Podcasts about steve w

Where is Steve W seeing cockroaches? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Steve D's portfolio has been running away with it, once again. At the other end, there's a tie for last place in this week's leaderboard – but between who or what?There are a lot of people who claim to being the next Warren Buffett, but Mohnish Pabrai has a closer connection than most. And he's got a new ETF that launched last week. It's not a closet index, but is it worth paying for? Steve D doesn't think so and Steve W thinks there's a big difference between the Wagons ETF and Berkshire Hathaway…The stock market didn't like Klarna's results and the share price is down in a big way. But are investors making a mistake and presenting an unusually good opportunity here?A key theme of the show in recent months has been paying attention to how companies recognise revenues. And Steve D is wondering whether this might be one more for the list.Molina Healthcare is a stock that's been attracting the attention of some high-profile value investors recently. As well as those guys, Steve W has been taking an interest.The company has been hammered through a difficult Medicaid situation, but it has a structural advantage over competitors. So at unusual lows, is it time to consider buying?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyse what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.You'll also find our new 10-week investing and research course available right now. It's completely free, with no sign-up required, no payment, and none of the usual BS. Don't miss out. Join us today and get stuck in.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:19 WAGONS FUND23:28 KLARNA47:14 MOLINA HEALTHCARE► 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 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.

Who doesn't like Mondays? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!A difficult week in the stock market for both Steves. But which one's done badly and which one's been awful?Adyen's results are in. It's the usual growth of roughly 20% and the stock has – as usual – moved in a vertical direction, so not much to report, right?Actually no, there's a lot to talk about and not just how much better than PayPal the company is. So get strapped in for a long one – Steve D's on form this week.Roper Technologies is a stock that's found its way onto Steve W's buy list. The SaaS selloff has pushed the share price down dramatically and it now looks like an opportunity.It's a collection of vertical software businesses under one roof. And with management is making the right moves in response to the stock going down, could this be the moment?Monday.com is down mightily recently, as part of the broader software selloff. Steve D, though, is eyeing this one as a potential opportunity as the earnings are coming in strong. There's not so much good news on the guidance front. But with the stock down 50% since the start of the year, is it just too cheap to ignore? Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyse what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.You'll also find our new 10-week investing and research course available right now. It's completely free, with no sign-up required, no payment, and none of the usual BS. Don't miss out. Join us today and get stuck in.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS10:14 ADYEN38:48 AD BREAK38:54 ROPER TECH55:19 MONDAY.COM ► 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 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.

Steve Smith is a friend of mine. He runs Potter's Inn, which provides soul care. Much of Steve's time is spent with people running large organizations, from mega church pastors to Fortune 500 CEOs. People who as Steve says, live much of their lives in the white water of life. And living this way takes a toll on your soul. Years ago, I actually argued with Steve. I said I was living in a way to keep myself strong so I could endure the constant white water. And I did. Until I couldn't. Until I burnt out and caused plenty of collateral damage in my life. Recently Steve sent me a book of poetry he had written. He's published many books, but with poetry he feels he can say more with less. The book is called, Greening: Poems In The Unfolding Of Our Lives. And the focus is on unfolding through the seasons and reasons of our lives. Steve has walked intimately with so many people. Dramatically successful people as our culture tends to define success. But Steve walks with them as their lives unravel and their identities unfold. In recent years, Steve has had some losses and gone through his own unfolding. As my own life has unfolded, I brought Steve on to discuss some of the concepts of his poetry book, and his life experience. Greening is a term he relates to our flourishing, vitality, well-being, and emotional health. As a speaker, spiritual director, and author, Steve offers soul care and spiritual care through many avenues. Find him at pottersinn.com Sign up for your $1/month trial period at shopify.com/kevin Go to shipstation.com and use code KEVIN to start your free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How should Christians steward money in the end times without fear, greed, or confusion?In this episode of the Visibly Fit Podcast, I sit down with author and Bible teacher Steve Wohlberg to talk about biblical money stewardship and why financial wisdom matters now more than ever. Many believers struggle with the tension between preparing for the future and trusting God fully—especially when Scripture reminds us that Jesus is coming soon.We unpack how financial stress impacts mental health, physical well-being, and even relationships, and why ignoring money doesn't make us more spiritual. Steve shares why the Bible calls us to both be ready and occupy until Christ returns, and how wise financial decisions can actually bring greater peace, clarity, and freedom to serve others.If you've ever felt uneasy talking about money in church, overwhelmed by finances, or unsure how to plan while keeping your faith first, this conversation will give you practical insight and biblical encouragement you can actually use.Chapters:[00:00] Podcast Preview[01:25] Topic and Guest Introduction[05:05] Steve's Wake-Up Call About Retirement & Stewardship[09:39] The Interconnection of Health and Finances[12:27] Giving vs. Earning: Why Both Matter Biblically[14:12] How Steve Manages and Learn About Finance[16:40] Two Pillars of Truth[18:05] The Love of Money vs. Wise Stewardship[21:22] End-Times Economics: Buying, Selling & Control[23:10] Why Financial Peace Improves Longevity[25:16] Practical Steps for Financial Health[27:20] Investing Wisely for the Future[30:17] Building Wealth for Kingdom Work[33:45] The 10 Commandments & Financial Wisdom[37:40] Why This Book Is a Missionary Tool[39:30] Conclusion and ResourcesResources mentioned:Get your copy of Be Wise With Your Money in These End Times by Steve W. Wohlberg at White Horse Media's Website: whitehorsemedia.comJoin My Visibly Fit 7-Week Accelerator ProgramConnect with today's guest:Steve Wohlberg is the Speaker and Director of White Horse Media, a global ministry known for clear, Christ-centered biblical teaching. He is a television producer, radio host, international seminar speaker, and the author of more than 40 books covering a wide range of Bible topics.A Jewish Christian from Los Angeles, Steve holds a B.A. in Theology from La Sierra College and a Master of Divinity from Andrews Theological Seminary. Over the years, he has appeared on more than 500 radio and television programs and has been featured in History Channel and National Geographic documentaries, including Secrets of the Seven Seals, Strange Rituals: The Apocalypse, Armageddon Battle Plan, and Animal Apocalypse.Steve has also spoken by special invitation inside the Pentagon and the U.S. Senate. Deeply respected for his biblically grounded and Christ-centered approach, his ministry continues to reach audiences around the world with messages of truth, clarity, and hope.P.S. If you're just checking out the show to see if it's a good fit for you, welcome!If you're really serious about becoming Visibly Fit, you'll get the best experience if you download the worksheets available at https://wendiepett.com/visiblyfitpodcast.

Where can you find PDF files? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Both Steves are between the indices this week. But we're doing something a bit different with the return (for one week only) of our games.SAAS companies have been falling lately and we've been (mostly) paying attention. So Steve D has a quiz about how far they are from their highs.See how you get on at home. A point if you can get closer than Steve W, he scores one if you're further away – can you win at this game?It's time for a closer look at Mastercard and Visa. They're a value investor's worst nightmare – outstanding businesses that are never cheap but keep on outperforming.Steve D's been checking out both. And he's having a closer look at whether buying today might be something that he looks back on positively in 2028.Meta Platforms saw its share price rise after Q4 earnings. But the big question for investors is why – the firm is set to ramp up its capital expenditures in a big way in 2026.Steve W thinks a more positive tone from the CEO might be part of the story. And at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 21 going forward, it's relatively cheap…We've not been looking at Stride for very long, but Steve D is off to a cracking start with the stock. A huge lift after earnings means it's time to reassess the thesis. AI has been a major disruptor for the SAAS space in the last few months. But could Stride's ability to get people jobs be invaluable in an unemployment-driven recession?3i has been one of the FTSE 100's leading lights over the last 10 years. And the stock is recovering from a crash a few months ago, but the company is doing… ok.Action's like-for-like sales remain a bit of a challenge, especially in France. But with two new countries to expand into, is there still enough growth to justify a big multiple?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyse what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.You'll also find our new 10-week investing and research course available right now. It's completely free, with no sign-up required, no payment, and none of the usual BS. Don't miss out. Join us today and get stuck in.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:27 GETTING SAASY QUIZ18:40 MASTERCARD & VISA35:43 META49:23 STRIDE1:01:17 3I (ACTION)► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us 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.

