Dear Reader,
Over the past 25 years, I've made it my mission to speak up when something feels off in the markets.
A month before the dot-com bubble burst, I published a warning essentially saying: "This can't last."
In 2008, I rang the alarm on housing calling the fall of Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers.
I've exposed shady CEOs, market frauds, and financial bubbles before most investors saw the cracks.
Eventually, CNBC gave me a nickname I didn't ask for: "The Prophet."
But what I see happening right now... it's much bigger.
Some are even calling it, "The bubble to burst them all."
And that's why I've stepped forward in a way I never have before... to show you exactly what's coming... and how to stay on the right side of it.
Because if I'm right again – and I've put together all my proof for you – this may be your final chance to prepare.
Click here to see the full details while there's still time.
Regards,
Whitney Tilson
Editor, Stansberry's Investment Advisory
The 2026 Survival Kit: Gold, Defense, and Trash
By Jeffrey Neal Johnson. Publication Date: 1/15/2026.
Key Takeaways
- Institutional demand and central bank buying are creating upward momentum and price stability for physical gold assets.
- Increased government budget allocations are driving production growth and contract wins for major aerospace contractors.
- Waste management providers are delivering shareholder value through consistent dividend increases and expansion into renewable energy.
Investors waking up in mid-January are facing a news cycle that reads more like a geopolitical thriller than a financial report. The markets are currently digesting a triple threat of instability that has built a massive Wall of Worry.
First, the Powell Probe, an ongoing investigation into Federal Reserve leadership, has rattled global confidence in the stability of the U.S. dollar. Second, geopolitical friction is escalating in Venezuela, creating uncertainty in the energy and defense sectors. Finally, new legislative efforts to impose credit caps are threatening the profitability of the traditional finance sector.
Nvidia's 3 Secret Partners (Ad)
AI is creating 1,600 new millionaires every single day. At the center of this frenzy sits Nvidia, now valued at $4.5 trillion. But most investors don't know Nvidia has three secret partners, smaller companies that play almost impossible-to-replicate roles in GPU development. Without them, Nvidia's business would be hamstrung. Because they're largely ignored, these companies trade at far more attractive valuations, giving you a way to capitalize on Nvidia's dominance without buying Nvidia itself. This is a pivotal moment for AI, but winning this trend requires playing smart, not reckless.
See the full 2026 AI investment playbook and all three secret partners.While these headlines create headwinds for the tech-heavy S&P 500, uncertainty often creates opportunity for certain defensive sectors. Smart money is rotating out of aggressive growth and into safety. The goal for 2026 is to preserve capital while pursuing tactical growth. This calls for a Survival Kit — a portfolio strategy designed to decouple from the chaos by focusing on three distinct pillars:
- Hard Assets: Protection against currency failure.
- National Security: Protection against geopolitical conflict.
- Essential Services: Protection against economic recession.
The Golden Anchor: SPDR Gold Trust
The foundation of any defensive portfolio in 2026 must address the stability of currency itself. The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEARCA: GLD) offers investors direct exposure to physical gold bullion without the logistical hassle of storing bars. It serves as a primary hedge against the uncertainty surrounding the Powell Probe.
On Jan. 12, spot gold prices surged, reaching a recent multi-year high — a move driven by a classic flight-to-safety.
As news surfaced about subpoenas to Federal Reserve leadership, institutional investors began shifting capital out of fiat currency and into hard assets.
When trust in the central bank wavers, gold has historically acted as insurance because it cannot be printed or devalued by policy errors.
Key drivers for GLD:
- Institutional buying: It is not just retail investors buying gold; central banks in emerging markets are aggressively accumulating bullion to diversify reserves away from the dollar.
- Asset inflows: The trust has seen substantial inflows, pushing assets under management (AUM) to near record highs.
- Price floor: Persistent institutional demand creates a cushion under the price, helping to minimize downside risk during spikes in volatility.
The bullish case is straightforward: as governments grapple with fiscal deficits, the dollar's purchasing power can erode. Gold — and by extension the SPDR Gold Trust — allows investors to mitigate that currency risk.
The Arsenal of Freedom: Lockheed Martin
If gold protects against economic failure, defense stocks protect against geopolitical conflict. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a cornerstone of this security hedge.
