Charts & Chat - May 3, 2026

This week, CEO Eric Boyce, CFA discusses:

1. earnings estimates and dividend growth rates for the equity indices continue to move higher, despite volatility and Iran conflict.  Valuations relatively stable at higher levels

2. forward expected returns are lower for the conventional asset classes, introducing private and semi-liquid investments as a way to enhance risk-adjusted returns

3. energy has been the primary boost to inflation; however oil intensity has consistently gone down over time

4. drawdowns in stocks in gold, bonds and foreign stocks offset positive domestic equity performance during Iran conflict

5. first reading of 1st quarter GDP driven by consumption, inventories - offset by net trade and residential investment

6. disposable income positive yet decelerating, consumption positive resulting in lower savings rate.  Positive trend in capital goods orders

7. positive PCE inflation has taken interest rate cuts off the table

8. residential housing permits in downtrend; meanwhile, house prices move higher at a lower rate

9. mixed commodity price basket - wheat, oil, industrial metals, cotton offset by natural gas

10. Last year, Venezuela received more revenue from financial remittances than from oil sales