Group 1: Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway - Warren Buffett has delivered compound annual returns of nearly 20% for Berkshire Hathaway since becoming CEO in 1965, with an investment of $100 growing to over $5.5 million today [1] - Buffett is stepping down as CEO at the end of this year, leaving behind a unique legacy [2] Group 2: Visa - Visa holds a leading market position in the global digital payments landscape, with total payment volume exceeding $14.2 trillion last year, outpacing competitors like Mastercard and American Express [4] - Visa benefits from strong network effects, collecting small fees on transactions without significant capital expenditures, resulting in high profit margins [5] - The company is well-positioned to benefit from rising digital transaction volumes, which increase during economic growth and inflationary periods, ensuring continued shareholder rewards [6] Group 3: Moody's - Moody's operates as one of the largest credit rating agencies in the U.S., controlling 80% of the overall credit ratings market in a duopoly with S&P Global, while Fitch Ratings holds a 12.5% share [9]

RT Matt Sheffield (@sheffieldreport)Network effects like this act like a positive feedback loop 🔁Builders deploy where the assets are, expanding the gap↕️And the cycle continues ✅ ...

RT wartime perp | drift (@crispheaney)LIL PERPS ZCASH BULLCASE1) huge TAM2) obvious network effects3) “encrypted bitcoins” is clean narrative4) the name has great virality5) cypherpunk is cool aesthetic6) hedge against emergence of CBDCs and institutionalization of BTC7) i like the letter z8) growing DeFi & wallet support9) old coin10) lot of support from key CT KOLs ...

Core Thesis - Booking Holdings Inc. is viewed positively due to its asset-light marketplace model, strong market position, and significant cash flow generation [1][5]. Business Model - Booking operates an asset-light marketplace connecting travelers and accommodation providers, earning 10-20% commissions per booking, which results in high margins and scalability across over 28 million listings in 220+ countries [2]. - The company benefits from powerful network effects, where increased hotel listings attract more travelers, creating a self-reinforcing competitive advantage [2]. Market Position - While Expedia leads in the U.S. market, Booking dominates Europe and Asia, being the global leader in room nights booked [3]. - Booking's diversification into vacation rentals enhances its competitive edge against Airbnb by providing a one-stop solution for homes, apartments, and hotels [3]. Financial Performance - The company enjoys strong operating margins exceeding 30% in favorable years, supported by a financial model characterized by negative working capital, where traveler payments are collected upfront [3][4]. - Booking reported a free cash flow of $7.8 billion, contributing to its stock price appreciation of approximately 19% since previous coverage [5]. Marketing and Risks - Booking's marketing scale, particularly as one of Google's largest advertisers, allows it to capture high-intent demand, although this creates a reliance on Google [4]. - Key risks include competition from Airbnb and Expedia, regulatory pressures, and potential encroachment by Google into the travel sector, but the company counters these with loyalty programs and adaptability [4].

Core Insights - St. Louis Financial Planners Asset Management established a new position in Uber by acquiring 32,258 shares valued at approximately $3.2 million in the third quarter [1][2] - Uber's stock has increased by 30% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 by about 12 percentage points [3] - The company reported a revenue of $12.7 billion in its most recent quarter, reflecting an 18% year-over-year growth [7][9] Company Overview - Uber operates a global technology platform that connects consumers with transportation, delivery, and logistics services [6] - The company generates revenue through its Mobility, Delivery, and Freight segments, utilizing a platform-based business model [8] - As of the latest market close, Uber's revenue (TTM) stands at $47.33 billion, with a net income of $12.63 billion [4] Financial Performance - Uber's operating income reached $1.5 billion, marking an 82% increase year-over-year, while adjusted EBITDA grew by 35% to $2.1 billion [9] - The company has achieved a trailing 12-month free cash flow of $8.5 billion, indicating a shift towards sustainable profitability [10] - A new $20 billion share repurchase program has been announced, reflecting management's confidence in the company's financial health [9] Investment Position - The new position in Uber represents about 2% of St. Louis Financial Planners' reported U.S. equity assets as of the quarter's end [3] - As of the latest data, Uber shares were priced at $96.61, with a one-year price change of 30.1% [4]

