The Dividend Cafe
The Dividend Cafe is your portal for market perspective that is virtually conflict-free, rooted in deep philosophical commitments about how capital should be managed, and understandable for all sorts of investors. Host David L. Bahnsen is a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business. He is the author of the books, Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It (Post Hill Press), The Case for Dividend Growth: Investing in a Post-Crisis World (Post Hill Press), and Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life (Post Hill Press).
Tuesday - July 1, 2025

Market Insights During a Choppy Pre-Holiday Week
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel provides an update on the market activities on July 1st, during a shortened week leading up to the 4th of July holiday. The DOW showed significant gains despite a generally choppy market, with some large healthcare stocks contributing to its performance. The S&P and Nasdaq experienced minor declines. Key economic indicators such as the ISM and S&P Manufacturing Index were discussed, along with better-than-expected job opening numbers from the Jolts report. Upcoming economic data releases, including ADP private payroll and...
Monday - June 30, 2025

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Market Comeback and Legislative Insights: A Mid-Year Review
In this episode of the Dividend Cafe, we reflect on the historic market rebound in the first half of 2025, breaking a record previously set in 1998. Host David Bahnsen discusses the recent dramatic market fluctuations and the unpredictability of events like the US-Israel-Iran situation and trade tariffs. He also highlights upcoming reports for clients, including portfolio summaries and insights from the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. The episode covers recent legislative developments, including a significant bill expected to be signed by President...
War, the Middle East, and Markets

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Middle East Geopolitical Tensions and Market Unpredictability
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, host David Bahnsen discusses the recent geopolitical events in the Middle East, particularly Israel's and the US's actions against Iran's nuclear capabilities. Despite predictions of market volatility, equity markets have risen, and oil prices have fallen, illustrating the inherent unpredictability of market responses. Bahnsen emphasizes the importance of maintaining an objective investment philosophy, specifically dividend growth investing, amidst such unpredictable events. He argues against trying to time the market based on geopolitical developments and underscores...
Wednesday - June 25, 2025

Market Update: June 25, 2023 - Wall Street's Flat Day & Economic Insights
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel reports from the Grand Rapids office in Michigan on a relatively flat day in the financial markets. The DOW fell slightly by 106 points, S&P remained unchanged, and Nasdaq increased by 0.3%. Changes in oil prices and a ceasefire between Israel and Iran were also highlighted. Key economic updates include the potential for future tax legislation, upcoming tariff deadlines, and the Fed's possible rate cuts. Seitel also discusses how to position different assets in traditional IRAs versus Roth IRAs and...
Tuesday - June 24, 2025

Market Recap and Investment Wisdom from the Dividend Cafe
In this episode of the Dividend Cafe, David Bahnsen fills in for Brian Sitel to provide a comprehensive market update. The major market indices, including the Dow, S&P, and NASDAQ, all saw significant gains, while the bond market experienced slight increases. The technology sector led the gains with a 1.6% rise, followed closely by financials, whereas the energy sector lagged behind. A notable drop in oil prices was observed, attributed to geopolitical factors involving a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel. David concludes with a critical piece of...
Special IRAN Issue

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Market Reactions to U.S. Attack on Iranian Nuclear Sites and Geopolitical Implications
In this Monday edition of the Dividend Cafe, the host discusses recent market reactions to the U.S. military strike on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. The discussion covers muted responses in equity markets, fluctuating oil prices, and subsequent rallies in bond markets. The geopolitical implications of the strike, including potential de-escalation by Iran and the impact on U.S.-China trade war negotiations, are explored. Additionally, the episode touches on the current U...
What Happens If We Do Nothing

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What Happens If We Do Nothing About National Debt?
In this week's episode of Dividend Cafe, the host revisits the topic of national debt and explores what might happen if no actions are taken to address it. The discussion moves from hypothetical solutions proposed in a previous episode to real-life economic implications of inaction. With national debt at around $37 trillion, annual deficits continue to grow, adding to economic instability. David outlines various potential outcomes, including financial repression, higher taxes, recalibration of Social Security and Medicare benefits, and federal...
Wednesday - June 18

