Paul Harris’ Secret Sauce? Data, Dollars, and Deep Learning
Paul Harris reveals why volatility isn’t a threat—it’s a buying signal. Here’s why he’s backing MSCI, Bank of America, and Nvidia in a world full of uncertainty.
Editorial Team (ET)July 17, 2025
Paul Harris doesn’t flinch at volatility. In fact, he welcomes it. As portfolio manager at Harris Douglas Asset Management, Harris is no stranger to navigating stormy financial seas. On April 22, 2025, in an interview with BNN Bloomberg, Harris laid out his market outlook and shared his top stock picks—MSCI, Bank of America, and Nvidia—with a firm belief that uncertainty breeds opportunity.
The markets right now are anything but predictable. Inflation worries are mounting. Tariffs from the U.S. administration are disrupting trade flows. Currency and bond markets, traditionally stable in times of crisis, are behaving erratically. And foreign investors? They're growing increasingly reluctant to park their capital in America. Against this backdrop, Harris sees volatility not as a red flag, but as a green light to double down on what he calls "quality and clarity."
The Bigger Picture: Navigating the New Normal
According to Harris, the U.S. is treading a precarious path. Tariff-induced inflation looms on one end, and stagnating economic growth threatens on the other. The Federal Reserve, caught in the crossfire, is tasked with an almost impossible balancing act. Ordinarily, in times of financial stress, we’d see the U.S. dollar and bond prices move in tandem—both rising as safe havens. Today, that correlation is breaking down, adding an eerie undertone to market movements.
Still, for Harris, the chaos doesn’t spell doom. It spells strategy. He and his team are leaning into the disruption, identifying moments when the market misprices solid businesses due to short-term panic. That’s when they pounce—either to reinforce existing holdings or to introduce new, undervalued names to their portfolio.
MSCI: The Quiet King of Financial Data
If you’re not familiar with MSCI, you’re not alone. This isn’t a name that shows up in flashy headlines. But in the financial world, MSCI is royalty. It’s the engine room of the investment universe—designing the indexes that power ETFs, mutual funds, and portfolio models across the globe. Whether it's ESG, climate analytics, or private asset benchmarking, MSCI is entrenched in the DNA of asset management.
With gross margins north of 80% and operating margins above 50%, Harris calls it an “oligopoly in data analytics.” Translation: there’s virtually no serious competition. That level of margin efficiency isn't just rare—it's a fortress. And in a market obsessed with tech and AI, MSCI’s dominance in decision-support analytics positions it as a must-own data powerhouse.
Bank of America: Built for the Long Haul
Next up is Bank of America—a giant that’s playing the long game. With 10% of all U.S. deposits, it’s not just big, it’s foundational. But Harris isn’t buying BofA for its size. He’s looking at the fundamentals: a 13% tier-one capital ratio, a stock trading at book value, and a modest 10x earnings multiple. That’s value territory. Add a 2.8% dividend yield and you’ve got a solid income play with growth upside.
Bank of America is trimming the fat, reducing headcount and investing heavily in tech to boost efficiency. More importantly, it’s shifting towards fee-based income—revenue streams less exposed to rate cuts or macroeconomic shocks. Harris is also bullish on deregulation tailwinds. A looser regulatory environment could unlock even greater profitability for big banks, and BofA is primed to capitalize.
Nvidia: The Beating Heart of AI
Let’s be real—no conversation about top stocks in 2025 is complete without Nvidia. With AI now at the center of everything from defense systems to healthcare diagnostics, Nvidia is arguably the most important hardware company on Earth. Harris doesn’t mince words: Nvidia is “a leader in AI infrastructure, well ahead of their competition.” And the numbers don’t lie.
The company boasts 75% gross margins, 62% operating margins, zero debt, and $43 billion in cash. These are war chest numbers. Nvidia isn’t just riding the AI wave—it built the wave. From data centers to autonomous vehicles, Nvidia’s chips are the brainpower behind next-gen computing. While the stock trades at 21x earnings—expensive by old metrics—Harris sees it as a bargain when adjusted for growth and dominance.
Why Harris Sees Opportunity in Today’s Volatility
In a world where many investors are running for cover, Harris is pressing forward. His strategy rests on a clear philosophy: when the market panics, it misprices assets. That’s the window for disciplined investors to buy quality at a discount. He doesn’t chase hype or react emotionally to headlines. Instead, Harris drills deep into companies with fortress balance sheets, industry moats, and management teams that know how to execute in both calm and stormy waters.
His picks reflect that mindset. MSCI is a data titan that never sleeps. Bank of America is a financial juggernaut tightening its grip on a tech-powered future. And Nvidia is the rocket fuel behind the AI revolution. These aren’t speculative plays—they’re calculated bets on structural trends and sectoral dominance.
A Glimpse at the Harris Douglas Playbook
Harris Douglas Asset Management doesn’t go all-in on flashy momentum stocks. They build with patience, layer in positions, and scale up during downturns. It’s a strategy shaped by experience and conviction. They look beyond quarterly earnings, zooming out to the 3- to 5-year horizon. And in an age of algorithm-driven trading and meme stock mania, their approach is refreshingly grounded.
Paul Harris doesn’t need a crystal ball. He needs data, discipline, and a willingness to zig when others zag. And in April 2025, that zig looks like MSCI, Bank of America, and Nvidia.
Conclusion: Betting on Brains, Not Noise
When markets get loud, smart money listens carefully. Paul Harris has built a career out of tuning out the static and focusing on fundamentals. In this latest installment of his top picks, we see that philosophy in action—calm, calculated, and contrarian. Whether it’s the quiet dominance of MSCI, the resilient foundation of Bank of America, or the trailblazing power of Nvidia, each stock carries the signature of a manager who sees beyond the noise.
