Stock Spotlight

In Episode 32 of Stock Spotlight, host Michael dives deep into Napco Security Technologies ($NSSC), a founder-led small-cap security company serving the professional alarm, locking, access control and fire communication markets. At first glance, Napco looks like a niche hardware manufacturer with uneven equipment demand. But underneath that hardware business is a recurring service revenue stream w...

Is Honeywell Aerospace a compelling spin-off opportunity on June 29th or is the market already pricing it like a premium aerospace asset? In Episode 31 of Stock Spotlight, host Michael breaks down the $HONA spin-off, the implied equity value and enterprise value from the when-issued price and the valuation debate around 2026E EV/Adjusted EBIT. The business has a lot to like: commercial aftermarket...

In this episode of Stock Spotlight, I’m joined by Blake Fischer, an independent investment advisor and fellow investor, to discuss how to build a portfolio you can actually stick with through different market environments. We explore the evolution from stock picking to portfolio construction, why diversification may be making a comeback after a decade dominated by U.S. mega-cap growth and how inve...

This episode is the foundation for everything Stock Spotlight covers. Michael walks through why he started the podcast, his background in baseball and customer insights, and how both shaped the way he studies businesses and markets. Topics include the 33-question quality checklist, quality growth investing, valuation techniques, portfolio construction and what to expect from future episodes. Tune...

In Episode 29 of Stock Spotlight, host Michael dives deep into Align Technology ($ALGN), the company behind Invisalign and one of the biggest winners of the digital dentistry boom. After a massive post-pandemic re-rating, Align now trades more like a mature medtech company despite still leading the global clear aligner market. Michael breaks down the full investment thesis, including the Invisalig...

Insurance brokers are some of the most consistent compounders in financials, yet they’re often misunderstood. On the surface, companies like $AON, $AJG, $BRO, $MRSH and $WTW can look very similar. But under the hood, differences in business mix, capital allocation and execution lead to very different outcomes for investors. In this episode, I break down how the brokerage model actually works, why...

In this episode of Stock Spotlight, I walk through a quarterly portfolio review across three companies I own: Fortinet, Ferrari and Union Pacific. For each company, I break down: • The original investment thesis • Key KPIs and how they’re trending • What the market is focused on right now • My forward outlook • A simple green / yellow / red rating The goal is simple: track whether execution still...

In this episode of Stock Spotlight, host Michael expands on his investment strategy, focusing on the process of entering new positions and creating effective portfolio tracking metrics. This episode builds upon the previous discussion of investment checklists and benchmarks by introducing additional tools and techniques for successful investing. Michael begins by reiterating his 33-question resear...

In Episode 26 of Stock Spotlight, host Michael sits down with returning guest Shivam for a deep dive into Intercontinental Exchange ($ICE), the global financial infrastructure platform behind the NYSE. The conversation breaks down how ICE actually makes money across its core business segments and why exchanges remain the primary engine of the company. Michael and Shivam walk through the mechanics...

In this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael dives deep into Veeva Systems, the vertically integrated SaaS platform powering critical workflows across the life sciences industry. From clinical trials and regulatory compliance to commercial CRM and embedded data analytics, Veeva has become the operating system for biopharma, delivering elite margins, strong free cash flow per share and a wide econom...

Most investors obsess over what to buy. Very few have a clear, repeatable plan for when to sell. In this episode of Stock Spotlight, I break down the risk-aware and thesis-driven selling framework I use to protect capital early, avoid deep losses and continuously upgrade portfolio quality over time. Selling is not about calling tops. It is about defining your downside before emotion sets in, manag...

In this episode, Michael takes a close look at Toast, one of the fastest growing names in restaurant technology. Toast has delivered a 50% 5-YR revenue CAGR, 80% 5-YR gross profit CAGR, 110%+ net retention and its first year of positive SBC adjusted free cash flow. Despite that momentum, the company is still early in its profitability journey. SaaS quality is improving, but the payments heavy reve...

