Value Hive Podcast [REPLAY] Matthew Pierson (Merit Oak Capital): From Navy Seal To Hedge Fund Manager
Dec 5, 2025
Matthew Pierson, founder of Merit Oak Capital and former Navy SEAL, shares his fascinating journey from the military to finance. He discusses the rigorous research behind investing in MP Materials, emphasizing the geopolitical importance of rare earths. Pierson reveals his philosophy on concentration in investments, citing Warren Buffett, and his strategies for enduring market drawdowns. He also touches on the future of the energy transition and highlights new investment opportunities, including GE Aerospace and Taiwan Semiconductor, all while sharing gripping SEAL anecdotes.
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Investing As A Multidisciplinary Puzzle
- Matthew Pierson treats investing as a puzzle combining math, geopolitics, and operations research.
- He values opportunities where multiple disciplines converge to create durable advantages.
Leaving A Pod To Chase Ideas Freely
- Pierson left Point72 because he wanted freedom to follow ideas across sectors, not stay siloed as a TMT analyst.
- He launched Merit Oak to invest where his conviction and research led him, including into mining.
Underwrite Long-Term Cash Flows, Not Headlines
- Pierson underwrote MP by combining ore-grade economics with long-term demand from the energy transition.
- He focused on durable cash flows 10–20 years out, not short-term spikes.
