In this piece, we discuss the 9 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaire Bill Ackman.
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, has long been known for his high-profile activist campaigns involving companies such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Herbalife. His reputation extends further to his role in the restructuring of the real estate company General Growth Properties.
However, weakness in several concentrated holdings of Pershing Square Capital Management is slowing the fund’s performance in 2026. According to Barron’s March 2 report, the fund has recorded an 11.10% decline this year, as of February 24, 2026, contrasting sharply with the broader market’s 1% gain during the same period. Selling pressure was noted in stocks like Uber, Amazon, and Howard Hughes Holdings. The hedge fund also exited its position in Hilton Worldwide Holdings in early February 2026, after a seven-year holding period. The investment team at the fund stated that the stock’s valuation doesn’t imply a return commensurate with the fund’s high return thresholds, and thus decided to exit.
Last November, the investment managers also exited their position in Chipotle and Nike. That leaves them with nine equity holdings as of February 2026, including the recently initiated position in Meta Platforms.
Ackman holds an optimistic view on the economic outlook for 2026, as per his commentary in his letter to shareholders at the end of last year. He believes there are plenty of high-growth stocks capable of delivering gains of 20% to 30% or more. His confidence stemmed from positive developments, including the impact of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and the CHIPS Act. Other key drivers he cited include pro-business policies, deregulation initiatives, and stable inflation, enabling potential rate cuts. His greatest emphasis lies in the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in productivity and investment, alongside rising spending on data centers and energy.
With this background in mind, we will now jump to the top 9 stocks from Bill Ackman’s stock portfolio.
Methodology
To curate our list of Bill Ackman’s 9 top stocks, we reviewed Pershing Square’s Q4 2025 13F filings, using Insider Monkey’s 13F database. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the value of Pershing Square’s stake.
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9. Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:HTZ)
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:HTZ) is included in our list of the 9 best stocks to buy according to billionaire Bill Ackman, accounting for 0.50% of the total portfolio.
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. remains a key stock in Bill Ackman’s portfolio despite ongoing broader industry challenges, reflecting Ackman’s confidence in the company’s potential for recovery.
As of the end of Q4 2025, Ackman’s holdings remained unchanged from the previous quarter, continuing to own more than 15 million shares through Pershing Square Capital Management. The position represented about 0.50% of the hedge fund’s total portfolio and was worth more than $78 million. While the stock performed strongly in 2025 (+40%), it has been weak so far in 2026, down over 16% and nearly 55% from its 52-week high.
In its 2025 annual report published in February 2026, Pershing Square emphasized Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. as an emerging comeback story. The fund highlighted a completely revived fleet with an average vehicle age of less than a year, driving depreciation costs well below management’s target. The company achieved an 84% utilization rate in the fourth quarter, and this was also cited. Looking ahead, Ackman remains confident in the company’s outlook following Hertz’s first profitable quarter in two years.
Meanwhile, during the quarter, interest from other hedge funds also increased, as per Insider Monkey’s database. Although the total value of those stakes decreased from roughly $1.50 billion to $1.16 billion, the number of funds holding positions in Hertz increased from 44 to 48.
At the same time, cautious projections for the automotive and mobility sector keep Wall Street sentiment divided. Morgan Stanley analyst Andrew Percoco began covering Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. in late 2025 with an Equal Weight rating and a $5.50 price target.
As of the time of writing, there have been no recent reports of significant insider activity surrounding Hertz Global Holdings, Inc..
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. is one of the world’s largest automobile rental companies, offering airport and off-airport mobility solutions, fleet management, and vehicle sales in North America and internationally.
8. Seaport Entertainment Group Inc. (NYSE:SEG)
Seaport Entertainment Group Inc. (NYSE:SEG) is among the 9 best stocks to buy according to billionaire Bill Ackman, representing 0.64% of the total portfolio.
To maintain exposure to the entertainment and real estate-focused business, Bill Ackman’s hedge fund retains its stake in Seaport Entertainment Group Inc.. Accounting for roughly 40% of the stock’s total institutional investment, Ackman remains the largest institutional shareholder.
Reinforcing the fund’s optimism, the stock has recorded a year-to-date (YTD) gain of over 15% as of March 5, 2026, outperforming its peers. Meanwhile, the Real Estate Services industry has noted a decline of over 16% so far in 2026.
As of the end of Q4 2025, Ackman’s holdings of more than 5.02 million shares through Pershing Square Capital Management remain unchanged in comparison to the previous quarter, with the stake totaling more than $99 million.
Over the course of the quarter, interest from other hedge funds grew. While the total value of their stakes decreased from roughly $150.87 million to $135.42 million, the number of funds bullish on Seaport increased from 8 to 12. Meanwhile, there have been no reports of significant insider activity surrounding Seaport Entertainment Group Inc..
