On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael shines the spotlight on Badger Meter ($BMI), the hidden powerhouse behind smart water management. Think of BMI’s meters as the cash registers of utilities: essential, sticky, and increasingly digital. With secular tailwinds in conservation, regulation, and infrastructure investment, the company sits at the intersection of necessity and innovation.

Michael breaks down why Badger Meter scored a strong 81% on his Quality Checklist, how SaaS revenue and international expansion could fuel the next leg of growth, and where valuation leaves room — or risk. With a fair value range of ~$129–$216 and technical support in the $160s, BMI offers a compelling picks-and-shovels play on one of the world’s most vital resources. Hear why Michael has initiated a position and what would make him trim or sell.

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00:00 Intro

00:37 Investment Checklist & Database

01:17 Business Overview

11:51 Industry Overview

16:37 Quality Growth Profile

20:25 Financial Statement Overview

27:02 Management & Ownership Structure

32:16 KPIs to Track

33:12 Valuation & Technical Analysis

38:27 Verdict

40:35 Outro

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Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the Day

Outro Music: Ra – Prospect

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Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcast

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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.

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael pulls back the curtain on how he personally invests with factors. Instead of spotlighting one company, he explains how he layers factor ETFs on top of his core index exposure - building what he calls a 3-layer cake portfolio: S&P 500 base, factor tilts for extra flavor, stock picks on top for fun.

You’ll learn about the major factors (size, value, momentum and more), why they’ve delivered long-term premiums and how Michael blends them into his own portfolio construction. He also covers the hard part: the patience and discipline it takes to stick with factors when they underperform for years at a time.

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00:00 Intro

00:45 What is Factor Investing

03:00 The 8 Factors Explained

13:57 What I Actually Own

17:52 Why Factor Investing Is Harder Than It Sounds

19:42 Practical Takeaways

23:47 Outro

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Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the Day

Outro Music: Ra – Prospect

*Music provided by Uppbeat Premium

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Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcast

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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.

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael dives into The Trade Desk ($TTD), the demand-side platform at the heart of programmatic advertising. With deep integrations, a founder-led culture and a commitment to neutrality in a world of walled gardens, TTD has become the go-to tool for agencies and brands navigating the open internet.

But even a king has its challenges. Despite strong free cash flow, high gross margins and tailwinds from CTV and digital spend, The Trade Desk faces valuation risk, elevated SBC and intensifying competition from ad giants like Google and Amazon. Michael walks through the business model, key metrics, competitive landscape and valuation — and shares why $TTD is on his watchlist, but not in his portfolio (yet).

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00:00 Intro

00:37 Investment Checklist & Database

01:17 Business Overview

13:13 Industry Overview

21:06 Quality Growth Profile

25:07 Financial Statement Overview

29:47 Management & Ownership Structure

34:34 KPIs to Track

35:25 Valuation & Technical Analysis

40:55 Verdict

42:00 Outro

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Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the Day

Outro Music: Ra – Prospect

*Music provided by Uppbeat Premium

Follow me on X: https://twitter.com/invest091

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcast

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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 special episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael steps away from his usual stock deep dives to explore how alternatives can boost portfolio resilience — not for alpha, but for staying power.

He shares why traditional diversification failed in 2022, the role of risk-adjusted returns, and the liquid alternatives he now uses personally:

• Managed Futures ($DBMF, $KMLM, $CTA)

• Gold & Precious Metals ($GLDM, physical)

• Long/Short Equity ($BTAL)

• Why $CAOS didn’t make the cut

• Tax tips & portfolio construction

If you’re 100% stocks, this episode may change how you think about risk, compounding and staying invested when markets get rough.

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00:00 Opening - Confession & Context

00:45 Why Risk-Adjusted Returns Matter

02:21 The Problem With Traditional Portfolios

04:41 What Are Alternatives & Which Matter

05:31 Managed Futures – The All-Weather Engine

09:23 Precious Metals – The Portfolio Anchor

14:14 Long/Short Equity – The Low Volatility Play

16:21 Tail Risk Hedging – What Didn’t Make My Cut

19:19 The Tax Angle

22:35 Putting It All Together

23:51 Closing Statements

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Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the Day

Outro Music: Ra – Prospect

*Music provided by Uppbeat Premium

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Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcast

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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.

