Motley Fool vs The Street

If you are looking to invest in the stock market, we recommend using a stock picking service. This is because, with over 3,000 public traded companies available, it can be challenging to know where to start. 

That way, rather than spending hours researching your next stock to buy, you simply work with customized suggestions picked by the pros.

That’s precisely what Motley Fool and The Street do. Both platforms offer a plethora of expert insights as far as investing in stocks is concerned. 

So, which one of these two is the real deal? Here’s our head-to-head comparison of these giants.

Which One Wins in The Motley Fool vs The Street Duel?

Both have been around since the 90s. The “Fool” is known for continuously beating the market while The Street is hard-hitting insights and consistent accuracy. Let’s delve deeper, shall we?

Similarities Between the Two Companies

While both services are not 100% the same, they share some similarities. Let’s have a look at them:

1. Stock Recommendations

You will be pleased to learn that both websites offer their subscribers with exclusive stock picks. Motley Fool, provides you with two new stock picks every month via their Stock Advisor and Rule Breakers programs. 

Additionally, they also provide starter stocks for new and experienced investors looking to build their investment portfolios. 

The best part is that each of Motley Fool’s picks is accompanied by detailed reports. These reports usually explain why both Tom and David Gardner believe that the stock is headed for massive growth. 

TheStreet, on the other hand, provides investors with a real-time view of one of Jim Cramer’s portfolios that he actively manages. Essentially, subscribers can see what stocks Jim owns, what he has sold, and what he is buying. As an investor, you can then proceed to trade the same stocks as him. 

2. Online Community Forum

Another similarity between the two services is that they provide access to a community of investors. Consequently, this enables subscribers to interact with like-minded investors and share ideas about investing in stocks. 

And if you are a new trader, you will find experienced traders are always ready to help. This will, therefore, ensure you have a pleasant experience buying and selling stocks.

3. Educational Materials

Additionally, both websites include free and premium educational resources to help you invest better. On Motley Fool’s website, you will find tons of articles on different topics like Investing Basics, retirement, personal finance, and the stock market. 

When it comes to TheStreet, the website also offers educational content about personal finance, retirement, and investing. Some of the content is in video format, while the rest is in the form of articles. 

4. News and Updates

Through Motley Fool Stock and Advisor and other services, the company provides its subscribers with current stock news and updates. As a member, you will receive share market and investing analysis news. This helps ensure that investors are always up-to-date with current events. 

With the TheStreet website, members usually receive a roundup of the major news and world events that moved markets each week. The company further provides an analysis of how those events can play out in the stock market. 

The Differences

The Motley Fool and TheStreet programs are designed for different types of investors. Therefore, while they may have some similar features, they also have differences. These include: 

1. Stock Picks Format

Both platforms come with stock recommendations. This explains why we included this point in the list of featured the two websites have in common. 

However, both services are distinct in the way they present their picks. For instance, Motley Fool usually delivers two stock picks every month, starter stocks, and a list of best buys. These picks are sent via email and are always accompanied by detailed reports explaining why they were picked. 

But with TheStreet, you only see the list of stocks that Jim Crammer has personally bought in real-time. As a result, investors also get the chance to see how Jim builds portfolios. 

2. Investing Strategy

Another difference lies in the investing strategy both services use. For instance, Motley Fool’s style of investing is a long-term, buy-and-hold strategy. 

This simply means that when the company recommends a stock, you should buy and hold the stocks for at least 5 years. The reason for adopting this strategy is because the market has its up and downs. But if you are holding the stocks for the long term, you can ride out the downturns. 

In contrast, TheStreet is against buying and holding stocks for an extended period. The service rather recommends investing in low-cost index mutual funds. This is because they are highly diversified, low risk, and generate less taxable income. 

3. Pricing & Plans

Pricing is yet another area where both services differ. This is because Motley Fool’s most popular service Stock Advisor membership fee is $99 for the first year. Thereafter, subscribers are required to pay $199 per year. 

When it comes to TheStreet, their premium service Action Alerts PLUS costs $29.99 per month. But if you subscribe to their annual service, you pay $299.99. 

So, overall, the subscription fee for Motley Fool is significantly cheaper than that of TheStreet.

Any Unique Features Among the Two Services?

The Motley Fool and TheStreet company have similarities and differences. However, what most people don’t know is that they also have exclusive features. Let’s check them out.  

For starters, Motley Fool includes four newsletters every month. Two of these newsletters contain a new stock recommendation. The other two comprise 10 new best buys and previous picks that the company still recommends as good buys.

Additionally, the service provides starter stocks that the founders believe can help new and experienced investors build their portfolios.

With TheStreet, one of its unique features is that subscribers usually get access to Jim’s portfolio. This means that every time he buys or sells a stock, you will receive alerts. On top of that, members get a more in-depth market analysis at the end of every week.

Another feature that is exclusive to TheStreet is the conference call. If you subscribe to the service, you get a chance to have a conference call with Jim himself once per month. During the call, he will answer investors' questions and also share advice about the stock market. 

Motley Fool or The Street? – Our Thoughts

Motley Fool and The Street are both popular stock picking services, and for good reasons. But which one is the best? 

Well, for the majority of traders and investors, Motley Fool is a more attractive option than TheStreet. This is because Motley Fool is significantly cheaper per year. 

And with its 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try the company’s premium service before deciding whether to continue. This is because if you are not satisfied with the service, then you can get your membership fee back. 

More so, the service offers better returns compared to TheStreet even though they have been in existence for nearly the same amount of time. As if that’s not enough, the program provides its members with a more detailed analysis of their stock picks.