Group 1: Mastercard - Mastercard has delivered significant returns, more than doubling investors' money in five years and generating 6x returns in ten years [4] - The company processed transactions worth $9.8 trillion in 2024 and has 1.1 billion cards in circulation worldwide [5] - In Q1, Mastercard's revenue grew by 14% year over year, driven by cross-border volume growth of 15%, with an operating margin of 57.2% [7] - The company is innovating with technologies like artificial intelligence, positioning itself well in the shift from cash to digital payments [8] Group 2: Waste Management - Waste Management has generated nearly 50% in total returns over three years, 160% over five years, and 470% over ten years [9] - The company expanded its business by acquiring Stericycle, expecting $250 million in synergies through 2027, which is double its original expectations [11] - Waste Management is focusing on scaling its core operations through acquisitions and has a robust pipeline of opportunities [12] - The company has increased its dividend for 22 consecutive years, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns [13] Group 3: BYD - BYD has surpassed Tesla in sales volumes and revenue, becoming the world's largest EV maker with over $100 billion in revenue in 2024 [15] - The company's net income jumped 100% year over year in Q1, indicating strong financial performance [15] - BYD is one of the largest battery manufacturers globally, providing a competitive advantage in costs and supply [17] - The company is expanding rapidly, entering new markets and opening showrooms, which positions it for continued growth [17][18]

Core Business Challenges - Tesla's stock has fallen approximately 30% this year, with first-quarter deliveries of around 337,000 being the lowest since 2022 [1] - Sales in Europe reportedly dropped nearly 50% year-over-year in January and February, despite overall EV sales in Europe growing by 28% during that period [3] - In China, Tesla's sales have also declined significantly, with BYD capturing over 30% market share and surpassing Tesla in annual revenue [4] New Initiatives - Tesla plans to begin production of a lower-cost model in June, although details on pricing remain unclear and the launch may be slower than initially expected [8] - The company is set to launch a new software system with unsupervised full self-driving capabilities and aims for a robotaxi launch in Austin as early as June [9] - Optimus robots are still in development, with significant production expected towards the end of the year, but they are not yet contributing to revenue [10] Valuation Concerns - Tesla is trading at 147 times forward earnings, indicating a valuation heavily reliant on future initiatives and the leadership of Elon Musk [12] - The increasing competition in the EV market raises concerns about whether Tesla's future initiatives will meet expectations, which could negatively impact its high valuation and stock price [13]