This opportunity doesn't come along very often.

Last year was $WMT (-1%) a great outperformer. I am excited to see how the journey continues!

The position was increased to 55 shares.

February is over. While there was still snow and temperatures well below zero, I went winter swimming again and used my vacation and weekends for short trips to Dresden, Potsdam and Berlin. Thanks to the Germany Ticket. The investment knew what to do by itself for a while. Time for a look back.

I present the following points for the past month of February 2025:

➡️ SHARES

➡️ ETFS

➡️ DISTRIBUTIONS

➡️ CASHBACK

➡️ AFTER-PURCHASES

➡️ P2P CREDITS

➡️ CRYPTO

➡️ AND OTHER?

➡️ OUTLOOK

➡️ Shares

Things were actually going really well for my shares, but there were some serious headwinds from the other side of the pond: tariffs are coming. And that naturally moved my portfolio too. My giant $AVGO (-1,8%) was now only up +200%, with a clear downward trend. But that still leaves me cold, because technology stocks are of course heavily overvalued. So it's bound to happen that someone lets the air out. I was pleased because my savings plan was executed at a more favorable price.

$NFLX (-1,25%) goes down slightly, the $SAP (-1,95%) remains stable in terms of performance and volume compared to the previous month. With the 2nd place by volume $WMT (-1%) not too much has happened either. So as far as the stocks at the front end of the chain are concerned, February was not really eventful. The same applies to the lower areas.

Whereas last month the banking and financial sector moved ahead in terms of volume, I now notice the $RSG (-1,04%) and $SYK (-1,2%) which continue to fight their way to the top of the portfolio. This is exciting, as I have always seen these stocks as good midfield performers, but not candidates for the top positions.

➡️ ETFs

As always, ETFs are doing their thing. What can you say except the typical? Don't rely on the state pension, build your own ETF pension. Anyone who doesn't invest is simply - I can't put it any nicer - stupid and lost. And I think that there have now been enough warnings from every political direction, as well as from various other perspectives and media, that the pension will not be enough. That's why my inner voice tells me that those who don't take care of their old age will only have themselves to blame for their misery and I even think it's unfair if others, who perhaps have little income and are cutting back in order to build up assets, have to be fleeced in order to protect the idle. At least that's what my inner voice tells me. Certainly a controversial opinion, feel free to write yours in the comments.

➡️ Distributions

I was able to collect 19 distributions on 9 payout days in January. I am grateful for this additional income stream. Everyone should build up their additional income this way.

➡️ Cashback

In January there were two reimbursements from the health insurance company, which I treat as "cashback". One was a subsidy for prophylaxis and the other was a payout from the bonus program. As I don't plan either of these as income, there was extra money to distribute. More on this under subsequent purchases.

➡️ Additional purchases

I used the subsidy for the prophylaxis to purchase a one-off savings plan in the $SPYW (-0,49%) plan. I initially put the payout from the bonus program to one side.

➡️ P2P loans

With my last P2P platform, Mintos, there was no interest or redemption payment. I still want to withdraw everything here. I would even accept a complete write-off to get out of the platform. In any case, the remaining amount on the platform is no longer relevant.

➡️ Crypto

Crypto investors experienced book losses in February. $BTC (+2,63%) fell from over USD 103,000 to under USD 80,000, and other cryptocurrencies also fell. $ETH (+5,44%) and other cryptocurrencies.

I remain patient. We are a long way from my exit prices and no improvement is expected in March. We will have to wait and see and possibly add to our position.

➡️ And what else?

I currently see a major threat to the prosperity on which the German welfare state is built. Wokism, cancel culture and, above all, reliance on the state is a huge problem, as is the ever-inflating state. We Germans have far too little awareness of personal responsibility and the wrong mindset.

You are always the average of the people around you. So if you surround yourself with the wrong environment, you will never be able to develop better habits. That's why I think you should always surround yourself with people who are already where you want to be, be it in terms of sport, career, setting up a business or finances.

