Market Overview - The recent sell-off in the stock market has created attractive investment opportunities, with stocks expected to finish November down, marking the first down month since April [1][2] - The CBOE Volatility Index has reached a six-month high, indicating increased market fear [1] Economic Indicators - Consumer sentiment has significantly declined, and the labor market has stagnated [2] - The housing market is currently at a standstill, and major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Chipotle have reported an "affordability crisis" affecting discretionary consumer spending [2] Investment Opportunities Figma - Figma's stock has experienced significant volatility, going public at $33 and peaking at $142 shortly after, driven by high demand and a previous acquisition attempt by Adobe valued at $20 billion [4][9] - Despite a decline in stock price following its Q2 earnings report due to concerns over spending, Figma's Q3 revenue rose 38% to $274.2 million, with an adjusted operating profit of $34 million [7][9] - Figma is investing in AI technologies, introducing products like Figma Weave and Figma Make, which leverage generative AI for design purposes [8][9] - The current market cap of Figma is $18 billion, which is below Adobe's previous offer, and its price-to-sales ratio of 17 is considered reasonable given its growth rate [9] Upstart - Upstart, an AI-powered loan originator, has seen its stock decline sharply, similar to other fintech companies, due to rising credit risks and slowing job growth [10][14] - Despite these concerns, Upstart's business remains strong, with loans originated increasing by 128% to 428,056 in the last quarter, and revenue jumping 71% to $277 million [13][14] - The company reported a GAAP profit of $31.8 million, or $0.23 per share, although guidance for Q4 indicates a slowdown in growth [13][14] - Upstart's stock is currently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 28, and despite credit environment risks, it is viewed as significantly undervalued given its growth potential in the auto and home loan markets [15]

Core Insights - Figma's IPO on July 31 was highly successful, with the stock price rising from $33 to over $142 the next day, but it has since declined due to valuation concerns and competition from Adobe [1][2] - The stock is currently trading below $50, but the recent acquisition of AI startup Weavy has provided some optimism for investors [2][4] Company Developments - Figma announced the acquisition of Weavy, an AI startup valued at approximately $200 million, which will enhance its offerings in media creation tools [4][6] - Weavy integrates generative AI and professional editing tools, allowing users to utilize various AI models, including OpenAI's Sora [5][4] - Despite the acquisition, Figma's stock price fell, indicating skepticism about the impact of Weavy on the company's performance [5][6] Strategic Direction - The acquisition of Weavy is part of Figma's broader strategy to leverage AI technology, as the company launched several AI-based products in the second quarter [7][8] - The software industry is currently in a competitive phase for AI development, making it crucial for companies like Figma to innovate and attract new customers [7] - Figma's aggressive investment in AI is viewed as a long-term strategy that may yield positive results, although investors may need to exercise patience [8]