Ackman Rejects Tax Loophole Claims Amid Controversy
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 17 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy HHH?
Source: Benzinga
- Tax Controversy: Billionaire investor Bill Ackman engaged in a heated exchange on social media with wealth manager Ross Gerber, who accused him of paying a lower tax rate than a public school teacher on his reported $140 million income, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with the 'carried interest' tax loophole.
- Ackman's Rebuttal: Ackman firmly denied Gerber's claims, asserting that he pays the highest federal, state, and city tax rates, and emphasized that his funds are not structured to benefit from lower carried interest rates, demonstrating his strong response to public scrutiny.
- Tax Structure Debate: The dispute underscored the confusion surrounding U.S. tax brackets, as Gerber and others discussed the similarity in tax rates between teachers and fund managers, despite this comparison relying on a mathematical misconception that reveals fundamental differences between ordinary income and Wall Street capital gains.
- Ackman's IPO Filing: Concurrently, Ackman's Pershing Square filed for U.S. initial public offerings for his hedge fund and a new fund on Tuesday, indicating his continued activity in the capital markets despite the ongoing tax controversy.
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Analyst Views on HHH
Wall Street analysts forecast HHH stock price to rise
3 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 63.470
Low
89.00
Averages
96.33
High
105.00
Current: 63.470
Low
89.00
Averages
96.33
High
105.00
About HHH
Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. owns, manages, and develops commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate throughout the United States. The Company operates through three business segments: Operating Assets, master planned communities (MPCs), and Strategic Developments. In its Operating Assets segment, it owns a variety of asset types, including approximately 9.2 million square feet of retail and office properties, 5,587 wholly and partially owned multifamily units, and wholly and partially owned other properties and investments. Its assets in this segment are primarily located in and around Houston, Texas (The Woodlands and Bridgeland); Columbia, Maryland (Columbia); Las Vegas, Nevada (Summerlin), and Honolulu, Hawai‘i (Ward Village). In its MPC segment, it plans, develops, and manages small cities and large-scale, mixed-use communities in markets. The Strategic Developments segment consists of residential condominium and commercial property projects.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Ackman's New Fund to Bundle with Hedge Fund IPO
- Innovative Fund Structure: The newly launched Pershing Square USA Ltd. (PSUS) closed-end fund will bundle with Bill Ackman's hedge fund firm, offering investors 20 shares of PS for every 100 shares of PSUS purchased, enhancing investment appeal and market competitiveness.
- Large Financing Scale: PSUS has secured commitments in a related private offering to raise $2.8 billion at $50 per share, with plans to issue 55.6 million PSUS common shares and deliver 16.7 million PS shares, reflecting strong market demand and investor confidence.
- Clear Leverage Strategy: PSUS intends to issue $50 million in preferred stock and aims to maintain a debt-to-total-assets ratio of 15% to 20% to enhance long-term returns, indicating a focus on capital structure and confidence in future growth.
- Stable Management Fees: Pershing Square receives a quarterly base management fee of $3.75 million from Howard Hughes Holdings, plus a variable fee of 0.375%, ensuring revenue stability during market volatility and further solidifying its competitive advantage.
See More
Ackman Rejects Tax Loophole Claims Amid Controversy
- Tax Controversy: Billionaire investor Bill Ackman engaged in a heated exchange on social media with wealth manager Ross Gerber, who accused him of paying a lower tax rate than a public school teacher on his reported $140 million income, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with the 'carried interest' tax loophole.
- Ackman's Rebuttal: Ackman firmly denied Gerber's claims, asserting that he pays the highest federal, state, and city tax rates, and emphasized that his funds are not structured to benefit from lower carried interest rates, demonstrating his strong response to public scrutiny.
- Tax Structure Debate: The dispute underscored the confusion surrounding U.S. tax brackets, as Gerber and others discussed the similarity in tax rates between teachers and fund managers, despite this comparison relying on a mathematical misconception that reveals fundamental differences between ordinary income and Wall Street capital gains.
- Ackman's IPO Filing: Concurrently, Ackman's Pershing Square filed for U.S. initial public offerings for his hedge fund and a new fund on Tuesday, indicating his continued activity in the capital markets despite the ongoing tax controversy.
