Motley Fool Review – Is The Stock Advisor a Good Investment?

About Motley Fool

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor is one of the most popular stock recommendation newsletters in the world. If you have spent any time around investing, you have probably come across The Motley Fool through ads, word of mouth, or personal experience.

Since launching in 2002, Stock Advisor’s recommendations have delivered returns of 930% (as of April 2026). That performance beats the S&P 500 by around five times. In real terms, a $10,000 investment in their recommended stocks would have grown to over $650,000, compared to about $100,000 in the index.

So does Stock Advisor live up to its reputation? We have reviewed more than 400 financial services, and this one stands out. In this review, we will explain what Stock Advisor offers, how it works, and whether it is worth the cost.

History of The Motley Fool

Before diving into the review, it helps to know the story behind The Motley Fool. When you are trusting a service with investment advice, credibility and track record matter.

The company was founded in 1993 by brothers Tom and David Gardner, who began sharing stock ideas online with a mix of humor, humility, and research. Their goal was simple: empower everyday investors to beat Wall Street.

By 1997, they launched Fool.com, which quickly became one of the most popular investing websites. Over the years, the Gardners expanded into bestselling books, newspaper columns, radio shows, and podcasts, building a loyal community of investors known as “fools.”

The company also introduced services like the Real Money Portfolio, where subscribers could follow the firm’s own trades with full transparency. This openness helped set Motley Fool apart and establish it as a trusted leader in investment research.

Today, The Motley Fool is one of the most respected names in finance. Of all its services, we believe Stock Advisor remains the strongest offering. In the next section, we will show you why.

 

What is The Stock Advisor Program?

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor is a simple program that offers stock recommendations to members.

There are no fancy pitches or complicated schemes.  As a Motley Fool subscriber, you get stock recommendations that are expected to outperform the market – simple as that.

Members receive two new stock recommendations per month and a list of the best buying opportunities at any given moment.

The program’s founders, Tom and David Gardner, wanted to make it super easy for beginner investors to achieve the same returns as Wall Street fat cats.

While investing may seem complicated for the average investor, it doesn’t need to be. You simply need to know which stocks to buy and when.

Motley Fool Stock Advisor Video Review

What Do Stock Advisor Members Get?

New members have access to many investment resources, but the stock recommendations are the star of the service. When you sign up, you get instant access to a few different types of stock reocmmendations, including:

2 new stock recommendations every month

Access to monthly stock rankings

A list of “foundational stocks” to jumpstart your portfolio

If you are new to investing, the Motley Fool team recommends building a portfolio of 25 stocks that you plan to hold for at least 5 years.

If you already have an established portfolio, you can continue to add new stocks as the Motley Fool analysts make new recommendations every month.

If you are just starting to build a portfolio, Motley Fool offers a list of foundational stocks and updated rankings of the best stocks to buy now.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these resources.

Two New Stock Recommendations Every Month

Stock Advisor members receive two new stock recommendations per month. Every stock recommendation comes with an in-depth research report explaining the rationale behind the endorsement. These are long-term recommendations that Motley Fool expects to hold in the portfolio for at least five years.

Members also have access to a record of every recommendation the company has ever made. The information is laid out clearly in a table so members can see how past recommendations have performed.

Motley Fool offers full transparency by showing its track record of both winning and losing investments.

Monthly Stock Rankings

The Motley Fool Rankings list features 10 stocks from the current portfolio sorted by rank – where “rank” equates to Motley Fool’s conviction that the stock can beat the market in the next 5 years.

Rankings can be sorted by a variety of criteria, including:

Motley Fool’s Rank

Market Cap

Time of Recommendation

Dividend Yield

P/E Ratio

Revenue Growth

1-Year Return

5-Year Return

And more

The Rankings list is a great way to get more value out of the membership if you are looking for more than two investment ideas every month. I’ve personally found some great investment opportunities by reviewing the Rankings list. This approach is particularly beneficial when the market is in a correction period. You can often find strong stocks that are available at a “discount” relative to their original recommended price due to a recent drop in the market.

