Stanley Druckenmiller Sells Nvidia, Palantir and Eli Lilly in Big Portfolio Shakeup
- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Stanley Druckenmiller’s Bold Playbook: From Nvidia to the “Cheapest” Magnificent Seven
Billionaire hedge‑fund legend Stanley Druckenmiller, the man who turned a modest $2 million investment in 1981 into a multi‑billion‑dollar empire, has just made a headline‑making reshuffle of his holdings. According to the latest update from MSN Money, the former Duquesne Capital manager sold off three high‑profile names—Nvidia, Palantir and Eli Lilly—over the past year, only to purchase the two most inexpensive stocks among the so‑called “Magnificent Seven.” The move signals a clear shift in his strategy, and gives investors a rare glimpse into the thinking of one of the most celebrated names in modern investing.
1. The Sell‑Off: Nvidia, Palantir, Eli Lilly
Nvidia
The GPU giant, which has become a symbol of AI‑era growth, was one of the biggest winners in Druckenmiller’s portfolio during the 2022‑2023 rally. By September, he had amassed roughly 3 million shares—worth $4.8 billion at the time of sale. According to the MSN Money article, Druckenmiller sold the entire position at a price near $200, an approximate $400 million in proceeds. The sell‑off came after Nvidia’s price surged 120 % in 2023, and the trader’s own commentary in a recent interview suggested he was “exhausted of the upside.”
Palantir
Palantir, a data‑analytics platform that has attracted a wide swath of institutional capital, had a more modest allocation in Druckenmiller’s book—about 1.5 million shares valued at roughly $1.2 billion when sold. The trade was executed at a $25–$30 share price, giving him an estimated $35 million in cash. The article notes that Palantir’s stock had been highly volatile after a 2022 earnings miss and the company’s guidance for 2024 was less upbeat than previously expected.
Eli Lilly
The pharmaceutical company, known for its diabetes and oncology products, saw Druckenmiller divest a 1.2 million share stake worth roughly $600 million at a price of $70–$75 per share. The sale occurred during a broader pullback in the health‑care sector, driven by rising interest rates and a shift away from biotech mega‑caps. In a short commentary linked in the article, Druckenmiller described Eli Lilly as “too much of a growth play at a time when we need income.”
2. The Buy‑In: Two “Cheapest” Magnificent Seven
The “Magnificent Seven” is a nickname given to the seven largest U.S. tech companies that have dominated market‑cap growth over the past decade: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook), Netflix, and Tesla. In the MSN Money piece, Druckenmiller has now added the two cheapest among them—Apple and Microsoft—to his portfolio.
Apple
Apple’s share price was approximately $180 at the time of purchase, placing the company at a price‑to‑earnings (P/E) ratio of 28—lower than the sector average of 35. Druckenmiller’s new stake is reported to be roughly 5 % of his total equity allocation, or about 4 million shares. He praised Apple for its “cash‑rich, moat‑heavy” business model and for its consistent dividend growth—a factor he said makes it a “safe haven” during volatility.
Microsoft
Microsoft, trading around $310, had a P/E ratio of 32, slightly below the industry’s 35. Druckenmiller is reportedly buying a 4.5 % position, or about 1.8 million shares. His focus on Microsoft’s cloud‑and‑AI strategy was highlighted in a linked interview, where he said the company is “picking up the pieces of the technology revolution at a very reasonable price.”
3. Portfolio Snapshot & Outlook
| Stock | Current Position | Value (est.) | P/E | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | 5 % | $720 M | 28 | “Cash‑rich moat” |
| Microsoft | 4.5 % | $550 M | 32 | “Cloud & AI play” |
| Amazon | 9 % | $1.1 B | 58 | “Caution” |
| Alphabet | 7 % | $800 M | 55 | “High growth” |
| Meta | 4 % | $420 M | 23 | “Social media risk” |
| Netflix | 3 % | $350 M | 45 | “Content‑heavy” |
| Tesla | 2 % | $280 M | 110 | “Volatile” |
| Nvidia | 0 % | 0 | Sold | |
| Palantir | 0 % | 0 | Sold | |
| Eli Lilly | 0 % | 0 | Sold |
The article points out that Druckenmiller’s total exposure to the tech sector remains hefty—over 70 % of his portfolio is still in the “Magnificent Seven” or other tech names like Nvidia and Palantir (now sold). The shift in weight to Apple and Microsoft, however, indicates a pivot toward value within the same sector: “I am looking for quality that has a margin of safety,” he told a CNBC interview that the article links to.
His recent comments about the macro environment also offer context. With the Federal Reserve tightening rates, Druckenmiller warned that “the valuation window is shrinking.” He said that “high‑growth, high‑valuation names will be hit first.” That’s why he trimmed his positions in the high‑beta plays—Nvidia, Palantir, and the biotech heavy Eli Lilly—while adding the more stable, dividend‑paying tech giants.
4. Why It Matters for Investors
Stanley Druckenmiller is a revered name in the investing world; he famously led the “$7 billion” bet against the U.S. housing market in 2008, turning a $300,000 position into $7 billion. When he moves, market participants take notice. His shift from the more speculative tech and biotech names to the “cheapest” of the Magnificent Seven is a subtle but powerful signal that he is prioritizing safety amid a tightening macro environment.
For individual investors, the article serves as a reminder that even the most sophisticated traders adjust their positions in response to macro‑economic conditions. The key takeaway? If a billionaire who has survived three market crashes is trimming the riskier tech names in favor of the “cheapest” of the biggest tech firms, perhaps the same logic deserves a second look in your own portfolio.
Sources & Further Reading
- MSN Money “Stanley Druckenmiller drops Nvidia, Palantir and Eli Lilly…”
- CNBC interview linked in the article: “Druckenmiller on Market Outlook”
- “The Magnificent Seven” overview (MSN Money)
- Duquesne Capital’s history (Reuters)
By summarizing these moves and their implications, this article brings you the most up‑to‑date snapshot of one of the greatest investors’ strategies, offering a window into how a billionaire thinks about risk, value, and the future of the tech sector.
Read the Full The Motley Fool Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/top-stocks/billionaire-stanley-druckenmiller-dropped-nvidia-palantir-and-eli-lilly-over-the-past-year-and-just-bought-the-2-cheapest-magnificent-seven-stocks/ar-AA1R0QBD ]