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Behind the Markets Podcast — Business
Behind the Markets Podcast

Jeremy Schwartz, Global Chief Investment Officer at WisdomTree and Jeremy Siegel, professor of finance at Wharton and author of Stocks for the Long Run, host this long-running podcast that dives into the how and why of market performance with leading economists and market strategists to inform you what’s ahead for the economy and your portfolio.
Regularly joining the two Jeremys is the Deep Rooted Macro Team that decodes the forces shaping markets and portfolios worldwide.
Chris Gannatti, CFA, Global Head of Research, offers an analytical and thematic edge—bridging macro trends with on-the-ground technology and innovation. Whether unpacking the infrastructure powering the AI age or latest biotech breakthroughs, Chris translates complexity into conviction.
Jeff Weniger, CFA, Head of Equity Strategy, injects the pulse of behavioral markets and valuation discipline. With sharp macro instincts, Jeff dissects cycles, sentiment, and structural change with trademark clarity and wit.
Sam Rines, Macro Strategist for Model Portfolios, ties the threads together—linking policy, politics, and portfolio construction. His pragmatic macro lens captures how geopolitics, industrial policy, and energy dynamics flow into real-world GeoAlpha.
Together, the Deep Rooted Macro squad creates a fusion of rigorous research, accessible insights, and genuine debate.
Behind the Markets provides a regular masterclass in how the world really works beneath the surface of prices, data, and headlines. Tune in to hear where the Deep Rooted Macro team sees the next big shifts taking root.

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Latest Episodes:

Talking Markets with Jim Bianco and WT Team Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

Show from 10/10/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss the market’s resilience amid a continued government shutdown, emphasizing the positive momentum driven by AI and the broader economic environment. Professor Siegel warns about the potential for negative consumer sentiment if the shutdown lingers and points to recent data and global central bank comparisons to support the case for U.S. rate cuts. He also addresses the state of private credit markets, gold and bitcoin trends, and implications of current tariff levels, while noting AI remains a strong market driver. (13:55) Jeremy continues the conversation with Jeff Weniger and Sam Rines before welcoming guest Jim Bianco. Sam shares insights from a recent trip to Mexico, noting optimism from local investors and a surprising lack of concern about U.S. tariffs. He also discusses geopolitical tensions and Chinese EV penetration in Mexico. Jeff offers analysis of stress in private credit markets, highlighting the case of First Brands and broader implications for underwriting standards. The episode then transitions to an in-depth discussion with Jim Bianco, who outlines how a stalled flow of immigration could be reshaping the labor market and the Fed's rate path. He explores how AI is already influencing GDP through data center and energy build-outs, compares its trajectory to the internet’s evolution, and discusses long-term inflation expectations shaped by remote work and global segmentation. Jim also reflects on Fed governance and independence, challenges in interpreting the yield curve, and his fixed income index strategy that leverages ETFs to express macro views. He closes by reaffirming his “4-5-6” return framework and how AI-driven equity gains are masking broader market underperformance. Jim Bianco on X: https://x.com/biancoresearch Website: https://www.biancoresearch.com/visitor-home/ WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Focusing on Intangibles Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