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael breaks down Manhattan Associates ($MANH), a quiet powerhouse in supply chain software that’s been helping global retailers like Home Depot and CVS orchestrate complex omnichannel operations. With a versionless cloud platform and nearly 30% annual growth in cloud revenue, Manhattan is transitioning from a legacy services-heavy model to a high-margin SaaS business.

But is it already priced for perfection? Despite best-in-class capital discipline, strong ROIC, and a sticky product suite, the stock trades at a premium on most valuation metrics and faces decelerating growth alongside a recent CEO transition. Michael shares why he’s moving $MANH to his watchlist for now — and what would need to change to make this a buy.

Update: Morningstar has actually given Manhattan a Wide Moat rating (I said Narrow), though I’d personally place it somewhere between a solid Narrow and a true Wide.

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00:00 Intro

00:39 Investment Checklist & Database

02:03 Business Overview

12:45 Industry Overview

16:56 Quality Growth Profile

23:00 Financial Statement Overview

29:56 Management & Ownership Structure

35:56 KPIs to Track

37:51 Valuation & Technical Analysis

43:19 Bulls vs. Bears & Verdict

45:47 Outro

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Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the Day

Outro Music: Ra – Prospect

*Music provided by Uppbeat Premium

Follow me on X: https://twitter.com/invest091

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcast

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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.

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, we’re kicking off a brand-new series, Watchlist Battles. These episodes will feature quality companies going head-to-head for a potential spot in my watch list or portfolio. Today’s showdown features three financial services giants:

• ​ Standard & Poor’s Global ($SPGI) - A diversified powerhouse in financial data, credit ratings and indexing, with scale and reach that few can match. But after its massive $44B acquisition of IHS Markit in 2022, is its balance sheet still as pristine as investors expect?

• ​ Moody’s ($MCO) - A dominant force in credit ratings with strong brand equity, growing analytics capabilities and durable cash flows. But with much of its value still tied to cyclical debt issuance and a premium valuation, is the upside already priced in?

• ​ FactSet ($FDS) - A steady, subscription-driven data specialist trusted by institutional investors, known for its customizable workflows and Open:FactSet APIs. But in a market dominated by giants, can its niche positioning unlock outsized upside?

I'll break it all down over five rounds plus a bonus round at the end, so listen to see which company makes the strongest case for a spot alongside $MSCI.

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00:00 Intro

01:10 Why I'm Bullish On Financial Services

03:18 Round 1: Business Model

08:24 Round 2: Financial Quality

13:52 Round 3: Future Growth

15:42 Round 4: Management & Ownership Structure

19:40 Round 5: Valuation

22:57 Bonus Round: Best Fit With MSCI

25:20 Conclusion: Watch List Battle Winner

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Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the Day

Outro Music: Ra – Prospect

*Music provided by Uppbeat Premium

Follow me on X: https://twitter.com/invest091

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcast

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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.

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael analyzes Medpace Holdings (MEDP), a unique player in the contract research organization (CRO) space. Unlike industry giants focused on big pharma, Medpace specializes in small to mid-sized firms - a double-edged sword that grants pricing power, but also exposes it to biotech funding volatility.

With a potential return to double-digit growth in 2026, Medpace meets the criteria for a Quality Growth company, but its narrow moat, lack of true market leadership and poor Glassdoor ratings raise red flags. From a valuation standpoint, Medpace appears modestly undervalued, yet technical indicators signal caution.

Is Medpace a hidden gem in the healthcare sector or a high-risk bet reliant on biopharma funding stability? Tune in as Michael unpacks his strategy for this niche CRO.