Who's struggling in Sri Lanka? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Down weeks all round this time in the stock market. But Steve D at least has something worth reporting from the last seven days It might be a tough time for private equity, but KKR still have a view on the stock market for 2026. And it's one that should give both Steves a lot of reason for optimism.According to their forecasts, high quality beats low quality, asset-light beats asset-heavy in 2026. Is that set to play right into this show's hands?Netflix stock is near a 52-week low and it fell again after its latest earnings report. The reported numbers were decent, but sales growth going forward is set to be a bit lighter.The bigger issue, though, is the firm's bid to take over Warner Brothers Discovery. There's a lot of risk involved, but Steve W thinks it might be that the company can't lose…Wise is a UK stock we both like and it's soaring after the latest update. It's very strong – but not really in a way beyond what we've come to expect from the firm.Is the stock market finally coming to see what's going on? Or is there another reason why the share price has pushed higher as it prepares for a dual listing?Judges Scientific is one of our top growth stocks, but it fell sharply earlier this week. The company's guidance was very weak, but Steve W thinks things could turn around sharply.Demand in the US has been the issue, but Congress has thrown out the administration's plans to cut research funding. So is a huge recovery on the cards in the next few months?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Spreadsheet Link:Link for the spreadsheet!https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TznNUa7Asty2IvxfqPQV6PWWC4UUU-T7q3-AedlJQX4/edit?usp=drivesdk► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyse what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.You'll also find our new 10-week investing and research course available right now. It's completely free, with no sign-up required, no payment, and none of the usual BS. Don't miss out. Join us today and get stuck in.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:10 KKR'S GUIDE TO THE MARKETS28:27 NETFLIX44:00 WISE56:31 JUDGES SCIENTIFIC► 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 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.

Who's spent £130 on Vistry shares? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Steve D's managed the show's standard performance – between the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500 this week. Steve W, on the other hand…Earnings season for the S&P 500 is underway with the big banks reporting. And their share prices didn't react particularly well, but the stocks still look unusually expensive. By contrast, Visa and Mastercard have fallen back into more familiar P/E territory. So is there a better opportunity there with a short-term distraction on the table?The Diageo share price has been a disaster for the last couple of years. But as the details of the new CEO's plan to turn the firm around become clear, Steve W is getting interested.Selling off some of the company's non-core holdings could release more cash than you might think. There are, however, still some big challenges still to deal with. Vistry is a stock both Steves have had a close eye on for 2026. But the stock market's reaction to its most recent update was not positive at all.With a big government project on the way, is the dip an opportunity? Or are there still major concerns ahead for investors in the housebuilding sector?Steve D's VAT Group has had a great week. A 16% jump puts the stock level with Applied Materials and Lam Research – two of its major customers – since the start of the year.The AI drive has been fuelling strong demand across the semiconductor equipment industry. And there's a lot to like about a company that sells components…Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS5:29 US BANKS21:48 VAT GROUP38:32 DIAGEO54:20 VISTRY► 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 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.

Where is Botley? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Steve W is feeling pretty good about his portfolio – ahead of the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100. But Steve D is feeling even better – new year, new us?Defence stocks were one of the stock market's top themes for 2025. But a pair of announcements from Donald Trump caused chaos in share prices on Thursday.One prohibited dividends and share buybacks, but the other proposed to raise US defence spending to $1.5trn in 2027. Steve W's been looking at what it means for UK stocks.Steve D has been taking a closer look at a stock we've been interested in before. Nemetschek is the European version of Autodesk – except that it might be better. A collection of niche software businesses that have been shifting to subscription models might be attractive. It's in the Eurobox, but is it one to consider buying?Stocks with a 9% dividend yield rarely come without a catch. In that spirit, Steve W's been looking at Regional REIT, which might have more going on than it seems at first sight.Occupancy levels are low and interest costs are set to increase. But the company has plans to turn its portfolio around, so could there be an opportunity on the other side?We all know the UK's real Warren Buffett isn't Terry Smith – it's Mike Ashley. And he's been piling into a stock (via derivatives) that Steve D likes the look of. Grainger is one we've talked about before. It's a REIT with a very nice portfolio, plans to expand, and a knack for filling its properties faster than it can build them…Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS9:29 DEFENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS25:40 NEMETSCHEK47:00 REGIONAL REIT1:03:19 GRAINGER► 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 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.

Whose portfolio has been gold and whose has been meh? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Merry Christmas Everyone! We're actually recording this about a week early, but we're excited to be sharing the big day with all of you.It's the most wonderful time of the year. We're reporting on how our portfolios have done and giving you the satisfaction of pointing out how much better than us you are.Steve D has had a pretty good year. If you squint, he's ahead of the S&P 500, but you do have to have had a few by the time this show goes out to let him get away with it.The big news is that he's selling out of Alphabet just as Berkshire Hathaway is moving in. But he's also building a cash pile that looks a lot like Warren Buffett's, so what's he up to?Steve W has not had a good year. To say anything else, you'd have to be blind drunk on the Christmas spirits and even then, that probably wouldn't be enough to do it.Bunzl, Diageo, Celebrus, and 3i have been ruining things this year. But is he going to do anything differently next year, or will it just be more of the same and hoping for the best?The Eurobox has done quite well, mostly because we don't really know what we're doing with these stocks. But does that mean we can't change a winning team?By contrast, the Britbox has been an interesting mixture of outstanding performers and complete rubbish. The net overall result is… rubbish, so what are we going to do about it?Only on this Christmas PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:31 REVIEWING STEVE D'S PORTFOLIO30:19 REVIEWING STEVE W'S PORTFOLIO49:10 EUROBOX & BRITBOX UPDATE► 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 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.

What happens when a roof truss goes into cardiac arrest? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!With one week to go before Christmas, the Steves have generated the same result. It's between the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500 and it's positive… just.We haven't looked at Jet2 on the show before, despite it being a stock that several of our UK friends like. But with net cash almost equal to its market cap, is it too good to be true?Steve W thinks it is. But there are some real reasons to like the stock, including an interesting growth opportunity at Gatwick and a strong reputation with its customers…Inpost is a company we hadn't heard of until a couple of years ago. But with lockers springing up all over the UK (as well as Poland) both Steves know it well.The business model is familiar and straightforward, but a there's risk of big customers becoming competitors. So what does Steve D think about buying this one for his portfolio?It's been a tough year for FTSE 100 distributor Bunzl and it's finishing with an uninspiring trading report. And the guidance for 2026 involves further margin contraction.Steve W is invested in this one in a fairly heavy way. So with sales edging higher and ongoing share buybacks, what's he going to do about it in the new year?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS11:16 JET228:00 INPOST1:03:14 BUNZL► 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 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.

Happy birthday to who? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!This show is the one we recorded, but a Cloudflare outage prevented us from airing it when it was originally due. So don't worry about market performance – just enjoy!It's been a while since we looked at Inditex – the parent company of Zara. But Steve D thinks it's worth coming back to see how things have been going. After a weak first half of the year, things are starting to pick up. So could this be an opportunity to buy shares in a retailer with an unusually strong position?Salesforce's share price has been unusually resilient in a stock market where software firms have been falling. So Steve W's taking a look at the firm's latest earnings.Revenues are up double digits and the outlook seems reasonable. But is this enough to justify a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 30 in today's market?Crowdstrike continues to impress both Steves. It's a business that's built for durability in a world that continues to shift towards artificial intelligence, so why haven't they bought it?High valuation multiples haven't really held the stock back before now – the only recent issue has been an operational one. Given this, maybe they ought to get off the sidelines…Steve W's enthusiasm for acquisition-driven compounders continues with SDI Group – a small UK stock. It's down a lot due to cyclical pressures, but could that be an opportunity?A while ago, we talked about the idea that Judgest Scientific might be getting a bit big. We thought it it was ridiculous, but anyone who disagreed might want to check this one out…Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS8:12 INDITEX24:37 SALESFORCE38:22 CROWDSTRIKE53:28 SDI GROUP► 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 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.

Who makes a self-destructing phone? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!There's nothing good to report from the Ashes, so the Steves are sticking to the stock market this week. Unfortunately, there's nothing good to report there, either…Todd Combs isn't going to be Warren Buffett's long-term replacement. He's leaving for a job at J.P. Morgan, but should Berkshire Hathaway shareholders be worried?Steve W takes a look at what Todd has done, hasn't done, and might or might not have done to figure this one out. And Steve D has an idea of who might be a good replacement…Stride is a new stock for the show, but in a familiar industry. It's involved in online learning and – like another name in the sector – it's down 54% this year.Steve D thinks there's a lot of potential, though. Looking past an operational mishap this year, the firm's courses come with real accreditations, which might be hard to emulate…Adobe shares are up following the company's latest earnings report – but only just. And despite 10% revenue growth, the stock is still well down over the last 12 months.Strong uptake of AI products is keeping growth strong for the time being. But is this sustainable – and does it make the stock a buy at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 21?Steve D has been having another look at Synopsys. It's been a while since we talked about this one, but software for semiconductors has been running very strong recently. The stock is expensive, but not outrageously so and it's in a duopoly where both firms manage 80% gross margins. Add in an acquisition and its starts getting interesting…Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:03 TODD'S TODDLING OFF21:37 STRIDE42:33 ADOBE56:24 SYNOPSYS► 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 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.

