<script data-pm-proxy="intercept"></script><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cut through the noise. Actionable stock ideas delivered - twice weekly. ]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EO58!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0ef0b06c-1ca7-42f9-81ec-bd97f219ef8d_712x712.png</url><title>Two Stock Picks</title><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 16:48:43 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[TwoStockPicks]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[twostockpicks@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[twostockpicks@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Max Kingsley]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Max Kingsley]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[twostockpicks@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[twostockpicks@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Max Kingsley]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[The AI trade is about to get complicated - 3 things we’re watching in the markets this week]]></title><description><![CDATA[Everyone Is Watching Nvidia. They're Missing This.]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-ai-trade-is-about-to-get-complicated</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-ai-trade-is-about-to-get-complicated</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:43:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dfzs!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The AI trade is facing three very different questions right now.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Can AI spending keep growing?</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Can the world generate enough electricity to power it?</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>And can stock valuations survive if interest rates stay higher for longer?</strong></p></li></ul><p>Here are three things we&#8217;re watching:</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dfzs!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dfzs!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dfzs!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dfzs!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dfzs!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dfzs!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png" width="1456" height="785" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:785,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3686134,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/212568923?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dfzs!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dfzs!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dfzs!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dfzs!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F953a099a-e7c6-4047-9590-42ba222ae2b8_1822x982.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><div><hr></div><h2>1. Peter Thiel&#8217;s $418.7M Bet on AI&#8217;s Biggest Bottleneck</h2><p>Peter Thiel&#8217;s latest public portfolio has a clear theme.</p><p><strong>Energy.</strong></p><p>Thiel Macro disclosed eight U.S.-listed positions worth roughly $418.7 million as of June 30. Seven of those positions were tied to energy, utilities or power infrastructure &#8212; representing roughly 72% of the reported portfolio.</p><p>$AMZN &#8212; 28.2%<br>$VIST &#8212; 18.1%<br>$VST &#8212; 14.1%<br>$AEP &#8212; 10.1%<br>$DTE &#8212; 9.6%<br>$FE &#8212; 9.5%<br>$CMS &#8212; 9.4%<br>$XE &#8212; 0.9%</p><p>Amazon is the portfolio&#8217;s largest position.</p><p>But the more interesting takeaway is everything else.</p><p>Vistra. American Electric Power. DTE Energy. FirstEnergy. CMS Energy. X-energy.</p><p>These aren&#8217;t the usual AI names.</p><p>They are bets connected to <strong>power generation, electricity infrastructure and the energy required to support an increasingly power-hungry economy.</strong></p><p>The AI trade started with GPUs.</p><p>Nvidia sells the chips. Hyperscalers build the data centers. Software companies build the models.</p><p>But eventually, all of that computing power needs something much more basic:</p><p><strong>Electricity.</strong></p><p>That could become one of the defining second-order investment themes of the AI boom.</p><p>The winners of the first phase were obvious.</p><p>The next winners may be the companies sitting behind the power grid.</p><p>The important caveat: a 13F only shows certain publicly traded long positions held by the filing entity. It does not reveal Thiel&#8217;s entire investment portfolio, cash positions or private investments.</p><p>Still, the concentration of this disclosed portfolio around energy is difficult to ignore.</p><div><hr></div><h2>2. Nvidia Is About to Answer the Biggest Question in the AI Trade</h2><p>This week, the market gets another major test.</p><p>Nvidia reports earnings on Wednesday.</p><p>And while investors will focus on the headline numbers, the bigger question is much more important:</p><p><strong>Is AI spending still accelerating fast enough to justify the enormous expectations already priced into the sector?</strong></p><p>The entire AI ecosystem has been built on an assumption that companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Meta will continue spending aggressively on data centers and AI infrastructure.</p><p>That spending eventually flows through the supply chain.</p><p>GPUs.</p><p>Networking.</p><p>Memory.</p><p>Foundries.</p><p>Power systems.</p><p>Data-center infrastructure.</p><p>And, ultimately, electricity.</p><p>That is why Nvidia&#8217;s earnings matter far beyond Nvidia itself.</p><p>A strong report could reinforce the idea that the AI infrastructure buildout is still accelerating.</p><p>But investors will also be watching for any signs that hyperscalers are becoming more disciplined with capital expenditure.</p><p>Because the AI trade is no longer just about whether demand exists.</p><p>Demand clearly exists.</p><p>The question is whether <strong>the return on those massive investments will eventually justify the spending.</strong></p><p>Nvidia&#8217;s results could provide one of the clearest signals yet.</p><p>And if AI spending remains strong?</p><p>That brings us back to Peter Thiel&#8217;s portfolio.</p><p>More AI infrastructure means more data centers.</p><p>More data centers mean more electricity.</p><p>The AI trade may eventually run into a bottleneck that Nvidia can&#8217;t solve.</p><p><strong>Power.</strong></p><div><hr></div><h2>3. The Bond Market Could Be the AI Trade&#8217;s Biggest Problem</h2><p>There is another risk investors should be watching.</p><p>And it has nothing to do with artificial intelligence.</p><p><strong>The bond market.</strong></p><p>Long-term Treasury yields have remained elevated, with concerns around inflation, government borrowing and the supply of U.S. debt putting pressure on the market.</p><p>That matters because higher interest rates can create a problem for expensive growth stocks.</p><p>Here&#8217;s the simple version:</p><p>The higher the risk-free rate, the less investors may be willing to pay today for profits expected many years in the future.</p><p>And that is particularly relevant for the AI trade.</p><p>Many AI-related companies are priced on the expectation of massive future growth.</p><p>If bond yields continue rising, the market may start asking a more difficult question:</p><p><strong>How much are those future earnings actually worth today?</strong></p><p>That&#8217;s why this week could be particularly important.</p><p>Investors are watching:</p><ul><li><p>Nvidia&#8217;s earnings.</p></li><li><p>The Federal Reserve&#8217;s Jackson Hole symposium.</p></li><li><p>Fed Chair Kevin Warsh&#8217;s comments.</p></li><li><p>Upcoming inflation data.</p></li></ul><p>Any combination of weaker AI expectations and persistently high interest rates could put pressure on the same growth stocks that have driven much of the market&#8217;s rally.</p><p>The interesting part?</p><p>AI itself may eventually add to the problem.</p><p>Building AI infrastructure requires an enormous amount of capital.</p><p>Data centers need to be financed.</p><p>Power plants need to be built.</p><p>Transmission infrastructure needs to expand.</p><p>The AI boom isn&#8217;t just a software story.</p><p>It&#8217;s becoming a massive <strong>capital expenditure cycle.</strong></p><p>And in a world of higher interest rates, capital becomes more expensive.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=0b7fb447&amp;utm_content=212568923&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 20% off for 1 year&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=0b7fb447&amp;utm_content=212568923"><span>Get 20% off for 1 year</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h1>The Bigger Picture</h1><p>The AI trade is entering a new phase.</p><p>The first question was:</p><p><strong>Who makes the chips?</strong></p><p></p><p>Then:</p><p><strong>Who builds the data centers?</strong></p><p>Now investors may need to start asking:</p><p><strong>Who provides the electricity?</strong></p><p></p><p>And perhaps more importantly:</p><p><strong>Can the market continue paying AI-era valuations if interest rates remain elevated?</strong></p><p></p><p>This week could give investors some important clues.</p><p>Nvidia will tell us more about the strength of AI demand.</p><p>Jackson Hole could provide clues about the future of interest rates.</p><p>And Peter Thiel&#8217;s latest disclosed portfolio offers an interesting reminder that some investors may already be looking beyond the obvious AI winners.</p><p>Sometimes the best investment opportunities aren&#8217;t in the technology everyone is talking about.</p><p>They&#8217;re in the bottlenecks nobody can avoid.</p><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong><span> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before investing.'</span></em></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[6 Things to Watch Out For in the US Stock Market This Week]]></title><description><![CDATA[A breakdown of AI CapEx ROIC, interest rate tailwinds, and market structure fragility for fundamental investors]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/6-things-to-watch-out-for-in-the</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/6-things-to-watch-out-for-in-the</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:13:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WL5W!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;In the short run, the market is a voting machine, but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.&#8221;</em> &#8212; <strong>Benjamin Graham</strong></p></blockquote><p><em><strong>P.S.</strong> A complete breakdown of our Intra-Week Liquidity Tracker (including our free Excel model mapping Mag-7 CapEx-to-FCF ratios, Fed rate-hike probabilities, and high-beta exposure metrics) is available at the bottom of this issue.</em></p><p>A quick look at social media feeds and Reddit threads reveals two distinct trading camps right now: one chasing short-term intraday dip-buying, and another panicking over renewed macro volatility.</p><p>Between oil price swings, Big Tech earnings guidance, and FX currency interventions, noise levels are exceptionally high. </p><p>For busy professionals, sifting through hundreds of financial headlines every morning is an inefficient use of time.</p><p>To keep you focused on what actually drives asset pricing, here are the <strong>top 6 high-signal market drivers to watch this week</strong>.</p><p></p><h3>1. Big Tech Earnings Season: The AI CapEx vs. Free Cash Flow Conversion Test</h3><p>We are right in the thick of mega-cap reporting, with critical releases from key AI hardware and cloud drivers (including AMD and SpaceX reporting metrics).</p><p>The market&#8217;s tolerance for &#8220;growth at any cost&#8221; has evaporated. Wall Street is no longer giving companies a free pass for increasing capital expenditures (CapEx) unless it translates directly into incremental revenue and Free Cash Flow (FCF) conversion.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WL5W!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WL5W!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WL5W!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WL5W!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WL5W!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WL5W!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png" width="532" height="489.4021352313167" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1034,&quot;width&quot;:1124,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:532,&quot;bytes&quot;:735365,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/209656856?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WL5W!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WL5W!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WL5W!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WL5W!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30fbec23-726d-4362-b927-d3824adc6793_1124x1034.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><ul><li><p><strong>What to watch:</strong> Pay close attention to the <strong>CapEx-to-Operating Cash Flow ratio</strong> in quarterly 10-Q filings. If hardware depreciation is outpacing operating cash flow growth, expect margin compression and multiple contraction&#8212;even if top-line revenue meets expectations.</p></li></ul><h3>2. The Yen Carry Trade Ripple &amp; Coordinated FX Interventions</h3><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=0b7fb447&amp;utm_content=209656856&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 20% off for 1 year&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=0b7fb447&amp;utm_content=209656856"><span>Get 20% off for 1 year</span></a></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beyond NVDA: The 2 Undervalued Pure-Plays Dominating Autonomous Defense & Next-Gen Hardware]]></title><description><![CDATA[While capital crowds into mega-cap AI, these two mispriced hardware stocks offer asymmetric upside in national security and deep tech.]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/beyond-nvda-the-2-undervalued-pure</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/beyond-nvda-the-2-undervalued-pure</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 16:41:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-usu!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73e1bb9c-2772-4fb4-94c1-377f8c4f009b_1654x2339.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h4><strong>Key Highlights Included in this paid research:</strong></h4><ol><li><p><strong>Macro &amp; Budget Catalyst Data (DoD FY2025&#8211;FY2027 Requests):</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>The Shift to Autonomous Warfare:</strong> A deep dive into the Pentagon&#8217;s creation of the <strong>Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG)</strong> and the record <strong>$54.6 billion FY2027 budget request</strong> for drone dominance and counter-drone technologies (up from $225.9M in FY2026).</p></li><li><p><strong>Total Funding Allocation:</strong> Overall unmanned systems, C-UAS, and autonomous software funding requests across services exceed <strong>$75 billion</strong>.