In this article, we will take a look at Billionaire Leon Cooperman’s 8 Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential.
The chairman and CEO of Omega Advisors, Leon Cooperman, is a highly esteemed figure renowned for his generosity, market and economic analysis, and shrewdness. One of Wall Street’s most prosperous hedge fund managers, Omega Advisors has outperformed several of its peers and major indices during critical periods, achieving annualized returns of roughly 12% over its 27 years as a hedge fund under his tutelage.
Recently, however, Leon Cooperman seems to harbor a pessimistic outlook on the stock market. In a recent Bloomberg Television interview, the billionaire stated the following:
“I look around the world, and I see a market, at a high, at 24 times earnings, currently around 22 times earnings. And I look at all the issues out there, and the multiple seems far too high.”
Additionally, Business Insider reported on June 17 that the billionaire investor has a “very conservative outlook” for the S&P 500 because of “what’s going on in the world.” Cooperman projected that the United States would experience a severe confluence of high inflation and weak growth, as supply networks could be disrupted, production could be hindered, and prices could rise due to tariffs and international disputes.
Leon Cooperman of Omega Advisors
Our Methodology
For this article, we examined Omega Advisors’ Q1 2025 13F filings to list down Leon Coooperman’s stock picks with the highest upside potential. We ranked the companies in ascending order of their upside potential. These equities are also popular among elite hedge funds.
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 (see more details here).
8. Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU)
Omega Advisors’ Q1 Stake: $37.1 million
Analyst Upside as of June 15: 20.64%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18
Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) is one of billionaire Leon Cooperman’s top stock picks with huge upside potential. Despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe contributing £238.5 million since becoming a minority owner, Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU)’s cash reserves dropped to £73.2 million in the third quarter, as reported on June 6.
Manchester United plc’s (NYSE:MANU) most recent financial figures show that during the three months leading up to the end of March, the club’s cash reserves decreased by £22.5 million. According to the company’s third-quarter figures, they are still able to borrow up to £90 million in cash through their revolving credit facility. This could assist in paying for transfer expenditures, but it would increase their debt load by £713.2 million.
As the club’s management seeks to support head coach Ruben Amorim with the acquisitions of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, United’s financial situation is expected to become a complicating factor during a crucial summer transfer window.
Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) owns and operates the Manchester United Football Club, a professional sports team with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. To increase brand awareness, the company focuses on forming sponsorship and marketing alliances with both domestic and international companies.
7. Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS)
Omega Advisors’ Q1 Stake: $57.9 million
Analyst Upside as of June 15: 40.85%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) is one of billionaire Leon Cooperman’s top stock picks with huge upside potential. With a price target of $57, Stifel analysts reiterated their Buy rating on Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) on June 5. The decision comes after the firm hosted Alistair Scobie, the Investor Relations representative for LVS, at the annual Cross Sector Insights Conference.
Stifel analysts pointed out that while Macau’s tourism trends remain robust, tourist expenditure is currently low, largely as a result of macroeconomic factors. This is especially noticeable at the base mass level, where it is questionable whether visitor spending will increase. Nonetheless, Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) continues to be optimistic that this segment will eventually recover.
According to their report, Stifel analysts remain optimistic about Las Vegas Sands, though they admit that short-term trends may continue to be erratic. Given that the stock has dropped over 23% in the last six months, the recent sell-off is viewed as an alluring risk/reward opportunity.
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) is a casino operator with a primary focus on the Macau market. The company primarily targets the Asian market with its five casinos in Macau and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
6. The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI)
Omega Advisors’ Q1 Stake: $79.1 million
Analyst Upside as of June 15: 19.99%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 74
The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) is one of billionaire Leon Cooperman’s top stock picks with huge upside potential. On June 12, Cigna Healthcare, the health benefits arm of The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI), revealed new digital capabilities designed to enhance the consumer experience during routine health insurance interactions.
The myCigna member interface will be used to gradually roll out the new technologies, which include a virtual assistant driven by AI, personalized provider matching, real-time cost tracking, intelligent claim submission, and assistance with plan selection. The AI-powered virtual assistant offers tailored responses to inquiries concerning benefits, claims, and available care options, according to Cigna Healthcare. According to preliminary findings, more than 80% of clients who had access to the virtual assistant found it useful.
Additionally, in order to help customers with complicated health needs have their administrative problems resolved more quickly, The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) is investing in centralized agent teams and increasing access to dedicated My Personal Champion advocates.
The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) specializes in providing insurance and associated services in the United States, such as pharmaceutical benefits, home delivery pharmacy, and specialty pharmacy distribution.
5. KBR, Inc. (NYSE:KBR)
Omega Advisors’ Q1 Stake: $83.68 million
Analyst Upside as of June 15: 26.56%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 55
KBR, Inc. (NYSE:KBR) is one of billionaire Leon Cooperman’s top stock picks with huge upside potential. Late in May, KBR, Inc. (NYSE:KBR) declared that the U.S. Navy Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) had awarded it a $476 million, fixed-price contract to continue providing Base Operations Support services in Djibouti.