In this Dividend Cafe episode, Brian Szytel reviews the day’s market performance, noting minimal movement across indices and bonds despite it being a Fed day. Key topics include unchanged interest rates, a downgrade in U.S. GDP growth by the Fed, and a focus on housing market weaknesses and their economic implications. Brian discusses the significant Treasury maturities upcoming and the potential for expedited rate cuts. Legislative updates include the passage of a major bill making the 2017 TCJA tax cuts permanent and addressing other taxation issues. The episode concludes with jobless claims data and an outlook on future em...
Tuesday - June 17, 2025

Market Commentary: Volatility and Sector Valuations – June 17 Update In this week's edition of Dividend Cafe, Brian Syztel provides a comprehensive overview of the current market landscape as of June 17, discussing recent geopolitical tensions affecting oil prices and stock market performance. Key points include a detailed analysis of the impact on various indexes such as the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq. Brian emphasizes the significance of sector valuations, highlighting defensive sectors and their historical performance compared to growth stocks. Additional economic indicators, including retail sales, industrial production, and the NAHB Housing Market Index, are also reviewed. The episode concludes wi...
Monday - June 16, 2025

Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/3Tphtmu
In this week's Dividend Cafe commentary, Brian Szytel steps in for David to do the usual around the horn market commentary. The episode covers a variety of market updates, including a brief recap of recent fluctuations in major indices such as DOW, S&P, and NASDAQ. Brian discusses the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict between Israel and Iran and its impact on the markets. The episode also touches on oil price movements, sector performance, and the implications of the weakening US dollar. Brian delves into the current state of the housing...
Will People Ever Care about Value Again?

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Understanding Value vs. Growth Investing: Insights from Dividend Cafe
In this week's Dividend Cafe, the focus is on value investing, contrasted against growth investing. David delves into current investor mentalities, reinforcing time-tested investing principles with a historical context to understand risk and reward. Citing a verse from Proverbs, the discussion highlights the importance of valuation and the common missteps in modern investing. The talk explores various outcomes based on initial valuations, using examples like Apple, Google, and Peloton. The emphasis is on the need to avoid overpaying...
Thursday - June 12, 2025

Positive Market Performance and Key Economic Indicators - June 12th Edition
In this edition of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel discusses the positive performance across major indices with the Dow up 101 points, the S&P rising 0.38%, and the Nasdaq up a quarter percent. Treasury yields showed weakness, and a lower-than-expected PPI number contributed to falling interest rates and a slightly weaker dollar. Initial jobless claims showed a slight increase for the fourth consecutive week, signaling a softening labor market, similar to levels seen in the summer of 2023. Brian also touches on the US-China trade talks, the significance of...
Wednesday - June 11, 2025

Market Recap and Economic Insights: June 11
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel discusses the market performance on a flat trading day, noting minor declines in the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow. Key economic updates include the release of CPI numbers, global growth forecasts cut by the World Bank, and ongoing US-China trade talks. Despite lower-than-expected CPI growth, concerns about inflation from tariffs have not materialized yet. Brian also provides insights on US growth projections, emphasizing the oscillatory nature of the World Bank's estimates and expressing optimism based on real-time data from the Atlanta Fed.
<...Tuesday - June 10, 2025

Market Updates and Strategic Investment Insights - June 10th
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, Brian zytel provides a market update for Tuesday, June 10th. Key highlights include modest gains in the Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq, and discussions on U.S.-China trade talks, particularly regarding export controls and natural resources. Brian analyzes market valuations, noting they are on the expensive side, and recommends a focus on selective investment in dividend growth stocks. He also discusses the attractiveness of sectors like Staples, Financials, and Energy. Additionally, Brian touches on the tax implications of different dividend income...
So Much Market Info, and Senate Plans for the Bill

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Market Rundown and Insights on Policy, Valuation, and Small Cap Opportunities
In this Monday edition of Dividend Cafe, the host provides a comprehensive market analysis, noting flat to modestly positive performance across major indices and sector performance. Key topics include public policy developments, valuation metrics, and the impact of trade tariffs. The episode also highlights long-term investment lessons with reference to top-performing S&P companies and offers insights into small cap vs. large cap dynamics. Updates are provided on U.S. Senate's work on the significant bill, employment...
A Letter to Graduates (again) and All Young Adults

