Becker Business Podcast: Five of the Worst Performing Stocks Over the Last 52 Weeks
Host: Scott Becker
Date: August 26, 2025
Episode Focus: Analyzing five of the poorest-performing stocks in the past year, challenging the belief that “the grass is always greener” for new or popular investments.
Episode Overview
Scott Becker presents a sobering look at major stock market disappointments, reminding listeners that not every highly-touted investment pans out. Focusing on five notable companies, Scott analyzes their recent downtrends and briefly highlights industry or company-specific contexts. The episode serves as both caution and insight into the unpredictable nature of investing, even among big players and trendy sectors.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Introduction: “The Grass Isn’t Always Greener”
- Scott Becker opens by challenging the optimism often associated with new investment trends:
- “Everybody thinks this will be exciting—invest in these different types of companies and so forth. But here are five that, if you invested in, you’re very sorry you did.” (00:10)
The Five Worst Performing Stocks
1. Vivid Seats (Down 82%)
- Identified as the worst on the list:
- “Vivid Seats is down 82% over the last 52 weeks.” (00:17)
- No further detail, but highlights how even entertainment-focused, tech-driven businesses can falter.
2. Acadia Healthcare (Down 71%)
- Noted as a surprising name for some:
- “Acadia Healthcare down 71%. I don’t know that much about Acadia.” (00:20)
- Scott briefly admits unfamiliarity, illustrating how even sector experts can encounter lesser-known underperformers.
3. Centene Corporation (Down 62%)
- Discussed as a dominant player in its field:
- “Centene Corporation, down 62%. It’s the biggest manager of Medicaid managed care plans in the country for states.” (00:24)
- Points to how even market leaders serving essential needs (like Medicaid plans) are vulnerable.
4. Lucid Motors (Down 52%)
- One of the EV market’s most watched stocks:
- “Lucid Motors, one of the big three pure EV players, still is stuck at about 10 to 20,000 vehicles a year. It’s down 52% over the last 52 weeks.” (00:32)
- Scott frames Lucid as “still stuck” at relatively low production numbers compared to competitors and market expectations.
5. UnitedHealth Group (Down 47%)
- An unexpected addition from a famed giant:
- “Finally, United Healthcare. UnitedHealth Group, which just got a shot in the arm from Warren Buffett, is down 47% year to date and we’ll see if that changes or how that goes.” (00:39)
- A note on Warren Buffett’s investment acts as a potential counter-point: the stock's future could shift, but current performance remains dismal.
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Introduction & episode theme: 00:00–00:10
- Vivid Seats: 00:17
- Acadia Healthcare: 00:20
- Centene Corporation: 00:24
- Lucid Motors: 00:32
- UnitedHealth Group: 00:39
- Warren Buffett mention: 00:43
Tone & Style
Scott maintains a direct and informative tone, mixing dry wit with straightforward delivery. His “grass isn’t always greener” theme echoes throughout as a gentle warning to speculative investors.
Summary
This concise episode delivers a quick but pointed reflection on the unpredictability of stock investing—even established giants and market darlings can suffer dramatic downturns. Scott’s analysis provides listeners with a useful check against hype-driven investment enthusiasm and reinforces the necessity of due diligence and caution—no matter how promising a stock may seem.
