The Investor's Podcast (We Study Billionaires) - The Investor’s Podcast Network

Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O’Malley take a deep dive into Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR), the data and AI platform behind everything from battlefield targeting systems to Airbus’s A350 production line, with customers including the U.S. Army, the NHS, Ferrari, and Airbus. Palantir is growing revenue at over 90%, with net dollar retention at 157% and adjusted operating margins above 60% — a Rule of 40 score of 155%, roughly double what the best software companies in the world achieve. It also trades at around 60 times sales, which is why The Economist called it possibly the most overvalued firm of all time.

Daniel...

In today’s episode, Stig Brodersen is joined by Manish Karira and Ralph Summerford for a bull and bear debate on CATL, the world’s largest battery maker. Manish presents the bull case, arguing that a company most listeners have never heard of is becoming the backbone of the global energy infrastructure, powering EVs, stabilizing power grids, and feeding AI data centers. Ralph, a forensic accountant, presents the bear case, digging into price deflation, geopolitical risk, and whether CATL’s US licensing model is capital-light growth or a defensive retreat.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:58) Why Mani...

In today's episode, Kyle Grieve and Shawn O’Malley analyze Domino's Pizza, the world’s biggest pizza franchisor built on a royalty-driven, asset-light business model. They walk through Domino's shift toward franchising and away from Company-owned stores, and what that means for the company's future revenue mix and cash generation. Along the way, they dig into whether Domino's royalty engine can keep running at the pace investors have come to expect.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:55) Reviewing the Domino's royalty engine thesis (00:15:26) Why Domino's has moved away from Company-owned stores (00:29:19) The role of royalties versus supply...

After looking at companies that tanked in recent months in the last episode, Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O’Malley now take a look at the best-performing stocks of the pitches of the last two years. Google, Amazon, and Reddit are companies that generated great returns for the Intrinsic Value Portfolio, but there were also companies on the watchlist that turned into multibaggers in the past year.

Daniel and Shawn discuss the patterns of the stocks that gained most in value, what one can learn from that, and how they think about selling and holding positions that went up...

Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O’Malley take a trip down memory lane and look back at the pitches of the last year and a half – especially the ones that didn’t work out as hoped. Many companies that were seen as best-in-class businesses not too long ago experienced massive drawdowns in the last year. Some of them were covered on this show, and others even made it into the portfolio. 

Daniel and Shawn discuss the patterns of the stocks that lost most in value, what one can learn from that, and how the market shift towards AI changed...

In this episode, William Green speaks with Victor Haghani, founder & CIO of Elm Wealth & author of The Missing Billionaires: A Guide to Making Better Financial Decisions. Victor’s journey is among the most remarkable & instructive in modern investment history. As one of the founders of Long-Term Capital Management, he experienced dazzling success & devastating failure. Today, he oversees billions of dollars using a low-cost, diversified, index-driven strategy that reflects hard-won lessons about resilience, humility, simplicity & risk management.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:04:17) How Victor Haghani’s tumultuous family history shaped him.

In today’s episode, Kyle Grieve and Shawn O’Malley analyze Exor, the Dutch holding company controlled by Italy’s Agnelli family and best known for its long-standing stake in Ferrari. They walk through Exor’s ownership of Ferrari, and what they like about Lingotto, Exor’s investing management company. Along the way, they dig into what could cause the current valuation gap to close or widen.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:03:08) Revisiting the Exor and Ferrari thesis (00:05:06) How Exor’s stock reacted since the original purchase (00:09:16) Why Ferrari’s stock has fallen despite strong operating result...

Shawn O'Malley and Kyle Grieve explore Intuit (ticker: INTU).

In this episode, you'll learn what narratives have underpinned the company’s more than 60% selloff, as Intuit claims the undesirable title of “worst performer in the S&P 500” this year. But is this a bargain price for a high-quality SaaS business, or a value trap? That’s the key question that Shawn & Kyle discuss, plus so much more!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:03:48) How Intuit’s accounting software became so popular (00:12:49) What makes QuickBooks such a great business (00:20:54) Why Intuit is the worst performing stock in the...

Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O’Malley take a deep dive into DLocal (NASDAQ: DLO), the first Uruguayan unicorn and the emerging markets payment provider for companies like Amazon, Uber, Spotify, Netflix, and many more. DLocal is trading at attractive multiples while growing payment volumes at over 70% and printing cash due to high operating leverage and a high-margin business model. That cash is given back to shareholders in the form of dividends and buybacks.

Daniel and Shawn discuss whether the high customer concentration and the declining take rate justify the cheap valuation or whether the market is not un...

In this episode, William Green chats with Christopher Begg, a renowned hedge fund manager who is the CEO & CIO of East Coast Asset Management. Chris is also an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, where he teaches the prestigious Security Analysis course that Ben Graham taught to Warren Buffett in 1951. Here, Chris shares rich insights about Tesla, Alphabet, SpaceX, Constellation Software, & the art of discovering great investments hidden in plain sight.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:03:30) How writing helps Chris Begg to “compress complexity into essence” (00:10:38) How to succeed by slowing down, training your attention, & going...

In today’s episode, Kyle Grieve and Shawn O’Malley analyze Perimeter Solutions, a niche industrial conglomerate built by Transdigm’s legendary founder Nick Howley using the same playbook that turned Transdigm into a multi-decade compounder. They break down how the company operates two very different segments, from wildfire retardants and airbase logistics to specialty chemicals and precision medical manufacturing equipment, each built around sticky, mission-critical customer relationships. They’ll also cover the company’s acquisition strategy, its unusual founder’s advisory fee, and the debt and litigation risks that complicate an otherwise compelling capital allocation story.

IN THIS EPIS...

In today's episode, Kyle Grieve and Shawn O’Malley analyze Fairfax Financial, the insurance conglomerate that Prem Watsa built from a near-bankrupt trucking insurer into a compounding machine often compared to Berkshire Hathaway. They break down Fairfax's insurance and non-insurance segments, its use of float, and the capital allocation moves, from acquisitions to buybacks, that have driven decades of growth. The conversation also covers Fairfax's competitive advantages, key risks such as catastrophe exposure and succession, and whether the business remains an attractive opportunity today.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

(00:00:00) Intro

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Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O'Malley take a deep dive into Pinduoduo (NASDAQ: PDD), the Chinese retail giant that has overtaken local competitors like Alibaba and JD.com and expanded internationally with Temu, which has become the most-downloaded e-commerce app in the world. They discuss how to think about the lack of disclosures and what the margin decline and growth deceleration mean for the business going forward. But also whether this presents an exceptional buying opportunity at a single-digit earnings multiple and about 60% of the company’s market capitalization in cash.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

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In today's episode, Kyle Grieve and Shawn O’Malley analyze SpaceX's blockbuster 2026 IPO, dissecting the company's three segments: Space, Connectivity, and AI. They’ll also look at its history, moats, capital allocation, debt, and incentive structure. They’ll stress-test SpaceX's aggressive $28.5 trillion total addressable market claim and walk through the key risks facing the business, from key-man dependence to regulatory exposure. 

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:06:56) How Elon Musk's early rocket failures almost sank SpaceX
(00:08:36) How Space, Connectivity, and AI segments actually work
(00:10:56) Why reusable rockets are reshaping...

Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O'Malley take a deep dive into Kaspi.kz (NASDAQ: KSPI), the Kazakhstani super-app that combines payments, e-commerce, and fintech into a single platform that most of the country uses every day. They unpack why its dominance at home has been so hard for competitors to challenge, and how a company this profitable ends up trading at only around seven times earnings.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

(00:00:00) Intro (00:01:49) How Kaspi became Kazakhstan's No.1 superapp (00:16:56) What business units Kaspi operates (00:35:38) What role the fintech business plays (00:37:54) How the marketplace differs from Mercado Li...

Shawn O'Malley and Daniel Mahncke explore Restoration Hardware (ticker: RH).

In this episode, you'll learn how RH was able to reinvent itself as a high-end furniture retailer, using opulent galleries, high-end dining, private yachts, and a membership model based on Amazon Prime and Costco.

RH is an incredibly bold and unique business, not afraid to use unconventional viral marketing efforts to drive customers into stores, as they aim to set styles for the ultra-rich. Shawn and Daniel dig into the business, risks for shareholders, and estimate RH’s intrinsic value, plus so much more!

