CNBC’s annual Stock Draft kicked off Thursday on ” Power Lunch ,” with candidates gunning for a variety of investments from bitcoin to AI plays . The annual stock-picking competition pits financial professionals, athletes and celebrities against each other, as each of the 10 teams are asked to pick two names from a list of 60 investments. The winner of the competition depends on which investor boasts the highest average return based on the closing prices between April 25, 2024, and February 7, 2025. Here’s a rundown of some big-name plays, with the full list of picks below. Meta American professional basketball player Breanna Stewart bet on Meta with her first pick. The social platform stock fell more than 10% on Thursday after the company issued a lighter-than-expected second-quarter revenue forecast . Shares of Meta are currently trading 25% higher this year. Despite Thursday’s pullback, Stewart said the stock was an “easy choice” for her. “When there’s a player like Mark Zuckerberg out there, we want to have him on our team,” she added. Nvidia Eddie George picked chipmaker darling Nvidia for its long-term prospects. “I really believe in the management team,” said the former running back of the Tennessee Titans and current head football coach at Tennessee State University. George added that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has done a “phenomenal job” so far. The company climbed about 4% on Thursday to buck the market’s overall downward trend. Shares of Nvidia are up 67% this year. “The graphics processing unit is the best on the market,” he said. “They’re in high demand, they’re leaders in AI, and I believe in it for the long term.” Super Micro Computer WWE wrestler Charlotte Flair chose Super Micro Computer as her first pick. “AI is still at the forefront of this technological revolution, and SMCI happens to be a major player,” said the defending champion from 2023’s Stock Draft. Shares of Super Micro Computer have soared 179% this year, but are down 36% from their March highs. Flair cited this recent dip as a catalyst for the stock, which reports earnings after the bell next Tuesday. Flair chose IBM as her second pick, sticking to the tech sector. Bitcoin Oz Pearlman went for bitcoin as his first pick, selecting the only non-stock investment on the board. The American mentalist and magician admitted that the cryptocurrency isn’t a “safe play,” but it could mean a huge windfall for investors willing to take a risk. The approval of various bitcoin exchange-traded funds has pushed the asset to new all-time highs. Last month, bitcoin rallied to a new record above $70,000 . “I think it’s a play where there’s a huge upside,” Pearlman said. “I think it’s a surefire bet bitcoin is going to six figures. It’s not a matter of if but when.” Caterpillar Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders football running back, chose industrial stock Caterpillar as his first pick. Shares of the company slid 7% on Thursday after its revenue of $15.8 billion for the most recent quarter missed analysts’ estimates of $16.04 billion, per LSEG. The construction equipment maker also posted soft sales guidance for the second quarter. While Caterpillar’s fall did not influence Ekeler’s choice, he said he is bullish on the company in the near term given that affordable housing supply has been “drying up.” “Where we’re at right now — in an environment where there’s a deficiency in the supply of homes and infrastructure, especially in the housing department — Caterpillar is going to have a great couple of months here coming up,” Ekeler said. Boot Barn Nev Schulman, an American TV presenter and producer, picked Boot Barn . “With climate change obviously a major factor, inclement weather is on the rise. We’re going to need boots,” said the host of MTV’s “Catfish.” “Companies come and go, trends come and go, but feet and hard work are here to stay.” Shares of Boot Barn, which sells Western and work-related footwear and apparel, are up more than 40% year-to-date. The company has benefited from a busy season for rodeos and music festivals as well as a jump in Western-style boot sales fueled by the release of Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” late last month. Microsoft Jillian Michaels, founder of The Fitness App, picked Microsoft . The tech titan is set to report its latest earnings after the bell on Thursday. Giancarlo Chersich, Michaels’ partner in the competition, said he is basing the choice off of Nancy Pelosi’s stock portfolio, which includes Microsoft, as well as the recent tech sell-off that presents an investment opportunity for bullish investors. The stock, widely regarded as an AI play, is up 6% this year. Analysts are expecting 15% year-over-year revenue growth, slightly higher than the 14.5% forecast that management gave in January. Oracle Joey Chestnut, an American competitive eater known as “Jaws,” pointed to AI and cloud play Oracle as his favorite stock in the market. He highlighted the software company’s foray into health care as part of his investment thesis, noting Oracle’s decision to move its global headquarters to Nashville in an effort to be closer to health care giants in the area. Oracle completed its more than $28 billion acquisition of health-care company Cerner in 2022, adding to its footprint in the space. Chestnut added that he’s a “big believer” in co-founder Larry Ellison. Wall Street has cheered on the stock, with analysts polled by FactSet assigning Oracle an average overweight rating and $140.09 price target, which suggests more than 21% upside from Wednesday’s close. Oracle shares are up roughly 9% this year. DraftKings In true CNBC Stock Draft spirit, Stewart selected DraftKings as her second-round pick. “Sports betting is at an all-time high,” she said. Shares have already risen 16% this year, but Stewart and her stock-picking partner Karen Finerman believe that there’s still more growth to come for DraftKings’ market share. Apple George selected Apple for his second pick. The iPhone maker is on the docket to report its fiscal second-quarter earnings next Thursday. Faced with waning demand and rising competitive pressures, Apple stock has shed nearly 12% this year, making it a weak link among the “Magnificent Seven” tech cohort. But the company’s history of product innovation could balance out these recent drawbacks. Specifically, George likes Apple’s strong fundamentals, outstanding management team and brand loyalty. The company’s legacy of sustainable excellence has also paved the way for cutting-edge technology like Apple Pay and the Apple Watch. “It’s always about the next thing with Apple,” he said. Here’s the full list of CNBC Stock Draft picks Breanna Stewart: Meta , DraftKings Eddie George: Nvidia , Apple Charlotte Flair: Super Micro Computer , IBM Oz Pearlman: Bitcoin , Carvana Austin Ekeler: Caterpillar , Intel Nev Schulman: Boot Barn , Crocs Jillian Michaels: Microsoft , JPMorgan Druski: Nike , Google Joey “Jaws” Chestnut: Oracle , Starbucks Kenny “The Jet” Smith: Warner Bros. Discovery , Delta Air Lines
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Flair likes IBM, George picks Apple
