Warren Buffett’s Secret Stock: Nucor’s AI Edge?

Institutional funds managing over $100 million must file Form 13F with the SEC quarterly. These reports disclose holdings of major Wall Street players, though confidentiality is permitted for stakes under 5% ownership.

Firms may request confidentiality for positions under certain thresholds, such as 5% ownership. Public knowledge of such holdings remains restricted until disclosure is mandated.

Berkshire Hathaway has previously used this tactic, as seen earlier this year. Investors speculated on the hidden stock, with some suggesting Caterpillar. While the guess was incorrect, the industry alignment was sound.

Berkshire’s latest 13F revealed Nucor (NUE) as the secret holding. The question remains: Why is Nucor compelling, and might it serve as a covert AI investment?

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Steel and the AI infrastructure

The AI revolution relies on physical infrastructure before software. Steel is foundational to data centers and other facilities. Without it, GPUs and cooling systems cannot exist.

The U.S. government recognizes this, making steel a critical component of AI infrastructure. Project Stargate, a $500 billion data center initiative, implicitly depends on materials like steel.

President Trump’s push for domestic steel production aligns with this logic. Buffett’s investments reflect his belief in American industrial resilience, a principle he has long upheld.

Contrarian logic in a frenzy

Most investors chase obvious AI beneficiaries: Nvidia for chips, Palantir for software. Buffett, however, avoids the hype, opting for steel instead.

Nucor is not a cyclical commodity play. It is a strategic asset, underpinning infrastructure for data centers, robotics, and power plants. Its role is essential to the AI revolution’s physical realization.

Valuation and long-term prospects

Nucor’s 18x forward earnings valuation is not a deep discount, but its strategic position justifies the price. Critics may cite tariffs, yet Nucor’s domestic scale offers advantages over global peers.

Nucor’s alignment with secular trends-data center expansion, grid upgrades, and manufacturing reshoring-supports long-term growth. Buffett’s preference for resilient businesses underscores its potential.

For patient investors, Nucor represents a quality opportunity, positioned to benefit from the industrial shift driving AI development.

Buffett’s choice reflects a long-term vision. Nucor is not a fleeting bet, but a cornerstone of America’s industrial future. 💵

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2025-08-26 04:12