Chip Stock Investor Podcast

Nicholas Rossolillo; Kasey Rossolillo

Semiconductors are the heart of the modern economy. These small devices that manipulate the flow of electricity run everything from our PCs and smartphones to our cars to manufacturing. The semiconductor industry is at an inflection point of renewed growth, powering new movements like generative AI and electric vehicles. The Chip Stock Investor Podcast explores how semiconductors work, and especially the business of chips. Follow Nicholas and Kasey to learn how chip technology has become the engine of the world, and how to invest in its growth.

  1. 4H AGO

    Is the Software Apocalypse Continues: Buying the AppLovin Dip (APP)

    The software apocalypse continues to rattle the market, but AppLovin (APP) is currently operating like a financial "cheat code." Despite the recent stock dip, the core digital ad business is showing explosive growth, with Q1 2026 guidance projecting a 52% jump in revenue. Between the insane 84% adjusted EBITDA margins and the expansion of their Axon 2.0 AI algorithms, this business is converting cash to the bottom line at an incredible rate.We’re breaking down the reverse DCF to see if the current price is a steal or a trap. With free cash flow nearly doubling to $4 billion and a balance sheet that is back to parity, the black box of AI-driven advertising is proving its value. If you’re looking for a long-term compounding machine that thrives as AI makes content creation easier, watch until the end to see why we might nibble if the stock hits the low $400s.Join us on Discord with Semiconductor Insider, sign up on our website: www.chipstockinvestor.com/membershipSupercharge your analysis with AI! Get 15% of your membership with our special link here: https://fiscal.ai/csi/Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b1228c12f284/sign-up-landing-page-short-formChapters:00:00 The Software Apocalypse Continues 02:15 Q1 2026 Guidance: 52% Revenue Growth 03:30 EBITDA Margins 04:45 CEO Adam Feroughi on the AI Advantage 05:50 The Axon 2.0 Black Box 07:00 Free Cash Flow Doubled08:30 Share Repurchases & Balance Sheet Health 09:45 Reverse DCF: Finding the Fair Value 11:00 Our Strategy: Buying the Dip?If you found this video useful, please make sure to like and subscribe!********************************************************* Affiliate links that are sprinkled in throughout this video. If something catches your eye and you decide to buy it, we might earn a little coffee money. Thanks for helping us (Kasey) fuel our caffeine addiction!Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal.#AppLovin #APP #StockMarket #AI #Investing #GrowthStocks #DigitalAds #FiscalAINick and Kasey own shares of AppLovin

    11 min
  2. 2D AGO

    Why We Are Babysitting Astera Labs & Credo (Not a Buy & Hold?)

    Astera Labs (ALAB) recently crushed earnings estimates and provided strong guidance for Q1 2026, yet the stock remains down. Why is the market hesitating?In this video, we break down the Q4 financials for Astera Labs and preview what to expect from Credo Technology (CRDO). We discuss the competitive landscape regarding re-timers and AECs, but more importantly, we expose a significant red flag regarding customer concentration, the Amazon warrant deal.www.chipstockinvestor.com/membershipIs Astera Labs buying revenue at the expense of shareholders? We also run a Reverse DCF valuation to see what growth is priced in at $144/share. https://mailchi.mp/b1228c12f284/sign-up-landing-page-short-form www.chipstockinvestor.com/membershipSupercharge your analysis with AI! Get 15% of your membership with our special link here: https://fiscal.ai/csi/Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b1228c12f284/sign-up-landing-page-short-formIf you found this video useful, please make sure to like and subscribe!Chapters:00:00 - Astera Labs: Great Earnings, Bad Stock Action 01:10 - Credo & Astera: The High Growth Dilemma 01:58 - Retimers & Competition (Broadcom, Marvell) 03:00 - M&A Strategy: Consolidating the Market 03:52 - Astera Labs Q4 Financial Review05:14 - Credo Technology Preview: Niche Focus vs. Breadth 06:33 - The Major Risk: Customer Concentration (Hyperscalers) 07:29 - Explained: The Amazon Warrant Deal (Buying Revenue?) 10:18 - Astera Labs Valuation: Reverse DCF at $144 11:27 - Conclusion: Why These Are "Babysitter" Stocks*********************************************************Affiliate links that are sprinkled in throughout this video. If something catches your eye and you decide to buy it, we might earn a little coffee money. Thanks for helping us (Kasey) fuel our caffeine addiction!Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal.#AsteraLabs #ALAB #Credo #CRDO #Semiconductors #StockMarket #Investing #ChipStockInvestor #AIfinanceNick and Kasey own shares of Credo

    13 min
  3. 2D AGO

    Is Reddit A Good Buy The Dip Candidate?

