Stocks, naturally, are for those who believe in the endless upward curve. A beautiful delusion. Bonds, though… bonds are for those who’ve seen a few things. They’re not about getting rich quick. They’re about not losing everything when the music stops. A modest goal, perhaps, but a sensible one. The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND 0.04%) is a way to participate in this quiet corner of the universe.
This past quarter, or rather, four months gone by, he made a couple of moves that tickled the fancy of the market watchers. He parted ways with his holdings in Microsoft, a company that’s grown like a weed, and took a shine to Amazon, a concern that’s seen a rise of 243,600% since it first sprouted, nearly 30 years ago. A lesson in this, perhaps? Even a sturdy oak can be surpassed by a quicker-growin’ vine. Though I reckon a fella shouldn’t build his whole farm on such fleeting whims.
Between 2023 and 2025, the S&P 500 ascended a rather precipitous 78%. One might be tempted to believe this ascent will continue indefinitely. But as I’ve always maintained, to expect perpetual motion in the financial world is to misunderstand its fundamental nature – a charming delusion, perhaps, but a delusion nonetheless.
Summarizing the carnage:
Look, Rivian isn’t Lucid. That’s…something. A low bar, admittedly. But it’s still not enough to make me reach for my chequebook. Potential? Absolutely. But potential doesn’t pay the bills, does it? And right now, there’s just too much risk clinging to this thing like static.
They call them magnificent. A bit much, if you ask me. But the numbers don’t lie. These seven giants have doubled the S&P 500’s performance over the last decade. Meta, the so-called “worst” performer of the bunch, still managed a 539% return. That’s a bad day at the races for most companies.
There’s been talk, you see. About companies that have, well, done rather well. Nvidia, for example. Apparently, it’s gone up something ridiculous – 800% in three years. I mean, seriously? I barely manage 8% on a good hair day. And then there’s Palantir. Another one. Climbing, climbing, climbing. It all sounds terribly exciting, but also slightly terrifying. Like being on a rollercoaster designed by someone who’s never actually experienced gravity.
Now, Pfizer’s first attempts at this were… let’s just say they went up in smoke. Danuglipron? A noble effort, tragically felled by safety concerns. It’s like trying to build a sandcastle during a hurricane. But they didn’t give up. They went shopping! A $7 billion acquisition of Metsera, plus potential for another $3 billion? That’s commitment, folks! They’re back in the game, a GLP-1 stock, and they’re not messing around.
This AI-fueled surge is in its infancy, a mischievous imp just learning to manipulate the grid. Yet, it promises growth, a seductive siren song for those of us who traffic in probabilities. Two names, therefore, warrant consideration this February: NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy. Not titans, perhaps, but certainly not insignificant players in this unfolding drama.
The tariffs, those self-imposed wounds inflicted upon the body economic by the current administration, cast a long, ominous shadow. The pronouncements of strength, the claims of economic flourishing… they ring hollow to those who understand the subtle, insidious ways in which such policies unravel the very fabric of trade. To suggest that exporters shoulder the burden, that these tariffs are a boon rather than a blight, is to mistake a fever dream for reality. It is a dangerous delusion, a self-serving narrative spun to soothe a troubled conscience.