In an increasingly unstable world, national defense is not a discretionary luxury — it is a necessity. The fiscal environment for defense contractors is exceptionally supportive.
The proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027 promises a steady stream of government funding. Lockheed Martin is positioned to capture a significant portion of this spending, resembling a government utility with stable revenue.
Why LMT fits the 2026 portfolio:
- Operational health: After past supply-chain challenges, the company delivered a record 191 F-35 fighter jets in 2025, restoring investor confidence.
- Kinetic demand: A recently awarded $9.8 billion contract for PAC-3 MSE missiles highlights urgent demand for air defense systems, with production ramping up.
- Analyst outlook: Truist Securities recently upgraded the stock to a Buy with a $605 price target, suggesting healthy upside from current trading levels.
For income-oriented investors, Lockheed also offers a dividend yield of approximately 2.46%, paying $3.45 per quarter (about $13.80 annually). That combines potential capital appreciation from government contracts with steady quarterly income.
Turning Trash to Cash: Waste Management
The final component of the survival kit protects against a general economic recession. Waste Management (NYSE: WM) operates on a simple premise: regardless of interest rates, inflation, or GDP growth, trash must be collected. That stability translates directly into recurring cash flow for shareholders.
In a strong show of confidence, the board recently approved a 14.5% dividend increase, raising the quarterly payout to approximately $0.95 per share. The company also authorized a $3 billion share repurchase program.
Catalysts driving growth:
- Merger integration: The company completed its $7.2 billion acquisition of Stericycle in November 2025, positioning WM to dominate the high-margin medical waste sector.
- Efficiency gains: With integration largely complete, the company is realizing meaningful cost savings that boost free cash flow.
- Renewable energy: WM is converting landfill gas into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), generating a new, high-growth revenue stream that is less dependent on waste volumes.
While other industrial names might suffer in a slowdown, Waste Management's pricing power allows it to pass costs to consumers, helping preserve margins.
What to Avoid: Consumer Credit
A proper survival kit requires knowing what to pack and what to leave behind. In the current environment, the sector to avoid is unsecured consumer credit. Companies like Capital One Financial (NYSE: COF) face headwinds that stand in contrast to the relative safety of gold, defense, and waste services.
The primary threat comes from proposed legislative credit caps. These regulations aim to limit the interest rates lenders can charge on consumer loans and credit cards. For a business model reliant on net interest margins, that is a direct hit to profitability. In a high-inflation environment where borrowing costs are rising, capping upside revenue can create a dangerous squeeze.
Moreover, if the instability highlighted by the Fed probe leads to higher unemployment, credit card default rates could rise. Holding consumer credit exposure in 2026 introduces asymmetric risk: capped upside from regulation and potentially large downside from defaults. Rotating capital into tangible assets is a prudent risk-management move.
Building a Fortress Portfolio in 2026
The financial landscape of 2026 requires a different playbook than the tech-fueled bull markets of recent years. The combination of monetary uncertainty, geopolitical risk, and regulatory pressure demands a focus on resilience.
By constructing a portfolio around this Survival Kit, investors can build a fortress that better withstands volatility. SPDR Gold Trust acts as insurance against currency devaluation, Lockheed Martin captures the upside of sustained government defense spending, and Waste Management provides steady, recession-resistant income through essential services.
While headlines may remain unsettling, your portfolio does not have to be. This strategy emphasizes the return of capital as much as the return on capital, offering a sleep-well-at-night approach for a turbulent year.
This message is a sponsored message from Stansberry Research, a third-party advertiser of MarketBeat. Why did I get this email content?.
This ad is sent on behalf of Stansberry Research, 1125 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201. If you would like to optout from receiving offers from Stansberry Research please click here.
If you have questions or concerns about your subscription, feel free to contact our South Dakota based support team at contact@marketbeat.com.
If you would no longer like to receive promotional emails from MarketBeat advertisers, you can unsubscribe or manage your mailing preferences here.
© 2006-2026 MarketBeat Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
345 N Reid Place #620, Sioux Falls, SD 57103-7078. USA..
Post a Comment
Post a Comment