Volatility: Apple, Amazon, & Microsoft 7-31-26 - Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast

Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary: Volatility—Apple, Amazon, & Microsoft (Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast)

Host: Scott Becker
Episode Date: July 31, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Becker discusses the extreme volatility witnessed in the stock market over the past week, focusing on three technology giants: Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple. He unpacks their recent performance, reasons behind their significant moves, and shares broader lessons for investors about the unpredictability of individual stock picking compared to index fund investing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Market Volatility: A Rollercoaster Week

Overview:
Scott opens the episode emphasizing the dramatic fluctuations in the market. He notes that after periods of soaring and plummeting, the market seems "relatively flat" today but has nonetheless seen dramatic moves among major stocks.
Quote:

"What a week in the stock market. It's been up. It's been way back. It's been down then way back up the other day. Today I think relatively flat. But what's fascinating is some of the big names and the big moves."
— Scott Becker [00:10]

2. Microsoft: A Record-Setting Surge

Key Insight:
Microsoft has posted an extraordinary 20% gain this week—an outcome that surprised even seasoned market watchers.
Quote:

"First, Microsoft is having essentially a record week. It's up 20% this week. I don't know who saw that coming, but just knocking it out of the park."
— Scott Becker [00:19]

3. Amazon: Earnings Propel a 15% Jump

Key Insight:
On Friday, Amazon jumped 15% following strong earnings, representing another unexpected positive spike.
Quote:

"Amazon crushed on earnings. ... It's up 15% today."
— Scott Becker [00:28]
Personal Note:
Scott mentions his own holdings in Amazon, expressing satisfaction at the company's strong performance.
Quote:

"God bless. I actually hold some Amazon individually."
— Scott Becker [00:42]

4. Apple: Sharp Decline Despite Strong Track Record

Key Insight:
Despite strong earnings, Apple saw a sharp 9% drop today, which Scott attributes more to concerns about future outlook than past performance. However, he notes it remains up about 11% year-to-date.
Quote:

"The third stock that's making a big move notwithstanding great earnings is Apple, which is down about 9% today. It's still up about 11% year to date. But again that had been one of the biggest winners... but getting crushed today. More on the outlook going forward than this past quarter's earnings."
— Scott Becker [00:35]

5. Lessons in Stock Picking and the Value of Index Funds

Key Insight:
The unpredictable nature of this week's movements highlights the inherent difficulty in picking winners and losers among individual stocks—strengthening the argument for broad index fund investment.
Quote:

"You can't pick who's going to be up or down. At least most of us can't. We're far better off in index funds than individual stocks."
— Scott Becker [00:54]
Additional Commentary:
Scott reinforces that even stocks with strong fundamental histories can defy expectations, and that large moves often occur when least anticipated.
Quote:

"All these things are things that are so hard to predict. And that's why I think we're almost all of us so much better off with index funds than we are trying to pick stocks."
— Scott Becker [01:22]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

"What a week in the stock market. It's been up. It's been way back. It's been down then way back up the other day. Today I think relatively flat." — Scott Becker [00:10]
"Microsoft is having essentially a record week. It's up 20% this week. I don't know who saw that coming, but just knocking it out of the park." — Scott Becker [00:19]
"Amazon crushed on earnings. ... It's up 15% today." — Scott Becker [00:28]
"Apple... is down about 9% today. It's still up about 11% year to date. ... getting crushed today. More on the outlook going forward than this past quarter's earnings." — Scott Becker [00:35]
"You can't pick who's going to be up or down. At least most of us can't. We're far better off in index funds than individual stocks." — Scott Becker [00:54]

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:00–00:19: Market volatility introduction and Microsoft performance
00:20–00:35: Amazon’s earnings and stock surge
00:36–00:45: Apple’s unexpected decline despite good earnings
00:46–01:22: Reflections on unpredictability, investment philosophy, and index funds

Summary & Takeaways

The host highlights a week of wild market swings among major tech stocks.
Microsoft and Amazon outperformed expectations dramatically, with single-week gains of 20% and 15%, respectively.
Apple plummeted 9% in a single day, indicating that even market leaders are subject to sudden reversals over uncertain outlooks.
Scott Becker uses these examples to caution against the unpredictability of individual stock picking, advocating for the use of index funds for most investors' portfolios.
The episode underscores humility in investing and the difficulty of accurately predicting market moves—even among the world's most scrutinized and admired companies.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
A
This is Scott Becker with the Becker Business in the Becker Private Equity Podcast. Today's discussion is volatility, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft. So here's the deal and what a week in the stock market. It's been up. It's been way back. It's been down then way back up the other day today I think relatively flat. But what's fascinating is some of the big names and the big moves. First, Microsoft is having essentially a record week. It's up 20% this week. I don't know who saw that coming, but just knocking it out of the park. Amazon crushed on earnings. It's literally we're talking Friday. We're going to lease this on Friday. It's up 15% today. The third stock that's making a big move notwithstanding great earnings is Apple, which is down about 9% today. It's still up about 11% year to date. But again that had been one of the biggest winners Amongst the Magnuson 7, but getting crushed today. More on the outlook going forward than this past quarter's earnings. But again, what's fascinating this week is Amazon up 15% today. God bless. I actually hold some Amazon individually. Microsoft up 20% this week. We also hold some Microsoft individually. So God bless both those. Apple down 9%. A lot of volatility. And again, you know, it rates less than again that you can't pick who's going to be up or down. At least most of us can't. We're far better off in index funds than individual stocks. I mean, I look at this, Microsoft's been down all year. The heck would have thought it's going to go up 20% this week. Amazon's been sort of in the cost, but been flat year to date. 15% up today. Would have seen that. Apple's been crushing it down 9% today. Didn't see that coming. I mean all these things are things that are so hard to predict. And that's why I think we're almost all of us so much better off with index funds than we are trying to pick stocks, individual stocks, fascinating the market. Thank you for listening to the Becker Business and the Private Equity podcast. Thank you so much.