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Tom Essaye Says Markets Trust The Rally’s Core Pillars Despite Political Noise

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Why Trump-Driven Selloffs Keep Becoming Buyable Dips

The TACO theory on Trump makes every ‘dip’ a buy, analyst says

“Trump is not going to willfully drive the markets or the economy into the ground. At least we hope not,” Tom Essaye, president and founder of Sevens Report Research, told Yahoo Finance’s Opening Bid.

The theory has become the defining feature of Trump’s current term, Essaye argues. The administration started the year laser-focused on Venezuela and has since taken aim at credit card companies over interest rates, healthcare providers over insurance costs, and even the Federal Reserve.

“The sheer volume will test the TACO theory,” Essaye said.

Despite the noise, the underlying “four pillars” of the market rally — earnings growth, stimulus, Fed support, and the AI boom — remain largely intact. Essaye suggests that while protection is “relatively cheap” and perhaps necessary for those with no hedge, the “buy the dip” mentality shouldn’t be abandoned just yet.

“One of the most important things in investing is being able to cut out the headline noise and stay focused on the big trends,” Essaye said. He points to financials and healthcare as prime examples and some of the best trades to make right now, as these sectors often sell off 3% to 5% on a single social media post, only for the threatened regulations to never materialize.

Investors should focus on earnings, underlying economic growth, and the likelihood the Fed will cut rates in the first half of the year, Essaye said. Not to mention, “AI enthusiasm is alive and well,” he added.

Ultimately, the TACO trade relies on the belief that the president’s greatest vanity is the stock market ticker. As long as that holds true, every policy-driven dip should not be viewed as a disaster, but as a tactical entry point, per Essaye.

Also, click here to view the full article published in Yahoo Finance on January 20th, 2026. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

If you want research that comes with no long term commitment, yet provides independent, value added, plain English analysis of complex macro topics, then begin your Sevens Report subscription today by clicking here.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Join hundreds of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

This market is solidly above any fundamental valuation

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This market is solidly above any fundamental valuation: Sevens Report Founder, Tom Essaye Quoted in MarketWatch

Stock-market rally has pushed S&P 500 above ‘fundamental valuation levels’

“This market is solidly above any fundamental valuation and really only justifiable if we assume extremely positive resolution to the numerous risks facing this market and economy,” Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research, said in a note Tuesday. “The S&P 500 at these levels reflects a very optimistic view of how this all works out.”

The stock market faces the risk of tariffs slowing the economy and hurting corporate earnings, as well as concerns about inflation and the U.S. fiscal outlook, according to his note.

“The environment is much better than what was feared in April, but it’s still an environment with several distinct equity market headwinds, especially compared to the start of the year,” said Essaye. “While the rally is legitimate, the S&P 500 is solidly above fundamental valuation levels.”

Also, click here to view the full MarketWatch article, published on June 10th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

If you want research that comes with no long term commitment, yet provides independent, value added, plain English analysis of complex macro topics, then begin your Sevens Report subscription today by clicking here.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Join hundreds of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

Moody’s downgraded U.S. sovereign debt

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Moody’s downgraded U.S. sovereign debt: Sevens Report Analysts Quoted in Investing.com

What the Moody’s downgrade means for markets

According to the latest Sevens Report, the move is unlikely to drive long-term market direction.

“Moody’s downgraded U.S. sovereign debt to Aa1 from Aaa. That downgrade boosted long-term Treasury yields, as some investors sold long-term Treasuries,” the analysts wrote.

Stocks opened lower Monday, but Sevens emphasized that the downgrade “revealed nothing new.”

But Sevens called the timing questionable: “Downgrading U.S. debt for larger deficits and rising interest costs is the financial equivalent to saying ‘water is wet.’”

Sevens said, “There’s been no dramatic deterioration lately,” and noted that speculative fears tied to potential legislation “don’t justify the downgrade.”

“The deteriorating fiscal situation hasn’t stopped stocks from rallying over the past few years and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.”