How many runs are England going to lose the next Test by? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Both Steves have been doing well this week in the stock market. But the S&P 500 has been ahead of both of them – just... Compass Group is a stock we liked very much when we looked at it earlier this year, but we thought it was expensive. It's fallen since then, though, and the growth keeps coming. The big question for investors is how far organic sales growth rates are going to fall. Management thinks it might not be much further, though, so how's it looking now?The big news this week was the UK Autumn Budget. There was a lot speculated before the event, but Steve D has the details of what actually happened on the day. Steve W's been looking at some stocks that responded positively, but he's not convinced they were the real winners. And that includes one from his own portfolio…Smiths Group is a FTSE 100 industrial conglomerate (this one's not a travel retail business). And Steve W's been steering around it for some time now. That's changed in the last week or so, though. But while an activist investor is trying to unlock value, is there a chance to buy the stock at a bargain valuation?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS9:08 COMPASS GROUP21:36 THE BUDGET 48:35 SMITHS GROUP ► 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 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.

Who's going to win the Ashes? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!In a down week for the stock market, it's Steve W who's been making it happen for the show this week. He's down slightly less than Steve D – is that what winning looks like?Nvidia's earnings this week looked pretty good – sales growth was strong and is expected to be strong in the next quarter. But the stock went the wrong way the following day. One reason is the Bitcoin fall, but Steve W thinks there's more going on. Is the stock market getting suspicious of the firm's growth with everything going on right now?We haven't talked about Klarna on the show, but Steve D's about to change that. With US delinquencies going higher, this seems like a strange time to be thinking about that stock.There's more than this going on, though. There's a full-blown bank beneath the surface and if things go wrong with buy-now-pay-later, someone else might be holding the bag…WH Smith finally released the report from Deloitte into its accounting irregularities. And the stock was up as a result, despite the news that this year's profits are going to be lower. Steve W owns this one and is well down on it. But with some profits moved into the past and some lost, is it worth buying after the latest news?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:02 NVIDIA26:19 KLARNA46:43 WH SMITH► 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 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.

Who's winning 2-0? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Steve W's matched the S&P 500 this week and Steve D's not far behind. Despite some big movements, it's all pretty tight in the stock market this week.3i – one of the FTSE 100's top performers – crashed at the end of the week. It's been a bad year for private equity firms, but the company had been holding up well. Steve W thinks he knows what's going on. And it has less to do with the private equity theme than the ongoing retail theme of falling like-for-like sales growth…Steve D's been looking at Taylor Wimpey. The latest results look decent and the stock moved a little bit as a result, but there are probably bigger things going on for the firm.The UK Budget is on the way and there's plenty to focus on there. But is a 9% dividend yield part of the problem or something for investors to get excited about?QXO is a stock most UK investors probably don't have on their radars, but Steve W thinks they should. He's got his eye on a 500% gain in the next 10 years. The firm is planning to roll up the building materials industry and it has a CEO with a very impressive track record. There's a lot of eggs in a basket called “Brad Jacobs”, though.Tecnoglass has released its latest earnings and our resident shareholder - Steve D - is not impressed. Higher costs are weighing on margins and that's not a good sign. Should he cut bait with this one or wait around for a better environment? Steve W thinks it might still have some promise, but the big question is how long it takes to realise this.Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:50 3I25:39 TAYLOR WIMPEY50:41 QXO1:04:18 TECNOGLASS► 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 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.

Who's been making hailstones fall? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show.Steve W has had a dreadful week in the stock market and it's not been better for Spurs on the football pitch. But Steve D's here to save the show and the week. Rightmove shares crashed on Friday after the company issued its Q3 update. That bit was fine, but there are some lower profit margins on the way with AI investing.Is that enough to justify the stock falling so much? Steve W doesn't think so, but software stocks in general have been under pressure this week. Steve D has a new name for the show - Coherent. It's an AI infrastructure plan with the highest-paid CEO in the S&P 500. Figuring out the P/E isn't entirely straightforward, but they've done a nice job of selling off their aerospace and defence business. Definitely one for further consideration…Where can investor find software stocks that aren't in danger of crashing? Nowhere – but US local government platform provider Tyler Technologies might be worth a look. Steve W thinks its status as an approved provider won't be easy to emulate. The trouble is, it's trading at a P/E ratio of 64 and has some pretty high stock-based compensation.Duolingo shares crashed this week after the firm's update. Steve D's looking at some slightly light bookings and lower-than-expected user numbers. Steve W's more concerned about the firm's moat as it ramp up the number of language courses it offers via AI. But can we find something that stops competitors doing the same?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS5:35 RIGHTMOVE22:06 COHERENT42:58 TYLER TECH57:03 DUOLINGO► 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 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.

Who's doing a Warren Buffett with a secret stock? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show.Steve W has had a dreadful week in the stock market and it's not been better for Spurs on the football pitch. But Steve D's here to save the show and the week. Alphabet is hitting new highs after a strong earnings report. Investors are impressed by its Google Cloud results – and future spending – and the stock is going higher. Steve D owns this one and he's feeling good about the future. And that's before we get onto the strength of Gemini, YouTube and Waymo, amongst other things…Meta is spending on AI as well, but its share price is going the other way. The stock market doesn't like its spending on computing power in the hope it'll need it in the future.Steve W outlines the difference between Meta – on the one hand – and Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft on the other right now. There's clearly risk here, but also potential reward…It's been another good week for Adyen. The stock is up 11% and the latest earnings report looks strong with some solid growth across the board. There's a premium price tag, but the Dutch outfit is clearly the class of the field. Steve D's been on this train for a while, but can anything derail it going forward?Paypal stock continues to flatter to deceive. It trades at a free cash flow multiple of 13 and it's just signed a deal to provide checkout services for ChatGPT's e-commerce offering. Except, that multiple is misleading and the deal isn't what it sounds like. Steve W has the details, but what he can't work out is where $23bn in cash has gone in the last 10 years.Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS5:49 GOOGLE23:28 META39:39 ADYEN55:56 PAYPAL► 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 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.

Who buys branded tuna!? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Both Steves have nailed it this week – head of the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500. There are 51 other weeks in this year, sadly, but we'll take the wins where we can get them.Netflix shares fell 10% as earnings came in below expectations. But this was the result of a one-off tax hit in Brazil that's going to mess up the P/E ratio for the next 12 months.Does that make a buying opportunity? It's hardly the 2022 situation where everything looked like it was going wrong, but valuation multiples do look a bit more attractive…Another week, another accounting issue at a UK company. This time it's B&M where the CFO has resigned after a change in software has resulted in an error in cost recognition.We've seen this before with WH Smith and Vistry in recent months. Steve W owns both of those stocks, but it's Steve D who's looking at this one – what does he think of it?It's a debut on the show for S&P 500 industrial CNH Industrial. Warren Buffett disciple David Einhorn was buying the stock around a year ago and it's gone nowhere since. Steve W's interested in a potential secular growth story. The balance sheet looks like a mess, but with receivables offsetting a lot of debt, is it actually as bad as it looks?There's a new IPO coming to the UK markets and we're not talking about the Princes people who make fish and tomatoes. It's Shawbrook – an upstart fintech. It doesn't have an app, but who needs one of those when you can make loans with 35% interest rates? Steve D has the details of a bank that looks like it's doing things differently. Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS6:56 NETFLIX23:11 B&M EUROPEAN BARGAINHOLE43:02 CASE NEW HOLLAND58:21 NEW HOT IPO!► 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 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 fractional share!What's the tail risk for the stock market? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!A big underperformance from one Steve this week and a big outperformance from the other one. But who's managed to do what?October's Bank of America Fund Managers Survey suggests investors are worrying about an AI bubble. So we're revising this theme as a potential stock market crash. Steve W's been looking at Nvidia's unusual deals and the question of whether there are echoes of the dot-com bust. Maybe – but there are also some important differences.ASML looks like it's back on track with its EUV sales. And Steve D has been checking out the situation after the latest earnings report.A strong book-to-bill ratio close to 1 is a very positive sign. So with the company's moat still intact, is it too late to think about buying shares? LVMH shares are up after a surprise turnaround in revenues. The company is back to growth overall and some of its major divisions are showing positive signs. That means it's now trading at a P/E ratio of around 27. So is Steve W – who's well up on his investment – looking to move on to something else? Sartorius shares have been doing very well recently and that's good news for Steve D. The life sciences lab supplies company looks like it's on the up after a few disappointing years.Pfizer's deal with the US government to invest heavily in domestic production should be a big source of future revenues. But what's Steve's plan for his investment?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS10:45 MORE ON THE AI BUBBLE29:32 ASML45:24 LVMH57:24 SARTORIUS► 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 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.

