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► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:

Our friends at Finchat.io have kindly offered our subscribers 15% off any paid subscription on their site. We highly recommend this tool for stock analysis and summarising earnings calls!

https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ

►Episode Notes:

Who’s been giving their money to the stock market? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It’s been a positive week in the stock market and the Steves are both up in their portfolios. But one of them has knocked the cover off things over the last 7 days. In quickfire news we’re looking both sides of the Atlantic. US railroad Norfolk Southern has fired its CEO while UK industrial Renishaw has issued a good trading update. There’s also been a positive earnings report from Adobe, as inflation starts to approach the FED’s target in the US. But how important is this? The Rentokil share price fell 20% this week after a profits warning. And we’ve had a question from a viewer about whether Steve W still wants to buy this one. It’s not been a good peak season for the firm and the integration of its big acquisition is taking time. But at around 18 times this year’s earnings, it might be too cheap to ignore… Steve D has been looking at Inditex – a really interesting fashion company that trades on the Madrid stock exchange. The industry has been tough lately, but this looks different. There are signs of a genuine moat around this business that offers some protection from shifting trends. And not being exposed to the US consumer right now also helps… Starbucks has been through a lot lately – both as a stock and as a business. Steve W has been taking a look at the situation and the job facing the new CEO. The company looks like it’s in a difficult spot. But can Steve D see a way through the clouds to a brighter outlook for investors? Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

► Extra Items:

Enjoy My Mug:

https://playingftse.teemill.com/product/if-in-doubt-do-nowt-mug/

Renishaw:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3J1tC4n2OXhu5892910abr?si=axKm5i4LTSqTjNJjbPoKpQ

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse

(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)

There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/

We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show....COMPOUNDING! (you read that in Svens voice right? Did Briscoe mention he got Sven on the show!?)

► Timestamps:

0:00 Intro & Our Weeks

4:55 Cricket

9:10 Quick Inflation

11:45 Quick Adobe

16:26 Quick Norfolk Southern

19:47 Renishaw Earnings

23:19 Rentokil News

39:52 Inditex

54:07 Starbucks News

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Disclaimer:

This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

► Get a free share!

This show is sponsored by Trading 212! If you'd like to sign up for an account and get a free share you can do so on the link below!

https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE

► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:

Our friends at Finchat.io have kindly offered our subscribers 15% off any paid subscription on their site. We highly recommend this tool for stock analysis and summarising earnings calls!

https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ

► Episode Notes:

What is spodumene? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It feels like the end of the summer in the UK. Steve D is getting ready for a special someone’s birthday while Steve W is celebrating with some peanut brittle. This show was recorded on September 5th. The markets hadn’t been kind in the run-up to this episode, but it was before things got even tighter on Friday… In quickfire news we’re looking at news from the UK and the US. At home, the British ISA is now officially a non-starter and there’s a chance Rightmove might be selling up. In the US, some weak PMI data and a subpoena caused Nvidia shares to sell off, while Zscaler had a small dip after some decent earnings. Time to buy, or cause for concern? Steve W’s fascination with US freight trains continues. After a discussion of CSX, he’s been taking a closer look at their main competitor. Norfolk Southern has had a turbulent few years. But has the PlayingFTSE Show’s value investor been a bit too quick to dismiss a former Warren Buffett favourite? Steve D has been looking at a new stock that was mentioned on the Trading212 Forum. Ashtead Technology is an underwater equipment lessor that looks very interesting. The company looks like it can benefit from both traditional and renewable energy. The stock doesn’t look expensive and there’s a lot to like about the management team, too. Albemarle’s share price has had a difficult time since 2022. The cost of lithium falling as electric vehicles fail to take market share has caused the stock to drop a long way. Steve W thinks now might be the time to have a look at the company, though. With some of the best assets in the world, what are the risks investors need to worry about? Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

► What We Consumed This Week:

Norfolk Southern Article: https://yale.app.box.com/s/d009mv14ictfpeokpixqy6znllq4ay8m

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse

(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)

There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/

We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show....COMPOUNDING! (you read that in Svens voice right? Did Briscoe mention he got Sven on the show!?)

► Timestamps:

0:00 Intro 

1:18 Announcement

2:04 Our Weeks

4:04 BISA Gone

7:38 Nvidia Rocked

10:36 Zscaler Results

13:45 Rightmove For Sale

17:26 Norfolk Southern

29:32 Ashtead Technology

45:24 Albemarle

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Disclaimer:

This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

► Get a free share! This show is sponsored by Trading 212! If you'd like to sign up for an account and get a free share you can do so on the link below! https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE ► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io: Our friends at Finchat.io have kindly offered our subscribers 15% off any paid subscription on their site. We highly recommend this tool for stock analysis and summarising earnings calls! https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ ► Episode Notes: Who didn’t get what they voted for in this week’s election? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It’s been a really good week for UK shares. The election going as the market expected has helped prices in the FTSE 100 and the FTSE 250. Steve and Steve are in to talk about the election, but not just the election. There’s a lot to talk about in terms of stocks to consider buying. We’ve talked about the election quite a lot over the last few weeks, so feels right to have a debrief now that it’s all done. Labour won in a landslide and there were big gains for Reform and the Greens. What lessons should investors – and UK citizens more generally take from this one? Steve and Steve have their ideas, but from now, it’s mostly about looking forward. Monzo has been boosting its security recently. The bank that brought in a notification to say they’re not calling you now has some interesting new features. There’s now the ability to set locations for transferring large amounts, so if your phone goes missing there’s a bit more protection. Would Steve and Steve be willing to sign up for it? Labour’s plan to build 1.5m new houses over the next three years is ambitious. But it could be a big boost for Forterra – the show’s favourite brick manufacturer. The stock is climbing after the election result on the promise of strong demand. Steve W is wondering whether this is time to buy, sell, or hold, though. We haven’t discussed McDonald’s on the PlayingFTSE Show before. Most people – certainly us – know what it does, but there’s more going on than meets the eye. Widening margins and a declining share count aren’t what we might expect from a stock at a 52-week low. So is there a buying opportunity here for either of the Steves? Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Support the show: Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse (All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!) There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/ We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show....COMPOUNDING! (you read that in Svens voice right? Did Briscoe mention he got Sven on the show!?) ► Timestamps: 0:00 Intro & How’s Your Week Been? 9:38 Election Debrief 21:01 Monzo 33:26 Forterra 49:58 Mcdonalds ► Show Notes: What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy ► Wanna get in contact? Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/ ► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Invest Engine!  

This weeks show is in partnership with InvestEngine.   If you sign up using this link via https://investengine.pxf.io/P0MY5e you'll get a £25 welcome bonus when you invest at least £100 (T's & C's apply).   InvestEngine (UK) Limited is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 801128).  

► Episode Notes:

Earnings, earnings, earnings, and earnings! Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!

Before we get started, a quick request. We’re getting very close to the magic 1,000 subscribers on YouTube right now. And we’d really appreciate a shove to get us over the line. We’ve always concentrated on making the best videos we can and we love and the appreciate the audience we have that tunes in every week. Thank you all and that will never change. But another 70 subscribers would really help us move things along here. So if there’s someone you can persuade to subscribe for us, please do!

Anyway, we’re talking earnings this week. It’s that time of the year again and there’s lots to look at and talk about.

Steve W is kicking us off with the banks. He owns Citigroup, but they’ve all been reporting earnings. Steve thinks he’s seen some important trends coming through that are worth paying attention to. But what do Paul and Steve D think?

