Global Equity Mid-Year Outlook 2026
Equity markets should remain supported by strong earnings and capital investment trends through 2026, but market concentration and macro risks leave less room for error.
2026 Mid-Year Outlook: U.S. Stocks and Economy
Learn what's in store for the remainder of 2026 and the challenges that lie ahead in our mid-year outlook for U.S. stocks and the economy.
The Conviction Gap: What Most Advisor Portfolios Are Missing at the Core
Most advisor portfolios mistake active weight for manager conviction. Franklin Templeton's five-factor core equity suite fixes that, starting with a proprietary conviction signal that extracts what managers actually believe.
First Quarter 2026 Earnings: Feelin' Alright
S&P 500 first quarter 2026 earnings are tracking at nearly 28% year-over-year, with rising profit margins suggesting the strong run could persist.
The Bond Market: Iran, Inflation & Interest Rates
Rising oil prices and the historically inflationary aspects of war have changed expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate policy and have pulled Treasury yields higher.
Power and AI Boost Infrastructure Investments
While infrastructure companies are not immune to a potential economic slowdown, they may provide a longer-term investment opportunity amid an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop.
Gambler's Blues: Betting Isn't Investing
Gambling is rising in popularity, blurring lines between betting vs. investing. Misunderstanding the key differences can endanger financial security.
Dire Strait: War's Impact on Stocks
A properly functioning Strait of Hormuz holds the keys to clarity around the growth, inflation, and market shock that has stemmed from the war in the Middle East.
Schwab Market Perspective
Our point of view on recent market and economic activity.
Iran War: Potential Impact on Global Equities
The worsening energy shock from the Iran War has raised risks of a more severe crisis. It may resolve quickly, but the longer it persists, the larger the possible economic damage. Asia and Europe are most vulnerable.
Iran War: Potential Impact on Global Equities
If tensions de-escalate soon, there could be relatively little impact on international markets. However, risks will rise if global energy supplies face a prolonged disruption.
Smoke on the Water…Fire Under the Surface
Notwithstanding developments in the Iran conflict, there are important leadership shifts still at play within the equity market, which emphasize the importance of diversification.
What's the Difference: Jobs vs. GDP Growth
U.S. job creation has been weak despite resilient gross domestic product growth. Here's what may be going on.
Cascade: AI's Latest Phase
AI has evolved from concentrated innovation to increased adoption across industries, which has led to a considerable (and somewhat swift) shift in stock market leadership.
Fixed Income Market: Anchor in a Stormy Sea
While occasional bouts of volatility are likely, we expect the fixed income markets to provide ballast for portfolios and are likely to deliver solid returns in 2026.
A Touch of Grey During Earnings Season So Far
Earnings results are shaping up to be quite solid this season, albeit a bit weaker relative to prior quarters when it comes to beat rates and price reactions.