Motley Fool Money: “Alexa, Let’s Go to Outer Space”
April 2, 2026
Host: Tyler Crow, with Matt Frankel and John Klost

Overview

This episode dives into recent developments in the rapidly evolving space industry, with an emphasis on Amazon’s reported interest in acquiring satellite company Globalstar, and broader implications for space investing. The panel also analyzes Restoration Hardware’s (RH) latest earnings miss and struggles within the retail and home goods sector. The show closes with recommended reading for new investors, drawing from both classic and contemporary finance literature.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Space Investing in the Headlines

[00:05 – 06:55]

• Artemis 2 Launch:

  • The hosts express excitement over NASA’s Artemis 2 launch, symbolizing the accelerating pace and mainstream interest in the space sector.
  • “I don’t care how many times we see rocket launches. Those things are wicked cool to watch.” – Tyler Crow (00:52)

• SpaceX IPO Chatter:

  • Increasing rumors of SpaceX’s potential IPO are noted—described as a much-anticipated catalyst for space investing.

• Amazon’s Rumored Acquisition of Globalstar:

  • Globalstar’s shares rally ~8% on reports Amazon may acquire the company to bolster its satellite ambitions.
  • Spectrum licenses are highlighted as the true prize—Globalstar holds broad, long-term rights in more than 120 countries.
  • “These [spectrum licenses] are highly regulated. They require years of navigating regulation not only in the US but all over the world." – Matt Frankel (02:55)
  • Amazon’s current satellite count (200) lags far behind SpaceX’s Starlink (10,000+); getting spectrum accelerates Amazon's competitive positioning.

• Why Spectrum Matters:

  • The deal is seen as strategic for Amazon to scale its “Project Kuiper” satellite plans and potentially give AWS an edge over Microsoft and Alphabet.
  • “It can be a competitive advantage that helps AWS keep or even grow its already leading market share.” – Matt Frankel (06:36)

• Is the Deal a Needle Mover for Amazon Investors?

  • For most investors, the space/satellite business is still a ‘nice to have,’ not core to the investment thesis.
  • “I would say, at the most generous, I think this acquisition and Amazon’s budding space business is extremely early. I wouldn't even say early innings. It’s like watching the pitcher warm up before the game even starts.” – Tyler Crow (06:55)
  • The panel agrees that for now, Amazon’s value continues to come from e-commerce and AWS—but this move could “lay the groundwork” for future infrastructure advantages.

Notable Quotes

• “Amazon’s space investments are a nice to have. I am an Amazon shareholder and 100% of my thesis is built around the e-commerce platform and AWS.” – Matt Frankel (05:50)
• “Everybody wants to do space, but the monetization aspect gets tricky on the edges.” – Matt Frankel (04:21)

2. Restoration Hardware’s Struggles

[08:45 – 15:19]

• Earnings and Guidance Disappoint:

  • RH shares plunged 19% following weak quarterly results and even weaker forward guidance.
  • “Was it the guidance or the earnings that really had the market saying ‘no thank you’?” – Tyler Crow (08:45)
  • Management’s optimism about future improvements is increasingly seen as unconvincing by the market, with guidance repeatedly missing the mark.

• Macro & Company-Specific Challenges:

  • The hosts debate the weight of internal missteps versus difficult housing and economic conditions.
  • Matt Frankel argues that high interest rates and weak housing “squeeze” discretionary spending on big-ticket items like furniture, but management's high debt and aggressive investment compounds problems.
  • “I would say 70/30 market versus company.” – Matt Frankel (13:21)
  • John Klost puts the blame closer to “50/50,” criticizing management’s continued investment as if “business is booming,” which increases financial risk.
  • RH’s big ambitions (targeting $5.8 billion in revenue by 2030) are contrasted with high leverage and binary outcomes—either a huge payoff or a “tough financial position” if targets are missed.

Notable Quotes

• “Over the past five years, shares of RH are down 81%. And I don’t care how you slice it, that is not good.” – Tyler Crow (10:38)
• “If RH does succeed, it’s making great moves right now, but the outcome is becoming increasingly binary.” – John Klost (15:16)

3. Investing Mailbag: Book Recommendations

[16:37 – 20:16]

• Question from Jack Quinn:

  • “Aside from listening to the Motley Fool, are there any books you recommend for beginner or amateur investors to get a better understanding of the markets, stocks, etc.?” (16:37)

• Panel’s Top Picks:

  • One Up on Wall Street by Peter Lynch
    • Recommended for the accessible, inspiring approach to stock investing via personal expertise.
    • “I remember the sensation after reading that book was I wanted to run through a wall to invest in the market.” – Tyler Crow (17:38)
  • The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
    • John Klost’s pick (via attribution after a technical difficulty), praised for its insights into the behavior side of investing.
  • Warren Buffett’s Annual Letters to Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders
    • Matt Frankel highlights the wealth of practical wisdom found free on Berkshire’s retro website.
    • “He generally spent about half of each letter talking about important investing principles, lessons he’s learned ... How to have the right mentality in stock market crashes and corrections and recessions and a whole lot more.” – Matt Frankel (19:41)
  • Honorable Mention:
    • The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham – valuable but “a little bit of a dry read” for beginners.

Memorable Moment

• On the outdatedness of valuable resources:
  • “Berkshire Hathaway’s website is probably in a horse race with craigslist.org as the put me in a time capsule and send me back to the internet in 2005.” – Tyler Crow (20:16)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:05] – Episode opens, Artemis 2 launch excitement
• [01:12] – SpaceX IPO rumors, Amazon-Globalstar acquisition speculation
• [02:24] – Why spectrum is Amazon’s target; numbers on satellite counts
• [04:21] – Monetization challenges in the space economy
• [05:48] – AWS and satellite infrastructure potential for Amazon
• [06:55] – Early innings analogy for Amazon’s space business
• [08:45] – RH (Restoration Hardware) earnings & macro headwinds
• [13:25] – Panel weighs RH's company/macro blame (split: 70/30, 50/50)
• [16:37] – Listener mailbag – top investing books for beginners

Takeaways

• The space industry is seeing rapid change, with Amazon moving quickly to catch up to SpaceX—Globalstar’s spectrum licenses are the real strategic asset.
• Amazon’s space ambitions are intriguing for the long-term but currently not central to the company’s investment case.
• Restoration Hardware continues to struggle with a bad macro environment and aggressive internal strategy; high potential upside, but rising risks.
• For new investors, the panel recommends foundational works by Lynch, Housel, and Buffett for inspiration and practical wisdom.

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