1-5-26 2026 Market Outlook: Bullish Momentum, Valuation Risks, and What Comes Next
The Real Investment Show Podcast
Release Date: 01/05/2026
The Real Investment Show Podcast
Markets are hitting all-time highs, earnings expectations are rising, and investors are navigating everything from oil prices to Roth conversions. Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff take live viewer questions and explore the themes investors are most focused on right now. Topics discussed include why earnings may be the primary market driver this year, what recent all-time highs signal for forward returns, and how capital flows are shifting across sectors and asset classes. We also examine oil markets—WTI pricing, energy stocks, Venezuela supply dynamics—and what the “sweet spot” for...
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Markets pushed to a new all-time high after successfully testing the 20-day moving average, with relative strength improving and momentum signals turning positive. However, following yesterday’s strong rally, futures are pointing slightly lower this morning. The Dow is approaching the psychologically important 50,000 level, while ten-year Treasury yields are beginning to ease after a recent surge. That shift could signal early rotation from equity risk back toward bonds. Volatility remains a key indicator to watch—despite November’s spike, the VIX is holding near 15, reflecting elevated...
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More investors—especially Millennials and Gen Z—are treating markets like a casino. Not because they’re reckless, but because the traditional path to financial security feels broken. Lance Roberts & Jonathan Penn break down Financial Nihilism vs. Financial Planning: why speculative behavior is rising, and what still works when confidence in long-term investing erodes. Options trading, crypto, meme assets, and betting apps offer fast outcomes in a world where housing is expensive, debt is high, and patience feels unrewarded. 0:00 - INTRO 0:19 - ISM Index Weaker than Expected 4:25 -...
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Markets are quietly sending important signals beneath the surface. Energy led early gains Monday, but strength broadened into financials as capital continued rotating from growth into value stocks. Over the past several weeks, value has steadily outperformed growth, while leadership has begun shifting away from mega-cap stocks into more underlying areas of the market. Notably, the S&P equal-weighted index reached a new all-time high, even as the cap-weighted index lagged. The performance gap between the two has narrowed from roughly 10% to about 6%, signaling improving market breadth. This...
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Markets closed 2025 with strong gains, but the path forward into 2026 is far more nuanced than headline optimism suggests. Lance Roberts reviews what drove 2025’s market performance, why the Santa Claus Rally failed, and how shifting inflation trends, Federal Reserve policy expectations, and valuation levels are shaping market outlooks for 2026.How can investors navigate the New Year with realistic expectations, disciplined risk management, and diversified positioning, recognizing that returns may come with higher volatility than recent years. 0:00 - INTRO 0:19 - Maduro Impact on Oil; What's...
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Markets wrapped up the year with solid gains, finishing roughly 17% higher, but momentum has cooled as stocks consolidate near recent highs. Despite briefly setting a new all-time high in late December, markets spent the final weeks of the year moving sideways, reflecting growing fatigue after an extended rally. In this pre-market update, we review why the market’s two-month consolidation range matters, how staying above the 20-day moving average supports the broader trend, and why recent momentum sell signals do not necessarily signal a major downturn. With markets up eight...
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“Trump Accounts” are being discussed as a new way to help children and young adults invest for the future—but are they a meaningful planning tool or simply clever branding? In this episode, we break down how Trump Accounts are structured, how they differ from traditional retirement and custodial accounts, and why return assumptions deserve careful scrutiny. We also discuss funding mechanics, diversification considerations, and what actually happens when a child reaches age 18. Importantly, we address what these accounts are not designed to do—including education planning, where 529...
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As we begin the new year, this New Year’s Day market outlook takes a balanced, risk-aware look at what 2026 may hold for investors. Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff examine the bullish case for markets, including the macro and technical backdrops supporting higher prices, while also addressing the growing risks beneath the surface—particularly stress in credit markets and the potential for lower long-term returns. The discussion explores how elevated valuations, tighter financial conditions, and shifting economic dynamics could impact portfolio outcomes in the year ahead. We also outline...
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Marketing for financial advisors is being reshaped by artificial intelligence, changing search behavior, and tighter compliance constraints. Lance Roberts & Greg Joslyn break down how advisors can adapt their marketing and PR strategies without sacrificing credibility, consistency, or regulatory discipline. We discuss why persistence—not virality—is the true driver of long-term visibility, how AI fits into content creation and search optimization, and why social media works best when it is treated as a conversation rather than a broadcast channel. The discussion also covers optimal...
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In this wide-ranging and candid conversation, Lance Roberts is joined by longtime friend and veteran television reporter Tom Zizka to discuss how media, markets, and economic reality have fundamentally changed over the past two decades. The discussion begins with the evolution of modern media—from the rise of social platforms and the “small screen” revolution to the growing pressures of monetization, speed, and narrative framing. Lance and Tom explore how storytelling has shifted from context-driven reporting to image-driven headlines, and what that means for public perception, trust,...
info_outlineMarkets closed 2025 with strong gains, but the path forward into 2026 is far more nuanced than headline optimism suggests.
Lance Roberts reviews what drove 2025’s market performance, why the Santa Claus Rally failed, and how shifting inflation trends, Federal Reserve policy expectations, and valuation levels are shaping market outlooks for 2026.How can investors navigate the New Year with realistic expectations, disciplined risk management, and diversified positioning, recognizing that returns may come with higher volatility than recent years.
0:00 - INTRO
0:19 - Maduro Impact on Oil; What's Next for New Year?
4:42 - No Santa Rally!
9:58 - What to Expect in 2026
14:13 - Base Portfolio Management in Terms of a Range of Outcomes
20:02 - The Risk of Disappointment
24:00 - Full Time Employment is Driver for Economic Growth
27:39 - The Big Story - Earnings Catch Down to Growth
31:43 - What WILL Derail Markets in 2026
35:16 - Supply Demand Imbalances & Precious Metals
40:23 - How Prices are Set by Futures Markets
42:20 - Margins on Commodities
50:42 - Comming Attractions
Hosted by RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts, CIO
Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer
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Watch Today's Full Video on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxDnB-Z7mJI&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1
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Articles mentioned in this report:
"Market Outlook For 2026"
https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/market-outlook-for-2026/
"Precious Metals Aren’t Predicting Economic Collapse"
https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/precious-metals-arent-predicting-economic-collapse-draft/
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The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell, "Markets Enter 2026 Consolidation Phase as Volatility Looms," is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeEA-JQBKEA&list=PLwNgo56zE4RAbkqxgdj-8GOvjZTp9_Zlz&index=1&t=10s
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REGISTER for our 2026 Economic Summit, "The Future of Digital Assets, Artificial Intelligence, and Investing:"
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-ria-economic-summit-tickets-1765951641899?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Watch our previous show, "What Great Financial Planning Looks Like," here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhVoQc7adgU&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1
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