Becker Business Podcast Summary

Episode: Microsoft, Facebook, + 10 Stories We Are Following This Week 1-30-26
Host: Scott Becker
Date: January 30, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Becker runs through a rapid-fire roundup of top business news stories and trends. Key topics include the latest dramatic shifts in tech giants such as Microsoft and Facebook, financial challenges for private equity and payer companies, cultural anecdotes, and surprising updates in the business landscape. The tone is brisk, conversational, and opinionated—painting a vivid picture of the week's market movers and relevant headlines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Microsoft’s Market Setback

• [00:19] Microsoft’s stock plunged 11% after earnings.
• Strong headline profits but cloud business growth lagged expectations.
• Increased capital expenditures cited as a concern for investors.
• Quote:
  “Microsoft got crushed on Thursday in the market, down about 11%. It ended up with… good earnings, good revenues, but it was negative in terms of the growth of its cloud business… the amount of capital expenditures that it's going to need to compete.” – Scott Becker [00:21]

2. Meta (Facebook) Triumphs

• [00:37] Meta Platforms (Facebook) saw a 10% surge.
• Positive momentum attributed to faith in Mark Zuckerberg.
• Quote:
  “The lesson really with Facebook meta platforms is never bet against Mark Zuckerberg.” – Scott Becker [00:40]

3. Carvana’s Ongoing Turmoil

• [00:42] Carvana faces renewed allegations of accounting irregularities.
• Shares slid approx. 12% for the week, including a 14% drop on Wednesday.
• Quote:
  “Carvana itself had a tough week again accused of sort of accounting grift and more… old allegations, old resurfacing about the accounting at Carvana.” – Scott Becker [00:45]

4. Payers (United) Hit Hard

• [01:10] United Healthcare had a “very bad week,” down 20% in one day; slight recovery after.
• Forecasts show anticipated revenue reductions into 2025–2026.

5. Starbucks on the Upswing

• [01:27] Starbucks delivering higher revenues and improved customer experience.
• Stock up 14% YTD.
• Quote:
  “Starbucks is on a roll. Its revenues are rising again. Its customer experience is moving in the right direction… stock is up about 14% year to date.” – Scott Becker [01:30]

6. Federal Reserve Holds Rates Steady

• [01:47] Fed funds rate remains at 3.5–3.75%.

7. IBM’s Revival

• [01:50] IBM’s stock surged with a major earnings win; Q4 earnings nearly doubled to $5.6B.
• A positive sign for the company’s relevance in tech.

8. Local Golf Club Scandal

• [02:01] Amusing story: Golf club embroiled in scandal as two members allegedly manipulated handicaps and reported suspiciously low scores (81–81) despite high handicaps (16–18).
• Viral TikTok commentary brought attention and chaos to the club.
• Becker connects “gaming the numbers” in sports to similar antics in business.

9. Private Equity Giants Stagnate

• [02:34] Major private equity firms KKR and Blackstone struggle:
  • KKR down 30% YoY.
  • Blackstone down 20% YoY.

10. Palantir’s Volatility

• [02:47] Palantir’s stock drops 12% YTD, including a 5% single-day slide.

11. Layoffs: “The Iceman Cometh”

• [02:52] Amazon, UPS, Pinterest, Nike, Verizon all implementing layoffs.
• Jokes about the distinction between recession (“two quarters of decline”) and depression (“when you or a close one loses a job”).

12. Intel Bounces Back

• [03:10] Intel’s valuation up 11% in a single day, signifying strong performance.

13. Bill Belichick Snubbed

• [03:18] Not strictly business, but “Bill Belichick, famous coach of the New England Patriots, gets snubbed by the Hall of Fame.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Never bet against Mark Zuckerberg.” – Scott Becker on Meta [00:40]
• “Carvana… accused of sort of accounting grift and more. …old allegations, old resurfacing.” [00:45]
• “…the difference between a recession and a depression… recession… generally goes down for two quarters in a row… depression is when you or a family member or friend loses a job. That’s a depression.” [02:59]
• “I find some similarities between the accounting rift that Carvana is regularly accused of in people gaming their golf scores for club tournaments.” [02:30]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Microsoft’s Downturn: [00:19]
• Meta’s Upswing: [00:37]
• Carvana’s Troubles: [00:42]
• United’s Revenue Forecast: [01:10]
• Starbucks Success: [01:27]
• Fed Rate Decision: [01:47]
• IBM’s Earnings: [01:50]
• Golf Club Scandal: [02:01]
• Private Equity Losses: [02:34]
• Palantir’s Stock Drop: [02:47]
• Layoffs (Recession vs. Depression): [02:52]
• Intel Recovery: [03:10]
• Bill Belichick Snub: [03:18]

Tone and Style

Scott Becker’s narrative is sharp, fast-paced, with an insider’s confidence and the occasional flash of humor (“The Iceman Cometh”; “Never bet against Mark Zuckerberg”). The episode balances solid financial data and market analysis with lighter, personalized stories, giving the listener both context and color behind the headlines.

For feedback on the podcast’s content, sound quality, or Scott’s delivery speed, the host encourages listeners to text him directly at 773-766-5322 and offers a $100 gift certificate for the first responder.