9 Stories We Are Following Today 7-31-25 - Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast

Summary6 min read

Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast: Episode Summary Episode Title: 9 Stories We Are Following Today
Host: Scott Becker
Release Date: July 31, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 9 of the Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast, host Scott Becker delves into nine compelling stories currently shaping the private equity and broader business landscape. This episode provides insightful analyses of market movements, individual stock performances, economic policies, and personal investment strategies. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key discussions and insights presented.

Market Overview

Microsoft and Meta Platforms’ Success Scott Becker opens the episode by highlighting the robust performance of tech giants Microsoft and Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) in the last quarter. He attributes part of their success to favorable market conditions and strategic business moves.

“The success this last quarter of Microsoft and Meta platforms, Facebook and also the market just moving in the right direction.” [00:30]

Fed’s Monetary Policy Decision Becker discusses the Federal Reserve's recent decision to hold interest rates steady. He provides his perspective on the challenges of reducing rates amidst rising government deficits, which he describes as both “inflammatory” and “inflationary.”

“It’s very hard to reduce rates when the government under both Democratic and Republican administrations keeps on adding to the deficits. And the deficits are inflammatory. Are inflationary.” [04:00]

Individual Stock Performances

Wingstop Restaurants (WING)
- Performance: The stock surged by 26% following improved earnings reports.
- Becker’s Insight: He likens Wingstop to a “meme stock” despite its strong fundamentals, emphasizing its genuine business growth.
  
  “I almost think of it like a meme stock, but it's a real company. Just jumped 26% yesterday on improved earnings.” [01:10]
Avis Budget Group (CAR)
- Performance: Avis experienced a significant drop, falling over 50% due to disappointing second-quarter earnings and concerns over the future of self-driving technology.
- Becker’s Observation: He underscores the volatility faced by companies grappling with technological disruptions.
  
  “Avis dropped almost 15% yesterday or more than 50% yesterday on a horrible second quarter and horrible earnings and concerns about self driving everything.” [01:45]
Peloton Interactive (PTON)
- Performance: Peloton’s stock rose nearly 19%.
- Personal Anecdote: Becker shares a personal touch by mentioning his family’s ownership of Peloton bikes, though he notes their limited usage.
  
  “They jumped almost 19%. Anything anybody still rode Pelotons? In fact, there's two of them in our family where one in Chicago, one with my daughter in New York. I don't know that either one of them gets used very often.” [02:20]
Stereo Labs
- Performance: The stock surged by 42% over the past month, returning to break-even year-to-date.
- Investment Insight: Becker mentions his direct holding in Stereo Labs, highlighting it as one of the few individual stocks in his predominantly treasury and index fund-based portfolio.
  
  “Next Stereo Labs has surged 42% over the last month. It's back to even year to date. I'm a holder directly of it.” [03:10]
Palantir Technologies (PLTR)
- Performance: Palantir's stock skyrocketed by 500% over the last 52 weeks.
- Personal Investment: Becker expresses his enthusiasm for being a recent investor in Palantir, despite not witnessing the entire growth trajectory.
  
  “Finally today, Palentier Technologies it's literally up 500% over the last 52 weeks. Now I'm an investor in Palantir. Sadly, I'm a more recent investor in it, so I've not enjoyed all that 500% but still thrilled to be in the game with Palantir Technologies.” [04:50]

Additional Stocks to Watch:

UnitedHealth Group: Down 47% year-to-date
Restoration Hardware (RH): Down 47% year-to-date
Novo Nordisk: Down 41% year-to-date
Stellantis: Down 30% year-to-date

Becker emphasizes the importance of monitoring a diverse range of stocks, noting that while some are performing exceptionally, others face significant declines.

Economic Policy Insights

Federal Reserve’s Interest Rate Decision Becker provides a nuanced view of the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain current interest rates. He discusses the broader implications of government deficits under both major political parties and their impact on inflation and monetary policy.

“I think he's right, but a different discussion for a different day.” [03:50]

He also shares poll results indicating public sentiment towards rate reductions and the Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell. According to a poll conducted on platform X (formerly Twitter), more than half of the voters advocated for rate reductions and believed Powell’s approach was misguided.

“We did a poll on X and more than half of the voters in that poll asked for rate reductions and thought that Powell was wrong.” [03:30]

Poll Results and Public Opinion

Elon Musk’s Influence in Business Becker shares insights from a separate poll regarding public perception of Elon Musk. The poll reveals that a significant portion of respondents view Musk as the “Michael Jordan of business and innovation,” although there remains a vocal group that opposes him.

“We did ask if Elon Musk is the Michael Jordan of business and innovation. Resoundingly we got positive answers. But we did get a people of course, that just absolutely hate, you know, Elon Musk.” [04:15]

Becker mentions that his personal view aligns with the positive perception, although he acknowledges the existence of contrasting opinions.

Investment Strategies and Personal Insights

Diversified Portfolio Approach Becker illustrates his investment strategy by detailing his portfolio composition, which primarily consists of Treasuries and index funds, supplemented by select individual stocks like Stereo Labs, Microsoft, and Palantir. He candidly discusses the performance disparity within his holdings, acknowledging that while some stocks flourish, others falter.

“Most of my portfolio is in Treasuries and index funds. But we do hold a few stocks that are up and thrilled to see that going on.” [03:30]

Conceptual Advice: Avoiding Self-Imposed Limitations Transitioning from market analysis, Becker shares a motivational concept emphasizing the importance of not setting artificial limits on one’s ambitions. He advocates for establishing a thriving foundation before contemplating one's potential and capacity for growth.