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Timeless Financial Advice for Graduates and Beyond
In this week's episode of Dividend Cafe, the host offers a special update on a previous popular episode focused on financial advice for high school graduates. Emphasizing the importance of this transitional stage from late teens to mid-twenties, the discussion spans across a variety of topics including the dangers of credit card debt, the principles of home ownership, and effective investing strategies. Key advice includes avoiding unnecessary debt, the value of delayed gratification, and the benefits of dividend growth investing...
Thursday - June 5, 2025

Market Recap and Upcoming Economic Indicators - June 5th Edition
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, host Brian Szytel from Newport Beach TBG HQ discusses the market's downturn on June 5, with the DOW closing down 108 points, the S&P down half a percent, and the Nasdaq down eight-tenths of a percent. Bond yields slightly rose, with the 10-year yield up three basis points to 4.39%. The episode examines recent economic data, including higher-than-expected initial jobless claims and a decline in Q1 productivity, attributing some of the economic softening to tariffs and trade balance shifts. Brian also touches on...
Wednesday - June 4, 2025

Midweek Market Insights and Legislative Updates
In this episode of Dividend Cafe on June 4th, Brian Szytel from The Bahnsen Group provides a market overview, discussing the uneventful day in equities, with minor movements in the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq. He explains the rally in the bond market caused by private payroll numbers missing estimates significantly. Brian also reviews the mixed economic indicators from the May ISM services index and services PMI, noting one indicator in contraction and the other in expansion. He addresses the fiscal impact and revisions of a significant legislative bill, emphasizing the...
Tuesday - June, 2025

Positive Market Updates and Key Economic Indicators - June 3rd Edition
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel reports from the Newport Beach office of The Bahnsen Group on the market's positive performance on June 3rd, despite initially lower futures. The DOW, S&P, and Nasdaq all saw gains. There was a minor decline in bond prices with a slight rise in yields. Key economic updates included an optimistic report on new job openings, which exceeded expectations, indicating employer confidence despite recent volatility. Conversely, factory orders fell slightly more than expected. The episode also touches on...
Not Going Away in May

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Monday Market Insights and Major Developments: June 2nd Edition
In this edition of Dividend Cafe, David begins by discussing significant market movements on June 2nd, including the DOW's recovery and the broader stock market performance. Key highlights include a major Ukrainian drone attack on Russian bombers, potential talks between Trump and President Xi, and a terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. The episode also covers market details like the performance of various sectors, trade tariff rulings, upcoming potential economic actions by The Fed, and recent Broadway financial successes...
Dealing with the Debt in Dave-Land

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Addressing the National Debt Crisis: Solutions from Dave Land
In this week's episode of Dividend Cafe, recorded from Louisville, Kentucky, the host addresses solutions to the United States' national debt crisis. Responding to frequent inquiries about his views on economic growth, government spending, and national debt, he presents a conceptual framework through the lens of 'Dave Land'—an idealized society. The discussion covers the importance of the debt-to-GDP ratio, the implications of high government spending, and the need for policy reforms. Proposed solutions include a balanced budget amendment, en...
Thursday - May 29, 2025

Market Updates, Tariffs Overruling, and Economic Indicators
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel from the West Palm Beach, Florida office discusses the day's positive market movements and notable economic events. Key topics include the overruling of tariffs by the US International Trade Court, revisions to Q1 GDP, jobless claims, and pending home sales data. The episode also addresses questions about high-frequency trading and rising treasury yields, emphasizing the potential deflationary impact of global indebtedness and market dynamics. Brian provides insights into the factors affecting market volatility and offers a preview of upcoming inflation data.
<...Wednesday - May 28, 2025

Market Insights and Sovereign Debt Discussion - Dividend Cafe
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel discusses the recent market movements following a significant rise due to a delay in tariffs on the EU. He covers the Richmond Fed survey results, FOMC meeting minutes, and the implications of long-term sovereign debt yields, particularly from Japan. Brian also breaks down the ownership of US Treasury debt and the impact of foreign investments. Looking ahead, he previews upcoming economic data releases, including Q1 GDP, jobless claims, pending home sales, and PCE data. Listeners are briefed on the market's...
Tuesday - May 27, 2025

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Tuesday Special: Market Recap and Policy Updates
In this special Tuesday edition of Dividend Cafe, we cover key market movements from Memorial Day, including a notable rise in stock market indices and a drop in bond yields. Discussion includes the impact of the president's tariff announcements on market performance, current bond market trends, and developments in durable goods orders and housing sales. The episode also touches on public policy changes, such as the reversal on the acquisition of US Steel by Nippon Steel and potential re-privatization of Fannie...
The Big, not Beautiful National Debt

