Yes, Motley Fool Stock Advisor is worth it for long-term investors who can hold through volatility. After analyzing 501 stock picks spanning 23.8 years, the numbers speak for themselves: 951.5% total returns versus the S&P 500’s 192.9% over the same period. That’s roughly 5x the market’s performance since 2002.
But here’s what the marketing won’t emphasize: 33% of Motley Fool Stock Advisor picks lose money. Some years are brutal—the 2021 vintage averaged -28%. The service’s biggest winners have all experienced 40-60% drawdowns during their runs. The 951% return is real. It just required sitting through moments when your portfolio looked like a disaster.
This review breaks down exactly what you get, what the track record actually shows, and whether you’re the type of investor who can capture these returns—because the strategy only works if you can follow it when it hurts.
Quick Verdict: Is Motley Fool Stock Advisor Worth It?
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Return | 951.5% |
| vs S&P 500 | +758.7% |
| Win Rate | 67% |
| Track Record | 23.8 years |
| $10K Becomes | $105,150 |
| Annual Cost | $99 |
Rating: 4.9/5 — Best for patient growth investors who hold through volatility for 5+ years.
Stock Advisor delivers what it promises: market-beating stock picks with a verified long-term track record. The service has survived the 2008 financial crisis, the 2020 COVID crash, and the 2022 bear market—and outperformed through all of them. At $99/year ($1.90/week), the math works if you follow the strategy.
The catch: this isn’t a “set and forget” service. You need to build a diversified portfolio of 25+ positions over time, hold through significant drawdowns, and resist the urge to sell when individual picks drop 40-50%. For investors who can do that, Stock Advisor is the gold standard of stock picking services.
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The Complete Motley Fool Stock Advisor Track Record
Let’s cut through the marketing and look at what 501 picks over 23.8 years actually produced.
The Headline Numbers
$10,000 invested following Stock Advisor’s recommendations in 2002 would be worth approximately $105,150 today. The same $10,000 in an S&P 500 index fund? About $29,290. That’s not a typo—Stock Advisor has returned roughly 3.6x what the market returned over the same period.
But aggregate numbers hide important details. Here’s what the complete Motley Fool Stock Advisor performance data reveals:
Win Rate and Return Asymmetry
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Picks | 501 |
| Winners | 333 (67%) |
| Losers | 164 (33%) |
| Avg Winner Return | +1,598.4% |
| Avg Loser Return | -43.5% |
This is the key insight most investors miss: Stock Advisor’s strategy is asymmetric. Losses are capped (you can only lose 100%), but winners can run 1,000%+, 10,000%+, even 100,000%+. The service has produced 182 stocks that doubled, 126 that tripled, 85 five-baggers, and 46 ten-baggers.
The math works because a single ten-bagger can offset dozens of losers. When NVIDIA returned 104,690% from its 2005 recommendation, it didn’t matter that other picks from that year lost money.
The Time Curve: Why Holding Period Matters
This is where Motley Fool Stock Advisor picks separate from random stock tips. The data shows a clear pattern:
| Time Since Rec. | Win Rate | Avg Return | vs S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 1 Year | 57.1% | 11.4% | -10% |
| 1-3 Years | 63.3% | 22.1% | -2.8% |
| 5-10 Years | 65.6% | 210.6% | +128.5% |
| 10+ Years | 91.9% | 3,951.4% | +4,930.8% |
Read that again. Recommendations held for less than a year have a 57% win rate—barely better than a coin flip. But positions held for 10+ years have a 91.9% win rate with average returns of 3,951%.
This isn’t cherry-picking. It’s the mathematical reality of how compounding works with quality businesses. The service’s philosophy—hold for 5+ years minimum—isn’t arbitrary. It’s built on this data.
Performance Through Market Cycles
Stock Advisor’s track record spans multiple market environments:
| Market Regime | Period | Positions | Avg Return | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dot-Com Crash | 2000-2002 | 13 | 2,954.5% | 85% |
| Financial Crisis | 2007-2009 | 26 | 798.4% | 81% |
| Post-Crisis Bull | 2009-2020 | 233 | 609.4% | 75% |
| COVID Crash | Feb-Mar 2020 | 3 | -18.7% | 0% |
| 2022 Bear Market | 2022 | 18 | 23.7% | 56% |
| AI Bull Market | 2022-Present | 78 | 35% | 69% |
The service has delivered through multiple market cycles—not just one extended bull run. Picks made during bear markets have historically produced some of the best returns, with an average 939% return and 56% win rate.
