About this episode
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In this episode, Dave and Andrew run through a 2025 stock market year-in-review, using the “Spotify Wrapped” idea as the framing device. They cover how the major indexes performed, why the year felt weird depending on where you were invested, and how the AI boom shaped returns across the market.
They also dig into the investing psychology behind FOMO, chasing winners, and dealing with volatility—especially when the broader market is up but your portfolio (or specific holdings) might be down big.
Key Topics Covered:
2025 market returns (S&P 500, NASDAQ, Dow) and what they imply going forward
The AI boom, NVIDIA’s dominance, and the “you might be early” lesson from the dot-com era
Sector winners and why energy/infrastructure matters for AI
FOMO, chasing top performers, and how to approach cyclical industries
Volatility, expectations, and what to do when a stock is down big
Timestamps:
00:19 – Intro: 2025 stock market year in review
01:07 – Index performance
02:48 – The big themes of 2025: AI boom + profitability questions
04:18 – Should you buy NVIDIA now?
07:35 – Getting AI exposure without owning NVIDIA
11:57 – Sector winners
14:11 – Stocks that doubled
19:16 – How to handle cyclicals
21:20 – Normalizing margins to value cyclical businesses
24:10 – Volatility “panic attacks” and why zooming out matters
29:27 – What to do when a stock is down big: fundamentals first
38:30 – Podcast Spotify Wrapped: 3M minutes listened
41:29 – Wrap-up: see you in 2026
Resources Mentioned:
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at newsletter@einvestingforbeginners.com or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
