Stansberry Investor Hour

On this week's Stansberry Investor Hour, Dan and Corey share their annual list of Top 10 Potential Surprises for the new year. As Dan clarifies from the outset, these are NOT predictions. They're simply things that would surprise investors in 2025 if they happened. We won't spoil the surprises. But just to give you an idea, you'll hear about everything from bitcoin to Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to a possible Stansberry Research mayor. Even if Dan and Corey's surprises don't come about this year, this exercise is a reminder for investors to keep their minds open and to consider a broad range of outcomes.  Surprise No. 1: 1:51Surprise No. 2: 5:43Surprise No. 3: 10:59Surprise No. 4: 17:11Surprise No. 5: 21:25Surprise No. 6: 26:06Surprise No. 7: 29:28Surprise No. 8: 33:04Surprise No. 9: 36:26Surprise No. 10: 41:31  

On this week's Stansberry Investor Hour, Dan and Corey welcome Herb Greenberg back to the show. Herb started out as a financial journalist and now publishes On the Street, a newsletter that offers observations, insights, and opinions on various stocks and the broad market. Herb has spent 50 years researching and writing about the markets, and he joins the podcast to impart some of his wisdom. Herb starts off by reintroducing himself, his opinions on market risk, and his history with long-biased research. He emphasizes that knowing yourself, your psychological makeup, and your skill set are crucial components to success. Some investors thrive under the pressure and enjoy the gambling nature of stocks, while others prefer to sleep well at night and take a more cautious, long-term approach. Either route is OK. And the same principle applies to specifics like when to sell a stock... "There's no one size fits all," Herb says. But the upside to every mistake is that you'll quickly learn more about yourself. (1:22) Next, Herb discusses a recent post in his On the Street newsletter about home-furnishings company RH. Not long ago, RH's CEO made comments concerning debt that raised many red flags. This leads to a conversation about software company MicroStrategy, which has been using debt to buy bitcoin. "It's a pyramid atop a pyramid," Herb quips. He also shares his thoughts on bitcoin itself, talks about the 2021 market mania where "everyone was a bag holder," and dives into how retail and institutional investors differ in risk versus reward. (19:27) Finally, Herb evaluates today's market optimism and the potential for an inflection point. He notes that many garbage stocks have gone from deep in the red to in the green this year for no reason other than hype. Herb then urges investors not to get complacent with their portfolio holdings and to always consider differing opinions on stocks, in case the setup has changed since you first bought in. "You lose sight of the ones that have not been problem children." Herb rounds things out with a discussion about short selling and market inefficiencies created by passive investing. (38:29)

On this week's Stansberry Investor Hour, Dan and Corey welcome Brian Dalton back to the show. Brian is president and CEO of Altius Minerals, a diversified mining royalty and streaming company operating in Canada, the U.S., and Brazil. Brian kicks things off by sharing the basics of Altius Minerals – what the company does, what sets it apart from other natural resource royalty companies, and the option value of its assets. He also talks a bit about his background and how he got his start in prospecting. (1:21) Next, Brian explores the renewable-energy part of the business. Altius took its coal revenues and reinvested those to write royalties on renewable-energy projects, particularly wind and solar. As Brian explains, nearly all of these projects have some aspect involving energy storage. And best of all, renewable energy's resource life is basically "infinite." (15:53) Then, Brian delves into copper. He urges listeners to ignore all of the noise around the metal – from both the "woke" and "antiwoke" sides of the aisle – and to realize that demand is steadily rising. In the short term, he says that investors can really take advantage of volatility and the irrationality of price cycles. But there's also a lot of money to be made long term, as demand isn't going anywhere. "Copper is electricity," Brian notes. Further, he discusses incentivization prices, operating costs, and the future of the industry. (28:59) Finally, Brian talks about nuclear energy's prospects, Altius' history with uranium royalties, and how he makes decisions about Altius' capital allocation. Unlike many other companies, Altius treats share buybacks as if they're competing against external investment opportunities. If the best value in the market is in the assets Altius already owns, and if there's a wide spread between that value and the share price, only then do buybacks happen. (44:50)

Louis Navellier, a seasoned growth investor and founder of Navellier & Associates, shares his insights on today’s market dynamics. He discusses the potential risks of private credit and how it could spark a financial crisis. Louis highlights the importance of legal monopolies, specifically praising chipmaker Nvidia and its market position. He shares strategies for spotting these lucrative opportunities and expresses optimism about natural gas and nuclear energy. Navigating the political landscape, he also offers his views on the future of investing.