    In April 2025, we made a strategic move to trim our Pinterest position and buy into Reddit. Now, two years into its life as a public company, we’re looking at the data: Can Reddit survive the AI software apocalypse and clear the high growth hurdle the market is pricing in? We break down Reddit’s 2025 year-end performance, including a staggering 70% year-over-year revenue growth. However, beneath the surface, there are concerns—from the sunset of key user metrics to stock-based compensation that currently eats up 16% of revenue. We also take you inside our new research platform, Semi Insider, to run a Reverse DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) to find the "fair value" for RDDT stock today. Join us on Discord with Semiconductor Insider, sign up on our website: www.chipstockinvestor.com/membership Supercharge your analysis with AI! Get 15% of your membership with our special link here: https://fiscal.ai/csi/ Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b1228c12f284/sign-up-landing-page-short-form Chapters:0:00 — Why We Swapped Pinterest for Reddit 1:02 — AI Licensing: The "Sidecar" Business Model 2:15 — Revenue Breakdown: Ads vs. Data Licensing 3:20 — Scaling the Network Effect & International Growth 4:01 — The Metric Shift5:10 — Q1 2026 Outlook: 53% Growth? 6:30 — Stock-Based Compensation & Dilution 8:40 — The $1 Billion Buyback Program 9:45 — Reverse DCF: Calculating Reddit's Fair Value If you found this video useful, please make sure to like and subscribe! ********************************************************* Affiliate links that are sprinkled in throughout this video. If something catches your eye and you decide to buy it, we might earn a little coffee money. Thanks for helping us (Kasey) fuel our caffeine addiction! Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal. #RedditStock #RDDT #Investing #TechStocks #StockAnalysis #SemiInsider #ChipStockInvestor #GrowthInvesting #AI #Finance Nick and Kasey own shares of Reddit

    12 min
  4. 2D AGO

    Software Apocalypse or Opportunity? Interview with Braden Dennis, CO-Founder and CEO of Fiscal.ai

    Is AI eating the software industry, or is it just making it more powerful?In this episode, we sit down with Braden Dennis, CEO and co-founder of Fiscal.ai, to discuss the shift happening in enterprise SaaS. If you've watched our videos, you know we use Fiscal's charts every single day to analyze the markets, so it was great to get Braden’s perspective on where the industry is headed.We dive deep into the software apocalypse narrative and whether it’s based in reality or just a market overreaction. Braden explains why maintaining software is getting easier, how his engineering team has achieved 10x productivity, and why internal AI solutions are coming for the "busy work" that off-the-shelf SaaS can't solve.Join us on Discord with Semiconductor Insider, sign up on our website: www.chipstockinvestor.com/membershipSupercharge your analysis with AI! Get 15% of your membership with our special link here: https://fiscal.ai/csi/Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b1228c12f284/sign-up-landing-page-short-formChapters:0:00 – Is AI Eating Software? 1:12 – Meet Braden Dennis, CEO of Fiscal.ai 1:45 – Why Software Engineering Has Changed Completely 2:40 – 2026 Outlook: Opportunities vs. Traps 3:30 – What Software is Becoming Obsolete? 4:30 – Automating the "Unsolvable" Internal Busy Work 5:15 – "Intelligence in the Sky": A New Data Layer 6:10 – Pricing Power Debate: Will Clients Pay Less? 7:45 – Broadcom & VMware Case Study8:55 – Comparing the Software Correction to 2018 Semiconductors 11:45 – Lessons on Market Cyclicality 13:55 – The Problem with Late-Stage Venture Capital 16:00 – Why We Need More Tech IPOs 18:10 – The Incentive for Founders to Stay Private 20:00 – Evaluating Figma and Adobe in the AI Age21:30 – ServiceNow: Narrative vs. Financial Reality 22:45 – Final Verdict: Being Selective in a Sell-offIf you found this video useful, please make sure to like and subscribe!*********************************************************Affiliate links that are sprinkled in throughout this video. If something catches your eye and you decide to buy it, we might earn a little coffee money. Thanks for helping us (Kasey) fuel our caffeine addiction!Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal. #AI #SaaS #SoftwareStocks #Investing #ChipStockInvestor #FiscalAI #TechInvesting #ServiceNow #stockmarket2026 Nick and Kasey own shares of Adobe, Figma, ServiceNow

