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Sevens Report’s Essaye Warns Tech Investors on AI Uncertainty

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Tom Essaye says skepticism around the AI boom is rising and weakness shouldn’t be dismissed.

Tech Investors Urged to Exercise Caution

Sevens Report President Tom Essaye is cautioning technology investors as uncertainty builds around the sustainability of the artificial intelligence-driven rally that has defined the past three years.

While Essaye notes the Nasdaq has not yet fallen enough to threaten the broader market, he argues that skepticism surrounding AI is reaching levels not seen during this bull cycle. He warns against brushing off recent weakness as a routine pullback, saying there are legitimate questions emerging about whether the boom can maintain its current trajectory.

Those concerns were amplified after Cisco Systems signaled potential margin pressure tied to ongoing memory-chip shortages, sending its shares sharply lower. The reaction highlights how sensitive investors have become to signs that elevated spending and supply constraints could weigh on profitability.

In a recent note, Essaye outlined several key risks: whether companies can sustain heavy AI-related capital expenditures, how long investors will tolerate delayed earnings payoffs, whether AI could cannibalize existing tech segments, and whether infrastructure constraints — particularly around data centers — may limit growth.

Given this backdrop, Essaye suggests investors consider diversifying beyond mega-cap technology names. As volatility increases and skepticism grows, the once-dominant AI trade may face a more challenging environment than it has at any point in the current bull market.

Also, click here to view the full article published on Finance News Network on February 13th, 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.

Sevens Report: Tech Can Rally, but AI Dominance Is Uncertain

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Tom Essaye says software ETF IGV must stabilize before AI fears ease.

In a Broader Rally, Tech Can Still Win—But Maybe Not Dominate

Technology stocks may continue to participate in a broader market rally, but their dominance is no longer assured, according to Sevens Report President Tom Essaye.

Essaye says growing concerns that artificial intelligence could cannibalize parts of the software industry have created the most uncertain backdrop for the AI-driven bull market in three years. He points to the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) as a key barometer, arguing that the fund must stabilize before broader confidence in AI stocks can return.

In his view, IGV holding above last week’s low is critical. Without that technical support, skepticism surrounding AI spending, earnings sustainability, and lofty valuations could intensify. Essaye cautions investors against dismissing the recent weakness as routine volatility, noting that legitimate questions are emerging about whether expectations have outpaced reality.

That said, Sevens Report does not believe the outlook for AI and tech has turned outright negative. Major technology companies are still delivering earnings growth, but elevated expectations and aggressive capital-expenditure plans leave less room for error.

For investors seeking diversification, Essaye suggests looking beyond mega-cap tech to equal-weight, value, developed international, and low-volatility strategies. While tech can still win in a broader rally, its leadership may no longer be automatic.

Also, click here to view the full article published in Barron’s on February 12th, 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.

Sevens Report: 10-Year Yield Remains ‘Neutral’ for Stocks

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Tom Essaye says the 4.20% range keeps markets stable — for now.

10-Treasury yield rises, but remains in range seen as ‘neutral’ for stocks

Treasury yields were rising Monday morning, with the rate on the 10-year note reversing its decline from last week but still trading in a range that Sevens Report Research called “neutral” for the stock market.

“The 10-year Treasury yield has been well behaved through this recent stock market volatility and in the 4.20% range it remains neutral for markets generally speaking,” Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research, wrote in a note Monday. “That needs to continue, because a sudden plunge below 4.00% would signal growth concerns, while a jump above 4.50% would imply rising inflation risks and both would add incremental headwinds on stocks (and possibly bonds).”

Also, click here to view the full article published in MarketWatch on February 9th, 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.

Tom Essaye Quoted in Yahoo Finance

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The market is richly valued trading at a high multiple

Why the stock market could easily get spooked

“The market is richly valued trading at a high multiple that presents a major risk if lofty earnings expectations fail to be delivered,” Sevens Report Research founder Tom Essaye said.

To Essaye’s point, the forward price-to-earnings ratio (PE) for the S&P 500 (^GSPC) is 22 times — well above the 10-year average of 18.7 times. Stocks are almost as richly valued as when they hit a peak in early January 2022. What followed was the start of a nine-month bear market — the benchmark index plunged about 19%.

Also, click here to view the full article published in Yahoo Finance on January 9th, 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.

October Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Update

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Monthly Bitcoin & Crypto Update (October)

U.S. equity futures are flat while most overseas stock markets traded lower overnight as global investors book profits amid historically high valuations and an uncertain macroeconomic outlook given the ongoing government shutdown.

Economically, Japanese PPI held steady at 2.7% vs. (E) 2.5% in September, a slightly “warm” print that supported a modest rally in the yen overnight.

Looking into today’s session, there is one noteworthy private sector economic report to watch today: Consumer Sentiment (E: 54.0, 1-Yr Inflation Expectations: 4.5%) and the results could move markets as the government shutdown has resulted in a prolonged void in official growth/inflation data this week (the better the headline and cooler the inflation outlook, the better for stocks).

Additionally, there are two notable Fed speakers today: Goolsbee (9:45 a.m. ET) and Musalem (1:00 p.m. ET), and the more dovish the commentary, the better for risk assets.