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Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O'Malley take a deep dive into Auto1 Group (ETR: AG1), the Berlin-based used-car platform. They examine whether Auto1's instant-guaranteed-pricing model is a genuine consumer moat or a balance-sheet liability in disguise, what the economics actually look like in 2026 once you separate the merchant flywheel from the retail build-out, and the more uncomfortable side of the bull case.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

(00:00:00) Intro (00:03:23) Why the traditional used-car market doesn’t work well (00:10:24) About the size of the used-car market (00:13:11) How Auto1’s business model works (00:16:38) Who Auto1’s founders are (00...

In today’s episode, William Green speaks with Emily Haisley, who heads the Behavioral Finance team at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, with $14 trillion under management. Here, she explores the critical intersection of investing & psychology, explaining how she helps elite fund managers identify & counteract their behavioral biases, regulate their emotions, optimize their physiological state, avoid systematic mistakes, & take risks that align with their edge. This conversation offers powerful insights on how to win the inner game of investing.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:40) How Emily Haisley became head of Behavioral Finance at BlackRock (00:23:52) How he...

Kyle Grieve and Shawn O’Malley analyze American Tower, the global cell tower business that powers the wireless networks we rely on every day. They unpack how leasing tower space to carriers creates durable recurring revenue, why its stacked competitive advantages form one of the widest moats in the market, and how a steadily growing debt load complicates the picture.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:51) How American Tower powers the wireless networks we use (00:06:21) How AMT creates recurring revenue (00:08:09) Why adding additional tenants dramatically boosts profits per tower (00:13:57) The three moats protecting American Tower from comp...

In today’s episode, Stig Brodersen is joined by Tobias Carlisle and Hari Ramachandra for a new round of stock pitches. Hari makes the case for Meta as a leading AI-powered advertising platform. Tobias breaks down Booking Holdings and whether its travel moat can withstand the rise of AI assistants. Stig analyzes Adobe, exploring the durability of its creative software ecosystem amid rapid technological change.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:31) Why Hari is bullish on Meta (Ticker: META), highlighting its advertising dominance, network effects, and long-term monetization potential.
(00:03:38) The bear case for...

Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O'Malley take a deep dive into Copa Holdings — the Panama-based hub-and-spoke airline whose investment case now turns on two of the most debated questions in the stock today: whether Copa is a structural exception to the airline curse — protected by a geography no rival can copy and a cost base only a handful of carriers in the world can match — or whether even the best airline in the Americas eventually gets pulled into the same gravity that has destroyed value for nearly every other carrier.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:35) Why airlines...

Kyle Grieve discusses what bubbles are, why they form, and why they always feel different in real time. He’ll examine historical patterns through frameworks from Insana, Kindleberger, and Howard Marks, and explain how investors can protect themselves by focusing on intrinsic value over narratives rather than speculation.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:31) Why understanding bubbles is critical for long-term investor survival (00:04:31) How “this time is different” fuels every historical bubble (00:05:37) Why smart money, incentives, and career risk inflate bubbles (00:07:21) How investors rationalize bubbles using new, useless KPIs (00:08:56) The predictable emotional arc: skepticism, euphoria, panic, collapse...

Kyle Grieve and Shawn O’Malley analyze QXO, the ambitious building-products distribution company led by serial industry consolidator Brad Jacobs, a man who has turned multiple boring industries into extraordinary wealth-creation machines throughout his career. Tune in as they debate whether Brad Jacobs' unparalleled track record as a capital allocator is enough to justify investing in a business that is still very much a work in progress.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:03) How Brad Jacobs built multiple billion-dollar companies from scratch (00:05:49) The structure QXO used to go public fast (00:07:05) How Beacon Roofing was acquired despite a po...

Shawn O'Malley and Daniel Mahncke explore Grab Holdings (ticker: GRAB).

In this episode, you'll learn how Grab was able to quickly grow across eight countries in Southeast Asia, and what local adaptations they made to outmaneuver Uber, which eventually ceded its entire market share to Grab.  

Despite Grab’s astronomical successes, the company’s stock is down 70% since IPO, and investors are wondering if perhaps now is finally a good entry point after the company reached its first full year of profitability. Shawn and Daniel discuss and estimate Grab’s intrinsic value, plus so much more!

Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O'Malley take a deep dive into Wix.com — the Israeli website-building platform whose investment case now turns on two of the most debated questions in the stock today: whether the generative-AI wave that lets anyone spin up a site from a text prompt is the end of Wix or whether Wix is too sticky, and whether the Base 44 acquisition — Wix's bet on AI-powered app generation — is the next leg of the story or a distraction from the SMB infrastructure business the company already dominates.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:32) How Wix was foun...

Kyle Grieve and Shawn O’Malley analyze LIFCO, one of the world's leading industrial serial acquirers operating through three distinct divisions spanning dental supplies, demolition equipment, and niche systems solutions across Europe.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:39) The fascinating history of LIFCO (00:07:31) How Carl Bennett built the DNA that still guides LIFCO's acquisition strategy today (00:09:24) Fredrik Karlsson's legendary track record and why he bought more stock after being removed (00:11:16) The three distinct business segments and how they drive growth independently (00:17:29) LIFCO's rigorous eight-step acquisition process (00:31:52) How LIFCO uses put/call options to align management incentives (00:40:46) Why...

In today's episode, Kyle Grieve and Shawn O’Malley analyze NVR, Inc., a homebuilder that has achieved incredible returns through disciplined capital allocation and aggressive share buybacks. They’ll explore NVR's differentiated business model, which helps minimize capital intensity and risk, and examine how this strategy has enabled superior returns on capital. They’ll navigate how to think of NVR through cycles and whether it’s a business that is simple to understand.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:30 - How NVR became a legendary share cannibal in homebuilding 00:05:05 - The LPA model and how NVR de-ris...

In this episode, Stig Brodersen speaks with David Fagan about why simplicity often beats complexity in investing and life. They discuss why many investors overcomplicate wealth creation, how simple systems can lead to better long-term outcomes, and why clarity, focus, and consistency are often underrated advantages.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:13 - Why you should choose simplicity over complexity in investing and life
00:14:13 - Why complexity is hardwired into us
00:18:26 - The simple truth about becoming financially independent
00:34:17 - Why simplicity gives clarity and peace of...

Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O'Malley take a deep dive into Sea Limited — the largest Southeast Asian marketplace whose investment case now turns on two of the most debated questions in the stock today: whether Shopee's dominance across Southeast Asia can hold up against TikTok Shop without margins being structurally capped near current levels, and whether Sea's expansion into Brazil, head-to-head with Mercado Libre, is the next leg of the story or a costly distraction from the markets where the company already wins.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:36 - How Sea Limited was founded 00:06:39 - Whic...

In this episode, Stig Brodersen welcomes back renowned macroeconomist and bestselling author Lyn Alden. They explore fiscal dominance, gold, energy markets, and the shifting role of the U.S. dollar in a more fragmented global economy. Lyn also explains why higher interest rates may no longer slow inflation the way they once did, and what this changing macro regime means for investors.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:24 - Why you can’t ignore macro in the era of fiscal dominance
00:13:00 - How to think about treasuries and gold with resp...

Kyle Grieve and Shawn O’Malley analyze Formula One Group, a business that commands nearly a billion global fans, generates billions in revenue from only 24 live events, and boasts free cash flow margins nearly any business would envy. They’ll trace the company’s growth history, untangle its complex capital structure, and assess its current debt situation. They’ll also cover F1’s competitive advantages, pricing power, incentives, and so much more!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:55 - How F1 generates billions of dollars from 24 live events 00:03:22 - Why most sports franchises fail to produce cash...

Hosted by Stig Brodersen, William Green, Shawn O'Malley, Daniel Mahncke, and Kyle Grieve, The Investor’s Podcast has proudly reached nearly 200 million downloads, as the world's largest stock-investing-focused podcast.

On the show, we study a range of businesses and their investment prospects, from Spotify to Amazon, serial acquirers like Constellation Software, deep value plays, and more, using lessons from some of the world's most famous investors, like ⁠Warren Buffett⁠, ⁠Charlie Munger⁠, and ⁠Howard Marks⁠. 

Leverage the lessons we learned from studying, and ⁠talking to⁠, the world's best investors, and apply them in your...