The Bottom Line: Stock Advisor’s track record is legitimate. The 951.5% return is real, verified across 501 picks over 23.8 years. But capturing those returns requires following the strategy: diversify across 25+ positions, hold for 5+ years, and don’t panic-sell during drawdowns.
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Motley Fool Stock Advisor Picks: A Deep Dive
Understanding how Motley Fool stock picks work—and what makes them different from random stock tips—is essential before subscribing.
How Stock Advisor Picks Are Selected
Every month, the Stock Advisor team issues two new recommendations. Each pick includes:
- A clear investment thesis explaining why this business deserves your capital
- An investing type classification (Cautious, Moderate, or Aggressive)
- Estimated return range and max drawdown expectations
- The price at publication for tracking purposes
The service focuses on businesses with sustainable competitive advantages, strong management teams, large addressable markets, and financial strength. They’re explicitly not looking for short-term trades or momentum plays.
Recent Motley Fool Stock Advisor Picks Performance
Looking at 2024-2025 Motley Fool stock picks, the results are mixed—as expected with growth investing:
2024 Vintage (25 picks):
- Win Rate: 70.8%
- Average Return: 21.8%
- Best performers: Several picks have already doubled
- Worst performers: Some down 45-58%
2025 Picks (24 so far):
- Win Rate: 52.2%
- Average Return: 4.1%
- Best performer: Up 70% in just months
- Worst performer: Down 42%
This is normal. Early-stage picks show high variance. The 2021 vintage looked terrible initially (26% win rate, -28% average) but has since improved as winners have had time to compound.
The Conviction Picks: Re-Recommendations
One of the most valuable signals in Stock Advisor is when they recommend a stock multiple times. The data shows:
| Metric | Multi-Rec Stocks | Single-Rec Stocks |
|---|---|---|
| Average Return | 2,564% | 147% |
| Count | 70 stocks | 431 stocks |
Stocks recommended multiple times average 17x the returns of single recommendations. When you see the same stock appear in “Top 10 Stocks to Buy Now” repeatedly, that’s a high-conviction signal.
Notable Motley Fool Stock Advisor Picks by Sector
The service’s best returns have come from technology, but they recommend across sectors:
| Sector | Picks | Avg Return | Win Rate | Best Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | 123 | 3,477.6% | 70.7% | +104,690% |
| Consumer Discretionary | 42 | 1,024.1% | 73.8% | +22,795% |
| Consumer Staples | 9 | 737.3% | 88.9% | +2,985% |
| Industrials | 20 | 600% | 90% | +4,168% |
| Financials | 18 | 494.2% | 94.4% | +2,247% |
| Healthcare | 20 | 335.8% | 75% | +1,949% |
Technology dominates the returns, but Industrials (90% win rate) and Financials (94.4% win rate) have been remarkably consistent.
What About the Losers?
No honest Motley Fool Stock Advisor review can ignore the failures. The service has had 164 losing positions (33% of all picks):
- Average loss: -43.5%
- Total losses: -7,126% across all losers
- Worst individual picks: Several down 90%+ (some went to zero)
The worst vintage year was 2021, with a -28% average return and only 26% win rate. Picks from that year included pandemic darlings that collapsed as the world normalized.
But here’s the critical insight: the winners overwhelm the losers. Total gains from winners exceed 476,000%. Total losses from losers: -7,126%. The strategy works because you let winners run while cutting losers.
What You Actually Get with Stock Advisor
Beyond the monthly picks, Stock Advisor includes tools and resources that justify the subscription even if you never buy a single recommendation.
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Core Features
Monthly Stock Recommendations: Two new picks delivered each month from the Stock Advisor analyst team. Each includes a detailed thesis, risk assessment, and expected holding period.
Top 10 Stocks to Buy Now: Updated monthly rankings of the best current buying opportunities from all Stock Advisor recommendations—not just recent picks. This helps you prioritize where to deploy new capital.
Foundational Stocks: A curated list of 10-12 companies they believe “can strengthen every Foolish portfolio.” Updated quarterly with clear rationale for each selection.
