The Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing podcast, hosted by Tyler Crowe and joined by Matt Frankel and Lou Whitening, covered significant developments in space stocks, the increasing trend of dividend cuts, and investment prospects within Europe's AI build-out.
The discussion on space stocks centered on SpaceX's plan to retire its Falcon 9 rocket by 2028. Lou Whitening clarified this decision is contingent on the readiness of Starship, its larger and more efficient successor; otherwise, Falcon 9's retirement might be delayed. Matt Frankel highlighted the critical timing, noting that other launch vehicles are grounded while demand for thousands of satellite launches by 2030 is immense, suggesting a looming launch capacity shortage.
Analyzing the implications, Lou pointed out that while new rockets like Neutron (Rocket Lab) and those from Firefly are emerging, they are smaller and won't fully replace Falcon 9's heavy-lift capability. He predicted that if Starship faces delays, medium-sized rockets will be overwhelmed, forcing commercial satellite companies to redesign for lighter payloads. Near-term beneficiaries are likely Rocket Lab and Firefly, but "real winners" are those with Department of Defense (DOD) backing, as military launches take precedence. Matt also favored component suppliers like Carmen for growth. A key investor risk emphasized by both is the heavy reliance of many business plans on Starship's timely and reliable operation. Given Elon Musk's aggressive deadlines, delays are probable, leading to an "inevitable slowdown" and potential margin compression for companies dependent on space transport.
Shifting to dividend cuts, the podcast cited Campbell's recent decision to cut its dividend after 25 years. This reflects a broader trend, with 19% of recent dividend announcements being cuts—the highest in six years—largely due to rising interest rates. Tyler Crowe stressed that long dividend streaks and iconic brands don't guarantee safety. Matt Frankel advised investors to analyze free cash flow (FCF) over earnings per share (EPS) for dividend stability, identifying growing debt and upcoming debt maturities as critical warning signs. He also noted that minimal "penny-a-share" increases often signal underlying stress. Lou Whitening suggested that the market's punishment for dividend cuts often forces companies into short-sighted decisions, even incurring debt to maintain payouts. Matt flagged Amcor (AMCR) and Genuine Parts (GPC), both with multi-decade dividend streaks but FCF payout ratios exceeding 130%, as vulnerable. Lou added Keymore (a chemical company) and commercial REITs like Granite Point and Orion Office. Tyler himself mentioned UPS, citing high payout ratios and deteriorating interest coverage, as a controversial but potential dividend cut candidate.
Finally, the mailbag explored AI build-out opportunities in Europe. Tyler noted that major European AI players are global, not exclusively European-focused. Lou recommended established "pick and shovel" companies like ASML, Schneider Electric, and Siemens. Matt agreed on ASML and highlighted Nscale, described as "Europe's CoreWeave," which provides infrastructure-as-a-service for AI. He noted Nscale's impressive growth—1200% year-over-year revenue in the first half of the year to $141 million, with $56.4 billion in bookings—acknowledging its challenging valuation but significant future potential. Tyler concluded that European AI development, exemplified by Mistral AI, is generally slower and more focused on physical AI like robotics, with smaller CapEx plans compared to US counterparts. This suggests that growth for many European suppliers will largely be driven by the US market.