The overall sentiment holds as Seaport Entertainment Group Inc. works to bring the internationally renowned Balloon Museum to the Seaport in summer 2026. Announcing on February 23, 2026, the company plans to turn the Tin Building property into a major interactive exhibition space (Balloon Museum), in collaboration with Lux Entertainment. With this move, the company aims to accelerate the development of immersive, experience-driven attractions to boost foot traffic and diversify revenue streams.
Seaport Entertainment Group Inc. owns, operates, and develops assets, hospitality venues, and sponsorship-driven entertainment properties, including sports, events, and mixed-use real estate platforms, establishing itself as an integrated experience real estate and leisure operator.
7. Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HHH)
Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HHH) is included in our list of the 9 best stocks to buy according to billionaire Bill Ackman, accounting for 9.69% of the total portfolio.
With his long-term belief in this real estate developer’s potential and its effort to become a diversified holding company, Bill Ackman’s hedge fund maintains a significant stake in Howard Hughes Holdings Inc., owning over 18.85 million shares as of the end of Q4 2025. This position was unchanged from the previous quarter and valued at more than $1.50 billion.
By investing $900 million to purchase nine million freshly issued shares in May 2025, Pershing Square strengthened its commitment and increased its total ownership to roughly 47%. Ackman rejoined Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.’s board as Executive Chairman, and Ryan Israel, the CIO of Pershing Square, assumed the newly established position of Chief Investment Officer.
In his 2025 Letter to Shareholders from February 2026, Ackman presented the investment as a tale of long-term development. Because of its complex structure and exposure to real estate development, he believes the market has traditionally undervalued Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.. Therefore, Pershing Square now aims to restructure it as a diversified holding company by acquiring controlling interests in long-lasting, superior companies, mirroring Berkshire Hathaway’s strategy.
Meanwhile, data from Insider Monkey’s database suggests that overall hedge fund stake remained significant as of the end of Q4 2025, totaling approximately $1.69 billion, indicating strong ongoing institutional interest despite ongoing industry softness. However, the number of hedge funds holding positions in the company decreased slightly, from 32 to 30, during the quarter.
Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. is a real estate development company that manages master-planned communities, commercial complexes, and mixed-use districts. It adds value through land sales, strategic property development, and the redevelopment of entertainment neighborhoods.
6. Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR)
Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR) is among the 9 best stocks to buy according to billionaire Bill Ackman, representing 10.05% of the total portfolio.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, billionaire investor Bill Ackman slightly reduced his stake in Restaurant Brands International Inc., although he still maintains a substantial bet on the company.
Pershing Square Capital Management held 22.87 million shares at the end of the quarter, valued at $1.56 billion. QSR stock has performed relatively better this year, with 7.5% returns so far, compared to 5% in full-year 2025.
Ackman has long maintained that the franchise-heavy business model at Restaurant Brands International Inc., which includes brands such as Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs, produces stable royalty income. Furthermore, in his 2025 Letter to Shareholders, he pointed out that the International segment and Tim Hortons together generate about 70% of profits, which are bolstered by a steady rise in same-store sales and strong worldwide results, fueling Ackman’s optimism.
Meanwhile, following Restaurant Brands International Inc.’s (NYSE:QSR) recent investor day, analysts shed light on the stock.
On March 3, 2026, Morgan Stanley described the investment case as a “show-me story,” raising its price target on the stock from $77 to $78 while keeping an Equal Weight rating. On the previous day, Piper Sandler upgraded Restaurant Brands International Inc. to Overweight with a $84 target, noting that if management follows through on its plans, it could lead to an uninterrupted period of outperformance.
Restaurant Brands International Inc. is a company based in Toronto that functions as a quick-service restaurant that franchises brands such as Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs. It was founded on August 25, 2014.
5. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is included in our list of the 9 best stocks to buy according to billionaire Bill Ackman, accounting for 11.37% of the total portfolio.
One of the biggest additions to Pershing Square’s portfolio at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025 was Meta Platforms, Inc., with Bill Ackman acquiring 2.67 million shares, valued at over $1.76 billion.
After Meta Platforms, Inc. released its third-quarter 2025 results in October last year, Pershing Square took a position in the stock. The firm cited the 20% share price plunge following the release, where management laid out its plans to dramatically boost spending on AI projects in 2026. Since it initiated the position in November (exact date unknown), the stock has rallied as much as 14% in between but has since given up those gains and been flat as of March 5.
