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THIS WEEK’S FOCUS
Welcome to the first Stock Investing Academy Newsletter of 2026! Yes, you read that right—we've got a new name. This is just the first step in something much bigger I'm building, and I can't wait to share more details with you very soon. It's going to be exciting!
To kick off the year, we're introducing a new section that highlights the most important market events from the past week—the stories that actually matter for long-term investors, not just noise.
Before we dive in, check out this week's recommended video on choosing the right portfolio tracker - an essential tool every serious investor should be using.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
4 BEST Portfolio Trackers for 2026
I spent weeks testing 25 different portfolio tracking platforms to answer one question: which one is actually worth your time?
I found four excellent options, each perfect for different investor types. If you're deep into research, Seeking Alpha has you covered. Building a dividend portfolio? Snowball Analytics is your answer. Need advanced features? Sharesight delivers. Want something simple and clean? Try Getquin. The best part? All four offer free plans, so you can test them risk-free.
Watch the full breakdown to discover which tracker matches your investing style—because tracking your portfolio shouldn't be harder than building it.
TODAY’S PARTNER
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Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached
5 STORIES THAT MATTER THIS WEEK
The Oracle Steps Back - On January 1st, Warren Buffett handed Berkshire Hathaway to Greg Abel after 60 years at the helm. The numbers tell the story: Abel inherits around $380 billion in cash and a $1.1 trillion conglomerate. But here's what investors should notice: this succession has been planned meticulously for years. Abel's real test? How he deploys that mountain of cash in a world where great bargains are scarce.
Another Year of Abundance - The S&P 500 gained 16.4%, the Nasdaq jumped 20%, and the Dow rose 13%—the third consecutive year of double-digit returns. Yet most of those gains came from just a handful of AI and semiconductor stocks—a dangerously narrow rally.
Tesla's Reality Check - Tesla delivered 418,227 vehicles in Q4, down significantly from last year and below the 423,000 analysts expected. The end of EV tax credits is biting hard. For investors, it's a useful warning: popularity doesn't guarantee performance, and even visionary companies face gravity.
The Fed's Uncertain Path - Futures markets suggest the Federal Reserve will likely hold rates steady at the upcoming meeting. For long-term investors, this matters less than you'd think. What matters more: staying rational when others panic about every Fed whisper.
2026: Optimism Meets Caution - Wall Street strategists are projecting modest single-digit to low double-digit gains for 2026, while acknowledging elevated uncertainty. Here's what concerns me: The Shiller P/E ratio sits around 40—historically, anything above 30 has often preceded below-average returns or sizable drawdowns. The timing is unknowable. The warning signs are not.
GO DEEPER
If you're ready to go deeper, I've built tools and courses for serious students: my Analysis Library, Intrinsic Value Calculators, and the Stock Investing Academy. These aren't get-rich-quick shortcuts—they're the infrastructure for patient, intelligent investing.
Get access to our great tools:
Analysis Library
Analysis Table PRO
Smart Money Portfolios
4 Intrinsic Value Calculators
Get access to our:
Stock Investing Academy
and learn how to make your money work for you.
WHAT I USE (AND RECOMMEND)
These are the tools I actually use in my own research and investing. Each link includes a special discount for readers.
👉 SHARESIGHT (4 Months FREE)
👉 SEEKING ALPHA ($30 OFF)
👉 FORECASTER (10% OFF with code: Bald10)
👉 FISCAL AI ($50 OFF)
👉 ALPHA PICKS ($50 OFF)
👉 SEEKING ALPHA + ALPHA PICKS BUNDLE ($159 OFF)