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When high tech meets low tech – the commodity crunch behind AI
Roger Montgomery
May 19, 2026
There’s a thesis many investors are now positioning for: The artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure buildout being led by the hyperscalers can’t proceed without copper, silver, and other critical metals, such as scandium. Their conclusion is that commodity prices will rocket higher if the the A.I. revolution continues.
Current forecasts suggest the combined capital expenditure of Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft will reach US$715 billion in 2026, up 98 per cent on 2025 and nearly three times their combined capital expenditure (capex) in 2024. Continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Energy / Resources, Manufacturing, Market commentary, Technology & Telecommunications.
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SpaceX IPO – Rocketing or Fail to Launch?
Roger Montgomery
June 2, 2026
In this week’s video insight, I take a closer look at the upcoming SpaceX IPO and some of the concerns being raised by critics. While many investors expect the listing to be a major success, I explore questions around the company’s unprecedented valuation, the folding of other Elon Musk ventures into SpaceX, rule changes that could accelerate its inclusion in major indices, and whether forced buying by index funds may help drive the share price higher. I also discuss the risk that early investors and insiders could benefit most, while everyday investors are left carrying the long-term risks. Continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary, Video Insights.
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The dawn of ‘Tokenmaxxing’ and the 2026 AI hangover
Roger Montgomery
June 16, 2026
For the last three years, the corporate world’s relationship with artificial intelligence (AI) has been a lot like a toddler taking its first steps, or maybe a baby monkey trying to work out what to do with a camera.
Initially, there was The Era of Scaling and Praying (2022–2025), a typical phase after the invention of nearly every General Purpose Technology (GPT) since the railroad. During this period, tech giants invested hundreds of billions in infrastructure, creating huge engines even before knowing if their products would be useful or how they’d be operated. Continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary, Technology & Telecommunications.
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Consumer confidence hits a record low (while the NASDAQ Index hits a record high)
David Buckland
May 27, 2026
Australia and the United States (U.S.) currently have one thing in common.
Consumer confidence is in a world of pain.
In the U.S., the Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded since the University of Michigan began tracking the data in 1952.
The Index, see Graph 1. and Table 1. below, hit 44.8 in May 2026, as Americans fear inflation, rising fuel costs, economic instability associated with the Iran War and the worry artificial intelligence (AI) will take white collar jobs.
When I look at the U.S. inflation rate – which was 3.8 per cent for the year to April 2026 – and the U.S. Federal Funds Rate at 3.75 per cent, I again point out a significant anomaly. Continue…
by David Buckland Posted in Economics, Global markets, Insightful Insights, Investing Education, Market commentary.
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Fear + Greed Podcast Q&A – What a Middle East peace deal means for markets, oil and investors
Roger Montgomery
June 16, 2026
A peace deal between Iran and the United States has transformed the outlook for global markets – at least for now.
I joined Sean Aylmer from Fear and Greed, to discuss which sectors stand to benefit most from falling oil prices, why airlines, retailers and property stocks could outperform, and why history suggests investors should be cautious despite the optimism.I also touch on the extraordinary valuation of SpaceX, why Elon Musk may be the greatest marketer the world has ever seen, and the surprising role Google may have played ahead of the company’s IPO.
Listen here:
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Global markets, Insightful Insights, Market Valuation, Podcast Channel.
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Fuelled by growth – Why Worley is gaining momentum
Sean Sequeira
May 1, 2026
Worley Limited (ASX: WOR) has spent much of the past decade trying to redefine itself. Once known primarily as a traditional engineering contractor tied to cyclical project work, the company expanded aggressively into energy services through the acquisition of Jacobs’ ECR division in 2019, just before the world turned against fossil fuels. What followed was a difficult period marked by integration challenges, weak energy markets and a sharp de-rating as investors questioned both the strategy and the sustainability of earnings. Today, that same business is being viewed through a very different lens as the importance of energy and infrastructure are being highlighted by headlines and capital allocation. Continue…
by Sean Sequeira Posted in Companies, Editor's Pick, Energy / Resources, Market commentary, Market Valuation, Stocks We Like.
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Managed fund distributions explained
Rhodri Taylor
June 18, 2026
What 30 June means for investors in managed funds
While many people this time of year are focusing on winter holidays and tax returns, investors in actively managed equity funds like those offered by Montgomery are likely watching for their distributions.
This article explains what a managed fund distribution is, what drives it, how it impacts your investment, and answers a few common questions we receive at this time of year. Continue…
by Rhodri Taylor Posted in Popular.
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Ausbiz – Is there an AI bubble?
Roger Montgomery
June 25, 2026
I joined Nadine Blayney on Ausbiz today to discuss why I remain cautious on the artificial intelligence (AI) investment theme, despite strong earnings from the major technology companies. While reported profits continue to rise, I argued that much of the spending on AI infrastructure is being treated as capital expenditure rather than an expense, making earnings appear stronger than underlying cash flows. I also suggested that today’s relatively modest price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios may not tell the full story, noting that markets can still suffer significant declines even from low valuations if earnings prove unsustainable. Ultimately, I believe the key risk is not that AI share prices are too high, but that investor expectations for future earnings may be too optimistic.
Tune in via Ausbiz here: The reason Roger reckons AI is a “bubble” Continue…by Roger Montgomery Posted in Technology & Telecommunications, TV Appearances.
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Have AI’s four horsemen arrived?
Roger Montgomery
June 3, 2026
The four horsemen of the Apocalypse are Conquest, War, Famine, and Death. Artificial intelligence (AI) has ‘Conquered’; in the Middle East, ‘War’ is underway and could take years to resolve, and changes afoot in enterprise-level AI spending would be akin to ‘Famine’ for AI hyperscalers that have spent trillions on scaling out the technology. All that awaits is the ‘Death’ of the AI bubble. Continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary, Technology & Telecommunications.
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Watching Hyperscaler debt
Roger Montgomery
July 17, 2026
Many years ago, I was asked by an AFR journalist whether I would revise my valuation of ABC Learning Centres, which was a tiny fraction of the traded price at the time, given the Singaporean Sovereign Wealth Fund (Temasek) had just invested in the company’s then-latest capital raise at a much higher market valuation.
Full of youthful confidence, I responded: “stupid people live in all different countries.”
A familiar pattern of fundraising and deployment was playing out at ABC Learning. It was one I had seen before and one which often resulted in pear-shaped returns for equity investors. That was certainly the case at ABC, which subsequently blew up spectacularly. Continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Global markets, Insightful Insights, Investing Education, Market commentary, Market Valuation, Popular, Technology & Telecommunications.
What does June 30 mean for you? This article explains how managed fund distributions work. Read here.