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Understanding the Big, Beautiful Bond Market and National Debt
In this week's episode of Dividend Cafe, the discussion centers around the passage of a significant bill through the House and its implications on the national debt, bond market, and broader economy. The episode delves into misconceptions about financial market reactions, providing historical context and analyzing current bond yields. It emphasizes the impact of government spending on debt and economic growth, critiques aspects of the new tax and spending bill, and discusses the necessity of fiscal restraint. The episode...
Thursday - May 22, 2025

Market Updates and Economic Perspectives: May 22nd Edition
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, host Brian Szytel provides a market update for May 22nd, recording shortly before market close. He discusses the positive market movements with the Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq all up, and explains the decline in interest rates following a poorly received 20-year auction. Brian sheds light on the recent reconciliation tax bill progress in the House of Representatives, highlighting the SALT deduction cap increase and other tweaks. He addresses misconceptions around treasury auctions and stresses historical treasury rate averages. The episode also examines...
Wednesday - May 21, 2025

Market Decline and Bond Yield Surge Analysis - May 21st
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel discusses the significant market drop on May 21st, highlighting the Dow's 816-point decline and the movements in S&P and Nasdaq. He explains the rise in bond yields, specifically in 10-year and 30-year notes, and the impact of a lackluster 20-year bond auction following a credit downgrade. Additionally, he covers the unusual drop in the dollar amidst rising interest rates, the influence of downbeat retailer earnings, and geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran. The episode wraps up with a...
Wednesday - May 20, 2025

Dividend Cafe: Market Update and Economic Insights - May 20
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, host Brian Szytel discusses the current state of the markets on a quiet economic day. After a six-day positive streak, the S&P 500 saw a slight decline, along with the Dow and NASDAQ. Key economic indicators such as the 10-year yield, which closed at 4.48%, and the yield curve spread are examined. Sitel dives into impressive Q1 earnings growth, better-than-expected guidance, and the implications of policy and populist sentiment on markets. Additionally, he addresses the wealth divide exacerbated by rising asset values and...
Monday - May 19, 2025

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Monday Market Updates: From Moody's Downgrade to Japan's Economy
In this Monday edition of Dividend Cafe, the discussion covers a wide range of market updates and economic indicators. Key points include Moody's recent downgrade of U.S. debt, which the market largely ignored, and the mixed market performance with the Dow Jones closing up 137 points. The episode also highlights the ongoing U.S.-Japan trade negotiations and recent conversations between President Trump and Vladimir Putin about Ukraine. Furthermore, the script discusses new house budget bill developments and...
The Real Secrets to Warren Buffett’s Success

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The Timeless Lessons of Warren Buffett
In this episode of Dividend Café, host David Bahnsen discusses his admiration for Warren Buffett's approach to investing and business. David emphasizes the power of compounding, disciplined fundamentals, and the importance of being a voracious reader. Additionally, he highlights the significance of building strong relationships and leveraging social capital as part of Buffett's lasting legacy. This episode steers clear of current market issues and instead focuses on timeless principles that have contributed to Buffett's monumental success.
00:00 Introduction to Dividend Cafe
Thursday - May 15, 2025

Market Update and Economic Insights - May 15th
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel from West Palm Beach, Florida, covers the latest market trends and economic data for May 15th. He highlights the Dow's rise of 271 points, a slight decline in Nasdaq, and a modest gain in the S&P. The conversation delves into the unexpected drop in the Producer Price Index, implications on inflation and interest rates, and their impact on different economic sectors. Additionally, Brian discusses recent retail sales, jobless claims, and manufacturing indices, providing a broad look at current economic health. The...
Wednesday - May 14, 2025

Market Update: Resurgent AI, Market Movements, and Crypto Insights
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel from West Palm Beach discusses recent market trends on a quiet trading day. The S&P 500 saw modest gains, while the Dow was down slightly. Key points include an uptick in AI sector activity driven by policy shifts and supply chain dynamics, significant M&A activity in the utility sector, and a cautious perspective on pharmaceutical pricing changes due to the MFN executive order. Brian also addresses an audience question about cryptocurrency investments, advising on its volatility and practicality in...
Tuesday - May 13, 2025