Nvidia, AMD Deal with Trump Administration Eases AI Investor Fears: Tom Essaye

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Chip sales to China continue under new revenue-sharing agreement

Nvidia & AMD investors can put China chip tariff risks ‘to bed’

Sevens Report founder Tom Essaye and Allspring Global’s John Campbell discussed reports that Nvidia and AMD reached a deal with the Trump administration to resume selling chips in China, with 15% of the revenue going to the U.S. government.

Essaye said the agreement signals that the companies are “ready to play ball” with policymakers to protect growth in the AI sector. “Eighty-five percent is a lot more than zero,” he noted, calling the resolution a relief for AI-focused investors now that a major uncertainty has been removed.

Also, click here to view the full video featured on Yahoo Finance published on August 11th, 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.

Why Today’s CPI Is So Important (Hint: 50, 25, 0)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Why Today’s CPI Is So Important (Hint: 50, 25, 0)
  • Gold Chart: Fragile Record Highs

Futures are flat as traders look ahead to today’s all-important CPI report.

Economically, the U.K.’s Unemployment Rate held steady at 4.7%, as expected, while the German ZEW Survey missed estimates, but the July NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 100.3 vs. (E) 98.9 from 98.6 in June.

Today, market focus will be almost exclusively on inflation data before the bell with CPI (E: 0.2% m/m, 2.8% y/y) and Core CPI (E: 0.3% m/m, 3.0% y/y) due out at 8:30 a.m. ET.

After the open, there are two Fed officials scheduled to speak: Barkin (10:00 a.m. ET) and Schmid (10:30 a.m. ET), and any comments or insights they may offer in reaction to the CPI data could move markets.

Finally, earnings season continues to wind down but there are a handful of companies due to report quarterly results today which could move markets, including: CAH ($2.03), SE ($0.72), RGTI ($-0.05), HRB ($2.81), CRCL ($-1.29), and ETOR ($0.49).

 

Tom Essaye Warns AI-Driven Stock Surge Shows Classic Bubble Traits

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Sevens Report founder sees parallels with past late-cycle manias

US Stocks Drop as Investors Wait on CPI Data to Set Fed’s Path

The current equity rally may be entering bubble territory, according to Sevens Report founder Tom Essaye, who advises some of Wall Street’s largest firms. Essaye points to weakening U.S. economic conditions alongside stretched valuations, with the S&P 500 up 28% since April and 57% since ChatGPT’s debut in November 2022.

In an August 1 client note, Essaye compared today’s AI-fueled rally to past bubbles, such as the internet and real estate booms, where a single narrative drove expectations of “unlimited earnings growth” across sectors. He warns that the AI theme now plays that role, creating risks for advisors managing long-term portfolios.

Also, click here to view the full article featured on The Wealth Advisor published on August 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

August Bitcoin/Crypto Industry Update and Outlook

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • August Bitcoin/Crypto Industry Update and Outlook
  • Weekly Market Preview:  More Clarity Coming on Geo-politics, Trade and Inflation?  (If so, it’d be Positive for Stocks)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Inflation and Growth Updates via CPI and Retail Sales

Futures are slightly higher following a mostly quiet weekend of news.

News flow was minimal over the weekend but investors are looking forward to another important week for geo-politics (Russia/Ukraine ceasefire?), trade (China tariff extension?) and stagflation (CPI and Retail Sales).

Economically, the only notable number overnight was Italian CPI, which met expectations (0.4% m/m, 1.7% y/y).

Today there are no economic reports so focus will be on geopolitics and trade.  Any headlines that hint at a ceasefire in Ukraine and/or confirm an extension of current Chinese tariff rates will be a mild tailwind on stocks.

 

MMT Chart: A “Relatively” Different Look at Stocks

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • August MMT Chart Update: A “Relatively” Different Look at Stocks
  • ISM Services Index – A Fresh “Whiff” of Stagflation
  • Stagflation Risks Set Gold Up for Run to Record Highs

Futures are tracking global markets higher this morning as investors shrug off both the ISM Services Index from yesterday, which carried a whiff of stagflation, and soft earnings from semiconductor giants AMD (-7%) and SMCI (-17%) after the close yesterday.

Economically, EU Retail Sales rose 3.1% vs. (E) 2.6% which is serving to tamp down worries about the health of the global economy.

Looking ahead to today’s session, there are no noteworthy economic reports due to be released.

However, the Treasury will hold a 4-Month Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 10-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and investors will look for the recent trend of healthy demand metrics to continue, despite the sharp drop in yields since Friday’s dismal jobs report.

Additionally, there are a few Fed officials scheduled to speak who could shed light on the prospects of a September rate cut (which is increasingly expected) including Cook & Collins (2:00 p.m. ET) and Daly (3:10 p.m. ET).

Finally, earnings season continues with MCD ($3.15), UBER ($0.62), SHOP ($0.20), DIS ($1.47), NRG ($1.54), ABNB ($0.93), and ET ($0.32) all reporting quarterly results today.

For now, investors are overlooking the soft semiconductor earnings from late yesterday, however, any Q2 results that challenge the idea that the consumer remains resilient and healthy in 2025, could add to recession worries and pressure stocks again today.