</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Featured Stock Deep Dives:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>1st stock: Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS):</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>Focus:</em> Automated &#8220;Drone-in-a-Box&#8221; robotics (Airobotics) and Iron Drone counter-UAS interceptor systems.</p></li><li><p><em>Edge:</em> FAA type certification for autonomous uncrewed urban drone operations; integration into Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF 401) C-UAS procurement lines.</p></li><li><p><em>Valuation Asymmetry:</em> Trades at an EV/EBITDA under 9x run-rate for 2027E, representing a ~75% discount relative to enterprise defense software multiples.</p></li></ul></li></ul></li></ol><p>Access the full report below:</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=0b7fb447&amp;utm_content=208471524&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 20% off for 1 year&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=0b7fb447&amp;utm_content=208471524"><span>Get 20% off for 1 year</span></a></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[America's Oil Cushion Just Hit a 45-Year Low: Here's Why Investors Should Care]]></title><description><![CDATA[America now has roughly 43 days of commercial crude oil supply relative to current demand &#8212; the lowest inventory cushion in more than four decades.]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/americas-oil-cushion-just-hit-a-45</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/americas-oil-cushion-just-hit-a-45</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:57:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!azjG!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!azjG!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!azjG!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!azjG!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!azjG!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!azjG!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!azjG!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg" width="864" height="628" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:628,&quot;width&quot;:864,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;r/wallstreetbets - Crude oil only has 43 days of supply left in the US&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="r/wallstreetbets - Crude oil only has 43 days of supply left in the US" title="r/wallstreetbets - Crude oil only has 43 days of supply left in the US" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!azjG!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!azjG!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!azjG!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!azjG!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F530b2aa5-eb21-4480-8a36-01f13523e938_864x628.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>For most investors, oil prices only become interesting after they&#8217;ve already exploded.</p><p>By then, airline stocks have already sold off.</p><p>Energy stocks have already rallied.</p><p>Inflation expectations have already moved.</p><p>And the market has already started repricing.</p><p>Today, one statistic quietly caught Wall Street&#8217;s attention.</p><p><strong>America now has roughly 43 days of commercial crude oil supply relative to current demand &#8212; the lowest inventory cushion in more than four decades.</strong></p><p>That doesn&#8217;t mean the U.S. is about to &#8220;run out&#8221; of oil.</p><p>Far from it.</p><p>But it does mean the margin for error has become much thinner.</p><div><hr></div><h2>The 43-Day Number Explained</h2><p>Imagine your household.</p><p>You have food in your pantry.</p><p>Every week you buy more groceries.</p><p>If someone said,</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;You only have 10 days of food left,&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>that wouldn&#8217;t mean starvation is coming.</p><p>It simply means <strong>if your supermarket suddenly closed, your pantry would only last ten days.</strong></p><p>America&#8217;s crude inventories work similarly.</p><p>The 43-day figure measures commercial inventories against current refinery demand&#8212;not total oil resources underground, future production, or imports. The U.S. continues producing record amounts of crude oil every day while importing additional supplies.</p><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CzVL!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88f9b79d-48ac-414c-ad33-084cde8ec556_1220x1144.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CzVL!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88f9b79d-48ac-414c-ad33-084cde8ec556_1220x1144.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CzVL!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88f9b79d-48ac-414c-ad33-084cde8ec556_1220x1144.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CzVL!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88f9b79d-48ac-414c-ad33-084cde8ec556_1220x1144.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CzVL!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88f9b79d-48ac-414c-ad33-084cde8ec556_1220x1144.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CzVL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88f9b79d-48ac-414c-ad33-084cde8ec556_1220x1144.jpeg" width="1220" height="1144" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/88f9b79d-48ac-414c-ad33-084cde8ec556_1220x1144.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1144,&quot;width&quot;:1220,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Is the US a bigger oil importer or exporter? | USAFacts&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="Is the US a bigger oil importer or exporter? | USAFacts" title="Is the US a bigger oil importer or exporter? | USAFacts" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CzVL!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88f9b79d-48ac-414c-ad33-084cde8ec556_1220x1144.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CzVL!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88f9b79d-48ac-414c-ad33-084cde8ec556_1220x1144.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CzVL!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88f9b79d-48ac-414c-ad33-084cde8ec556_1220x1144.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CzVL!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88f9b79d-48ac-414c-ad33-084cde8ec556_1220x1144.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h2>Why Is The Cushion Shrinking?</h2><p>Several factors have converged.</p><ul><li><p>Commercial crude inventories have steadily declined.</p></li><li><p>Refineries are operating at very high utilization rates.</p></li><li><p>Exports remain robust.</p></li><li><p>Strategic Petroleum Reserve releases over recent years have reduced emergency buffers.</p></li></ul><p>Meanwhile, geopolitical risks remain elevated.</p><p>The market has become increasingly dependent on uninterrupted supply chains.</p><p></p><h2>Why This Matters More Than Oil Prices</h2><p>Most investors obsess over <strong>Brent crude</strong>.</p><p>Professionals watch <strong>inventories.</strong></p><p>Oil prices can stay calm for weeks.</p><p>Inventory trends often tell you whether the market is quietly tightening underneath the surface.</p><p>When inventories fall:</p><ul><li><p>unexpected refinery outages become more impactful</p></li><li><p>hurricanes matter more</p></li><li><p>geopolitical disruptions matter more</p></li><li><p>shipping bottlenecks become more expensive</p></li></ul><p>In other words,</p><p><strong>volatility increases.</strong></p><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4KF4!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41248d9d-ef29-4465-93d0-c561fbcba78b_916x649.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4KF4!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41248d9d-ef29-4465-93d0-c561fbcba78b_916x649.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4KF4!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41248d9d-ef29-4465-93d0-c561fbcba78b_916x649.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4KF4!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41248d9d-ef29-4465-93d0-c561fbcba78b_916x649.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4KF4!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41248d9d-ef29-4465-93d0-c561fbcba78b_916x649.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4KF4!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41248d9d-ef29-4465-93d0-c561fbcba78b_916x649.jpeg" width="916" height="649" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/41248d9d-ef29-4465-93d0-c561fbcba78b_916x649.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:649,&quot;width&quot;:916,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Why Oil Prices Suddenly Crashed&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="Why Oil Prices Suddenly Crashed" title="Why Oil Prices Suddenly Crashed" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4KF4!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41248d9d-ef29-4465-93d0-c561fbcba78b_916x649.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4KF4!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41248d9d-ef29-4465-93d0-c561fbcba78b_916x649.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4KF4!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41248d9d-ef29-4465-93d0-c561fbcba78b_916x649.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4KF4!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41248d9d-ef29-4465-93d0-c561fbcba78b_916x649.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h2>The Strategic Petroleum Reserve Isn&#8217;t What It Used To Be</h2><p>The Strategic Petroleum Reserve still exists to cushion severe supply disruptions.</p><p>However, it is far smaller than it was just a few years ago after multiple emergency releases.</p><p>Although the Department of Energy says the reserve remains operational and above its technical minimum, the total emergency buffer is considerably lower than historical levels.</p><div><hr></div><h2>What This Means For Investors</h2><p>This isn&#8217;t necessarily bullish for oil.</p><p>Nor is it automatically bearish for the broader market.</p><p>It simply means markets have become <strong>more sensitive to surprises.</strong></p><p>If geopolitical tensions ease and production remains strong, inventories can rebuild quickly.</p><p>If an unexpected disruption occurs while inventories are already tight, prices can react far more violently than investors expect.</p><p>The market is no longer pricing from a position of abundance.</p><p>It&#8217;s pricing from a position where the cushion is noticeably thinner.</p><div><hr></div><h2>Stocks Worth Watching</h2><p>Rather than trying to predict the next move in crude prices, investors may want to monitor companies whose earnings are particularly sensitive to energy markets.</p><p>Examples include:</p><ul><li><p>Integrated oil majors</p></li><li><p>Oilfield service companies</p></li><li><p>Refiners</p></li><li><p>Airlines</p></li><li><p>Chemical manufacturers</p></li><li><p>Transportation companies</p></li></ul><p>Energy price volatility often creates opportunities well before it becomes front-page news.</p><div><hr></div><h2>The TwoStockPicks Take</h2><p>One statistic rarely predicts the future.</p><p>But it can tell you how fragile the present has become.</p><p>The 43-day inventory figure shouldn&#8217;t be interpreted as a countdown until America runs out of oil.</p><p>Instead, think of it as a measure of <strong>how much slack remains in the system.</strong></p><p>Right now, that slack is near its lowest level in decades.</p><p>That&#8217;s not a reason to panic.</p><p>But it is a reason to pay closer attention.</p><p>Want to stay updated on market trends and investment insights?</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong><span> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before investing.</span></em></p><p><em>Consider supporting this publication as well:</em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=0b7fb447&amp;utm_content=207810068&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 20% off for 1 year&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;button-wrapper&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary button-wrapper" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=0b7fb447&amp;utm_content=207810068"><span>Get 20% off for 1 year</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The 100% Oil Signal That Has Predicted Every Crash Since 1987]]></title><description><![CDATA[A hidden macro trigger is flashing again: energy shocks, inflation pressure, and tightening liquidity.]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-100-oil-signal-that-has-predicted</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-100-oil-signal-that-has-predicted</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:39:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOFt!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24da2e12-1c39-499c-b65f-6b5fe18c3e1d_2614x1506.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOFt!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24da2e12-1c39-499c-b65f-6b5fe18c3e1d_2614x1506.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOFt!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24da2e12-1c39-499c-b65f-6b5fe18c3e1d_2614x1506.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOFt!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24da2e12-1c39-499c-b65f-6b5fe18c3e1d_2614x1506.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOFt!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24da2e12-1c39-499c-b65f-6b5fe18c3e1d_2614x1506.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOFt!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24da2e12-1c39-499c-b65f-6b5fe18c3e1d_2614x1506.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOFt!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24da2e12-1c39-499c-b65f-6b5fe18c3e1d_2614x1506.png" width="1456" height="839" 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/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24da2e12-1c39-499c-b65f-6b5fe18c3e1d_2614x1506.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOFt!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24da2e12-1c39-499c-b65f-6b5fe18c3e1d_2614x1506.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOFt!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24da2e12-1c39-499c-b65f-6b5fe18c3e1d_2614x1506.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOFt!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24da2e12-1c39-499c-b65f-6b5fe18c3e1d_2614x1506.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Every major market crash since 1987 has shared one overlooked trigger:</p><p><strong>Oil shock.</strong></p><p>Specifically &#8212; when oil&#8217;s 12-month rate of change pushes past <strong>+100%</strong>.</p><p>We&#8217;re now sitting at <strong>+91%</strong>.</p><p>Nine percentage points away from a level that has <em>consistently</em> preceded systemic stress.