In this special episode of Stock Spotlight, host Michael steps back from individual company deep dives to unpack the core framework behind his entire investing process — the 15 metrics that truly matter. From returns on capital to reinvestment discipline, from free cash flow conversion to innovation efficiency, these are the numbers that separate durable compounders from fragile growth stories. Mi...

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael shines the light on Cintas Corporation ($CTAS) — the quiet giant that keeps America’s workplaces running. From uniforms and first aid to safety and facility services, Cintas powers over one million business locations with an unmatched blend of scale, efficiency and recurring revenue. Michael walks through why Cintas scored an impressive 82% on his Qualit...

On this special episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael is joined by Shivam Kashan to shine the spotlight on Copart — the global leader in online salvage vehicle auctions and one of the most quietly dominant marketplaces in the United States. Think of Copart as a vertically integrated marketplace: like eBay economically, but with Amazon-like logistics infrastructure and a scale advantage that’s incred...

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael shines the spotlight on Tyler Technologies ($TYL), the largest pure-play provider of public sector software. Think of Tyler as the “operating system of state & local governments” — powering tax collection, court systems, payroll, permitting, and digital citizen services across 13,000+ client sites. With 98% retention and 85% recurring revenue, it’s a...

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael shines the spotlight on Badger Meter ($BMI), the hidden powerhouse behind smart water management. Think of BMI’s meters as the cash registers of utilities: essential, sticky, and increasingly digital. With secular tailwinds in conservation, regulation, and infrastructure investment, the company sits at the intersection of necessity and innovation. Michae...

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael pulls back the curtain on how he personally invests with factors. Instead of spotlighting one company, he explains how he layers factor ETFs on top of his core index exposure - building what he calls a 3-layer cake portfolio: S&P 500 base, factor tilts for extra flavor, stock picks on top for fun. You’ll learn about the major factors (size, value, mo...

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael dives into The Trade Desk ($TTD), the demand-side platform at the heart of programmatic advertising. With deep integrations, a founder-led culture and a commitment to neutrality in a world of walled gardens, TTD has become the go-to tool for agencies and brands navigating the open internet. But even a king has its challenges. Despite strong free cash flo...

In this special episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael steps away from his usual stock deep dives to explore how alternatives can boost portfolio resilience — not for alpha, but for staying power. He shares why traditional diversification failed in 2022, the role of risk-adjusted returns, and the liquid alternatives he now uses personally: • Managed Futures ($DBMF, $KMLM, $CTA) • Gold & Precious...

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael breaks down Manhattan Associates ($MANH), a quiet powerhouse in supply chain software that’s been helping global retailers like Home Depot and CVS orchestrate complex omnichannel operations. With a versionless cloud platform and nearly 30% annual growth in cloud revenue, Manhattan is transitioning from a legacy services-heavy model to a high-margin SaaS...

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, we’re kicking off a brand-new series, Watchlist Battles. These episodes will feature quality companies going head-to-head for a potential spot in my watch list or portfolio. Today’s showdown features three financial services giants: ​ Standard & Poor’s Global ($SPGI) - A diversified powerhouse in financial data, credit ratings and indexing, with scale and re...

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael analyzes Medpace Holdings (MEDP), a unique player in the contract research organization (CRO) space. Unlike industry giants focused on big pharma, Medpace specializes in small to mid-sized firms - a double-edged sword that grants pricing power, but also exposes it to biotech funding volatility. With a potential return to double-digit growth in 2026, Medp...

On this episode of Stock Spotlight, Michael dives into Duolingo (DUOL), the #1 education app that has mastered engagement through viral marketing and AI-driven personalization. He unpacks Duolingo’s high-growth, subscription-led business model, discussing its impressive pricing strategy versus competitors and its expanding optionality beyond language learning. With a Rule of 40 score reaching 87%...

In this episode of Stock Spotlight, host Michael dives into Evolution AB, a prominent player in the online gambling industry known for its innovative live casino solutions. He discusses how Evolution has successfully leveraged its B2B business model to capture significant market share among its competitive set. Despite meeting numerous quantitative benchmarks for Quality Growth, Evolution's ca...