Next, it’s the inevitable. It’s Tesla. The company reported lighter than expected revenues and the stock is down significantly in response. But they still delivered more cars than ever before and Elon Musk blamed the disappointing numbers on shipping concerns. So what’s the problem?

After that, it’s ASML. More strong results from the semiconductor machinery monolith. Good news for Paul and Steve D, who own this stock and have been loading up on it in the last quarter. Steve W doesn’t own it, though — why not?

We’re finishing with Netflix. After a couple of disappointing quarters, the company reported some strong subscriber numbers. And there’s much more for shareholders to be excited about. What does Netflix shareholder Steve D think? And why do we all disagree with Motley Fool analyst Tim Beyers?

Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE podcast!

► Invest Engine:  

This week's show is in partnership with InvestEngine. 

If you sign up using this link click here you'll get a £25 welcome bonus when you invest at least £100 (T's & C's apply).   

InvestEngine (UK) Limited is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 801128).  

► Episode Notes:

Why has Paul been selling his stocks in a bear market? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

Following on from last week’s portfolio update from Steve and Steve, Paul is here with one of his very own. Half of it isn’t there any more. But why has he been selling? And do the Steves approve? Paul’s here to tell us everything.

The US Fed is hiking interest rates to tackle inflation. Cathie Wood thinks this is a bad idea. ARKK has had a rotten year and it’s crushed the ETF’s total return over the last five years. Is she talking her own book, or does she have a point?

We’ve also got more news from Netflix. We talked about the ad-sponsored plan last week, but Paul wasn’t here and he’s got some thoughts to contribute. With the ad-supported plan around a fiver, will anyone pay for the premium version? And how long will it stay this cheap?

Lastly, we’re looking at inflation and the macroeconomic news. With nothing better to do with his time, Steve W has been thinking about why the markets are constantly going down every time there’s a jobs announcement, an inflation print, or a GDP update. But what’s he thinking about the stock market at the moment?

It’s Q4 and Steve and Steve are here. Welcome to the PlayingFTSE Podcast!

September’s ended. The guy from Green Day might have been asleep, but the Steves have been doing stuff. They’re here to check in with their portfolios as well as their buy and sells.

We’re kicking off with a summary of the biggest holdings in our portfolios at the start of Q4. Steve D has Netflix in there. We’ve talked about this a lot on the show and the stock has been doing well. Is he planning to keep it?

Steve W has two new buys at the top of his investments. A Warren Buffett stock has been bumping Berkshire Hathaway down the list in his portfolio and there’s a REIT at the top of it. What’s our value investor been up to?

Next up, it’s the new buys. Both the Steves have been busy putting cash to work as the market comes down. Which UK stock have they both been putting their cash into this quarter? It’s one that we’ve talked about a fair bit on the show lately.

After that, it’s what’s been going the other way. Steve D has been moving things out of his portfolio and into his GIA for tax purposes. Steve W has been clearing the decks and concentrating his portfolio down to concentrate on his bigger holdings. There might be a surprise or two on the way here…

And we’re finishing up with two rounds of stocks that we’re looking at. They aren’t stocks for Paul, since neither of them pays a dividend. But we like them.

Steve D is looking at the leader in cystic fibrosis. It’s coming up to a patent cliff, but Vertex Pharmaceuticals has that covered. There’s cash and the business is maturing. Time for some shareholder returns soon?

Steve W is looking at yet more tech. He’s found something that has a good moat, charges a registration fee on .com websites, and has some good protection from disruption. It’s buying back shares, but can it keep the growth going?

Only on this week's PlayingFTSE

► Invest Engine!  

This week's show is in partnership with InvestEngine.   If you sign up using this link via https://investengine.pxf.io/P0MY5e you'll get a £25 welcome bonus when you invest at least £100 (T's & C's apply).   InvestEngine (UK) Limited is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 801128).

Our archers pick up their bows and arrows and take aim at this week’s stories. Only on the PlayingFTSE show!

Steve and Steve are in this week to talk about stories. And they’re starting with the small stuff. It’s the UK’s latest economic plan.

This has been top of mind for Steve W for a few days now and he’s been trying to figure his way around it. He’s not a fan, but he thinks it’s been badly covered in the mainstream media. What does it mean for the Steves and UK citizens and UK investors? Neither has an answer, but they’ll do their best to try and work through things.

It’s unusual that we get ourselves involved in anything political and so the rest of the show is stocks, stocks, and more stocks. We’ve got SIX that are on our radar as we head into October and Q4.

First up, Steve D is looking at Kering. He’s nearly always looking at Kering, because of all the designer gear he frequently wears. But he thinks the shares are particularly eye-catching at the moment. Find out why as Steve takes us through the stock’s latest decline.

Second, Steve W is looking at Rightmove. He’s nearly always looking at Rightmove, because of his enormous property empire. But he thinks that the shares are particularly eye-catching at the moment. Find out why as Steve takes us through the stock’s latest decline.

Third, Steve D is watching Legal & General. The UK insurer stands to do well as interest rates rise and the stock has come down to a level where Steve thinks it pays an interesting dividend. Could this be enough to get him over the line?

Fourth, Steve W is watching Wells Fargo. The US bank stands to do well as interest rates rise and the stock has come down to a level where Steve thinks it pays an interesting dividend. Could this be enough to get him over the line?

Fifth, Steve D has his eye on some healthcare. This is one we haven’t talked about much on the show, but Steve is looking at Biomerieux. Steve doesn’t back himself to evaluate a pharmaceutical’s pipeline, but his thesis here doesn’t depend on this. So what’s he seeing here?

Sixth, Steve W has his eye on some healthcare. This is one we haven’t talked about much on the show, but Steve is looking at GSK. Steve doesn’t back himself to evaluate a pharmaceutical’s pipeline, but his thesis doesn’t depend on this. So what’s he seeing here?

All on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!

Two of us have terrible internet connections. Welcome to the PlayingFTSE Podcast!  

We are three again. Paul's back from his latest adventures. Except he's not really, and he's with us live from a hotel room. We're recording this show on a Tuesday, so mark our homework as we go through the week where we boldly make unimaginative predictions about interest rates.  

Paul wants to know whether the Steves can pass a French or German financial literacy test? The questions are easy, but will the Steves trip over their own feet? And can you do any better? There's a 30% portfolio bonus in it for you if you can pass the test -- Paul says so, so get in touch with him to claim it.  

After that it's stocks. Steve D has been looking at a UK tech company -- yes there is such a thing. It's Endava, involved in outsourcing stuff. Is he just trying to tempt Paul with another stock with heavy exposure to Eastern Europe? And does this fly in the face of the recent trend towards anchoring?  

Steve W also has a tech stock! It's been that kind of week. Guidewire Software is a CRM company focused on insurers. It's unprofitable, pivoting its business in a way that's depressing its gross margins, and a long way from reaching full scale. Can he justify the price for it?  

Lastly, it's the story about Beyond Meat's COO going all Mike Tyson on someone's nose in a car park. Don't say we don't tackle the big issues. Only on this week's PlayingFTSE!

No Paul this week – it’s another round of Playing FTSTEVE!

On this week’s show, we’re talking about Adobe, Ethereum, stocks we’d like to buy, and the new FAANG stocks.

We’re kicking off with some impromptu news about Ethereum. There’s a merge going on. What’s happening and what does it mean for stocks? Steve D has the news and Steve W is thinking about Nvidia…

Next is the new FAANGs. Steve W’s been reading something from the Bank of America talking about the new leadership in stocks for a low-growth, high inflation world. What makes the list? And do the Steves prefer FAANG 2.0, or the original recipe?