“Don't artificially put a floor or ceiling on what you're trying to accomplish. Get yourself thriving in a good place and then you can start to think about your capacity, your potential, and the upside.” [04:30]

This philosophy underscores his belief in personal development as a precursor to recognizing and achieving greater potential.

Personal Anecdotes and Closing Remarks

Personal Investment in Palantir Becker reiterates his enthusiasm as a recent investor in Palantir Technologies, celebrating the company’s substantial stock appreciation despite not having been part of its entire growth journey.

“Sadly, I'm a more recent investor in it, so I've not enjoyed all that 500% but still thrilled to be in the game with Palantir Technologies.” [04:50]

Payday Sentiments He shares a relatable sentiment about payday, expressing appreciation for receiving income while humorously lamenting the necessity of bill payments.

“Today for many of us is payday. And I got to tell you, it is always good to get paid. It's less fun to pay all the bills, but God bless payday in America.” [05:10]

Personal PS: Sports Teams In a lighthearted postscript, Becker mentions his personal preferences regarding sports teams, playfully hoping that while he appreciates certain teams, others might not be favored by the heavens.

“While the good Lord loves my friends Paul Guten, Steve Stein and Greg Miller, I am sure that the Almighty also hates the the Milwaukee brewers and the Green Bay Packers, but may have a soft spot for the Wisconsin Badgers in any event.” [05:30]

Conclusion

Scott Becker wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to enjoy the business insights and general discussions presented. He extends gratitude to his audience and wishes them a fantastic day, encapsulating the episode’s blend of professional analysis and personal touch.

“We hope you enjoy the general business takes and everything else here. Thank you for listening to the Becker Business Podcast and the Becker Private Equity Podcast. Make it a fantastic day. Thank you very, very much.” [05:50]

This episode of the Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast offers a comprehensive overview of current market trends, individual stock performances, and economic policies, enriched by Becker’s personal investment experiences and motivational insights. Whether you’re an avid investor or simply interested in the business world, Scott Becker provides valuable perspectives to inform and inspire.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
Scott Becker
This is Scott Becker with the Becker Business Podcast. The Becker Private Equity Podcast. Here are about nine of the stories that we're following today. And these are different than the other podcasts we talked about so far. The success this last quarter of Microsoft and Meta platforms, Facebook and also the market just moving in the right direction. But we'll go through seven or eight other stocks and things that we're watching and hopefully you enjoy this. First Wingstop Restaurants. I almost think of it like a meme stock, but it's a real company. Just jumped 26% yesterday on improved earnings. Second, the opposite. Avis dropped almost 15% yesterday or more than 50% yesterday on a horrible second quarter and horrible earnings and concerns about self driving everything. So that's where they're at. Third peloton knocked it out of the park. They jumped almost 19%. Anything anybody still rode Pelotons? In fact, there's two of them in our family where one in Chicago, one with my daughter in New York. I don't know that either one of them gets used very often. Fourth, the Fed held rates steady. My perspective it's very hard to reduce rates when the government under both Democratic and Republican administrations keeps on adding to the deficits. And the deficits are inflammatory. Are inflationary. I will tell you we did a poll on X and more than half of the voters in that poll asked for rate reductions and thought that Powell was wrong. I think he's right, but a different discussion for a different day. But that's where we're at in the Fed currently fifth in a separate poll. We did ask if Elon Musk is the Michael Jordan of business and innovation. Resoundingly we got positive answers. But we did get a people of course, that just absolutely hate, you know, Elon Musk. It didn't agree with my take on that. Next Stereo Labs has surged 42% over the last month. It's back to even year to date. I'm a holder directly of it. It's one of the few stocks I hold directly. Most of my portfolio is in Treasuries and index funds. But we do hold a few stocks that are up and thrilled to see that going on. We also hold Microsoft and Palantir, but plenty of stocks that I hold separately that have done very poorly. Microsoft, of course getting close to 4 trillion in market cap. It might already be there at this point today. Next. Next concept they're not a stock is whatever you're doing in life, don't artificially put a floor or ceiling on what you're trying to accomplish. Get yourself thriving in a good place and then you can start to think about your capacity, your potential, and the upside. I see so much too many people sort of limiting what they think they could do or not understanding what they think could do because they're not yet in a spot where they're thriving. And once you're thriving and in a happy spot and working hard and doing okay, it's much easier to see potential and where you can with your life and what you could do. A few other stocks we're watching closely UnitedHealth Group down 47% year to date RH Restoration Hardware Store we love to hate and also love to Shop it down 47% year to date Novo Nordisk down 41% year to date Stellantis down 30% year to date finally today, Palentier Technologies it's literally up 500% over the last 52 weeks. Now I'm an investor in Palantir. Sadly, I'm a more recent investor in it, so I've not enjoyed all that 500% but still thrilled to be in the game with Palantir Technologies. Today for many of us is payday. And I got to tell you, it is always good to get paid. It's less fun to pay all the bills, but God bless payday in America. Finally, a couple other things and this is a PS for today. While the good Lord loves my friends Paul Guten, Steve Stein and Greg Miller, I am sure that the Almighty also hates the the Milwaukee brewers and the Green Bay packers, but may have a soft spot for the Wisconsin Badgers in any event. I know that's nonsense to a lot of you. We hope you enjoy the general business takes and everything else here. Thank you for listening to the Becker Business Podcast and the Becker Private Equity Podcast. Make it a fantastic day. Thank you very, very much.