Hello, and welcome to my review of Porter Stansberry.
Porter Stansberry is one of the better-known names in the investment newsletter world.
He founded Stansberry Research, built a large following over more than two decades, and now publishes his current investment research through Porter & Co.
But is Porter Stansberry’s newsletter actually worth joining?
In this review, I’ll walk through the six key things to know before subscribing, including who Porter Stansberry is, what his track record looks like, how his advisory works, and who it’s best for.
I’ll also share an alternative worth considering if you prefer a more focused approach with fewer, more selective opportunities. But first, let’s look at what Porter Stansberry actually offers.
See My Top Recommendation(1) Who Is Porter Stansberry?
Porter Stansberry is a longtime financial publisher, investor, and newsletter writer.
He founded Stansberry Research in 1999, starting with what became the firm’s flagship publication, Stansberry’s Investment Advisory. Over time, Stansberry Research grew into one of the better-known investment newsletter publishers in the industry.
Porter stepped away from Stansberry Research in 2020 and launched Porter & Co. in 2022, where he now publishes his current investment research and market commentary.
He also hosts the Black Label Podcast, where he discusses markets, politics, and current events with different guests.
Porter’s current work focuses on long-term investing, capital-efficient businesses, shareholder-friendly companies, and what he describes as generationally compounding investments. Through Porter & Co., he also offers a range of paid newsletters aimed at different types of investors.
(2) Does Porter Stansberry Have a Good Track Record?
Porter Stansberry has been in the investment newsletter business for decades, and Porter & Co. highlights several major winning calls from his career.
On its “Hall of Fame” page, for example, Porter & Co. points to past calls involving investments like Nvidia, Intuitive Surgical, Amazon, Adobe, Bitcoin, BWX Technologies, Philip Morris, and others. Some of the displayed returns are substantial.
Porter & Co. also claims that its monthly “Best Buys,” which are selected from the broader Complete Investor portfolio, have outperformed the S&P 500 since February 2023. The chart shown compares a 35% average total return for the Best Buys against 22.7% for the S&P 500.
That’s a positive data point, but it refers specifically to the company’s Best Buys list, not the entire Complete Investor portfolio or every Porter Stansberry recommendation.
Like any stock picker, not all of Porter Stansberry’s picks have worked out this well, so I wouldn’t treat those examples as a complete picture of every recommendation.
The results you experience will depend on which Porter Stansberry service you join, which recommendations you follow, your timing, and how consistently you manage the portfolio.
(3) How Does Porter Stansberry’s Advisory Work?
Porter Stansberry’s main advisory is called Complete Investor, which is usually listed at $2,000 per year and is published through the Porter & Co. website.
Subscribers of Complete Investor receive a monthly newsletter with Porter’s latest stock recommendation, a model portfolio of the active recommendations, research reports, and access to a portfolio allocation tool called Porter’s Permanent Portfolio.
As of writing, there are six main investment themes that Complete Investor recommendations fit into, and each one includes a ‘key holding’ meant to represent the theme.
- Forever Stocks (key holding is Philip Morris International, PM).
- Energy & Commodities (key holding is Viper Energy, VNOM).
- Property & Casualty Insurance (key holding is W.R. Berkley, WRB).
- Exponential Growth (key holding is Uber Technologies, UBER).
- Legal Monopolies (key holding is Booz Allen Hamilton, BAH).
- Parallel-Processing Revolution (key holding is Nvidia, NVDA).
Porter & Co. also offers a lower-cost service called Best Buys.
This service shares the three Complete Investor holdings Porter and his team consider most attractive each month. It’s not as comprehensive, but at $29 per month, it’s a lot more accessible than the Complete Investor service.
Beyond those two services, the company offers several other premium services that cater to different investors and market approaches.
(4) How Much Does Porter’s Research Cost?
Porter & Co. has several different services, so the cost depends on what you join.
The main service, Complete Investor, is listed at $2,000 per year, though I’ve also seen promotional pages offering it for $1,425 per year.
The lower-cost entry point is Best Buys, which costs $29 per month. This gives subscribers the three Complete Investor picks Porter & Co. currently considers most attractive each month.
Porter & Co. also offers several other advisories, including services focused on distressed investing, technology companies, and trading (among others). These appear to be priced around $2,000 per year, but it’s always best to check with the company site for the latest pricing info.
There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee, but it’s worth noting that Porter & Co. says a 10% cancellation fee applies, so it may not be a full refund.
(5) Is Porter Stansberry Legit?
Yes, I believe Porter Stansberry is legit.
He has been in the investment newsletter industry for decades, founded Stansberry Research in 1999, and now publishes his current work through Porter & Co.
Porter & Co. also shows several examples of past winning recommendations, including gains from stocks like Nvidia, Intuitive Surgical, Amazon, Adobe, BWX Technologies, and others.
That said, being legit does not mean every recommendation will work out. If you join one of Porter Stansberry’s advisories, you should expect to see a mix of winners and losers, and go in with realistic expectations.
So overall, I would consider Porter Stansberry a legitimate financial publisher with a long track record in the industry. But like any stock advisory, it still comes with risk.
(6) Who Should Join Porter Stansberry’s Service?
Porter Stansberry is an experienced analyst, and his service may be a good fit if you want to build and manage a large stock portfolio with dozens of positions over time.
Complete Investor gives you access to 40+ positions, multiple investment themes, portfolio tools, research archives, special reports, and ongoing monthly updates. Porter & Co. also offers several other services, so there are many ideas and recommendations you could follow.
That can be useful if you enjoy digging into research and comparing different opportunities. But it also means more complexity, more decisions, and more analysis. There’s also a higher cost involved in accessing Porter’s top research compared to many other services.
So, bottom line, if you want a wide range of stock ideas and don’t mind the price tag, Porter & Co. may be worth considering. But if you are looking for something simpler, more focused, and easier to follow, there may be a better alternative.
Is There a Better Alternative?
I’ve reviewed hundreds of investment newsletters over the years, and while many are built around big themes and bold predictions, only a small number take a more selective approach to uncovering exceptional opportunities before the crowd catches on.
One analyst whose work has stood the test of time is Mark Skousen.
Skousen is a veteran economist, bestselling author, and former CIA analyst who has spent decades in elite financial circles.
Over the past four decades, he has built a long-standing reputation for spotting major trends and investment opportunities before they become widely recognized.
Right now, Skousen is focused on a little-known SpaceX play that he believes could be like investing in Tesla in the early days, and he just released a new presentation showing how ordinary investors can get positioned early, before the broader market catches on.
Click here to watch the full presentation now (free ticker revealed):