We also have news from Adobe. The stock is down quite a bit since news of its acquisition of rival Figma was announced. Steve D’s been looking at this one -- $20bn sounds like a lot, especially since half of it is coming in Adobe’s stock.

Lastly, it’s stocks that we’ve got our eyes on. Steve D is looking at a European stock with a dominant position in aesthetic dentistry. Steve W has been checking out a FTSE 250 industrial distribution outfit. These aren’t for Paul, but could they be for you..?

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE!

Wow. What an episode this turned out to be. Fracking, Hargreaves Lansdown, and Damien Talks Money. Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

Not much has happened this week. We’ve got a new Prime Minister, though. With Liz Truss taking charge, friend of the show Damien from Damien Talks Money is here to help us make sense of it all.

We’re starting off with energy. The new Prime Minister has announced plans to limit the average energy bill to £2,500 per year. Steve W’s heard that this is good for inflation – why?

After that, it’s on to the straightforward question of fracking. Damien wants to know what our regulars think of fracking. Steve D lives on a fracking site, Steve W doesn’t, and Paul isn’t sure. So who thinks what about getting gas out of the ground?

Next, we’re on to the real reason that Damien’s here. He wants to talk about awful investments that we’ve made in the past. Steve W once owned shares in a REIT – what went wrong there? Paul owns shares in a Russian miner – why? And Steve D invested in some businesses that went – which? Mostly, though, what’s Damien been unwisely putting his money into?

We finish with the news. Paul’s had a special offer from Hargreaves Lansdown. Steve W hasn’t, so he’s taking his ball somewhere else. And Steve D has the latest news on Freetrade’s seemingly-annual dilution of investors.

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE!

Paul is BACK!!! But is he showing any signs of changing as a result of his time away? Find out on this week’s Playing FTSE podcast!!

We’re kicking off with a new ETF that Paul’s found. It’s thematic and it’s got some stocks in it that neither of the Steve’s has ever heard of. Will either of them be interested?

Next it’s onto the interest rates and the direction of the stock market. Both Steves have been pessimistic on the stock market for a couple of weeks now. Has either of them changed their mind?

Following that, we’re on to the small questions. Starting with the changing world order (according to Ray Dalio). Paul’s watched a cartoon – what does he think about this?

We’re also talking housing. Steve W’s getting on the ladder and looking to strike as interest rates increase. But is his timing all wrong. And does he care?

Lastly, we’ve got a stock. Steve W’s a user, Paul’s interested and Steve D’s a shareholder. It’s Okta! What does it do and what happened with its recent earnings report? Steve D has the answers.

What has two Steves and likes cricket? This week’s PlayingFTSE Show!  

This week, Paul’s gone missing after a mysterious meeting with Tom Cruise. But no matter, Steve and Steve have managed to tear themselves away from the cricket for long enough to put a show together.  We’re kicking things off with some news about Amazon – a stock that both Steves own. Two bits of news in fact.   

First, the news that they’re shuttering their Amazon Health operations. Does Steve D think this leaves the door open for Teladoc? And what does Steve W think the biggest drawback to Amazon is?  

Second is the news that Peloton has agreed to start selling its clothes airers exercise bikes on the retailer's platform. The Steves have different ideas about this. Could this be the light at the end of the tunnel of Peloton?   

From there it’s on to earnings. Steve W’s been looking at Salesforce. 

The stock is down significantly after its report, but the numbers looked ok. Weak guidance is the key here, but might this just be a temporary headwind?  Steve D, on the other hand, has been looking at Intuit. A much more impressive set of results from the software company and the stock has been responding accordingly. Would our growth investor keep buying at these prices?  

Even though Paul’s not here, we’ve still got two stocks for him. Steve W has a Warren Buffett stock that’s just completing a long turnaround process. It has a dividend yield above 4% and a reducing debt pile. One for the burgundy investor?  

Steve D is sticking closer to home. He’s looking at the company that makes those bricks that say ‘London’ on them. Get ready for an overview of the UK housebuilding sector, an insight into house construction, and a dividend over 4%. 

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE show!

Where's the smart money going? We don't know, but find out what we're up to on this week's Playing FTSE podcast!  

It's another Playing FTSTEVE with Paul not away this week. We're kicking things off in the way the burgundy dividend enthusiast would have wanted -- by talking about how we feel about markets. Is it time to hide in dividend stocks again? Or are there some growth opportunities to be had?   

But enough of what we're up to -- it's 13F season. That means that Steve W's been looking at Warren Buffett, Michael Burry and Steve D's been checking in on Stan Druckenmiller and Josh Tarasoff. What lessons can we find in what the superinvestors are up to?  

With a slow news week, we're turning to some questions from you guys. Starting with who we think the best up-and-comers are in the world of investing. Steve W's got a YouTuber that you might want to check out and Steve D has a whole host of investors worth paying attention to.  

Then it's onto the question of free platforms. Do they encourage trading? And what's so bad about them if they do? We give our views in response to a question from a follower.  

Our last question is concerned with stocks for an ageing population. People are living longer and it's natural to wonder about which companies might benefit. Steve W's found an ETF. But what on earth is its largest financial holding doing in there!?  

We're rounding things out with another earnings report, this time from Steve D. Adyen, the Dutch payment processor has reported. The results are mixed, but Steve has the details. Is now a good time to buy this stock?  Find out on this week's Playing FTSE Podcast!

► Get a free share! This show is sponsored by Trading 212! If you'd like to sign up for an account and get a free share you can do so on the link below! https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE ► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io: Our friends at Finchat.io have kindly offered our subscribers 15% off any paid subscription on their site. We highly recommend this tool for stock analysis and summarising earnings calls! https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ ► Episode Notes: Are the Labour party taxing condoms? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It’s the last show before the UK election and the end of the first half of 2024. That means it’s a good time for Steve and Steve to have a look forward in politics and back in the stock market. Steve D has managed to keep his churn relatively low. A run through his portfolio indicates there have only been a few big sells, with Deckers and Cava among them. So what has Steve been buying? There’s a UK stock in the mix and could there possibly be a return to his portfolio for an old favourite? Steve W has also sold one big position and one smaller one. But with the start of the new financial year, he’s been taking the opportunity to get started on his Stocks and Shares ISA. It’s been a UK-heavy quarter for Steve W. But which of his stocks has Steve D also been buying since the end of March? The Green Party have an ambitious manifesto that is focused on investing heavily. And they’re not scared to borrow money to do it. Predictably, they have a lot on their minds to do with renewable energy and the climate. But what else is part of the Green Party’s plan for Britain if they – somehow – win the election? Top of Reform’s priorities is – unsurprisingly – immigration. The party has plans to spend heavily on the local and national services, cutting the foreign aid budget to fund it. The odds of Reform winning the election are very long indeed. But should investors pay attention to a quiet part of society that might make itself known when voting time comes? Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► UBI Link: https://jacobin.com/2016/05/richard-nixon-ubi-basic-income-welfare/ ► Support the show: Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse (All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!) There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/ We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show....COMPOUNDING! (you read that in Svens voice right? Did Briscoe mention he got Sven on the show!?) ► Timestamps: 0:00 Intro & How’s Your Week Been? 6:24 Steve D Review 24:56 Steve W Review 44:06 Green Party 1:03:16 Reform Review ► Show Notes: What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy ► Wanna get in contact? Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/ ► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

Why is Paul struggling to get it in? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE podcast...  

It's been an interesting week in the markets. Stocks have been going up. (Remember when that was all they used to do?) Paul's wondering whether this is the sign that the market has reached its low point, at least for now. Steve W's hoping for the best and planning for the worst, and Steve D has his eye on the central bank.   

