2024 in Review: Financials

New year, new market? We preview what’s in store for investors in 2025, the companies we’re excited to watch and the businesses we’re worried about.   (00:33) Ron Gross and Asit Sharma discuss: - The state of the stock market as investors head into the new year, the outlook for 2025, and the big questions concentration is creating for investors. - The corners of the market they’re paying attention to for opportunities.  - Why leadership at Southwest and Moderna is on the hot seat, and which companies seem primed for a turnaround in 2025.  (19:03) This time of year, investors are getting forecasts galore – what the market will return, where interest rates will go. Robert Brokamp and best-selling author Morgan Housel about his latest book Same as Ever, the things that endure, and the follies of following forecasts.  (33:17) Ron and Asit offer up reckless predictions for the new year and break down two stocks on their radar: Endava and Marvell Technology. Stocks discussed: MDNA, LUV, LULU, AMD, DAVA, MRVL. Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Ron Gross, Asit Sharma, Morgan Housel, Robert Brokamp Engineers: Rick Engdahl  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See more music, talk to strangers, play more games. Ricky Mulvey, Mary Long, and Asit Sharma take a look at the business-adjacent stories that caught their attention over 2024. They discuss: - The rise of concert ticket prices. - Why companies trying to solve the loneliness epidemic are in a difficult business. - The implications of widespread sports gambling. And a heads-up, Motley Fool Money returns on Friday, December 27. Companies mentioned: LYV, MTCH, BUMBL, GRND, DKNG, FLUT Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Mary Long, Asit Sharma Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your company isn’t a growth business, what’s the advantage of being in the public markets? (00:14) Jim Gillies and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - Why luxury department stores are struggling. - Disney spending $645 million to make two seasons of the Star Wars series, Andor in a ten-ish minute discussion. - What investors should consider before using options to generate income. Companies discussed: JWN, PTON, DISHost: Ricky Mulvey Guest: Jim Gillies Producer: Mary Long Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Vice is the CEO of Sierra Space, a company building an end-to-end business and technology platform in space to benefit life on earth. Think, space planes and inflatable space habitats. Ricky Mulvey caught up with Vice at the Sierra Space headquarters for a show that originally aired on March 30, 2024. They discuss: - The magic of microgravity, and its impact on everything from biotech and batteries to chemistry and computing. - How rent works in outer space. - Defense systems and the hope of a space-based “McDonald’s Effect.” Companies mentioned: MRK, PFE, MRNA, NVDA Host: Ricky Mulvey Guest: Tom Vice Producer: Mary Long Engineers: Desireé Jones, Dan Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the most part, our phones work about 95% of the time. But head outside of suburbia, and things get patchy quickly. What would it take to close that final 5% gap? Scott Wisniewski is the President and Chief Strategy Officer of AST Space Mobile, a satellite company that’s trying to bring connectivity literally everywhere – the desert, the ocean, the air, everywhere. Ricky Mulvey caught up with Wisniewski to discuss: - What universal connectivity actually achieves. - The operational challenges of getting something as large as a cell tower onto something as small as a rocket. - And the developing “land grab” in low-earth orbit.  Companies discussed: ASTS, VOD, VZ, TMUS,  Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Scott Wisniewski Producer: Mary Long Engineers: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our annual best-of interviews show, we look at the topic of the year – artificial intelligence – through two different lenses: how individuals can put the technology to use, and how companies are using it to make their products better and fuel growth. (00:33) Wharton Professor Ethan Mollick walks through his four rules for using AI, how he pushes students to use the technology, and the research from his book Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI.  (19:03) Reddit CEO Steve Huffman explains how the company is harnessing AI to localize content to reach new markets internationally, open up new revenue opportunities, and improve the user experience.  Stocks discussed: RDDT, GOOG, GOOGL Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Ethan Mollick, Steve Huffman Engineers: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The S&P 500 is still up about 25% this year, far outpacing historical averages. (00:14) Anthony Schiavone and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - Why traders are sour about the recent Fed meeting, and what long-term investors should focus on. - How American diners are responding to Darden Restaurant Group’s value offers. - Rising home sales at Redfin. Then (13:29) Motley Fool Senior Analyst Alicia Alfiere and Mary Long look at Upwork and Fiverr and the gig workplace economy. Companies discussed: DRI, TXRH, RDFN, FVRR, UPWK Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Anthony Schiavone, Mary Long, Alicia Alfiere Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who wants to buy a struggling car company? Honda does! Well, maybe. (00:14) David Meier and Mary Long discuss: - What merger rumors signal about Nissan’s business. - How retailers are leaning into the holiday spirit. - Advice for a seasonal decoration company. Then (13:56), Stephanie Guild, Robinhood’s Head of Investment Strategy, joins Ricky Mulvey to discuss her outlook for 2025 and what’s excited Robinhood investors in the past year. CNBC story mentioned: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/18/holiday-decor-spending-could-help-retailers.html Companies discussed: HMC, NSANY Host: Mary Long Guests: David Meier, Stephanie Guild, Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Rick Engdahl, Desiree Jones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investing is a decades-long game. (00:14) Bill Barker and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - The Federal Trade Commission’s ruling on junk fees. - What killed a merger between Kroger and Albertsons. - How younger investors can prepare for the next bear market. Then, (17:28) Alison Southwick and Robert Brokamp offer some tips on tax-loss harvesting. WSJ column discussed: https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/why-this-frothy-market-has-me-scared-295c07c3 Companies discussed: KR, ACI, AZO, AAPL, ORLY, SBUX Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Bill Barker, Alison Southwick, Robert Brokamp Producer: Mary Long Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thinner, cheaper, and possibly foldable. Apple engineers are working hard to convince you to buy a new phone. (00:14) Asit Sharma and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - Microstrategy’s entrance into the NASDAQ 100. - How Apple is trying to kickstart growth. - A burgeoning competitor to Uber and Lyft. Then, (16:56) Motley Fool Senior Analyst Anthony Schiavone joins Mary Long for a look at UPS, and its frenemy relationship with Amazon. Sign up for Breakfast News, our free daily market email newsletter: www.fool.com/breakfastnews WSJ Story on Apple: https://www.wsj.com/tech/apple-thin-iphone-foldable-computer-plans-dbb4286c NYTimes story on Empower: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/technology/empower-ride-hailing-washington-dc.html Companies discussed: MSTR, AAPL, UBER, LYFT, UPS, AMZN Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Asit Sharma, Mary Long, Anthony Schiavone Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices