Becker Business Podcast: "5 Big Tech Stocks Having a Rough Year" (February 11, 2026)
Host: Scott Becker
Episode Theme:
A concise business news update examining the year-to-date struggles of major technology stocks, featuring analysis and founder context from Scott Becker.

Overview

In this episode, Scott Becker breaks down the challenging start to the year for five of the biggest technology stocks. Leveraging both analytic insights and practical investor perspective (including noting some personal portfolio pain), Scott details stock declines, notes company leadership, and provides quick comparative context with other major tech firms. The tone is brisk, informative, and candid—ideal for listeners tracking business trends or invested in large-cap tech.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listing the Five Struggling Tech Stocks

(00:12 – 01:25)
Scott walks through a list of five prominent public technology companies that are “having a rough year so far,” providing the founder and the specific year-to-date stock decline for each:

• Salesforce

  • Founded by Marc Benioff
  • Stock down ~27% year-to-date

• Oracle

  • Founded by Larry Ellison
  • Stock down ~18% year-to-date

• Microsoft

  • Founded by Bill Gates
  • Stock down ~14.5% year-to-date

• Amazon

  • Founded by Jeff Bezos
  • Stock down ~10.35% year-to-date

• ServiceNow

  • Scott quips: “I don’t know who the founder is offhand.”
  • Stock down ~30.5% year-to-date

2. Founder Leadership Status

(01:10 – 01:35)
Scott notes the ongoing involvement of certain founders:

• “Of those, Benioff and Ellison are still leading their enterprises. Benioff still leads Salesforce; Oracle [is] still led in large part by Larry Ellison and two co–CEOs.” (01:22)

3. Short Sellers and Oracle

(01:36 – 01:55)
Scott references recent press about short sellers profiting off Oracle’s decline:

• “There’s a… story about these stocks in bar charts. Short sellers making bank on Oracle stock. Should you bet against Oracle too? We’ll see. I think a day or two ago Oracle had a bit of a recovery, but still down significantly year to date and way off its highs that it was at last year.” (01:41)

4. Relative Performance of Other Tech Giants

(01:56 – 02:10)
Scott adds broader market context, naming four other mega-cap tech stocks that are holding steady:

• “I’ll give you four of the big tech stocks right now that are essentially flat year to date: Nvidia, Meta Platforms, Google, and Apple are essentially flat year to date. So not great, but faring far better than these five.” (01:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Candid Investor Perspective:
  “We’re an investor in some of these unfortunately, but it is what it is.” (00:29)

• Founder Focus:
  “Of those, Benioff and Ellison are still leading their enterprises… Benioff still leads Salesforce; Oracle, still led in large part by Larry Ellison and two co–CEOs.” (01:21)

• Market Trend Observer:
  “There’s another story about these stocks in bar charts. Short sellers making bank on Oracle stock. Should you bet against Oracle too? We’ll see.” (01:41)

• Concise Comparison:
  “Nvidia, Meta Platforms, Google and Apple are essentially flat year to date. So not great, but faring far better than these five ServiceNow, Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle and Salesforce that are really struggling.” (02:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:12 – 01:25: Rundown of five big tech stocks with year-to-date declines
• 01:10 – 01:35: Explanation of which founders remain involved
• 01:36 – 01:55: Comments on Oracle’s decline and short seller activity
• 01:56 – 02:10: Comparison to Nvidia, Meta, Google, and Apple’s steadiness

Conclusion

Scott Becker’s brisk update spotlights the unexpectedly sharp underperformance of several marquee tech stocks in early 2026. By seamlessly weaving in founder profiles, market commentary, and personal investment candor, Scott offers a snapshot of a shifting tech investment landscape—all in just a couple of minutes. The episode is essential listening for investors, business watchers, and anyone tracking the fortunes of America’s tech giants.