After that, we're kicking this week's show off with a nice user question. This one is about how we set price targets. Quite a few times, we've said that we like a stock at X price or we would like a stock if it were priced at Y. How do we figure these things out?   

The rest of our show is made up from looking at the earnings of one of the stocks we all own. It's Disney. The company reported earnings earlier this week and the stock is up as a result. Strong growth in Disney+ subscribers is driving the business forward at the moment, but is the market getting a bit carried away with itself?  

Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!

Why can’t Steve W buy a Berkshire Hathaway A share? Find out on this week’s Playing FTSE Podcast!

We’re back on the earnings train this week, but we’re starting with news from Trading 212. After Freetrade’s news last week, T212 have ideas about restricting purchasing in certain categories. Does it matter? And what are they doing it? We don’t know, but we’re happy to discuss…

Then it’s onto some earnings. Kicking of with some REIT action from Paul and Steve W. What’s been going on with their real estate investments and what do they look for in a set of REIT earnings? These two share their thinking.

After that, it’s time for MercadoLibre and AirBnB. We all know about these stocks and they’ve reported earnings in the last week. The news for both seems to be positive and Steve D’s got the latest. But will Paul’s anecdotal story about AirBnBs change his mind about anything?

Next it’s back to a PlayingFTSE favourite. The London Stock Exchange Group is arguably one of the best businesses on the UK exchanges. They quietly announced half-year earnings on Friday. Steve D owns it and Steve W’s keeping a close eye. Is this the update that gets him over the line?

Computer stuff next with AMD reporting some excellent earnings and Nintendo giving an insight into the gaming market. It looks like there’s been some softness in the gaming industry at the moment, so how has Nintendo been holding up? And with AMD going strong in the chip space, is it time to buy the stock? Find out what Steve D and Paul think

Last it’s Lucid. That can’t be any good… can it?

It’s been a super busy week in earnings season. We’ve got news, views, and maybe the odd insight on this week’s PlayingFTSE podcast!

Steve and Steve are in this week. They’ve been looking at all kinds of earnings reports, but top of their list is some news from Freetrade. One of the major UK commission-free brokerages, Freetrade have been adjust their fee structure. What’s the news? The Steves have the info.

Then it’s onto earnings. We were aiming for some quick earnings and some more in-depth earnings. What we ended up with was some earnings, some other earnings, and a few more earnings. Enjoy!

Steve W has a baby. As such, he has no time to look at anything. But he’s been interested in the Apple and Microsoft reports, to get a feel for what their management is seeing as the major catalysts moving big tech around. Neither Steve owns either of these, but the reports came in strong.

Steve D has Covid. To make himself feel better, he’s been looking at Visa and Mastercard reports. Neither Steve owns either of these stocks, but their reports give a good insight into what’s going on with consumer spending.

After that, it’s on to some more familiar territory. Steve W reports on Intel and Teladoc together. What do these companies have in common? People have strong views on them one way or another. And both stocks got hit after releasing earnings. Were the reports that bad?

Next up, a Steve D special. Roku has been getting thwacked lately. And Steve has been doing what he does best and finding interesting things about the structure of Roku’s contracts. Steve’s been taking some action with his Roku position – did he sell it all, or did he just double down?

Roku is an advertising company. Steve W owns one of those – it’s called Meta. Revenue is flat at Meta Platforms and net income is down. When this happens, the question is whether this is the product of a macroeconomic headwind or something wrong at the company. Steve has an idea.

Following on from Meta, it’s time to look at another advertising stock. Alphabet, owned by both Steves. Steve D has some important ideas on the difference between Alphabet (and Amazon) – the search-based advertisers, and Meta, which tries to hunt down what people are interested in based on their activities.

Then it’s on to Amazon itself. Both Steves own this stock and it’s a big part of each of their portfolios. The share price shot higher after earnings, so is either Steve wanting to buy more of this stock?

We finish the show with a whistle-stop tour of some smaller companies from Steve D. Etsy, Spotify, and Kering are all on the list. These are businesses that we’ve talked about intermittently on the podcast at one point or another. How are they getting on?

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE!

What should investors think of this week's Tesla earnings? Just one of the questions that we're not answering on this week's PlayingFTSE show!  We're actually looking at Netflix, Twitter, and ASML.  

Netflix reported earnings recently. It's a stock we've been looking at closely, so Steve D has the news and the insight. There are four parts to our Netflix breakdown -- subscriber numbers, the capital structure, an ad-supported tier, and some acquisition news.   

The company posted better than expected subscriber numbers, which Steve D called well ahead of time. So is the news surprising to our Netflix shareholder, or what he was expecting? And what does he think of the shift away from US and European users to Asia Pacific ones?  

The introduction of an ad-supported tier looks interesting. Will Netflix be mostly ad-supported with some premium subscribers, or mostly premium with some ad-support. Steve W wants to know the answer and Paul has some interesting ideas for him.  

Meanwhile, like the rest of us, Elon Musk is attempting to avoid owning Twitter stock. Unlike the rest of us, though, he's being pursued through the courts by the company trying to make him. Paul's been looking at the terms of the case and the Steves have some ideas about what might happen. But could there be something underneath the surface here? There usually is with Elon...  

Steve W's been having a difficult time lately, with rising share prices making it harder for him to find things that he wants to buy. But maybe ASML could be the answer. Paul and Steve D both own the stock and their earnings this week were strong. 

ASML makes lithography machines. And they've been shipping them out all over the place. So why aren't their revenues higher? Paul knows why. And is it a problem that their machines are so expensive that only a few customers can afford them? Steve D has the answer.  

Only on this week's PlayingFTSE!

What’s the collective noun for bankers? It’s a wunch. As in: a wunch of bankers…

On this week’s PlayingFTSE show we’re looking at banks. The Steves have stocks they’ve been looking at this month. And we’re excited that it’s earnings season again.

We’re kicking off with the news from the US banks. JPMorgan, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo have all been reporting earnings this week. Paul and the Steves try to get their heads around stress tests, capital buffers, and investment banking. One of our hosts has seen his shares have a little pop as a result of the earnings reports. Which one is it?

After that, it’s on to stocks for July. Steve W’s been buying Disney, but we’re not just going to talk about that *again* – we’ve found some interesting new things to have a look at. Steve W has been looking at Halma, a UK conglomerate that works on life-saving technologies. Steve thinks it’s one of the best businesses in the FTSE 100. So why isn’t he buying shares?

Steve D has been looking at Ubiquiti. The stock basically appears to be trying to buy itself back endlessly. With the share price down, is Steve a buyer?

Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE podcast!

Boris is gone! Well sort of! Who's going to take his place and what will the market think? Find out that and more in this weeks Playing FTSE podcast  Just Paul and Steve D this week as Steve W is on daddy duties! 

With plenty of news to discuss the boys start with the football, we're at the start of the Women's Euros and just 132 days away from the winter world cup in Qatar - are there any stocks that would benefit from this period? Steve D thinks he has one.  

They move onto the next Tory leader - both agree its a pretty uninspiring list, they drill it down to three but neither has a dog in the fight...do you have a favourite? Can you have a favourite Tory?  

Then we're onto Burry - both are unsure of Cassandras motivations and why he's so vocal about what he sees. Paul thinks we could have found a bottom, Steve doesn't care either way.  

And lastly we're onto the labour market, figures looked pretty positive and not indicative, at least traditionally, of a recession yet. It's still super tight though with 2 jobs for every 1 unemployed person - Steve tries to explain why this is disinflationary.

Paul’s back! What’s he been doing? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!

