- Reasoned Reflections
- Posts
- Reflection No. 51
Happy Friday! This week we look at whether timing the market actually works and the big win Alphabet received in its antitrust litigation. Let’s top wasting time and dive in!
Financial News Keeps You Poor. Here's Why.
The scandalous truth: Most market news is designed to inform you about what already happened, not help you profit from what's coming next.
When CNBC reports "Stock XYZ surges 287%"—you missed it.
What you actually need:
Tomorrow's IPO calendar (not yesterday's launches)
Crowdfunding deals opening this week (not closed rounds)
What real traders are positioning for (not TV talking heads)
Economic data that moves markets (before it's released)
The financial media industrial complex profits from keeping you one step behind.
Stocks & Income flips this backwards. We focus entirely on forward-looking intel that helps you get positioned before the crowd, not informed after the move.
Stop chasing trades that happened already.
Start prepping for the next one.
Stocks & Income is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as investment advice. Do your own research.
Three Quick Hits:
Article: Timing the Market
I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but I stand behind time in the market beats timing the market. Timing the market absolutely perfectly is nearly impossible, so you might as well get that money working for you sooner rather than later.
Tip: Spend money on purpose. Once you do, take the time to notice how you feel after you’ve made that purchase. Realign your spending with the purchases that give you the most value.
Quote: “Antitrust law isn't about protecting competing businesses from each other, it's about protecting competition itself on behalf of the public.” - Al Franken
Two Questions:
If you could magically eliminate one of your debts today, which would have the biggest positive impact on your monthly cash flow and peace of mind and why isn't that your current payoff priority?
What's your most expensive convenience habit (food delivery, ride shares, premium services), and if you eliminated it for one year, what financial goal could you achieve with that money instead?
REFLECTION No. 51: Alphabet's Antitrust Victory
I - Issue: How did the court’s ruling in Alphabet’s antitrust litigation represent a win?
R - Rule: After finding Google violated antitrust law by maintaining a search monopoly, the court had to craft remedies to restore competition while avoiding consumer harm.
A - Analysis: The Department of Justice sought divestiture of Chrome and potentially Android, along with data sharing requirements and restrictions on exclusive search deals. The court balanced these requests against potential market disruption and emerging AI competition.
Judge Mehta rejected the DOJ's most aggressive ask—forcing Google to sell Chrome—calling it "incredibly messy" since the browser isn't a standalone business and relies on Google for core functions. Instead, he banned exclusive contracts for Google Search, Chrome, Assistant, and Gemini while allowing non-exclusive deals where Google can still pay partners like Apple for default placement.
What made this a clear win? Google keeps its $20 billion annual payments to Apple, retains Chrome, and faces only a six-year compliance period. The judge explicitly noted that AI's emergence "changed the course of this case," suggesting traditional search monopoly concerns may fade as competition evolves. Alphabet's stock jumped 9% on the news, adding $210 billion in market value.
C - Conclusion: Alphabet dodged a breakup bullet.