term benefits [14][15].

Market Overview - US stock futures showed little change before the opening bell on September 25, as investors awaited jobless claims data to assess the Federal Reserve's next interest rate move [1][10] - Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average hovered just below flat, while S&P 500 contracts slipped 0.2% and Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 0.3%, extending pressure after major indexes closed lower for two consecutive days [2][11] Economic Indicators - The focus is on weekly jobless claims, which are a key signal of labor market health and have been flagged as a concern by Fed officials [4][6] - Investors are also looking at second-quarter GDP, personal consumption, and existing home sales ahead of the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures index, expected to show easing price pressures [7][11] Corporate Developments - Costco is set to report quarterly earnings, with analysts anticipating higher sales as consumers seek bargains in an uncertain economy [7][13] - Intel shares rose over 3% in premarket trading due to reports of potential investment talks with Apple, with Intel's stock closing at $31.22 and rising to $31.70 in early trade [12] - Hertz's stock increased by 4% after announcing a $250 million exchangeable senior notes offering [12] - Qualcomm's stock slipped 1% following the launch of new chips for PCs and phones [12] - CarMax's stock dropped 12% in premarket trading after its quarterly results missed Wall Street estimates [12] - Oracle received a downgrade from Redburn analyst Alex Haissl, who set a $175 price target, implying a 42% downside, suggesting it may be time for investors to take profits [9][13]

Core Insights - Qualcomm is undergoing a structural transformation, positioning itself as a foundational pillar of AI-native infrastructure, rather than just a cyclical phone chip vendor [1] Company Analysis - Leadership & Management: Qualcomm demonstrates a proven track record in scaling businesses, smart capital allocation, and insider ownership, alongside consistent revenue growth and credible guidance [1] - Financial Health: The company exhibits sustainable revenue growth with efficient cash flow, a strong balance sheet, and a long-term survival runway, while avoiding excessive dilution and financial weakness [1] Market Positioning - Competitive Positioning: Qualcomm benefits from a strong technology moat and first-mover advantage, with network effects driving exponential growth and market penetration in high-growth industries [1] Investment Methodology - Valuation: The company is analyzed through revenue multiples compared to peers and DCF modeling, ensuring downside protection with significant upside potential [1] - Portfolio Construction: Qualcomm's investment strategy includes core positions (50-70%) in high-confidence, stable plays, growth bets (20-40%) in high-risk, high-reward opportunities, and speculative investments (5-10%) in moonshot disruptors with massive potential [1]