Motley Fool Money – Warren Buffett Is Making Big Buys Again

Date: August 15, 2025
Host: Travis Hoium
Analysts: Lou Whiteman, Rick Munariz
Producer: Dan Boyd

Episode Overview

This episode of Motley Fool Money revolves around Warren Buffett’s recent investment moves, notably in UnitedHealth and housing stocks, and broader market trends. The team analyzes major market headlines: inflation’s persistence, the complexities of Fed interest rate decisions, huge new sports streaming deals, notable 13F filings from Berkshire Hathaway and others, and the impact of AI advancements. The show concludes with stock spotlights and listener Q&A.

Inflation, the Fed, and the Market’s Response

[00:40]

• Headline: Inflation remains a key market concern as PPI jumps 3.3% YoY, despite tame CPI.
• Lou Whiteman Perspective [01:30]:
  • Warns that inflation is “a slow creep,” with producer costs rising ahead of consumer prices:

    "We want inflation to be a light switch... but in reality, it’s a slow creep... the PPI hinted at that." (01:30)

  • Predicts producers will eventually pass higher costs onto consumers.
• Rick Munariz on Economic Indicators [02:40]:
  • Points out that PPI often serves as a “leading or bleeding indicator” and expresses caution:

    "It's going to be very tricky. Everyone was assuming the Fed was going to cut rates next month... but I think Green Day's 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' is probably a good way to get through." (02:40)

• Fed Rate Cuts Debate [03:10]:
  • Rick expects a minor rate cut, more out of obligation than strong economic rationale:

    "I think there’s almost an obligation to have a very small, just a small downtick in the Fed..." (03:33)

  • Lou adds that the job market argument is weak and the Fed's reluctance to cut is stronger than investors' enthusiasm:

    "The Fed is much less anxious to cut than investors are anxious just for the Fed to cut." (04:16)

Market/Consumer Implications [05:00]:

• 2022’s rapid inflation differed from today’s gradual uptick.
• New tariffs may not have hit consumer prices yet; concerns about higher costs this holiday season.
• Rick notes that consumers will “feel a pinch” even if markets stay resilient.

Sports Streaming Shakeup: Paramount & UFC

[07:58]

• UFC Moves to Paramount: Paramount signs a $7.7B, 7-year exclusive deal for UFC content – a major shift from ESPN.

• Rick’s View [08:33]:

  • Sees it as a win for Paramount but doubts it grows UFC’s audience:

    "While it helps Paramount, I don't think it helps consumers necessarily... I don't think this is what the sport needs." (08:33)

• Reach Trade-Offs [09:24]:

  • Travis: Paramount/CBS’s combined social reach is ~32m compared to ESPN’s 300m+. UFC may get a financial windfall, but risk losing cultural relevance.

• Lou’s Defense and Context [10:08]:

  • Highlights that not all content will be paywalled (some on CBS):

    "There is a quote unquote over the air component here, right?... I don't think this is a move to irrelevance." (10:08)

  • Notes that Disney’s ESPN is also reducing broad accessibility.

• Rick’s Colorful Analogy [11:34]:

  • Questions CBS’s current reach:

    "This is Billy Joel giving up his residency at the Madison Square Garden for an exclusive engagement in an eccentric billionaire's bunker." (11:34)

• Streaming Service Bundling [12:19]:

  • The challenges of bundling disparate content in services like CBS and Fox, not matching the targeted, streamlined approach of Disney’s Hulu/ESPN+.

Buffett’s Big Moves: Berkshire Hathaway’s 13F Revelations

[14:41]

• Buffett & Berkshire Activity:
  • Sold more Apple shares, bought $1.6B of UnitedHealth (UNH), and added housing stocks; T-Mobile was among sales.
• Rick’s Take [15:21]:
  • UnitedHealth buy surprises:

    "There’s usually a good reason why stocks are this out of favor. And in this case it’s Warren Buffett being a contrarian..." (15:21)

• Lou’s Skepticism [16:23]:
  • Cautious about both health and housing picks:

    "I am a Berkshire Hathaway investor and... I’m really underwhelmed by this. UnitedHealth... feels like it has all the potential to be a falling knife." (16:23)

  • Wonders why Berkshire isn’t being bolder given its cash hoard.
• Big Picture [18:04]:
  • Rick: Buffett is “cautious” and moving slowly, keeping most cash uninvested while other big funds show similar caution.
• Lou’s Provocation [18:29]:
  • Suggests the moves lack impact:

    "Nothing is going to move the needle, right?... Maybe I should just buy a total market index..." (18:29)

Stock Rapid-Fire: “Oh No” or “Let’s Go” [20:07]

Lululemon (LULU)

• Rick [20:46]: Cautious “let’s go” — not as high-growth, but attractively valued.
• Lou & Travis [21:17]: “Oh no” — growth slowing, competition rising, brand may be losing steam.

