Stock Stories

Under Armour has gone from an up and coming sports brand in the United States to one that is now known globally.  Though they have faced difficulties in recent years, Under Armour has been able to grow their brand by allying with professional and college sports teams, increasing consumer awareness.---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: stockstories1

Walgreens Boots Alliance is one of the largest of retail pharmacies in the world.  They are currently under pressure because of rising healthcare costs and the transformation of how consumers interact with retail.  In spite of this, they sell billions of dollars worth of prescriptions and other goods.---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: stockstories1

This is adapted from advice that Charlie Munger used to give at Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meetings.  Most people never build wealth or financial freedom because they never pass that critical point where they have saved enough for compounding to really start working for them.---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: stockstories1

Nike is the largest footwear company and the world and it's Swoosh logo and slogans like "Just Do It" have become a big part of popular culture.  Athletes around the world use their products, inspiring millions to do the same. 2019 Annual ReportAdditional resources will be posted at stockstories.co---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: stockstories1

One of the most popular travel review sites, TripAdvisor is a publicly traded company that was once part of Expedia Holdings.  They make money primarily through advertising while boasting hundreds of millions of users and reviews.Annual Reports---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: stockstories1

When making a decision, there is always an option that requires the least effort.  Following the path of least resistance is somewhat of a sister mental model to Occam's Razor - the easiest option may not always be the right one.  Examining a decision holistically and thoroughly will help bring us the right path forward, not simply taking steps in the direction of the path that seems easiest.---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: stockstories1

Expedia was one of the first Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) on the internet and is still a big player in the space today.  Expedia's stable of brands primarily facilitates buying hotels online, but also supports flights, cruises and more.  HomeAway, the owner of the VRBO brand, is their fastest growing segment. Expedia 2018 Annual Report Expedia 2013 Annual Report---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: stockstories1 

Formerly known as Priceline.com, Booking Holdings is a group of travel websites that allow people to have direct access to hotel, rental car, and restaurant listings.  They are one of the bigger players in the Online Travel Agency (OTA) space.  Though they compete heavily with other websites, they have delivered solid returns to shareholders.---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: stockstories1

Invesco is one of America's largest asset managers with over one trillion dollars in assets under management.  Their strength is in their global capabilities - they serve over 120 markets around the world.  They have managed to survive in spite of a radical change in the asset management industry over the last decade, focusing on new product lines and maintaining an international presence.---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: stockstories1

Planet Fitness is a medium-sized but quickly growing gym in the United States.  They operate on a franchise model and have quickly been taking market share by catering to the casual gym-goer.  In this episode we look at several factors influencing the business' fundamentals, as well as valuation and future outlook. Planet Fitness 2019 10-K---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: stockstories1

The Dunning-Kruger effect is the tendency for those who are incompetent to overestimate their competence.  This "dual burden" is two fold: 1) incompetence means less capability to do things well, and 2) overestimation of one's ability means more susceptibility to blind spots and thus, catastrophic failure.---Instagram: stockstories1alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

3M is a massive industrial conglomerate known some of its famous industrial and consumer products, like Scotch Tape and Post-It Notes.  It makes a very wide array of products though, and its Personal Safety segment is growing rapidly. MIT Technology Review article discussing the new cost of productivity 3M 2018 10-K Annual Report 3M 2013 10-K Annual ReportFor information on the Personal Safety segment of the business, look at p.72 in the 2018 annual report linked above.---Instagram: stockstories1Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

The largest publicly traded trucking company in America, J. B. Hunt transports all types of goods - from chemicals to cosmetics.  Started as just a small fleet of trucks, it has grown immensely and now offers a variety of services to its customers.---Instagram: stockstories1alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Famous for its Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption franchises, Take Two Interactive is one of the largest video game publishers in the world.  Even though they are big, they're still smaller than competitors Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard, so there is room for growth.---Instagram: stockstories1alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Electronic Arts is one of the most well-known publishers of video games, specifically for its sports franchises like FIFA and Madden NFL.  They also have a variety of non-sports related titles.  EA was started by a former Apple employee in the 1980s and has grown exponentially since then.  EA has been investing in current trends such as casual gaming and esports, but will future growth be like the past?  ---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: @stockstories1

Mr. Market is the classic allegory first described by Benjamin Graham in his classic, The Intelligent Investor.  It's a great way to think about stock prices going up and down in the short term - it's all emotional.  Departures from intrinsic value DO exist, and it's our job as investors to take advantage of them if we so desire.---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: @stockstories1

One of the largest video game companies in the world, Activision Blizzard is known for creating hit franchises such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and (as of the King acquisition) Candy Crush.  Their games are played by hundreds of millions of people monthly across over 190 countries.---Instagram: @stockstories1alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Estée Lauder always believed that every woman should feel beautiful.  Her drive for innovation in the creation of beauty products was impressive, and her and her husband Joseph worked together as a team to build one the world's biggest beauty companies.  With products sold in over 150 countries, Estée Lauder's skin care, make up, fragrance, and hair products are sold to women (and men) everywhere.---Instagram: stockstories1alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Known as a visual search engine, Pinterest catalogs ideas and themes, providing inspiration for people pursuing goals or DIY projects.  Although Pinterest is an ad-based platform like other social media companies, it's purpose is unique, which I think is its greatest competitive advantage.---Instagram: stockstories1alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

The video-based sharing platform has grown rapidly over the past several years, resulting in an IPO in 2019.  What are the company's future prospects?---alex@stockstoriespodcast.comInstagram: stockstories1