</p><p><strong>The track record:</strong></p><p>&#128165; 1987 Crash &#8212; Oil ROC &gt;100%<br>&#128165; 1990 Recession &#8212; Oil ROC &gt;100%<br>&#128165; Dot-com Bust &#8212; Oil ROC &gt;100%<br>&#128165; 2008 Financial Crisis &#8212; Oil ROC &gt;100%<br>&#128165; 2022 Bear Market &#8212; Oil ROC &gt;100%</p><p>Not coincidence. Transmission mechanism.</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>Why this matters (and why it&#8217;s dangerous now):</strong></p><p>When oil spikes this aggressively, it acts like a <strong>global tax</strong>:</p><ul><li><p>Margins compress across industries</p></li><li><p>Consumer spending gets squeezed</p></li><li><p>Inflation re-accelerates &#8594; central banks stay tighter for longer</p></li><li><p>Liquidity dries up at the exact moment growth slows</p></li></ul><p>It&#8217;s not just &#8220;higher oil&#8221; &#8212; it&#8217;s a <strong>shock to the entire system</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>And today&#8217;s setup is even more fragile:</strong></p><ul><li><p>The Strait of Hormuz disruption risk adds a geopolitical supply shock</p></li><li><p>Markets are already weak (S&amp;P 500 down ~5% from recent highs)</p></li><li><p>Positioning is still relatively crowded in mega-cap equities</p></li><li><p>Rate cuts expectations could be delayed if energy drives inflation higher</p></li></ul><p>This creates a dangerous feedback loop:<br><strong>Oil &#8593; &#8594; Inflation &#8593; &#8594; Rates &#8593; &#8594; Growth &#8595; &#8594; Markets &#8595;</strong></p><div><hr></div><p><strong>Key insight most people miss:</strong></p><p>It&#8217;s not the <em>level</em> of oil that breaks markets &#8212;<br>it&#8217;s the <strong>speed of the move</strong>.</p><p>Rapid energy shocks don&#8217;t give economies time to adjust.<br>That&#8217;s when things snap.</p><div><hr></div><p>So the real question isn&#8217;t <em>if oil is high</em>.</p><p>It&#8217;s this:</p><p>&#128073; What happens if oil crosses +100% ROC in the next few weeks?</p><p>Because historically&#8230;<br>that&#8217;s when &#8220;slowdowns&#8221; turn into <strong>crashes</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>Will this time be different?</strong></p><p>It could be.</p><p>But every time investors have asked that question under similar conditions&#8212;</p><p>History has been very consistent.</p><div><hr></div><p>Want to stay updated on market trends and investment insights?</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before investing.</em></p><p><em>Consider supporting this publication as well:</em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=0b7fb447&amp;utm_content=193262230&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 20% off for 1 year&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=0b7fb447&amp;utm_content=193262230"><span>Get 20% off for 1 year</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Short Note during Market Bloodbath: Note to Investors]]></title><description><![CDATA[Understanding the current red days happening this week - what's happening?!]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/short-note-during-market-bloodbath</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/short-note-during-market-bloodbath</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:24:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6_Ar!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6_Ar!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6_Ar!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6_Ar!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6_Ar!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6_Ar!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6_Ar!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png" width="1456" height="919" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/bfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:919,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2836905,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/187080875?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6_Ar!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6_Ar!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6_Ar!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6_Ar!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbfd8b656-d666-4946-bfc0-38f8324f2448_1746x1102.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><br></p><p>Institutional money is pulling back hard from U.S. equities:</p><p>Hedge funds dumped U.S. single stocks at the fastest pace since October on Wednesday &#8212; marking their <strong>second straight day of net selling</strong>.</p><p>The move was driven primarily by <strong>new short positions</strong>, with additional pressure from <strong>long-position liquidations</strong>.</p><p>It&#8217;s now <strong>five net outflow days out of the last six</strong>.</p><p><strong>5 of 11 sectors</strong> saw capital exit, led by <strong>Information Technology, Industrials, and Materials</strong>.</p><p>The heaviest pressure hit <strong>Semiconductors &amp; Semi Equipment, Communications Equipment, and Tech Hardware</strong>.</p><p>Hedge fund positioning is clearly turning defensive.</p><p><strong>For newer investors:</strong> this is the phase where fear takes over. Doom headlines, red screens, and falling prices create emotional pressure &#8212; and that&#8217;s normal.</p><p>Market turbulence feels violent when you&#8217;re new. But volatility doesn&#8217;t equal permanent damage &#8212; <strong>weak businesses break, strong businesses bend</strong>.</p><p>If you&#8217;re holding <strong>fundamentally strong companies</strong> &#8212; real cash flow, strong balance sheets, wide moats, real growth &#8212; this is noise, not risk.</p><p>Short-term prices are driven by <strong>emotion, headlines, positioning, and algos</strong>, not business value. You can&#8217;t control price action &#8212; only <strong>what you own</strong>.</p><p>The edge is psychological:<br>Detach from price.<br>Ignore the noise.<br>Focus on <strong>business performance and intrinsic value</strong>.</p><p>This is where discipline is built &#8212; and where long-term capital is made.</p><p></p><h2><strong>Parallel: the DeepSeek AI selloff last year </strong></h2><p>This pattern mirrors what we&#8217;re seeing in the <strong>DeepSeek AI-related stock selloff</strong>.</p><p>Narrative shock &#8594; sentiment shift &#8594; forced positioning &#8594; indiscriminate selling.</p><p>Not every stock sold is a bad business &#8212; they&#8217;re being sold because <strong>capital is de-risking</strong>, not because fundamentals suddenly collapsed.</p><p>Flows move faster than facts.</p><p>The market sells <strong>baskets</strong>, not businesses.<br>Algorithms hit sectors, not balance sheets.<br>Fear compresses everything into one trade.</p><p>This is how high-quality names get mispriced &#8212; not through broken fundamentals, but through <strong>panic-driven capital rotation</strong>.</p><p>Same psychology. Same mechanics. Same cycle.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before invest</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Markets on Edge: Tariffs, Shutdowns & Mega Earnings Could Move Everything This Week]]></title><description><![CDATA[Yes, it's that 100% tariffs on Canada that he's saying and of which it's going to impact the market]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/markets-on-edge-tariffs-shutdowns</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/markets-on-edge-tariffs-shutdowns</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 15:25:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2m4g!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2m4g!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2m4g!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2m4g!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2m4g!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2m4g!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2m4g!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png" width="1330" height="776" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:776,&quot;width&quot;:1330,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1951648,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/185728806?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2m4g!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2m4g!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2m4g!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2m4g!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e74a671-f66e-4156-81ae-fec304d71cc1_1330x776.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>This week doesn&#8217;t start with data.<br>It starts with risk.</p><p>A threat.<br>A deadline.<br>A market that has to price uncertainty in real time.</p><p>Sunday night kicks it off.</p><p>A 100% tariff threat on Canada.<br>No framework. No timeline. Just leverage.</p><p>At the same time, a 75% probability of a U.S. government shutdown hangs in the background.</p><p>Not chaos.<br>But not noise.</p><p>Futures don&#8217;t get the luxury of waiting for clarity. They react first &#8212; before economists, before earnings models, before the narrative catches up.</p><p>And that reaction matters.</p><p>Because once uncertainty shows up in futures, it doesn&#8217;t disappear when the cash market opens.</p><p>Then the calendar tightens.</p><p>Tuesday brings January Consumer Confidence.<br>A read on whether higher rates and higher prices are finally showing up in behavior.</p><p>Wednesday is the hinge point.</p><p>The Fed decision.<br>Powell&#8217;s press conference.<br>And earnings from Microsoft, Meta, and Tesla &#8212; three different windows into AI spending, ad demand, and consumer elasticity.</p><p>By Thursday, Apple reports.<br>Less about innovation. More about global demand and pricing power.</p><p>Friday closes it out with December PPI.<br>The inflation data that quietly feeds into margins, guidance, and rate expectations.</p><p>None of these events live in isolation.</p><p>Tariffs question margins.<br>Shutdown risk tightens liquidity.<br>Inflation data reframes the Fed.<br>Earnings either validate optimism &#8212; or expose where it&#8217;s fragile.</p><p>This isn&#8217;t a week for straight lines.</p><p>It&#8217;s a week where markets listen carefully, react quickly, and punish complacency.</p><p>Volatility isn&#8217;t a surprise this week.<br>It&#8217;s the signal.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before invest</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Part 1: How to Take Advantage of the AI & Robotics Mega Trend Today ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A cycle-aware guide to the biggest technological shift of the decade &#8212; and how to invest without blowing up]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/part-1-how-to-take-advantage-of-the</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/part-1-how-to-take-advantage-of-the</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 17 Jan 2026 12:29:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AL_k!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi, Investor &#128075;</p><p>Over the past few years, I&#8217;ve read hundreds of headlines about AI.</p><p>Most of them fell into one of two camps:</p><ul><li><p><strong>&#8220;AI will change everything.&#8221;</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>&#8220;AI is a bubble about to burst.&#8221;</strong></p></li></ul><p>Neither framing is particularly useful for long-term investors.</p><p>So instead of asking <em>how fast AI will grow</em>, I started asking a better question:</p><p><strong>Where does AI &amp; robotics actually create durable economic value &#8212; and where does it merely attract capital?</strong></p><p>Because history is very clear on this:</p><blockquote><p>Every technological revolution creates enormous wealth &#8212; but only for investors who understand cycles, incentives, and business quality.</p></blockquote><p>Let&#8217;s break this down.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AL_k!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AL_k!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AL_k!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AL_k!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AL_k!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AL_k!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png" width="1456" height="854" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:854,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4171616,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/184861011?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AL_k!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AL_k!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AL_k!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AL_k!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ab82628-46f7-4544-8b33-8238de9073d6_1854x1088.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><div><hr></div><h2>AI &amp; Robotics Is Not One Trend &#8212; It&#8217;s a Stack</h2><p>One of the biggest mistakes investors make is treating &#8220;AI&#8221; as a single industry.</p><p>It isn&#8217;t.</p><p>AI &amp; robotics is a <strong>stack</strong>, and value accrues very differently at each layer.</p><p>At a high level, the ecosystem looks like this:</p><ol><li><p><strong>Compute &amp; Infrastructure</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Models &amp; Platforms</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Applications &amp; Software</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Physical Automation &amp; Robotics</strong></p></li></ol><p>Each layer has <strong>different economics, risks, and competitive dynamics</strong>.</p><p>Understanding this distinction matters far more than guessing which model is &#8220;best.&#8221;</p><div><hr></div><h2>1. The Infrastructure Layer: Capital-Intensive, Cyclical, Essential</h2><p>AI does not exist without compute.</p><p>This layer includes:</p><ul><li><p>Semiconductors</p></li><li><p>Data centers</p></li><li><p>Networking hardware</p></li><li><p>Power and cooling infrastructure</p></li></ul><p>These businesses benefit from <strong>scale, capital access, and ecosystem lock-in</strong>.</p><p>But there&#8217;s a catch.</p><p>Infrastructure cycles tend to <strong>overshoot</strong>.</p><p>When demand is strong, capital floods in.<br>When capacity catches up, margins compress fast.</p><p>For investors, this means:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Excellent returns during build-out phases</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Sharp drawdowns when expectations outrun reality</strong></p></li></ul><p>This is not a &#8220;buy and forget&#8221; layer &#8212; it&#8217;s a <strong>cycle-aware allocation</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><h2>2. The Model Layer: Powerful, But Not Always Profitable</h2><p>This is where most of the media attention goes.</p><p>Large language models. Foundation models. Multimodal systems.</p><p>Technologically impressive &#8212; economically uncertain.</p><p>Why?</p><p>Because:</p><ul><li><p>Marginal differentiation is shrinking</p></li><li><p>Training costs are enormous</p></li><li><p>Open-source pressure is relentless</p></li></ul><p>Models tend to <strong>commoditize faster than expected</strong>.