The Dividend Cafe

The Bahnsen Group

The Dividend Cafe is your portal for market perspective that is virtually conflict-free, rooted in deep philosophical commitments about how capital should be managed, and understandable for all sorts of investors. Host David L. Bahnsen is a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business. He is the author of the books, Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It (Post Hill Press), The Case for Dividend Growth: Investing in a Post-Crisis World (Post Hill Press), and Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life (Post Hill Press).

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Monday - May 11, 2026

    Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/3Resx8f From New York City, this Monday Dividend Cafe covers markets’ growing desensitization to Iran-related news even as oil nears $98.50, the 10-year yield rises to ~4.41%, and major indices sit at all-time highs. The S&P 500 appears expensive across valuation metrics, with dividend yield near a historic low (~1.08%), highlighting reliance on price returns versus cash income. The host argues earnings are currently driving markets, but notes a caveat: “other income” was 34% of net income, boosted by hyperscalers marking up private AI holdings. He reviews sector performance (energy best, communication services worst), policy items (possible reconciliation bill ideas like indexing capital gains to inflation; Virginia redistricting ruling; SEC exploring semi-annual reporting), economic data (115k jobs; weak manufacturing; low consumer confidence), housing trends, Fed leadership transition to Kevin Warsh, and rising longer-dated oil price expectations. 00:00 Welcome and Agenda 01:57 S&P Valuations Warning 03:56 Dividend Yield at Lows 05:53 Iran Risk Ignored 07:47 Earnings Driving Markets 08:23 Earnings Caveat AI 09:54 Geopolitics Headlines 10:32 Policy and Taxes Update 12:34 SEC Reporting Shift 13:00 Jobs and Consumers 14:21 Beef Tariffs Note 14:40 Housing Market Pulse 15:17 Fed Leadership Change 15:32 Oil Curve Backwardation 16:20 Ask TBG and Wrap Up Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

    19 min
  2. 4 MAY

    Monday - May 4, 2026

    Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/42MhQwc David Bahnsen reviews a modest market pullback amid escalating Iran-related rhetoric and Strait of Hormuz risks: the Dow fell 557 points, the 10-year yield rose to 4.4%, and oil jumped above $105 while energy was the only S&P 500 sector up. He notes the unusually fast rebound from March volatility and points listeners to prior analysis on corrections vs bubbles and AI. In policy news, Spirit Airlines failed to secure a rescue and may face Chapter 7 liquidation. He discusses midterm dynamics favoring GOP Senate odds, very low initial jobless claims (190k), steady ISM manufacturing (52.7) with weaker employment, and travel-agency employment as a disruption case study for AI. CapEx is increasingly concentrated in large-cap tech/AI while small business investment plans hit a 2009-low. He covers administration frustration with Powell, futures implying little chance of cuts, and growing scrutiny of Fed independence. He cites Exxon on inventories masking supply stress and notes OPEC+ developments, midstream strength, and flat US rig counts. 00:00 Market Jitters and Iran 02:16 Correction Recovery Context 03:47 Sector Moves and Energy 04:04 Spirit Airlines Policy Fallout 04:56 Midterm Math and Senate Outlook 06:42 Jobs and Manufacturing Pulse 07:25 Travel Jobs and AI Disruption 08:55 CapEx Concentrated in AI 10:08 Fed Politics and Rate Path 11:46 Fed Independence and Swap Lines 13:02 Oil Inventories and Hormuz Impact 14:44 Energy Earnings and Rig Count 15:45 Wrap Up and Viewer Q&A Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

    18 min
  3. 1 MAY

    Corrections, Manias, and the Lessons of History

    Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/4w45BZc David Bahnsen discusses why market drawdowns are normal and distinct from bubbles, using 2026 S&P 500 moves (down ~9% peak-to-trough, then a sharp rebound to up ~5% YTD) to argue markets are behaving typically despite war-driven narratives. He distinguishes frequent corrections from rarer bubble bursts and critiques the incoherent swing from “apocalypse” to “mania” framing. Bahnsen outlines three investor responses—market timing (impractical), buy-and-hold (endure), and embracing volatility through dividend growth and reinvestment—emphasizing asset allocation built for investor temperament and cash-flow needs. He applies historical bubble psychology (Kindleberger’s stages) to AI, predicting mixed outcomes: some hyperscalers and AI-related firms will disappoint or fail, while valuable companies may survive valuation resets. Key takeaways include inevitability of future corrections, prudence via diversification and limited AI exposure, and potential selective opportunities after any AI-driven downturn. 00:00 Welcome and Agenda 02:05 Year-to-Date Market Whiplash 04:45 Corrections Are Normal 08:11 Three Ways to Respond 12:20 Embrace Volatility With Dividends 14:10 Manias vs Bubbles 16:12 AI Bubble Risk and Diversification 23:27 Kindleberger Bubble Stages 26:42 Seven Investor Takeaways 29:05 Closing Philosophy and Farewell Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

    32 min

About

The Dividend Cafe is your portal for market perspective that is virtually conflict-free, rooted in deep philosophical commitments about how capital should be managed, and understandable for all sorts of investors. Host David L. Bahnsen is a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business. He is the author of the books, Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It (Post Hill Press), The Case for Dividend Growth: Investing in a Post-Crisis World (Post Hill Press), and Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life (Post Hill Press).

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