Show from 10/03/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss the latest market conditions, highlighting the weakness in the ADP jobs report, stable jobless claims, and a slight decline in consumer confidence. Professor Siegel emphasizes that while the economic data points to some softening, there is no indication of a sharp downturn. He points to this quarter as a critical test for consumer spending amid new tariffs and holiday pressures, observing that inflation in housing and rents remains muted. Siegel also discusses monetary policy and comments on the growing importance of AI, the performance of major tech stocks like Tesla, and the continued divergence between large-cap growth and value stocks. Jeremy continues the show with WisdomTree colleagues Chris Gannatti, Sam Rines, and Jeff Weniger, with Chris diving into recent insights from top voices in the semiconductor and AI space, noting the massive CapEx going into data centers and compute infrastructure. Sam expands on the potential productivity boost from AI agents and the broader ecosystem investments benefiting industrials like Caterpillar. Jeff provides a macro take on central bank policy, expressing skepticism about the timing of rate cuts amid rising equity and commodity markets, and debates the real impact of tariffs. (32:12) In the second half, Jeremy presents a special segment recorded live from the Jacobs-Levy Quant Conference with Professor Bob Korajczyk of Northwestern University. Korajczyk shares research on intangible assets and their role in asset pricing, detailing how adjusted earnings that account for R&D and SG&A provide a more predictive measure of long-term profitability. He explains how this adjustment enhances factor models, offers downside protection characteristics, and discusses implications for accounting standards, portfolio construction, and international investing. Guest: Robert A. Korajczyk is Senior Associate Dean, Faculty and Research and the Harry G. Guthmann Professor of Finance and co-director of the Center for Financial Institutions and Markets. At Kellogg, Korajczyk has previously served as Senior Associate Dean: Curriculum and Teaching, Chair of the Department of Finance, Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Finance, and Director of the Zell Center for Risk Research. He has held visiting faculty appointments at the University of Chicago, the Vienna University of Economics and Business, the University of Melbourne, the University of Vienna, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor Korajczyk received his BA, MBA, and PhD degrees from the University of Chicago. Robert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-korajczyk-b1565714/ WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Chirping about Valuations Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

Show from 09/26/25 Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel review the week’s key economic developments, focusing first on inflation metrics with the PCE deflator and personal income/spending data matching expectations. Professor Siegel emphasizes the significance of stronger-than-expected durable goods orders and a narrowed trade deficit, which have led to upgraded Q3 GDP forecasts from major banks. He also comments on recent remarks from Fed Governor Myron regarding a lower neutral interest rate, citing demographic trends and productivity considerations. The Professor maintains a cautious outlook on the potential impact of tariffs, especially heading into the critical holiday season, and flags the upcoming government shutdown as a potential disruptor to next week’s jobs report. They’re joined by Chris Gannatti, Jeff Weniger, and Sam Rines for a robust discussion that spans trade, technology, and market positioning. They unpack new proposed tariffs from the Trump campaign, assess the durability of corporate strategies for mitigating trade friction, and analyze the AI infrastructure boom—highlighting NVIDIA, OpenAI, and hyperscaler investment cycles. The team debates whether current AI valuations are sustainable, comparing them to past tech cycles, and explore quantum computing as an emerging, though still speculative, theme. The conversation turns to government industrial policy and its role in revitalizing domestic semiconductor manufacturing, particularly around Intel. Finally, they discuss overlooked opportunities in small and mid-cap U.S. equities, noting how rate cuts and strong consumer data, like Costco’s same-store sales, could fuel upside for cyclicals heading into year-end. WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Market Rotation Meets Fed Rate Cuts Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Show from 09/19/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz is joined live from Mallorca by Pierre Debru, Head of Research at WisdomTree Europe, to explore shifting investor sentiment across the continent. Pierre discusses how European investors are reallocating away from the US and toward domestic equities and thematics like defense, nuclear, and rare earths, fueled in part by a weaker dollar. He outlines the renewed interest in defense investing spurred by NATO's 5% GDP spending target, as well as the long-term outlook for Europe’s political and fiscal stability across markets like Greece, Poland, and Italy. The conversation covers capital efficiency, the need for diversification through gold and crypto, and the rise of thematic exposure to quantum computing and AI-related infrastructure. (30:17) Professor Siegel and Kevin Flanagan join to analyze the Fed’s latest 25 basis point rate cut. Professor Siegel emphasizes the strength of the consumer, upward revisions to GDP forecasts, and unity within the Fed despite differing views reflected in the dot plots. He critiques the current path of policy, pointing to lingering inflation concerns from tariffs and the need for further rate cuts amid signs of softening in the labor market. Siegel also discusses falling mortgage premiums, the resilience of housing and business investment, and how investment incentives and AI are likely to benefit small-cap firms over time. Pierre Debru on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierre-debru/ Kevin Flanagan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-flanagan-wt/ WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Going All In Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

