The hottest Investing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Finance Topics

22nd Century Group: Answering the Wrong Question

Invariant • 609 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investing
  1. 22nd Century Group focused on developing low-nicotine cigarettes but didn't consider if consumers wanted the product.
  2. The company struggled with profitability and faced challenges even after receiving authorization for their products.
  3. Shifting focus to a different product with conventional nicotine levels came too late for the company to recover.

Everyone’s Selling Software. Should You Be Buying?

Spilled Coffee • 24 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Software is going through a real-time business-model repricing: companies can beat estimates and still get heavily sold.
  2. The sell-off is broad and severe. Major names plunged and many stocks are down 20–40% or more, marking the worst week since 2008 for the group.
  3. The sector is at its most oversold level since 2018, with about 73% of software stocks classified as oversold—the highest level on record.

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Jon’s Newsletter • 179 implied HN points • 26 May 24
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Companies with high profit margins are doing really well. For example, Nvidia has a gross profit margin of 78%, which is impressive compared to others like Amazon and Apple.
  2. There are good opportunities in the bond market now. After a long time, stocks aren't the only option for investors looking for decent returns.
  3. Amazon is expected to overtake Walmart in sales next year. With Amazon's growth in cloud services, it's on track for $711 billion in revenue, compared to Walmart's $703 billion.

What Is A Stock Split and What Causes It?

Concepts of Finance 🧠 • 239 implied HN points • 02 May 24
💰 Finance Investing
  1. A stock split means one expensive share is split into multiple cheaper shares, which keeps the total value the same. It makes shares more affordable for buyers, but existing shareholders get more shares automatically.
  2. Companies often do stock splits to appeal to smaller investors when prices get too high. Lower prices can boost demand because people see it as a better deal, even though the company's overall value doesn't change.
  3. A reverse stock split combines shares to increase their price and can be seen negatively by investors. It often suggests a company is struggling, as they might be trying to inflate prices without real improvements.

Sanity Check

DeFi Education • 1039 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🔮 Crypto Investing
  1. Some bad actors in the crypto world are facing legal consequences, which can lead to a healthier market. With fewer scams, investors might feel more confident returning to crypto after previous losses.
  2. US regulators are starting to change their stance on crypto. This shift could allow more compliant options for Americans to safely invest in digital currencies through trusted companies.
  3. Big companies are beginning to embrace crypto, targeting younger investors. This could lead to more mainstream adoption, but many might have to pay fees for access instead of handling their own assets.
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The Fed is going to botch this

The Bitcoin Layer • 530 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
💰 Finance Investing
  1. The Fed may mishandle their approach to QT, which could cause issues.
  2. There is concern that the Fed is not properly addressing the balance sheet in their policies.
  3. The Fed's decision-making process on balance sheet matters appears arbitrary and lacking forethought.

Things That Don't Change

DeFi Education • 859 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🔮 Crypto Investing
  1. Consumers will always want cheaper, faster, and more accessible financial services. These basic needs won't change over the years.
  2. DeFi allows for innovation without needing a lot of money or big companies. Even small developers can create useful financial tools.
  3. The banking industry is slow to adapt, while DeFi can offer services anytime and anywhere. This gives DeFi a big advantage over traditional banks.

DeFi Education Q&A (January 2024)

DeFi Education • 599 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🔮 Crypto Investing
  1. Bitcoin (BTC) is currently down since the approval of the ETF, showing some volatility in the market.
  2. Ethereum (ETH) has seen recent gains, moving up from a buy level of 0.05 to 0.06 against Bitcoin.
  3. The farming project mentioned earlier is doing well, indicating a positive trend in that area.

Breaking Burry

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 163 implied HN points • 13 Nov 25
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Short sellers like Michael Burry often see problems in the market before others do, but current market conditions are making it hard for them to profit.
  2. The market has become distorted due to excessive liquidity, which is making poor companies appear successful and keeping bad investments afloat.
  3. Burry's decision to step back from managing his fund signals awareness of these distortions, as he believes that the fundamentals will eventually matter again when the market returns to reality.

