#33 - Fall Into Your Own Plan

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This week companies faced more anti-trust pressure, a new Energy Secretary has some interesting business ties, and why you need to design your life plan ritual.

Market Recap

• Nvidia ($NVDA) Tops Earnings

  • Nvidia reported an EPS of $0.81 on revenue of $35.1 billion for Q3 2024, exceeding expectations of $0.74 EPS and $33.2 billion revenue. Forecasts for Q4 revenue are $37.5 billion, slightly above estimates of $37 billion.

  • Their Data Center segment generated $30.8 billion in revenue, marking a 112% YoY increase. Gaming revenue also saw growth, reaching $3.3 billion.

  • Nvidia is preparing to release its next-generation Blackwell AI chips while managing supply constraints. The company's stock has surged 192% YTD, outpacing competitors like AMD and Intel.

• Liberty Energy CEO and Oklo Board Member Selected as Energy Secretary

  • President-elect Donald Trump selected Liberty Energy ($LBRT) CEO and Oklo ($OKLO) board member Chris Wright as his Energy Secretary based on his expertise across energy sectors, including oil, gas, nuclear, and renewables​.

  • Wright, a skeptic of climate change as a global crisis, aligns with Trump’s commitment to boosting fossil fuel production while challenging the narrative of an energy transition​.

  • This move could further push investment opportunities in fracking and small modular nuclear reactors over the next 4 years.

• Companies Facing DOJ Monopoly Pressure

  • The U.S. DOJ has proposed that Google ($GOOGL) should divest its Chrome browser as part of a solution for monopolization of the online search market. This push aims to restore competition by separating Chrome from Google’s search engine dominance and preventing preferential treatment on Android devices.

  • Divesting Chrome would significantly disrupt Google's core operations, as Chrome accounts for about two-thirds of the global browser market and serves as a key source of user data for targeted advertisements.

  • Executives from Visa ($V) and Mastercard ($MA) were grilled by the Senate Judiciary Committee over alleged monopoly practices and high swipe fees, which reportedly cost merchants over $100 billion in 2023 and contribute to inflationary pressures on the U.S. economy.

The Rising Demand for Whiskey: A Smart Investor’s Choice

Why are 250,000 Vinovest customers investing in whiskey?

In a word - consumption.

Global alcohol consumption is on the rise, with projections hitting new peaks by 2028. Whiskey, in particular, is experiencing significant growth, with the number of US craft distilleries quadrupling in the past decade. Younger generations are moving from beer to cocktails, boosting whiskey's popularity.

That’s not all.

Whiskey's tangible nature, market resilience, and Vinovest’s strategic approach make whiskey a smart addition to any diversified portfolio.

Schedule a call with a Vinovest advisor to learn more.

Freedom Fund Portfolio

• Friday Freedom Fund Purchase:

  • 30 shares of $EVLV - Evolv Technology

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

• Portfolio News:

  • $DE - Deere & Co - Q4 2024 Earnings Recap

    • Revenue - Reported $11.143 billion in net sales and revenues for Q4 2024, a 28% decrease compared to $15.412 billion in Q4 2023. For the FY net sales and revenues were $51.716 billion, a 16% decline from $61.251 billion in 2023.

    • EPS - Reported at $4.55, down from $8.26 in Q4 2023. For the fiscal year, EPS was $25.62, compared to $34.63 in 2023.

    • Net Income - For Q4 2024 was $1.245 billion, a 47% drop from $2.369 billion in the same quarter of 2023. FY net income was $7.1 billion, down 30% from $10.166 billion in 2023​.

    • Deere expects fiscal 2025 net income to range between $5.0 billion and $5.5 billion, reflecting ongoing headwinds such as declining farm incomes and lower shipment volumes, particularly in large agricultural equipment​.

  • $EVLV - Evolv Technology

    • Harford County community demands action and safety measures at school board meeting

    • Evolv Technology Announces the Results of Its Internal Investigation

      • The investigation revealed that certain sales practices led to inaccurate revenue recognition for transactions between Q2 2022 - Q2 2024. The impact of incorrectly recognized revenue was estimated at $4–$6 million.This did not affect the company’s cash position, which remains at $56 million as of September 30, 2024.

      • The investigation led to leadership and structural changes, including the resignation of the CFO and other personnel in sales, accounting, and finance. Evolv has hired AlixPartners to provide interim finance and accounting support, and plans to implement stronger risk management and internal controls to prevent future issues.

    • Evolv Technology Provides Q3 Business Update

      • Surpassed 2 billion visitors screened since inception.

      • Activated approximately 465 new multi-year subscriptions of Evolv Express.

      • Added over 100 additional school buildings and now serves over 1,100 school buildings.

      • Added over 30 additional hospital buildings and now serves over 400 hospital buildings.

      • Added 3 more professional sports stadium customers across the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball.

      • Added 3 Fortune 500 customers and now serves 6 of the Fortune 50 and 11 of the Fortune 100.

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

Everyone now and then when I am driving around town I will throw on some old Jim Rohn speeches and this quote by him hits me hard every time. Without a clear plan, you risk becoming a drifter in life and risk becoming subject to some one else’s priorities. And these priorities likely won’t align with your best interests. These external influences often prioritize their goals over your personal growth or happiness. Simple steps for designing your own life plan:

• Self Reflection - Define your core values. Assess your strengths and passions. Evaluate your current situation. Where are you now and where are you trying to go?

• Manifest Ideals - Create a vision statement for your life and imagine your life in 5, 10, 20 years. Write a vivid description of where you will live, what you will be doing, and how you will feel. Categorize your vision into key domains such as career, finances, relationships, health, legacy, etc.

• Set Clear Goals - Identify SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Divide the goals into short vs. long term goals. Have the long term goal in mind but focus on the monthly steps it will take to get there.

• Create a Roadmap - Focus on only a couple areas at a time. Create a step-bystep plan for achieving each check point on the roadmap. And use calendars or to-do lists to stay accountable. And incorporate habits that align with your goals on the daily.

• Embrace Flexibility - Life won’t always go as planned and you’ll need to be resilient and have the ability to adapt to your situation. Your priorities may shift over time and that is normal. Adjust your plan to reflect your priority shifts.

• Self Inspiration - Create a vision board and spend time either early in the morning or mid day to visualize what you are chasing daily. Consistently seek out knowledge and educate yourself on the steps along your roadmap so that when you get to them you are prepared.

If you’re not proactive, you’ll end up following paths dictated by others such as employers, societal norms, or peer pressure. Design your own life and create a system that works for you that you’ll stay consistent with daily. In the long run you only hit what you aim at and only you can save yourself from your situation.

The purpose of this newsletter is to encourage you and our other 77 Gazette subscribers to start and stay consistent with your personal, professional, and financial journey.

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.