Also, click here to view the full article featured on Investing.com published on May 20th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

If you want research that comes with no long term commitment, yet provides independent, value added, plain English analysis of complex macro topics, then begin your Sevens Report subscription today by clicking here.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Join hundreds of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

Is There an Opportunity in Defensive Sectors?

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Is There an Opportunity in Defensive Sectors? Start a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Have Defensive Sectors Traded So Poorly and Is There an Opportunity There?
  • Chart: 10-Yr Treasury Note Futures Imply Potential Reversal Lower in Benchmark Yields

U.S. stock futures are tracking global equity markets higher this morning. As investors welcome a sizeable drop in bond yields and new stimulus plans by China.

Bloomberg reported overnight that China may issue 1T yuan in debt to be used for infrastructure projects in order to help the economy meet the government’s annual growth targets. The news is alleviating some lingering concerns about the health of the world’s second-largest economy.

There are no economic reports today which will leave the market focused on more Fed speakers: Bostic, Waller, Kashkari, and Daly, and the subsequent reaction from bond markets.

Additionally, the Treasury will hold auctions for 3 and 6-month Bills at 11:30 a.m. ET and 3-Yr Notes at 1:00 p.m. ET that could impact yields.

Bottom line, the rise in Treasury futures (implying lower yields) yesterday when bond markets were closed for Columbus Day was a major factor supporting the rally in stocks, and how yields move today as fixed income markets open for the week will likely dictate the price action in stocks.

Is There an Opportunity in Defensive Sectors?

Join hundreds of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here. 

Economic Data Fueled the Rally

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Why Economic Data Fueled the Rally: Strengthen your market knowledge with a free trial of The Sevens Report.

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Yesterday’s Economic Data Fueled the Rally
  • An Important Chart (On Page One)

Futures are slightly higher on more Chinese economic optimism as data was better than expected while Chinese officials announced more stimulus.

Chinese Retail Sales (4.6% vs. (E) 3.9%) and Industrial Production (4.5% vs. (E) 3.9%) beat expectations while authorities injected 120 billion yuan into a lending facility.

Today’s focus will be on economic data and if data is “Goldilocks” like we saw on Thursday, expect a continuation of yesterday’s rally.  Conversely, if the data shows inflation hot or growth slowing, the markets could give back most of yesterday’s rally.

Also, the important reports to watch today include:  Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -10.0), Import and Export Prices (E: 0.3%, 0.4%), Industrial Production (E: 0.1%), and Consumer Sentiment (E: 69.2).

Finally, today is quadruple witching options expiration so don’t be surprised by big volumes and increased volatility during the final hour of trading.

Economic Data

Join hundreds of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here. 

Why Have Markets Become Volatile?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Have Markets Become Volatile?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Are the Three Pillars of the Rally Under Attack?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Key Growth and Jobs Data This Week

Futures are slightly higher following more small stimulus steps from Chinese authorities, as investors look ahead to an important week of economic data.

Chinese authorities reduced the stamp tax on stock investment, providing a small economic tailwind and boost to Chinese stock prices.

Economically, the only notable number was the EU Money Supply (M3) and the number was bad as M3 declined –0.4% vs. (E) 0.6%.

Today there are no notable economic reports so markets will focus on the tech sector to see if it can continue to stabilize after last Thursday’s ugly reversal.

What Pushes Stocks Higher from Here?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What Pushes Stocks Higher from Here?
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Earnings Take Center Stage
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Growth Data in Focus this Week

Futures are slightly lower following mixed Chinese economic data and a potential further escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war.

Chinese economic data was mixed as GDP and Retail Sales both missed estimates, while Industrial Production beat, and the data will keep markets  wanting more stimulus.

Possibility of further escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war increased after Ukraine claimed responsibility for the destruction of a bridge linking Crimea and Russia.

Today focus will be on the first data point for July, the Empire Manufacturing Index (E: -4.3).  Markets will want to see this number be stronger than expectations and ideally turn positive, furthering the “Golidlocks” market narrative of falling inflation but stable growth.