    23 min
  5. FEB 11

    Tesla’s $20B Pivot: A New Risk for the Semiconductor Supply Chain? (TSLA)

    Tesla is embarking on a shift in business operations, and the implications for the semiconductor industry could be significant. In this video, we examine Tesla’s 2026 capital expenditure (CapEx) outlook through the lens of operating leverage.With a projected $20 billion in CapEx for 2026—not including the proposed TeraFab, Tesla is moving further away from being just an automaker and closer to becoming a vertically integrated robotics and AI powerhouse. What does this mean for current suppliers like Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Micron? We break down the risks of Tesla shoring up its own supply chain and how it could shift pricing power back away from the chipmakers.Join us on Discord with Semiconductor Insider, sign up on our website: www.chipstockinvestor.com/membershipSupercharge your analysis with AI! Get 15% of your membership with our special link here: https://fiscal.ai/csi/Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b1228c12f284/sign-up-landing-page-short-formIf you found this video useful, please make sure to like and subscribe!*********************************************************Affiliate links that are sprinkled in throughout this video. If something catches your eye and you decide to buy it, we might earn a little coffee money. Thanks for helping us (Kasey) fuel our caffeine addiction!Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal. #Tesla #TSLA #Semiconductors #ChipStocks #Investing #Optimus #AI #SupplyChain #FinanceEducation

    11 min
  6. Lumentum (LITE) vs. Fabrinet (FN): Which AI Stock is the Better Buy?

    FEB 9

    Lumentum (LITE) vs. Fabrinet (FN): Which AI Stock is the Better Buy?

    Is it too late to buy the "Nvidia of Networking"?Lumentum (LITE) and Fabrinet (FN) have been on an absolute tear, with Lumentum up nearly 600% in the last year. Today, we break down why the AI data center build-out is shifting toward optical and silicon photonics—and which of these two companies is the better long-term play for your portfolio.In this video, we cover:-- The Supply Chain: How Lumentum (the IDM) and Fabrinet (the contract manufacturer) work together.-- Financial Deep Dive: Why Lumentum’s operating margins are exploding (up 1,700 basis points!).-- Future Catalysts: The massive OCS (Optical Circuit Switch) orders coming in late 2026.-- Our Verdict: Why we are personally leaning toward one of these for our "starter positions".Join us on Discord with Semiconductor Insider, sign up on our website: www.chipstockinvestor.com/membershipSupercharge your analysis with AI! Get 15% of your membership with our special link here: https://fiscal.ai/csi/Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b1228c12f284/sign-up-landing-page-short-formChapters:00:00 — AI Networking: The Next 600% Run?01:38 — Why Lumentum is "The Nvidia of Networking"02:00 — Lumentum vs. Fabrinet: The Supply Chain Secret02:30 — The Hardware: Transceivers & Wafers explained03:10 — LITE Earnings: 1,700 Basis Point Margin Jump!04:00 — The Power of Operating Leverage05:10 — Huge 2026/2027 Catalysts (OCS & CPO)06:45 — Fabrinet Deep Dive: A Broader Play?08:45 — Telecom vs. Industrial Laser segments11:00 — Stock Performance Recap12:20 — Our Portfolio Strategy for 2026If you found this video useful, please make sure to like and subscribe!*********************************************************Affiliate links that are sprinkled in throughout this video. If something catches your eye and you decide to buy it, we might earn a little coffee money. Thanks for helping us (Kasey) fuel our caffeine addiction!Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal. #Semiconductors #AI #Lumentum #Fabrinet #Investing #TechStocks #SiliconPhotonics #StockMarket2026 #chipstockinvestor Nick and Kasey own shares of Lumentum and Coherent

