It’s been a chaotic morning for JB Hi-Fi (JBH) investors. If you’ve been watching the screens, you might have developed a mild case of whiplash. JB Hi-Fi shares opened over 5 per cent higher at around $80, fell to $72 (down 4 per cent), and have since clawed back above $80, reflecting a classic case of a solid half-year result clashing with a cautious outlook for the rest of 2026.

A solid 1H26 result

On the surface, JB Hi-Fi remains a poster child of execution. Sales and Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) were both up over 7 per cent year-on-year (YoY), largely meeting or exceeding consensus expectations. Continue…

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

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Following the release of its Half-Year 2026 (HY26) results, the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) finds itself at a crossroads, balancing record-breaking volumes with significant regulatory and management hurdles.

Volumes and new models

Despite the noise, the ASX’s core business is thriving. The HY26 results showed a significant growth beat, driven primarily by cash volumes, clearing, and bonds, with daily trading volumes having surged above $8 billion. Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary, Market Valuation, Stocks We Like.

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The artificial intelligence (AI) industry is currently grappling with what some experts call a ‘trillion-dollar math problem’. The numbers might not stack up because customers might simply lack the funds to spend on AI tools to allow hyperscalers to achieve a decent return on their AI infrastructure investment.

With hyperscalers projected to spend US$3 trillion on AI infrastructure by 2029, the market faces a substantial revenue gap. To justify current valuations and maintain reasonable margins, AI services would need to generate revenue equivalent to 10 per cent of the entire U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$30 trillion. This represents a massive commercial risk; if expectations of an adequate return on investment in two or three years evaporate, this historic capital expenditure risks producing a multi-trillion-dollar overcapacity. Continue…

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

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I joined Paul Turton on ABC Mornings to discuss how AI is evolving beyond simple prompts into autonomous agents that can act on our behalf, but warned that market expectations may be getting ahead of reality. With trillions set to be spent on infrastructure, current valuations imply adoption levels that look ambitious, raising the risk of overcapacity and corrections, particularly as AI begins to disrupt the software as a service model and pressure established data and information providers.

Listen from 36:40 here: ABC Newcastle Mornings

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

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Commonwealth Bank (ASX: CBA), under the guidance of CEO Matt Comyn, has once again proven why it’s considered the best Australian bank. Despite a muddy economic backdrop and fierce competition in the mortgage market, the bank’s half-year FY26 (1H26) results beat analyst expectations (again).

While the headline numbers were strong and will dominate today’s commentary, a more interesting story lies in the shifting dynamics of Australia’s largest lender. Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Financial Services, Market commentary, Market Valuation, Stocks We Like.

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Former CEO, public speaker and author, Jay Grewal once said, “When it comes to the final nail in your coffin, it doesn’t matter if it’s dull or sharp, it’ll still hold, because a lifetime of prior nails have helped seal that coffin shut.”

In what may prove to be merely another accumulated nail in the coffin of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, the narrative on Wall Street shifted dramatically last week as the tech-driven optimism that has fueled the market for years hit a psychological and structural barrier. Continue…

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

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by Roger Montgomery Posted in Foreign Currency, Market commentary, TV Appearances.

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I joined Juliette Saly on Ausbiz to discuss how the AI trade has shifted from hype to reality. Adoption is proving more cyclical than expected, customers will not pay any price for AI tools, and data centre rollouts face delays from regulation and power constraints. At the same time, higher inflation, rising debt and the end of ultra-low rates are putting pressure on valuations. Software as a Service (SaaS) businesses are being repriced, and sectors like real estate and travel are also starting to feel the impact, prompting investors to reassess risk.

Tune into the full episode here: Ausbiz – Has tech run its course? Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary, TV Appearances.

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