See More
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Faces 11% Decline, Potentially Impacting IPO Aspirations.
- Investment Performance: Bill Ackman's main investment vehicle has experienced an 11% decline in 2026.
- Future Plans: Ackman is preparing for a potential public offering of his management company and a new closed-end equity fund.
See More
Bill Ackman Aims to Transform Howard Hughes Holdings into a Modern Berkshire Hathaway
- Investment Vision: Bill Ackman aims to transform Howard Hughes Holdings into a modern-day Berkshire Hathaway by acquiring Vantage Group, which will enhance the company's investment portfolio and market competitiveness.
- Portfolio Performance: Ackman's hedge fund, Pershing Square Capital Management, has outperformed the S&P 500 by 40 percentage points over the past decade, demonstrating the effectiveness of its investment strategy and potential for long-term returns.
- Uber Investment Outlook: Uber constitutes 16% of Ackman's portfolio, with expected adjusted earnings growth of over 30% annually, slightly above Wall Street's consensus of 25%, indicating its potential in commercializing autonomous driving technology.
- Amazon's AI Edge: Amazon makes up 14% of Ackman's portfolio, with its AWS cloud service holding a 41% market share, and projected earnings growth of 17% annually over the next three years, showcasing its strong competitive position in AI and robotics.
See More
Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. Q4 2025 Earnings Call Insights
- Strategic Transformation: Howard Hughes is transitioning from a pure real estate development company to a diversified holding company, with plans to acquire Vantage Holdings expected to close in the upcoming quarter, marking a significant milestone that will enhance the company's market competitiveness.
- Financial Performance Highlights: In 2025, MPC EBT reached a record $476 million, while operating asset NOI was reported at $276 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year growth, indicating strong demand and pricing power in core markets.
- Future Outlook: Adjusted operating cash flow for 2026 is projected to range between $415 million and $465 million, with MPC EBT expected between $343 million and $391 million, highlighting the company's focus on stable revenue streams despite the absence of large land sales.
- Risks and Challenges: Management acknowledged the inherent volatility of MPC earnings and the integration and profitability timeline for Vantage insurance as key challenges, with analysts expressing concerns over development cost pressures and capital allocation priorities.
See More
H/2 Credit Manager Acquires Stake in Howard Hughes Holdings
- New Investment Disclosure: On February 17, 2026, SEC filings revealed that H/2 Credit Manager LP established a new position in Howard Hughes Holdings by acquiring 140,268 shares for an estimated $11.19 million, indicating strong confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Stock Performance: As of February 19, 2026, HHH shares were priced at $82.25, reflecting a 12% increase over the past year, which underscores the company's robust performance in the real estate market and positive investor sentiment.
- Financial Highlights: Howard Hughes Holdings reported record earnings before tax of $476 million for 2025, up 36% year-over-year, alongside a net operating income (NOI) of $276 million, showcasing its strong profitability and growth potential.
- Strategic Transformation: This acquisition not only enhances H/2's investment portfolio but also signifies Howard Hughes's pivot towards becoming a diversified holding company, which is expected to drive long-term asset appreciation and compounding cash flow growth.
See More
Ackman's New Fund to Bundle with Hedge Fund IPO
- Innovative Fund Structure: The newly launched Pershing Square USA Ltd. (PSUS) closed-end fund will bundle with Bill Ackman's hedge fund firm, offering investors 20 shares of PS for every 100 shares of PSUS purchased, enhancing investment appeal and market competitiveness.
- Large Financing Scale: PSUS has secured commitments in a related private offering to raise $2.8 billion at $50 per share, with plans to issue 55.6 million PSUS common shares and deliver 16.7 million PS shares, reflecting strong market demand and investor confidence.
- Clear Leverage Strategy: PSUS intends to issue $50 million in preferred stock and aims to maintain a debt-to-total-assets ratio of 15% to 20% to enhance long-term returns, indicating a focus on capital structure and confidence in future growth.
- Stable Management Fees: Pershing Square receives a quarterly base management fee of $3.75 million from Howard Hughes Holdings, plus a variable fee of 0.375%, ensuring revenue stability during market volatility and further solidifying its competitive advantage.
