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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 18, 2026 • 11min
Is the Software Apocalypse Continues: Buying the AppLovin Dip (APP)
They debate whether AppLovin’s stock dip is a buying opportunity amid a wider software sell-off. The conversation covers explosive revenue guidance, massive EBITDA margin expansion, and AI-powered Axon 2.0 ad matching. Free cash flow and balance sheet repair get attention. They run a reverse DCF and outline a potential nibble strategy if price reaches the low $400s.
Feb 16, 2026 • 13min
Why We Are Babysitting Astera Labs & Credo (Not a Buy & Hold?)
They dig into why a strong earnings beat did not lift Astera Labs' stock and what that says about market sentiment. The conversation covers retimers, competition from Broadcom and Marvell, and differences in growth strategy between Astera and Credo. Major focus on customer concentration risk and the controversial Amazon warrant arrangement. A reverse DCF valuation is used to show what current prices imply.
Feb 16, 2026 • 12min
Is Reddit A Good Buy The Dip Candidate?
They debate whether Reddit can survive an AI-driven content shift while clearing sky-high growth expectations. Revenue dynamics get unpacked, with ads vs AI licensing and a striking 70% YOY surge. They flag slipping user metrics, heavy stock-based compensation, and a $1B buyback. A Reverse DCF valuation and future growth outlook round out the conversation.
Feb 16, 2026 • 23min
Software Apocalypse or Opportunity? Interview with Braden Dennis, CO-Founder and CEO of Fiscal.ai
Braden Dennis, co-founder and CEO of Fiscal.ai — a data and AI leader for financial analytics. He discusses whether AI is destroying or supercharging enterprise software. Conversation covers why engineering productivity has jumped, which businesses face real risk versus opportunity, and how internal AI tools are replacing off-the-shelf SaaS while enabling new data layers.
Feb 11, 2026 • 11min
Tesla’s $20B Pivot: A New Risk for the Semiconductor Supply Chain? (TSLA)
Tesla’s planned $20B CapEx for 2026 and possible fabs sparks a rethink of the semiconductor supply chain. The conversation highlights how robotics and self-driving plans overlap with vehicle retooling. They explore risks as Tesla vertically integrates and how bringing production in-house could shift pricing power away from major chip suppliers.
Feb 9, 2026 • 14min
Lumentum (LITE) vs. Fabrinet (FN): Which AI Stock is the Better Buy?
A showdown between an IDM and a contract manufacturer as optical and silicon photonics reshape AI data centers. They unpack transceivers, wafers and how supply‑chain roles fit together. The conversation highlights a huge operating‑margin breakout, looming Optical Circuit Switch and co‑packaged optics ramps in 2026–27, and how each company’s revenue mix affects long‑term upside.
Feb 7, 2026 • 13min
Better Than NVIDIA? Why Memory Shortages are Sending Sandisk (SNDK) to the Moon
They break down Sandisk's blockbuster surge after a 2025 spin-off and a long-term JV renewal with Kioxia. They walk through a massive revenue beat and a jaw-dropping guidance boost driven by AI data center demand. Operating leverage and a projected EPS explosion get detailed attention. They debate whether memory is a cyclical commodity or a lasting market king.
Feb 5, 2026 • 12min
Lam Research (LRCX): The Ultimate AI Memory Play?
They dig into how a key equipment maker fits into the memory chip shortage and AI/data-center demand. The conversation highlights market-share gains, 2025 milestones, and installed base growth. Technical wins in high-bandwidth memory tooling and advanced packaging get attention. They also cover wafer-fab equipment spending forecasts and valuation risks tied to cyclicality.
Feb 4, 2026 • 16min
IonQ Buys SkyWater: The Birth of a Quantum Computing Giant?
A deep dive into IonQ’s $1.8B move to buy SkyWater and shift from fabless to a full-stack quantum platform. Breakdown of the deal structure, pro forma revenue changes from the Infineon Fab 25 acquisition, and how the purchase affects cash and dilution. A valuation check on a 17x forward EV/sales and a quick look at supply-chain and government contract implications versus IDM and partner risks.
Feb 2, 2026 • 11min
SOLD OUT: Why Data Centers are Buying Every Seagate Drive Through 2027
A deep dive into why data centers are snapping up every Seagate drive through 2027. They cover the HAMR transition and the new Exos Mosaic 3+ platforms. Discussion of soaring exabyte shipments, falling price-per-bit, and sold-out capacity with hyperscaler bookings. They also highlight a surge in free cash flow and the storage market’s unexpected comeback.