Ideastorm #10

Market Sentiment • 569 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Investing in companies with many trademarks relative to their valuation has consistently outperformed the market for 50 years.
  2. Political leanings of fund managers influence their investment decisions during presidential elections.
  3. Consider risk-adjusted returns, like the Sharpe ratio, when evaluating market-beating portfolios like Motley Fool's.

The Dam Has Burst In Silver And Gold - Now What?

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 51 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Silver and gold have surged sharply — silver is up about 6% and trading near $91 an ounce, signaling a major breakout in precious metals.
  2. This move looks like a "blow-off valve" for excess money printing. Precious metals are absorbing the inflationary pressure that monetary expansion creates.
  3. Whether this is a short squeeze or a blow-off top is less important than the practical choice investors face about taking profits, and there are signs the run-up may not be over.

The Best Tools for the Job

Market Sentiment • 1002 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
💰 Finance Investing
  1. The post provides a curated list of the best tools and resources for investors
  2. Various categories are covered like data sources, portfolio analysis, newsletters/blogs, short-sellers, and institutional research
  3. Tools range from financial APIs, portfolio visualizers, to newsletters and even sites for social media tracking and book downloading

DeFi Education's Holiday Book List 2023

DeFi Education • 739 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
💰 Finance Investing
  1. The holiday season is a great time for reading, and the recommended books cater to different interests for personal growth.
  2. Books like 'The Alchemy of Finance' and 'Undermoney' offer unique insights into finance and investing, influenced by real experiences and theories.
  3. Many of the books are available for free online, making it easy for anyone to dive into these enriching materials.

The Day Crypto Died: Anton Wahlman

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 25 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🔮 Crypto Investing
  1. People are coming home to see big losses in their brokerage accounts after a crypto crash and are suddenly asking what crypto even is.
  2. A lot of investors bought crypto because they were told it was the future and would only go up, not because they understood it.
  3. This collapse shouldn’t be surprising — the market was built on hype and unrealistic expectations, which made it fragile.

Hong Kong's death has been exaggerated

Asian Century Stocks • 471 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Investor sentiment in Hong Kong is currently negative, but the perception of the city changing or dying may be misplaced due to its advantages like low taxes, currency stability, and efficient infrastructure.
  2. Despite economic struggles in China, Hong Kong's economy is recovering with tourist returns, retail sales growth, and positive net migration, with potential for lower interest rates in the future.
  3. Hong Kong remains vital in Asia, benefiting from low taxes, reliable legal system, and financial hub status, even amidst challenges like interest rate impact and risks from geopolitics and National Security Law.

The Bear Cave #280

The Bear Cave • 513 implied HN points • 29 Jun 25
💼 Business Investing
  1. New reports suggest issues at several companies, including financial mismanagement and misleading statements. It's a reminder to research thoroughly before investing.
  2. There have been significant executive resignations at companies like Trex and Lanvin Group. Frequent leadership changes can signal instability in a company.
  3. The SEC is looking into various companies, hinting at potential undisclosed investigations. Keeping an eye on SEC updates could help investors make better decisions.

Fear Not

The Better Letter • 511 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Fear sells and makes money, driving many market predictions based on fear.
  2. Investors face fear daily, driven by narratives over data, making them susceptible to fear-mongering.
  3. Long-term investment is crucial; while fear may lead to short-term moves, the market trends upwards over time, favoring investment.

"The End Of The Monetary Road": Larry Lepard On Gold, Silver & Bitcoin

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 32 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
💰 Finance Investing
  1. The global monetary system looks like it's nearing a major breaking point, with charts pointing to a secular change and rising monetary chaos.
  2. Gold and silver have already made stratospheric moves, and investors who positioned early saw huge gains (one fund reported about 170% in 2025).
  3. These market signals are getting little mainstream attention but deserve close watching into 2026, especially for precious metals and Bitcoin as potential hedges.

