As markets continue to rotate away from crowded themes, several well-known investors are taking sharply different paths in how they deploy capital.
Michael Burry has leaned into a contrarian position in a defensive, overlooked corner of the market, while Cathie Wood has added exposure across innovation-driven themes tied to long term technological change.
Together, their recent moves offer a useful snapshot of how experienced investors are positioning for asymmetric outcomes in an uncertain macro environment.
Michael Burry Bets on 1 Stock Trading at a Discount
Investor Michael Burry has recently reaffirmed his positive view on , calling it one of his key bullish positions. He has positioned Molina as a balance to his negative view on Palantir Technologies, especially as enthusiasm around artificial intelligence remains high.
Burry has drawn parallels between Molina and GEICO in its early years, the insurance business that Warren Buffett later turned into a long-term success. His view is that Molina operates in a focused and underappreciated segment, much like Geico once did with affordable insurance aimed at specific customer groups.
Founded in 1980, Molina Healthcare concentrates on government-backed programs in the US, serving low-income individuals, families, and seniors. Burry began building his stake in the company in the second quarter of 2024 and added to it during 2025. He now owns roughly 125,000 shares, a position disclosed through regulatory filings and his public comments.
Burry believes Molina occupies a resilient niche that the broader market often overlooks. He expects the company to remain profitable in Medicaid through 2026, even as several competitors struggle in the same space. From his perspective, the sharp share price decline in 2025 created an appealing entry point, allowing him to buy what he sees as a fundamentally undervalued business.
Here are the key reasons investors see value in the stock:
- Strong position in government healthcare programs: Molina Healthcare focuses mainly on Medicaid and Medicare, which are state-backed programs serving millions of people across the US. This creates a steady revenue stream that tends to hold up across economic cycles.
- Solid cash position: The company holds a healthy level of cash on its balance sheet. This gives it flexibility to manage costs, invest in operations, and navigate periods of pressure without heavy reliance on borrowing.
- Potential takeover appeal: If the share price stays weak, Molina could attract interest from a larger healthcare or insurance group looking to expand its presence in government-funded programs.
- Support from large institutions: Major institutions continue to back the stock. Mizuho Financial Group sees fair value near $220, while Wells Fargo places it around $208.
- Valuation looks compelling: Shares trade well below the company’s estimated fundamental value of $263.70. At Tuesday’s close, the stock stood about 38% below that level, suggesting meaningful upside if fundamentals hold.
Source: InvestingPro
In summary, Michael Burry believes the market reaction has been too harsh. He argues that Molina Healthcare is financially stronger than widely assumed and that its heavy exposure to Medicaid could drive solid returns as conditions in the sector improve. In his view, the stock reflects the kind of long-term opportunity seen in past successes such as GEICO, where patient investors were rewarded over time.
3 Stocks Cathie Wood Just Bought
Cathie Wood has bought three investments. Let’s take a look at these bets:
1.
On January 8, Wood acquired 31,573 shares of ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:ARKW), valued at approximately $10.5 million.
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ARKW is at the center of demand for custom chips, with AI revenues growing and contracts with major tech players.
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The company generates free cash flow and maintains high operating margins, giving it the ability to finance growth and return value to shareholders.
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It pays consistent dividends that have increased over time, attracting passive income investors.
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The acquisition of VMware gives Broadcom a software business with recurring and stable revenues, reducing its exclusive exposure to hardware volatility.
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The market consensus gives it a target price of $455.
2.
Wood purchased 162,270 shares of ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF (NYSE:ARKX).
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A pioneer in a large emerging market. It is one of the first players and could lead a trillion-dollar urban air mobility market in the long term.
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The company has achieved important milestones, such as delivering its first aircraft to Dubai for real-world testing and advancing to the final phase of certification with the FAA, reducing some of the regulatory risk.
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Partnerships and corporate backing. Joby has strong strategic partners, such as Toyota, and collaborations with Uber and Delta for future services. This gives it credibility and access to key resources.
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With agreements and acquisitions (e.g., Blade Air Mobility, which provides infrastructure in New York and Europe), Joby is positioning itself not only as an aircraft manufacturer but also as a service operator.
3.
Wood purchased 73,097 shares of ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF (NYSE:ARKX).
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Position in a high-growth emerging sector. It is competing in the promising urban air mobility market that could transform transportation in cities and attract major contracts with governments, airlines, and mobility services.
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Backing from major strategic partners. The company has significant investments and alliances, including Stellantis, Boeing, United Airlines, and other institutional funds, which provide financing, credibility, and access to industrial know-how.
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International diversification and market opportunities. It has signed global agreements (South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Japan) to deploy its aircraft in different segments, not only urban transport, but also government services and defense, reducing geographic and market risk concentration.
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The company has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in recent rounds and maintains a strong liquidity position.
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The market consensus gives it a target price of around $11.60.
Conclusion
Taken together, the investments of Burry and Wood highlight two distinct but complementary approaches to opportunity. Burry is focusing on valuation dislocations and durability of cash flows, betting that market pessimism has gone too far.
Wood, by contrast, continues to allocate capital toward early-stage and transformational technologies where execution and adoption will shape long term returns. While the paths differ, both strategies reflect the conviction that selective positioning rather than broad market exposure may matter most in the years ahead.
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Disclaimer: This article is written for informational purposes only. It is not intended to encourage the purchase of assets in any way, nor does it constitute a solicitation, offer, recommendation or suggestion to invest. I would like to remind you that all assets are evaluated from multiple perspectives and are highly risky, so any investment decision and the associated risk belong to the investor. We also do not provide any investment advisory services.