    14 min
  7. FEB 7

    Better Than NVIDIA? Why Memory Shortages are Sending Sandisk (SNDK) to the Moon

    We analyze Sandisk's remarkable NVIDIA moment, marked by a 1,000% stock price increase over the past year. Following its 2025 spin-off from Western Digital and the extension of its Flash Ventures partnership with Kioxia through 2034, Sandisk has capitalized on the memory shortage driven by AI data center demand. Sandisk reported a significant revenue beat of over $3 billion and issued a staggering guidance of $4.4 to $4.8 billion for the upcoming quarter—a 170% year-over-year increase. This growth is fueled by powerful operating leverage, with adjusted EPS projected at $13 as rising prices flow directly to the bottom line. How does the valuation look? Watch the video to hear our take. Join us on Discord with Semiconductor Insider, sign up on our website: www.chipstockinvestor.com/membershipSupercharge your analysis with AI! Get 15% of your membership with our special link here: https://fiscal.ai/csi/Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b1228c12f284/sign-up-landing-page-short-formChapters:0:00 Is Sandisk Having an NVIDIA Moment? 0:45 Memory Shortages 2:10 Flash Ventures: The Kioxia Joint Venture Extension 3:30 Revenue Beat and 170% Growth Guidance 4:50 Direct Sales to AI Data Centers vs. NVIDIA Integration 5:50 Earnings Explosion: Why EPS is Hitting $13 6:30 The Two-Edged Sword of Operating Leverage 7:45 Reverse DCF Analysis9:00 The Cyclical Reality10:45 Final Verdict: Commodity vs. Supply Chain KingIf you found this video useful, please make sure to like and subscribe!*********************************************************Affiliate links that are sprinkled in throughout this video. If something catches your eye and you decide to buy it, we might earn a little coffee money. Thanks for helping us (Kasey) fuel our caffeine addiction!Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal.#Sandisk #ChipStockInvestor #Semiconductors #Investing #NAND #TechStocks #StockMarket2026Nick and Kasey own shares of Sandisk

    13 min
  8. FEB 5

    Lam Research (LRCX): The Ultimate AI Memory Play?

    Memory shortages. It's all anyone wants to talk about. Lam Research's plays a pivotal role in addressing the ongoing memory chip shortage and for the AI and data center sectors. We explore Lam Research's position in the semiconductor supply chain, discuss recent financial performance, market share growth, and future revenue projections. Additionally, we analyze the company's strategic advancements in wafer fab equipment, especially in high-bandwidth memory. We also examine the broader memory and semiconductor market dynamics and provide insights into the future growth cycles. Join us on Discord with Semiconductor Insider, sign up on our website: www.chipstockinvestor.com/membershipSupercharge your analysis with AI! Get 15% of your membership with our special link here: https://fiscal.ai/csi/Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b1228c12f284/sign-up-landing-page-short-formChapters:00:00 Memory Shortage02:11 Lam Research's Market Position and Achievements04:20 Future Projections and Market Trends07:50 Revenue Growth and Financial Projections09:01 Reverse DCF Analysis and Investment Insights If you found this video useful, please make sure to like and subscribe!********************************************************* Affiliate links that are sprinkled in throughout this video. If something catches your eye and you decide to buy it, we might earn a little coffee money. Thanks for helping us (Kasey) fuel our caffeine addiction!Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal.#LamResearch #LRCX #Semiconductors #ChipStocks #Investing #MemoryShortage #AI #TechStocks #StockMarketAnalysisNick and Kasey own shares of LRCX

    12 min
4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Semiconductors are the heart of the modern economy. These small devices that manipulate the flow of electricity run everything from our PCs and smartphones to our cars to manufacturing. The semiconductor industry is at an inflection point of renewed growth, powering new movements like generative AI and electric vehicles. The Chip Stock Investor Podcast explores how semiconductors work, and especially the business of chips. Follow Nicholas and Kasey to learn how chip technology has become the engine of the world, and how to invest in its growth.

You Might Also Like