Simple Portfolios

Market Sentiment • 923 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Steve Edmundson's successful investment strategy was to do as little as possible, keeping costs low and not trying to beat the market.
  2. Investing doesn't have to be complicated - simple portfolios like the 60/40, Cockroach, and 3-Fund portfolios can be the foundation for long-term success.
  3. Ray Dalio's All Weather Portfolio aims to perform well over time without predictions, with an asset allocation of 55% bonds, 30% stocks, and 15% commodities.

Downside at NVIDIA (and the Nasdaq at large)

Philoinvestor • 491 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investing
  1. NVIDIA's stock price increased significantly faster than its earnings, raising questions about its valuation.
  2. The launch of Chat GPT led to a surge in demand for GPUs and an uptick in NVIDIA's stock.
  3. Microsoft's $10 billion investment in Open AI and the AI hype train are contributing factors to the current market dynamics.

The VC Corner 📰 #10

The VC Corner • 479 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
💼 Business Investing
  1. Figma is lowering its company value, which shows that even well-known startups can face tough times. It's important for businesses to be realistic about their worth.
  2. Knowing how to value your startup is crucial for attracting investors. Different factors play a role in determining a startup's value.
  3. Generative AI is becoming a big topic and resource for many. Understanding it can help startups leverage technology for growth.

Massive growth potential for the Bitcoin ETFs

Ecoinometrics • 530 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investing
  1. The approval of Bitcoin ETFs by the SEC can lead to massive growth potential for Bitcoin investments.
  2. Fees in ETFs are crucial for performance - lower fees can significantly impact investment returns over time.
  3. Banks initially needing loans now profit from them, showcasing an interesting shift in liquidity management.

Having a Conversation With Myself: 2025

Investing 101 • 55 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
💼 Business Investing
  1. Writing is primarily a tool for thinking and self-reflection, and doing it consistently compounds the creator even more than it grows an audience.
  2. Venture capital and startup culture have become noisy and scale-obsessed, so what’s needed are conviction-led or “adventure” investors and builders who focus on durable, mission-driven companies rather than chasing hype.
  3. In a hyperlegible, attention-driven world, embracing nuance, forming independent beliefs, and understanding interdependencies are essential to avoid being programmed by trends and to build things worth building.

NASDAQ:ARM is Comically Undervalued

Irrational Analysis • 159 implied HN points • 23 May 24
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Irrational Analysis is heavily invested in the semiconductor industry, giving insights into the comical undervaluation of NASDAQ:ARM.
  2. Nvidia's massive demand for GB200 and Grace CPUs could have significant implications for ARM (LTD)'s value and future performance.
  3. Nvidia Grace CPUs might exceed sell-side expectations, potentially propelling ARM (LTD) value beyond current projections.

Irresistible Insights

Venture Prose • 299 implied HN points • 24 Mar 24
💼 Business Investing
  1. Founders can stand out when they combine genius with the obvious in their industry or approach.
  2. Sometimes unique and brilliant ideas may seem natural to founders, requiring help to highlight these insights for investors.
  3. Investors seek out founders with irresistible qualities and ideas, often discovering hidden gems in unexpected places.

The Software Slog

Buck on Software • 884 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Investing
  1. The software industry may be facing a period of slow growth and low returns, akin to a tiring and boring slog.
  2. Consensus estimates predict a rebound in SaaS growth, resembling past historical market cycles.
  3. Zombie SaaS companies, sustained by oversized funding, create challenges for non-zombie competitors in terms of price competition and talent acquisition.

The Great Disconnect

Buggy Humans in a Messy World • 884 implied HN points • 19 May 23
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Learn from the best in your domain by studying their common approaches and applying them to your own journey.
  2. In investing, aligning with the strategies of the greatest of all time can lead to success.
  3. There seems to be a disconnect in how aspiring investors follow strategies compared to successful investors.