What do hedge fund managers think is going to cause a stock market crash? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!All change this week – Steve W creeps back towards being average as Steve D's portfolio has an off week. But why's it a bad week to be Welsh?The stock market is definitely going to crash, the only questions are when and why? One candidate is a bursting AI bubble, which is what Steve D's been looking at.Steve W's been looking at the latest data from Bank of America for ideas. Hedge funds are leaning towards inflation as the concern, but this was before Friday's tariff news…REITs are often popular with dividend investors and Steve W's been looking at AEW – one we haven't talked about before. It's got a 7.5% yield, but that's not what he's interested in.Unlike most REITs, the firm has a growth strategy based on short-term lease renewals. It's been working, too, so is this one for the passive income buy list?Steve D's been looking at Grainger, the UK's largest owner of private rental houses. For anyone that's ever wanted to make money in buy-to-lets, this could be worth a look.The firm is transitioning towards becoming a REIT. And the longer it takes consecutive governments to increase housebuilding, the more rental demand there should be.FTSE 250 pub chain JD Wetherspoon has released its full-year results and the stock is down. But Steve W doesn't think they were at all bad with growing sales and steady margins.Steve D thinks some cracks are starting to show, though. So should the company really be paying a dividend and buying back shares while increasing its net debt during the year?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS8:50 CRASH INCOMING29:11 AEW UK REIT44:17 GRAINGER1:00:29 SPOONS► 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 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.

What is Chinese tapas? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Steve W's had a below-average week, but Steve D is absolutely running away with it. Or at least, he would be if he hadn't had such a big lunch…A year has passed since Steve W thought he saw 30% upside in AG Barr shares, so it's time to check in on that idea. And the results so far have been… mixed.On the one hand, the company has done what it said it would and progress is actually ahead of schedule. On the other hand, however, the stock hasn't responded as expected.Shares in pharmaceutical companies are up across the board this week as Pfizer managed to strike a deal with the US government. And Steve D has the details. Who were the winners and who were the losers? More importantly – what does it mean for investors looking for stocks to buy across the sector? Greggs shares jumped on the firm's Q3 trading update. But Steve W couldn't see anything very good in the FTSE 250 company's report. Sales growth continues to be weak and it's actually started going backwards after some signs of improvement. Steve D, however, has a slightly more positive view…Axcelis shares fell this week on news the company plans to merge with Veeco – a similar business elsewhere in the semiconductor production process. Steve D owns this one.There's nothing unusual in a stock going down in an acquisition deal. But could the cross-selling opportunities and synergies unlocked by the merger make it a smart move?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS07:23 GREGGS22:40 PHARMA41:04 AG BARR56:51 SEMI MERGER► 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 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.

Who does Steve D want to open the England batting? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!It's the end of Q3 and time to check in on the PlayingTSE portfolios. And the last week hasn't been a particularly good one for either Steve.Steve W has finally managed to buy a European stock for his portfolio. It's LVMH, which has actually done quite well over the last three months or so. Elsewhere, there are a couple of new UK additions, one from the FTSE 100 and one from the FTSE 250. But which stock is he thinking about selling in the next three months?Steve D has graduated a couple of stocks up to his main portfolio from the capital incinerator. But he's been reducing his stake in Walt Disney recently. The big buy in the last quarter has been Bloomsbury. But there are also big additions to the likes of Ashtead Technology to bump up the UK exposure.The Britbox has fared pretty badly over the last three months. And it's the usual suspects letting the side down, with Greggs continuing to struggle and Diageo doing badly.The Eurobox has had a reasonable three months, but nothing worth paying fees for. Steve W thinks it's partly due to missing a big boost in defence spending. Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS07:26 SW PORTFOLIO23:04 SD PORTFOLIO44:13 BBOX EBOX► 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 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.

What has more rabbits than people? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Steve D is back from holiday and his portfolio is firing on just about every cylinder available. Steve W hasn't done badly, but it's been a great week for the man from Hull…Nearly nobody thinks the US stock market should be more like the UK. But President Trump has floated plans to shift US-listed firms to reporting twice a year. The idea isn't entirely without merit, but it doesn't look like an obviously good move. Steve and Steve have some questions – and even the odd answer.Shares in FTSE 250 telecoms company Gamma Communications just keep falling. But they had a big 11% jump after earnings, which reversed itself within half an hour.The stock market can be a volatile place, but it's not usually as choppy as this. Steve W has a theory about investors misinterpreting the firm's H1 report.A P/E ratio of 10, a 6.75% dividend yield, and an acyclical business. Is there anything not to like about Pets at Home? Quite a lot actually and it's pretty much all of the above, along with the firm not having a CEO. Steve D takes a closer look.Judges Scientific is in both our portfolios and the Britbox. So Steve W's been looking at what we think is one of the UK's top growth stocks.At least, that's what it looks like. But with a huge revenue contribution from an extremely erratic business, is there any hope of trying to value this stock at the moment?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS8:36 TRUMPS CHANGES26:52 GAMMA COMMUNICATIONS41:07 PETS AT HOME57:43 JUDGES SCIENTIFIC► 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 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.

What's Steve W worrying about at the end of the month? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Both Steves are ahead of the market this week – or at least, they were when we recorded this week's show! But one is more ahead than the other…The big story this week is Alphabet's antitrust case and there are two parts to it. The significance of being forced to share data with competitors is not to be underestimated.The company can, however, keep spending its way to being the default search engine on the iPhone. But does that benefit Alphabet, or Apple?M&G is a new stock for the show and Steve D has been taking a look at the company's latest update. It's one that dividend investors might want to have on their radars.A mix of insurance and asset management is a familiar one. But risk comes from not knowing what you're doing and is this something either Steve can process well enough?Rising bond yields send Legal & General shares to a 9% dividend yield. That's unusually high, so should investors seize the opportunity?Maybe. But as Steve W outlines, this isn't just a case where rising yields mean lower share prices – the bond selloff has meaningful consequences for the company's dividend cover.However we pronounce it, Zscaler is an impressive cybersecurity operation. It doesn't really make much in the way of free cash flow (after stock-based comp) but who cares?AI looks like a big threat that can drive demand for years to come, but Steve D has his eye on a lot of deferred revenue. Is this any different to Crowdstrike?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:13 GOOGLE ANTITRUST25:45 M&G42:55 LEGAL & GENERAL59:32 ZSCALER► 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 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.

What's Steve D been doing with his plums? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Matching results this week for the Steves. Both down, both in between the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500, but both the same – not a particularly noteworthy performance.Nvidia's remarkable growth story continues, but how remarkable actually is it? It's twice Alphabet's market cap for half the revenues and Steve W isn't sure that's a good deal.On top of that, there's the China issue to think about. That's weighing on guidance at the moment, but could things come through better than expected in Q3?Gamma Communications is a stock UK investors have been talking about for a while. But despite growing steadily, it's down 33% over the last five years. It turns out remote working isn't as much of a thing as people thought, but the business is impressive. And at a P/E ratio below 15, is it now in value territory?Steve D has a look at the latest earnings from Crowdstrike. Revenue growth is impressive and it's fast-establishing itself as an indispensable part of business tech. So far, though, it hasn't generated any cash net of share buybacks. So is a market cap north of $100bn too much for a company that still requires investors to wait?SSPG does not stand for Steve, Steve, and Paul. It's a FTSE 250 travel retail company, with names like Upper Crust,and Caffe Ritazza, as well as some well-known franchises.With WH Smith in the middle of an accounting scandal, is the stock worth checking out? UBS has a Sell rating on it, but does Steve W have a more positive view?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS8:43 NVIDIA26:40 GAMMA COMMUNICATIONS40:56 CROWDSTRIKE58:52 SSP► 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 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.

