Boy if I tell you what happened with intc stock recently you’ll really meltdown lol.
The economy
- Thread starter Rastafarian
- Start date
Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels does not mean we cut them out entirely. There's a reason that TEXAS, of all places, gets 30% of their power from renewable energy. It's a good supplement because solar/wind are about 30-40% the cost of fossil fuels per kWh. Liken it to diversifying your investment portfolio - you don't want to have all your eggs in one basket, so to speak.
Ok. How do you score beating earnings revenue with stock going down, in meta’s case big time
Happens literally everyday. Especially in the tech sector. You clearly don’t invest in the market. Figured.
Ok?Boy if I tell you what happened with intc stock recently you’ll really meltdown lol.
It’s generally thought the stock is down because they are spending too much on Capex or R&d.
Some think that’s a bad sign, I took it as a buying opportunity. META looks to be in great shape to me.
META trades at about 12x fwd earnings around $615. That’s very cheap compared to other Mega’s. Tsla trades 200x for comparison.
Rest of METAs #’s were good, strong cash flow. They set aside money for lawsuits in the future, so that is expected. I like the stock
I dont have a problem with nuclear. We are a nation that thinks short-term, to our detriment. You are probably a person who only thinks short term in your own life, most magas are.
Trump's blockade of the Strait should be knee-capping to China, but they think long-term. They have developed alternative energy much faster than us. And soon, they will be the ones exporting those technologies to the world while leaving us behind.
We are cursed with uneducated, short-term thinkers being put in charge in this country. Sad!
There's many reasons for this, but none so glaring as the transition to a quarterly earnings economy. The only thing that matters is quarterly earnings so we end up sacrificing long term strategy to ensure we see short term growth.
Say what you will about Trump, but I do support his position that we should shift away from reliance on quarterly earnings reporting.
"Tech stocks going down when they beat earnings is good actually, you're just an idiot." No, I don't play The Casino. I have some AAPL I inherited. I park my money in my 401k and my HYSA. I generally keep up with macro-economic stuff
I'm not crying about it.
Sorry, I thought you were talking about the discrepancy between the two states. I mean national gas price averages, not just high gas tax states like California.
I think a supply shock is bad and will severely negative consequences across the globe, especially in Asia. There will be cascading price impacts. Farmers here are going to get crushed even more.
Welcome to the vibecession. This is the "Brandonization" of Trump and MAGA. Despite some people actually doing well, people are reporting pretty bad economic sentiment. The divergence has flummoxed social scientists/researchers/economists for a few years. It seems to be a post-pandemic phenomenon largely led by price increases, especially in housing, and higher interest rates
Did I say it’s good or did I say it happens all the time? The market typically prices that in before the public knows. That’s why that happens. It’s very common.
You may be the most confusing person on here. You know how it works but you just asked me how it works. Are you ok?
your posts:
Ok. How do you score beating earnings revenue with stock going down, in meta’s case big time
Then…..
"Tech stocks going down when they beat earnings is good actually, you're just an idiot." No, I don't play The Casino. I have some AAPL I inherited. I park my money in my 401k and my HYSA. I generally keep up with macro-economic stuff
Then…..
I am aware that it is common
wtf?
ORCL is a higher risk stock compare to META. However, I like ORCL too. They have essentially "bet the farm" on AI as i understand it. I don't own any right now, I missed the bottom there, as i was looking to get in the high $15X area.
All these AI stocks are higher risk, but that also means higher potential returns. My thesis is that they won't miss. Those are Americans best and brightest working on new technologies and they all see potential.
ORCL is a buy imo, but it will be more volatile. Im looking for a good entry point.
Are you? It appears you are not. If you know it’s common why are you asking and acting as if it’s not? Very odd.
The contrast between a record-sized upper-middle class and the recent Gallup poll showing 55% of Americans say their finances are worsening highlights a growing disconnect between long-term wealth accumulation and short-term cost pressures. While more families have technically reached "upper-middle" status, record-high prices for essentials like housing, energy, and healthcare are making them feel less secure. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The Disconnect Between Wealth and Sentiment [1]
- The Cost of "Upper-Middle" Living: Although more families earn $150,000+, the cost of maintaining a standard of living in that bracket has spiked. Expenses like college, childcare, and gas (which spiked to an average of $4.11 in April 2026) are consuming a larger share of these higher incomes.
- A "K-Shaped" Experience: The 31% of households in the upper-middle class hold significant equity in homes and stocks, but the remaining 69%—and even those within the lower end of the upper-middle class—are struggling with affordability hardship.
- "Vibepression": Economists use terms like "vibepression" to describe why negative sentiment persists despite solid GDP or wealth growth. For many, the "national economic engine" is running, but they feel it isn't propelling them forward personally. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Why 55% Say Finances are Worsening
- Record Pessimism: The 55% figure reported in Gallup's April 2026 poll is the highest since tracking began in 2001, even surpassing Great Recession lows.
- Persistent Inflation: This is the fifth consecutive year that more Americans have reported worsening finances than improving ones—a trend fueled by post-pandemic price increases.
- Specific Hardships: Gallup notes that 55% specifically report that price increases have caused moderate to severe hardship on their ability to maintain their current lifestyle. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The Bottom Line: You can be statistically "wealthy" by historical standards while still feeling "worse off" because the costs of entry to a middle-class life (homes, cars, insurance) have outpaced recent wage gains for many. [1, 2, 3, 4]Key Findings
Perhaps I was asking a rhetorical question. You think the economy is great and that there is no AI bubble. Your evidence is tech stocks are up. Those that aren't up, well that is normal. I know what you are saying but it comes across as a very "heads I win, tails you lose" answer.
I believe silver is at a good place for industrial demand. SLVR, PAAS, AG, HL, WPM, CDE.....
Also oil services & equipment. BKR, HAL, SLB...
Key Aspects of the Silver 85% Rule:
Also oil services & equipment. BKR, HAL, SLB...
Key Aspects of the Silver 85% Rule:
- Basel III Impact: This regulatory change, often referenced in early 2026, requires banks to hold 85 cents in real, physical money for every dollar of paper silver on their books, reducing their ability to manage large, unallocated positions.
- Physical Over Paper: It shifts banking behavior from holding "paper IOUs" to holding actual, physical silver, reducing market reliance on derivative paper silver.
- Market Impact: This change is expected to increase demand for physical silver and reduce the ability of institutions to suppress prices, tightening the market alongside ongoing supply deficits.
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I don't think most people would argue against utilizing all available sources of energy. It's only logical
if you don't play in the casino, where do you put the money in your 401k?
Renewable is a supplement, data centers require a constant and stable energy supply. That was a big boost to GNRC with the timeline needed for increasing nuclear
Dude. You said that certain stocks were down. I corrected you bc you were wrong. Wtf are you talking about.
The contrast between a record-sized upper-middle class and the recent Gallup poll showing 55% of Americans say their finances are worsening highlights a growing disconnect between long-term wealth accumulation and short-term cost pressures. While more families have technically reached "upper-middle" status, record-high prices for essentials like housing, energy, and healthcare are making them feel less secure. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The Disconnect Between Wealth and Sentiment [1]
- The Cost of "Upper-Middle" Living: Although more families earn $150,000+, the cost of maintaining a standard of living in that bracket has spiked. Expenses like college, childcare, and gas (which spiked to an average of $4.11 in April 2026) are consuming a larger share of these higher incomes.
- A "K-Shaped" Experience: The 31% of households in the upper-middle class hold significant equity in homes and stocks, but the remaining 69%—and even those within the lower end of the upper-middle class—are struggling with affordability hardship.
- "Vibepression": Economists use terms like "vibepression" to describe why negative sentiment persists despite solid GDP or wealth growth. For many, the "national economic engine" is running, but they feel it isn't propelling them forward personally. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Why 55% Say Finances are Worsening
- Record Pessimism: The 55% figure reported in Gallup's April 2026 poll is the highest since tracking began in 2001, even surpassing Great Recession lows.
- Persistent Inflation: This is the fifth consecutive year that more Americans have reported worsening finances than improving ones—a trend fueled by post-pandemic price increases.
- Specific Hardships: Gallup notes that 55% specifically report that price increases have caused moderate to severe hardship on their ability to maintain their current lifestyle. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Findings
This is a completely non-political post/position. I think there has been a significant shift in "lifestyle" expectation for the upper middle class.
