Investing Unscripted

We open the February 2026 mailbag to answer your questions on how to handle the psychological toll of the "SaaS apocalypse" and when it actually makes sense to buy the dip. We also discuss how to assess relative risk in a portfolio, dive deep into the differences between SentinelOne and CrowdStrike (including thoughts on stock-based compensation), and reveal the "falling knife" software stocks we are most tempted to buy right now, including ServiceNow and Salesforce.
00:51 First Friday Update
02:03 Mailbag Fear in Downturns
03:56 DCA and SaaS Selloff
06:15 Deploying Cash Rules
08:43 Add to Winners Not Losers
15:49 Risk in Portfolios
20:31 Position Sizing Examples
23:28 SentinelOne Profitability Debate
28:35 SentinelOne vs CrowdStrike
30:44 Cybersecurity Basket Strategy
31:42 M&A and Buyout Odds
33:12 CareTrust REIT Update
35:00 Discord Falling Knife Picks
35:35 ServiceNow Case
37:44 PayPal Options and CEO Risk
38:33 Salesforce AI and Valuation
42:50 How We Add Positions
47:28 Enphase and Gut Conviction
50:19 Secular Trends and EV Lesson
52:05 QuantumScape Battery Bet
52:37 Wrap Up and Where to Ask
Companies mentioned: ASML, CRM, CRWD, CTRE, ENPH, NOW, PYPL, QS, S, TSLA, TSM
Find where to listen & subscribe,  portfolio contests, and contact information at https://investingunscripted.com
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To get 15% off any paid plan at fiscal.ai, visit https://fiscal.ai/unscripted
Listen to the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast for discussions on stocks, financial markets, super investors, and more. Follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube
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We discuss the recent market dislocation where SaaS stocks are crashing while the broader market hits all-time highs. We break down the three main fears driving the sell-off and debate which companies—like Adobe and Salesforce—are actually at risk. Finally, we share how we are handling the volatility, with Jeff buying more Shopify and Jason using a "barbell strategy" to stay sane.
02:27 Housekeeping
03:53 Episode Setup
06:37 Three AI Threats to SaaS: 
09:23 Is AI Really Different? 
12:59 Stock Spotlight: Adobe
18:35 The Real Issue: Moats, Stickiness, Switching Costs, and Resetting SaaS Multiples
23:18 LLMs Aren’t Free
23:49 Why SaaS Stocks Are Selling Off
25:11 Shopify vs. Toast
27:06 Disruption Timelines & Valuation Reratings
29:19 Earnings Season as the Reality Check
31:53 Tactical Moves: Selling Puts for Margin of Safety
33:02 Barbell Portfolio Strategy: Growth on One Side, Dividends on the Other
Companies mentioned: ABNB, ADBE, ASAN, CRM, CRWD, ENPH, EPR, MNDY, MSFT, NOW, O, PYPL, SHOP, SQ, TEAM, TOST, TTD
Find where to listen & subscribe,  portfolio contests, and contact information at https://investingunscripted.com
*****************************************
To get 15% off any paid plan at fiscal.ai, visit https://fiscal.ai/unscripted
Listen to the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast for discussions on stocks, financial markets, super investors, and more. Follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube
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Subscribe to our portfolio on Savvy Trader