Who's in Steve D's Fantasy Football team? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Both Steves seem to have solved the stock market this week, with portfolios going up on days where the S&P 500 has gone down. But only one has outperformed this week…Shares in WH Smith crashed 42% on Thursday after the company issued a profit warning. But it bounced back 11% on Friday as investors took in the news. Steve W is a shareholder. Accounting irregularities are never a welcome development, but is this a buying opportunity, or could there be more revelations on the way?Steve D has a new stock for the show. Morgan Advanced Materials makes speciality products for industries like aerospace, semiconductors, and clean energy.These are obviously cyclical and have been out of fashion recently. But is this the time to grab a bargain with the stock trading at some fairly modest multiples at the moment?Brown & Brown is a stock we haven't covered before. But it has a familiar business model – it aims to build scale through acquisitions in an important market.The share price has faltered recently, with a softer insurance market weighing on profits for brokers. That, however, looks like a cyclical situation, so could this be an opportunity?Adyen shares usually go up a lot or down a lot after the company's earnings reports. They went down this time, but only for a short while before recovering fairly well. The payment processing business increased revenues at its standard 20% and operating profits grew faster. And, of course, it's time for our usual PayPal comparisons…Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS6:50 WH SMITH22:17 MORGAN ADVANCED MATERIALS42:35 BROWN & BROWN55:47 ADYEN► 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 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.

The Slamfest Podcast brings the premier rock concert pregaming experience from the parking lot to the podcasting airwaves. Episode 271 - Brad saw a legendary New Wave of British Heavy Metal band for the first time - he saw Saxon and Fozzy on 9/20/13 at The Machine Shop in Flint, MI. He welcomes fellow podcasters, Kevin W. from the Inobscuria Podcast, Steven M. from Growin' Up Rock Podcast and Steve W. from the Podder than Hell Podcast to discuss this show and Saxon's discography.  For the band on the bill spotlight, they all participate in a Saxon song draft taking songs from their first seven albums of the 80's - Wheels of Steel, from 1980 through Rock the Nations, from 1986.  After a Slamfest Tip of the Week, they are faced with a "Which Side are you On?" Side 1 or Side 2 from Saxon's twentieth studio album, Sacrifice from 2013.Music in this episode by:FozzySaxonMotorheadBlack SabbathKissOzzyVisit the Slamfest Podcast online at: https://slamfest-podcast.simplecast.comRequest to join the Slamfest Podcast private Facebook page here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/slamfestpodcastE-mail us at : slamfestpodcast@gmail.comVisit Steven Michael at Growin' Up Rock:https://growinuprock.com/https://www.facebook.com/growinuprockVisit Kevin Williams from the Inobscuria Podcast at:https://inobscuria.com/https://www.facebook.com/InObscuriahttps://twitter.com/inobscuriaVisit Steve and Podder than Hell Podcast at:https://www.facebook.com/PTHpodcasthttps://station5174.libsyn.com/Visit Kevin Williams from the Inobscuria Podcast at:https://inobscuria.com/https://www.facebook.com/InObscuriahttps://twitter.com/inobscuria

Who's gone from a partnership to a limited company? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Steve W's away on holiday this week, but before he went away he sat down with Jamie from Stocks and Savings to catch up. It's been a while, so how are they getting on?Jamie and Andreea have gone from being an Instagram operation to running a podcast of their own. And they're storming up the Apple podcast charts…Axon Enterprise is one of the stocks that we haven't really talked about much on the show. And it's hard to see why, since there's a lot to like about the business. Dominating a niche with software margins is very impressive. But is there any way around the fact the company pays out more in stock-based compensation than it makes in cash?Last time we spoke, Jamie's portfolio was behind the wider market, but that was a tough time for growth stocks. With things improving recently, has he managed to catch up?Our guest has a pretty specific set of criteria for finding stocks to buy, inspired by a name that should be familiar to listeners. But he also thinks this is likely to change over time…Rolls Royce? Diageo? Nvidia? Jamie from Stocks and Savings plays Steve W's game ‘Stocks? Or Savings?'. But which of the shares on Steve's list does he actually own?In an unusual twist, Jamie's also got a stock of his own for the team to consider. It's MercadoLibre – which both Steves used to own – but don't any longer…Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/SNSBONUS. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 STOCKS & SAVINGS INTERVIEW11:39 AXON PITCH41:32 JAMIES STOCK PICKING STYLE56:41 QUICKFIRE ROUND & MELI ► 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 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.

Steve brings a deep and steady commitment to Alcoholics Anonymous, shaped by his experience of earning—and repeatedly losing—years of sobriety. From Akron, Ohio, the birthplace of AA, Steve brings a quiet pride and respect for the Program. His journey offers valuable insights for others, no matter where they are on their path of recovery.Sobriety Date: 12/1/2017Quotes“The healing process of the Steps has really helped me to understand where the love is and always has been in my life.”“I've fallen in love with AA.”Referred by: Thomas C. (Episode #178)InstagramFacebook

What is a “Broista”? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Mixed fortunes for the Steves this week in the stock market. It's a return to normality for Steve D, but Steve W has underperformed just about everything. Diageo's full-year results caused the stock to climb 10% – but Steve W owns the stock and didn't see the results as terribly positive.It's not long ago that investors were told to expect 5% per year in organic growth at least. Never mind, at least Gen Z are actually drinking more than they say they are, right?Toast continues to go from strength to strength. The business, that is – the stock is down almost 10% this week after Q2 earnings showed a lower take rate. The firm is branching into bigger businesses and retailers, so the decline is natural. But is the stock starting to emerge from under investor radars and become more mainstream?Steve W's been looking at Airbnb, which fell this week after its Q2 results. The market didn't take kindly to an announcement of a big investment in Experiences. This has been tried before and didn't work – but maybe this time it really is different. Steve D was on the edge of selling not long ago, but might he go the other way now?Dutch Brothers – a Steve D favourite – is putting up impressive numbers. Like-for-like sales growth across the coffee chain's outlets is above 6%, which is very strong.Equally impressive is the fact the firm has achieved this without putting up prices. That's key to the firm's value proposition for customers… as is the amount of sugar in its drinks.Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS8:57 DIAGEO21:00 TOAST36:35 AIRBNB50:46 DUTCH BROS ► 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 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.

What happened with Rentokil this week? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!It's not been a good week for either Steve – or the FTSE 100, or the S&P 500. Steve W's in between the indexes and Steve D's below them both. Taylor Wimpey is the latest addition to Steve D's portfolio. But the firm made a loss and lowered its dividend as a result of cladding provisions during the first half of the year.That, however, should be a one-off thing. And Steve W has some macroeconomic data to support the idea that the construction industry could be about to pick up.Amazon's share price fell sharply after the firm's Q2 earnings report. And not just because tariff news sent the stock market down more generally. Steve W is putting it down to weak guidance for operating profits in Q3. So is the falling share price an opportunity to get back to buying the stock?Transmedics has been having an outstanding year so far in 2025. The stock market has responded well to the company's latest earnings report – and for good reason.Revenues are profits growing strongly and the firm is working on the next iteration of its product lineup. All of that bodes well for Steve D's investment. We've had a request to talk about Croda International's latest earnings report. The stock market didn't like it at all, but Steve W thinks the picture is more mixed. The dividend is up despite lower free cash flows and sales are growing, but not as quickly as they were. So what should Jamie from Stocks and Savings make of the report?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS10:38 TAYLOR WIMPEY EARNINGS DEEP DIVE35:47 AMAZON48:20 TRANSMEDICS58:15 CRODA► 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.

What's half the price of Nvidia and makes twice the revenues? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Neither Steve has done as well as they were hoping this week. Steve W's disappointed to find himself between the indexes and Steve D's had some big fallers. Reports of Google losing market share don't seem to be hitting Alphabet's revenues… yet. There's strong growth across the board, especially in the Cloud division.There's also news of YouTube continuing to grab market share in US screen time. But what should investors think about the ongoing issues around monopolistic practices?Steve D has a new stock – Manhattan Associates. It's not an office REIT, it's a tech company with some legitimate software credentials and a focus on supply chains. In terms of market position, it has a closer focus than some of its competitors. And as it shifts over to subscriptions, could now be a good time to consider buying?Shares in Judges Scientific fell 15% in a day after the firm's H1 results. Sales and profits were up as a result of a coring expedition, but the firm cut its guidance for the full year.The company's long-term strengths are still intact despite a recovery taking longer than expected. As a result, Steve W has a growing list of stocks to buy in August…It's time for another check-in with Vakuumventile AG (VAT Group). Its results are interesting, with some strong sales despite slow order growth. There are signs of a recovery coming from China, though, which could be good for a number of businesses. But what has Steve D noticed in the latest report?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS9:06 ALPHABET EARNINGS25:39 MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES41:04 JUDGES SCIENTIFIC52:13 VAT GROUP► 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.