KBR, Inc. (NYSE:KBR) will supply mission support services to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa as per the conditions of the contract. One of the Navy’s most significant base operations support contracts, KBR will offer full-scale assistance for thousands of military personnel, including facilities operations and maintenance, fire and emergency services, airport and security operations, and more.
The same day, analysts at Goldman Sachs changed their rating for KBR, Inc. (NYSE:KBR) shares from Buy to Neutral, with a price target of $55. The firm recognized KBR’s capabilities, emphasizing its “differentiated technology and track record of value-enhancing capital deployment.”
Previously known as Kellogg Brown & Root, KBR, Inc. (NYSE:KBR) is an American company that services a range of markets by operating in a variety of sectors, including aerospace, defense, industrial, and intelligence.
4. Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI)
Omega Advisors’ Q1 Stake: $83.9 million
Analyst Upside as of June 15: 35.31%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 72
Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) is one of billionaire Leon Cooperman’s top stock picks with huge upside potential. On June 12, Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) and U.S. Bank announced an agreement to include the Elan Financial Services credit card program from U.S. Bank into Fiserv’s Credit Choice solution.
With the improved Credit Choice solution, banks and other financial institutions will be able to provide their clients with a digital-first experience that enables them to access and manage their credit and debit card information in one place.
The integration of new technologies will kickstart the collaboration this summer, and by the end of 2025, the portfolio should be fully converted. Throughout the shift, Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) stated it will keep assisting current customers and onboarding new financial institutions.
To spur expansion in Ireland and the European market, Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) has also announced plans to purchase the remaining 49.9% of AIB Merchant Services on June 6. This deal is expected to be finalized in the third quarter, subject to regulatory clearances and other closing conditions.
Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) is an American multinational financial technology company that primarily serves banking and fintech clients through its payment solutions and technologies, including digital banking platforms, card issuance and processing, merchant acquisition, and point-of-sale systems.
3. Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD)
Omega Advisors’ Q1 Stake: $93.2 million
Analyst Upside as of June 15: 13.38%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 54
Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) is one of billionaire Leon Cooperman’s top stock picks with huge upside potential. Intending to increase shop density and luxury mix, Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) has increased its footprint in the Southeast region on June 12 by acquiring two Mercedes-Benz stores in Jackson, MS, and Collierville, TN. This marks the first Mercedes-Benz presence by LAD in the area, which is anticipated to generate $220 million in annual sales.
Furthermore, on June 3, analysts at Goldman Sachs assumed coverage of Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) with a Neutral rating and a $340 price target. One important consideration in the analysts’ judgment was the degree of uncertainty around near-term demand. Since there are a variety of potential outcomes, both positive and negative, the analysts concluded that Lithia Motors’ current risk/reward profile is balanced. They estimated that up to 12 million automobiles might have been undersold over the previous five years, pointing to the possibility of rising demand.
Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) is a major automotive retailer that sells vehicles and offers associated services, such as repair, through a wide network of dealerships and online platforms.
2. Elevance Health Inc. (NYSE:ELV)
Omega Advisors’ Q1 Stake: $121 million
Analyst Upside as of June 15: 29.75%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 75
Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is one of billionaire Leon Cooperman’s top stock picks with huge upside potential. On June 4, analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated their Overweight rating and $485 price target for Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV). They pointed out that the company’s total redetermination losses were 62% higher than the initial guidance, indicating that the mix may present a larger margin headwind than predicted.
The analysts pointed out that this is consistent with Elevance’s recent remarks, which show that Caid utilization is declining more slowly than envisioned. Although they believe it may take longer, the analysts state that the mix is still headed toward stabilization.
For the full year 2025, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has also reiterated its earnings outlook, estimating earnings per share to be between $28.30 and $29, with adjustments resulting in an EPS range of $34.15 to $34.85 when certain negative items are excluded.
Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV), previously Anthem, Inc., is a leading health-benefits provider in the United States. The company offers medical, pharmaceutical, dental, long-term care, disability, and behavioral health insurance under numerous brands, including Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Wellpoint, and Carelon.
1. Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)
Omega Advisors’ Q1 Stake: $241.67 million
Analyst Upside as of June 15: 23.73%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 36
Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) is one of billionaire Leon Cooperman’s top stock picks with huge upside potential. At the end of May, Kyushu Electric Power Company and Energy Transfer LNG Export, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET), inked a 20-year sale and purchase agreement (SPA) for the delivery of LNG from Energy Transfer’s Lake Charles LNG project.
Under the terms of the agreement, Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) will supply up to one million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of free-on-board LNG, with prices based on the Henry Hub benchmark. That said, the above depends on the U.S. player making a favorable final investment decision (FID) on the Lake Charles LNG project and meeting further prerequisite requirements. A 20-year supply agreement with comparable terms was signed with Chevron in December; however, it was for 2 mtpa of LNG from Lake Charles.
The Lake Charles project aims to turn the current LNG import and regasification terminal into an export facility. This would make use of Energy Transfer’s two deep water berths, four existing LNG storage tanks, and associated infrastructure.
Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) is an American company that specializes in the transportation of propane and natural gas through pipelines. Founded in 1995, the company has its headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and operates under the laws of Delaware.
READ NEXT: 10 Best Magic Formula Stocks for 2025 and 10 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.
Disclosure: None.
Hedge Fund Resource Center