It’s also a great tool for new investors building a portfolio from scratch. You don’t have to wait months for new recommendations to come out. Instead, you can look through the Rankings list for timely opportunities and start building up your portfolio.

Foundational Stocks

The foundational stocks list covers 10 well-established, high-value companies that are likely to stand the test of time.

These are companies that the Stock Advisor team believes every investor should hold. You can buy them anytime and especially whenever there’s a dip in the market.

For casual investors, these 10 foundational stocks are a great place to start building a core portfolio. Then you can add over time using the Rankings list and new monthly recommendations until you reach the Motley Fool’s recommended 25 stocks.

What is Motley Fool’s Investment Style?

The Stock Advisor newsletter is a long-term, buy-and-hold service catering to investors with a long-term outlook.

The stock recommendations are based on the analysis of companies, management teams, industries, and other factors that help the team uncover high-growth stocks. Many of the recommendations are for blue-chip stocks in the technology industry.

Subscribers get stock recommendations from Motley Fool’s team of analysts.

Stock recommendation alerts are sent by email and accompanied by a research report. Each report explains why the stock was recommended, the best price to buy, and when to consider selling. The report includes a summary as well as in-depth research

The research explains why the recommendation was made and how the stock stands out from its peers. The company also lists the potential risks that would warrant selling the position.

The research is excellent, and the track record speaks for itself. It’s clear that the team understands that investing in the stock market can be intimidating for new investors, and the reports are written in a way that is easy to understand.

Wondering if this stock picking service aligns with your investment strategy?

Here is the investment profile that the Motley Fool Stock Advisor is best for:

Long-term investors (buy and hold for 5+ years)

Investors who prefer individual stocks to mutual funds or ETFs

Investors looking to beat the market

Investors who want to add new equities to their portfolios monthly or annually

The service is an excellent fit for anyone who wants to rely on proven investment advice to beat the market.

Motley Fool Stock Recommendations & Performance

We’ve had a lot of people reach out and ask us to reveal some of the specific stock recommendations from Motley Fool. While the company shares some of its top recommendations like its early recommendations on Amazon, Netflix, Disney, and Nvidia, the rest are reserved for paying members.

We can, however, show the performance of the recommendations. Here is the performance of stocks recommended in the past 12 months as of April 2026 (keep in mind the market is in the midst of a correction right now):

Of course, the Motley Fool recommends holding stocks for the long-term, so it may be more helpful to look at the performance of older stock picks. Here’s a look at the performance of the stock recommendations from 10 years ago (2016):

While past performance is not indicative of future returns, Motley Fool’s track record is impressive. Let’s dive deeper into what this performance means.

As paying subscribers of Motley Fool Stock Advisor, we noticed something interesting. When the market performs well, Motley Fool’s stock recommendations perform exceptionally well. When the market is weak, Motley Fool’s stock recommendations can be more volatile than the market itself. This is due to the nature of these growth stocks and is part of the reason why The Motley Fool advocates for a 5+ year holding period and portfolio diversification. The market always performs better over longer time horizons, and Motley Fool’s stock recommendations can be used to leverage your returns over time.

To date, subscribers have received hundreds of recommendations (two per month). Based on how the stocks performed from the recommendation’s date, these can best be categorized into three different types of recommendations.

“Home Run” Stocks

“Beat the Market” Stocks

Duds

What we are dubbing “home run” stocks are the stocks that have provided phenomenal returns. These are the recommendations that had the potential to provide life-changing returns. Here are some examples of stocks that provided returns exceptional returns:

A handful of stocks have achieved these types of results, but you should be realistic in your expectations. If you get one of these every 1-2 years, your portfolio will be in excellent shape. The goal of the service is to help you build a diversified stock portfolio, so you shouldn’t expect to get rich off of a single stock recommendation.

The more common group of stock recommendations is what we’ve dubbed “beat the market” stocks. These are the bread-and-butter of the subscription service. These are the stocks that outperform the overall stock market by a considerable margin and make for a well-diversified portfolio.

