Stock Stories

Today we're looking at one of the world's largest transportation companies, Federal Express (better known as FedEx). We'll discuss the history, business model, and financials of this logistics giant. History: [01:02] Business Model: [03:27] Financials: [05:47] Stock Price: [13:08] 🎧 Listen to 250+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Morgan Stanley's Origins and Glass-Steagall Act [00:00:00] Merger with Dean Witter and Diversification [00:02:27] Financials and Business Segments of Morgan Stanley [00:04:51] Debt Issuance and Payments [00:10:35] Increasing Cash Dividends [00:11:45] Stock Performance and Valuation [00:12:49] 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Today we'll learn about Citigroup, one of the Big Four American banks. Like its peers, Citi has had a tumultuous history. Is the stock worth the price at current levels? History of Citigroup [00:02:26] Citigroup's history, from its founding in the early 1800s to its expansion and innovation in the 20th century, to its acquisition of Travelers Group and subsequent spinoff, to its troubles during the financial crisis and eventual return to profitability. Citi's Business Model [00:04:50] An overview of Citigroup's business model, including its five major markets: banking, personal banking, markets, Citi Global Wealth, and services. Citigroup's Financials [00:07:00] A summary of Citigroup's financial data over the past several years, including its revenue, net income, dividends, and share repurchases. Citigroup's stock price performance [00:10:22] Citigroup's stock price has been flat over a year and down over 30% over the past five years. The market is pricing it lower than its peers, but it could be a good stock to own potentially. Earnings yield and dividend yield of Citigroup [00:11:20] The earnings yield of Citigroup stock is 15%, and the dividend yield is 4.39%, which is higher than average in the market right now. Is Citigroup a potential value play? [00:12:26] Citigroup could be a potential value play, but it depends on whether you want to own a bank with slower growing revenues compared to its peers. 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Bank of America has become one of the largest banks in the United States, and has rebounded nicely from the Great Recession of 2008. We'll look at the history, business model, and financials of this banking giant. 01:17 - History of Bank of America. The founder of Bank of America, Amadeo Peter Giannini, opened the Bank of Italy in San Francisco in 1904, which later merged with another bank in Los Angeles in 1928 and was renamed Bank of America. The bank expanded through acquisitions and innovations such as the Bank America card, which later became Visa. 05:37 - Bank of America's Recovery. After suffering major losses from acquiring Countrywide Financial, Bank of America paid over $23 billion in fines and downsized, but returned to growth in 2015 and is now the second largest bank by deposits in the US. 08:01 - Financials of Bank of America. Bank of America's financials show mid single-digit growth across all segments, indicating a diversified financial business. The bank has seen gradual growth in interest income and revenue, and has been actively buying back shares while paying out a dividend. 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Check out these 100 stock market investing lessons below! For all of the fun visuals, check out the video on the Stock Stories YouTube channel. 0:51 - (1) Why Invest? 01:57 - (2) Investing Goals 03:00 - (3) Put Your Money To Work 03:39 - (4) What's Your Goal? 05:15 - (5) Shares = Business Ownership 06:07 - (6) Intrinsic Value 07:15 - (7) Greed vs Fear 08:03 - (8) Margin of Safety 09:00 - (9) Don't Fall In Love 09:30 - (10) Investing Takes Time 10:08 - (11) High Interest Debt 10:49 - (12) Asset Class Time Horizon 11:40 - (13) 10-K Filings 12:32 - (14) 13-K Filings 13:29 - (15) CEO's Letter to Shareholders 14:07 - (16) The Three Financial Statements 15:02 - (17) Assets vs Liabilities 15:59 - (18) Revenue vs Profits 16:58 - (19) Price to Sales Ratio 17:46 - (20) Price to Earnings Ratio 18:21 - (21) Trading Stocks 19:39 - (22) Active vs Passive 20:58 - (23) Age as Proof of Concept 21:54 - (24) Timeless Businesses 23:14 - (25) Young Businesses 24:11 - (26) Size Matters 25:45 - (27) Initial Public Offerings 27:33 - (28) Brand Strength 28:43 - (29) Oil and Biotech Volatility 30:15 - (30) Boring Businesses 30:39 - (31) Exciting Businesses 31:43 - (32) Beat Inflation 32:38 - (33) Returns Don't Matter...At First 33:34 - (34) Fees Matter 34:16 - (35) Asset Location 35:19 - (36) Capital Gains Taxes 36:09 - (37) Index Funds 36:55 - (38) Index Fund Components 37:59 - (39) 80% Under-perform 38:38 - (40) 20% Over-perform 39:16 - (41) Timing the Market 41:27 - (42) Opportunity Cost 42:29 - (43) Portfolio Personality 43:43 - (44) Invest Internationally 44:51 - (45) Structural Issues 45:45 - (46) Worst Industries 47:38 - (47) Best Industries 49:34 - (48) Industry Characteristics 50:13 - (49) Old and New Industries 50:56 - (50) Businesses Evolve 52:06 - (51) Volatility by Size 52:46 - (52) Quality of Earnings 54:36 - (53) High Regulation 55:55 - (54) Barrier to Entry 57:50 - (55) Perpetual Debt 59:19 - (56) Low Debt 60:23 - (57) Interest Rates 61:55 - (58) Top Index Components 63:37 - (59) Cash Is King 65:25 - (60) Share Dilution 66:46 - (61) Share Buybacks 67:54 - (62) Failure 68:37 - (63) Buyouts 69:13 - (64) Efficient Market Theory 71:28 - (65) Analyst Over-optimism 72:32 - (66) Mismatched Expectations 73:38 - (67) Insider Buying 74:40 - (68) ESOP 75:18 - (69) Dividends at Mature Firms 76:06 - (70) Dividends at Young Firms 76:29 - (71) Dividend Growth and Quality 77:34 - (72) Small But Profitable 79:02 - (73) Risk Shifting 80:00 - (74) 100 Baggers 81:10 - (75) Unicorns 81:44 - (76) Value Trap 82:40 - (77) Business vs Stock Performance 83:29 - (78) ROE Definition 84:04 - (79) Long Term Value = ROE 85:03 - (80) Valuation and Expectations 85:50 - (81) Average Business, Super Cheap 86:28 - (82) Excellent Business, Super Expensive 87:06 - (83) Three Dimensions of a Stock 88:13 - (84) Leverage Effects 89:09 - (85) Three-Legged Stool 90:33 - (86) Risk-Adjusted Total Return 91:36 - (87) Spin-offs and Split-offs 92:30 - (88) International Expansion 93:51 - (89) Taxes on Foreign Dividends 95:13 - (90) Wash Sale Rule 95:57 - (91) Float 97:40 - (92) Total Addressable Market 99:19 - (93) Volume / Margin Mix 100:49 - (94) Acquisition Logic 102:16 - (95) Industry Stabilization 103:27 - (96) Three Levels of Risk 104:33 - (97) Many Faces of Diversification 105:44 - (98) Debt Structure 106:54 - (99) Horizontal and Vertical Thinking 108:20 - (100) The Most Important Lesson... Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