All the best things come in threes. We’re back up to three on the podcast and Steve W’s family is up to three. In Steve D’s house, the animals are insisting that three is the optimum number too, as his cats are deciding there’s only room for one of them.

On the PlayingFTSE show, we like to keep things simple. So gaze in wonder as we proceed to take over an hour on a series of quick news items.

First up it’s NIO. There’s been a short report on the business lately, alleging that the company has been inflating its revenues. None of us owns the stock, but it’s an important story anyway. The Steves have been on the wrong end of a short report before, how would they handle it?

Second is news from Pinterest. This is a stock that we’ve talked about a lot and Steve D owns. There’s been a change at the top of the business – could this be a sign that they’re getting ready to transition on to the next stage of their development?

Steve D then squashes the rest of the quick news into the next five minutes and we get with the main content.

ARK are loving Zoom Video Communications at the moment. They have a huge price target on the stock and a business model that sees it as a spawner. Paul’s making the case for ARK’s view on Zoom, but Steve W thinks that detaching the noise from the fundamentals paints an interesting picture of the stock.

Zoom has replaced Tesla as the ARK lynchpin and Tesla has replaced a lot of its workers with nobody at all. Here’s another stock that we’re starting to see differently. Steve W is becoming more and more convinced by the business. Paul and Steve D are still nowhere close.

Speaking of Steve W, we’re finishing with Kellogg’s. They’re splitting their business into three parts – snacks, cereals, and plant-based foods. Steve’s been looking closely at this and owns some Kellogg shares for his godson. Is this a good move? And does anyone else care?

Is Steve D having his kitten put down? Which price notification has gone off on both Steves’ brokerage accounts? And what do Amazon and CostCo have in common? Find out on this week’s Playing FTSE Show!

The Steves have been seeing prices coming down in markets lately. And that brings some interesting questions. Should we be looking at concentrating our deposits into a few stocks, or spreading them out across the red positions we have (there are plenty of them). And should we be trying to follow the bigger players in the market or looking for things that are too small for them to bother with?

Next up it’s Dunelm. Not a stock we’ve looked at before, but we’ve had a request to have a squint at it and we’ve got some thoughts. Numbers look decent, it held up ok during COVID lockdowns, and the price seems reasonable. It’s a homewares retailer, though, so might it be about to struggle the way that Target has been struggling across the pond?

Bitcoin’s had a horrible time lately and all the sceptics who think it’s a massive fraud are feeling themselves. We don’t talk about crypto much and Steve W thought this was a bad thing. So he went looking for an expert. None of those was available, though, so he got Steve D to talk about the which, what, and why of his own cryptocurrency investing.

After that it’s the good, the bad, and the ugly of US stocks. Steve W is fond of CostCo. We sort of all know it’s a great business, but Steve’s been thinking about why. Is it cheap enough right now? Who knows… Steve D’s rather fond of Twilio — a Motley Fool favourite. It’s also a tricky one to value, but it’s growing like a weed. Worth checking out? You decide…

Something else that’s hard to value is Lucid Motors. But that doesn’t leave much room for ambiguity in Steve W’s mind. He doesn’t like it. He thinks it’s an expensive business with a really nice product. But sales aren’t getting there are supply chain issues are getting harder not easier.

Then there’s the ugly. Courtesy of Warren Buffett. Charter Communications is Warren Buffett’s 19th biggest holding and there’s a lot to like about it. It also trades at a pretty low P/E of around 16. But there’s something holding the stock back that makes it all seem too good to be true, according to Steve D. In fact, it makes the stock look really ugly. What is it?

How many legs will the latest addition to Steve W’s family have? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE show!

This week, it’s a special UK-themed edition. We’ve got interest rate news from the Bank of England, and the good, the bad, and the ugly of FTSE-listed stocks.

While the Briscoe is away, the cat will play. Specifically Steve D’s new cat. He’s got himself an adorable new kitten and the to celebrate, he’s tanking the markets.

Well, with the help of the FED, anyway. Interest rates have gone up 0.75% to try and fend off inflationary pressure brought on by a list of things that YouTube hates us talking about but we like to list anyway. Should investors be worried by rate hikes? Should they be pleased about them? Should they even pay attention to them at all? The Steves share their views.

Then it’s onto some UK stocks. The Steves each have one they think is good, one they think is bad, and one they think is downright ugly. Brace yourselves, because some of them will be unpopular. But remember, this is just what we think. We absolutely might be missing something that you can see, in which case, we’ll be rooting for you.

Steve D’s good stock is Ocado. Unlike him to pick a retailer, but it’s got some legitimately impressive tech going on. Its warehouses are harnessing AI, robotics, and all kinds of good things and the business is coming along nicely, too. Steve W, on the other hand, has been looking at Games Workshop. The stock’s been way too high for his liking until lately, but he’s picked up a few shares and likes what he sees.

Over to the bad, next. Brace yourselves. For Steve D, it’s Hollywood Bowl. The strengths are pretty well documented by friend of the show TheBossHog (check out his channel below), but to the Steves it all just looks a bit… meh. Steve W has gone for a far more obvious pick with cigarette manufacturing company Imperial Brands. He’s unconvinced by its brands. As well as everything else to do with its business.

Lastly, it’s the ugly. Steve D has a homebuilder that has been failing to grow during a housing boom. And Steve W has an airline that’s failing to take off even with surging travel demand. Why don’t they like these stocks? Find out…

… only on this week’s PlayingFTSE show!

BossHog’s channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW2TalEoppE_fuWUZPdhOIQ

Call sign Burgundy is away this week, so it’s call sign Growth and call sign Doctor looking after today’s show. We recorded this on Wednesday, which explains why Steve D’s feeling pretty good about his portfolio at the start of the show…

Both Steves have more Amazon shares than they had at the start of the week. The stock split 20-for-1 taking Steve W’s holdings between 50 and 100. That’ll have to change. We’ve discussed the stock split before on a midweek, but Steve W has a new idea on how to tell whether you’re an investor or a trader.

Next up, we’re going off-script for a chat about rumours that Netflix is interested in buying Roku. There’s a view out there that Netflix needs an ad platform and Roku has one. Steve D also has some interesting info on the history of both companies and the relationship between them. Would this be a good thing for either stock?

In the retail world, times are changing. Target announced this week that it has to get rid of significant amounts of inventory. The problems are giving Steve W a new-found appreciation for retailers and why their job isn’t entirely straightforward. Does this mean that the defensive sector isn’t as defensive as we might have thought?

Paul really wanted to talk about Apple’s new tech, so we thought we’d do it for him. At the World Developer Conference, Apple announced lots of new updates. Nothing new on the AR/VR side, though… Or was there? Steve D saw something catching his eye a a Matterport shareholder. And with the price of Apple shares coming down since the beginning of the year, Steve W has been taking a closer look.

We’re finishing up with two stocks that we actually do want to talk about. First is Endeavour Mining, a FTSE-listed gold miner that Steve W likes the look of. It has a low cost of production, but is the risk of its mines being scattered across Africa just too great?

Steve D’s at it again with the picks and shovels around the semiconductor space. This time it’s Cadence Design Systems. With a $42bn market cap and some solid growth numbers, Steve reckons there’s a decent moat here. Could this be the way to get involved in the growing chip market?