These stocks have impressive returns and have outperformed the S&P 500 by a considerable margin. These investments would beat most mutual funds and ETF’s, which is one of the main reasons I’ve been using Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor service for so long.

Of course, not every recommendation is a winner, but the winning stocks far outnumber the losing stocks. If you want to start investing in the stock market, you should have some type of “risk management” plan in place before you get started. How much money are you willing to risk? When will you cut losing positions?

While it’s pretty easy to simply follow the Motley Fool stock recommendations, you should have a contingency plan in the event you invest in a stock that turns against you. For example, I personally like to cut my losses when I’m down 10% on a position (I can always repurchase the shares later if the stock looks bullish again).

Conservative investors may cut losses at 5%, whereas investors who can stomach more risk may wait until 20-30%. It’s really up to your personal preferences, but you should always have some type of plan to mitigate risk. This allows you to maximize the upside potential while limiting the downside potential.

Motley Fool does issue the occasional “sell” recommendation, but, as you can see in some of the tables above, some of the recommendations have negative returns that may exceed your risk tolerance. If you can’t tolerate holding a stock that is down 40% or more, make sure to cut the position before it gets that far.

Now that we know how the recommendations perform, let’s take a look at how much the service costs (and whether or not its worth the money).

How Much Does Motley Fool Cost?

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor subscription costs $199 per year.

The Stock Advisor subscription is currently on sale, and a yearly prepaid plan is available for $99 (for new members). The annual subscription is backed by a 30-day membership fee-back guarantee. If, for some reason, you are unhappy with the service, you can contact the customer service team within 30 days to get a full refund.

Membership provides instant access to:

Two new monthly stock recommendations from Motley Fool’s team of analysts

The Top Stock Rankings

The Foundational Stocks list

Stock Research Reports

A members-only community that allows community members to collaborate and connect with advisors

Full access to the investment library, which includes an archive of stock reports

Once again, membership is backed by a 30-day membership fee-back guarantee, so you don’t have much to lose.

You can also cancel the service at any time. These types of guarantees are rare with investment newsletters since subscribers get instant access to valuable information. We respect that the company stands by the quality of its service.

Motley Fool Review – More Stock Advisor Benefits

Most subscribers sign up specifically for the stock recommendations. It’s a strong value proposition. For less than $10/month (with an annual subscription), you can get access to stock market recommendations that have the potential to return 100x your subscription cost. Better yet, these stocks outperform the market and help investors avoid mutual fund fees.

The stock recommendations alone make the subscription worth it, but membership comes with a few additional benefits. New members will have access to some great resources from the start.

Investment Education

The members’ area provides access to some top-quality investment education and short lessons. Education is valuable for investors who want to learn more about personal finance and investing. While you may rely on financial advice and stock recommendations to build your stock portfolio, it can still be helpful to understand basic investing methodologies so you can feel more comfortable in the markets. If you are brand new to investing, it’s definitely worth checking out some of the resources and information the company provides.

Stock Advisor Community

As a Stock Advisor subscriber, you have access to an online discussion board where they can discuss topics ranging from personal finance to the stock market.

I was expecting this area to be relatively quiet, as I’ve seen many failed attempts to create message boards. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the discussion boards have a decent amount of activity.

They are not as active as InvestorsHub and other similar sites, but there are a handful of exciting conversations. This investment community offers a great way to connect with other investors, share ideas, and get answers to any questions you may have.

Motley Fool Special Reports

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor delivers a couple of stock recommendations every month. On top of that, the team will also issue special reports when there are unique opportunities in the market.

You’ve probably seen ads for Motley Fool’s double-down stock (or something similar). These reports are available to members of the Stock Advisor program. I really liked the fact that Motley Fool capitalized on short-term market trends. When there is a hot sector, it’s important to be “in the know” early, and the research reports give you early access to important information.

Is Motley Fool Trustworthy?

By this point in the Stock Advisor review, you should understand what the membership offers. The next obvious question is, “is the Motley Fool legit?”

The company is known for its bold marketing on social media and news sites, but do they deliver on what they promise?

We put them to the test with our rigorous screening process.

