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Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN): Among Top Stock Picks From Mark Cuban's Portfolio
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) stands against other top stock picks from Mark Cuban's portfolio. Mark Cuban is a well-known entrepreneur and television personality, recognized for his diverse business ventures and outspoken presence in the sports and entertainment industries. He was the principal owner of an NBA franchise, the Dallas Mavericks, of which he now serves as a minority owner. Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cuban showed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. At age 12, he sold garbage bags to afford a pair of expensive sneakers after which, at 16, he capitalized on a newspaper strike by transporting newspapers. Later, he enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, where he earned a degree in management in 1981. Cuban started his career at Mellon Bank, where he developed an interest in technology and networking. After being fired from his sales job in a software retailer, he founded MicroSolutions, a company specializing in system integration and software reselling. Under his leadership, the company flourished, generating over $30 million in revenue before Cuban sold it to CompuServe for $6 million in 1990, netting approximately $2 million after taxes. Cuban's success continued with Audionet, a company he co-founded in 1995 alongside Todd Wagner. Audionet evolved into growing rapidly and generating millions in revenue. In 1999, at the height of the dot-com boom, Yahoo! acquired for $5.7 billion in stock. Over the years, Mark Cuban has invested in various industries, including social software, networking, entertainment, sports, and cryptocurrency. He was an early investor in IceRocket, a blog search engine, and backed companies like RedSwoosh, Weblogs, Inc., and Goowy Media. In 2005, he experimented with a new business model for online journalism through and later launched for government oversight. Cuban also ventured into film distribution with Magnolia Pictures and invested in Motionloft, a storefront analytics company. His Shark Tank investments since 2011 total nearly $20 million, with mixed success. In 2022, he launched Cost Plus Drugs to lower prescription prices and disrupt the U.S. healthcare industry. His sports ventures include owning the Dallas Mavericks from 2000 until selling a majority stake in 2023. Cuban has also been active in cryptocurrency, accepting Dogecoin for Mavericks merchandise and tickets. Mark Cuban's investment philosophy is centered on discipline, frugality, and informed decision-making. He emphasizes 'living like a student' in the early years to build a financial cushion, saving at least six months' income before investing in low-cost index funds. Cuban strongly discourages credit card debt due to high interest rates, advocating for cash or debit card use instead. He also promotes strategic spending by negotiating prices and buying essentials in bulk when discounted. For more experienced investors, Cuban suggests deep expertise in a particular domain and holding cash until a unique opportunity arises, rather than following conventional buy-and-hold strategies. Ultimately, his approach prioritizes financial discipline, smart spending, and long-term investing for steady wealth growth. The outspoken tech mogul has a well-defined investment strategy focused on generating wealth through smart, long-term decisions. He favors dividend-paying stocks, referring to them as 'real-world value generators,' emphasizing their ability to provide steady income rather than relying solely on price appreciation. In the rapidly evolving AI sector, Cuban sees massive potential, believing that AI will be essential for every company's survival. Comparing AI investments to buying Apple stock in the 1980s, he considers them the future of passive wealth. As he puts it, 'Non-dividend stocks are basically baseball cards. But AI? That's a whole different game.' Cuban also acknowledges the high-risk, high-reward nature of cryptocurrency investments but warns investors to be cautious. He advises only investing in what one can afford to lose and focusing on cryptocurrencies with real-world applications. His stance is clear: 'If you're not a true adventurer, stay away.' For those seeking a more stable approach, he recommends the broader market, which has historically delivered reliable returns of around 10% annually. Additionally, his involvement with private companies through 'Shark Tank' highlights the potential of venture capital, though he recognizes that most investors may need to turn to crowdfunding or venture funds to access similar opportunities. The stocks listed below were picked from the public comments that Cuban has made on his investments. He has explicitly mentioned some of his private holdings during these public appearances while only alluding to others. However, based on a careful assessment of the comments, the stocks listed below largely align with his investment philosophy. The list is compiled in descending order of the number of hedge funds having stakes in each firm, which was derived using data from over 1,000 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in the fourth quarter of 2024. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). A customer entering an internet retail store, illustrating the convenience of online Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), a leader in e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence, has demonstrated extraordinary long-term growth, with its stock surging over 226,744% since its 1997 IPO. In Q4 2024, the company's operating income rose to $21.2 billion from $13.2 billion the previous year, while net income doubled to $20 billion. AWS, its cloud computing division, reported a 19% increase in quarterly revenue to $28.8 billion. For the full year, net sales grew 11% to $638 billion, with operating income nearly doubling to $68.6 billion and net income reaching $59.2 billion. Despite a 44% stock surge in 2024, outpacing the market's 23% gain, early 2025 has brought volatility due to conservative forward guidance. However, Amazon's financial strength, market dominance, and AI-driven innovations suggest strong long-term growth potential. On February 27, 2025, Amazon Web Services (AWS) introduced Ocelot, a groundbreaking quantum computing chip designed to lower the costs of quantum error correction by up to 90% compared to existing methods. Developed at the AWS Center for Quantum Computing at Caltech, Ocelot marks a major step toward fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of tackling complex commercial and scientific problems beyond the reach of conventional systems. The chip's architecture integrates error correction from the outset, utilizing 'cat qubits,' which inherently suppress certain types of errors, reducing the resources needed for error correction. For the first time, AWS researchers have successfully combined cat qubit technology with additional quantum error correction components on a scalable microchip, leveraging manufacturing techniques from the microelectronics industry. Mark Cuban has found remarkable success investing in Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), revealing in 2019 that he owned nearly $1 billion worth of the company's stock, purchased at a split-adjusted price between $25 and $35 per share. Insider Monkey's database indicated that 339 hedge funds out of the 1,009 hedge funds held stakes in Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) at the end of Q4 2024, with a value of over $69 billion, as opposed to 286 funds in Q3. Overall, AMZN ranks 1st on our list of top stock picks from Mark Cuban's portfolio. While we acknowledge the potential for AMZN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AMZN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta Platforms, Inc. (META): Among Top Stock Picks From Mark Cuban's Portfolio
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) stands against other top stock picks from Mark Cuban's portfolio. Mark Cuban is a well-known entrepreneur and television personality, recognized for his diverse business ventures and outspoken presence in the sports and entertainment industries. He was the principal owner of an NBA franchise, the Dallas Mavericks, of which he now serves as a minority owner. Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cuban showed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. At age 12, he sold garbage bags to afford a pair of expensive sneakers after which, at 16, he capitalized on a newspaper strike by transporting newspapers. Later, he enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, where he earned a degree in management in 1981. Cuban started his career at Mellon Bank, where he developed an interest in technology and networking. After being fired from his sales job in a software retailer, he founded MicroSolutions, a company specializing in system integration and software reselling. Under his leadership, the company flourished, generating over $30 million in revenue before Cuban sold it to CompuServe for $6 million in 1990, netting approximately $2 million after taxes. Cuban's success continued with Audionet, a company he co-founded in 1995 alongside Todd Wagner. Audionet evolved into growing rapidly and generating millions in revenue. In 1999, at the height of the dot-com boom, Yahoo! acquired for $5.7 billion in stock. Over the years, Mark Cuban has invested in various industries, including social software, networking, entertainment, sports, and cryptocurrency. He was an early investor in IceRocket, a blog search engine, and backed companies like RedSwoosh, Weblogs, Inc., and Goowy Media. In 2005, he experimented with a new business model for online journalism through and later launched for government oversight. Cuban also ventured into film distribution with Magnolia Pictures and invested in Motionloft, a storefront analytics company. His Shark Tank investments since 2011 total nearly $20 million, with mixed success. In 2022, he launched Cost Plus Drugs to lower prescription prices and disrupt the U.S. healthcare industry. His sports ventures include owning the Dallas Mavericks from 2000 until selling a majority stake in 2023. Cuban has also been active in cryptocurrency, accepting Dogecoin for Mavericks merchandise and tickets. Mark Cuban's investment philosophy is centered on discipline, frugality, and informed decision-making. He emphasizes 'living like a student' in the early years to build a financial cushion, saving at least six months' income before investing in low-cost index funds. Cuban strongly discourages credit card debt due to high interest rates, advocating for cash or debit card use instead. He also promotes strategic spending by negotiating prices and buying essentials