William Green chats with David Epstein about his groundbreaking new book, Inside the Box. In this conversation, David shares practical strategies & research-based insights to help you flourish professionally & personally. In a world of infinite choices & complexity, this episode directs your focus to what matters most.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:05 - What David Epstein learned from a brilliant Nobel Prize-winning economist 00:04:14 - Why it’s smart to aim for “good enough” 00:05:59 - How a brutal injury led David to life-changing breakthroughs 00:20:14 - What he does to preserve his attention 00:25:58 - How Isabel Allende illustrates the powe...

Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O'Malley take a deep dive into Microsoft — the $3 trillion incumbent whose entire investment thesis now hinges on two of the most contested questions in technology: whether AI will reinforce or quietly dismantle the software franchises that built the company, and whether the OpenAI partnership is the strategic masterstroke it appeared to be in 2023, or a relationship that is slowly turning from asset into liability.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:27 - About all major business units 00:12:05 - How LinkedIn’s business works 00:18:24 - How the cloud business keeps growing 00:21:17 - What the fu...

On today’s show, Stig Brodersen talks with legendary value investor Mohnish Pabrai. Since its inception in 1999, one dollar invested in the flagship fund would have grown to $17.29, compared with $6.29 for the S&P 500. In the special interview, you can join Mohnish and Stig’s discussion on Berkshire Hathaway, investing mistakes, and the importance of letting winners run.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:53 - Whether Greg Abel’s compensation is fair 00:05:21 - Why most investments fail, and why that’s okay (the “4% rule”) 00:11:40 - Whether to own Berkshire Hathaway or the S&P500 over the next centu...

Kyle Grieve and Shawn O’Malley analyze OTC Markets Group, a hidden infrastructure company that collects tolls on over 12,000 securities while operating with fewer than 130 employees. They explore why OTCM is the only viable option for small companies and international firms seeking access to the US market. Find out whether the current stock price offers an attractive entry point for value investors.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:24 - Why OTC Markets operates as a hidden monopoly, most investors have never heard of 00:03:08 - The three business segments generating recurring revenue from market infrastructure 00:09:09 - How...

Stig has invited legendary investor Chris Bloomstran from Semper Augustus to teach us how to value Berkshire Hathaway on today's show. Semper Augustus has an outstanding track record with a compounded annual growth rate of 12.4% on equities since its fund's inception on 2/28/1999, compared to 8.5% for the S&P 500.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:25 - What the intrinsic value of Berkshire Hathaway is, and what type of return you can get going forward 00:21:39 - Chris’s opinion on Greg Abel’s first letter to shareholders 00:38:39 - How should Berkshire management be compensated? 01:05:36 - How to think...

Shawn O'Malley and Daniel Mahncke explore CoStar Group (ticker: CSGP), the dominant provider of commercial real estate data and analytics, and assess whether the company's massive $5 billion bet on Homes.com can successfully crack the residential real estate market dominated by Zillow, or whether this ambitious expansion will destroy shareholder value.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:42 - Why the company has delivered nearly 60 consecutive quarters of double-digit revenue growth 00:09:17 - How CoStar built a dominant, near-monopoly position in commercial real estate data and analytics 00:18:30 - How CoStar generates roughly 50% profit margins on its core B2...

On today's episode, Clay is joined by Daniel Mahncke to discuss the companies they find most interesting in today’s market. They discuss Mercado Libre’s long-term growth potential, Amazon’s expanding earnings power driven by AI and robotics, and how AI could impact Constellation Software and other related companies. They wrap up the discussion by touching on a company that AI is very unlikely to disrupt — Hermès.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro
00:10:08 - Why Mercado Libre continues to grow rapidly despite short-term margin pressure
00:17:19 - How Mercado Libre’s ecosystem cre...

Daniel Mahncke, Shawn O'Malley, and Kyle Grieve take a closer look at the Intrinsic Value Portfolio and some of the high-priority watchlist companies. The episode covers high-conviction portfolio holdings such as Airbnb, Universal Music Group, Reddit, and Exor, as well as watchlist companies like FICO, Trade Desk, and Nintendo. They also cover companies that might need to leave the portfolio today. Candidates are TransDigm and Copart.

For each, the question is the same: what are the key points of the investment thesis, has the thesis held up, and does the current valuation still make sense?

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