The Magnificent 7 & Their YTD Results 9-22-25

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Becker Business
Host: Scott Becker
Episode: The Magnificent 7 & Their YTD Results 9-22-25
Release Date: September 22, 2025

In this concise episode, Scott Becker breaks down the year-to-date (YTD) performance of the "Magnificent Seven"—the top seven tech stocks shaping market headlines. Becker provides a snapshot of each company’s returns, shares his take on the ongoing tech market cap race, and notes legal and regulatory issues in play.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Magnificent Seven: YTD Performance (Alphabetical Order)

1. Alphabet (Google)

• YTD Performance: Up 34%
• Observations:
  • Alphabet leads all Magnificent Seven stocks so far this year.
  • Faces significant challenges: "no shortage of problems from a legal and regulatory perspective."
    • (00:31) “Alphabet Google is the leader of the pack up 34% year to date, but faces no shortage of problems from a legal and regulatory perspective.” – Scott Becker

2. Amazon

• YTD Performance: Up 5.5%
• Observations:
  • Solidly positive, but well behind the top performers.

3. Apple

• YTD Performance: Down 2%
• Unique Point:
  • “Apple is the only Magnificent Seven stock that's underwater. It’s down 2% year to date. It's been moving in the right direction.” (01:10)
• Market Cap Status:
  • Has dropped from the #1 spot; now #3 in the overall U.S. market cap race.

4. Meta Platforms (Facebook)

• YTD Performance: Up 33%
• Grouping Note:
  • Along with Nvidia and Alphabet, one of the top gainers this year: “Meta platforms with Nvidia and Alphabet Google are all about 33, 34% year to date. So almost exactly in the same spot.” (01:20)

5. Microsoft

• YTD Performance: Up 22.8%
• Notable Observation:
  • Continues to perform reliably:
    • “Microsoft's like the little company that keeps on coming. I shouldn't say the little company, the behemoth, keeps on performing.” (02:06)
  • Holding the #2 spot in U.S. market capitalization, now trailing only Nvidia.

6. Nvidia

• YTD Performance: Up 33.5%
• Commentary:
  • Groups closely with Meta and Alphabet for best YTD performance.

7. Tesla

• YTD Performance: Up 5.5%
• Placement Note:
  • "Tesla's also up exactly 5.5% year to date, or right about there." (00:55)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• (00:31) “Alphabet Google is the leader of the pack up 34% year to date, but faces no shortage of problems from a legal and regulatory perspective.” – Scott Becker
• (01:10) “Apple is the only Magnificent Seven stock that's underwater. It’s down 2% year to date. It's been moving in the right direction.” – Scott Becker
• (01:20) “Meta platforms with Nvidia and Alphabet Google are all about 33, 34% year to date. So almost exactly in the same spot to just tie onto that. Meta platforms is up 33% year to date. That's, you know, Facebook, of course.” – Scott Becker
• (02:06) “Microsoft's like the little company that keeps on coming. I shouldn't say the little company, the behemoth, keeps on performing. They're up 23% year to date. And in terms of the overall market cap race, they are right behind Nvidia as the largest market cap company in America.” – Scott Becker
• (02:25) “Apple was in that spot for years and is now down to third and staying with it, but not accelerating like Nvidia and Microsoft.” – Scott Becker

---

Market Cap Race & Broader Observations

• Nvidia & Microsoft: Now clearly holding the top two U.S. market cap spots, Apple declining to third.
• Legal & Regulatory Headwinds: Alphabet (Google) is under increasing scrutiny, which could complicate continued outperformance.
• General Trend: While Alphabet, Meta, and Nvidia are enjoying standout years, Amazon and Tesla’s moderate gains, and Apple’s slight decline, highlight diverging fortunes across the Magnificent Seven.

---

Episode Structure at a Glance

• [00:00 – 00:50]: Introduction and Alphabet (Google) performance/review
• [00:51 – 01:10]: Amazon, Tesla, and Apple segment
• [01:11 – 01:32]: Meta, Nvidia, and comparison among top gainers
• [01:33 – 02:25]: Microsoft’s performance and the ongoing market cap race
• [02:26 – End]: Final summary and thanks

---

Conclusion

Scott Becker’s incisive rundown offers listeners a timely snapshot of the tech market’s powerhouses. Dominant winners (Alphabet, Meta, Nvidia), reliable stalwarts (Microsoft), middle performers (Amazon, Tesla), and a rare laggard (Apple) are all reviewed with Becker’s trademark candor and insight. The brief episode offers both concrete numbers and context for interpreting 2025’s extraordinary tech stock landscape.

Transcript

[A]

This is Scott Becker with the Becker Business Podcast. The Becker Private Equity Podcast. We cover business, investing, startups and a lot more. Today's discussion is the magnificent seven year to date results. So I'll do this in the alphabetical order and then we could also come through and give a couple observations on it. First, Alphabet Google is the leader of the pack, up 34% year to date, but faces no shortage of problems from a legal and regulatory perspective. So we'll see how that goes. Second, Amazon is up 5.5% year to date. And, well, this is an alphabetical order. I'll add in Tesla because Tesla's also up exactly 5.5% year to date, or right about there. Third, Apple is the only Magnificent Seven stock that's underwater. It's down 2% year to date. It's been moving in the right direction. Next, meta platforms, up 33 year to date. Meta platforms with Nvidia and Alphabet Google are all about 33, 34% year to date. So almost exactly in the same spot to just tie onto that. Meta platforms is up 33% year to date. That's, you know, Facebook, of course. Nvidia is up 33.5% year to date. That leaves us with Microsoft. Microsoft, up 22.8% year to date. Microsoft's like the little company that keeps on coming. I shouldn't say the little company, the behemoth, keeps on performing. They're up 23% year to date. And in terms of the overall market cap race, they are right behind Nvidia as the largest market cap company in America. Apple was in that spot for years and is now down to third and staying with it, but not accelerating like Nvidia and Microsoft. Thank you for listening to the Becker Business Podcast, the Becker Private Equity Podcast. Thank you very, very much.