Hedge funder Rob Citrone explains why he's short US stocks — and shares the global markets where he's putting money instead

• Hedge funder Rob Citrone says he's short US stocks.
• He notes current US underperformance, and says it will continue relative to international peers.
• Citrone outlines his bullishness on global markets, with Mexico his top pick for investment.

Rob Citrone sees better opportunities outside of the US.

The billionaire hedge funder says he's short US stocks, largely due to expectations that the domestic market would continue underperform the rest of the world.

"I am short the US, and I'm long global markets," the Discovery Capital founder said, speaking to CNBC about his investment strategy on Tuesday.

Citrone said the US market was already beginning to fall behind relative to other assets. In the year leading up the last Friday, he noted that the gains in dollar-based assets have been the weakest when compared to 19 other markets around the world.

The S&P 500 is up 11% over the past year, compared to the 34% gain in the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Market ETF over the same period.

"The US is 20th out of 20," Citrone said, adding that gains in the US market fell around 30% short of the gains in emerging markets in the last year. "That's a significant difference."

There are a few reasons Citrone said he believed the US's underperformance would continue:

• Most global investors are "way overweight" in the US-based assets. On average, US-based institutions have around 80% of their wealth invested in the US market, he said.

  "Most people are going to move some money from the US, elsewhere," Citrone added.

• Emerging markets also look relatively undervalued. US assets trade at around a 40% premium relative to other assets around the world, which Citrone called "excessive."

• AI uncertainty. US markets are also facing uncertainty as to how the AI trade will pan out, he said, pointing to overarching concerns about large AI-related capex spending, though monetization plans for AI remain unclear at some firms.

  Various stock sectors are also starting to sell-off out of fear over how AI could disrupt business models, he added, pointing to the selling pressure that's hammered the software, real estate, and trucking sectors recently.

Citrone said he saw better opportunities in emerging markets. He pointed in particular to the promising investment climate in areas like Argentina and Brazil, and said Mexico was his top pick due to its growing ties to the US economy.

"I think Mexico has really gone all in with the United States and they've got good — better leadership, the companies are quite competitive," Citrone said, adding that most of the companies in the nation had "big moats" in competition due to being monopolies or oligopolies.

Investors have been increasingly turning their attention to other areas around the world, a trend that has been gathering steam since President Donald Trump's tariffs first sparked a "Sell America" moment in markets last year. Goldman Sachs and Lazard are among the firms that have also warned the US's dominance in global markets could continue to fade.