The Motley Fool published a promotional video on September 17 arguing that AI stocks are flashing warning signs and that a coming "Act 2" rollout could dwarf the research phase, yet its flagship Stock Advisor service left Nvidia off its September 16 list of the ten best stocks to buy now. The piece uses afternoon prices from September 13 and a video timestamp of September 15 to frame a narrative that the easy money in AI has already been made.
The promotional framing
The material positions the current moment as the end of "Act 1", an R&D phase, and claims "Act 2" could be fifteen times larger, a figure presented without methodology or attribution beyond "our analysts." The same presentation warns that AI company leaders are "sounding the alarm on the devastating impacts the technology could have," but quotes no executive, cites no filing, and provides no specific warning sign beyond the headline itself.
The numbers behind the pitch
Stock Advisor’s stated average return since inception stands at 938 percent versus 211 percent for the S&P 500, a comparison measured through September 16. To illustrate the service’s track record, the piece highlights two vintage picks: a $1,000 investment in Netflix at the December 17, 2004 recommendation would have grown to $420,109, while the same amount in Nvidia at the April 15, 2005 recommendation would have become $1,303,689. Neither figure is adjusted for dividends, fees, or taxes, and both reflect holding periods exceeding two decades.
The disclosures
Parkev Tatevosian, the CFA-affiliated author, discloses a personal position in Nvidia. The Motley Fool itself holds positions in and recommends both Nvidia and Micron Technology. Tatevosian also notes he is a Motley Fool affiliate who earns compensation if readers subscribe through his link, though he states his opinions are unaffected.
What to watch
The next test is whether the "Act 2" thesis translates into a new set of names that outperform the incumbents the service just omitted. The Fool’s top-ten list, refreshed as of September 16, will be the benchmark; Nvidia’s absence from it is the only actionable signal in the release.