In February, for example, I met up with people who are also interested in investing and the stock market for a regulars' table in rural Saxony-Anhalt, naturally at the invitation of a Youtuber who I have been following for a long time and who is a frugalist himself. Each of the participants had a different background, different ideas, but the knowledge that you have to do something yourself and the will to get ahead in life united us. The meeting was simply wonderful because I usually only meet people (especially in my day-to-day work) who tend not to think about the difficult tomorrow. And I'm not just talking about very young people, but also baby boomers. I myself maintain that pensions will no longer be secure for them either. What happens if Germany gets into financial difficulties, for example if government spending continues to rise and income can no longer keep up? The cancel culture certainly means that low-income earners prefer to go on state benefits, or that people who are able to work do not leave the citizen's allowance at all. I don't have a solution for this myself.

But we all know that the state is becoming ever more bloated. On the one hand, it can't prevent this if it has to provide for more and more people (e.g. an increase in baby boomers who will soon be retiring or people who [have to] go into the citizen's allowance). On the other hand, the state doesn't want to prevent this bloating either, as it is deliberately increasing its size through bureaucracy and new official structures. Do we actually need them?

And here comes my assumption. What if this CAP cannot be solved by printing money, as it would become excessive and the welfare state would no longer function? Citizen's income is an entitlement under certain conditions, but having an entitlement does not mean that the entitlement will be enforced. The best example is childcare places. If there aren't enough, you can still be entitled to them. So what happens when social benefits can no longer be financed? No matter how much entitlement there may be. That doesn't help anyone. I deliberately paint a black scenario to get the last person to make their own provisions!

There are 45.6 million people in employment in Germany, 34.8 million of whom are subject to social insurance contributions, 5.3 million of whom are in the public sector. In simplified terms, this means that around 29.5 million keep the economy running through taxes. And thus consequently keep the welfare state alive through social security contributions. Please also remember that 100,000 well-trained skilled workers leave our country every year. Germany has invested in them in the form of general and university education. And entrepreneurs or institutions in the country have invested in them through vocational training, further and advanced training and wages and salaries. I can understand anyone who wants to leave the country and live elsewhere. Instead of condemning these people, we should finally initiate a change in policy so that Germany becomes more attractive again and 100,000 taxpayers don't leave.

As I said, I'm deliberately painting the devil on the wall, but there won't be enough of the 29.5 million taxpayers left to keep things running forever. I haven't even considered the fact that many well-qualified people will retire and won't be replaced by equally well-qualified people. In any case, the risk that the welfare state will cease to function at some point is great enough for me to expect that what we consider normal today will or can no longer be normal at some point. In any case, I have heard the warnings and prefer to build up my own assets and additional income that will cushion me.

So: build up your own assets and income and stay away from government influence/opinion mongering and deceptive promises about a supposedly secure welfare state, as you will end up on your own when things get serious.

➡️ Outlook

Trump's next tariffs are coming into force, sending shockwaves through the markets, and even now, as I write this article in March, my portfolio is noticeably affected. In March, I will receive a reimbursement from my supplementary dental insurance and a bonus from my employer. You can read what I'm going to invest it in in the March review. Until then!

Links:

Social media links can be found in my profile, you can also check out the Instagram version of my review.

The Krispy Kreme share $DNUT (-0,87%) hit a record low on Tuesday after the company fell well short of Wall Street expectations. The share price fell by as much as 27% as fourth quarter sales fell 10.4% to $404 million. A key factor was the sale of the majority stake in Insomnia Cookies, which resulted in a USD 101 million drop in sales. In addition, a cyber attack cost the company a further USD 11 million.

CEO Josh Charlesworth explained that although the results were in line with expectations, they were heavily impacted by the cyber incident. Krispy Kreme is now targeting sales growth of 5% to 7% for the 2025 financial year - less than analysts' forecasts.

The share price closed at USD 6.61, down 47% on the previous year. While the S&P 500 gained 17% in the same period, the company is trying to focus investors on long-term profitable growth. Krispy Kreme also plans to expand its distribution points in the USA through partnerships with companies such as McDonald's $MCD (-0,62%) and Walmart $WMT (-1%) and Walmart.

Walmart ($WMT (-1%) ) closed the year with impressive figures: Sales increased by 5.2 %adjusted operating profit grew by 9.4 % on a currency-adjusted basis. Market shares were expanded across all income groups - transactions and unit sales increased worldwide.

