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

• On regretful investments:

  • “Here are five that, if you invested in, you’re very sorry you did.” – Scott Becker (00:14)

• On UnitedHealth Group and Buffett’s involvement:

  • “God bless Warren Buffett and good luck to United Healthcare.” – Scott Becker (00:43)

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.