► Get a free share! This show is sponsored by Trading 212! If you'd like to sign up for an account and get a free share you can do so on the link below! https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE ► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io: Our friends at Finchat.io have kindly offered our subscribers 15% off any paid subscription on their site. We highly recommend this tool for stock analysis and summarising earnings calls! https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ ► Episode Notes: Who’s birthday is it this week? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Steve and Steve have been mad busy this week. One of them has been staring at a pile of exam papers on Aesthetics, the other has been stuck doing his civic duty. Both are in to talk about the latest news, though. It’s been quite a week for the UK and we wouldn’t miss it for the world. The Labour Party’s manifesto is an interesting document. There’s lots to think about, but one question is how much of it they’re actually in a position to deliver on. Steve W has some strong views on a potential windfall tax on oil and gas companies, and Steve D is interested in housing. What else is on the cards if there’s a change of government on the way? Inflation in the UK hit 2% this week, but there’s plenty below the surface for investors to keep an eye on. Core inflation is still high and prices are still up a long way from where they were in 2020. Interest rates aren’t coming down yet. But that isn’t stopping the housing market, which is back to all time highs, despite prices going up below the rate of core inflation… The Liberal Democrats have a manifesto for this election and there’s a lot to like in it. It’s not just a watered-down version of Labour’s policy document, there’s plenty that makes a lot of sense. Does any of it matter, though? With the party trailing badly in the polls, is there any reason to vote for them given that their intentions do look strikingly similar to those of another party with better odds? It’s time for another look at B&M European Value. The FTSE 100 retailer is down 25% since Steve W thought it looked like decent value at the start of the year. The business is performing well, though. So could a rising dividend yield be an opportunity for a company with some of the lowest costs in the industry? Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Support the show: Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse (All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!) There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/ We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show....COMPOUNDING! (you read that in Svens voice right? Did Briscoe mention he got Sven on the show!?) ► Timestamps: 0:00 Intro & How’s Your Week Been? 9:16 Labour Manifesto 30:19 Macro update 43:40 Lib Dem Update 1:03:43 B&M Bargains (Bargain Shop Bargain Price) ► Show Notes: What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy ► Wanna get in contact? Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/ ► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

Sell in May and go away? Not on the PlayingFTSE show!

The Steves are back they’ve got a lot on their minds this week. Our show kicks off with some news about Orca — not the whale, but the investment platform. It’s winding down. Neither Steve has anything much to do with the platform, but this might be a sign that VC cashflows are tightening and both Steves have shares on Monzo to think about. Should they be worried?

Next is the news that there’s a hurricane coming. According to Jamie Dimon anyway. The JP Morgan boss thinks just downgraded his forecast for the economic outlook. What’s an investor to do? Keep calm and keep buying great businesses at good prices, of course.

Speaking of great businesses, PlayingFTSE favourite Salesforce has been reporting earnings this week. The report was positive and the stock pushed 7% higher on the news. The tech giant (bigger than you might think) had some information on familiar themes — stock based comp, share dilution, and rapid revenue growth. Steve D’s been looking at the comments from the management and Steve W’s been wondering about where this company is in terms of its maturity.

On the subject of buying great businesses at good prices, the Steves have their stocks to buy in June. And neither of them is from the US! First up is Steve D, who’s been looking at a European stock. It’s ABB, which is probably one of the most interesting companies you’ve never heard of. It’s got a powerful-looking EV charging business, but it hasn’t made as much money as an activist would like. Find out what Steve thinks of the stock going forward.

Steve W has a UK stock that he’s been watching come down in price since the beginning of the year. It’s Experian — one of the three major credit bureaus and the stock is down around 30% since the start of January. Steve reckons the business has one of the best moats in the FTSE 100 and it generates some impressive returns on its fixed assets. What price is he looking at buying it at, though?

With no Paul this week, the Steve’s have a hell of a lot to get through. Stock updates, 13Fs, and an earnings report from Steve D to keep an eye on.

We’re kicking off this week with an update on our 5 stock samplers from last July. As we approach the year mark, it’s time for an update. We’ve had some interesting results so far to say the least. One of us has a stock that’s been holding up well against the general stock declines. And one of us has a stock that’s been delisted. What’s going on? Find out first up.

Next it’s the news that’s been driving the markets this week. Snap announced that the macroeconomic environment is likely to cause it to miss its earnings forecasts in Q2. The news sent shockwaves through PlayingFTSE favourites Alphabet, Meta, and Pinterest. But the Steves have been looking at this and think they have some interesting ideas about marketing budgets and the difference between brand marketing and performance marketing.

As surely as night follows day, earnings season is followed by 13F reporting. That means that the Steves can check in with their favourite investors. Warren Buffett has been adding to his huge Apple stake while Michael Burry is short the stock. Burry has been holding onto Bristol-Myers Squibb, though, while Buffett has been selling out. And the Steves have some thoughts on Stan Druckenmiller, who seems to have been hiding out in commodities lately…

Lastly, we’re going to have a look at Intuit. The software company is bigger than you might think — market cap of around $120bn — and has reported earnings recently (earnings season not quite over) and Steve D’s been having a look. The business is growing at a rapid rate, but the stock is down around 31% since the start of the year. But at 10x sales, is there an opportunity here for an investor?

*** IMPORTANT***  If you don't want to know how "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" ends, don't watch this show...   

This week on the Playing FTSE Show, we're talking CRM stocks. The big dog here is Salesforce, but we've got a few others that have been catching our eye.   

First up is Wix. Paul is a customer and he's been looking at the company recently. Steve W doesn't own this stock, but he does own a different CRM and he can see a lot to like. Steve D isn't such a massive fan. What do you think? Comment down below...  

Next is Monday.com. Steve D likes this one better and he even thinks it has an advantage over Salesforce. But the market doesn't like it very much. High inflation, rising interest rates, and future uncertainty are all driving down the Monday.com market cap. Could this be better than Wix? They have a surprise customer. Also, turns out Deezer is still a thing...  

After that, it's time to flog Paul some stocks. Steve W's gone for something out of left field. He's been looking at Aviva -- but not the common equity that Steve D hates. It's the preferred stock with its preferred dividend that Steve W has his eye on. A 6% return that has a preferred status -- will Paul take the bait?   

Steve D has other ideas, though. He's thinking that the burgundy investor might be a bit more attracted towards Unity Software. Stock is down 70% since the start of the year, so the heat has very much come out of this one. And Steve has some interesting thoughts to consider. Might Paul be tempted with some unprofitable tech?  

Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE!

With Paul away celebrating his 44th birthday, the Steves are running this week’s show…

Growth stocks have been coming down lately. Are they a buy? That’s what we’re looking at in this show.

Steve W starts us off with the causes of the drop in growth stocks. Inflation, interest rates, and the possibility of a recession are weighing on growth stocks. Steve discusses why and what he’s keeping an eye on.

Is the fall overdone? In some stocks, maybe. Steve D has a chart showing where some popular growth stocks have fallen to in terms of their fundamentals. Both Steves talk about what’s been catching their eyes.

After that, it’s stocks, stocks, and more stocks. Steve D kicks us off with a growth stock that might be coming back into range… and into fashion! It’s Kering, which we’ve mentioned on the show, but it’s been catching the eye of the PlayingFTSE growth investor lately.

Growth stocks have been falling but steadier value stocks have been holding up well. A good example is US bum-cleaning company Kimberly-Clark. Steve looks at the valuation on the steady staples outfit and wonders whether the market might be putting a high premium on a defensive sector.

Steve W has a similar idea. He’s been looking at a pair of UK stocks. The first is fallen grower Rightmove. The second is steady defensive stock Diageo. Steve’s a big fan of both stocks, but which one’s trading at the better price at the moment? The PlayingFTSE value enthusiast gives us his view.

It’s not just growth selling cheaper than value across the board, though. Steve D thinks that Warren Buffett-backed Snowflake has come crashing down, but still doesn’t look like a bargain. On the other hand, there’s a train company Alstom that looks very steady and dependable and much more attractive…

All on this week’s PlayingFTSE!

