$MELI

Michael Burry Bought Beaten-Down Stocks And Shorted AI Favorites — Here’s How His August Bets Fared

Michael Burry, known for his 'Big Short' bet, disclosed August trades including long positions in MercadoLibre (MELI), Zoetis (ZTS), Lululemon (LULU), and Molina Healthcare (MOH), and short positions in Palantir (PLTR), Nvidia (NVDA), and others. Nine of his 17 long holdings rose, with Veeva (VEEV) up 35.8%, while his short bets faced pressure as AI stocks rallied, with Palantir up 51.4%. Burry adjusted his portfolio, raising cash and managing risk.

Original reporting
Published Aug 31, 2026, 4:30 AM UTC
Analysis
alphai AI DeskAI-generated
Added to alphai Aug 31, 2026, 6:34 AM UTC. Informational, not investment advice.
How this was made
alphai summarizes source reporting and applies a structured AI analysis for relevance, timing, sentiment and ticker impact. Always verify material claims with the original publisher.
Michael Burry Bought Beaten-Down Stocks And Shorted AI Favorites — Here’s How His August Bets Fared — source image
Decision brief

The 30-second read

$MELINeutralLow
01

Why it matters

The disclosed trades provide insight into Burry’s valuation framework and may guide traders seeking contrarian exposure.

02

Market read

Burry’s mixed results underscore the risk‑reward balance between value and AI growth stocks, offering potential trade ideas for both sides.

03

What to watch

Potential macro‑economic slowdown could further depress AI‑heavy stocks, enhancing Burry’s short thesis.

Relevance 5/10Novelty 4/10Timing: August 2026

Background

Michael Burry’s August portfolio adjustments are detailed, showing both long bets on beaten‑down stocks and short positions against AI‑centric names.

Company-level read

Ticker impact

$MELINeutralMedium confidence
Context

Burry disclosed a purchase of MercadoLibre in August, adding to his long portfolio.

Expected impact

Potential modest upside if market sentiment improves.

Evidence & confidence

Burry's buying indicates value view, but stock only up ~4.7% in month.

$ZTSBullishMedium confidence
Context

Burry disclosed purchases of Zoetis as part of his beaten‑down long list.

Expected impact

Likely modest upside if earnings stay strong.

Evidence & confidence

Zoetis rose after Burry's entry, supporting his thesis.

$LULUNeutralMedium confidence
Context

Burry added Lululemon to his long book, eventually making it 17.4% of his portfolio.

Expected impact

Potential upside if recent recovery continues.

Evidence & confidence

Burry's sizable stake signals conviction despite volatility.

$MOHBullishLow confidence
Context

Burry bought Molina Healthcare as part of his value bets.

Expected impact

Limited upside unless sector improves.

Evidence & confidence

Small price move suggests limited immediate catalyst.

$PLTRBearishLow confidence
Context

Burry opened and added to a short position in Palantir during August.

Expected impact

Short likely to stay unprofitable unless reversal.

Evidence & confidence

AI rally pushed Palantir higher, hurting Burry's short.

$NVDABearishLow confidence
Context

Burry shorted Nvidia and later bought call options to hedge.

Expected impact

Short remains pressured; potential loss if rally continues.

Evidence & confidence

AI hype lifted Nvidia despite Burry's bearish stance.

$ORCLBearishLow confidence
Context

Burry opened a short on Oracle on Aug. 6 and added to it later.

Expected impact

Short likely to stay underwater unless pullback.

Evidence & confidence

Rising AI demand boosted Oracle, counter to Burry's view.

$MUBearishLow confidence
Context

Burry shorted Micron Technology and later increased the short.

Expected impact

Short may face losses unless price corrects.

Evidence & confidence

AI demand lifted memory chip stocks.

Market effects

Highlights continued divergence between beaten‑down value stocks and AI‑driven growth names.

US equity market sentiment may tilt toward value as high‑profile AI stocks rally.

Burry's contrarian stance may influence other value‑focused investors worldwide.

Counterpoint

Burry’s bearish AI bets could be vindicated if AI hype cools, offering upside to his short positions.

Key entities

  • Michael Burry

    Investor known for value‑oriented bets, disclosed portfolio moves.

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