Three Portfolio Strategies: Complete frameworks for Cautious, Moderate, and Aggressive investors:
| Strategy | ETF/Stock Split | Est. Annual Return | Est. Max Drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cautious | 50% ETFs / 50% Stocks | 8% to 16% | -21% |
| Moderate | 35% ETFs / 65% Stocks | 9% to 18% | -24% |
| Aggressive | 20% ETFs / 80% Stocks | 9% to 19% | -27% |
Research Tools
Moneyball Database: Access to 200+ companies with proprietary scoring across financial health, product strength, leadership quality, and more. You can see why companies rank highly, not just that they do.
Fool IQ Company Pages: Deep dives on individual companies showing performance charts, Moneyball scores, recommendation history, and financial data.
Stock Reports: Dozens of in-depth analyses written by expert analysts covering both recommended stocks and potential future picks.
Educational Content
Weekly Market Recaps: Genuinely informative analysis connecting macro developments to portfolio implications—not generic market commentary.
Investing Philosophy Content: Articles explaining drawdown expectations, investing types, and the service’s core principles. This content builds the holding power you need to capture long-term returns.
Live Coverage: Market commentary during trading hours, plus livestream shows three times daily.
Pro Tip: The educational content on drawdowns and volatility is worth reading before you need it. Understanding that -40% drawdowns are expected for aggressive picks will save you from panic selling.
How Stock Advisor’s Investment Philosophy Works
Stock Advisor isn’t just a list of stock picks. It’s a complete investing system built on specific principles:
The Six Core Principles
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Buy 25+ Companies Over Time: Diversification isn’t optional. They want you owning enough positions that one underperformer doesn’t sink your confidence.
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Hold for 5+ Years Minimum: “The shorter your investing time horizon, the more we think you’re gambling.”
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Add New Savings Regularly: Having cash available means you can add new stocks without selling existing positions.
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Hold Through Market Volatility: “Be prepared for stock market declines—and take advantage of them.”
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Let Winners Run: They don’t advocate trimming positions that have grown large. “Winning companies tend to keep winning.”
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Target Long-Term Returns: Aim for excellent returns over 5-25 year periods, not quarterly performance.
Why This Philosophy Matters
The philosophy aligns with how wealth is actually built. The data shows:
- Positions held 3+ years: 364 positions, 1,435.1% average return
- Positions held <3 years: 134 positions, 20.6% average return
Patience isn’t just a virtue—it’s the entire strategy. The service is designed to build holding power, not trading activity.
The “What If” Scenarios
The performance data reveals what happens when you deviate from the philosophy:
“What if I sold after doubling?”
- Actual total gains: 525,149%
- If capped at 100%: 17,132%
- Missed gains: 508,017%
- Cost of selling early: 96.7% of total returns lost
Selling winners early is the most expensive mistake you can make with this service.
Stock Advisor Pricing and Value Analysis
Current Pricing
| Plan | Price | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Membership | $99/year | Annual |
| Promotional Pricing | Often $99-129 for new members | Varies |
At $99/year, you’re paying $1.90 per week for access to a portfolio that has returned 951% since 2002.
The Value Math
Let’s be realistic about breakeven:
Conservative scenario: If you invest $5,000 per Stock Advisor recommendation and just ONE pick outperforms the S&P 500 by 10% over a year, that’s $500 in excess returns. You’ve paid for the service for 2.5 years.
Realistic scenario: Some picks underperform, some outperform. Over 5+ years, the winners overwhelm the losers. The $99 becomes irrelevant compared to portfolio value—but only if you stay long enough.
Mistake-avoidance value: One avoided mistake on a $5,000 position saves $2,175 (at the average loser return of -43.5%). That’s 11 years of subscriptions.
The Guarantee
Stock Advisor offers a 30-day membership fee back guarantee for annual members. If it isn’t for you, cancel within 30 days for a full refund.
The Upsell Reality
The Motley Fool offers a complete product lineup:
| Service | Price | Monthly Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Stock Advisor | $99/year | 2 |
| Epic | $299/year | 5 |
| Epic Plus | $1,999/year | 8+ |
| Fool Portfolios | $3,999/year | 10+ |
| Fool One | $13,999/year | All access |
My honest take: The upsell pressure within Stock Advisor is relentless. You’ll constantly see promotions for Epic and higher tiers. Ignore them initially. The core Stock Advisor offering is substantial—master it before considering upgrades.
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The Real Trade-Offs: Pros and Cons
What Stock Advisor Does Well
Verified long-term track record. 23.8 years of documented picks across multiple market cycles. This isn’t backtested data or hypothetical returns—it’s real recommendations made in real time.
Asymmetric return profile. Winners average +1,598% while losers average -43.5%. The math works because upside is unlimited while downside is capped.
Complete portfolio system. Beyond picks, you get portfolio strategies, risk classifications, and educational content that builds holding power.
Research tools included. The Moneyball database and Fool IQ provide genuine analytical value beyond just the monthly recommendations.
Philosophy alignment. The service is designed for wealth building, not trading. Everything reinforces long-term holding behavior.
Where Stock Advisor Falls Short
33% of picks lose money. This is the nature of growth investing, but it’s worth setting expectations. Some picks will fail badly.
Recent years have been choppier. The 2021 vintage was particularly painful (-28% average). 2020-2021 pandemic picks suffered as the world normalized.
Relentless upsell pressure. The constant promotion of Epic and higher tiers makes Stock Advisor feel incomplete, even though the core offering is substantial.
Some features are gated. Full Quant Projections and certain tools require upgrading to Epic or higher.
Analyst team picks, not Gardner brothers. The marketing features Tom and David Gardner prominently, but David stepped back from stock picking in 2021. Stock Advisor recommendations come from the analyst team.
Who Should Subscribe to Stock Advisor
You’ll Get Real Value If…
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You have a 5+ year time horizon. This is non-negotiable. The strategy fails with shorter holding periods.
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You have $25,000+ to invest. Their suggested minimum makes sense—you need enough capital to build a diversified portfolio of 25+ positions over time.
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You can stomach significant drawdowns. Their aggressive picks might drop 50-60%. If that would cause you to sell, this service will frustrate you.
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You want a system, not just tips. The portfolio strategies, risk classifications, and educational content provide a complete framework.
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You’re willing to ignore the upsells. The core subscription provides substantial value. Don’t let the constant Epic promotion make you feel like you’re missing out.
Look Elsewhere If…
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You want short-term trading ideas. This service explicitly discourages holding periods under 5 years. If you get bored without action, you’ll overtrade and destroy your returns.
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You need income-focused investments. Stock Advisor focuses on growth. Dividend investors should look at Morningstar Investor for research tools or other dividend-focused services.
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You can’t handle volatility. Even the “Cautious” strategy expects -21% drawdowns. If that would keep you up at night, consider index funds.
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You’re investing money you’ll need in 3 years. This is a 5+ year strategy. The volatility can hurt you in shorter timeframes.
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You want personalized advice. This is a one-size-fits-many service. They can’t know your specific situation, tax circumstances, or complete financial picture.
Best Alternatives to Stock Advisor
If Stock Advisor isn’t the right fit, consider these alternatives:
For Research-Focused Investors
Morningstar Investor ($249/year) — If you want tools rather than picks, Morningstar provides institutional-grade research, fair value estimates, and portfolio analysis. Best for self-directed analysts who want to make their own decisions. See our Morningstar Investor review for the complete breakdown.
For Quant-Driven Investors
Alpha Picks by Seeking Alpha ($449/year) — Algorithm-driven stock picks based on quantitative analysis. Different philosophy than Stock Advisor’s fundamental approach. Best for investors who trust data over human judgment. See our Stock Advisor vs Alpha Picks comparison for a detailed breakdown.
For Aggressive Growth Seekers
Motley Fool Rule Breakers ($299/year) — Stock Advisor’s more aggressive sibling, focusing on disruptive companies in emerging industries. Higher risk, higher potential reward. Best for investors comfortable with extreme volatility. Compare the two in our Stock Advisor vs Rule Breakers guide. See our complete Motley Fool review for the full ecosystem overview.
For Income Investors
Simply Safe Dividends ($199/year) — Focuses entirely on dividend safety and income investing. Completely different approach than Stock Advisor’s growth focus. Best for retirees or income-focused portfolios.
| Service | Price | Best For | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Advisor | $99/yr | Long-term growth | Verified 23-year track record |
| Morningstar Investor | $249/yr | Self-directed research | Tools, not picks |
| Alpha Picks | $449/yr | Quant-driven investing | Algorithm-based selection |
| Rule Breakers | $299/yr | Aggressive growth | Higher volatility |
Final Verdict: Is Motley Fool Stock Advisor Worth the Money?