What does Trading212's AI think both Steves are missing from their portfolios? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!It's been a volatile week in the stock market with a lot of big ups and downs. And the Steves have had differing results this time out.Rachel Reeves delivered her Mansion House speech this week and it caught Steve W's attention. In particular, the Leeds Reforms are looking to get the UK stock market moving.Overall, more people considering Stocks and Shares ISAs would seem to be a win-win-win. But there's a big question about what the education around this is going to look like…Ashtead Technology shares have fallen sharply and it's not hard to see why. A difficult market for subsea rental equipment has resulted in sales going backwards.The bottom line, though, is holding up well and there's a strong management team in place that's been there since the start. Is that enough to put the stock on Steve's buy list?Wise's latest trading update was a mixed bag, with revenues up 14% (adjusting for currency fluctuations). But the stock market didn't love it and the shares fell as a result.The growth was short of expectations and interest income grew faster than transaction revenues. But with where the company could be, the stock looks attractive to Steve W.Shares in ASML fell this week after the company failed to confirm growth for 2026. But the overall results were more than reasonable. A strong order book also indicates a good position for the medium term. Steve D owns the stock in his portfolio, but it's already a large position – is there scope to buy more?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS10:21 MANSION HOUSE SPEECH28:50 ASHTEAD TECH40:38 WISE53:28 ASML► 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.

Who has to try and figure out what to do in the mornings? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Another week, another outperformance for one Steve. And the other one hasn't done bad, either…Terry Smith – known to some as Britain's Warren Buffett – has released his shareholder letter for the first half of 2025. And the Fundsmith Equity Fund has been losing money.Chief among the detractors is Novo Nordisk, which has been sold to make way for EssilorLuxottica. But the stocks catching Steve W's attention are Meta and Microsoft…FTSE 250 housebuilder Vistry reported earnings this week and the numbers are… not great. But Steve D has some news that has put the stock firmly on Steve W's list of stocks to buy.The investigation from the CMA looks like it's all but settled. And with the stock having gone nowhere ahead of a £39bn government package, is the opportunity too good to miss?Investors might wonder why shares in Celebrus Technologies jumped 15% this week after earnings. Revenues are set to fall and earnings are going negative in 2026.That, though, is almost entirely the result of a change in revenue recognition. Steve W thinks a closer look reveals a company that's doing just fine – and a stock at a decent price.Steve D has been reverting to type with a South American stock with a name that's difficult to spell. But Tecnoglass is traded on the US exchanges and it looks very interesting.With competitive strengths ranging from low costs (due to vertical integration) to a unique product (due to patents) it's in a strong position. And of course, a balance sheet to match.Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS5:31 TERRY SMITH21:01 VISTRY CHECK IN38:15 CELEBRUS51:34 TECNOGLASS► 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.

Who's been selling their Southern Copper shares? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!It's the end of Q2, so it's time to check back in on portfolios. That means Steve D, Steve W, the Britbox, and the Eurobox, but who's been outperforming what?Steve D was having a quiet time of things in Q2. But then that all changed later on in the piece. With over £2,000 in cash, is Thermo Fisher Scientific on the buy list? Or are there better opportunities to add to his existing investments?Steve W's Q2 got off to a roaring start on the buying front as Liberation Day crashed the stock market. But most of his buying has been in one particular FTSE 100 stock. It's been a FTSE 250 name, though, that has been keeping his portfolio afloat for the last six months. And with share prices recovering, he's got an eye on a sell…The Britbox has had a mixed few months. And there have been a few high-profile fallers that have been putting pressure on the overall portfolio.The big question is what to do about it, which gives the Steves a question. With a lot of ideas about stocks to buy, what should they sell to make way?The Eurobox has made a roaring start to life. Strong performances from Dino Polska and Euronext have caused the overall portfolio to climb.Steve W has a few names in mind for potential additions. But a handful of Swedish conglomerates are out of the question for an unusual reason…Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS4:27 STEVE D'S PORTFOLIO23:29 STEVE W PORTFOLIO40:27 BRITBOX UPDATE52:52 EUROBOX UPDATE► 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.

Who's got wood? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Both Steves are up ahead of the market again this week, extending an impressive run. But who were the real winners over the last seven days?As FTSE 250 stocks go, XPS Pensions has been an outstanding performer over the last five years. And the future doesn't look bad either. A strong competitive position in an industry where shifting regulation should mean steady demand is a very good thing. And there's a share buyback to consider, as well…FTSE 100 events company Informa has caught Steve W's eye. He's not going to World of Concrete and doesn't know anyone who is, but there might be money in running it.Attractive economics and a resilient business are big plus points. On the other hand, an acquisition at over 20 times adjusted EBITDA means there's some risk with the stock.Ashtead is making its way from the UK to the US, but shares didn't get the boost investors might have hoped for. Probably because it also came with a profit warning.Despite a cyclical downturn, the stock seems like decent value. Steve D, however, thinks taking a closer look reveals a different picture of the relatively attractive multiple.Renew is an uninteresting business in an uninteresting industry. Sometimes, though, these boring stocks can generate some impressive returns for investors. Rail maintenance work has unironically been delayed and this is weighing on growth. But with maintenance work non-negotiable, it might just be a case of being patient.Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ► Follow Us On Substack:https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS6:22 XPS Pensions19:23 Informa35:26 Ashtead Group49:40 Renew Holdings► 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.

What is PSNFL? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!It's been a storming week for both Steves. But who's done well, who's done better, and what's been going on with Nintendo?Rachel Reeves has issued the latest set of government spending plans. And there have been some obvious winners from the news. Chief among these is Rolls-Royce. But the housebuilders have also been doing well and both Steves are actually relatively optimistic about the plans going forward.On the face of it, Halma's latest results appear to be outstanding and the stock is up as a result. Steve W has been having a look at the numbers.Organic growth is impressive and the stock market clearly likes it. However, with a March 31st cutoff, could there be tariff volatility on the way?Wise might be leaving the UK, but Steve and Steve aren't willing to let this one go easily. Another outstanding year has seen the company go from strength to strength.More people, more transaction volume, and lower charges are seeing the company pull away. So is it likely to attract a better multiple on the other side of the Atlantic?Danaher is an S&P 500 stock that we haven't talked about much before. But it's the kind of business that both Steves like – strong growth and a good acquirer. It has a very interesting backstory and a culture that gives it a big competitive advantage. So at a cyclical low, could it be a stock to buy right now?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ► Follow Us On Substack:https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS10:13 REEVES SPENDING REVIEW24:21 HALMA36:52 WISE54:40 DANAHER► 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.

Check out James Fox!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trade_pass/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Trade_passIs the doctor in or out when it comes to Greggs? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!This week, we've got something different on the show. It's an interview with the UK's leading independent stock picker!Dr. James Fox writes at GuruFocus and Fool UK. And he's here to talk with Steve W about stocks, shares, and investing. James tells us about taking control of his finances from an advisor at the age of 18 and reveals what the first stock he ever bought was. It's not one you might guess.He also shares a bit about what type of investor he sees himself as and what he does when he's not investing. Anyone for a sumac-based soft drink?Finding stocks to buy is one of the most important things for investors. So how does the best in the business go about it? James talks Steve W through his process and the key metric he uses to screen for investment ideas. It's not one we talk about much, but it has a good pedigree.Building a diversified portfolio is the ambition of a lot of long-term investors. But it's a bit different for someone who also owns their own drinks business.James talks through the balance of his pension in terms of UK and US stocks. And he also shares his views on the attractiveness of bonds at the moment.We don't talk much about Pinterest on our show, but James thinks it's a stock listeners should know about. And he's here to give us a run-through on why.It's growing impressively and trades at a reasonable P/E multiple. But is a heavy skew towards the US in terms of revenues a risk or an opportunity?We couldn't have the UK's leading independent stock picker on and not get his views on some stocks. And we've got quite the lineup to get through. The big question, though, is what James thinks about Greggs. It's one of his favourite stocks to write about, but why does he have such as strong view on it?Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ► Follow Us On Substack:https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS3:01 BACKGROUND20:20 FINDING STOCKS34:28 PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN48:52 PINTEREST1:00:53 THE DOCTOR IS IN?► 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.

