Derek Moore looks to answer the question on whether Hedged Equity or the 60/40 stock bond portfolio is a better fit given where we are and why. How bonds had a 40-year bull market but is it likely that is possible again given where we are? Later, looking at market returns after CNBC does their ‘markets in turmoil’ specials when markets are selling off. Plus, why debate about should or shouldn’t the Fed lower rates is getting tired and does it even matter outside of housing? Debate around Fed low...
Jun 23, 2025•37 min•Ep. 330
Derek Moore examines markets around historical geopolitical events. Plus, the 2020s are trending to be the most volatile decade and by the way we are up over 80% so far. Then, looking at the pop in gold and crude oil this week and perspective on where those markets are. Plus, a contrarian take that housing is actually cheap. Later talking semiconductor stocks, the US dollar index, inflation, and useless sentiment surveys. 1-year forward inflation expectations U-Michigan survey Sentiment gets bet...
Jun 16, 2025•42 min
Derek Moore looks at how companies in the S&P 500 are not correlated while the equal weighted S&P 500 is correlated closely with the weighted S&P 500 Index. Later, looking at historical rolling 10-year returns in the market and why it’s rare to have periods that are negative over longer time frames. Plus, touching on single stock risk a la Elon Musk, Tesla, and Trump public news hurts Tesla shares. Oh, and we are only 2.4% below the old all-time high. S&P 500 Index now only 2.4% ...
Jun 09, 2025•25 min•Ep. 328
Derek Moore explains how what sometimes seems obvious isn’t what happens as we can see with inflation numbers that continue to move lower despite consumer sentiment surveys expecting 6.6% inflation in the next year. Plus, NVDA had its earnings and the stock’ forward PE is lower due to the next 12-month analyst estimates being near all-time highs. Plus, sell in May would have been a mistake as markets recovered and are now back to within several percent of all-time highs. PCE Inflation vs CPI Inf...
Jun 02, 2025•29 min•Ep. 327
Derek Moore talks about seeing stories of exploding 30-year yields but what if they are low compared to historical relationships between the fed funds rate? Then, looking at how correlated the 60/40 portfolio has been over the last 5 years begging the question, did it do anything for investors? Later, looking at NVidia implied volatility ahead of its big earnings release this week to see what the options market is pricing in for a potential one standard deviation move? All this and more this wee...
May 25, 2025•38 min•Ep. 326
Derek Moore reflects on market reaction to the 2011 US debt downgrade and explains what S&P, Fitch, and Moody’s have for ratings. Plus, are markets poised for more positive returns based on several indicators? The bear case against the markets would be a reduction in profit margins. Later, Derek reviews some data of future 12-month returns when consumer confidence is low as a contrarian indicator. Finally, looking at several current indicators and random musing in markets for clues about the...
May 19, 2025•41 min•Ep. 325
Derek Moore discusses whether MSTR MicroStrategy will wind up in the S&P 500 Index and do we want that given it just holds bitcoin with some ratio between its intrinsic value and the MSTR market cap. Plus, where to look for upcoming prospects for the S&P 500 Index and why the index is actively not passively managed and changes can drive earnings growth. Later, Derek talks through what the Fed did (nothing) and whether they are wrong or not to keep rates steady. MSTR MicroStrategy potenti...
May 12, 2025•31 min•Ep. 324
Derek Moore talks through what caused the negative GDP number and compares it to 2022 Q1’s more negative print. Hint, it’s those darn imports and exports. Should you sell in May and go away? Plus, whether the Fed may do anything at the May meeting. Unemployment was ok while inflation hasn’t gone back up so why won’t they cut? What happens 1-year later after an almost bear market (less than -20% drawdown)? All that plus some volatility talk. Components of GDP Net exports calculation When markets ...
May 04, 2025•35 min•Ep. 323
Derek Moore goes through how markets have bottomed (maybe?) and are now up 10% since then. All the while investment banks have now started moving their 2025 year end targets down. The bear case on corporate net profit margins (and bull case). Plus, how max bearishness against US equities at market lows may have been a contrarian signal. With more earnings this week, Apple’s implied volatility is forecasting what as an expected 1 standard deviation move. Keeping perspective on the markets as the ...
Apr 27, 2025•33 min•Ep. 322
Derek Moore talks about airport business as a sign or lack thereof of recessions. Gold makes another all-time high while the safety trade like treasuries and the US dollar aren’t working lately. Plus, looking at typical widening of high yield spreads during recessions compared to today. Later, the VIX Index is still not appropriately pricing in historical volatility given the moves again this week in equity markets. Also, surveys of economists are up to 45% probability of recession in the next 1...