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00:00 Intro

00:38 Investment Checklist & Database

02:31 Business & Industry Overview

13:23 Business Model & Quality Growth Attributes

22:19 Financial Statement Overview

30:05 Management & Ownership Structure

34:48 Growth Areas & Risk Factors

37:46 KPIs to Track

38:43 Valuation & Technical Analysis

43:46 Episode Takeaways

44:36 Outro

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Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the Day

Outro Music: Ra – Prospect

*Music provided by Uppbeat Premium

Follow me on X: https://twitter.com/invest091

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcast

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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.

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael dives into Duolingo (DUOL), the #1 education app that has mastered engagement through viral marketing and AI-driven personalization. He unpacks Duolingo’s high-growth, subscription-led business model, discussing its impressive pricing strategy versus competitors and its expanding optionality beyond language learning. With a Rule of 40 score reaching 87% in 2024 - akin to top-tier software companies - Duolingo’s rapid growth is undeniable. But are its low operating margins and high valuation cause for concern?

Michael explores this question by analyzing Duolingo’s monetization strategy and growth levers to assess whether its rapid expansion can ultimately translate into sustained profitability. As an investor, he remains bullish on the business but cautious on valuation, maintaining a small 1-2% position while waiting for a more attractive entry point in the $220-$250 range before adding more shares.

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00:00 Intro

00:39 Investment Checklist & Database

02:19 Business & Industry Overview

10:59 Business Model & Quality Growth Attributes

20:37 Financial Statement Overview

27:22 Management & Ownership Structure

32:19 Growth Areas & Risk Factors

36:11 KPIs to Track

37:15 Valuation & Technical Analysis

40:23 Episode Takeaways

40:47 Outro

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Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the Day

Outro Music: Ra – Prospect

*Music provided by Uppbeat Premium

Follow me on X: https://twitter.com/invest091

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcast

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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 dives into Evolution AB, a prominent player in the online gambling industry known for its innovative live casino solutions. He discusses how Evolution has successfully leveraged its B2B business model to capture significant market share among its competitive set. Despite meeting numerous quantitative benchmarks for Quality Growth, Evolution's capital allocation strategy and moderate acquisition intensity raise some concerns. Additionally, the inherent risks tied to its classification as a "sin" stock warrant further scrutiny.

With that said, as of January 30, 2025, Michael has decided to take an asymmetrical risk-reward approach and has purchased a starter position in $EVVTY. This position is less than 1% of his taxable account, and he plans to potentially accumulate more shares after fully digesting the 2024 Annual Report.

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00:00 Intro

00:40 Investment Checklist & Database

02:38 Business & Industry Overview

12:56 Business Model & Quality Growth Attributes

20:56 Financial Statement Overview

25:54 Management & Ownership Structure

30:13 Growth Areas & Risk Factors

33:49 KPIs to Track

34:30 Valuation & Technical Analysis

38:24 Episode Takeaways

39:19 Outro

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Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the Day

Outro Music: Ra – Prospect

*Music provided by Uppbeat Premium

Follow me on X: https://twitter.com/invest091

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcast

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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 provides an essential overview of investment concepts tailored for novice investors. He covers key investing concepts, various investment types such as stocks and bonds, and different

investment vehicles, equipping listeners with a solid foundation to understand the investing landscape.

Michael also delves into effective investment strategies and the importance of portfolio construction. To conclude, he shares 10 actionable tips designed to empower beginners to confidently embark on their investing journey, ensuring they are well-prepared to make informed decisions as they build their portfolios.

As we step into the new year, now is the perfect time to take charge of your financial future!

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00:00 Intro

00:58 Key Concepts

06:28 Investment Types

08:18 Investment Vehicles

09:42 Investment Strategies

12:40 Portfolio Construction

15:42 10 Tips for Getting Started

17:20 Outro

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Intro Music: Andrey Rossi – Seize the Day

Outro Music: Ra – Prospect

*Music provided by Uppbeat Premium

Follow me on X: https://twitter.com/invest091

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stockspotlightpodcast

----------------------------------------------------------------

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.