Stock Spotlight

In this episode of Stock Spotlight, host Michael is joined by investor and content creator Will Biddy to discuss how they build and manage quality growth portfolios. Will shares how he got started in investing, what makes a business “world class” and how he balances business quality with valuation.Michael and Will also use Toast ($TOST) and Intuitive Surgical ($ISRG) as case studies, comparing what attracted them to each company, the key metrics they follow and the risks that could challenge their investment theses. They finish by discussing position sizing, when to add or sell and a rapid-fire lightning round.----------------------------------------------------------------00:00 Intro01:14 Will's Investing Background05:53 Defining a Quality Growth Business11:23 Balancing Quality and Valuation15:43 Shared Stock Case Studies24:41 Building and Managing the Portfolio29:49 Rapid-Fire Lightning Round32:43 Outro----------------------------------------------------------------Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the DayOutro Music: Ra – Prospect*Music provided by Uppbeat PremiumFollow Will on X: https://x.com/WillBiddy_/Listen to Will YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Will_BiddyFollow me on X: https://x.com/invest091Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcastSubscribe to the newsletter: https://stockspotlightpodcast.substack.com/----------------------------------------------------------------Disclosure: The host of Stock Spotlight is not a licensed financial advisor. The information and opinions shared during the show are for entertainment purposes only.

In this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael takes a deep dive into Interparfums ($IPAR), the fragrance company behind major licensed brands including Coach, Jimmy Choo, Montblanc, GUESS and Lacoste. He breaks down the economics of its licensing model, brand concentration, U.S. and European operations, competitive position, financial quality, founder ownership and the upcoming 2027 product cycle that management believes could reaccelerate growth.The episode also examines $IPAR’s management incentives and key company KPIs to watch before translating the thesis into Bear, Base and Bull 5 year expected returns. With strong returns on capital and a healthy balance sheet offset by uneven free cash flow, rising marketing intensity and reliance on brands it does not own, the key question is whether Interparfums is still a durable compounder moving forward or simply a very successful tenant of valuable brand equity.----------------------------------------------------------------00:00 Intro01:50 Business Overview09:43 Industry Overview14:53 Quality Growth Profile19:09 Financial Statement Overview26:30 KPIs to Track27:41 Leadership & Incentives31:45 Expected Return Profile (2026-2030)33:45 Verdict35:15 Outro----------------------------------------------------------------Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the DayOutro Music: Ra – Prospect*Music provided by Uppbeat PremiumFollow me on X: https://x.com/invest091Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcastSubscribe to the newsletter: https://stockspotlightpodcast.substack.com/----------------------------------------------------------------Disclosure: The host of Stock Spotlight is not a licensed financial advisor. The information and opinions shared during the show are for entertainment purposes only.

In this episode of Stock Spotlight, host Michael sits down with his longtime college friend and financial advisor Jon Tan to explore what more than 15 years of working with investors has taught him about building lasting wealth.They discuss how Jon’s investing philosophy has evolved, the behavioral and planning mistakes he sees investors make, why performance chasing is so difficult to avoid and what separates successful long-term wealth builders from everyone else.The conversation also covers portfolio construction, rebalancing, the role of individual stocks within a broader financial plan, when a financial advisor can add value and why investing success often comes down to a few simple habits practiced consistently.Michael and Jon then close with a lightning round covering investing books, savings rates, alpha vs. beta and the advice Jon would give his 25 year old self.----------------------------------------------------------------00:00 Intro01:18 From Marine Biology to Financial Advice08:22 California to South Carolina12:33 Investor Behavior16:55 Building Better Portfolios24:09 When a Financial Advisor Adds Value29:50 Rapid-Fire Lightning Round33:20 Outro----------------------------------------------------------------Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the DayOutro Music: Ra – Prospect*Music provided by Uppbeat PremiumEmail me ([email protected]) if you're interested in connecting with JonFollow me on X: https://x.com/invest091Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcastSubscribe to the newsletter: https://stockspotlightpodcast.substack.com/----------------------------------------------------------------Disclosures:The host of Stock Spotlight is not a licensed financial advisor. The information and opinions shared during the show are for entertainment purposes only.References to specific securities do not constitute a recommendation from Ali Financial, Palmetto Private Wealth Management or Jonathan Tan. Opinions and forward looking statements expressed reflect the opinions of the speakers and are subject to change without notice.

In this episode of Stock Spotlight, host Michael opens up his portfolio and walks through what has changed since his last quarterly review, including the stocks he sold, bought and how his individual stock positions fit together today.Michael explains why he exited Nintendo ($NTDOY) and Honeywell Aerospace ($HONA), why he added Intuitive Surgical ($ISRG) and Karman Holdings ($KRMN) and then goes deeper on two current holdings: Toast ($TOST) and Booking Holdings ($BKNG).For Toast and Booking, he breaks down:​ Why he owns each company and what has changed​ The KPIs he’s watching most closely​ The biggest debate around each stock​ How he’s thinking about valuation today​ A Green / Yellow / Red ratingThe goal is to make portfolio management more transparent: not just what Michael owns, but why each position earns its place and what could cause him to change his mind.----------------------------------------------------------------00:00 Intro00:50 Portfolio Snapshot02:25 Portfolio Changes09:55 Company 1: Toast ($TOST)17:43 Company 2: Booking Holdings ($BKNG)26:44 Outro----------------------------------------------------------------Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the DayOutro Music: Ra – Prospect*Music provided by Uppbeat PremiumFollow me on X: https://x.com/invest091Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcastSubscribe to the newsletter: https://stockspotlightpodcast.substack.com/----------------------------------------------------------------Disclosure: The host of Stock Spotlight is not a licensed financial advisor. The information and opinions shared during the show are for entertainment purposes only.

MercadoLibre ($MELI) is widely followed, but some of the most important parts of the investment case remain misunderstood. In this episode of Stock Spotlight, host Michael reconnects with Shivam following his trip to Brazil and his presentation on the company to professional investors.They discuss what Shivam’s local observations revealed about the strength of MELI’s ecosystem, why investors may be misreading the credit book and near-term margin pressure, and how the company is gaining ground in Mexico while confronting Chinese cross-border competition.The conversation then turns to the key questions heading into earnings: whether current spending is strengthening MELI’s moat or weakening its economics, how investors should normalize reported cash flow and whether the company is best valued through a DCF or Sum-of-the-Parts framework.The episode closes with the expectations embedded in today’s valuation, the metrics that could break the thesis and a rapid-fire round on topics not covered earlier.----------------------------------------------------------------00:00 Intro01:22 What Brazil Revealed04:28 The Geographic Playbook10:14 The Credit Book: Moat or Hidden Leverage?16:13 Finding MELI's True Cash Flow19:17 How Should Investors Value MELI?22:24 Market Expectations Moving Forward24:26 Rapid-Fire Questions28:46 Outro----------------------------------------------------------------Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the DayOutro Music: Ra – Prospect*Music provided by Uppbeat PremiumFollow me on X: https://x.com/invest091Follow Shivam on X: https://x.com/shivamkashanCheck out Shivam's website: https://kvcapitalgroup.comListen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcastSubscribe to the newsletter: https://stockspotlightpodcast.substack.com/----------------------------------------------------------------Disclosure: The host of Stock Spotlight is not a licensed financial advisor. The information and opinions shared during the show are for entertainment purposes only.