Network Effects - Network effects are crucial for the success of protocols, products, and services [1] - Blockchain integration with a network of over 1 billion people presents significant opportunities [1] Telegram & TON - Telegram + TON is positioned as a promising platform following Facebook's failed Libra project [1]

Core Insights - Nu Holdings Ltd. is leading the fintech disruption in Latin America through relentless customer growth, reaching 123 million customers in Q2 2025, which represents 60% of Brazil's adult population [1][8] - The company onboarded 18 million new customers in the past 12 months, averaging 1.5 million new sign-ups each month [2][8] - Revenues for Q2 2025 reached $3.7 billion, marking a 29% year-over-year increase, indicating effective scale and monetization strategies [3][8] - The compounding effect of customer growth enhances cross-selling opportunities and strengthens user engagement, positioning Nu as a financial command center for its users [4][5] - Customer growth is the primary driver of Nu Holdings' success in a competitive fintech landscape [5] Competitive Landscape - SoFi Technologies is expanding its member base in the U.S. by integrating student loan refinancing, personal banking, and investing, paralleling Nu's growth strategy [6] - StoneCo is focusing on empowering small and medium-sized businesses in Brazil with digital payment solutions, maintaining relevance as Nu expands its market presence [6] Stock Performance and Valuation - Nu Holdings' stock has increased by 52.4% year-to-date, outperforming the industry's growth of 39.5% [7] - The stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 21.31X, significantly higher than the industry's 10.48X, with a Value Score of C [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nu's 2025 earnings has been rising over the past 60 days, indicating positive market sentiment [10] Earnings Estimates - Current earnings estimates for Nu Holdings are as follows: Q3 2025 at $0.15, Q4 2025 at $0.16, full year 2025 at $0.56, and full year 2026 at $0.80 [11]

Core Thesis - CME Group Inc. is positioned as a leading player in the derivatives marketplace, with a strong focus on futures and options, and is benefiting from structural growth drivers and network effects [1][4][6] Company Overview - CME Group's share price was $262.30 as of September 12th, with trailing and forward P/E ratios of 25.39 and 22.52 respectively [1] - The company plays a crucial role in financial markets, providing platforms for hedging against volatility in various sectors, including agriculture, airlines, and financial institutions [2] Product Offerings - CME's core offerings include interest rate futures and options, energy and agricultural contracts, equities, and foreign exchange derivatives, along with trusted clearing and settlement services [3] - The company has successfully launched innovative contracts like the Micro E-mini S&P 500 and SOFR futures, contributing to significant trading volume growth [4] Growth Drivers - Structural drivers for CME's growth include rising market volatility, increasing global demand for hedging, and greater adoption of clearing and data services [4] - CME's business model is designed to create durable value, emphasizing financial stability and risk management for global market participants [5] Market Position - CME's infrastructure is deeply embedded in market structures, making it difficult to replace, and its liquidity attracts further participation, enhancing its competitive advantage [3][4] - The company has demonstrated a consistent ability to compound shareholder value over the long term through innovation and scale [5]

Core Insights - Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square, is known for high-conviction, concentrated investments, often holding fewer than a dozen stocks in his portfolio, which has historically yielded outsized returns [1][2] Investment Strategy - Ackman recently acquired a significant stake in Amazon, purchasing 5.82 million shares valued at approximately $1.3 billion, representing about 9% of his U.S. equity portfolio, but this is not his largest position [4][5] - Uber Technologies is Ackman's largest holding, comprising about 21% of his fund at $2.8 billion, indicating a strong preference for this stock [4][6] Company Analysis - Ackman views Uber as one of the best-managed and highest-quality businesses globally, available at a substantial discount to its intrinsic value, which he describes as a rare opportunity for a large-cap company [6][7] - Uber has transitioned from a cash-burning disruptor to a disciplined operator with a strong competitive advantage in mobility and delivery, serving 180 million users per quarter [7][9] Competitive Advantage - The strength of Uber's business model lies in its network effects, where the interaction between riders and drivers, as well as merchants and consumers in food delivery, creates a self-reinforcing cycle that enhances its market position [9]

Network Effects & Value Drivers - Network effects and Metcalfe's Law are crucial for understanding value and price drivers in the Exponential Age [1] - Solana's strategy of building network value with their new Seeker phone is considered clever [1] Solana Mobile Strategy - Solana is betting big on mobile [1] - Solana is building network value with their new Seeker phone [1]