Key Takeaways Block jumped 24.7% in a month, outperforming its industry's 5.7% gain and rising 7.2% intraday yesterday. SBlock, Inc. (XYZ) shares have surged 24.7% in a month, outperforming its industry’s rise of 5.7%. Notably, XYZ shares gained 7.2% during the intra-day trading session yesterday, after Block had made it to the coveted S&P 500 list.On Friday, July 18, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced that it will add Block to the S&P 500 Index, replacing Hess, which is set to be acquired by Chevron. The cha ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the decision to sell stocks in Block and Pinterest after five years of holding, highlighting changes in company vision and performance concerns [4][16]. Group 1: Block (formerly Square) - Block has evolved significantly since its initial investment, changing its name and expanding its business segments, which has led to uncertainty about its long-term vision [5][7]. - The company has experienced 300% revenue growth over the last five years; however, revenue growth per share has been diluted due to acquisitions and stock-based compensation [9]. - The investment underperformed compared to the S&P 500, raising concerns about the effectiveness of its growth strategy [9]. Group 2: Pinterest - Pinterest has seen a 65% increase in monthly active users and a 73% increase in revenue per user over five years, but growth has not met expectations [13][14]. - In Q1 2025, Pinterest's advertisement pricing dropped by 22% year-over-year, despite a 49% increase in ad impressions, raising concerns about potential over-saturation of ads [15]. - The company has struggled to improve pricing compared to competitors, leading to disappointment in its growth relative to its potential [15]. Group 3: Future Investment Focus - The focus has shifted towards companies that demonstrate consistent growth, sustainable profits, and do not dilute shareholder value, with Wingstop and Comfort Systems USA highlighted as examples [17][22]. - Wingstop has maintained a 21-year streak of same-store sales growth and plans to double its locations, contributing to a 164% stock increase over five years [20]. - Comfort Systems has seen a 1,300% stock increase over five years, benefiting from increased spending in data centers and a strong backlog of nearly $7 billion [21].