Here are a few things we took into consideration:

The Fool’s Track Record

The first point we analyzed during our Motley Fool review was the company’s track record. Past performance is the most important metric to look at when examining any investment research firm. We wanted to see if the team delivered on its promise to outperform the market.

We are happy to report that the Motley Fool Stock Advisor program has an incredibly impressive track record. Motley Fool’s portfolio has been beating the S&P 500 since 2002. We spoke to a few investors who have been using the service for years and have achieved excellent results. Member reviews and feedback have been overwhelmingly positive.

You can find a record of the Fool’s performance on the chart below:

As you can see, The Stock Advisor recommendations beat the returns of the S&P 500 by identifying stocks and sectors that are outperforming. This performance is no small feat. An investment of $10,000 in 2002 would have returned an extra $550,000+ if invested in the program’s stock recommendations (easily justifying the $99 first-year membership fee).

This chart isn’t just for marketing purposes. Members can access the details of every stock recommendation and verify the performance of the program. Here are some interesting highlights from previous recommendations:

10 recommendations have returned over 10,000%

38 recommendations have returned over 1,000%

Over 135 recommendations have returned over 100%

Transparency

The members’ area includes a record of Motley Fool’s active recommendations. The list includes stock recommendations, the rationale behind the recommendations, and the performance of the Stock Advisor recommendations.

You can click on a stock ticker to get more information about the recommendation, including the dates of the recommendations (whether favorable or not).

In the spirit of full transparency, this list includes both winners and losers. Since its inception, here are the returns (as of April 2026):

Stock Advisor Returns: 930%

S&P 500 (for comparison): 186%

Stock Advisor’s recommendations outperform the market by a considerable margin.

I highly recommend reviewing the previous recommendations so you can better understand how Motley Fool’s stock recommendations perform in the long run. You may also find a few stocks that are still great buys.

Quality of Investment Research

Motley Fool isn’t some “pump and dump” investment newsletter making manipulative stock recommendations. The company’s reputation depends on its performance, so the research needs to be top-notch. The Gardner brothers have been in this industry for decades, and they have a stellar reputation.

The stock research reports are thorough and unbiased. The reports don’t merely “hype” a stock; they present the full story and offer an in-depth analysis of the company being recommended. The reports include information on the companies’ performance, sector performance, upcoming catalysts, and the risk level of the recommendation. The reports even address counterarguments to the Fool’s judgment on the stock.

Some of the reports recommend stocks you may be familiar with (such as Magnificent 7 stocks that have been outperforming the market), while others uncover hidden gems. The reports are well-researched and thorough.

The authors will also add a disclaimer if anyone currently holds a position in the stock they recommend.

Furthermore, the team will issue reports and alerts when it is time to sell a stock.

Shorter-Term Performance

There is one caveat worth noting.

Motley Fool’s stock recommendations perform well over long time periods (5+ years) in diversified portfolios (25+ stocks). The company does have losing picks, and even winning picks may perform poorly for periods of time.

For example, growth stocks declined considerably in 2022, with some dropping 50% or more. These stocks rallied again in 2023 and 2024 but they experienced some downside first.

Take Amazon (AMZN) as an example.

Motley Fool’s initial recommendations have generated exceptional returns.

In fact, all of the recommendations are now profitable. That said, the 2021 recommendations were down up to about 30% before recovering.

So, what does this mean, and what should members do?

First, members should remember the investment’s time horizon. A stock may have a bad year but still beat the market over longer timeframes. If you are investing with a five—or ten-year time horizon, you should not worry about short-term performance.

That said, it’s easy to get worried when you see your stocks drop in price. If this is the case for you, you have two options.

First, you can create your own rules for managing losses. For example, if you can’t stomach a loss greater than -10%, make it a rule to exit a position whenever you are down 10%. You can always buy back later. This is particularly important if you have a shorter investment timeframe and/or are nearing retirement.

Second, if you are a more experienced investor, you can do your own research to determine the best entry points for your investment style. I often use Motley Fool’s stock recommendations and research reports as a starting point instead of blindly following a buy recommendation. If I believe a stock is overvalued, I may wait for a better entry point.

