CNBC "Fast Money" Episode Summary
Episode: Another Day In The Green For Apple… And The Next Move For The Energy Sector
Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Brian Sullivan (in for Melissa Lee)
Panelists: Tim Seymour, Carter Worth, Dan Nathan, Guy Adami, with guests Evan Brown (UBS), Seema Modi, Jake Wood (Groundswell CEO)
Episode Overview
This episode of "Fast Money" dives into Apple’s renewed record highs and the broader implications for major tech stocks, particularly in the context of AI and shifting investor momentum. The roundtable discusses the ongoing "catch-up" trade in big tech, health in the consumer sector, a bullish technical setup in the energy sector, and major corporate earnings from CrowdStrike and Marvell. The crew also covers key policy topics (tariffs, Fed), notable corporate philanthropy initiatives, and ends with insights into retail standouts like Costco and Walmart.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Apple’s Surge and the Catch-up Trade
(00:49–09:51)
- Apple stock hits new record highs, market cap over $4.2T, nearly overtaking Nvidia.
- Despite earlier this year being labeled "rotten" or laggard due to a perceived lack of AI strategy, Apple has outperformed over multiple timeframes.
- Passive Investing Tailwind: Apple is a top holding in over 400 ETFs, benefiting from broad market allocations.
- AI Conversation: Apple perceived as "behind" on AI, but its massive installed base and developer ecosystem may allow it to capitalize as AI goes mainstream on mobile devices.
- Tim Seymour (03:31): "This company doesn’t need to spend on AI because ultimately it will be the vehicle that serves it up for most people."
- Comparisons to Google/Alphabet: Both Apple and Google have rallied recently after lagging; Carter Worth labels Apple’s move a technical "catch-up" (06:37). Recent outperformance is more about market mechanics and technical rotation than underlying acceleration in growth.
- Dan Nathan (05:01): "Siri is a disaster. And we actually have a lot of questions about what they are going to be able to do with this existing platform. But in the meantime, folks seem to be pretty happy about this upgrade cycle."
- Valuation Concerns: Several panelists caution that Apple, while previously value-priced during its growth phase, is now valued at a premium even with only modest single-digit revenue growth.
- Guy Adami (07:53): "...Now that it’s a value stock, theoretically it's trading with a growth multiple. Something I think has to give at some point."
2. The AI Ecosystem and Valuations
(09:51–15:35)
- Google's Ascent: Google is surging as its cloud business grows and distribution for its Gemini AI expands across its platforms.
- Dan Nathan (09:51): "They have three properties... over 3 billion monthly actives. So they’re able to distribute all of this technology, the Gemini, throughout."
- Chatbot Commoditization: Multiple AI models are getting commoditized; users will select based on individual utility rather than market hype.
- Stock Selection Over Mega-Cap Indexing: Evan Brown (UBS) urges more focused investing as Big Tech correlations break down, moving from broad buys to careful picking.
- Evan Brown (14:28): "Now I think we’re turning to an environment where there’s more stock selection. This debate that you guys are having, I think, is an important one..."
3. Macro Backdrop: Fed, Private Risk, and the Consumer
(15:35–17:49)
- Fed’s Diminishing Role: Evan Brown minimizes the Fed’s importance at present, identifying earnings as the key market driver. Fed may matter if labor weakens.
- Evan Brown (15:01): "I think right now the main story is earnings."
- Private Market Risks: Potential for a bubble in private AI/AGI companies, which could backfire into public markets if VC investments sour.
- Consumer Health: Despite some weak macro data, conference feedback and corporate commentary indicate consumers are in stronger shape than headlines suggest. Possible policy tailwinds for 2026: tax rebates and tariffs possibly being reduced (17:11).
4. Policy Watch: Tariffs, Taxes, Politics
(17:49–20:56)
- Tariffs Could Be Rolled Back: Discussion on the Supreme Court possibly removing tariffs, which could benefit corporate profits and ease inflation.
- Political Tensions: President Trump dismisses affordability issues as a "hoax" (clip from White House at 20:07), indicating a contentious topic ahead of the midterms.
5. Earnings Spotlights
Crowdstrike (23:10–25:43)
- Strong Results: CrowdStrike beats on revenue and subscription growth, guides higher. Focus now on valuation and sustainability of AI-driven growth.
- Seema Modi (23:10): "CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz reinforcing this idea that the company is becoming a key enabler of securing AI..."
- Dan Nathan (24:10): "...It's a space where folks come back to because of demand across so many industries."
- Panel acknowledges ongoing need for cybersecurity despite recent high-profile hacks.
- Guy Adami (25:20): "You come to the realization that, wait, this is a pretty remarkable SaaS business."
Marvell Technology (25:43–30:02)
- Earnings Beat, Stock Reversal Up: Driven by data center growth, $3.25B acquisition of Celestial AI, and strength in custom AI chips.
- Seema Modi (26:06): "They said the revenue [from data centers] is going to be up 25% in fiscal 2027..."
- Discussion frames Marvell as a positive but small competitor relative to Nvidia.
- Dan Nathan (28:50): "...When you look at Marvell and you look at their expected revenue, this is $9 billion in fiscal 2027... and that is a rounding error on the $200 billion that Nvidia is going to book..."
