Podcast Summary: Becker Business

Host: Scott Becker
Episode: 3 Stocks We Own Having a Bad Month 9-29-25
Date: September 29, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Scott Becker discusses three individual stocks in his portfolio that have significantly underperformed over the past month. Despite being a strong proponent of index funds and Treasuries, Becker reflects on the volatility and humbling nature of holding a handful of individual stocks. He narrates his personal experiences with Klarna, Astera Labs, and Amazon, and shares candid, relatable reactions to their recent downturns.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Investing Philosophy and Approach

• Index Funds Preference:
  Scott reiterates his core investing strategy:

  “I'm largely an investor in index funds and Treasuries, but then I do have a smattering of individual stocks.” (00:11)

• Humility in Stock Picking:
  Watching his individual picks underperform reinforces his belief in broad, diversified investments:

  “When I watch my individual stocks get crushed, it reminds me of why I largely have all my money in index funds.” (00:19)

2. Stock #1: Klarna

• Recent IPO Disappointment:
  Klarna, recently made public, has dropped notably since its IPO.

  “Klarna went public. I own it indirectly through some hedge fund I'm an investor in. It's now down 12% since went public.” (00:30)

• Becker’s Reaction:

  “Bah humbug is the best I could do on that.” (00:35)

3. Stock #2: Astera Labs

• Early Success—Recent Struggle:
  Initially, Astera Labs was a standout winner in his portfolio. However, the good fortune reversed quickly:

  “Astera Labs is one of these stocks that's been doing great since I invested in it. I've been patting myself on the back, so proud of myself. Now, of course, over the last week, it's down 20%. And so much for patting myself on the back.” (00:38)

4. Stock #3: Amazon

• Cloud Bet Not Paying Off (Yet):
  Scott holds Amazon shares partly due to his confidence in their cloud business (AWS). However, Amazon’s share price hasn’t kept pace with the broader tech market:

  “I'm an investor in Amazon. Really? Based on the bet of their cloud services and everything else, Amazon Web Services, they are also up 0% this year when the Nasdaq is up 17 or so and the SP is up 13 or so.” (00:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Becker’s humorous candor:

  “God bless America. Gentlemen, start your engines.” (01:11)

• On the humbling experience of stock picking:

  “And so much for patting myself on the back.” (00:46)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00-00:20 – Introduction & Investing Background
• 00:30 – Klarna IPO performance
• 00:38 – Astera Labs rollercoaster
• 00:55 – Amazon lagging market indices
• 01:11 – Closing remarks with humor

Conclusion

Scott Becker’s brief solo episode is a candid, concise reflection on the volatility of individual stock investments—even for seasoned investors. While he shares the pain of recent losses, Becker’s tone remains self-aware and good-natured, reinforcing the value of diversified, index-based strategies. The episode is as much about humility in investing as it is about any specific stock, with wry takeaways for anyone dabbling outside broad market funds.