I would consider my upbringing to be upper middle class. I grew up in a very basic house in a very basic neighborhood. My parents drove basic cars - ex. a midrange minivan and a "nicer" sedan that my dad's job mostly paid for. We didn't go on lavish vacations, just went to Wild Dunes for a week or two every summer (local beach). I went on one trip that required an airplane my entire childhood - to Disney. We didn't have fancy things, lavish decor or anything out of the ordinary. "Summer camp" consisted of riding around town on my bike or a junior membership to the local crappy golf course that cost about $100/mo and I could go play every day.
Fast forward to today. It seems that people believe the lifestyle that accompanies upper middle class needs to include a pair of Yukons in the driveway (or other expensive vehicles), homes that are farrrrr more expensive and nicer than what I grew up in, instagram-worthy vacations, expensive camps, etc. And the biggest issue of all - keeping up with the Jones' on social media.
So I have no doubt that it "seems" harder to make it financially today. But I also think the expectations have shifted significantly, not just the cost of the basics.
Oh come on, clearly "just deposit into my 401k" and "playing The Casino" are very different things
This is basically the vibescession convo from the last few years. An issue is that the low cost options for stuff have basically vanished. Lower level car prices have stayed relatively the same accountng for inflation but there are far fewer options for those, particularly sedans. The low cost summer camps have basically vanished. Childcare has gotten insanely expensive. Housing has also gotten crazy expensive. I think a lot of it besides that is just generalized sticker shock
I had a similar upbringing though it was probably more basic than yours. My father played football in college as an OT, joined the Air Force, had a nice career and then had a drunken driving car crash that led to a traumatic brain injury that affected his motor skills and ability to process information, so he joined the USPS and was a mailman for the rest of his life, while my mother stopped working to take care of the kids.
Because of this, our vacations revolved around wherever his yearly postal conventions were held - Houston, Hattiesburg Mississippi(twice) and a couple of trips to the beach. We never had fancy cars, clothes or niceties that the upper middle class had and I never took a plane flight until I became an independent adult. However, I wouldn't call us poor because he made great investment decisions and had a million dollars when he died. But it did teach me a lesson about frugality, saving and investments.
I enjoy my life and travel much more extensively than they did, including a trip to Spain in a few weeks, I have a fairly nice four bedroom house and bought a new car last year that I paid off, but I wouldn't call my lifestyle lavish. Though I do feel the pinch more than I did in the past and have dialed back my spending in other areas. So even though I'm fine, I understand the vibe people are feeling that things aren't that great at the moment.
Sorry that I think gambling on different stocks is different than parking my 401k in whatever lowrisk vanguard the plan picksBro I’m asleep with this. I’m out.
a lot of people are doing well, apparently.. The WSJ just did an article - couple of weeks ago - reporting that middle class is shrinking. Why? Because more are moving to upper middle....
You hear more about people who aren't doing well, simply because most who are doing well don't complain as much...and in some cases, it's not fashionable to tell everyone how well you're doing.
but don't you designate where to put the money in your 401k - like mutual funds ETF, fixed income? Not trying to be a pain, but, you're young, you should be investing in something other than fixed income
I would have to check re the 401k.
Yeah the middle class is getting "squeezed" from both ends. We have a K-shaped economy right now, which isn't exactly good.
for sure, but we want you to be on the upper part of the "K". I've lived both sides of that letter...and the upper part is better.
There was an old adage...we spend all your time working, making money for someone else, but we don't spend time looking after our own money. There are some really financially savvy people on this board. Use their knowledge for your benefit. I, we, want you to be financially independent....if you're not already
Thankfully I'm on the upper part of the K. Wife and I are in the top quartile of household incomes, we bought a place 5 years ago, but the unit next door (we live in a condo building) 2.5 years ago, and did some renovations to combine them. Needed some help from her parents with it but they're retired and don't mind. We live in an expensive city (recent property tax increase sucked big time) but we only have 1 car and the last time I filled it up with gas was late January/early February. Only drive about 40 miles a week
Definitely could be doing some more investing but don't need to and it isn't a huge interest of mine. I might look into it but I started a new job just over a year ago that takes up a ton of time.
so you know already that being on the upper end of the "k" is better. I don't know what everybody doesn't want to be there.