</p><p>The long-term value here often flows <strong>not to the smartest model</strong>, but to whoever controls:</p><ul><li><p>Distribution</p></li><li><p>Integration</p></li><li><p>Enterprise workflows</p></li></ul><p>Investors should be cautious about paying monopoly multiples for businesses that may not enjoy monopoly economics.</p><div><hr></div><h2>3. The Application Layer: Where AI Becomes a Business Tool</h2><p>This is the layer long-term investors should care most about.</p><p>AI applications embedded into:</p><ul><li><p>Enterprise software</p></li><li><p>Healthcare workflows</p></li><li><p>Financial systems</p></li><li><p>Industrial planning</p></li><li><p>Cybersecurity</p></li></ul><p>Here, AI is not the product.</p><p><strong>AI is the margin expander.</strong></p><p>The winners are not &#8220;AI companies&#8221; &#8212; they&#8217;re <strong>great businesses that use AI to deepen moats</strong>, lower costs, and raise switching barriers.</p><p>This is where AI quietly compounds.</p><div><hr></div><h2>4. Robotics: The Physical World Is Catching Up</h2><p>Robotics is often discussed separately, but it&#8217;s tightly linked to AI progress.</p><p>What&#8217;s changing now:</p><ul><li><p>Better perception (vision models)</p></li><li><p>Better decision-making (reinforcement learning)</p></li><li><p>Falling sensor and compute costs</p></li></ul><p>Robotics is moving beyond factories into:</p><ul><li><p>Warehousing &amp; logistics</p></li><li><p>Healthcare &amp; elder care</p></li><li><p>Agriculture</p></li><li><p>Defense &amp; infrastructure maintenance</p></li></ul><p>Unlike software, robotics adoption is <strong>slower &#8212; but stickier</strong>.</p><p>Once installed, systems rarely get ripped out.</p><p>That creates long-duration revenue streams &#8212; if execution is right.</p><div><hr></div><h2>The Investor&#8217;s Real Risk: Extrapolation</h2><p>Here&#8217;s the dangerous part.</p><p>When investors see:</p><ul><li><p>Explosive revenue growth</p></li><li><p>Expanding TAM narratives</p></li><li><p>Constant product announcements</p></li></ul><p>They extrapolate.</p><p>They assume:</p><ul><li><p>Growth stays exponential</p></li><li><p>Margins expand forever</p></li><li><p>Competition stays rational</p></li></ul><p>History says otherwise.</p><p>The AI &amp; robotics boom will almost certainly follow a familiar path:</p><ol><li><p>Overinvestment</p></li><li><p>Margin pressure</p></li><li><p>Shakeout</p></li><li><p>Consolidation</p></li><li><p>Durable winners emerge</p></li></ol><p>The goal isn&#8217;t to avoid AI.</p><p>It&#8217;s to <strong>avoid paying peak-cycle prices for peak expectations</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><h2>ETFs to Watch in AI &amp; Robotics (By Exposure Type)</h2><p>For investors who want <strong>diversified exposure without single-stock risk</strong>, ETFs are often the cleanest entry point.</p><p>Here are the main categories to understand:</p><div><hr></div><h3>&#129504; Broad AI Exposure ETFs</h3><p><strong>Best for: Long-term thematic allocation</strong></p><p>These ETFs typically hold a mix of:</p><ul><li><p>Semiconductors</p></li><li><p>Cloud infrastructure</p></li><li><p>Software platforms</p></li><li><p>AI-enabled businesses</p></li></ul><p>They reduce company-specific risk but still move with the cycle.</p><p>Think of these as <strong>&#8220;AI beta&#8221;</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><h3>&#129302; Robotics &amp; Automation ETFs</h3><p><strong>Best for: Physical-world adoption</strong></p><p>These focus on:</p><ul><li><p>Industrial automation</p></li><li><p>Robotics manufacturers</p></li><li><p>Sensors &amp; control systems</p></li></ul><p>Returns here tend to be:</p><ul><li><p>Less explosive</p></li><li><p>More industrial-cycle driven</p></li><li><p>More sensitive to capex trends</p></li></ul><p>But long-term adoption is structural.</p><div><hr></div><h3>&#129513; Semiconductor-Focused ETFs</h3><p><strong>Best for: Infrastructure leverage</strong></p><p>These ETFs benefit the most during:</p><ul><li><p>AI capex booms</p></li><li><p>Data center expansion phases</p></li></ul><p>They also suffer the most when inventories build and pricing softens.</p><p>Not for the faint-hearted &#8212; but powerful when timed correctly.</p><div><hr></div><h3>&#129514; Software &amp; Cloud ETFs with AI Tilt</h3><p><strong>Best for: Margin expansion exposure</strong></p><p>These often don&#8217;t market themselves as &#8220;AI ETFs&#8221; &#8212; and that&#8217;s the point.</p><p>They own businesses where AI enhances:</p><ul><li><p>Customer retention</p></li><li><p>Pricing power</p></li><li><p>Operating leverage</p></li></ul><p>This is where AI shows up quietly &#8212; and sustainably.</p><div><hr></div><h2>What Matters More Than Picking the &#8220;Right&#8221; ETF</h2><p>AI &amp; robotics investing is not about being early.</p><p>It&#8217;s about being <strong>durable</strong>.</p><p>Ask yourself:</p><ul><li><p>Am I paying for cash flows &#8212; or narratives?</p></li><li><p>Does this exposure benefit from AI adoption, or merely participate in it?</p></li><li><p>How does this perform if growth slows but adoption continues?</p></li></ul><p>The best investments in technological revolutions are rarely the loudest.</p><p>They&#8217;re the ones that still matter <strong>after the hype fades</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><h2>Final Thoughts: AI Will Change the World &#8212; But Cycles Still Apply</h2><p>AI &amp; robotics will reshape productivity, labor, and entire industries.</p><p>That part is not in doubt.</p><p>What <em>is</em> uncertain is:</p><ul><li><p>Who captures the value</p></li><li><p>At what price investors enter</p></li><li><p>How expectations evolve across cycles</p></li></ul><p>Technology changes.</p><p>Human behavior doesn&#8217;t.</p><p>And markets are still markets.</p><p>Long-term success in AI investing won&#8217;t come from predicting the next breakthrough.</p><p>It will come from:</p><ul><li><p>Respecting cycles</p></li><li><p>Valuing resilience over excitement</p></li><li><p>Letting compounding do the heavy lifting</p></li></ul><p>That&#8217;s how real wealth is built &#8212; even in the age of artificial intelligence.</p><div><hr></div><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before invest</em></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Santa Rally: Is the S&P 500 About to Break the Internet (and 7,000)? 🎅📈]]></title><description><![CDATA[As we trade in our holiday leftovers for stock tickers, the market is serving up some serious spice to end 2025]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-santa-rally-is-the-s-and-p-500</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-santa-rally-is-the-s-and-p-500</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 28 Dec 2025 15:06:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K7ND!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>While most of us were sleeping off a food coma, the <strong>S&amp;P 500</strong> spent the weekend flirting with a historic milestone: the <strong>7,000 mark</strong>.</p><p>Here&#8217;s your quick guide to everything happening in the markets as we sprint toward 2026 and an easy read! </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K7ND!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K7ND!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K7ND!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K7ND!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K7ND!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K7ND!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png" width="1336" height="800" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:800,&quot;width&quot;:1336,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1327407,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/182773024?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K7ND!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K7ND!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K7ND!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K7ND!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5d08c4be-c26c-4967-84e1-23b4bd0ac045_1336x800.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><div><hr></div><h3><strong>1. The S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Big Milestone</strong></h3><p>The stock market isn&#8217;t just &#8220;up&#8221;&#8212;it&#8217;s essentially on a victory lap. On Friday, December 26, the S&amp;P 500 hit a new <strong>all-time intraday high</strong> of <strong>6,945.77</strong>.</p><ul><li><p><strong>The Vibe:</strong> We are officially in a &#8220;Santa Claus Rally.&#8221; Trading is light, spirits are high, and investors are wondering if we&#8217;ll hit <strong>7,000</strong> before the New Year&#8217;s Eve ball drops.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Scorecard:</strong> The S&amp;P is up about <strong>18%</strong> for the year, while the tech-heavy <strong>Nasdaq</strong> is crushing it with a <strong>22%</strong> gain.</p></li></ul><h3><strong>2. Nvidia&#8217;s $20 Billion Christmas Present</strong></h3><p>The &#8220;King of AI&#8221; is at it again. <strong>Nvidia</strong> just inked a massive <strong>$20 billion deal</strong> with AI startup <strong>Groq</strong>.</p><ul><li><p><strong>The Skinny:</strong> Nvidia isn&#8217;t just buying chips; they&#8217;re bringing Groq&#8217;s top talent (including their CEO) in-house to dominate &#8220;AI inference&#8221;&#8212;the part where AI actually <em>answers</em> your questions rather than just learning how to.</p></li><li><p><strong>Why it Matters:</strong> This deal helped soothe fears that the AI boom was slowing down, keeping the &#8220;Magnificent Seven&#8221; tech stocks in the driver&#8217;s seat.</p></li></ul><h3><strong>3. Warren Buffett&#8217;s Massive &#8220;War Chest&#8221;</strong> &#128176;</h3><p>While everyone else is buying, the &#8220;Oracle of Omaha&#8221; is sitting on a mountain of cash&#8212;<strong>$382 billion</strong>, to be exact.</p><ul><li><p><strong>The &#8220;Warning&#8221;:</strong> Buffett has been selling off big chunks of <strong>Apple</strong> and <strong>Bank of America</strong>.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Takeaway:</strong> Analysts think this is Buffett&#8217;s way of saying, <em>&#8220;Everything is a bit too expensive right now.&#8221;</em> He&#8217;s essentially waiting for a &#8220;sale&#8221; (a market dip) before he starts shopping again.</p></li></ul><h3><strong>4. Gold is the New... Gold?</strong></h3><p>If you thought tech was the only winner, look at your jewelry box. <strong>Gold</strong> just blasted through <strong>$4,500 an ounce</strong> for the first time in history.</p><ul><li><p><strong>The Reason:</strong> A mix of geopolitical drama (tensions with Venezuela) and people looking for a &#8220;safe haven&#8221; in case 2026 gets bumpy.</p></li><li><p><strong>Fun Fact:</strong> Gold is up over <strong>70%</strong> this year&#8212;its best performance since the 1970s!</p></li></ul><h3><strong>5. The Economy is... Actually Pretty Strong</strong></h3><p>The latest data shows the U.S. economy grew at a <strong>4.3%</strong> clip in the third quarter.</p><ul><li><p><strong>The Good News:</strong> People are spending money on travel, health care, and (clearly) AI.</p></li><li><p><strong>The &#8220;Wait a Minute&#8221; News:</strong> Because the economy is so strong, the Federal Reserve might not be in a hurry to lower interest rates in January.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h3><strong>The Bottom Line</strong></h3><p>We are ending 2025 on a high note, but with a side of caution. Between the S&amp;P 500 chasing 7,000 and gold hitting records, there&#8217;s plenty of momentum&#8212;but Buffett&#8217;s $382 billion cash pile is a reminder to keep an eye on the exit sign.</p><p><strong>Want to discover the full details of this high-potential stock &#8212; and get exclusive access to all our top research and deep dives?</strong></p><p><strong>&#128073; Subscribe to our Premium Newsletter now and stay ahead of the market with actionable insights delivered straight to your inbox.</strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=182773024&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;button-wrapper&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary button-wrapper" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=182773024"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before invest</em></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pony AI’s 11% Slide: What It Teaches Us About Hype, Reality, and the Future of Autonomous Cars]]></title><description><![CDATA[China&#8217;s autonomous driving startup Pony AI Inc. raised about US $863 million (HK $6.7 billion) in its Hong Kong listing this week &#8212; yet its shares fell nearly 11% on debut.]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/pony-ais-11-slide-what-it-teaches</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/pony-ais-11-slide-what-it-teaches</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:05:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WTiK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WTiK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WTiK!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WTiK!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WTiK!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WTiK!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WTiK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png" width="1456" height="883" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:883,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2701314,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/178178974?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WTiK!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WTiK!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WTiK!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WTiK!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6e7f3f9-078f-408f-b4a7-635dcf2deb3a_1480x898.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>A billion-dollar raise, a promising sector, and still&#8230; the market sold it down.</p><p>This moment isn&#8217;t just about one stock &#8212; it&#8217;s about how investors are re-evaluating the <em>autonomy dream</em> itself.</p><div><hr></div><h3>&#128269; The Signal Behind the Drop</h3><p>Pony AI operates in one of the most ambitious frontiers in tech: <strong>robotaxis and driverless logistics</strong>. It&#8217;s been testing fully autonomous vehicles in China and the U.S., with partnerships across Toyota, Hyundai, and GAC.</p><p>Yet, despite that promise, the market&#8217;s reaction was cold. Why?<br>Because investors are no longer buying <em>stories</em>. They&#8217;re buying <em>execution</em>.</p><p>Compare this to <strong>Tesla</strong>, which has spent over a decade refining its <strong>Full Self-Driving (FSD)</strong> system. Even Tesla &#8212; with hundreds of thousands of cars collecting real-world data daily &#8212; hasn&#8217;t achieved full autonomy yet. Elon Musk calls it &#8220;almost there,&#8221; but regulatory and technical barriers still loom large.