in bulk when discounted. For more experienced investors, Cuban suggests deep expertise in a particular domain and holding cash until a unique opportunity arises, rather than following conventional buy-and-hold strategies. Ultimately, his approach prioritizes financial discipline, smart spending, and long-term investing for steady wealth growth. The outspoken tech mogul has a well-defined investment strategy focused on generating wealth through smart, long-term decisions. He favors dividend-paying stocks, referring to them as 'real-world value generators,' emphasizing their ability to provide steady income rather than relying solely on price appreciation. In the rapidly evolving AI sector, Cuban sees massive potential, believing that AI will be essential for every company's survival. Comparing AI investments to buying Apple stock in the 1980s, he considers them the future of passive wealth. As he puts it, 'Non-dividend stocks are basically baseball cards. But AI? That's a whole different game.' Cuban also acknowledges the high-risk, high-reward nature of cryptocurrency investments but warns investors to be cautious. He advises only investing in what one can afford to lose and focusing on cryptocurrencies with real-world applications. His stance is clear: 'If you're not a true adventurer, stay away.' For those seeking a more stable approach, he recommends the broader market, which has historically delivered reliable returns of around 10% annually. Additionally, his involvement with private companies through 'Shark Tank' highlights the potential of venture capital, though he recognizes that most investors may need to turn to crowdfunding or venture funds to access similar opportunities. The stocks listed below were picked from the public comments that Cuban has made on his investments. He has explicitly mentioned some of his private holdings during these public appearances while only alluding to others. However, based on a careful assessment of the comments, the stocks listed below largely align with his investment philosophy. The list is compiled in descending order of the number of hedge funds having stakes in each firm, which was derived using data from over 1,000 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in the fourth quarter of 2024. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Photo by Timothy Hales Bennett on UnsplashIn January 2025, business mogul Mark Cuban weighed in on Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)'s policy shift toward free speech, taking to Threads to emphasize the importance of returning to the company's 'roots around free expression.' Cuban also criticized Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and President-elect Donald Trump, warning that foreign governments might impose tariffs on the U.S. in response to the company rolling back censorship policies. His comments followed Zuckerberg's announcement that Meta would loosen content restrictions to embrace a more open platform. Zuckerberg stated that Meta would work with Trump's administration to resist international pressures for increased censorship, arguing that the U.S. has the strongest constitutional protections for free speech. Cuban's remarks highlight the ongoing debate over tech companies' role in content moderation, as well as the potential economic and political consequences of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)'s new direction. At the same time, the company's rapid advancements in AI and digital advertising have positioned the company for continued financial success, underscoring its ability to balance policy shifts with business growth. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)'s dominance in digital advertising is propelled by AI-driven innovations that contributed to a 22% revenue growth in 2024, double the industry's expansion rate. For Q4 2024, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) reported outstanding results, with revenue climbing 21% year-over-year to $48.4 billion, surpassing Wall Street's $47 billion estimate. Earnings per share (EPS) surged 50% to $8.02, exceeding projections of $6.76 and pushing Meta's stock up nearly 9%. The company's digital advertising sector remains its primary revenue driver, benefiting from advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools that optimize ad targeting and content recommendations. These AI-powered enhancements have strengthened the company's market position, enabling it to outperform competitors and attract increased advertising spending. Institutional confidence in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) has also surged, reflecting strong investor optimism about its long-term potential. Hedge fund interest also increased, with 262 funds holding stakes worth nearly $59.38 billion by Q4 2024, up from 235 in the prior quarter, as per Insider Monkey's database. With its strong financials, AI-driven expansion, and dominant position in digital advertising, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) remains among Mark Cuban's top stock picks. Overall, META ranks 2nd on our list of top stock picks from Mark Cuban's portfolio. While we acknowledge the potential for META as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than META but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alphabet Inc. (GOOG): Among Top Stock Picks From Mark Cuban's Portfolio
