#11 - Honeymoon in Spain - Edition #1

Greetings from Spain! As my wife and I embark on a memorable honeymoon journey through the streets of Madrid and the beaches of Mallorca over the next two weeks, I’m excited to bring you two special Spain editions of the Gazette. This issues will dive into Spain’s economy and businesses.

Market News in Spain

• Leonardo DiCaprio backed SolarMente Growing Installs in Spain

  • The solar company is pacing 120 installations per month in Valencia, Madrid, and Catalonia and projecting 10,000 installs over the next 2.5 years.

  • Based in Barcelona the company leans on its monthly subscription based model for adapting to solar to help customers get install, maintenance, and insurance all in a fixed monthly cost.

  • DiCaprio’s investment total is yet to be confirmed but the plan is to have a 3 year collaboration partnership in place by the end of the year.

• The Spanish Royal Family Launches an IG 

  • King Felipe VI and his family will begin to use their Instagram to boost communication efforts and show unity with Spain’s government and economy.

  • While their direct economic impact may be less than prevalent than the govt./corporate activities their influence could impact into areas such as tourism, culture, public confidence, and ultimately a larger media play for the country.

  • While the family may not play a huge role in the economic operations of the country their presence and image could play a large role in the overall stability and image of Spain’s economy.

• This Couple Left the US for a life in Spain with $45,000 

  • Jessica and Eric Smith left the US with 4 suitcases and an expecting baby.

  • By teaching english and leveraging their story via TikTok and IG the couple said to not even need a typical 9-5.

  • One of the couples favorite aspects about living in Logroño is the adventure every day brings and not really needing super stores or Amazon when there are specific stores right down the street from them.

The Freedom Fund Update

• Date - Friday Freedom Fund Purchase:

  • 2 shares of $SCHB - Schwab US Broad Market ETF

  • 1 share of $SHOP - Shopify Inc.

  • 1 share of $BCX - Blackrock Resource & Commodity Trust

Freedom Fund Background: I created the Freedom Fund as a public brokerage account back in October of 2022 to share that anyone with a social security # and a bank account can begin their investing journey by investing a couple hundred dollars a week. Every week and month I post on X (@GrahamInvesting) public updates about the purchases, exits, dividends, and growth of the fund if you want to follow in real time. The biggest obstacle people have to investing is just getting started so I decided to start a new account at $0 to start from nothing with you.

Madrid Stock Exchange

The Madrid Stock Exchange (BME, a.k.a. Bolsa de Madrid) has been around since 1831, making it one of the oldest stock exchanges in Europe. Fast forward to today, and it’s home to some heavy hitters. The biggest three companies by market cap are Inditex, the fashion giant behind Zara. Iberdrola, a leader in renewable energy. And Santander, one of the world's top banks.

• Inditex - $IDEXY - A $147B company by market cap is the largest public company by market cap in the BME trading around $25 per share. a Spanish multinational clothing company and one of the world's largest fashion retailers. Founded in 1985 by Amancio Ortega, Inditex is headquartered in Arteixo, Galicia, Spain. The company is best known for its flagship brand, Zara, but it operates several other well-known fashion labels.

• Iberdrola - $IBE.MC - A $77B market cap company is the second largest public company. A Spanish multinational electric utility founded in 1992 from the merger of Hidroeléctrica Española and Iberduero. Iberdrola has grown to become one of the largest utilities in the world and a global leader in renewable energy. In the U.S., Iberdrola's subsidiary, Avangrid, is a key player in the country's renewable energy sector.

• Santander - $SAN - A $73B market cap company, officially Banco Santander, is one of the largest and most prominent banking institutions in the world. Founded in 1857 and headquartered in Santander, Spain, the bank has established a presence globally.

The purpose of Graham’s Gazette and my social account @GrahamInvesting is to help others get started and stay consistent on their own personal, professional, and financial journey. I appreciate the time you take in reading & interacting with me and look forward to growing together.

Thanks for investing your time reading this.

-Graham (@GrahamInvesting)

Disclaimer: Graham’s Gazette provides information and resources related to investing, financial topics, and personal growth for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content presented is not intended to be construed as financial advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with qualified professionals before making any financial decisions. Graham’s Gazette and its creators do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided nor do they guarantee any specific results from such use of information.