Motley Fool recommends strong growth companies that are expected to perform well in the long term.

What Type of Investor is Motley Fool Best For?

Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor is best suited for long-term investors who want to invest in individual stocks that will beat the market.

Short-term investors and swing traders may also benefit from the monthly stock alerts, as many of the recommended stocks are momentum ideas that experienced rapid price appreciation. If you plan to trade a different time horizon than Motley Fool recommends, make sure you have your own game plan as well.

Motley Fool’s stock recommendations are intended to comprise a diversified portfolio of stocks that will be held for 5+ years.

When the market is strong, Motley Fool’s stock recommendations tend to perform well immediately.

When the market is weak, the recommendations will not always perform well right away.

Every investor appreciates immediate returns, but patience is key when investing with a long-term horizon.

We showed the performance of 2023 and 2024 stock recommendations earlier in this review. Here’s a look at the performance of 2017 recommendations:

The further back you go, the better the recommendations have performed (historically).

Overall, the Motley Fool service is straightforward. It is appropriate for both new investors and experienced investors (especially those who want their research done for them). Motley Fool does a great job of identifying unique investment opportunities and providing high-quality research reports.

Most investors (both new and experienced) are looking for great stock recommendations and investment ideas, and that is precisely what you get when you sign up for a subscription.

Is the Stock Advisor Program a Good Value?

As part of our Motley Fool review, we wanted to discuss the program’s value. Many investment advisers offer great stock ideas at a premium. We’ve reviewed services that cost as much as $5,000/year. So, is Motley Fool worth the money?

At $99 for the first year, it’s hard to go wrong with Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor. The investment research is high-quality, and you can recoup your subscription fee with a single stock recommendation. Subscribers get instant access to a wealth of resources that will help them achieve better returns.

The cost of the Stock Advisor program is one of the reasons why it is so popular. As far as premium services go, $199/year ($99 for the first year) is very reasonable.

Every month, the Motley Fool team continues to put out high-quality research reports packed with compelling ideas. Overall, this is a great service and great value. Plus, the subscription comes with a guarantee, so you can get your money back if you are unhappy within the first 30 days.

Common Questions About the Stock Advisor Program

How does the Motley Fool compare to other stock-picking services?

We have reviewed over 300 financial services, many of which offer investment advice and stock tips. For the price, the Motley Fool cannot be beaten. Here are the main reasons why:

You can’t beat the price. Most competing services charge at least three times the amount of the Stock Advisor Program, so Stock Advisor is worth the money.

The Stock Advisor Program is time-tested. Many newer advisories haven’t been verified by bear markets and changing market conditions. The Gardner Brothers and Motley Fool’s team of analysts have been delivering exceptional stock recommendations for over 25 years, meaning their strategy is time-tested and proven to work.

The program is easy to follow. The Stock Advisor program is simple and easy to follow. You get told which stocks to buy and sell – simple as that. All you need is a Motley Fool Stock Advisor subscription and a brokerage account at any broker.

Of course, you need to make sure stock investments are appropriate for your investment strategy. Stocks are inherently riskier than some alternative investments. It wouldn’t be fair to compare a stock recommendation service to a financial advisor that specializes in mutual funds and annuities. If you’re looking for stock recommendations, Motley Fool is the best in their class.

Pros   

Members get access to a list of the best stocks to buy at any moment

Members get access to two new stock recommendations every month

Stock Advisor recommendations are easy to follow

Motley Fool has a strong, time-tested track record

Research reports are well-organized and easy-to-follow

The Stock Advisor service has a great track record of beating the stock market (S&P 500)

Educational content is available for investors interested in learning more about stocks and investing

The Motley Fool website is easy to navigate

The money-back-guarantee allows subscribers to get a full refund if they are unhappy with the service

Cons

The non-stop flow of upsells to product offerings can get overwhelming

If our Motley Fool Stock Advisor review didn’t cover any information you were expecting, don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly. Feel free to leave a comment below or reach out via the contact page.