Show from 09/12/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel analyze the recent inflation data, highlighting the implications for next week’s pivotal Fed meeting. The Professor suggests a 25-basis-point rate cut is likely, but notes that a weak retail sales report could justify a 50-basis-point move. He emphasizes the importance of the September dot plot in gauging Fed sentiment and explores the limited current impact of tariffs on inflation metrics, despite market anticipation. Siegel also points to diverging signals in the CPI and PPI reports and the potential for dissenting votes within the Fed as signs of growing internal debate. (9:28) Jeremy is joined by Sam Rines, Jeff Weniger, and Chris Gannatti for a dynamic discussion covering Fed expectations, political volatility, and macroeconomic developments. The team examines Oracle’s massive AI-linked bookings and its potential to reshape the software sector, discusses how manufacturers are navigating tariffs with pricing power, and reflects on potential Supreme Court developments that could spark a surprise fiscal stimulus. They dive into early innings of AI adoption, exploring how government policy, private innovation, and breakthroughs in biotech and quantum computing may drive future productivity. The group discusses European defense spending as a de-risked investment theme and the rising significance of Asian defense budgets, particularly in Japan, India, and South Korea. They close with commentary on under-owned trades like gold and Japanese equities, the challenge of disrupting entrenched players in healthcare, and optimism around innovation driving long-term growth despite short-term valuation concerns. WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Will AI Peak Eventually Rival 2000 Bubble Levels? Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

Show from 09/05/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss the latest job report, which showed weaker-than-expected numbers, particularly in manufacturing and healthcare. The Professor highlights that while the household survey showed a gain, it's too volatile to weigh heavily. He emphasizes that the labor market is softening, which aligns with the bond market's pricing-in of rate cuts at upcoming Fed meetings. Siegel also notes productivity data remains unimpressive despite a recent bounce and reiterates his belief that equity markets remain in a bull phase, supported by anticipated rate cuts and broader AI optimism. (11:51) Jeremy is then joined by Sam Rines and Jeff Weniger, who analyze consumer behavior through companies like Costco and Lululemon, noting that middle- and upper-income consumers remain resilient. They dive into the struggles of traditional staples like Kraft-Heinz and Pepsi, which are facing breakup speculation and activist investor pressure, while also discussing historical examples of value creation through corporate spin-offs. The conversation expands to gold and gold miners, which are benefiting from central bank buying, falling interest rates, and improved operational efficiencies. In the second half of the episode, Blake Heimann and Chris Gannatti join to unpack insights from a tech conference, highlighting AI infrastructure trends, chip supply dynamics, and the rising relevance of companies like NVIDIA, Broadcom, and SoftBank. They also explore pressures in the software sector from private competitors and ongoing leadership transitions. The group discusses how firms are building agentic AI workflows atop specialized datasets, creating opportunities and risks as Big Tech integrates AI across platforms. The show closes with a detailed conversation on AI compute economics, GPU payback cycles, and the sustainability of massive CapEx spending in AI infrastructure. Blake Heimann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakeheimann/?originalSubdomain=uk WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Harvesting Alpha from Dirt: From Cornfields to Data Centers Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