On this week's Stansberry Investor Hour, Dan and Corey welcome Brad Thomas to the show. Brad is the founder of our corporate affiliate Wide Moat Research. There, he serves as editor for the Wide Moat Daily, The Wide Moat Letter, the Intelligent Options Advisor, and the High-Yield Advisor newsletters. Brad joins the podcast to share some of his three decades' worth of experience in real estate. Brad kicks things off by describing his background in real estate, how he lost almost everything during the Great Recession, and how his experience helps him with his job today researching companies. Next, Brad debunks the three largest perceived overhangs for real estate investment trusts ("REITs"): debt maturities, rising rates, and the "dead" office sector. As he explains, they aren't as big of factors for equity REITs as many believe. And in particular, there are some gems that investors can find within the office sector. (1:47) Next, Brad talks about the growth potential for many specific REIT sectors, including cannabis, cell towers, data centers, and casinos. He throws out a few stock names along the way, and also explains what influence technology has had on REITs and their operations. This leads Brad to share his "trifecta approach" for diversifying between the three main beneficiaries of technology advancements. And he gives several reasons why investors should even bother to get into REITs right now, from valuations to Donald Trump. (18:49) Finally, Brad points out that most companies have real estate components. So understanding how business is created from the ground up gives him and his team at Wide Moat Research an advantage. He emphasizes that Wide Moat's main goals are principal preservation and finding "sleep well at night" stocks. Brad then finishes by sharing which sectors outside of real estate he finds most attractive today. (41:17)

Matt Franz, founder of Eagle Point Capital, shares his insights on long-term wealth building and stock selection. He emphasizes adopting a business owner's mentality and highlights the importance of simple unit economics and noncyclical businesses. Franz dives into brand resilience, using Toshiba as a cautionary tale, and explains why he favors distributors over retailers. He stresses the significance of a disciplined approach in value investing, urging investors to resist emotional decisions and focus on intrinsic value for sustainable success.

In this episode, Andrew Walker, a portfolio manager at Rangeley Capital and author of Yet Another Value Blog, dives into the world of value investing. He reveals how he transitioned from traditional strategies to focusing on unique opportunities, including a standout bitcoin miner leveraging AI after emerging from bankruptcy. Andrew also discusses promising real estate spinoffs, highlighting a Manhattan property with no debt, boosted by Bill Ackman’s significant stake. Listeners gain insights into how to navigate the competitive investment landscape.

John Sviokla, an expert in generative AI and co-founder of GAI Insights, joins the conversation to explore AI's transformative impact on industries. He discusses how organizations struggle to harness AI's potential, especially for those dealing with words, images, and numbers. Sviokla introduces new forms of capital in the digital economy and delves into AI's limitations and strengths, like empathizing with human emotions. He also emphasizes the importance of experiential learning for executives adapting to this rapidly evolving technology.

In this conversation, Martin "Marty" Fridson, a high-yield bond expert and senior analyst at Porter & Co.'s Distressed Investing newsletter, shares his insights on the current overvaluation in the junk-bond market and the looming threat of a recession. He explains the delicate balance of federal-funds rates and Treasury yields, revealing strategies for navigating rising rates. Marty also identifies specific sectors with attractive buying opportunities and emphasizes the importance of a long-term perspective in investing amidst market volatility.

Edwin Dorsey, Editor of the Bear Cave Newsletter, dives into the world of short selling, emphasizing the power of customer relations over financial metrics. He reveals how he uncovers red flags at companies like Care.com and Roblox, flagging serious safety issues. Dorsey highlights Hershey's struggle against younger brands like Feastables and outlines the potential hazards facing Planet Fitness amidst regulatory changes. His insights into market dynamics and youth demographics offer a fresh lens on investment strategies in an evolving business landscape.