The scatterplot chart we referenced:
https://twitter.com/richard_chu97/status/1523398905190178816 

Following Sundays earnings bonanza the guys this week play the noticeably absent game. This one is all about companies meeting analyst expectations, watch Steve D fumble his way through earnings achieving a grand score of...well you'll have to see for yourself!

This week, it’s the good, the bad, and the ugly from the earnings report scene!

No game this week, no time for that. This week was the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Meeting. Paul has a bold idea about how Charlie Munger’s feelings about bitcoin might be solved. You don’t want to miss that.

But it’s earnings this week. And Teladoc reported. That means it’s time for Steve D to deliver his quarterly sermon on the mount about the virtual health company. Teladoc’s earnings report is a tricky one to get right – there’s a lot that’s a bit different to how it looks at first sight. Fortunately for us, we have someone who can cut through the noise and the misdirection, so let Steve help you figure out what’s going on.

Amazon’s next and there’s something similar in the air. The headline result is a strange one – did a company that size actually make a LOSS last quarter? Paul has a question for the Steves: is this the end of Amazon? Or is this just a cyclical company doing cyclical things? Find out what the Steves think, what’s a temporary headwind, and what might be a longer cause for concern.

Meta also reported earnings last week, so Steve W’s been taking a look. This one’s interesting in its own way. ARPU down, earnings down, stock up significantly after a big decline following the last earnings report. Could it be that the market is thinking that Facebook (the platform) is back in growth mode as the daily active users returned to increased numbers in the last quarter?

Last is AirBnB. The company looks like it’s been going great guns and Steve D has the details. AirBnb is growing at a real rate and its HR division has been generating some significant interest. Why? Steve D has the details.

All on this week’s PlayingFTSE!

his week the guys bring you the three new stocks they're most excited about for May 2022! We have housebuilders, streaming services and a Portuguese pseudo fashion tech hybrid - bet you can't tell whose that is!  

This one is long so we've timestamped it for you and oh, apologies for the ending we got...sidetracked.  

01:15 Steve W's Stock
05:35 Pauls Stock
13:24 Steve D's Stock

This week, Paul makes a bold prediction about Meta Platforms. Will he be right?

Earnings reports are continuing to come in and we’re looking at advertising monster Alphabet, streaming specialist Spotify, and a little bit on recreation vehicle manufacturer Polaris.

First up, though, it’s a game. It’s been a while since the three of us got together for a podcast and Steve D has a game to ease us back into the swing of things. This time, we’re thinking about what hedge funds own. Steve’s been painstakingly looking through the top holdings of the top performing hedge funds and he’s noticed some interesting recurring themes. So Paul and Steve W are guessing away at which is the most popular.

Then it’s on to Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter. Blink and you might miss it.

After that, it’s time for Alphabet’s earnings. Google’s parent company has had an interesting quarter and it’s been catching the eye of all three of our podcasters. A mixed effort from Alphabet as the profit-making segment fared generally well with the exception of YouTube and the loss-making parts of the business generally pushed higher. The market wasn’t impressed, though, so is there something that we’re not seeing?

Next is Spotify, which Steve D likes more than Paul or Steve W. Following on from the Netflix report last week, it’s interesting to see how the music streamer has got on. Find out what a MAU is (in case you’ve never seen our show before, or in case you’ve forgotten like Paul). One reason that Spotify is particularly interesting is that it’s successfully been operating with an ad-supported tier. With talk of Netflix moving in that direction, could this be a model to follow?

Lastly, via a quick detour on Polaris from Steve W (it’s a cyclical company doing cyclical things) it’s time to see if Paul’s guess about Meta Platforms is on the money…

This week the boys are answering a question from friend of the show Kacper about Peer to Peer lending and giving our thoughts on it. Steve's tried it, Paul has bought a cow before so between them there's something like an answer in there...

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. This week on PlayingFTSE, it's a tale of two growth stocks.   

With Steve D away this week, Paul and Steve W gamely take on two stocks that have been attracting the attention of growth investors over the past months and years. Both Tesla and Netflix announced earnings this week and they've had contrasting fortunes.   

Netflix announced strong revenues and profits, but the headline news is that the company that was forecast to add around 2m subscribers managed to lose 200,000. Worse yet, it's guiding to lose more in Q2. The stock was hammered as a result.   

Both Paul and Steve have stocks with exposure to this space. As Briscoe considers the shape of the industry and the state of the competition, Steve thinks about the underlying business at Netflix. Does either of them see the drop as a buying opportunity?

By contrast, Tesla reported stellar earnings. Deliveries were at record highs (though short of expectations) as factories in Berlin and Texas came online in Q1. The company also guided strongly for the rest of the year.   

As the stock pushes higher, but only slightly higher, is it time for the PlayingFTSE boys to get involved? Also, with Elon Musk continuing to make noises about Twitter, what do Paul and Steve think of the management at Tesla?  

Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE show!

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► Episode Notes:

What’s Steve D doing this week? Don’t find out on this wek’s PlayingFTSE Show!

It’s been a bruising week in the markets for both Steve and Steve, with UK stocks struggling as interest rate cuts are delayed. But they’re here to talk about itwith everyone.

With the election on the horizon, Steve D has been taking a look at some manifestoes. We’re starting this week with the Conservative Party and what they’re planning.

There are plans for National Insurance, defence, education, and energy. A lot have been trailed in advance, but do any of them resonate with Steve and Steve?

Halma is one of Steve W’s favourite UK stocks and it reported its full-year results this week. The stock is up 12% as earnings look positive, but is a P/E ratio of 40 too much to pay?

High-performing conglomerates can be great investments, but they tend to slow down over time. So is Halma anywhere near that point, or is the company’s growth just speeding up?

Wise is a stock that has confused the Steves before. Last time it provided an update, the stock went down but it wasn’t entirely clear why – and it’s doing it again…

Interest income is high with interest rates up. But with the stock now at 75% of its IPO price, at what point does it become a bargain that’s too good to pass up?

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

► What We Consumed This Week:

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse

(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)

There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/

We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show....COMPOUNDING! (you read that in Svens voice right? Did Briscoe mention he got Sven on the show!?)

► Timestamps:

0:00 Intro & How’s Your Week Been?

9:48 Tory Manifesto

33:12 Halma

47:21 Wise

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

In this one we answer Sean's question regarding advice to our younger selves. We cover general advice regarding our savings and investments, how we wish we started earlier, how investing is so much more accessible now and why it's not ok to have a cupboard full of Malbec! Enjoy!

We've got a special one this week, the first ever PlayingFTSE awards with categories like, Best Bank, Best Place For Your Emergency Fund and Best Up & Comer!  First though, we have a game. Steve W has been looking very hard at Stanley Druckenmiller's 13F and has built a game about his holdings! Its a tough one!  

Darting onwards we're heading into the first category - Best Savings Account. With this we're thinking specifically about the best place for your emergency fund - there was a clear winner until last month and now it's all up in the air!  

Next up is Best Bank. Both Steve's are Monzo shareholders so there's a clear winner here....and it isn't Monzo.  

Having recently incorporated PlayingFTSE into a business we're very much on top of the small business accounts available at the moment, the two Steves breakdown the offerings from the NeoBanks and pick their favourite!  

So we move onto the ISA's, LISA's and JISA's the Steves pick through each offering discussing merits and opportunities to expand! LISA's is an extremely light category, expect a different winner next year!  