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) stands against other top stock picks from Mark Cuban's portfolio. Mark Cuban is a well-known entrepreneur and television personality, recognized for his diverse business ventures and outspoken presence in the sports and entertainment industries. He was the principal owner of an NBA franchise, the Dallas Mavericks, of which he now serves as a minority owner. Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cuban showed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. At age 12, he sold garbage bags to afford a pair of expensive sneakers after which, at 16, he capitalized on a newspaper strike by transporting newspapers. Later, he enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, where he earned a degree in management in 1981. Cuban started his career at Mellon Bank, where he developed an interest in technology and networking. After being fired from his sales job in a software retailer, he founded MicroSolutions, a company specializing in system integration and software reselling. Under his leadership, the company flourished, generating over $30 million in revenue before Cuban sold it to CompuServe for $6 million in 1990, netting approximately $2 million after taxes. Cuban's success continued with Audionet, a company he co-founded in 1995 alongside Todd Wagner. Audionet evolved into growing rapidly and generating millions in revenue. In 1999, at the height of the dot-com boom, Yahoo! acquired for $5.7 billion in stock. Over the years, Mark Cuban has invested in various industries, including social software, networking, entertainment, sports, and cryptocurrency. He was an early investor in IceRocket, a blog search engine, and backed companies like RedSwoosh, Weblogs, Inc., and Goowy Media. In 2005, he experimented with a new business model for online journalism through and later launched for government oversight. Cuban also ventured into film distribution with Magnolia Pictures and invested in Motionloft, a storefront analytics company. His Shark Tank investments since 2011 total nearly $20 million, with mixed success. In 2022, he launched Cost Plus Drugs to lower prescription prices and disrupt the U.S. healthcare industry. His sports ventures include owning the Dallas Mavericks from 2000 until selling a majority stake in 2023. Cuban has also been active in cryptocurrency, accepting Dogecoin for Mavericks merchandise and tickets. Mark Cuban's investment philosophy is centered on discipline, frugality, and informed decision-making. He emphasizes 'living like a student' in the early years to build a financial cushion, saving at least six months' income before investing in low-cost index funds. Cuban strongly discourages credit card debt due to high interest rates, advocating for cash or debit card use instead. He also promotes strategic spending by negotiating prices and buying essentials in bulk when discounted. For more experienced investors, Cuban suggests deep expertise in a particular domain and holding cash until a unique opportunity arises, rather than following conventional buy-and-hold strategies. Ultimately, his approach prioritizes financial discipline, smart spending, and long-term investing for steady wealth growth. The outspoken tech mogul has a well-defined investment strategy focused on generating wealth through smart, long-term decisions. He favors dividend-paying stocks, referring to them as 'real-world value generators,' emphasizing their ability to provide steady income rather than relying solely on price appreciation. In the rapidly evolving AI sector, Cuban sees massive potential, believing that AI will be essential for every company's survival. Comparing AI investments to buying Apple stock in the 1980s, he considers them the future of passive wealth. As he puts it, 'Non-dividend stocks are basically baseball cards. But AI? That's a whole different game.' Cuban also acknowledges the high-risk, high-reward nature of cryptocurrency investments but warns investors to be cautious. He advises only investing in what one can afford to lose and focusing on cryptocurrencies with real-world applications. His stance is clear: 'If you're not a true adventurer, stay away.' For those seeking a more stable approach, he recommends the broader market, which has historically delivered reliable returns of around 10% annually. Additionally, his involvement with private companies through 'Shark Tank' highlights the potential of venture capital, though he recognizes that most investors may need to turn to crowdfunding or venture funds to access similar opportunities. The stocks listed below were picked from the public comments that Cuban has made on his investments. He has explicitly mentioned some of his private holdings during these public appearances while only alluding to others. However, based on a careful assessment of the comments, the stocks listed below largely align with his investment philosophy. The list is compiled in descending order of the number of hedge funds having stakes in each firm, which was derived using data from over 1,000 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in the fourth quarter of 2024. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). A laptop and phone open to Google's services in an everyday October 2024, Mark Cuban praised Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)'s AI model, Gemini, emphasizing its ability to integrate seamlessly across Google Workspaces and continuously learn to improve efficiency. He stated, 'There are two kinds of companies: those that are great at AI and everybody else.' Cuban believes Gemini enhances productivity by saving employees time, improving work quality, and assisting businesses in areas like finance and marketing where they may lack expertise. He has also participated in Google events, such as the Gemini at Work event in New York City, further underscoring his support for the company. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) recently reported strong fourth-quarter earnings, posting earnings per share of $2.15 on revenue of $96.47 billion, surpassing analysts' estimates of $2.13 per share. This represents a significant increase from the previous year's Q4 earnings of $1.64 per share on $86.3 billion in revenue. CEO Sundar Pichai reaffirmed the company's commitment to innovation, announcing plans for approximately $75 billion in capital expenditures for 2025, with a primary focus on generative AI. As Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) continues to advance its AI capabilities, it sees artificial intelligence as a transformative opportunity to solidify its market leadership. Google Cloud, a key component of Alphabet's AI-driven strategy, posted a 30% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4 2024, reaching $11.9 billion. Alphabet's deep expertise in AI positions it as a formidable player in cloud computing, further strengthening its competitive edge in an evolving technological landscape. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) plays a key role in the AI arms race, offering its generative AI model, Gemini, which boasts a strong user base. Alphabet has seamlessly integrated it into Google Search, strengthening its core business. The company continues to invest heavily in AI to meet growing demand, but its stock recently experienced a selloff due to broader tech market weakness. This dip presents a potential buying opportunity, as Alphabet remains attractively valued at 19.5 times forward earnings. Given its AI-driven growth, investors may find this a strategic moment to capitalize on the company's long-term potential. The London Company Large Cap Strategy stated the following regarding Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) in its Q4 2024 investor letter: 'Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) – GOOG was a top performer this quarter reflecting strong results from its ad business, Cloud growth, and margin enhancements. Investors got some clarity on the antitrust lawsuits during the quarter, but potential outcomes from these cases remain uncertain. Margins in the core business continue to improve, and growth in the Cloud business accelerated. Management has executed its expense control plans and expanded margins through better product and process organization. GOOG has a solid balance sheet, significant market share, and generates strong returns on invested capital.' Overall, GOOG ranks 3rd on our list of top stock picks from Mark Cuban's portfolio. While we acknowledge the potential for GOOG as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GOOG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Philip Morris International Inc. (PM): Among Top Stock Picks From Mark Cuban's Portfolio
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) stands against other top stock picks from Mark Cuban's portfolio. Mark Cuban is a well-known entrepreneur and television personality, recognized for his diverse business ventures and outspoken presence in the sports and entertainment industries. He was the principal owner of an NBA franchise, the Dallas Mavericks, of which he now serves as a minority owner. Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cuban showed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. At age 12, he sold garbage bags to afford a pair of expensive sneakers after which, at 16, he capitalized on a newspaper strike by transporting newspapers. Later, he enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, where he earned a degree in management in 1981. Cuban started his career at Mellon Bank, where he developed an interest in technology and networking. After being fired from his sales job in a software retailer, he founded MicroSolutions, a company specializing in system integration and software reselling. Under his leadership, the company flourished, generating over $30 million in revenue before Cuban sold it to CompuServe for $6 million in 1990, netting approximately $2 million after taxes. Cuban's success continued with Audionet, a company he co-founded in 1995 alongside Todd Wagner. Audionet evolved into growing rapidly and generating millions in revenue. In 1999, at the height of the dot-com boom, Yahoo! acquired for $5.7 billion in stock. Over the years, Mark Cuban has invested in various industries, including social software, networking, entertainment, sports, and cryptocurrency. He was an early investor in IceRocket, a blog search engine, and backed companies like RedSwoosh, Weblogs, Inc., and Goowy Media. In 2005, he experimented with a new business model for online journalism through and later launched for government oversight. Cuban also ventured into film distribution with Magnolia Pictures and invested in Motionloft, a storefront analytics company. His Shark Tank investments since 2011 total nearly $20 million, with mixed success. In 2022, he launched Cost Plus Drugs to lower prescription prices and disrupt the U.S. healthcare industry. His sports ventures