That said, Ackman saw the pullback as a desirable opportunity to acquire a stake in the stock, which was trading at just 20x earnings per share. Citing apps like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, which make up Meta’s “Family of Apps,” Ackman stated that these apps together boast over 3.5 billion daily active users worldwide, driving the firm’s positive outlook on Meta.
The investment firm believes breakthroughs in AI will improve content recommendations, increase engagement, and improve ad targeting. This would strengthen Meta Platforms, Inc.’s ecosystem, as the amount of time spent watching videos on Instagram has already grown by almost 30% year-over-year, Ackman stated in his Q4 2025 Letter to Shareholders from February 2026.
At the same time, hedge fund sentiment regarding Meta Platforms, Inc. weakened during the fourth quarter amid ongoing concerns surrounding its massive AI-related spending. Collectively, the total hedge fund stake in the stock decreased to $44 billion from $61.30 billion, and the number of bullish hedge funds also shrank from 273 to 256, according to Insider Monkey’s database.
Meanwhile, Meta Platforms, Inc. continues its efforts to capitalize on the AI boom.
On March 4, 2026, Meta Platforms, Inc. and News Corp. signed a multi-year AI content license agreement valued at up to $50 million per year. This enables Meta to access U.S. and U.K. content that can be used to train AI models and power its products. The contract will be in effect for a minimum of three years.
Meta Platforms, Inc. creates social media apps and digital platforms through its Family of Apps and Reality Labs divisions. The corporation is headquartered in Menlo Park, California.
4. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is among the 9 best stocks to buy according to billionaire Bill Ackman, representing 13.83% of the total portfolio (including both Class A and C shares).
While keeping a sizable holding in Alphabet Inc., Bill Ackman’s hedge fund reduced its exposure to the digital giant.
Ackman sold about 4.33 million shares of the company during the fourth quarter of 2025, leaving him with over 6.84 million shares (both classes of shares included) by the end of the quarter. The fund’s ongoing faith in the company’s long-term potential is evident from its remaining investment of over $2.15 billion.
In his Letter to Shareholders from February 2026, Ackman cited Alphabet Inc.’s growing leadership in AI as a key growth driver. He emphasized how Google is deploying AI solutions worldwide by utilizing its scale in data, infrastructure, and distribution. He highlighted AI Overviews as a prime example, which currently reaches over two billion people in 200 countries, boosting search engagement and query growth, especially among younger groups.
Alphabet Inc.’s AI innovation pipeline, which includes work from its research arm Google DeepMind, was highlighted by Ackman, who remains confident in the integration of Gemini models into the larger Google ecosystem. With a $70 billion sales run-rate and growing profitability, the company’s cloud division is another key growth engine, according to the firm.
Analyst sentiment remains strong as of March 5, 2026, mirroring the fund’s expectations. While no significant insider trading activity has been disclosed recently, Alphabet Inc. enjoys a bullish stance of nearly 90% of covering analysts, with a consensus price target of $385.00, suggesting a 30% upside.
Alphabet Inc. operates as a technology holding company that runs Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets. Its ecosystem comprises Search, YouTube, Android, and Maps, and it offers digital advertising, cloud infrastructure, and new technology solutions worldwide.
3. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is included in our list of the 9 best stocks to buy according to billionaire Bill Ackman, representing 14.28% of the total portfolio.
During Q4 2025, billionaire investor Bill Ackman increased his exposure to the company. He held more than 9.61 million shares as of the quarter-end after acquiring 3.78 million shares during the quarter. The position was valued at over $2.22 billion, making Amazon.com, Inc. the third-largest holding in Pershing Square’s portfolio.
Pershing Square initially established its position in April 2025 during tariff-driven market volatility. In its latest Letter to Shareholders, the firm highlighted Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the company’s global e-commerce platform as category-defining businesses supported by strong secular growth trends. AWS continues to benefit from enterprise cloud migration and increasing demand for AI infrastructure, according to Bill Ackman.
Amid Ackman’s optimism surrounding the stock’s outlook, institutional sentiment around Amazon.com, Inc. also strengthened during the quarter. The number of hedge funds holding positions in the stock climbed to 381 from 332, with their combined stake rising to approximately $88.7 billion, up from $73.35 billion, according to Insider Monkey’s database. The overall optimism reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to lead the AI race.
In contrast to the positive sentiment, recent insider activity raises uncertainty. In the last week of February alone, a significant number of insider trades took place, totaling $13 billion in sales, according to Yahoo Finance. The massive selling activity was seen ahead of Amazon.com, Inc.’s strong fourth-quarter results and new $21 billion investment in Spain for data centers and AI.
Amazon.com Inc. operates across e-commerce, digital content, advertising, and cloud computing. Its online and offline stores offer both in-house and third-party products, while its Amazon Web Services (AWS) division runs one of the world’s largest data center networks..
2. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER)
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) ranks among the 9 best stocks to buy according to billionaire Bill Ackman, representing 15.90% of the total holdings.
As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, Uber Technologies, Inc. ranked as the second-largest investment of Pershing Square. The hedge fund held over 30.21 million shares of Uber Technologies, Inc., slightly trimming its stake from the previous quarter to approximately $2.47 billion.
Pershing Square pinpointed Uber Technologies, Inc. in its 2025 annual report as a high-quality, capital-light platform supported by strong network effects. The firm further asserted that third-party AV integrations will likely drive superior fleet utilization and significant operating leverage. Additionally, Pershing Square also highlighted the company’s 20% constant-currency bookings growth, 13.6 billion annual trips, and a robust 50% rise in operating profit in 2025. The report noted that the hedge fund created a position in Uber in early 2025 as it viewed the valuation as attractive.
Their call played well till September 2025, when the stock rallied to nearly $100 from $75 levels in early 2025. But the stock has given up those gains and is now marginally down over the last one year.
Their report also highlighted the supporting factors for Uber’s investment case. It argued,
We believe that AV technology will not be a winner-take-all model and that third-party networks, and Uber in particular, have a valuable role to play. The stock market clearly underappreciates the durability of Uber’s moat, the magnitude of its earnings growth, and the strategic role it will play in shaping the future of mobility. Uber currently trades at less than 20 times our estimate of earnings per share, which is a bargain relative to our expectation that Uber will generate 30% or greater annual earnings per share growth over the medium-term.
It further added, “We believe that the combination of Uber’s rapid earnings-per-share growth and the potential for significant valuation multiple expansion, as investors better appreciate the sustainability of Uber’s future growth prospects and competitive positioning, should drive substantial future share price appreciation.
Meanwhile, at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on March 2, 2026, CFO Balaji Krishnamurthy articulated Uber Technologies, Inc.’s strategic pillars: reinvestment in the core business, spending on autonomous vehicle technology, disciplined mergers and acquisitions, shareholders’ returns, and maintaining an investment-grade balance sheet.
Uber Technologies, Inc. delivered $10 billion in FCF in 2025 and returned more than $6 billion to shareholders. Management also highlighted grocery and retail gross bookings of $12-$13 billion and projected AV deployments up to 15 cities by the end of the year.
Uber Technologies, Inc.’s CFO, Balaji, purchased shares worth $1.60 million on February 24, 2026. The executive’s purchase followed DA Davidson’s update on the previous day, where the investment firm projected a healthier pricing environment to fuel acceleration in U.S. trip and gross bookings growth.
Uber Technologies, Inc. is a technology platform offering ride-hailing, food delivery, and freight services through Mobility, Delivery, and Freight segments. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.
1. Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN)
Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN) is included in our list of the 9 best stocks to buy according to billionaire Bill Ackman, accounting for 18.15% of the total portfolio.
As of the end of Q4 2025, billionaire investor Bill Ackman held 61.40 million shares of Brookfield Corporation valued at $2.82 billion, a slight increase compared to $2.81 billion in Q3. With this, the company is the firm’s top holding.
Ackman’s investment thesis is straightforward, as he views the company as a structurally undervalued compounder. In its 2025 annual report, Pershing Square Holdings highlighted Brookfield Corporation as a high-quality, asset-rich company with strong capital allocation and long-term growth potential. This outlook is tied to the rapid expansion of Brookfield Wealth Solutions, which manages $135 billion in insurance assets. The pending acquisition of Just Group is expected to broaden its annuity portfolio and strengthen its position in the UK. The annual report highlighted:
We continue to believe Brookfield is an extremely attractive investment with ~20% compounded growth in cash flows over the medium-term and the potential for substantial earnings multiple expansion from current levels.
At the same time, hedge fund sentiment improved modestly over the period, with the number of hedge funds holding positions in Brookfield Corporation rising to 46 from 42, according to Insider Monkey’s database. Meanwhile, the combined stake of those hedged funds rose to $6.5 billion from $6.29 billion, reflecting continued institutional interest in Brookfield’s diversified real asset platform.
Meanwhile, recent developments shed light on Brookfield’s strategic pivot toward emerging infrastructure themes.
On March 3, 2026, Brookfield Corporation established a $1.00 billion unsecured commercial paper program to bolster its liquidity position. Additionally, on February 27, 2026, Brookfield’s AI infrastructure venture Radiant reached $1.30 billion valuation after its merger with Ori Industries, according to a Reuters report.
Brookfield Corporation is a global investment firm that manages private and public investments. The company focuses on investing in real assets, including infrastructure, renewable power, real estate, private equity, and credit.
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