We finish with the most promising up and comer, this section is dedicated to apps that don't win an award this time but are looking very promising for the future - there's a couple of favourites in the list and we're struggling to pick a winner!

This week we answer the second part of Kevin's question regarding our best and worst performing stocks - who's 50% down on Teladoc, who's losing their arse on Pinterest, who's lost a bunch on Roku and who bought ASOS at the handles at the top of the slide? Find out on this weeks midweek FTSE!

This week the two Steve's are excited for the new ISA Season, they have four new stocks for you to put on your watchlist! Spoiler - there's two from the UK!  Game this week is a quiz about Disney - a Quiz-ney if you will. Steve W is tasked with answering ten tough questions about the origins of Disney, when they acquired Pixar and how much goodwill they have on their balance sheet!  

Moving swiftly on we're onto stock one. Steve D delves into a little known Irish game developer trading on the AIM. Quickly heading towards a billion euros in revenue, this one is profitable, free cash flow positive and pays a little dividend! Something for everyone!  

Steve W's first one is also on the FTSE. This joinery outfit has some attractive economics, has weathered the pandemic surprisingly well with improving margins, pays a good dividend and is buying back around 5% of its stock this year!  

Switching back to Steve D we're going dating! Steve dives into a US dating conglomerate with it's tendrils in all four corners of the globe. This one is a proven growth story, with attractive margins and a huge dedicated userbase - but there's still risks to consider!  

Lastly Steve W has a beaten down juggernaut, a leader in the advertising industry that seems to jump from problem to scandal - we discuss why we think it's now at the sort of price where the reward is worth the risk and the downside is limited.

This week we answer the first part of Kevin's question regarding our best and worst performing stocks - find out each of our top twos and some honourable mentions along the way!

Which is Steve D more excited about: the UK budget, or the Tesla stock split? Find out in this week's PlayingFTSE!  

No game this week -- there's no time for that. With Chris Hill on the show last week, we've got too much news to catch up on.   

We kick off with the UK budget. Up goes the NI threshold -- what does that mean for people's state pensions? This is something of an important topic for us, since a good part of the reason we're here is that we're all worried about what the state pension will look like by the time we hit retirement age. Here's what we think on the subject.  

Then it's the big one. Tesla has announced that it plans to split its stock in a move that hasn't been seen since... 2020. Steve W isn't impressed, Steve D isn't interested. But Paul thinks there's something hiding beneath the surface. Has he been seeing something that the Steves have been missing?  

Adobe reported its earnings recently. Guidance was weaker than some were expecting and the stock slipped as a result. Chris called this an "uphill" last week and it's a business that we like very much. But do we like it at these prices? And what does the competition look like? This one's in the wheelhouse of Paul and Steve D, find out what they think.  

We finish with news from Steve W on Intel and Nvidia. It's an interesting time for the chip companies at the moment. Intel's attempting to get into manufacturing and Nvidia's CEO has said it would be willing to use Intel's foundries. Looks like a win-win. Nvidia's popular with growth investors and Intel's popular with the value brigade. What does Steve W think?

In this one we go over the key learning s we took from our guest Chris Hill. We reflect on Chris's views on the role luck plays in investing, his stoic view on time horizons and of course why you should definitely buy stocks whilst high!

This week, we’re joined by podcasting superhero Chris Hill! Chris hosts the daily podcasts at the Motley Fool. Chris reached out to us after we were offering an unsolicited review of the Motley Fool’s new podcast format. Trying not to be too starstruck, we made time to have a sit-down and a chat about his investing life, his career at the Motley Fool, and what he thinks about stocks. Well, two of us did, anyway. The third one, well, you be the judge. Anyway, we had an absolute blast, Chris was an absolute gent from start to finish. He's a terrific story-teller with a real depth of wisdom to share. You do NOT want to miss this one.

In this one we take a look at Amazon and Googles recent stock split announcements. We discuss our theories as to why they're doing this and why we don't think Amazons recent buyback announcement is a departure from their growth focused mindset.

The band are back together for this week's show!   

Steve D has this week's game. Paul and Steve W revisit some of their least favourite subjects as we look at how Chamath Palihapitiya's SPACs from before been performing. Most of them are down, two are up -- who will win this time at "U suck at ChaMath II"?   

With Paul back on board, we talk about the economic consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As the UK, US, and Australia have committed to banning imports of oil from Russia, we think about what this means for oil demand in the short term and renewable energy further ahead.   

Next is the latest from China. Chinese stocks (or their ADR counterparts) have been rallying this week on an announcement from the Chinese regulators. What did it say and what does it mean for investors? Steve W leads us into the subject of VIE structures, Chinese regulation, and the risk associated with investing in China.  

Lastly, we're looking at interest rates. As the Bank of England announced an increase in rates to pre-pandemic levels, the FED began increasing rates and reducing its balance sheet. The market took the news well, so what else is coming for the rest of the year?

► Get a free share! This show is sponsored by Trading 212! If you'd like to sign up for an account and get a free share you can do so on the link below! https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE ► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io: Our friends at Finchat.io have kindly offered our subscribers 15% off any paid subscription on their site. We highly recommend this tool for stock analysis and summarising earnings calls! https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ ► Episode Notes: Did Steve D buy those Diageo shares from last week? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Steve and Steve are talking stocks to consider buying this week. There’s some news left over from last time and three more to add to the watchlists. We’ve had a request from a viewer on Spotify to talk about Games Workshop. Steve W has been looking at this one and there’s a lot to like about the company. Strong intellectual property makes for some attractive economics. But why does Steve think it will upset both value investors and dividend investors? Steve D has been hunting for bargains and the place he’s been looking is Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. Discount retail is in at the moment and this is a stock we’ve looked at before. Strong growth from new stores as well as some more affluent customers refusing to trade back up as inflation subsides is pushing things along. Is the stock (or Five Below) a buy? Rentokil Initial isn’t a stock we’ve talked about on the show before, but it’s catching Steve W’s attention. Pest control is about as acyclical as it gets, but the stock is down big. A potentially transformative acquisition is the reason, but could the damage to the balance sheet be temporary? And after a 7% rally, is it too late for UK investors to get buying? MongoDG is a database software business that’s on the move higher. Stock-based compensation is growing swiftly, but so is the overall business. A big drop might be an opening for the Steves to start taking an interest. With the industry in a cyclical downtrend, could it be time to make a move with others on the sidelines? Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Support the show: Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse (All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!) There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/ We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show....COMPOUNDING! (you read that in Svens voice right? Did Briscoe mention he got Sven on the show!?) ► Timestamps: 0:00 Intro & How’s Your Week Been? 7:38 Games Workshop 25:44 Ollies Bargain Outlet 44:41 Rentokil 58:51 Mongodb ► Show Notes: What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy ► Wanna get in contact? Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/ ► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

The Steves discuss their takeaways from the Feroldi interview, take a closer look at the key points and offer their takes on what was we learned from Brian.

Brian Feroldi is on this week's show!  

Telling us about companies that grow. 

He shared with us thoughts 

About things that he's bought 

So check out his new book below!  

This week's episode is an interview with Motley Fool contractor, growth investor, and now *author* Brian Feroldi! Steve D and Steve W recently sat down with fellow YouTuber Brian Feroldi to hear his stories about how he got into investing, how he thinks about companies to buy, and what his most important lessons to learn about markets are. There's also a quick game of Bri-in or Bri-out on some stocks that might be of interest. Brian was an absolutely superb guest. Sit back, relax, and enjoy. We did.

In this one we take a look at Freetrade's news both good and bad and take a deeper dive into Salesforce Earnings and their venture arm - which will throw up some interesting treats!