include owning the Dallas Mavericks from 2000 until selling a majority stake in 2023. Cuban has also been active in cryptocurrency, accepting Dogecoin for Mavericks merchandise and tickets. Mark Cuban's investment philosophy is centered on discipline, frugality, and informed decision-making. He emphasizes 'living like a student' in the early years to build a financial cushion, saving at least six months' income before investing in low-cost index funds. Cuban strongly discourages credit card debt due to high interest rates, advocating for cash or debit card use instead. He also promotes strategic spending by negotiating prices and buying essentials in bulk when discounted. For more experienced investors, Cuban suggests deep expertise in a particular domain and holding cash until a unique opportunity arises, rather than following conventional buy-and-hold strategies. Ultimately, his approach prioritizes financial discipline, smart spending, and long-term investing for steady wealth growth. The outspoken tech mogul has a well-defined investment strategy focused on generating wealth through smart, long-term decisions. He favors dividend-paying stocks, referring to them as 'real-world value generators,' emphasizing their ability to provide steady income rather than relying solely on price appreciation. In the rapidly evolving AI sector, Cuban sees massive potential, believing that AI will be essential for every company's survival. Comparing AI investments to buying Apple stock in the 1980s, he considers them the future of passive wealth. As he puts it, 'Non-dividend stocks are basically baseball cards. But AI? That's a whole different game.' Cuban also acknowledges the high-risk, high-reward nature of cryptocurrency investments but warns investors to be cautious. He advises only investing in what one can afford to lose and focusing on cryptocurrencies with real-world applications. His stance is clear: 'If you're not a true adventurer, stay away.' For those seeking a more stable approach, he recommends the broader market, which has historically delivered reliable returns of around 10% annually. Additionally, his involvement with private companies through 'Shark Tank' highlights the potential of venture capital, though he recognizes that most investors may need to turn to crowdfunding or venture funds to access similar opportunities. The stocks listed below were picked from the public comments that Cuban has made on his investments. He has explicitly mentioned some of his private holdings during these public appearances while only alluding to others. However, based on a careful assessment of the comments, the stocks listed below largely align with his investment philosophy. The list is compiled in descending order of the number of hedge funds having stakes in each firm, which was derived using data from over 1,000 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in the fourth quarter of 2024. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). A man exhaling smoke from a cigarette indicating the use of tobacco Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM), a global tobacco company, reported strong financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024. The company generated $9.7 billion in revenue, reflecting a 7.3% increase from the prior year. Operating income also saw substantial growth, rising 14.8% year-over-year to $3.3 billion. A key driver of this performance was the company's continued expansion into smoke-free alternatives, with shipments of heated tobacco units (HTU) and oral nicotine products surpassing 40 billion units in a single quarter for the first time. Looking ahead, Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) expects adjusted annual earnings per share to range between $7.04 and $7.17, exceeding analysts' expectations of $7.03. The company also projects a notable increase in ZYN shipments to the U.S., its largest market, with an estimated growth of 34% to 41%. IQOS shipments are also expected to rise by 10% to 12%. Analysts highlighted that PMI's forecasts for profits, sales volume, and revenue were stronger than anticipated, boosting investor confidence. Historically, Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) has been conservative in its early-year projections, leading to speculation that upward revisions may follow, further strengthening its stock performance. Although Mark Cuban is not known for investing in Philip Morris, his preference for dividend-paying stocks, which he refers to as 'real-world value generators,' aligns with the company's strong dividend performance. Philip Morris remains a top choice for dividend investors, offering a quarterly payout of $1.35 per share. As of March 6, 2025, the stock carried a dividend yield of 3.58%, making it a potential candidate for investors following Cuban's philosophy. With 15 consecutive years of dividend increases, Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) has established itself as one of the most reliable dividend-paying stocks. This consistency in returns makes it particularly attractive for long-term investors seeking stable income. Therefore, those looking for a stable income-generating investment may find PM an appealing option. Overall, PM ranks 7th on our list of top stock picks from Mark Cuban's portfolio. While we acknowledge the potential for PM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than PM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