6. Market Movers and Macro Trends
(31:39–34:50)
- MongoDB surges on cloud platform traction; American Eagle jumps on marketing success; Bitcoin reverses higher after recent losses.
- Procter & Gamble warns on "most volatile American market," CFO concerned about consumer spending.
- Boeing stock bounces: On official promises for higher jet deliveries and free cash flow; panel remains long-term constructive.
- Tim Seymour (34:01): "...You hang in there and you hope that new management...focus[es] on whatever we have to do..."
7. Energy Sector Technicals – Bullish Inflection Point?
(35:09–38:43)
- Carter Worth’s Bullish Take: Energy sector (S&P 500 energy stocks) up 18% from April lows, still lags broader market, but charts signal breakout is likely.
- Carter Worth (35:50): "...We've reached a point where something is likely to happen. My judgment is up."
- Guy Adami agrees: "Valuation...at least it's not in your face...it's actually pretty compelling."
- Sector Underweight: Energy weights just 2.83% of S&P versus 14%+ five years ago; long-term value may be building, especially as earnings and book multiples look attractive.
8. Corporate Philanthropy and Groundswell
(39:39–43:32)
- Jake Wood, CEO of philanthropy platform Groundswell, describes how tech is empowering smarter, employee-driven corporate giving—donor-advised funds now being offered as employee benefits.
- Jake Wood (40:10): "...We're trying to do with Groundswell...build a platform that allows companies to empower their employees to give back..."
- Discussion of the tax implications and changes from the "big beautiful bill" for corporate charitable deductions.
9. Retail Watch: Costco vs. Walmart
(44:35–45:13)
- Costco underperforms Walmart; files lawsuit seeking tariff refunds.
- Panel puzzled by weakness ahead of earnings; speculative commentary on whether cautious signals suggest trouble.
- Dan Nathan (44:35): "You look at Costco...it was kind of godlike for the last few years, and now it's rolling over..."
Memorable Moments & Quotes
- On Apple’s Technical Move:
- Carter Worth (06:37): “Apple since Q4 of 2022 to now, Q4 of 2025, has gone up 85%. The tech sector is up 160. This is one of the biggest laggards in the sector that’s simply playing catch.”
- On Commoditization of AI Models:
- Dan Nathan (11:27): “It’s my view, and I’m not a technologist, that a lot of these are going to be commoditized. So...pick the horse that is actually most useful to you.”
- On Dispersion in Mega Cap Tech:
- Evan Brown (14:28): “Now I think we’re turning to an environment where there’s more stock selection. This debate...is an important one, and it’s showing that there’s going to be a lot more dispersion within these names.”
- On CrowdStrike's Resilience:
- Guy Adami (25:20): "Then you come to the realization that, wait, this is a pretty remarkable SaaS business. And you look at the revenue growth chart. It's a thing of beauty."
- On Energy’s Historical Cyclicality:
- Carter Worth (35:50): "We're coiling for something to happen. We're essentially where we were 10 years ago...Is the entire S&P 500 sector...worth more or less than it was 10 years ago? My hunch is it's worth more."
- On Corporate Philanthropy Evolution:
- Jake Wood (42:05): "How do we democratize what companies are supporting by empowering employees to support what matters to them?"
Notable Segment Timestamps
- Apple Catch-up Trade & AI Strategy: 00:49–09:51
- Google Parabolic Move & AI Commoditization: 09:51–12:22
- Panel Discussion on AI, Stock Selection: 12:45–15:35
- Earnings Macro Focus: 15:35–18:09
- White House Tariff & Affordability Politics: 19:18–20:56
- CrowdStrike Earnings Deep Dive: 23:10–25:43
- Marvell & the AI Semi Landscape: 25:43–30:02
- Consumer Health & Boeing Highlight: 31:39–34:44
- Energy Sector Chart Analysis: 35:09–38:43
- Groundswell & Corporate Giving: 39:39–43:32
- Costco vs. Walmart: 44:35–45:49
- Final Trades: 45:33–46:16
Final Trades
- Tim Seymour: Boeing ("multi year holding")
- Carter Worth: Alcoa ("stealth sleeper, buy it")
- Dan Nathan: Netflix (“lottery for Warner Bros”)
- Guy Adami: SLB (Schlumberger)—and a shoutout to Jake Wood's work in philanthropy
Tone & Takeaway
The discussion maintained a lively, direct trader’s tone, balancing skepticism (on valuations and policy) with enthusiasm for technical trends and select growth stories. The dominant themes: market leadership is rotating, smart stock selection is becoming more important, and the energy sector may be poised for a long-awaited breakout. Panelists urge caution amid exuberance, particularly in evaluating how much of the tech rally is already priced in, and how emerging risks in AI and private investment might spill into the public markets.
For non-listeners, this episode’s summary spotlights:
- Why Apple’s rally may be more about “catch-up” than new innovation
- How AI is pervading every sector but stakeholders need to be more selective
- An under-the-radar bullish case for energy equities
- The importance of resilience and adaptability, seen both in corporate earnings and new strategies for philanthropic giving
End of summary.
