Hedge Fund Shake-Up: Tiger, Appaloosa, Soros Outperform Buffett, Icahn, Ackman

Wall Street's most elite hedge funds had a clear pecking order in the fourth quarter of 2024, and it wasn't the usual suspects leading the pack.

Tiger Global Management LLC, Appaloosa LP, and Soros Fund Management LLC pulled ahead, outpacing investing legends like Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. BRK BRK, Dan Loeb's Third Point LLC, Carl Icahn, and Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management LP.

The Hedge Fund Olympics: Q4's Podium Finishers

According to WhaleWisdom data, Chase Coleman's Tiger Global roared with a 13.10% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) gain, flexing its dominance with high-conviction tech bets like Meta Platforms Inc META.

Not far behind, David Tepper's Appaloosa returned 7.83%, thanks to an opportunistic approach that saw Alibaba Group Holding Ltd BABA BABAF as a core holding.

Read Also: David Tepper, Rausing Family Boost Nvidia Holdings Ahead Of Stock Volatility

Meanwhile, George Soros' fund, better known for geopolitical plays than pure stock picking, still managed an impressive 7.79%.

In contrast, long-established investment firms saw more modest gains. Berkshire Hathaway, known for Buffett's long-term value approach, lagged at 6.29%, despite Apple Inc. AAPL making up a significant portion of its holdings.

Loeb's Third Point edged up 5.46%, while Icahn—typically strong in volatile markets—managed 2.01%. As for Ackman's Pershing Square? Just 0.28%.

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Old School Value Investing Meets Hedge Fund Hustle

The shift in hedge fund dominance underscores a broader trend: High-speed, tactical investing is outpacing the traditional buy-and-hold strategy. Tiger Global's aggressive tech positioning, Appaloosa's contrarian bets, and Soros' nimble rotations all outshined Berkshire's methodical approach.

While Buffett and his cohort remain revered, the fourth quarter was a reminder that adaptability wins the day. If this trend holds, the next 13F season could see the hedge fund world's power dynamics shifting even further.

For now, it's Tiger, Appaloosa, and Soros basking in the spotlight.

Read Next:

• 5 Top Tech Stocks Hedge Funds Have Been Bullish On In Q4 (Hint: It’s Not Nvidia)

Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.