Apr 21, 2025•29 min•Ep. 321
Derek Moore reviews the surge in bond yields, and why the VIX Index should have been 100-125 this week as there is a mismatch between expected volatility and realized volatility. Earnings season begins but will analysts start downgrading their S&P 500 Index forecast? Why does the market often bottom out ahead of whatever reason its scared happens. Plus, believe it or not over the past 10 days Bitcoin’s historical volatility is the same as SPY. All this and more this week. Bitcoin volatility ...
Apr 13, 2025•33 min•Ep. 320
Derek Moore is joined by Mike Puck to compare this selloff to others like 2020, 1998, 2015, 2000 and more. Then they talk about how the Trump administration is arriving at their tariff percentages. Later, they discus how the market didn’t price in the eventual announcement. How things like the VIX Index and the High Yield Bond spread Thursday weren’t high enough. Did the market miscalculate the tariff announcement? What is the sentiment among advisors and investors from what we are hearing and a...
Apr 05, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 319
Derek Moore reviews two paths for market post -10% correction with and without a recession. Plus, talking through the difference between expectations miss vs the actual data through the lens of YoY PCE Core Inflation. Later, confidence in the stock market plummeted. Oh, and like clockwork, the first investment bank lowered its year end S&P 500 Index price target and 12-month forward earnings outlook. Are more coming? And what is going on with the Atlanta Fed GDP now model? Tune in for this a...
Mar 31, 2025•42 min•Ep. 318
Derek Moore is back to discuss markets, volatility, and the economy through the prism of intra year drawdowns, Spot VIX vs Vix Futures prices, and LEI or Leading Economic Indicator. Why are the Fed’s Dot Plots useless (still). Thoughts on the idea that Buffered strategies don’t beat the market. How different markets have performed since the first Fed rate cut in September and much more. Since September Rate Cut Mag 7 vs SPX vs Equal Weight Intra Year Drawdowns vs full year return Comments on AQR...
Mar 24, 2025•38 min•Ep. 317
Derek Moore is back to break down the wild week including Nvidia rallying when against the bearish tide. How the US Dollar index pulling back might be bullish for earnings. Plus, have we reached max panic and max bearishness setting up for a near term bottom in markets? Later, looking at the Fear and Greed Index, the VIX Inversion and what that means for markets, and why people are now bullish or bearish based on politics. All that and more! Fear and Greed Index Drawdowns vs full year market per...
Mar 16, 2025•36 min•Ep. 316
Derek Moore is back together with Jay Pestrichelli this week to react to the market turmoil. What is going on and is this just a revaluation or something worse? Plus, now the Fed Funds’ futures indicate 3 rate cuts. Looking at the Mag 7 selloff compared to the rest of the market. Unemployment was fine so what’s the big deal? Later, looking at whether the options market via the implied volatility readings is pricing in more, less, or just right actual historical volatility. They even take a liste...
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 315
Derek Moore goes through last week’s pullback and Nvidia’s post earnings move. Then, looking at the AAII survey where investors got really bearish. Later, he looks at how the Mag 7 hasn’t made a new high since December but other things have. The yields are dropping at the same time forward PE ratios are lower after a slight increase in forward earnings expectations and the market dropping down. Nvidia kills earnings but sells off proving investing is hard Treasury yields ease Mag 7 vs the total ...
Mar 03, 2025•35 min•Ep. 314
Derek Moore and Mike Puck talk about the resurgence of international stocks against the US. Plus, how the rest of the market has a similar performance to the Mag 7, indicating a broadening out of stocks in the S&P 500 Index. Later, they discuss what markets historically have done after being up in January and February. Profit margins are rising outside the Mag 7 names and looking at the expected Nvidia move around earnings based upon the implied volatility levels. S&P 500 Index 493 vs th...
Feb 24, 2025•48 min•Ep. 313
Derek Moore revisits the 1994-95 interest rate and market environment against the current backdrop regarding treasury yields and future S&P 500 Index returns. Plus, going through the case for higher for longer, whether that is good or bad for markets, and the adjustment the market would need to go through. Later, quantifying how sensitive the S&P 500 Index is to change in the forward PE ratio by putting into actual numbers and levels. Also, looking at Arista Networks and Alibaba before e...
Feb 17, 2025•37 min•Ep. 312
Jay Pestrichelli is back with Derek Moore to react to the unemployment report. Was it good or bad for the markets and why? Plus, they review the last trade and tariff war from 2017-2018 and how the market actually did pretty well. Later, the latest survey on forward inflation expectations is now over 5%. Finally, they compare MicroStrategy’s implied volatility to Blackrock’s IBIT ETF and whether the options market is undervaluing MSTR’s IV. All that and more this week. Markets performance back i...
