Companies

I joined Juliette Saly on Ausbiz to discuss the ASX debut of FDC Consolidated (ASX), outlining why I believe the construction and fit-out business presents a compelling investment opportunity. I highlighted its 36-year track record, strong insider ownership, large work in progress, repeat client base and attractive forecast yield, while noting that quality businesses can still attract investor demand despite a subdued Initial Public Offering (IPO) market. We also discussed Australia’s fragile consumer confidence, with high household debt, rising rents and ongoing cost-of-living pressures continuing to weigh on sentiment, even as confidence gradually recovers from its 53-year low.

Watch here: FDC’s ASX debut – a builder with bite  continue…

by David Buckland Posted in Companies, Editor's Pick, Insightful Insights, Market commentary, Market Valuation, Small Caps, Stocks We Like, TV Appearances.

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As we begin Fiscal 2027, it is worth taking a step back to reflect on the major themes that shaped global markets over the past year. I explore the key developments across equities, bonds, interest rates, commodities and currencies, and consider what they may mean for investors going forward.

From Magnificent Seven to Memory Seven

In the three calendar years 2023-2025, the Magnificent Seven (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla), rose by an average 333 per cent, turning $1.00 into $4.33.

That strong upward trajectory came to an end in the six months to June 2026, with an average decline of 2 per cent. With Microsoft (-23 per cent),Meta (-15 per cent) and Tesla (-6 per cent) leading the fall.

The baton has been passed to the “Memory” sector with an average 419 per cent capital appreciation across seven companies in six months to June 2026 being reported, namely: SanDisk (+858 per cent), Kioxia (+759 per cent), Micron Technology (+304 per cent), SK Hynix (+305 per cent), Intel (+278 per cent), Marvell Technology (+251 per cent) and Samsung (+177 per cent). continue…

by David Buckland Posted in Companies, Economics, Editor's Pick, Feature Article, Financial Services, Global markets, Insightful Insights, Investing Education, Market commentary, Popular, Property.

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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) needs to follow California’s lead and get on this! 

I want to tell you about a product called Kalibrate Fuel Pricing. Kalibrate, the company that provides artificial intelligence (AI) driven fuel pricing and market analytics software, is owned by the private equity firm Hanover Bidco.

Kalibrate Fuel Pricing requests petrol station owners to provide sensitive, non-public data, including historical gas sale costs, volumes, forecasted costs, and margins. Using this private data alongside publicly available information, it offers pricing recommendations for petrol. Kalibrate describes this approach as “competitor-led fuel pricing decisions” and claims to provide “complete visibility on your competitors.”

That all sounds reasonable when thinking about an individual station using the service. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Editor's Pick, Energy / Resources, Market commentary.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) has become the market’s biggest investment theme, with strong earnings and seemingly reasonable valuations convincing many investors the rally still has further to run.

But beneath the surface, several warning signs suggest the picture may not be as strong as it appears.

Big claims, bigger questions

Elon Musk says SpaceX’s Total Addressable Market (TAM) in Enterprise AI is US$26.5 trillion. Outside estimates suggest $US50-$300 billion. This leaves the ‘buyers’ and the ‘sellers’ with some important questions. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Market Valuation.

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I wonder whether there’s a more fundamental reason for SpaceX crashing 16 per cent overnight and 30 per cent since its June 16 high of US$225.64, beyond the headlines.

SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) shares plunged roughly 16 per cent overnight after disclosing a massive US$20 billion bond offering to fund its artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions, amid growing dilution concerns stemming from a US$60 billion stock acquisition of the AI coding platform Cursor.

SpaceX has disclosed plans to sell US$20 billion in investment-grade senior unsecured bonds to repay bridge financing and fund its aggressive artificial intelligence ambitions.

Meanwhile, the company’s agreement to acquire Anysphere (the developer of the Cursor AI coding platform) for US$60 billion in stock will dilute existing stakes. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Market commentary, Market Valuation.

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In my latest article for The Australian, I argue that the extraordinary enthusiasm surrounding SpaceX’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) may be a warning sign that markets are entering a late-stage speculative phase. Drawing parallels with major thematic IPOs that preceded previous market peaks, I examine how Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), passive investment flows, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven optimism and a growing disconnect between valuations and fundamentals are creating conditions that resemble past market bubbles. The key question for investors is whether today’s market is being driven by sustainable earnings growth or by speculation that could ultimately prove unsustainable.

Download the article here: Gravity-defying SpaceX IPO flags warning of market crash landing

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, In the Press, Market commentary, Market Valuation.

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I joined Kirsten Aiken on ABC The Business to discuss the challenges facing Australia’s retail sector. With higher interest rates slowing the economy and uncertainty around proposed tax changes weighing on consumer confidence, spending has softened across age groups. We explored the pressures facing traditional retailers, the accelerating shift to online shopping, the impact of global competitors, and why department stores such as Myer and David Jones continue to face long-term challenges as consumer habits evolve.

Watch here: Challenges grow for the retail sector, Glue the latest to close. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Consumer discretionary, Economics, Editor's Pick, Insightful Insights, Market commentary.

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SpaceX has some real businesses, but if I am completely lucid, I’d say there’s no business that would support its US$2 trillion valuation.

While the headlines are made by rockets and SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9, which has radically changed the economics of sending cargo into orbit, slashing launch costs by 85 per cent to roughly US$2,700 per kilogram, it is Starlink that generated US$11 billion of last year’s US$18 billion in revenue. 

In fact, sending rockets into space doesn’t do a lot for the company’s finances. Indeed, SpaceX generates more revenue from renting out its NVIDIA chips to Anthropic than it does from rockets. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Market commentary, Market Valuation, Technology & Telecommunications.

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Since January 1999, Macquarie Bank’s shares have risen almost 1,400 per cent, and that excludes the returns from reinvesting dividends. That’s just capital gains alone.  Assuming the Federal Labor Party is voted out, and their capital gains tax disincentives are unwound, there could be another Macquarie-Bank-like 1999 opportunity. The opportunity to buy a mini Macquarie on the ground floor might be Magellan Financial Group (ASX: MFG).

On 11 June 2026, the Australian Competition and Consumer Comission (ACCC) decided to approve Magellan Financial Group Ltd’s (MFG) proposed acquisition of the remaining shares in Barrenjoey Capital Partners Group Holdings Pty Limited (Barrenjoey) that it does not already own, in return for equity in MFG (the Acquisition).

Magellan Financial Group’s acquisition of the remaining shares in investment bank Barrenjoey was approved by shareholders in April 2026. Completion is expected in early July 2026.

Here are the key terms and structural details of the merger: continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Editor's Pick, Financial Services.

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I joined Kylie Morris on ABC Newcastle Mornings today to discuss the extraordinary rise of SpaceX following its record Initial Public Offering (IPO). We explored why the company’s valuation appears disconnected from traditional measures of value, how NASDAQ’s fast-tracked index inclusion could force ETFs and superannuation funds to buy shares, and why investors should be mindful of the risks that can emerge when market hype and scarcity drive prices higher.

Listen from 37:04: ABC Newcastle Mornings continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Global markets, Market Valuation, Radio.

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