What happens if you try to widen your cavities too much? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!A stellar week for Steve D in the stock market and an adequate one for Steve W. So spirits are high as we set up for recording, but how long will that last?Macfarlane is a small cap UK packaging stock. It's up against bigger competition when it comes to distribution, but its manufacturing business is impressive.Steve W has been taking a look at this one after some recent weakness. But is this one for his portfolio, or one for the upcoming vacancy in the Britbox?It's been a long time since we looked at Forterra – our favourite UK brick company. But have things got better since the firm was running up debt while paying dividends?The answer is yes – and no. Demand has started to pick up as the UK government looks to push things along, but the balance sheet still needs some work. Diageo put up some strong growth numbers in its most recent earnings report. But not everything is what it seems with the FTSE 100 spirits company.There's a lot of demand pulled forward in advance of potential tariffs, but there's also some signs of a plan emerging. Is that enough to make the stock a buy?Nvidia stock is up following (yet) a(nother) strong report. The firm has managed to shrug off the US government restricting its sales to China in impressive style.Steve D's been having a look at the numbers and thinks there's still some mighty sales priced in. But Steve W isn't so sure (though he liked the stock better at $90)...Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ► Follow Us On Substack:https://playingftse.substack.com/► 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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS4:32 MACFARLANE19:37 FORTERRA37:15 DIAGEO50:47 NVIDIA► 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! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ► Episode Notes:What's Steve W been waiting 17 years to do? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Both Steves have underperformed the S&P 500 this week. But Steve D has made a move to correct this and Steve W has a very specific reason why. Last week, Steve W said Greggs shares would go up. And they did, but they're still well below where they were at the start of the year. Management is taking credit for it, but is it actually just to do with the good weather we've been having lately? Or is there something more exciting going on?There are exciting things going on at Alphabet. Google's parent company isn't just sitting around waiting for lawsuits – it's getting on the case with AI. Gemini's becoming a PA, Astra can see down your camera, and our thumbnail software is getting a boost. And then there's Waymo with an actual robotaxi network…Diploma is a FTSE 100 stock that we've had an eye on for a long time. And it's up after the most recent results, which are pretty good illustration of why. Everything is up. Organic revenue growth is strong, profits are well up, and the latest acquisitions are integrating nicely – what else is there to want from an investment?Bloomsbury is a recent addition to the FTSE 250. But it's results for the 2024-25 year leave a bit to be desired and the stock is down as a result. There's no way a decline in profits is a positive thing, but with no Sarah J. Maas book this year, that might not be a problem. So is this a buying opportunity for Steve D?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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:59 GREGGS20:03 GOOGLE I/O44:32 DIPLOMA56:35 BLOOMSBURY► 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! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ► Episode Notes:Who's been buying a secret stock? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Contrasting fortunes for the Steves this week. Steve W has underperformed both the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500, but Steve D has outperformed them both… put together!Earlier this week, shares in 3i fell 7%. Then they recovered within about half an hour – how is anyone supposed to buy a dip like that? Steve W has been paying attention to this one. And as Action – the private equity firm's largest investment continues to do well, there might have been an opportunity…United Health shares have had an awful year so far in 2025. CEOs have been departing and there's now an investigation into Medicare fraud on the way. The stock is unusually cheap, though. And Steve D thinks when the company makes it through to the other side of its problems, things could look very different.Compass Group is a FTSE 100 stock that we've never looked at before. But Steve W thinks it's time to change that – there's a lot to like about the contract caterer.The firm combines a lot of the business models that we like. The only trouble is, it doesn't look like this is a big secret that the market is missing right now…It's time for another look at Cava – the fast-growing Greek restaurant chain. The stock has been up and down since its IPO and Steve D has been following closely.At the moment, though, it's dividing opinion. Unusually, Steve D can't make the numbers add up on this one, but Steve W thinks it's about right where it is…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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS8:20 3I21:42 UNITED HEALTH36:13 COMPASS GROUP51:35 CAVA► 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! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ► Episode Notes:Who did Steve W meet this week? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!In a shortened week as we record early, Steve W has outperformed the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500. And Steve D has outperformed Steve W.Warren Buffett is handing over the leadership of Bekrshire Hathaway at the end of the year. But will having Greg Abel in charge make any difference?Steve W thinks so. A more hands-on approach to the company's subsidiaries could generate better operating results, but it might make it harder to use that big cash pile.Disney shares have been rising after an impressive set of earnings. Subscribers in the streaming division are growing and there's a new park on the way in an unusual location.That's a surprise given the way Snow White has gone at the box office and the state of the US economy. Steve D has the details. UK retail has been terrible this year. But Steve W thinks there might be some signs of recovery on the way. Same-store-sales at B&M have been deteriorating less quickly and JD Wetherspoon has recently posted some strong results. So could this be time to consider buying?MercadoLibre has been growing impressively on all front. Its e-commerce division, payment platform and delivery network are all reaching new highs. It's the one that got away for both Steves, but we keep talking about it on the show to remind ourselves of what not to do. But who made a bigger mess of this?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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:10 BERKSHIRE & BUFFETT23:23 DISNEY40:46 UK HIGH STREET UPDATE55:02 MERCADO LIBRE► 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! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ► Episode Notes:Who has more than one internet provider? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Steve W has outperformed the indexes this week, but has Steve D? That's a complicated question that depends on exactly when we're talking about.The Amazon share price is treading water on a day the S&P 500 is climbing. But was the slowing growth in AWS from the latest earnings report really much of a problem?Free cash flow has been negative, but the company investing might be a good thing in the long term. But in the short term – what about tariffs and building inventories?Apple shares have been falling after the company's quarterly earnings. Services growth slowed and the company is moving its manufacturing to Vietnam and India. That means the nonsense about a $3,500 iPhone isn't – in all likelihood – ever going to be a reality. But in terms of innovation, investors are really looking for the next thing.Duolingo is an odd business. But the stock has been a terrific investment and the share prices is up over 20% in a day after the firm's most recent earnings report. Steve W is confused by the business – impressed, but confused. Steve D, though, thinks that a move beyond languages into some other educational areas could be a big winner.Senior is in the Britbox, but we've never really talked about it on the show. And It's a firm that's in transition at the moment as it divests one of its operating divisions.That could boost profits and long-term performance. But Steve W said last week that it doesn't seem like a great time to be doing divestitures right now…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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS6:11 AMAZON26:35 APPLE40:53 DUOLINGO55:22 SENIOR► 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! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ► Episode Notes:Who's been dusting off their cricket spikes – and who hasn't? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!Contrasting fortunes for the Steves this week. Steve D has outperformed and Steve W has missed out – but the game has a long way to run yet for both our investors. Alphabet's latest earnings report was incredibly impressive, but the stock market has largely shrugged it off. Why?Could it be because the firm is losing antitrust cases and investors are worried about a potential breakup? Steve D has been looking for ancient wisdom to figure out what to do.We don't talk about Tesla often, but Steve W thinks things have got interesting recently. Thet latest earnings were terrible, but that's not it.It looks like Elon Musk might have managed to clear the way for regulatory approval for robotaxis. So could this be the key moment?Intel has been outperforming expectations recently. But it's been doing it with flat sales and negative earnings per share. Can the new CEO turn things around and get the foundry business selling to a company not called Intel? That's probably the big question… but also: what's Pat Gelsinger up to?Steve W has been into DCC shares recently. But it's just sold its healthcare business for less than analysts had been hoping for it to.The stock is down as a result, but is there a bigger lesson for investors? Admiral and WH Smith have also struggled to get good prices for divestitures recently…Tariffs and falling oil prices have been making life difficult for Enphase recently. But could it be a good time to consider buying the stock?The situation is dynamic and volatile and that makes things hard for the company. That, though, might mean things could start getting a lot better very quickly.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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS6:36 ALPHABET19:46 TESLA29:55 INTEL39:44 DCC49:17 ENPHASE► 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! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ► Episode Notes:After a two-week break, we're back! Did we miss anything? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!The new financial year is off to an uninspiring start for both Steves. In the last week, both have underperformed the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500.It's that time of the quarter when we talk about Netflix and how well it's done. And it's put up strong numbers on the top and bottom lines with a positive outlook to go with it.Steve W, though, has been thinking about the company's move to shift away from disclosing its subscriber numbers. And Steve D has some other risks in mind.ASML shares took a bit of a hit this week after the latest earnings update. But while the short term is uncertain, investors would do well to look at the bigger picture.Steve W is interested in potential competitors. So Steve D is taking the opportunity to remind us of this company's moat and how difficult it is to displace. Shares in Wise are now back to where they were when the stock first launched on the public markets in 2021. But the company makes a lot more money these days.It's got a much stronger competitive position, too. But what is Steve D's big fear about the stock moving forward from an investment perspective?Sartorius shares have been climbing steadily recently. Before that, though, they spent a good couple of years going the other way at quite a rate.It's been an interesting week for the company, though, with Eli Lilly launching a new anti-obesity treatment. So is this a smart way to invest around that theme?Shares in FTSE 100 distributor Bunzl fell 25% in a day after the company's first quarter update. Steve W thinks the report isn't good, but the response is an overreaction.Contracting margins and the loss of a key customer are never positive signs. But the guidance for the full year isn't obviously 25% below where it was before.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...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS4:37 NETFLIX19:40 ASML31:43 WISE43:22 SARTORIUS53:52 BUNZL► 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/► 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.