In this episode of the Stock Stories podcast, we will be discussing the history, business model, and financials of Goldman Sachs. We will provide a brief history of the company, highlighting its innovation in trading capabilities and investment banking services. Today, Goldman Sachs has three main divisions: global banking and markets, assets and wealth management, and platform solutions. It is worth noting that Goldman Sachs derives most of its revenue from investment activities, with the investment management division showing steady growth. We will also take a look at the balance sheet and cash flow statement of Goldman Sachs, concluding that the stock is not undervalued or overvalued. 00:46 - Goldman Sachs History The history of Goldman Sachs, from its origins in commercial paper trading to its expansion into investment banking and asset management. 05:20 - Goldman Sachs Business Model An overview of Goldman Sachs' business model, including its three main divisions: global banking and markets, assets and wealth management, and platform solutions. 08:21 - Goldman Sachs Financials A breakdown of Goldman Sachs' revenue streams, including investment banking, investment management, commissions and fees, and market making. 10:08 - Goldman Sachs' Revenue Goldman Sachs' revenue in investment management has steadily grown, while their investment banking division needs improvement. 11:04 - Goldman Sachs' Expenses and Profits Goldman Sachs' expenses are mostly compensation and benefits, with a profit of 107 billion in 2022, a far cry from the 21 billion in 2021. 13:48 - Goldman Sachs' Cash Flow and Stock Performance Goldman Sachs has a good cash position relative to their loans, invests in acquisitions and technology, pays dividends, and has a stock price history of 38% growth in the past five years. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Today we discuss the importance of conservatism in banking and the risks of not managing risk well. He then analyzes the history, business model, and financials of Wells Fargo, noting that the bank is a fundamentally good business with potential for growth. Despite a decline in revenue due to economic headwinds and a scandal related to fraudulent cross-selling, I believe that Wells Fargo is simplifying its operations and positioning itself for strong shareholder returns in the future. While I would prefer a slightly cheaper valuation, I do consider Wells Fargo to be a good business and a potential investment opportunity. 00:46 - History of Wells Fargo The founding of Wells Fargo by Henry Wells and William Fargo, their early courier business, and the company's expansion to the West Coast during the gold rush. 05:33 - Divisions of Wells Fargo An overview of Wells Fargo's four main divisions: consumer banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management. 07:38 - Financials of Wells Fargo A breakdown of Wells Fargo's revenue, including net interest income and non-interest income, and how the company is still recovering from the scandal related to fraudulent cross-selling. 09:28 - Valuation of Wells Fargo Alex Mason discusses the valuation of Wells Fargo's stock, which he believes is relatively cheap at 11 times earnings. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