Fed Decision Takeaways

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Decision Means for Markets
  • FOMC Decision Takeaways
  • Oil Update – Resilient Demand Offset By Fed Policy Worries

U.S. equity futures are lower as the Fed decision continues to be digested while global economic data largely missed expectations overnight.

Economically, Chinese data was universally disappointing with Industrial Production and Retail Sales both missing estimates while EU trade data showed that imports and exports both declined by more than anticipated. China’s central bank cut rates further overnight, however, which saw risk assets in Asia recover to end with gains.

Looking into today’s session, the ECB decision will be in focus this morning (E: +25bp hike) followed by President Lagarde’s press conference. If the ECB is seen as hawkish, it will likely weigh on stocks and other risk assets as it will show central bankers are not yet satisfied with the trends in inflation and more aggressive policy is likely in the months ahead.

In the U.S., there is a slew of economic data due to be released including: Jobless Claims (E: 250K), Retail Sales (E: 0.0%), Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (E: -13.2), Empire State Manufacturing Index (E: -15.1), Import & Export Prices (E: -0.6%, -0.5%), and Industrial Production (E: 0.1%).

And with the Fed leaving future policy plans largely “open” and dependent on economic data, the market will want to see more “Goldilocks” trends with slowing growth and a more rapid decline in price readings.

 

Sevens Report Alpha: Artificial Intelligence Issue

This week’s Alpha issue focused on a very popular market topic:  Artificial Intelligence.

This issue was an update to a March 7th Alpha issue on AI, and the three ETFs we profiled in that report have risen 20%, 17%, and 14%, respectively in just three months! 

This week’s AI issue updated and expanded that research as we:

  • Reviewed and updated the research on our previous AI ETF picks.
  • Introduced two new AI-focused ETFs that are both up more than 30% YTD.
  • Included a proprietary spreadsheet of 30 AI stocks and categorized them by: Sector, Market Cap, Price/Earnings ratio, Price/Sales ratio, Revenue, and Performance.

If you’d like to start a risk-free trial subscription to Sevens Report Alpha and access the latest AI issue, and all previous Alpha issues and webinars since 2017, please email info@sevensreport.com.

We do ask that you pay the $330 quarterly subscription fee, but there is a 30 day money back guarantee, so you risk nothing to try the product.  

To learn more about Sevens Report Alpha, click this link. 

FOMC Preview (Watch the Dots)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview (Watch the Dots)
  • Why Yesterday’s CPI Boosted the “Growth On” Trade
  • Gold Update:  Are the 2023 Highs Already In?

Futures are modestly higher following a quiet night of news as markets look ahead to the FOMC decision and expected pause in rate hikes.

Economic data was mixed overnight as UK Industrial Production missed estimates (-0.3% vs. (E) -0.1% in manufacturing) while Euro Zone IP slightly beat (1.0% vs. (E) 0.9%), but neither number is moving markets.

Today focus will be on the FOMC Decision and the consensus expectation is that the Fed will pause.  But, it’s not clear how many additional 2023 rate hikes the “dots” will show, and that will determine if the Fed decision is hawkish or dovish (more on that inside).

Away from the Fed we also get the May PPI (E: -0.1% m/m, 1.6% y/y) and Core PPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.9% y/y) and if this metric comes in under expectations that’ll boost the “Immaculate Disinflation” expectation and should help cyclical sectors extend the rally.

What the BOC Rate Hike Means for U.S. Interest Rates

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the BOC Rate Hike Means for U.S. Interest Rates

Futures are little changed despite more economic stimulus from China.

The Chinese government cut bank deposit rates and encouraged lending to boost auto sales in the latest effort to stimulate the economy, although the moves were already expected so this isn’t a new, positive surprise.

Economic data was sparse overnight with Japanese and EU GDPs the only notable releases, and neither number moved markets.

Today the only notable economic report is Jobless Claims (E: 235K) and markets will want to see stability in the data (so no sudden jump higher), but more broadly markets remain in a temporary “holding pattern” with the CPI report and Fed decision now both looming less than a week away.