All three business divisions performed strongly, particularly in the Christmas business in the USA, Mexico, Canada and China. The fintech subsidiary PhonePe is preparing for an IPO in India, while Walmart is while Walmart is sharpening its pricing strategy with over 22,000 price cuts in the USA. In addition, product range expansion and investments in delivery speed continue to drive growth. Same-day delivery for pharmacy products in the USA and new shipping options at Sam's Club are already proving very popular with customers.

Walmart is increasingly relying on automation and AIto increase efficiency and profitability. AI helps with inventory optimizationwhile new developer tools saved four million labor hours last year. E-commerce remains a key source of growthThe share of sales is now 18 %. Same-day delivery now reaches 93 % of US households, and over 30 % of orders are delivered by express delivery at extra cost - a lucrative additional business.

Walmart is also delivering financially: adjusted earnings per share rose by 13%, while global advertising sales climbed by 27% to USD 4.4 billion. Walmart Connect in the US grew by 24%, and with the acquisition of VIZIO, Walmart is entering the smart TV advertising business - a smart move to monetize its customer base.

The international picture is similar: currency-adjusted sales grew by 5.7%, with strong performances in China, Canada and Mexico. International e-commerce grew by over 20 %, while same-day and next-day deliveries increased by 30 % worldwide.

Margins are increasing thanks to intelligent inventory management and an optimized product mix. After several quarters of pressure, Walmart is now recording positive growth again, particularly in the area of general merchandise. At the same time, higher membership numbers at Walmart+ and Sam's Club are setting positive accents: Global memberships were up 16%, with Sam's Club U.S. up 12% and China up 35%.

Q&A Session: A frequently discussed topic: how crisis-resistant is Walmart really? Some analysts questioned whether the company is entering a phase where it will be more affected by macroeconomic factors. However, management remains optimistic: the focus on low prices and convenience makes Walmart attractive - no matter how the economy develops.

There was also the question of gross margin. The mix of food and general merchandise has weighed on margins in the past, but Walmart sees positive developments. The general merchandise segment in particular is showing signs of recovery, which could have a positive impact on profitability in the long term.

Investments versus margin growth - a classic discussion. Walmart wants to continue to invest in prices, people, technology and automation, but still improve margins. The company is focusing on a balance between long-term growth and short-term profitability.

The question of e-commerce profitability was also interesting. The management emphasized that cost reductions and efficiency improvements are already noticeable. Net delivery costs per order in the USA have been reduced by 20%, while fulfillment services (WFS) are being further expanded.

Outlook: For the new financial year, Walmart is planning sales growth of 3-4%, above-average operating profit growth of up to 5.5% and increased investment in technology and automation. Particularly exciting: The strategy to further diversify revenue sources. Advertising, memberships and data-driven business models are becoming increasingly important, while at the same time the supply chain is being further optimized.

In summary, it can be said that Walmart is growing steadily and consistently focusing on digital transformation. E-commerce, advertising and automated processes are booming, while the core business is becoming more profitable. Critical analyst questions show that there are challenges - but the company has a clear strategy to continue gaining market share in the future.

I hope this summary has helped you.

Stay tuned!

If you look at the current developments at Walmart $WMT (-1%)it quickly becomes clear that the mood is anything but good. The share fell further on Friday and lost a lot of value in the gloomy overall market. It fell by over 6.5 percent on Thursday, followed by a further 2.8 percent on Friday - a clear sign of the tense situation.

The reason for the decline? According to the University of Michigan, the consumer climate in the USA has deteriorated more than expected. Concerns about rising inflation, particularly due to possible tariffs, are weighing on consumers. This could be alarming for Walmart as an important indicator of Americans' consumer sentiment.

Technical analysis shows that the stock has now fallen below the 50-day moving average, which could reinforce the downward trend. Despite a small gain of 4.5 percent since the beginning of the year, Walmart shares have already lost over 61.8 percent of their gains this year.

How do you assess the situation? Is this the right time to invest or should investors be more cautious? 👍

The Walmart share $WMT (-1%) recently took a hit after the retailer issued a cautious forecast for the coming financial year. 😕 Despite its position as the world's largest retailer, executives seem to be worried about its future performance.

What do you think? Is this reticence a sign of foresight or rather an expression of uncertainty? Especially in a market characterized by price pressure and changing customer behavior, this could be a warning signal for investors.

