#48 - The Struggle Means You’re onto Something

Author

Graham Schroeder
March 07, 2025

In partnership with

Market Recap

  • Waymo and Uber Launch Robotaxi Service in Austin

    • Alphabet ($GOOGL) subsidiary Waymo and Uber ($UBER) have partnered to introduce autonomous vehicle rides in Austin, Texas, starting March 4, 2025. ​

    • Uber users in Austin can now be matched with Waymo's self-driving cars when requesting rides such as UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric. Users can set their ride preferences in the Uber app to increase the likelihood of being paired with a Waymo vehicle. ​

    • Following the Austin launch, the partnership plans to extend robotaxi services to Atlanta later this year.

  • TSMC To Invest $100bn in U.S. Semiconductor Manufacturing

    • Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company ($TSM) plans to invest $100 billion to enhance its U.S. production capabilities. This includes constructing three new chip fabrication plants, two advanced packaging facilities, and a research and development center in Arizona. ​

    • The investment is expected to generate between 20,000 and 25,000 jobs, significantly boosting employment in the U.S. semiconductor sector.

    • This move aligns with a broader trend of semiconductor companies increasing U.S. production in response to economic pressures and the need for a more secure supply chain. ​

  • Walgreens ($WBA) to Go Private in $10 Billion Deal

    • Sycamore Partners will acquire Walgreens Boots Alliance for $11.45 per share in cash, valuing the equity at approximately $10 billion. Shareholders may receive an additional $3 per share contingent on the sale of Walgreens' primary-care assets. Including debt and potential payouts, the total deal value could reach nearly $24 billion.

    • Walgreens has faced declining market value from over $100 billion in 2015 to under $8 billion in late 2024 due to competition from e-commerce, pricing pressures, and a focus on retail pharmacy while rivals diversified. ​

    • Post-acquisition, Sycamore intends to retain Walgreens' U.S. retail business and divest other segments. The company will remain headquartered in the Chicago area, with the deal expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Alexa, Ring, Nest, Apple, Roku…

What do all of these smart home products have in common?

They are must-haves in homes everywhere, and now there’s one more to add to the list…

Meet RYSE – the revolutionary way to automate your window blinds & shades.

And here’s why investors are taking notice:

📈 $10M+ in revenue and growing 200% year-over-year
🏢 In 127 Best Buy locations, with Home Depot launching in 2025
🔒 10+ patents protecting industry-leading technology

RYSE is on track to be the next big name in smart home automation—and you can invest at $1.90/share before their next wave of expansion.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. Email may contain forward-looking statements. See US Offering for details. Informational purposes only.

Freedom Fund Portfolio

  • Friday Freedom Fund Purchase:

    • 8 shares of $SOFI - SoFi Technologies

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

    • This week the S&P and Bitcoin saw pullbacks amid tariff news. The market it almost back to where it was in November. As I continue to add to the total market weekly regardless of the price I look for companies I also want to build a larger position in over time.

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.

Quote of the Week

If you strive for anything, people will critique your methods. If you take a stand on something, some will disagree. Even if you try to stay neutral, that itself can be criticized as indecisiveness. The reality is that criticism is inevitable, and the only way to completely avoid it is to build up a tolerance to it. The most successful and impactful people in history faced immense criticism, yet they persisted because they believed in their purpose. The more work you put in the more challenges you are going to face. Don’t blend into the easy route. Embracing this allows you to move forward with confidence, knowing that real fulfillment comes from living with purpose, not from seeking universal approval.

The purpose of this newsletter is to encourage you and our other 85 Gazette subscribers to start and stay consistent with your personal, professional, and financial journey.

Thanks for investing your time reading this.

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.