In today's episode, I reveal the big project that I've been working on for the past year. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Today, I am excited to share with you the story of JP Morgan Chase, the largest bank in the United States. We'll look at the history of the bank, its business model, financials, and risks. I believe that rising interest rates will ultimately benefit the bank as long as the overall system remains robust, and we'll look at potential impacts of interest rates on JP Morgan Chase's revenue and profits. History of JP Morgan Chase [00:00:42] Business Model of JP Morgan Chase [00:03:39] Financials and Risks of JP Morgan Chase [00:07:18] Interest Rates and Revenue Growth [00:09:06] JP Morgan Chase Stock Price [00:10:46] 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Today we discuss the history, business model, and financials of NVR Inc, a home builder, to determine if it is a potentially good investment for individual investors. We go over the company's financials, including their revenues, home building income, and net income, including the fact that NVR's net income has doubled (!!) over the past couple of years, and their earnings per share have been increasing rapidly. We also look at the risks of this cyclical company. History of NVR: [00:00:00] Business Model: [00:08:07] Financials: [00:08:58] NVR Inc. Risks and Conclusion: [00:14:34] 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Macy's is one of the iconic American department stores that has survived over the decades, even after rapid consolidation in the industry. Although the company has an impressive past, the finances of the company struggled during the pandemic, but have since rebounded. Can Macy's offer a compelling return to investors today, given it's cheap valuation? 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - History 03:49 - Business Model 07:07 - Financials 13:08 - Valuation and Final Thoughts 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Alphabet, parent company of Google is a tech juggernaut. While starting with one powerful product - Search - the company has continued to innovate over the last two decades. Now, its reach expands into nearly every corner of the internet, from Maps, to Gmail, and more. The business also has 400 subsidiaries which explore the business potential of everything from artificial intelligence, to self-driving cars, to solutions for aging. 0:00 - World's Greatest Knowledge Company 1:34 - History 11:46 - Business Model 17:27 - Financials 25:44 - Risks 28:12 - Yup, This is the One... 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Bed Bath and Beyond was once a great brick and mortar retailer, but now it is on the verge of bankruptcy. How did this happen? What is the company's story, and how did it rise to prominence and what caused its decline? In today's episode we explore these questions from the investor's perspective. 0:00 - Bed Bath and Bankrupt 1:32 - History 14:00 - Business Model 15:27 - Financials 20:06 - Email with a Listener Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

I'm back! Happy 2023!! I want to start the year off by talking a bit about the philosophy of financial independence, and what the various phases are. I hope you find this useful as you continue down your investing journey, in whatever phase you're in. -Alex Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Hey, what's up? It's been a little while, so I came to say hello 🙂 Today we're going to discuss what's happening in the market today, specifically some stocks that I think are definitely undervalued at this point. I also discuss what's been going on with me lately! 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Banks are where our money lives. But with the rise of fintech companies and cryptocurrencies, is that all going to change? Today we explore how companies like Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup compete with the likes of SoFi, PayPal, and more. Is the FinTech revolution going to change banking? 0:00 - Where Does Money Live? 1:10 - What Is A Bank, Anyway? 4:35 - The Big Ones 5:02 - FinTech's Rise 6:54 - No Fear 10:43 - The Bottom Line 👀 Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCKwdV2I2k0tWvjVpa8szyHA 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Starbucks is known the world over for its gourmet coffee. It's branding is iconic and it sells billions of dollars worth of coffee every year. But is the company still what it used to be? Can Starbucks keep it's magic alive...and what does that mean for future investors in the stock? 0:00 - We LOVE Coffee... 1:01 - The Brew Begins 2:36 - How It Was Different 3:44 - Growth 5:35 - Investor Returns 6:14 - Business Issues Today 8:43 - What Can They Do? 👀 Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCKwdV2I2k0tWvjVpa8szyHA 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Today we'll look at some of my favorite investing books and why they're great. Each book has its own strengths, and is appropriate for different steps on your investing journey. Check out the links below! Book Links: The Intelligent Investor One Up On Wall Street Beating The Street The Single Best Investment Quality Investing The Motley Fool Investment Guide The Future For Investors Financial Statements Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits 0:40 - The Intelligent Investor 2:22 - One Up On Wall Street 3:51 - Beating The Street 4:41 - The Single Best Investment 5:23 - Quality Investing 6:22 - The Motley Fool Investment Guide 7:37 - The Future For Investors 9:35 - Financial Statements 11:07 - Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits 👀 Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCKwdV2I2k0tWvjVpa8szyHA 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

Today we're discussing insurance company Progressive (PGR). Known for its iconic advertising characters, Progressive Insurance is one of the faster growing publicly traded auto insurance stocks. In this episode we learn the state of Progressive's current business, and highlight some aspects of its growth profile. 0:00 - The Commercials 0:50 - Why They Grew 2:00 - Financial Results 5:11 - Risks 7:03 - The Dividend Policy 👀 Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCKwdV2I2k0tWvjVpa8szyHA 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com

MetLife hasn't always been publicly traded. In fact, it was a private company mutually owned by its policy holders until 2000. How has the stock done since then? And how could you possibly own thousands of dollars worth of MetLife stock without every buying it? 0:00 - What Does MetLife Do? 0:50 - How It Got Started 1:50 - Demutualization 3:38 - MetLife Today 7:21 - How Much Could You Have Made? 👀 Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCKwdV2I2k0tWvjVpa8szyHA 🎧 Listen to 200+ episodes on other companies and mental models: https://stockstoryteller.com/podcast/ Disclaimer: Everything shared is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing I share on this platform should be construed as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional who can assist with your specific needs and circumstances. Email: alex@stockstoriespodcast.com