Feb 10, 2025•47 min•Ep. 311
Derek Moore previews Palantir, Amazon, and Google earnings implied volatility expectations based on the option market. Plus, how currency movements may or may not mute new tariffs. Later, Derek answers a listener question on why mortgage rates (and bonds) have a spread between their rate and the 10 Year Treasury yield. Plus, digging into new data that shows analysts producing earnings estimates on the S&P 500 Index are pretty accurate as it turns out. Finally, what is market fragility and ar...
Feb 03, 2025•43 min•Ep. 310
Derek Moore previews Apple, Tesla, and Microsoft earnings by looking at the implied moves around earning by the options market. Plus, Bloomberg comes out with a new inflation gauge called The Bacon Egg & Cheese Sandwich index. Later, Derek talks about a new study which shows the percentage of time in recessions by decades. Oh, and reacting to a headline “hedging is for suckers” and why it’s wrong. Zero Hedge article headline “Downside Protection is for Suckers” reaction Percent of time in re...
Jan 27, 2025•39 min•Ep. 309
Derek Moore is joined by guest co-host Mike Puck to talk markets including how people seem to think making money in Bitcoin is too easy and what that means. Plus, why the S&P 500 Index concentration may not be as big of a deal when looking at how the index changes. Comparing the top 10 market weighted stocks in 1997 to today. Later they discuss value vs growth performance, the dollar index, interest rates, and look at the implied volatility of Netflix options before earnings. Finally, they t...
Jan 20, 2025•56 min•Ep. 308
Derek Moore is joined by guest co-host Spencer Wright to discuss the surge in bond yields, the surge in the US Dollar Index, and whether those two things might cause some near-term pain for equity markets. Plus, discussing whether AI Artificial Intelligence is a true next technological revolution and what it means for earnings. Then they talk semiconductors as the picks and shovels of AI and do some technical analysis reviewing the patterns in the S&P 500 Index, the Nasdaq 100, Semiconductor...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 307
Derek Moore talks about the level of implied volatility in MicroStrategy and its performance relative to bitcoin. Plus, looking at how much future fed cut expectations have fallen for 2025. Later, Derek explains what drives returns looking at the forward p/e ratio vs forward analyst eps estimates for the S&P 500 Index, 2/10s US Treasury spread widening as yields rise, are 10 Year Treasury yields about to break out, and quietly crude oil has been rising. What would that mean for CPI and infla...
Jan 06, 2025•44 min•Ep. 306
Derek Moore and Jay Pestrichelli round out the year with some 2025 predictions on markets, rates, bonds, oil, bitcoin, the dollar, GDP, inflation, and gold. Plus, does Bitcoin have a Quantum Computing problem? What’s going on with deflation in China and is it the answer to potential tariffs? And news flash, the inverted yield curve is no more as the 10-year treasury yield rises above the 3-month treasury yield. All this and more! 2025 Predictions China Deflation including 10-year Chinese Governm...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 305
Derek Moore and Jay Pestrichelli react to the Fed meeting where people are calling it a hawkish cut and a reset of future expectations of where interest rates end up. Plus, the Dot Plots say long run PCE Inflation will only go to 3% not 2%. Later looking at the Trade Weighted Dollar Index breakout and if it will become a problem for earnings growth in 2025. Of course, the big news last week was the spike in the VIX as the market had a temper tantrum. Finally, they go into earnings expectation, p...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 304
Derek Moore and Jay Pestrichelli gather once again to discuss whether inflation is too high for the Fed to aggressively cut rates more. Then, they talk about the probability of the S&P 500 closing or getting to 7000 by year end 2025. Plus, is inflation still too high looking at Core CPI and CPI Supercore for the fed to cut rates as much as projected. Later, they go into some myths on the US debt and foreign ownership of treasuries, US Dollar Index against some resistance levels, what does pa...
Dec 16, 2024•50 min•Ep. 303
Derek Moore and Jay Pestrichelli cover markets including the news on the CEO of United Healthcare, the Hawk Tuah meme coin alleged scam, unpacking the latest unemployment report, how markets go up 29% or more in a year more often than you’d think, and how the rotation of voting members of the FOMC might be hawkish in 2025. Plus, checking in on the ratio of returns of MicroStrategy vs. Bitcoin. Plus, looking at the 53-month drawdown in the US Aggregate Bond Index and corresponding ETF. Hawk Tuah ...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 302
Derek Moore and Jay Pestrichelli join up once again to talk about whether the forward PE ratio is getting overextended. Then, they discuss where we are in the 4-year Presidential market cycle, years with the most all-time highs, the US Dollar and interest rates, and PCE inflation numbers. Later, they get into the dynamics of the MicroStrategy convertible bonds and how they resemble options. Finally, they talk through the option dynamics on MicroStrategy include what the implied volatility is, wh...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 301