See More
Ackman Rejects Tax Loophole Claims Amid Controversy
- Tax Controversy: Billionaire investor Bill Ackman engaged in a heated exchange on social media with wealth manager Ross Gerber, who accused him of paying a lower tax rate than a public school teacher on his reported $140 million income, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with the 'carried interest' tax loophole.
- Ackman's Rebuttal: Ackman firmly denied Gerber's claims, asserting that he pays the highest federal, state, and city tax rates, and emphasized that his funds are not structured to benefit from lower carried interest rates, demonstrating his strong response to public scrutiny.
- Tax Structure Debate: The dispute underscored the confusion surrounding U.S. tax brackets, as Gerber and others discussed the similarity in tax rates between teachers and fund managers, despite this comparison relying on a mathematical misconception that reveals fundamental differences between ordinary income and Wall Street capital gains.
- Ackman's IPO Filing: Concurrently, Ackman's Pershing Square filed for U.S. initial public offerings for his hedge fund and a new fund on Tuesday, indicating his continued activity in the capital markets despite the ongoing tax controversy.
See More
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Faces 11% Decline, Potentially Impacting IPO Aspirations.
- Investment Performance: Bill Ackman's main investment vehicle has experienced an 11% decline in 2026.
- Future Plans: Ackman is preparing for a potential public offering of his management company and a new closed-end equity fund.
See More
Bill Ackman Aims to Transform Howard Hughes Holdings into a Modern Berkshire Hathaway
- Investment Vision: Bill Ackman aims to transform Howard Hughes Holdings into a modern-day Berkshire Hathaway by acquiring Vantage Group, which will enhance the company's investment portfolio and market competitiveness.
- Portfolio Performance: Ackman's hedge fund, Pershing Square Capital Management, has outperformed the S&P 500 by 40 percentage points over the past decade, demonstrating the effectiveness of its investment strategy and potential for long-term returns.
- Uber Investment Outlook: Uber constitutes 16% of Ackman's portfolio, with expected adjusted earnings growth of over 30% annually, slightly above Wall Street's consensus of 25%, indicating its potential in commercializing autonomous driving technology.
- Amazon's AI Edge: Amazon makes up 14% of Ackman's portfolio, with its AWS cloud service holding a 41% market share, and projected earnings growth of 17% annually over the next three years, showcasing its strong competitive position in AI and robotics.
See More
Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. Q4 2025 Earnings Call Insights
- Strategic Transformation: Howard Hughes is transitioning from a pure real estate development company to a diversified holding company, with plans to acquire Vantage Holdings expected to close in the upcoming quarter, marking a significant milestone that will enhance the company's market competitiveness.
- Financial Performance Highlights: In 2025, MPC EBT reached a record $476 million, while operating asset NOI was reported at $276 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year growth, indicating strong demand and pricing power in core markets.
- Future Outlook: Adjusted operating cash flow for 2026 is projected to range between $415 million and $465 million, with MPC EBT expected between $343 million and $391 million, highlighting the company's focus on stable revenue streams despite the absence of large land sales.
- Risks and Challenges: Management acknowledged the inherent volatility of MPC earnings and the integration and profitability timeline for Vantage insurance as key challenges, with analysts expressing concerns over development cost pressures and capital allocation priorities.
See More
H/2 Credit Manager Acquires Stake in Howard Hughes Holdings
- New Investment Disclosure: On February 17, 2026, SEC filings revealed that H/2 Credit Manager LP established a new position in Howard Hughes Holdings by acquiring 140,268 shares for an estimated $11.19 million, indicating strong confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Stock Performance: As of February 19, 2026, HHH shares were priced at $82.25, reflecting a 12% increase over the past year, which underscores the company's robust performance in the real estate market and positive investor sentiment.
- Financial Highlights: Howard Hughes Holdings reported record earnings before tax of $476 million for 2025, up 36% year-over-year, alongside a net operating income (NOI) of $276 million, showcasing its strong profitability and growth potential.
- Strategic Transformation: This acquisition not only enhances H/2's investment portfolio but also signifies Howard Hughes's pivot towards becoming a diversified holding company, which is expected to drive long-term asset appreciation and compounding cash flow growth.
See More
