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This is Scott Becker with the Becker Business and the Becker Private Equity podcast. We try and bring you interesting businesses daily and also an episode typically with a brilliant business leader. Today's discussion is five big time technology stocks that are having a rough year so far. So I'm just going to walk you through five of this. We watch this closely. We're an investor in some of these unfortunately, but it is what it is. Here's five of those companies. Salesforce, the famous company founded by Marc Benioff is down almost 27% year to date. Oracle, the famous company founded by Larry Ellison, down almost 18% year to date. Microsoft again, each one of these are famous big names other than ServiceNow, which is a big, big name as well, but I don't know who the founder is offhand. Microsoft, founded of course by Bill gates, down about 14 and a half percent year to date. Fourth, Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos, down about 10.35% year to date. And finally, service now down 30.5% year to date Again. Salesforce, Mark Benioff, Oracle, Larry Ellison, Amazon, Jeff Bezos, Microsoft, Bill Gates, the famous founders of those companies. 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. There's a another 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, 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. We'll have another discussion. 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 ServiceNow, Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle and Salesforce that are really struggling. Thank you for listening to the Becker business and the Becker private equity podcast. And thank you to our wonderful producer Chanel Bunger. Thank you very much. Every day.
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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.
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.
(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
Oracle
Microsoft
Amazon
ServiceNow
(01:10 – 01:35)
Scott notes the ongoing involvement of certain founders:
(01:36 – 01:55)
Scott references recent press about short sellers profiting off Oracle’s decline:
(01:56 – 02:10)
Scott adds broader market context, naming four other mega-cap tech stocks that are holding steady:
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)
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.