Walmart is known for keeping a close eye on market conditions. But can the company's strategies survive in a rapidly changing environment? Let's discuss - how do you see the situation? Is it time to invest in Walmart or is it better to wait and see? 📉

$WMT (-1%) Shares in the retailer Walmart slumped by almost 7% to 96.66 dollars in pre-market trading.

The company forecasts net sales growth of 3% to 4% for fiscal 2026, compared to estimates of 4%. Expects adjusted annual earnings per share between $2.50 and $2.60, compared to estimates of $2.76

WMT reports fourth-quarter U.S. comparable sales growth of 4.9%, beating analysts' estimates of a 4.15% increase, helped by a strong holiday shopping season

The share price rose by 72% in 2024

3 examples from my savings plan portfolio

Walmart
$WMT (-1%)

A boring dividend aristocrat, solid figures and slight growth. Clearly outperformed the S&P 500 last year.

Sprouts Farmers
$SFM (-1,62%)

Return of approx. 240% in one year. The figures and growth (approx. 10-15%) are decent, but the share price development is a bit insane compared to the growth 😂

Microsoft
$MSFT (-1,23%)

A very good growth stock that belongs in every portfolio, sales and profits are increasing quarter by quarter, but Microsoft didn't stand a chance against the S&P 500 last year and has only gone sideways so far

Wayfair ($W) (-1,85%) was a clear winner in e-commerce during the pandemic, but experienced a drastic crash afterwards. Now that the market has stabilized, investors are asking themselves: Is Wayfair ripe for a comeback or will the company remain under pressure?

Overview: What does Wayfair do?

Wayfair is one of the world's largest online retailers for furniture and home accessories. The company operates an asset-light model, which means that it does not produce its own furniture, but brokers products via a broad network of manufacturers and suppliers.

✅ Wayfair.com: Main platform for online furniture retail in the USA, Canada and Europe.

✅ Wayfair Professional: B2B platform for companies and interior designers.

✅ Perigold, AllModern, Birch Lane and Joss & Main: Other brands covering different design styles.

Wayfair relies heavily on data analysis and AIto understand buying behavior and optimize the supply chain.

Competition: Who are the competitors?

🔸 Amazon ($AMZN) (-1,38%) & Walmart ($WMT) (-1%) - Huge competition in online retail, which also offer furniture.

🔸 IKEA - The stationary furniture giant that is constantly expanding its online presence.

🔸 Home Depot ($HD) (-1,3%) & Lowe's ($LOW) (-0,22%) - Important competitors in the Home & Living segment.

🔸 Etsy ($ETSY) (-1,66%) & smaller specialty retailers - Competition from individual furniture and decoration suppliers.

Wayfair has the advantage of being a pure online specialist specialist for furniture, but has to hold its own against financially strong rivals.

Opportunities: Why could Wayfair make a comeback?

✅ Efficiency gains: Wayfair has worked hard on its cost structure and reduced staff in recent quarters.

✅ Stabilization of demand: After the extreme boom in 2020-2021 and the decline in 2022-2023, the market could now normalize.

✅ Improved consumer climate: Falling inflation and potential interest rate cuts could boost purchasing power.

✅ Improved margins: The company has recently achieved higher gross margins, which indicates better cost control.

✅ Expansion of B2B business: Wayfair Professional continues to grow and could be a stable revenue generator in the long term.

Risks: What could continue to weigh on Wayfair? ⚠️

⚠️ High competitive pressure: Amazon, IKEA and Walmart are strong opponents with better supply chains.

⚠️ Dependence on macro factors: High interest rates and weak consumer sentiment could delay the recovery.

⚠️ Profitability remains fragile: Wayfair has made losses in the past and needs to show it can sustain profits.

⚠️ Logistics and storage costs: Despite efficiency gains, shipping bulky furniture remains a challenge.

⚠️ Customer loyalty: Unlike Apple or Tesla, customers have little loyalty to Wayfair - many simply compare prices with the competition.

Conclusion: turnaround opportunity or value trap?

Wayfair could be one of the most exciting turnaround candidates in 2025. The company has worked hard on its cost structure and could benefit from a recovery in consumer sentiment. However, competition remains intense and it is not yet certain whether Wayfair will become sustainably profitable.

What do you think? Does Wayfair have the potential for a strong recovery or will the share remain a shaky candidate? 🚀