TKO Group (WWE/UFC)

• Rick [22:34]: “Let’s go” (near-term), though skeptical about media deal’s long-term value.
• Lou: “Let’s go” short-term due to cash, but “oh no” long-term as sports TV rights bubble may burst.

Rigetti Computing (Quantum Computing)

• Both: “Oh no” — too speculative, lacking profitability; valuation not justified.

Eli Lilly (LLY)

• Lou [26:31]: “Cautious let’s go”—solid company, not just a ‘one-hit wonder’ with Zepbound.
• Rick [27:13]: “Lukewarm let’s go”—attractive monopoly-like positioning for now.

Reddit (RDDT)

• Both [28:08]: “Oh no”—great platform, but monetization remains an open question; stock gets ahead of fundamentals.

Celsius (CELH)

• Rick [29:34]: “Let’s go”—momentum back thanks to acquisition-driven growth.
• Lou: Lukewarm “let’s go”—can’t stand the drinks, but market loves them.

Crocs (CROX)

• Rick [30:59]: “Let’s go”—history of bouncing back from dips; international appeal.
• Lou: Cautiously intrigued—could be undervalued, though dependent on consumer trends.

AI & Tech: ChatGPT Upgrades and AI’s Investment Theme

[32:43]

• ChatGPT Update: GPT-5 launches, but panel is lukewarm on direct investment opportunities.
• Rick [33:45]:
  • Favors “pick and shovel” plays (Nvidia, AMD, CoreWeave) over speculative bets on specific AI platforms.
• Lou [34:38]:
  • Cautions that enterprise utility, not consumer chatbots, will define winners.
• Alphabet’s Role [35:05]:
  • Travis: Despite fears, Google remains central to AI thanks to infrastructure and strategic partnerships with Oracle/OpenAI.
• Lou [35:54]:
  • Notes risk of AI commoditization, which could benefit semi suppliers (NVIDIA) more than platforms.

Stocks on the Radar Segment

Lou Whiteman: QXO

• Building products roll-up led by serial acquirer Brad Jacobs. High growth ambitions, but stock “looks fairly valued” today.

"...the person behind the rollup, Brad Jacobs, he’s done this before. His last two companies, they are two of the top 10 best performing Fortune 500 stocks of the last decade..." (36:24)

Rick Munariz: BBB Foods (TBBB)

• Deep-discount grocer in Mexico, rapid expansion, comps up nearly 18%.

"It’s a fast growing deep discount grocer in Mexico... added more than 500 stores... just an overall solid growth stock that’s really not on most radars." (37:43)

• Dan Boyd picks TBBB for his own radar:

  "...as they say in Mexico, el que no ariesga, no gana." (38:29)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Fed’s Dilemma:

  "Prices going up while the economy's going down... there's a scary word for it, and I don't want to mention it, but it starts with a 'stag' and ends with 'flation'." – Rick Munariz (04:07)

• On Streaming Sports:

  "This is Billy Joel giving up his residency at Madison Square Garden for an exclusive engagement in an eccentric billionaire's bunker." – Rick Munariz (11:34)

• On AI Opportunities:

  "The safer catch all plays continue to be the Nvidias, AMDs and even, oh no, even Coreweave of the world..." – Rick Munariz (33:45)

• On Market Sentiment:

  "Never, ever underestimate America's desire for carbonated tang." – Lou Whiteman (30:13)

Overall Tone

The discussion is lively and skeptical, balancing cautious optimism with pragmatic realism. In typical Motley Fool fashion, the roundtable mixes humor, market history, and current events to guide long-term investors through volatile headlines and new trends.

Key Timestamps

• 00:40 – Opening discussion: Inflation & Fed rate cuts
• 07:58 – Paramount/UFC $7.7B streaming deal
• 14:41 – Warren Buffett’s 13F/Berkshire moves
• 20:07 – Stock “Oh No or Let’s Go”
• 32:43 – ChatGPT upgrades & AI platform investing
• 36:24 – Stocks on our radar & Dan Boyd Q&A

This episode provides a snapshot of the market’s shifting currents through the lens of world-class investors and the Foolish analysts’ characteristic approach: focus on the long term, question hype, and seek value where others aren’t looking.