We are joined by The Motley Fool's Emily Flippen to discuss her "Survivor" origins and why she believes empathy is the most underrated skill for investors. We also debate the difference between a "fad" and a "trend" in consumer goods (using Crocs vs. On Holding as the prime example), and Emily gives her honest take on "AI burnout."
00:32 Introducing Special Guest Emily Flippant
01:55 Emily's Journey to The Motley Fool
02:48 The Contrarian Path: Studying Business in China
03:13 The Ethical Dilemma and Finding The Motley Fool
06:11 The Art of Investing: Embracing Mistakes
08:07 The Weight of Public Stock Recommendations
12:29 Evolution as an Investor: From Value to Growth
19:35 Consumer Goods: The Fun Side of Investing
23:31 The 'Too Hard' Pile: Avoiding Complex Sectors
29:16 AI: The Double-Edged Sword
30:20 Is It a Bubble?
30:45 The Reality of AI Investments
31:08 Personal Investment Strategies
31:36 The Hype and Risks of AI
34:15 The Importance of Financial Goals
38:30 AI's Impact on Consumer Goods
43:18 The Future of AI and Society
48:07 Exciting Market Trends
Companies mentioned: CROX, ONON, PYPL
Find where to listen & subscribe,  portfolio contests, and contact information at https://investingunscripted.com
*****************************************
To get 15% off any paid plan at fiscal.ai, visit https://fiscal.ai/unscripted
Listen to the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast for discussions on stocks, financial markets, super investors, and more. Follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube
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Join our Patreon
Subscribe to our portfolio on Savvy Trader

We break down the six stocks we are most excited to watch this earnings season (and why "excited" doesn't necessarily mean we're buying). Jeff discusses Lemonade's path to 2026 profitability and why Rocket Lab is entering a critical "prove it" phase with its Neutron rocket, while Jason makes the case for Canadian Solar trading at half its book value and explains why SentinelOne offers a better risk/reward profile than CrowdStrike.
00:32 Discussing Stocks and Earnings Season
01:48 Analyzing Financial Statements and Risks
02:56 The Importance of Full-Year Results
04:16 Exciting Stocks and Future Prospects
05:57 Deep Dive into Canadian Solar
12:17 Exploring the Renewable Energy Market
17:55 Lemonade: A Stock with Potential
27:21 Lemonade Stock's Volatility and Future Outlook
28:11 Deep Dive into QuantumScape
32:15 Rocket Lab's Progress and Challenges
36:50 SentinelOne's Potential in Cybersecurity
40:42 PayPal's Strategic Focus and Future Prospects
46:58 Lightning Round: Stock Picks and Predictions
Companies mentioned: CRWD, CSIQ, LMND, PYPL, QS, RKLB, S
Find where to listen & subscribe,  portfolio contests, and contact information at https://investingunscripted.com
*****************************************
To get 15% off any paid plan at fiscal.ai, visit https://fiscal.ai/unscripted
Listen to the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast for discussions on stocks, financial markets, super investors, and more. Follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube
*****************************************
Join our Patreon
Subscribe to our portfolio on Savvy Trader

We open the mailbag to answer your questions on whether Life Insurance Retirement Plans (LIRPs) are a scam, if spending millions on a Super Bowl commercial is ever a good idea (looking at you, CrowdStrike), and if equal-weight S&P 500 ETFs are the best way to hedge against a tech crash. Plus, we debate the future of the energy sector, discuss the power of "stock cannibals" like Adobe and PayPal, and reveal the two stocks we think could generate life-changing returns over the next 15 years.
01:44 Housekeeping and Listener Support
02:53 Diving into Listener Questions
03:04 Explaining Life Insurance Retirement Plans
09:03 Super Bowl Commercials: Worth the Investment?
16:47 Exploring ETF Diversification
23:10 Introduction and Wayne's Email
23:17 Colin's Energy Market Inquiry
24:04 Oil and Gas Market Dynamics
27:38 Investment Strategies in Energy Sector
29:48 Wayne's Question on ADRs
32:17 John's Query on Stock Buybacks
37:41 Ramey's AI and Investment Question
43:27 Future Investment Picks
47:23 Spam Comment of the Month
Companies mentioned: ADBE, AZO, CRWD, GDDY, KNSL, KR, ORLY, PSX, PYPL, RKLB, TBBB, TTE, TXN
Find where to listen & subscribe,  portfolio contests, and contact information at https://investingunscripted.com
*****************************************
To get 15% off any paid plan at fiscal.ai, visit https://fiscal.ai/unscripted
Listen to the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast for discussions on stocks, financial markets, super investors, and more. Follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube
*****************************************
Join our Patreon
Subscribe to our portfolio on Savvy Trader