</p><p>That context matters:<br>If the world&#8217;s most data-rich EV company is still iterating, the path for smaller players like Pony AI will be longer and riskier.</p><div><hr></div><h3>&#129517; What This Means for Investors</h3><p>The sell-off isn&#8217;t a rejection of autonomy &#8212; it&#8217;s a <strong>re-pricing of reality</strong>.</p><p>Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s happening beneath the surface:</p><ol><li><p><strong>Valuation discipline is back.</strong> The market is done paying for visions without unit economics.</p></li></ol><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=178178974&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=178178974"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Fed Just Blinked During Halloween — And That’s a Big Deal]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Federal Reserve just injected $29.4 billion into the U.S. banking system &#8212; its largest liquidity operation since 2020]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-fed-just-blinked-during-halloween</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-fed-just-blinked-during-halloween</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2025 15:37:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4nYX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4nYX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4nYX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4nYX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4nYX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4nYX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4nYX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png" width="1456" height="890" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:890,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2863227,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/177992974?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4nYX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4nYX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4nYX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4nYX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d248560-872c-4820-82b7-f5ef209979bb_1666x1018.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>No panic headlines. No emergency statements. Just a quiet signal that something beneath the surface might be cracking.</p><p>Bank reserves at the Fed have plunged to <strong>$2.8 trillion</strong>, their lowest level in years. That number sounds big, until you realize it&#8217;s the backbone of the entire financial system. </p><p>When reserves drop, the oxygen thins. Credit tightens. Liquidity disappears. That&#8217;s when markets start to suffocate.</p><div><hr></div><h3>The Hidden Meaning Behind Powell&#8217;s Move</h3><p>On the surface, Powell is still preaching discipline: &#8220;rates will stay high, inflation must fall.&#8221;<br>But actions speak louder than words.</p><p>A $29 billion repo operation isn&#8217;t just &#8220;routine maintenance.&#8221; It&#8217;s a pressure release valve &#8212; the Fed quietly admitting that the system is running hot and liquidity is evaporating faster than expected.</p><p>It&#8217;s a reminder that the Fed doesn&#8217;t only set interest rates. It manages trust.</p><p>Every repo, every liquidity injection, every balance-sheet adjustment &#8212; these are psychological tools as much as economic ones. They tell markets, &#8220;We&#8217;ve got this,&#8221; even when the plumbing says otherwise.</p><div><hr></div><h3>The Paradox of Tightening and Easing at Once</h3><p>We&#8217;re witnessing the new era of central banking: tighten publicly, ease privately.<br>Raise rates to fight inflation, but quietly pump liquidity when things start to strain.</p><p>It&#8217;s like trying to lose weight while sneaking midnight snacks.<br>Eventually, something gives.</p><p>The Fed is walking a razor&#8217;s edge between credibility and crisis prevention.<br>Cut too late, and liquidity collapses. Cut too soon, and inflation reignites.</p><p>Either way, volatility wins.</p><div><hr></div><h3>What Smart Investors Should Be Watching</h3><p>Forget the noise about &#8220;when&#8217;s the next rate cut.&#8221;<br>Watch <strong>liquidity</strong> &#8212; it moves markets faster than policy.</p><p>Here&#8217;s what matters:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Bank reserves:</strong> They&#8217;re the bloodstream of the system. Falling reserves = higher risk of funding stress.</p></li><li><p><strong>Repo operations:</strong> When the Fed steps in this way, it&#8217;s often because someone, somewhere, can&#8217;t get cash.</p></li><li><p><strong>Treasury issuance:</strong> Heavy short-term borrowing drains liquidity from banks into government accounts.</p></li></ul><p>When liquidity tightens, even strong companies get hit. When it loosens, even weak assets rally.</p><p>That&#8217;s why traders obsess over Fed balance-sheet moves &#8212; not just interest rates.</p><div><hr></div><h3>The Big Picture</h3><p>This isn&#8217;t 2008. It&#8217;s not a crash &#8212; yet.<br>It&#8217;s a warning light.</p><p>The Fed knows it&#8217;s close to the limit. The market knows it too.<br>That&#8217;s why every liquidity tweak, every balance-sheet shift, every subtle policy leak matters more than the next CPI print.</p><p>We&#8217;re entering a stage where <strong>liquidity is the new alpha</strong> &#8212; and those who understand it will see the next move before it hits the headlines.</p><p></p><h3><strong>&#8220;We Analysed 200+ Companies. These Are 10 High-Growth Stocks We&#8217;re Watching Closely with Strong Upside Potential&#8221; - According to our Research Team</strong></h3><p>Our analysts at Two Stock Picks have uncovered <a href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/p/we-analyzed-200-companies-these-are">10 companies with strong potential</a> for significant growth over the coming months.</p><p>Among these, one standout opportunity shines brightest &#8212; a lesser-known company in the fast-growing semiconductor and quantum computing sectors.</p><p>These cutting-edge industries are set to transform the global economy, fueled by rapid advancements in quantum technology and soaring chip demand driven by AI, defense, and cloud computing. Industry experts are expecting a major revenue breakthrough for this company as early as 2025.</p><p><strong>Want to discover the full details of this high-potential stock &#8212; and get exclusive access to all our top research and deep dives?</strong></p><p><strong>&#128073; Subscribe to our Premium Newsletter now and stay ahead of the market with actionable insights delivered straight to your inbox.</strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=177992974&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;button-wrapper&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary button-wrapper" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=177992974"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before invest</em></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Perplexity just quietly released a 42-page internal guide - how it's relevant for stock investors ]]></title><description><![CDATA[What Perplexity&#8217;s internal AI playbook reveals about the future of productivity, innovation, and the companies poised to win in the next phase of the AI economy.]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/perplexity-just-quietly-released</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/perplexity-just-quietly-released</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 25 Oct 2025 06:56:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Lt6!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Lt6!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Lt6!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Lt6!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Lt6!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Lt6!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Lt6!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png" width="1456" height="744" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:744,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:835279,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/177074404?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Lt6!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Lt6!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Lt6!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Lt6!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6cb625c-b2ed-4568-b093-d7aa0a914c29_2356x1204.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><em>(Here&#8217;s the full link for transparency and credits to image source - https://r2cdn.perplexity.ai/pdf/pplx-at-work.pdf but this article summarises this PDF) </em></p><p>Perplexity just quietly released a 42-page internal guide revealing how their team actually uses AI at work &#8212; and it&#8217;s packed with real, practical insights.</p><p>Here are the biggest takeaways for investors, builders, and anyone navigating the AI-driven future of work:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Automation done right:</strong> They use AI to handle the tedious stuff &#8212; emails, meeting prep, and research &#8212; freeing up time for higher-value thinking.</p></li><li><p><strong>Curiosity as leverage:</strong> Instead of replacing human creativity, AI becomes a tool to <em>amplify</em> curiosity and accelerate learning.</p></li><li><p><strong>A prompting masterclass:</strong> Their playbook isn&#8217;t flashy &#8212; it&#8217;s clear, structured, and genuinely effective for real-world use.</p></li></ul><p>It&#8217;s a reminder that the edge doesn&#8217;t come from using AI &#8212; it comes from <em>how</em> you use it.</p><p></p><h3>The New Edge in Investing: Thinking With AI</h3><p>Perplexity AI&#8217;s <strong>Creation Studio</strong> isn&#8217;t just another tool &#8212; it&#8217;s a shift in how investors <em>think</em>.</p><p>It blurs the line between human intuition and machine precision.<br>It&#8217;s not about replacing analysis. It&#8217;s about <em>amplifying clarity</em>.</p><p>Here&#8217;s how it changes the game for modern investors &#128071;</p><p><strong>1. Democratizing data.</strong><br>You don&#8217;t need a quant&#8217;s background to understand complex market patterns.<br>The interface turns chaos into clarity &#8212; dashboards, trends, and fundamentals that shape themselves around <em>your mind</em>, not the other way around.</p><p><strong>2. Decision speed.</strong><br>The market doesn&#8217;t wait. Neither should you.<br>When you can synthesize thousands of data points in seconds, intuition becomes faster, sharper, more grounded in reality.</p><p><strong>3. Mental bandwidth.</strong><br>Stop drowning in spreadsheets.<br>Let the AI handle the noise so your brain can focus on the signal &#8212; risk, opportunity, conviction.</p><p><strong>4. Narrative power.</strong><br>Every great investor tells a story.<br>This tool helps you build that story &#8212; visuals, insights, and context that turn data into persuasion.</p><p><strong>5. The AI edge.</strong><br>In a world of over-information, edge is <em>interpretation</em>.<br>AI doesn&#8217;t think for you &#8212; it helps you see what others don&#8217;t.</p><p><strong>Perplexity&#8217;s approach shows a simple truth:</strong><br>The future of investing isn&#8217;t just about who has the most data.<br>It&#8217;s about who can think the fastest with it.</p><p></p><h3>A Real-World Example: Novo Nordisk</h3><p>Recently, <strong>Novo Nordisk (NVO)</strong> &#8212; one of the world&#8217;s leading healthcare innovators &#8212; saw its share price pull back after an extended run-up.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=177074404&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=177074404"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p><p><br>For long-term investors, that correction could signal <em>opportunity, not decline</em>.</p><p>Here&#8217;s why:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Valuation reset:</strong> After a massive rally driven by demand for its GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, the stock&#8217;s valuation had priced in perfection. A short-term pullback brings it closer to fair value relative to expected earnings growth.</p></li><li><p><strong>Durable moat:</strong> Novo Nordisk maintains one of the widest economic moats in global healthcare &#8212; strong brand equity, IP protection, and global manufacturing scale make it hard to disrupt.</p></li><li><p><strong>Secular tailwind:</strong> The world&#8217;s obesity and diabetes markets continue expanding, with GLP-1 adoption still in early innings. Novo&#8217;s product pipeline remains robust.</p></li><li><p><strong>Financial strength:</strong> High margins, recurring revenue, and disciplined capital allocation create resilience even if growth moderates.</p></li></ul><p>For investors using tools, this is where AI insight becomes practical &#8212; building valuation models, monitoring sentiment shifts, and visualizing long-term growth trajectories.</p><p>The question isn&#8217;t whether Novo Nordisk will rebound next week.<br>It&#8217;s whether, five years from now, this dip will look like a gift.</p><div><hr></div><p>In the age of AI, the real alpha isn&#8217;t about chasing noise &#8212; it&#8217;s about <strong>thinking with better tools</strong>.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Want to stay updated on market trends and investment insights?<br>Join <strong>TwoStockPicks</strong> &#8212; where we break down the latest stock market news and highlight two actionable investment ideas each week.</p><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before invest</em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share Two Stock Picks&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share"><span>Share Two Stock Picks</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The US Government Is Quietly Becoming a Stock Market Investor — What It Means for You]]></title><description><![CDATA[Something unusual is happening in the American economy, with direct investments in Intel, a rare earths company and more.]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-us-government-is-quietly-becoming</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-us-government-is-quietly-becoming</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:45:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HPH2!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6360a194-3adf-498b-a939-882a69d7c8bb_1828x910.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HPH2!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6360a194-3adf-498b-a939-882a69d7c8bb_1828x910.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HPH2!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, 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/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6360a194-3adf-498b-a939-882a69d7c8bb_1828x910.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HPH2!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6360a194-3adf-498b-a939-882a69d7c8bb_1828x910.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HPH2!