Stocks that have the MOST UPSIDE in my opinion

The speaker reviews market performance in December, noting gains in QQQ and S&P 500, but highlighting the significant rise of the Russell 2000. The VIX (volatility index) has dropped by 47% in the past month, indicating a 'sleepy market'. The speaker details VIX levels: under 16 ('asleep'), 16-20 ('normal'), 20-28 ('a little crazy'), 28-38 ('crazy'), and over 38 ('pure insanity'). They analyze past VIX patterns (2025: crazy, 2024: chill, 2023: super chill, 2022: crazy) and predict that 2026 is likely to be a 'chill' year for the VIX, following a dramatic 2025. However, they emphasize the importance of being prepared for any outcome.

The speaker discusses how presidential terms, particularly Trump's, can influence market volatility. Historically, Trump's first term (Trump 1.0) saw drama every other year (2017: chill, 2018: crazy, 2019: chill, 2020: crazy due to external factors). Trump's second term (Trump 2.0) started with a 'crazy' 2025. Following this pattern, 2026 could be a 'sleepy' market year, with more volatility potentially returning in 2027. Investors are advised to remain mentally prepared for any market conditions and focus on strong companies.

Several 'hot' stocks are highlighted: Cheesecake Factory (up 15% in a month, benefiting from small-cap momentum and improved economic outlook), Salesforce (up 16%, seen as a 'sleepy money maker' despite initial controversy), Adobe (up 10%, with strong underlying numbers despite negative sentiment), ELF Beauty (up 13.6%, showing momentum despite past tariffs and integration questions), Estee Lauder (up 21%, seen as a turnaround play with strong brands and new management), Shopify (up 14.4%, considered the most underrated big tech company), and Revolve (up 26.6%, a consumer stock benefiting from small-cap movement and past underperformance). The speaker emphasizes paying attention to 'women-centric' businesses, as women drive a significant portion of consumer spending.

The speaker critiques common behaviors of spending time to save small amounts (e.g., Black Friday deals, gas at Costco) rather than focusing on significant investment opportunities. They emphasize the abundance of money to be made through investing and reject the idea that the stock market is currently expensive, arguing that it will likely be even more expensive in 10 years. They encourage dedicating time to finding the 'next life-changing stock'.

The speaker outlines a plan to grow a public investment account from $3.7 million to $7.4 million in 24-36 months. They acknowledge that past 4x growth (from $976,000 to $3.7 million in three years) was easier coming out of a bear market. The strategy relies on patience, sticking to their 'GVD123' blueprint (growth, value, dividends), and identifying key growth drivers: - Meta: Potential to reach $1200-$1400, adding $1 million if 20%+ revenue growth is maintained. - AMD: Potential to reach $600, adding another $1 million if the 450 series sells well and AI adoption continues. - The remaining portfolio ($2.1 million) would need a 76% gain. Continuous $500 weekly deposits and reinvested dividends will also contribute. Other potential high-growth stocks mentioned include Amazon (attractive valuation, AWS acceleration), Palantir (wild card, needs high revenue growth), Estee Lauder (potential return to $300), Celsius (potential to exceed $100), Cheesecake Factory (potential to exceed $100), Nike (turnaround, potential to exceed $100), Google (more upside), PayPal (potential to reach $150+ with banking expansion), Adobe (potential for $600+), ELF (new all-time highs), Revolve (upside if consumer strengthens), Honest ($10+ or buyout), American Express ($500+), Fubo ($10+), and Salesforce ($400+).

The speaker reflects on the importance of understanding personal motivations for investing, illustrated by the story of Edith Macefield, who refused to sell her home to developers. Different reasons for investing are acknowledged, from accumulating wealth for specific dreams (travel, charity, certain lifestyles) to simply living life on one's own terms. The ultimate goal is to enable individuals to achieve their personal aspirations rather than conforming to others' definitions of success.