After analyzing 501 picks across 23.8 years, here’s my conclusion:
Stock Advisor is worth it for investors who can actually follow the strategy.
The 951.5% return versus the S&P 500’s 192.9% is real and verified. The 67% win rate with winners averaging 37x the size of losers creates genuine wealth over time. The research tools, portfolio frameworks, and educational content add value beyond just the picks.
But the strategy only works if you:
- Hold for 5+ years (positions held 10+ years have 91.9% win rate)
- Build a diversified portfolio of 25+ stocks
- Accept that 33% of picks will lose money
- Don’t panic-sell during 40-50% drawdowns
The current environment—with extreme market concentration and 575+ point spreads between winners and losers—makes stock selection more valuable than ever. A service that helps you find quality businesses beyond the Magnificent 7 addresses real portfolio needs.
At $99/year, the math works. One successful pick that beats the market by 10% on a $5,000 position pays for 2.5 years of the service. One avoided mistake saves 11 years of subscriptions.
The real question isn’t whether Stock Advisor is worth it. It’s whether you’re the type of investor who can capture the returns.
If you can commit to the 5+ year holding period, stomach the inevitable drawdowns, and trust the process when individual picks are underwater—Stock Advisor is the gold standard of stock picking services.
If you’ll second-guess every pick, sell at the first sign of trouble, or need the money in 3 years—save your $99. The service only works for investors who can follow it.
Compare all your options in our guide to the best stock advisors.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Motley Fool Stock Advisor worth the money?
Yes, for long-term investors who can hold 5+ years. At $99/year, Stock Advisor has delivered 951.5% returns since 2002 versus the S&P 500’s 192.9%. The math works if you follow the strategy—but 33% of picks lose money, so you need patience and diversification to capture the winners that drive overall returns. One successful pick that beats the market by 10% on a $5,000 position pays for 2.5 years of the service.
What are the best alternatives to Motley Fool Stock Advisor?
The best alternatives depend on your investing style. Morningstar Investor ($249/year) is best for self-directed researchers who want tools rather than picks. Alpha Picks by Seeking Alpha ($449/year) uses quantitative algorithms instead of fundamental analysis. Rule Breakers ($299/year) offers more aggressive growth picks for higher risk tolerance. For income investors, Simply Safe Dividends ($199/year) focuses entirely on dividend safety.
Motley Fool Stock Advisor vs Alpha Picks: Which is better?
Stock Advisor and Alpha Picks use fundamentally different approaches. Stock Advisor relies on human analysts selecting businesses with competitive advantages and strong management—it has a 23.8-year track record with 951.5% returns. Alpha Picks uses quantitative algorithms to identify undervalued stocks based on data patterns. Stock Advisor is better for investors who want thesis-driven picks and educational content. Alpha Picks is better for those who trust algorithms over human judgment. Stock Advisor costs $99/year versus Alpha Picks’ $449/year. Read our Stock Advisor vs Alpha Picks comparison for the detailed breakdown.
How do I cancel Motley Fool Stock Advisor?
You can cancel Stock Advisor anytime by contacting Member Support at [email protected], calling (888) 665-3665 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm EST), or using the Customer Service Contact Form at fool.com/contact/customer-service/. Annual memberships include a 30-day money-back guarantee—if you cancel within 30 days, you receive a full refund. After 30 days, you can still cancel but won’t receive a refund for the remaining subscription period.
What is Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s actual return?
As of December 2025, Motley Fool Stock Advisor has delivered 951.5% total returns since inception in March 2002, versus 192.9% for the S&P 500 over the same period. This represents outperformance of 758.7 percentage points. The service has a 67% win rate across 501 total picks, with 182 stocks that doubled and 46 ten-baggers. However, 33% of picks lose money, and the average loser returns -43.5%.
How many stock picks does Motley Fool Stock Advisor give per month?
Stock Advisor provides two new stock recommendations per month, plus ongoing guidance through their “Top 10 Stocks to Buy Now” rankings (updated monthly), Foundational Stocks list (updated quarterly), and coverage of existing recommendations. The service also includes access to the Moneyball database with 200+ scored companies and research tools for analyzing potential investments beyond the monthly picks.