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6360a194-3adf-498b-a939-882a69d7c8bb_1828x910.png" width="1456" height="725" 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/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6360a194-3adf-498b-a939-882a69d7c8bb_1828x910.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HPH2!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6360a194-3adf-498b-a939-882a69d7c8bb_1828x910.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HPH2!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6360a194-3adf-498b-a939-882a69d7c8bb_1828x910.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HPH2!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6360a194-3adf-498b-a939-882a69d7c8bb_1828x910.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The U.S. government &#8212; long a champion of free markets &#8212; is quietly becoming a direct investor in the stock market.</p><h3>&#127963;&#65039; America&#8217;s &#8220;Strategic Capitalism&#8221;</h3><p>In recent months, Washington has taken ownership stakes in several key industries:</p><ul><li><p><strong>~10% of Intel</strong>, to strengthen domestic chip manufacturing.</p></li><li><p><strong>~15% of MP Materials</strong>, the only rare earth miner in the U.S.</p></li><li><p><strong>~10% of Lithium Americas</strong>, tied to one of the largest lithium deposits in North America.</p></li><li><p>A <strong>&#8220;golden share&#8221; in U.S. Steel</strong>, giving veto power over strategic corporate decisions.</p></li></ul><p>These investments are being justified as matters of <strong>national security</strong> &#8212; ensuring the U.S. can make its own semiconductors, mine its own critical minerals, and produce steel without relying on foreign powers.<br>But beneath that surface lies something bigger: a structural shift in how American capitalism works.</p><div><hr></div><h3>&#9881;&#65039; From Free Markets to State Capitalism?</h3><p>Rather than handing out grants or loans, the U.S. is <strong>negotiating equity stakes</strong> through programs like the <strong>CHIPS and Science Act</strong>, <strong>Defense Production Act</strong>, and <strong>Department of Energy loan guarantees</strong>.<br>This blurs the line between private enterprise and government intervention.</p><p>The government now has a seat at the corporate table &#8212; influencing policies, profits, and management.<br>In effect, it&#8217;s beginning to <strong>&#8220;pick winners&#8221;</strong> &#8212; something the U.S. used to criticize China for doing.</p><p>While this approach protects strategic supply chains, it also <strong>risks distorting competition</strong>. When political alignment matters as much as innovation, efficiency and creativity can decline &#8212; a problem seen in other state-directed economies.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=176135846&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=176135846"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h3>&#129513; Why It&#8217;s Happening Now</h3><p>The timing isn&#8217;t accidental. The global economy is fracturing into two spheres:</p><ol><li><p><strong>Dollar-based markets</strong> led by the U.S.</p></li><li><p><strong>Yuan-based markets</strong> led by China.</p></li></ol><p>China controls 90% of rare earths, 70% of lithium refining, and 80% of solar panel production.<br>It also subsidizes key sectors like EVs and AI &#8212; giving its companies global cost advantages.</p><p>America&#8217;s response is to <strong>fight state capitalism with state capitalism</strong>.<br>The message: if you can&#8217;t beat them with free markets, join them with strategic ones.</p><div><hr></div><h3>&#128200; Lessons for Investors</h3><p>For U.S. investors, this new reality carries <strong>both risks and opportunities</strong>:</p><ol><li><p><strong>Government-backed companies may enjoy stronger support.</strong><br>Firms in semiconductors, defense, energy, and AI could benefit from policy-driven tailwinds and funding stability.</p></li><li><p><strong>Politics becomes part of the investment equation.</strong><br>Lobbying, regulation, and political favor may now play a larger role in determining which companies succeed.</p></li><li><p><strong>Innovation risk rises.</strong><br>Companies focused on securing government contracts may innovate less aggressively &#8212; a long-term drag on competitiveness.</p></li><li><p><strong>Market stability could be engineered.</strong><br>The government has a vested interest in keeping strategic stocks stable &#8212; especially around election cycles.</p></li><li><p><strong>Automation limits the &#8220;jobs boom&#8221; narrative.</strong><br>Most of these industries are capital- and tech-intensive, not labor-intensive. Expect more robots than rehired factory workers.</p></li></ol><div><hr></div><h3>&#129504; The Big Picture</h3><p>This shift represents a <strong>new economic model</strong> &#8212; part free market, part state capitalism.<br>It&#8217;s designed to secure America&#8217;s future in semiconductors, energy, and AI, but it also introduces moral hazard: when the state becomes both regulator and shareholder, the boundaries of capitalism start to blur.</p><p>For investors, it&#8217;s essential to adapt.<br>In this new era, success may depend less on pure market performance &#8212; and more on <strong>strategic alignment with national priorities</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><h3>&#128161; Key Takeaway</h3><p>The U.S. government isn&#8217;t just funding companies anymore &#8212; it&#8217;s <strong>owning them</strong>.<br>That changes everything from how markets compete to how investors allocate capital.</p><p>Whether this marks the dawn of a stronger, more self-sufficient America &#8212; or the start of politicized capitalism &#8212; remains to be seen.<br>But one thing&#8217;s certain: <strong>investing in the 2020s will be shaped as much by policy as by profits</strong></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before investing.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Is There an AI Bubble in the U.S. Market?]]></title><description><![CDATA[The enthusiasm around AI has fueled a strong rally in U.S. tech stocks. But is this a sustainable boom or a bubble in the making?]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/is-there-an-ai-bubble-in-the-us-market</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/is-there-an-ai-bubble-in-the-us-market</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:10:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!l_7d!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!l_7d!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!l_7d!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!l_7d!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!l_7d!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!l_7d!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!l_7d!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png" width="930" height="666" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:666,&quot;width&quot;:930,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:896366,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/175524666?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!l_7d!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!l_7d!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!l_7d!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!l_7d!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15257429-7628-4b6d-a522-753a29e66e95_930x666.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3>Who&#8217;s Right and Who&#8217;s Wrong</h3><p>Markets move in cycles &#8212; not just of price, but of emotion. </p><p>Right now, we&#8217;re living through what feels like the beginning of a <strong>secular bull market</strong>, powered by innovation, productivity, and a collective belief that technology will keep compounding human potential.</p><p>Tom Lee calls this a new 10&#8211;15 year era of expansion &#8212; where AI, digital transformation, and resilient earnings push markets higher, regardless of short-term noise. He sees the world re-wiring itself for efficiency and profit.</p><p>Ken Griffin, on the other hand, doesn&#8217;t buy the euphoria. </p><p>He warns there are &#8220;no great opportunities&#8221; right now &#8212; that we&#8217;re swimming in optimism, and the smart move might be to simply stay afloat.</p><p>Both are right. </p><p>Lee captures the macro truth: technology always wins long term. </p><p>Griffin sees the human flaw: we tend to get ahead of ourselves. </p><p>The real edge lies in holding both ideas &#8212; believing in progress, while staying rational enough not to drown in it.</p><div><hr></div><h2>Key Warning Signs of a Possible Bubble</h2><ul><li><p><strong>Valuations far ahead of fundamentals</strong> &#8212; Many AI-oriented firms command sky-high price/earnings or revenue multiples, despite limited profits or proven business models.</p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=175524666&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=175524666"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Fed Just Cut Rates. Here’s What It Means For You.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Powell admits that there might be a "problem". Meanwhile other stocks like Intel shot up 30% over its new partnership with Nvidia.]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-fed-just-cut-rates-heres-what</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/the-fed-just-cut-rates-heres-what</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:31:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CFcO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CFcO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CFcO!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CFcO!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CFcO!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CFcO!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CFcO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png" width="1456" height="865" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:865,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2579553,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/173950900?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CFcO!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CFcO!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CFcO!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CFcO!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b5cfac2-fc6f-45e3-96eb-03beaf60c159_1622x964.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The U.S. Federal Reserve just pulled the trigger on a rate cut.</p><p>For the first time since late 2024, they lowered interest rates by 25 basis points. On the surface, that looks like a small move. But underneath, it signals a bigger shift &#8212; from fighting inflation at all costs to managing risk in a slowing economy.</p><p>This isn&#8217;t just about the U.S. Every decision the Fed makes ripples across global markets, from Wall Street to Shanghai.</p><h2>The U.S. Market Reaction</h2><p>The cut wasn&#8217;t a surprise. Traders had already priced it in. What mattered was the <em>tone</em>.</p><ul><li><p>Stocks moved sideways &#8212; some indices pushed higher, others barely budged.</p></li><li><p>Treasury yields climbed. Bond investors are hinting they don&#8217;t believe inflation is fully under control.</p></li><li><p>The dollar strengthened, gold spiked then cooled, and oil softened.</p></li></ul><p>The takeaway: investors aren&#8217;t celebrating just yet. They&#8217;re waiting to see if this cut is the start of a steady easing cycle &#8212; or just a cautious adjustment.</p><div><hr></div><h2>Asia and China: A Split Response</h2><p>Asia woke up to the Fed&#8217;s decision with mixed emotions.</p><ul><li><p>Japan&#8217;s Nikkei brushed against record highs, powered by tech stocks.</p></li><li><p>South Korea&#8217;s chipmakers caught a bid from optimism in semiconductors and AI.</p></li><li><p>Hong Kong mirrored the Fed with its own 25-point cut, hoping to ease pressure on property and financing.</p></li><li><p>China held firm. Its central bank refused to follow the Fed, choosing stability over stimulus. The message: they don&#8217;t want to fuel bubbles in an already fragile market.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2>What This Tells Us About the Bigger Picture</h2><p>Here&#8217;s where it gets interesting:</p><ol><li><p><strong>Risk Management, Not Panic</strong><br>The Fed isn&#8217;t slamming the brakes or flooring the gas. They&#8217;re nudging policy toward balance &#8212; just enough to cushion a slowing labour market without reigniting inflation.</p></li><li><p><strong>Expectations Are the Real Market Driver</strong><br>Everyone expected the cut. What moves markets now is how many more are coming, how fast, and whether the Fed sticks to its word.</p></li><li><p><strong>Capital Flows Shift</strong><br>Lower U.S. rates reduce the shine of the dollar. That makes Asia and emerging markets more attractive. Expect money to flow into places where growth and yield look stronger.</p></li><li><p><strong>Policy Divergence Matters</strong><br>Not every central bank follows the Fed. China chose to hold steady. That divergence creates opportunities &#8212; and risks &#8212; for investors watching currency moves, exports, and trade balances.</p></li><li><p><strong>Sectors to Watch</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Tech and AI</strong>: Benefiting from global liquidity and long-term demand.</p></li><li><p><strong>Financials</strong>: Lower funding costs, but tighter margins.</p></li><li><p><strong>Exporters</strong>: Helped by a softer dollar, hurt if local currencies strengthen too much.</p></li><li><p><strong>Property</strong>: Small relief, but still dependent on demand and confidence.</p></li></ul></li></ol><div><hr></div><h2>What&#8217;s Next</h2><p>The key to the next six months:</p><ul><li><p>Labour market data in the U.S. &#8212; is weakness real or just noise?</p></li><li><p>Inflation trends &#8212; does it keep easing, or stall at uncomfortable levels?</p></li><li><p>China&#8217;s response &#8212; will they eventually move from caution to stimulus?</p></li><li><p>Currency swings &#8212; watch the yen, won, and yuan.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2>The Bottom Line</h2><p>This isn&#8217;t a fireworks moment. It&#8217;s a subtle shift.</p><p>The Fed just told the world: &#8220;We&#8217;re not fighting inflation blindly anymore. We&#8217;re managing risk.&#8221;</p><p>For investors, that means more opportunity &#8212; but also more noise. The easy trades are gone. The next phase will reward those who can read not just the headlines, but the <em>second-order effects</em>.</p><p>If you&#8217;re paying attention, this is where the edge is built.</p><p><strong>&#128073; Subscribe to our Premium Newsletter now and stay ahead of the market with actionable insights delivered straight to your inbox.</strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=173950900&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;button-wrapper&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary button-wrapper" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=173950900"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p><p>While not every pick will hit the jackpot, this opportunity has the potential to deliver returns comparable to our early coverage of AMD stock which soared over +200%</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before investing.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[AI & Speculation Drive This Week’s Biggest Stock Surges, including this unknown stock]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nebius, Oracle, and OCTO dominate headlines as weak U.S. jobs data fuels rate-cut bets and raises questions about market valuations.]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/ai-and-speculation-drive-this-weeks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/ai-and-speculation-drive-this-weeks</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:59:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E3zM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc9f48880-10fa-4427-9769-e8537b090e0c_1404x1180.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E3zM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc9f48880-10fa-4427-9769-e8537b090e0c_1404x1180.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E3zM!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc9f48880-10fa-4427-9769-e8537b090e0c_1404x1180.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E3zM!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, 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src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E3zM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc9f48880-10fa-4427-9769-e8537b090e0c_1404x1180.png" width="1404" height="1180" 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1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E3zM!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc9f48880-10fa-4427-9769-e8537b090e0c_1404x1180.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><h3><strong>Nebius (NBIS)</strong></h3><ul><li><p><strong>Surged ~49%</strong> after announcing a multi-year AI infrastructure deal with Microsoft worth up to $19.4 billion.</p></li><li><p>Followed by plans to raise <strong>~$3B</strong> for expansion, creating excitement but also <strong>dilution risk</strong>.</p></li><li><p><strong>YTD gain:</strong> about <strong>+245%</strong>.</p></li><li><p><strong>Insight:</strong> AI scale story validated, but execution and margin pressure remain concerns.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vpFR!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fabdb13ad-e604-486c-ab6e-54aada92fe04_1400x956.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vpFR!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fabdb13ad-e604-486c-ab6e-54aada92fe04_1400x956.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vpFR!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fabdb13ad-e604-486c-ab6e-54aada92fe04_1400x956.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vpFR!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fabdb13ad-e604-486c-ab6e-54aada92fe04_1400x956.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vpFR!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fabdb13ad-e604-486c-ab6e-54aada92fe04_1400x956.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vpFR!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fabdb13ad-e604-486c-ab6e-54aada92fe04_1400x956.png" width="1400" height="956" 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/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fabdb13ad-e604-486c-ab6e-54aada92fe04_1400x956.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vpFR!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fabdb13ad-e604-486c-ab6e-54aada92fe04_1400x956.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vpFR!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fabdb13ad-e604-486c-ab6e-54aada92fe04_1400x956.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vpFR!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fabdb13ad-e604-486c-ab6e-54aada92fe04_1400x956.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><h3><strong>Oracle (ORCL)</strong></h3><ul><li><p><strong>Jumped ~43%</strong> on optimism around AI-driven cloud contracts and guidance.</p></li><li><p><strong>YTD gain:</strong> roughly <strong>+45%</strong>.</p></li></ul><p></p><h3>Why did the stock jump?</h3><ul><li><p><strong>Raised Cloud Forecast</strong> &#8211; Oracle lifted its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure growth outlook to <strong>77% this fiscal year</strong>, signaling stronger demand than expected.</p></li><li><p><strong>Huge Revenue Backlog</strong> &#8211; Remaining performance obligations surged <strong>359% to $455 billion</strong>, with expectations to surpass $500 billion soon.</p></li><li><p><strong>Multi-Billion AI Deals</strong> &#8211; The company secured several large AI infrastructure contracts, validating it as a serious contender in cloud and AI.</p></li><li><p><strong>Microsoft&#8217;s Role</strong> &#8211; Oracle&#8217;s <strong>multi-cloud partnerships</strong> with Microsoft, Amazon, and Google drove explosive growth; Microsoft customers can now run Oracle&#8217;s services alongside Azure, boosting adoption.</p></li><li><p><strong>Macro Tailwinds</strong> &#8211; Broader tech rally, easing inflation, and Fed rate-cut bets amplified investor enthusiasm, helping Oracle shares surge <strong>40%+ in a day</strong>.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p><strong>Insight:</strong> Investors now see Oracle as a key AI cloud player; execution will decide how much of the rally is sustainable.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JlRn!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0dac9b91-9151-4b92-a20a-b251249be98c_1420x786.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JlRn!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0dac9b91-9151-4b92-a20a-b251249be98c_1420x786.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JlRn!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0dac9b91-9151-4b92-a20a-b251249be98c_1420x786.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JlRn!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0dac9b91-9151-4b92-a20a-b251249be98c_1420x786.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JlRn!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0dac9b91-9151-4b92-a20a-b251249be98c_1420x786.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JlRn!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0dac9b91-9151-4b92-a20a-b251249be98c_1420x786.png" width="1420" height="786" 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/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0dac9b91-9151-4b92-a20a-b251249be98c_1420x786.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JlRn!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0dac9b91-9151-4b92-a20a-b251249be98c_1420x786.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JlRn!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0dac9b91-9151-4b92-a20a-b251249be98c_1420x786.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JlRn!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0dac9b91-9151-4b92-a20a-b251249be98c_1420x786.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><h3><strong>Eightco Holdings (OCTO)</strong></h3><ul><li><p><strong>Exploded over 3,000%</strong> in one day after pivoting into crypto (Worldcoin treasury strategy).</p></li><li><p>Interestingly, Tom Lee&#8217;s Bitmine invested in Octo before it shot up! </p></li><li><p><strong>BitMine invested $20 million</strong> by purchasing approximately <strong>13.7 million shares</strong> of OCTO at <strong>$1.46</strong> per share as part of a broader <strong>$270 million</strong> private placement. OCTO planned to use these funds to adopt <strong>Worldcoin (WLD)</strong> as its primary treasury asset.</p></li><li><p>Intraday peaks even hinted at <strong>5,600%+ gains</strong>, followed by partial pullback.</p></li><li><p><strong>YTD gain:</strong> over <strong>1,700%</strong>.</p></li><li><p><strong>Insight:</strong> Pure speculative frenzy &#8212; highly volatile with governance and regulatory risks.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h3><strong>Macro &amp; Valuation Context</strong></h3><ul><li><p><strong>U.S. jobs report:</strong> Payroll growth slowed to just ~22,000 in August; prior data revised down.</p></li><li><p>Markets now expect <strong>rate cuts sooner</strong>, boosting risk appetite.</p></li><li><p><strong>Valuations:</strong> Forward P/E and CAPE ratios remain <strong>above historical averages</strong>, leaving equities vulnerable if earnings falter.</p><p></p></li></ul><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Db3F!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc89a7db6-b962-436d-9756-1ad9dbc21569_1396x688.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Db3F!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc89a7db6-b962-436d-9756-1ad9dbc21569_1396x688.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Db3F!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc89a7db6-b962-436d-9756-1ad9dbc21569_1396x688.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Db3F!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc89a7db6-b962-436d-9756-1ad9dbc21569_1396x688.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Db3F!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc89a7db6-b962-436d-9756-1ad9dbc21569_1396x688.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Db3F!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc89a7db6-b962-436d-9756-1ad9dbc21569_1396x688.png" width="1396" height="688" 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/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc89a7db6-b962-436d-9756-1ad9dbc21569_1396x688.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Db3F!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc89a7db6-b962-436d-9756-1ad9dbc21569_1396x688.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Db3F!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc89a7db6-b962-436d-9756-1ad9dbc21569_1396x688.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Db3F!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc89a7db6-b962-436d-9756-1ad9dbc21569_1396x688.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3>Here&#8217;s What We&#8217;re Watching: Upcoming Fed Rate Decisions</h3><p>Weak labor data increases the likelihood of <strong>Fed rate cuts</strong>, which generally <strong>boost equities</strong> in the short term.</p><p>However, a soft jobs report can also signal a <strong>slowing economy</strong>, which may pressure corporate earnings over the next 6&#8211;12 months.</p><p>The market is pricing in rate cuts sooner than previously expected, which supports risk assets like AI and tech stocks.</p><p>Rate cuts are bullish in the near term, but the effect may be muted if valuations are already stretched or if earnings disappoint.</p><p><strong>&#128073; Subscribe to our Premium Newsletter now and stay ahead of the market with actionable insights delivered straight to your inbox.</strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=173285373&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;button-wrapper&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary button-wrapper" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=173285373"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p><p>While not every pick will hit the jackpot, this opportunity has the potential to deliver returns comparable to our early coverage of AMD stock which soared over +200%</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before investing.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[How One Man Found 100-Baggers While Everyone Else Was Selling & a Semiconductor Hidden Gem Stock]]></title><description><![CDATA[The untold story of Nick Sleep&#8217;s investing edge &#8212; and a high-potential semiconductor play you need to know now.]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/how-one-man-found-100-baggers-while</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/how-one-man-found-100-baggers-while</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:18:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xo8y!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xo8y!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xo8y!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xo8y!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xo8y!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xo8y!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xo8y!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png" width="1356" height="788" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:788,&quot;width&quot;:1356,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2086097,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/172775921?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xo8y!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xo8y!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xo8y!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xo8y!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e273aaa-08ff-41c4-abcc-87ea5a4aed83_1356x788.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>This investor turned a 45% crash in 2008 into a <strong>404% gain by 2013</strong>.</p><p>He built a $3B fund, made investors billions, then shut it down at the peak to focus on philanthropy.</p><p>Since retiring, he&#8217;s quietly <strong>tripled his own wealth in 5 years</strong> &#8212; holding just 3 stocks: Amazon, Costco, and Berkshire Hathaway.</p><p>You&#8217;ve probably never heard of him. His name is <strong>Nick Sleep</strong>.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><h2>Here&#8217;s how he found 100-baggers when everyone else was selling:</h2><p>1/ <strong>Ignore the panic</strong><br>2008: markets thought Amazon was dead.<br>Sleep called it a bargain and bought more.</p><p>2/ <strong>Bet on long runways</strong><br>Amazon, Costco, Berkshire &#8212; businesses with decades of compounding left.</p><p>3/ <strong>Think in decades, not quarters</strong><br>While Wall Street obsessed over earnings calls, Sleep looked 10&#8211;20 years ahead.</p><p>4/ <strong>Concentrate, don&#8217;t diversify</strong><br>Most funds own 50&#8211;100 stocks.</p><p>Sleep concentrated in 3 &#8212; conviction created outsized returns.</p><p>5/ <strong>Cut the pressure</strong><br>In 2014, he closed the fund at the peak.</p><p>No outside capital. No short-term expectations.</p><p>Since then, he&#8217;s tripled his own wealth in 5 years.</p><p><strong>The lesson?</strong></p><p>You don&#8217;t need 100 stocks or Wall Street forecasts.</p><p>You need patience, conviction, and a truly long-term horizon.</p><p>We also found a hidden gem in the semiconductor industry that has been overlooked as everyone else is focusing on Nvidia, its Blackwell products and Intel..</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=172775921&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;button-wrapper&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary button-wrapper" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=172775921"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p><p><em>(Offer may not be valid soon, so do take advantage while it lasts!)