Tom Lee’s 6 Stocks to Quit Your 9-to-5 (Allegedly)

Imagine lounging on a private beach, sun-kissed with a cocktail that’s mostly umbrella. No deadlines, no annoying work emails—just you and your smug sense of freedom. That’s the vision Wall Street’s Tom Lee is peddling. His plan? Six stocks so good they might just make working optional. No lottery tickets, no long-lost royal inheritance, just some disciplined investing. Sounds wild, but let’s break down why Lee thinks it could work.

Because we respect your busy schedule (or just your short attention span), here’s the list right out the gate: Nvidia, Meta, Tesla, Palantir, Uber, and Eli Lilly. Yes, you can head out now. Or stick around and find out why some of these picks might make you feel like a genius and others could leave you swearing at your screen.

Great Picks or Just Great Stories? The Breakdown

Lee doesn’t just pick stocks based on vibes. He has a strict 10-point checkup to measure everything from revenue growth and net margins to how much debt a company’s lugging around like a midlife crisis boat payment. Perfect score? Ten points. Total flop? Zero. Turns out not all stocks on this list are created equal.

Let’s start with the winners: Meta, Nvidia, Tesla, and Palantir. They scored high, sitting pretty in the upper 80s and 90s. Meta leads with a 95—surprising, given it’s where your uncle posts conspiracy theories. But behind the memes, Meta's all business, with solid revenue growth, cash reserves big enough to make Scrooge McDuck blush, and a P/E ratio that doesn’t scream “run.” Nvidia, Tesla, and Palantir? Also impressive but not quite perfect—minor knocks for sky-high P/E ratios and institutional shareholding just shy of gold standards.

Then there’s Uber and Eli Lilly. Uber scored a shaky 65, bogged down by debt and a wafer-thin margin. As for Eli Lilly? Its 108 P/E ratio reads more like a warning label than an opportunity. Lee isn’t writing these two off completely, but for now, they’re in the “maybe someday” pile.

Tom Lee Said Stocks Will Rise 150% In 2025 - Watch video

Why Lee Loves the Big Four

Lee’s enthusiasm for Meta, Nvidia, Tesla, and Palantir isn’t just blind optimism. These aren’t just solid stocks; they’re juggernauts with staying power and serious market influence. Nvidia’s chips are the backbone of AI innovation. Meta is pivoting and printing money. Tesla, despite the occasional Elon-sized controversy, dominates EVs. Palantir? Think of them as the quiet kid in class who’s suddenly MVP of data analytics. These are companies built to last, not quick flashes in the market pan.

But here’s the rub: Big valuations mean smaller growth potential. Nvidia’s already a $3 trillion beast—doubling in size isn’t impossible, but it’s harder than, say, Palantir rocketing up from $80 billion. So, for Lee, it’s not just about being good; it’s about being undervalued enough to skyrocket.

The Strategy: Buy, Hold, and Double Down

Lee’s playbook isn’t rocket science, but it requires some nerve. When one of his golden picks dips 20% below its 52-week high, you buy more. That’s right, you lean in when others panic. This strategy, lovingly called “averaging down,” is like buying premium coffee at a steep discount—because you know you’ll drink it eventually, and it’s cheaper this way.

This approach demands patience, consistency, and a steely resolve. The goal? A slow-burn wealth-building plan that’ll have you sipping Mai Tais before most of your peers even think of retiring. Sure, it’s not glamorous or instant, but when the market zigs and you zag with precision, it pays off in time.

What’s the Catch?

No promises here. Even Lee’s best-laid plans don’t guarantee island life on a whim. Stock markets are unpredictable beasts, and no checklist will predict every twist or turn. But that’s not the point. The plan emphasizes fundamentals over hype and emotional discipline over knee-jerk reactions.

Buy smart. Double down strategically. And keep your cool. Even if you’re not swapping spreadsheets for sandy beaches by next year, you’ll be in the game with a smarter edge.

This Week’s AI Prompt of the Week

Inspired by Tom Lee’s 10-point stock checkup, this week’s AI Prompt of the Week (see newsletter) invites you to create your own evaluation system. What criteria would you use to assess success, innovation, or any other metrics in your industry? Get creative—extra points if you can score your favorite stocks, gadgets, or even movies using your custom scale.