Market Update and Economic Indicators Review - May 13th
In this episode of 'Dividend Cafe' from May 13th, Brian Szytel provides a detailed market update and economic analysis. The S&P 500 showed positive trends, closing up 0.7% for the day, and the Nasdaq increased by 1.6%. Despite a decline in the Dow by 269 points due to a drop in a significant healthcare stock, the overall market shows signs of recovery, currently only 4% off its February highs. The improvement is attributed to the de-escalation in U.S.-China trade tariffs. Additionally, inflation rates came in cooler than expected for April...
SPECIAL EDITION: Four Major Stories – May 12, 2025

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Dramatic Market Movements and Major Economic Updates
In this special Monday edition of Dividend Cafe, David discusses a significant market rally, with the Dow up over 1,000 points, the NASDAQ up 4%, and the S&P up 3.25%. The episode covers four major stories influencing the market: unexpected progress in US-China trade talks, the release of a draft tax bill by the House, upcoming peace talks between Putin and Zelensky in Turkey, and President Trump's executive order on pharmaceutical price fixing. Each story's potential impact on the market and the...
A Trip Around the Globe

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Friday's Dividend Cafe: Market Recaps, Trade Deals, and Future Forecasts
In this episode of Dividend Cafe, the host discusses various market updates, including the relatively calm market movements of the week compared to previous weeks. Key topics include the announced trade deal with the United Kingdom, which includes changes on tariffs for steel, aluminum, and automobiles, and agreements on agricultural and industrial products. The host also explores the implications of a potential budget reconciliation tax bill in the US, and updates on trade negotiations between US and China...
The Dividend Cafe Thursday - May 8, 2025

In this episode of 'Dividend Cafe,' hosted by Brian Szytel, the focus is on the recent positive movement in the markets driven by trade developments between the US and the UK. Key indexes like the DOW, S&P, and Nasdaq saw notable increases, while the 10-year bond yield also rose. Significant economic indicators such as jobless claims and productivity data are discussed, noting their implications on the overall economy. The episode also delves into central bank actions, highlighting interest rate cuts by the Bank of England and extensive monetary stimulus measures by the People's Bank of China. The...
Wednesday - May 7, 2025

In this episode of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel provides a weekly market commentary focused on dividend investment and economic understanding. He details the market's performance, highlighting a choppy trading session that resulted in gains for the DOW, S&P, and Nasdaq despite volatility. Key factors include the recent Federal Reserve meeting, which left interest rates unchanged, and discussions around tariffs, inflation, and employment risks. Technology sector concerns are addressed, particularly the impact of artificial intelligence on search engines. The role of the dollar as the global reserve currency is also explored, with considerations on how changes in its status...
Tuesday - May 6, 2025

Welcome to the latest edition of the Dividend Cafe Weekly Market Commentary! In this episode, Brian Szytel covers the recent downturn in the markets following nine consecutive positive trading sessions. He discusses key economic data, including the widening trade deficit and its implications for GDP, and analyzes recent movements in the bond market. Brian also provides insights into Federal Reserve policies and their potential impact on interest rates and inflation. Stay tuned for more updates on financial markets and investment strategies.
00:00 Introduction to Dividend Cafe
00:19 Market Recap: Two Days of Decline
00:43 Treasury Market...
Bear Markets, Oil Prices, and More

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Market Movements, Bear Market Rallies, and the Bond Yield Curve | Dividend Cafe Weekly Market Commentary
In this episode, David discusses the latest market movements, including the DOW, S&P, and NASDAQ performance, and explores the concept of technical analysis with skepticism. He delves into the ongoing debate about bear market rallies, highlights public policy updates from the Trump administration, and provides insights into the bond yield curve. Touching on various economic data points, including job creation and housing market trends, David offers his perspectives on dividend growth...
Assessing the State of Our Economy (and theirs)

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Navigating Economic Uncertainty and Market Volatility
In this week's episode of Dividend Cafe, host David Bahnsen, managing partner and chief investment officer at The Bahnsen Group, discusses the latest market volatility and economic data. David delves into the nuances of the S&P 500's performance in April, the implications of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' labor report, and the complexities of GDP measurements. He provides insights on the potential for a recession in Q2, implications of U.S.-China trade relations, and the broader economic impact of tariffs...