Mario Gabelli needs no introduction, having risen to become one of the most successful money managers on Wall Street, backed by a research-driven equity investment style. Having founded Gamco Investors, formerly Gabelli Asset Management Company, in 1977, the investment firm has grown to over $32 billion in assets under management with a portfolio spread over 800 stocks.
Therefore, GAMCO is one of the most diversified hedge funds, offering exposure to some of the biggest and fastest-growing market segments. Over the years, Gabelli has relied on a value investment strategy that focuses on stocks trading below their fair value. In return, he looks for catalysts that could cause the stock’s value to rise substantially.
Some of the catalysts the fund manager often looks for include the sale or spinoff of a business. Mergers, industry consolidation, or regulatory changes also act as tailwinds in driving share value. The value investment strategy has been the catalyst behind GAMCO investors achieving impressive annualized returns of 16.3% since inception.
Likewise, GAMCO Investors is well positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the overall stock market, pulling back. Valuation levels have pulled back significantly in the aftermath of the stock market coming under pressure amid the US tariff-fueled trade war.
The announcement of President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs caused a significant upheaval in the stock and bond markets, resulting in the loss of trillions of dollars in investor wealth. While the administration temporarily suspended most reciprocal tariffs on April 9 for a period of 90 days, the looming threat of a global trade war poses risks to economic expansion. It is likely to shift capital flows in the equity markets.
Both policymakers and market players are also wary of the potential for a financial “mishap,” stemming from erratic movements in the U.S. Treasury market. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that current tariffs are “significantly larger than expected,” adding that “the same is likely to be true of the economic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth.”
The tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and other countries’ reactions have created uncertainty for investors’ holdings. Technology stocks have been the hardest hit amid the tariff wars after years of blockbuster gains fueled by the artificial intelligence frenzy.
Given the market downturns, an anticipated increase in consumer costs, and a heightened chance of a recession as a result of these tariffs, it is indeed challenging to envision what a victory would entail for Trump, who claimed in 2018 that “trade wars are beneficial and straightforward to win!”
On the other hand, now would be the best time to capitalize on the significant pullbacks in the equity markets. With most stocks trading at discounted valuations beyond historical averages, billionaire Mario Gabelli’s 10 large-cap stock picks with huge upside potential could offer a way out of the downturn.
Our Methodology
We combed Gamco Investors SEC Q4 2024 13F filings to identify Billionaire Mario Gabelli’s 10 Large-Cap Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential. We then settled on stocks with more than 30% upside potential based on analysts’ ratings and analyzed why the stocks stand out, as solid value investments well poised to generate significant long-term value. The list is sorted in ascending order according to analysts’ projected upside potential.
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).
The Walt Disney Company (DIS): Among Billionaire Mario Gabelli’s Large-Cap Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential
A packed theater of moviegoers watching a blockbuster film produced by the entertainment company.
Market Capitalization as of May 5: $166.52 Billion
Stock Upside Potential as of May 5: 36.13%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 108
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) is a diversified media and entertainment giant known for its film studios, theme parks, and consumer products. It also offers streaming services through Disney+. The stock has been under pressure on President Trump threatening 100% tariffs on foreign-produced films. Amid the headwind, the stock has slid 16% year to date.
Amid the pullback, it is one of billionaire Mario Gabelli’s 10 large-cap stock picks with tremendous upside potential. Even as the company faces the tariff headwind, its underlying fundamentals remain strong. Disney’s streaming business has been growing at an impressive rate, with the Disney direct-to-consumer segment delivering positive income over the last three quarters. The unit is expected to generate $1 billion operating income in 2025.
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has felt the full brunt of declining linear TV, it continues strengthening its edge in the Experiences segment through its theme parks, cruise lines, and consumer products. The segment is home to the 10 most visited parks in the world, drawing more than 700 million fans every year. Likewise, it plans to spend $60 billion on the segment over the next decade to strengthen its competitive edge. On April 30, Loop Capital reiterated a Buy rating on the stock with a $120 price target buoyed by the company’s strong upcoming film lineup, which includes Avatar and Avengers.
Overall, DIS ranks 6th on our list of Billionaire Mario Gabelli’s large-cap stock picks with huge upside potential. While we acknowledge the potential of DIS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than DIS but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