NOTE: Scarves and Spikes will be exclusively found on its new dedicated feed in a few weeks. Search "Scarves and Spikes" on your favorite podcatcher and subscribe today! (Five Stripe Final will remain on this feed - nothing changes on that end.)NEW SCARVES AND SPIKES MERCH! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.etsy.com/shop/ScarvesAndSpikes⁠⁠⁠ - use code COMMUNITY for $5 off orders of $50 or more! (excluding glassware)Thanks to our partner SweetWater Brewing Company for their support of Scarves and Spikes! Visit ⁠⁠sweetwaterbrew.com⁠-----More Atlanta United coverage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.scarvesandspikes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the show on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.x.com/scarvesnspikes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/scarvesandspikes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠One 17s Tier: Andrew Clark, AJW, Ben Brodsky, , Austin Delk, Brandon DeSantiago, Carrie Larrison, Daniel Lester, Dave Coustan, Doug, Jason Russell, Jeffrey Goldenstein, Jim, Joe L., John Weaver, Jois, Josh, Josiah Marsh, Kareen Malone, Lindsey Cooke, Mark, Nick Hussey, Paul Cropley, Pete Forsstrom, PJCads, Rob, Robpar, Ryan T. Larsen, Shiv612, Daniel Tapp, Ty Vernon, W. Andrew Gowder Jr., ZachProducers (High Five Tier): Bates M. Nunamaker, Charles Laurens, David O'Banion, Dustin Harper, Ellen, Emilio Corsi, Derrick Gaddis, Grey Gowder, Mike B., Hunter Gwin, Jason Moss, Jason Nix, Jay, Jay Cooper, Joseph Alonso, Justin Rodney Flournoy, Kallebe Gerais, Karen Clement, Kevin Brabant, Kevin S., Matthew Basford, Melinda W., Milan Turner, Neal Golub, Nolan Smith, Ryan G., Renn, Scott McFarland, Sonny, Steve W., Trey, Travis CrewsExec. Producers (Club Level tier): AtlUtd711, Bo McAlister, Bonny Moore, Brian Diefenbach, Brian Walker, Bruno Cubas Garcia, Col. Ernest Rogers, Dallen Hammond, Dilan Manatunga, DMTim, Emad Hasan, Llammaramma, Jason Kay, Josh Lieberman, Matt Babcock, Nyle Farooqui, Patrick Delaney, Robert Kauffman, Sean P., Sonny Hatcher, Wes Lambert

NOTE: Scarves and Spikes will be exclusively found on its new dedicated feed in a few weeks. Search "Scarves and Spikes" on your favorite podcatcher and subscribe today! (Five Stripe Final will remain on this feed - nothing changes on that end.)NEW SCARVES AND SPIKES MERCH! ⁠⁠https://www.etsy.com/shop/ScarvesAndSpikes⁠⁠ - use code COMMUNITY for $5 off orders of $50 or more! (excluding glassware)-----More Atlanta United coverage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.scarvesandspikes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the show on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.x.com/scarvesnspikes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/scarvesandspikes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠One 17s Tier: Andrew Clark, AJW, Ben Brodsky, , Austin Delk, Brandon DeSantiago, Carrie Larrison, Daniel Lester, Dave Coustan, Doug, Jason Russell, Jeffrey Goldenstein, Jim, Joe L., John Weaver, Jois, Josh, Josh Adams, Josiah Marsh, Kareen Malone, Lindsey Cooke, Mark, Nick Hussey, Paul Cropley, Pete Forsstrom, PJCads, Rob, Robpar, Ryan T. Larsen, Shiv612, Daniel Tapp, Ty Vernon, W. Andrew Gowder Jr., ZachProducers (High Five Tier): Bates M. Nunamaker, Charles Laurens, David O'Banion, Dustin Harper, Ellen, Emilio Corsi, Derrick Gaddis, Grey Gowder, Mike B., Hunter Gwin, Jason Moss, Jason Nix, Jay, Jay Cooper, Joseph Alonso, Justin Rodney Flournoy, Kallebe Gerais, Karen Clement, Kevin Brabant, Kevin S., Matthew Basford, Melinda W., Milan Turner, Neal Golub, Nolan Smith, Ryan G., Renn, Scott McFarland, Sonny, Steve W., Trey, Travis CrewsExec. Producers (Club Level tier): AtlUtd711, Bo McAlister, Bonny Moore, Brian Diefenbach, Brian Walker, Bruno Cubas Garcia, Col. Ernest Rogers, Dallen Hammond, Dilan Manatunga, DMTim, Emad Hasan, Llammaramma, Jason Kay, Josh Lieberman, Matt Babcock, Nyle Farooqui, Patrick Delaney, Robert Kauffman, Sean P., Sonny Hatcher, Wes Lambert

In this episode of the Young Dad Podcast, host Jey Young speaks with Steve Ward, founder of Steps Ministries, about his journey from a successful career at IBM to founding a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals overcome addiction and mental health challenges. They discuss the prevalence of substance abuse in families, the importance of proactive parenting, and the intersection of faith and recovery. Steve shares his personal experiences with high functioning alcoholism, the turning points in his life, and the practical steps that can lead to healing and a better life. The conversation emphasizes the need for awareness, connection, and intentionality in parenting and personal growth. Takeaways Life can be different and it can be better. Addiction is a common struggle that many face. Half of families have someone dealing with substance abuse. Proactive parenting is essential in preventing addiction. Awareness and connection are key in family dynamics. High functioning alcoholics often go unnoticed. Faith can play a significant role in recovery. There are practical steps to improve life and well-being. It's important to count the cost of negative behaviors. You can have a realistic assurance of a better future. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Faith 02:22 Steve's Journey from Business to Ministry 05:21 Understanding Addiction and Its Impact 08:09 The Prevalence of Substance Abuse 10:47 High Functioning Alcoholism Explained 13:30 Turning Points and Life Changes 16:28 The Intersection of Faith and Addiction 19:16 The Role of Family in Recovery 21:34 The Path to Healing and Treatment 23:04 The Importance of Proactive Living 26:25 Understanding Addiction and Recovery 30:51 Parenting and Prevention Strategies 36:04 Steps Ministry: Mission and Resources 38:22 Life After Recovery: A Personal Journey 44:29 Advice for New Fathers Check out the Website for Interactive Activity Guides, Resources, Full Transcripts, all things YDP- ⁠⁠www.youngdadpod.com⁠⁠ Clink the Link for YDP Deals (Joon, Forefathers &more)- ⁠https://linktr.ee/youngdadpod Want to be a guest on Young Dad Podcast? Send Jey Young a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17304299436966453bcb0b95c

Are you a high-performing professional feeling the pressure to drink at work? Steve Wilt, a leader in the financial services industry, was right there with you. He'll share how alcohol became deeply ingrained in his career, from casual drinks with coworkers to lavish corporate events. Discover how reading Annie Grace's book and joining a 90-day challenge sparked him to take an extended break from alcohol, leading him to not only transform his own life but also champion promoting an alcohol-free workplace. Thank you so much for listening to this episode. If you're ready to see how This Naked Mind can help you on your personal health and wellness journey and wanna learn more. Go to ThisNakedMindpodcast.com to learn more. Again, that's ThisNakedMindpodcast.com. We have all of our free resources, programs,  social links, and more available for you there. Plus, if you have your own Naked Life Story, you can submit it there as well. Until next week, stay curious.