Show from 09/01/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz travels across Indiana with Brandon Zick, CIO of Ceres Partners, as they explore farmland investments following WisdomTree’s acquisition announcement of Ceres. Brandon and Jeremy dive into the fundamentals of farmland investing, including its inflation-hedging characteristics, active property sourcing strategies, and the portfolio's strong historical returns. They also discuss the optionality in farmland from uses like solar, wind, and data centers, the role of dairy and biodiesel, and the impact of tariffs, labor dynamics, and energy policies on farm operations and profitability. Guest: Brandon Zick is responsible for managing all investments at Ceres Partners, including Ceres Farms flagship farmland fund and Ceres Food & Agriculture private equity strategies. In this role he supervises valuation analysis, acquisition/investment due diligence, portfolio and tenant management, and acquisition negotiations and execution. Prior to joining Ceres in 2010, Mr. Zick served as Vice President of Strategic Acquisitions at Morgan Stanley Investment Management where he performed due diligence, valuation analysis, deal negotiation and execution of strategic business transactions. Previously, he worked as a senior associate of investor relations at Morgan Stanley, and Brandon began his career as a finance associate at Lehman Brothers.Brandon currently serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Advisory Council and the Small Business, Agriculture & Labor sub-council. Mr. Zick is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A. in finance and a Japanese concentration and is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst. Mr. Zick grew up on a family dairy and crop farm in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Brandon Zick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-zick-394a5310 WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

High Conviction Ideas Aug 29, 2025

Show notes

Show from 08/29/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss the PCE inflation data coming in exactly as expected, a surprising widening in the July trade deficit, and the implications of upcoming employment data on the Fed's decision-making. The Prof suggests a 25 basis point cut is likely unless job numbers are unexpectedly weak. (14:22) Jeremy is joined by Sean Avory, CIO of Avory Co, who shares his constructive view on markets, discusses opportunities in small and mid-cap equities, and outlines his firm's high-conviction investment strategies across public and private markets. The conversation highlights themes such as AI infrastructure, data-driven investing, and identity verification as a key growth sector. Sean also offers insight on valuation dislocations caused by passive investing trends and the role active ETFs may play going forward. Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Surviving the Storm Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

Show from 08/22/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel react to Powell’s dovish shift in tone, with the Professor characterizing it as a clear pivot towards rate cuts. Siegel emphasizes that inflationary pressures driven by tariffs are likely to be treated as one-time increases and ignored by the Fed, while the labor market becomes the primary focus going forward. He outlines a forecast of 75 basis points of cuts by early next year, contingent on labor conditions, and notes that falling long-term yields could significantly ease mortgage rates, supporting continued strength in equities. (28:36) Jeremy continues with Samuel Rines live from Margate, where they examine how corporate earnings, particularly from Walmart and Ross stores, reveal that consumers remain active despite rising prices. However, they caution that tariff impacts are starting to show up in margins, especially for small caps, which have already been under pressure from high interest rates. The conversation turns to sector positioning, including renewed strength in defense stocks amid European geopolitical developments, and optimism around Japan’s equity markets driven by favorable global policies and undervaluation. They also discuss the role of government involvement in strategic industries like semiconductors, the equity premium in Japan versus the U.S., and how policy changes are reshaping investment flows. Sam concludes that managing margins, not revenues, will be the critical driver of equity performance over the next 6 to 12 months, especially as companies navigate cost pressures without triggering political backlash. Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Earnings and Alaska Getting Hot Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

Show from 08/15/25 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel unpacked a busy week of economic news, starting with an analysis of the CPI and PPI data. The Professor highlighted how headline inflation may appear elevated due to one-off components like portfolio management fees but emphasized that key metrics feeding into the Fed’s preferred PCE deflator remained tame. He also reiterated his longstanding view that the Fed should not react to tariff-induced inflation and spotlighted next week's Jackson Hole speech from Jerome Powell as a pivotal moment for monetary policy. (12:17) Jeremy continued the show with Sam Rines and the Wisdom Tree team, exploring the implications of the Trump-Putin summit, the enduring global defense spending cycle, and the long-term impact of defense innovation on technology. They analyzed inflation indicators, alternative shelter metrics, and sector reactions, including defense, AI, housing, and chipmakers. The conversation closed with reflections on earning season surprises, small-cap sensitivity to Fed policy, and geopolitical dynamics shaping tech and energy infrastructure. Wisdom Tree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

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