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April is ending on a constructive note after a brutal few weeks. As we flip the calendar to May, this edition lays out what investors should be watching, what risks remain on the table, and how to think about portfolio positioning heading into what could be a pivotal month for markets. Where We Stand Coming Out of April April 2026 will be remembered as one of the more volatile months in recent market history. The month opened with a severe tariff-driven selloff that sent majo

Markets rallied hard last week on signs of trade dialogue between the US and its major trading partners. Before you get too excited — or too skeptical — this edition breaks down what a potential trade deal actually means for markets, what to watch for, and how to position intelligently regardless of the outcome. What Markets Are Actually Pricing In Last week's rally reflected a reduction in the worst-case scenario — not a resolution of the trade dispute. Markets moved from pr

Top-down sector analysis is one of the most powerful tools available to investors who want to position their portfolios ahead of macroeconomic shifts. Rather than starting with individual stocks, it starts with the big picture — the economy, interest rates, and the business cycle — then works down to identify which sectors are best positioned to benefit. Here's how to do it.

Growth vs value is one of the oldest debates in investing — and one of the most misunderstood. In reality, the best investors don't rigidly choose one camp. They understand what each approach offers, when each tends to outperform, and how to blend the best elements of both into a coherent investment philosophy.

Value investing is one of the most time-tested frameworks in the history of financial markets. Pioneered by Benjamin Graham and refined by Warren Buffett, it's built on a deceptively simple idea: buy assets for less than they're worth and wait for the market to recognize that value. Here's how it works in practice and why it remains relevant today.

Markets are rational in the long run. In the short run, they're driven almost entirely by human psychology — fear, greed, overconfidence, and herd behavior. Understanding the behavioral biases that distort investor decision-making is one of the most practical edges you can develop. This edition covers the five biases that cost investors the most money. 1. Loss Aversion Research consistently shows that the pain of losing $100 feels roughly twice as powerful as the pleasure of

Q1 2026 earnings season is now underway — and it couldn't come at a more consequential time. With tariff uncertainty, recession fears, and a volatile macro backdrop, what companies say about their forward outlook will matter more than the actual numbers they report. This edition is your guide to what to watch and how to interpret what you hear. Why Guidance Matters More Than Results This Quarter Q1 results will largely reflect a world before the most severe tariff announcemen

There are very few signals in investing that are as pure as insider buying. When a company's own executives and directors buy shares in the open market with their personal money — not options, not grants, but actual cash purchases — it's one of the most direct expressions of confidence in a company's future that exists. Here's how to find it, read it, and use it.

Of the three core financial statements, the income statement is the one most investors look at first — and often the one they read least carefully. Revenue and EPS grab the headlines, but the real story is almost always in the details underneath. Here's how to read an income statement like a professional.

Short selling is one of the most misunderstood strategies in investing. In the media it's portrayed as dangerous, predatory, or even unethical. In reality, short sellers play a critical role in efficient markets — and understanding how shorting works makes you a better investor even if you never short a single stock.

Most investors spend the majority of their time deciding what to buy. Far fewer spend serious time thinking about how much to buy. That's a mistake. Position sizing — the discipline of determining how large each holding should be in your portfolio — has a bigger impact on your long-term results than almost any other decision you make.

Warren Buffett built one of the greatest investment track records in history using a simple framework: find companies with durable competitive advantages — economic moats — and hold them for the long term. Understanding what a moat actually is, and how to identify one, is one of the most valuable skills in fundamental investing.

Most investors spend 95% of their time thinking about stocks. But bonds and fixed income deserve a seat at the table — especially in the current environment. This edition breaks down what bonds actually are, how they behave, and why every investor should understand them regardless of whether they own any. Bonds 101: What You're Actually Buying When you buy a bond, you're lending money to a government or corporation in exchange for regular interest payments (the coupon) and th

Tax-loss harvesting is one of the most underused tools in an investor's arsenal. It doesn't require market timing, special access, or complex strategies — just awareness and discipline. Used correctly, it can meaningfully improve your after-tax returns every single year, regardless of how the market performs. What Is Tax-Loss Harvesting? Tax-loss harvesting means selling investments that are currently at a loss to realize that loss for tax purposes, then reinvesting the proce

Earnings season is officially here — and this week is one of the most packed stretches of the quarter. Companies across technology, finance, and consumer sectors are reporting, economic data is dropping daily, and the Fed could shape market expectations with every public appearance. Here’s what every Peakfolio member should have on their radar this week. What’s Reporting This Week Technology leads the lineup. Any guidance tied to AI infrastructure spending, cloud growth, or s

We talk a lot about what to buy. This edition is about what not to do — the behavioral mistakes that destroy more investor wealth than bad stock picks ever will. If you can avoid these five traps, you'll be ahead of the vast majority of retail investors. 1. Panic Selling at Market Bottoms The single most wealth-destroying behavior in investing. Selling during a major drawdown locks in losses and almost always results in missing the recovery. Markets have recovered from every

One of the most common questions we get from Peakfolio members: "How do I actually know if my portfolio is performing well?" The answer isn't as simple as checking whether your account balance went up. This edition walks you through how to think about portfolio performance honestly and rigorously. Benchmark Against the Right Index Your first step is choosing the right benchmark. If your portfolio is predominantly US large-cap equities, compare it to the S&P 500. If it include

Earnings season is one of the most important recurring events in the investing calendar — and one of the most misunderstood. Most investors watch the headlines but miss the signals that actually matter. This edition is your practical guide to getting the most out of earnings season. Why Earnings Season Matters Four times a year, public companies report their financial results for the prior quarter. These reports are the primary mechanism through which the market reprices stoc

When markets get choppy and growth stocks sell off, one sector quietly holds its ground and keeps paying dividends: consumer staples. This edition makes the case for why this "boring" sector deserves a meaningful place in every investor's portfolio — especially right now. What Makes Consumer Staples Defensive Consumer staples companies sell products people buy regardless of economic conditions — food, beverages, household products, and personal care items. Procter & Gamble, C

Gold has surged in 2026 as investors grapple with trade war uncertainty, dollar weakness concerns, and recession risk. Whether you already own gold or have been skeptical of it, this edition explains what's driving the move, whether it's justified, and how to think about it in your portfolio. Why Gold Is Rallying Gold thrives in environments of high uncertainty, currency debasement fears, and negative real interest rates. The current combination of geopolitical tension, trade