</em></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[How To Read Between The Lines of Stock News (And Find Real Opportunities)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Article headlines may not always what they seem - what you read is just mass media hype and not the full picture. Here's how to be more discerning]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/how-to-read-between-the-lines-of</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/how-to-read-between-the-lines-of</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2025 05:59:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!W2AE!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!W2AE!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!W2AE!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!W2AE!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!W2AE!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!W2AE!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!W2AE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png" width="1212" height="618" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:618,&quot;width&quot;:1212,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1342655,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/i/172232421?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!W2AE!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!W2AE!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!W2AE!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!W2AE!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8593f2ad-fed9-4b90-94a3-48189efdee24_1212x618.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Most people skim stock news like they skim gossip.<br>They see: <em>&#8220;Big Fund Buys Tesla&#8221;</em> &#8230; and instantly assume it&#8217;s time to buy.</p><p>That&#8217;s how amateurs get trapped in the hype cycle.</p><p>If you want to play this game like a professional, you need to slow down and <strong>translate the headline into context</strong>.</p><p>Here&#8217;s how:</p><div><hr></div><h3>1. Scale &gt; Shock Value</h3><p>A $100M buy sounds huge.<br>But if the fund is worth $500B, that&#8217;s a rounding error.<br>Professionals always ask:<br>&#128073; <em>What % of their portfolio does this position represent?</em></p><p>The <strong>magnitude</strong> matters more than the dollar sign.</p><div><hr></div><h3>2. Motivation Is the Hidden Story</h3><p>Not every buy is bullish. Not every sell is bearish.</p><ul><li><p>If Apple buys into a supplier, that&#8217;s <strong>strategic alignment</strong>.</p></li><li><p>If a hedge fund trims a position, it might just be <strong>risk management</strong> or tax planning.</p></li></ul><p>Always ask: <em>Why now? What problem are they solving?</em></p><div><hr></div><h3>3. Know the Time Horizon</h3><p>Hedge funds chase quarterly performance.<br>Pension funds think in decades.<br>One signals a trade. The other signals a thesis.<br>&#128073; Figure out whether this is a <strong>tactical move</strong> or a <strong>conviction bet</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><h3>4. Headlines Are Hooks, Not Truth</h3><p>Journalists write for clicks, not accuracy.<br>The real insights live in:</p><ul><li><p>SEC filings (13F, 13D, 8-K)</p></li><li><p>Earnings call transcripts</p></li><li><p>Investor presentations</p></li></ul><p>Professionals trace every headline back to the <strong>original source</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><h3>5. Signal vs. Noise</h3><ul><li><p>A CEO personally buying $1M in stock = <strong>signal</strong> (skin in the game).</p></li><li><p>A trillion-dollar fund adding $20M = <strong>noise</strong> (portfolio balancing).</p></li></ul><p>Learn to separate <strong>conviction-driven moves</strong> from <strong>mechanical adjustments</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><h3>6. Who&#8217;s Behind the Move?</h3><p>Not all buyers are equal:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Insiders</strong> know the business best.</p></li><li><p><strong>Strategic buyers</strong> (like corporates or sovereign wealth funds) have a long horizon.</p></li><li><p><strong>Fast money</strong> (hedge funds) flip positions constantly.</p></li></ul><p>The <em>identity of the buyer</em> is as important as the size of the trade.</p><div><hr></div><h3>7. Watch What They Sell Too</h3><p>Most headlines only show you the buy.<br>But if Fund X bought $50M of Nvidia while dumping $500M of Apple, what&#8217;s the real story?<br>&#128073; Always look at the <strong>net change in exposure</strong>.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=172232421&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=172232421"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h3>8. Ignore Theatrics, Focus on Patterns</h3><p>One-off trades are entertainment.<br>Consistent behavior is signal.<br>If a CEO buys stock every quarter with their bonus, that&#8217;s noise.<br>If they suddenly put down 5 years of salary in one purchase, that&#8217;s a <strong>statement</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><h3>9. Headlines Are Lagging Indicators</h3><p>By the time you read &#8220;Big Fund Bought Stock X,&#8221; it usually happened <strong>weeks ago</strong>.<br>Smart investors don&#8217;t chase&#8212;they use headlines to <strong>reverse-engineer the thesis</strong>, not as trade alerts.</p><div><hr></div><h3>10. Translate Emotion Into Context</h3><p>The market thrives on narrative.<br>Headlines are written to pull you into the emotional cycle&#8212;fear and greed.<br>Professionals strip away the story and reduce it to:<br>&#128073; <em>What does this change about cash flows, valuation, or risk?</em></p><div><hr></div><h2>The Investor&#8217;s Cheat Code</h2><p>When you see a headline:</p><ul><li><p>Scale: <em>How big is it really?</em></p></li><li><p>Motivation: <em>Why now?</em></p></li><li><p>Horizon: <em>Trade or thesis?</em></p></li><li><p>Source: <em>What&#8217;s the filing say?</em></p></li><li><p>Net effect: <em>What else changed?</em></p></li></ul><p>Most people chase the story.<br>Smart investors chase the <strong>signal buried under the story</strong>.</p><p>The difference between hype and insight?<br>One extra layer of thinking.</p><div><hr></div><h3><strong>&#8220;We Analysed 200+ Companies. These Are 10 High-Growth Stocks We're Watching Closely with Strong Upside Potential&#8221; - According to out Research Team</strong></h3><p>Our analysts at Two Stock Picks have uncovered <a href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/p/we-analyzed-200-companies-these-are">10 companies with strong potential</a> for significant growth over the coming months.</p><p>Among these, one standout opportunity shines brightest &#8212; a lesser-known company in the fast-growing semiconductor and quantum computing sectors.</p><p>These cutting-edge industries are set to transform the global economy, fueled by rapid advancements in quantum technology and soaring chip demand driven by AI, defense, and cloud computing. Industry experts are expecting a major revenue breakthrough for this company as early as 2025.</p><p><strong>Want to discover the full details of this high-potential stock &#8212; and get exclusive access to all our top research and deep dives?</strong></p><p><strong>&#128073; Subscribe to our Premium Newsletter now and stay ahead of the market with actionable insights delivered straight to your inbox.</strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=172232421&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;button-wrapper&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary button-wrapper" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=172232421"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p><p></p><p>While not every pick will hit the jackpot, this opportunity has the potential to deliver returns comparable to our early coverage of AMD stock which soared over +200%</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Two Stock Picks is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, and readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. The opinions and information presented here are based on publicly available data and are not intended to serve as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular investment. Always do your own research before investing.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Berkshire on the Sidelines, Discord IPO Buzz, and the Latest on Oscar Health & Novo Nordisk]]></title><description><![CDATA[Market signals decoded: Buffett&#8217;s caution, Discord IPO chatter, and fresh insights on Oscar Health & Novo Nordisk]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/berkshire-on-the-sidelines-discord</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/berkshire-on-the-sidelines-discord</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:44:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Voie!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F714ef953-7646-480d-8ce4-7d0085d2c09b_1774x914.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Voie!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F714ef953-7646-480d-8ce4-7d0085d2c09b_1774x914.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Voie!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F714ef953-7646-480d-8ce4-7d0085d2c09b_1774x914.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Voie!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, 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/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F714ef953-7646-480d-8ce4-7d0085d2c09b_1774x914.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Voie!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F714ef953-7646-480d-8ce4-7d0085d2c09b_1774x914.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Voie!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F714ef953-7646-480d-8ce4-7d0085d2c09b_1774x914.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Voie!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F714ef953-7646-480d-8ce4-7d0085d2c09b_1774x914.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h2></h2><h3>1. <strong>Buffett: &#8220;Not in the Market&#8221; (for Now)</strong></h3><p>Legendary investor Warren Buffett recently signalled that <strong>Berkshire Hathaway</strong> is sitting out of significant purchases in the current market environment. </p><p>This cautious stance reflects his enduring principle of only buying when opportunities offer long-term value. </p><p><strong>It&#8217;s a helpful reminder for investors: focus on quality&#8212;not quantity&#8212;and don&#8217;t chase trends just because the market seems hot.</strong></p><div><hr></div><h3>2. <strong>Discord IPO Rumours Gain Steam</strong></h3><p>Rumours of an upcoming <strong>Discord IP&#1054;</strong>&#8212;the chat platform with over 200 million monthly active users&#8212;are resurfacing. </p><p>Having rebuffed a $12 billion buyout offer from Microsoft in 2021, Discord appears firmly independent and ready to pursue its own path.</p><p>Here&#8217;s how the past IPOs have performed:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Figma:</strong> Oversubscribed 40x and surged 250% on debut, but now faces valuation scrutiny &#8212; hype must be backed by sustainable growth.</p><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" 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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why are US stocks still rising? Plus China equities update - Investor Brief ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Markets tread water ahead of Jackson Hole, while Chinese stocks rally despite weakening credit and activity data &#8212; what investors should really watch this week]]></description><link>https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/why-are-us-stocks-still-rising-plus</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://twostockpicks.substack.com/p/why-are-us-stocks-still-rising-plus</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Two Stock Picks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:02:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!v3xX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57d7ecd6-7c4a-4ad8-b1e6-9acbbc6f7c62_952x550.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!v3xX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57d7ecd6-7c4a-4ad8-b1e6-9acbbc6f7c62_952x550.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!v3xX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_424, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57d7ecd6-7c4a-4ad8-b1e6-9acbbc6f7c62_952x550.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!v3xX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57d7ecd6-7c4a-4ad8-b1e6-9acbbc6f7c62_952x550.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!v3xX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57d7ecd6-7c4a-4ad8-b1e6-9acbbc6f7c62_952x550.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!v3xX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57d7ecd6-7c4a-4ad8-b1e6-9acbbc6f7c62_952x550.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!v3xX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57d7ecd6-7c4a-4ad8-b1e6-9acbbc6f7c62_952x550.png" width="952" height="550" 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/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57d7ecd6-7c4a-4ad8-b1e6-9acbbc6f7c62_952x550.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!v3xX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_848, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57d7ecd6-7c4a-4ad8-b1e6-9acbbc6f7c62_952x550.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!v3xX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57d7ecd6-7c4a-4ad8-b1e6-9acbbc6f7c62_952x550.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!v3xX!, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57d7ecd6-7c4a-4ad8-b1e6-9acbbc6f7c62_952x550.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><h2>&#128273; Key Takeaways</h2><ul><li><p>U.S. markets are stuck in tight ranges, awaiting Powell&#8217;s Jackson Hole speech and fresh macro data.</p></li><li><p>Inflation and producer-price prints remain mixed, adding uncertainty to the Fed&#8217;s rate-cut trajectory.</p></li><li><p>Chinese equities are <strong>rallying</strong> despite worsening credit and activity data &#8212; a paradox investors should watch carefully.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2>&#128202; U.S. Markets: Near Highs, But Cautious</h2><ul><li><p><strong>Indexes:</strong> S&amp;P 500 and Dow drifted slightly lower, Nasdaq eked out small gains. Investors are holding fire before key Fed events.</p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=171363146&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Get 7 day free trial&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/twostockpicks.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=aa75bc56&amp;utm_content=171363146"><span>Get 7 day free trial</span></a></p><p><em>(Offer may not be valid soon, so do take advantage while it lasts!)</em></p>
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