At the beginning of 2026, an investment in Exor, an Italian holding company, was presented as an opportunity to acquire Ferrari shares at a significant discount. The premise was simple: Exor, Ferrari's largest shareholder, traded at a massive discount to its net asset value (NAV), effectively allowing investors to own Ferrari indirectly at a much more attractive price than its standalone stock valuation.
However, since the initial pitch, Exor has sold off 3 billion euros worth of its Ferrari stake, its stock is down from $86 to $79, and the discount to NAV has widened further from an initial 60%. This raises the question of whether the investment was a mistake. The hosts conclude that the answer lies in a "gray area" because while Exor's stock performance has been disappointing on paper, the underlying asset, Ferrari, continues to achieve record-breaking results and guides for its best year in history.
Ferrari's business, despite its stock's recent volatility, remains incredibly strong. It consistently posts high margins (EBITDA margins around 40%) and has significant pricing power, with average revenue per unit rising drastically from $239,000 to $446,000 since 2017. While management projects a modest 5% annual revenue growth, the company's operating leverage is expected to expand, with R&D tracking at 13% of sales and operating margins potentially reaching or exceeding 30% by 2029.
A key event was the launch of Ferrari's first electric vehicle, the Luce. While met with some initial skepticism and a brief stock dip, the Luce has sold well, particularly in markets like China where its allocation was quickly sold out. Ferrari's CEO noted a strong order book extending to late 2027 for the Luce, suggesting healthy demand and a potential expansion of Ferrari's customer base to tech-forward buyers. Ferrari also introduced other new models like the Testarossa Spider and Amulfi Spider, catering to different price points.
The podcast emphasizes Ferrari's unique business model, leveraging scarcity and brand loyalty. With 85% of sales coming from repeat customers and a waiting list model, Ferrari is highly resilient to economic downturns. Risks like declining driving licenses among youth or tariffs are deemed less impactful for Ferrari, given its ultra-wealthy customer base and ability to offset costs through product mix and customization. The F1 racing team continues to serve as an effective marketing lever, reinforcing the brand's legacy.
Regarding Exor's actions, the sale of Ferrari shares was controversial but proved timely given Ferrari's high valuation at the time, freeing up capital for new investments. Exor's other holdings present a mixed bag: Stellantis, a conglomeration of car brands, is down significantly, while CNH (a John Deere competitor) and Philips have performed better. Divestitures in companies like Iveco and Gedi, and stakes in LifeNet and Nuo, have generated capital, indicating a move towards simplifying holdings and potentially focusing more.
A notable part of Exor's portfolio is Lingotto, its asset management division. Lingotto's assets under management (AUM) have tripled to over $10 billion since its 2023 inception, driven primarily by strong investment returns rather than just capital inflows. Holdings like Teva Pharmaceuticals and Carvana, which saw remarkable gains, illustrate Lingotto's successful public market strategies. While Lingotto contributes to Exor's income, the broader question remains whether Exor can consistently allocate capital effectively.
The persistent discount of holding companies, exemplified by Prosus's large and enduring discount to its Tencent stake, remains a concern. However, the hosts argue that Exor's current 60% discount is unusually wide compared to its historical average of 30%. The investment thesis relies on Ferrari's intrinsic value compounding and Exor's discount to NAV narrowing over time, providing "two twin engines" for returns.
The hosts identify two "kill criteria" for their Exor thesis: Exor making consistently poor capital allocation decisions (e.g., avoiding buybacks for mediocre acquisitions) or the CEO, John Elkann, losing control of the company due to ongoing family disputes. Despite the short-term stock performance, the fundamental strength of Ferrari and the significant discount at which Exor trades lead the hosts to believe the investment remains a compelling, asymmetric bet.