2026 will favor U.S. equities, says Wells Fargo's Paul Christopher
Speakers
Paul Christopher — Head of Global Markets Strategy at Wells Fargo
— Chopping Block co-host
Summary
- The "Hyperscaler" AI spending boom is sustainable for now; concerns about it ending are unrealistic as competition forces continued capex ("putting metal in the ground").
- A major rotation is occurring from Services to Goods, driven by a stronger-than-expected economic recovery.
- Investors should avoid "excessive investment risk" in direct AI tech stocks due to uncertain monetization rates, favoring "adjunct" plays like infrastructure instead.
- Strong conviction in Financials and Regional Banks, citing deregulation and economic strength, despite recent volatility.
Trade Ideas
"You're going to still see [hyperscalers] to compete with each other. That does mean putting the metal in the ground... If you're taking Industrials you're taking Utilities. You're buying into the whole let's call it an adjunct theme of data centers." While direct AI tech stocks have valuation and monetization risks, the physical infrastructure required to support them (power, construction, machinery) is a certainty due to competition. Industrials and Utilities are the "picks and shovels" way to play this capex cycle without taking on tech valuation risk. Long Industrials and Utilities as the safer, valuation-sensitive AI play. A sudden halt in hyperscaler capex due to lack of AI ROI would hurt these sectors.
Paul Christopher
Head of Global Markets Strategy at Wells Fargo
"We're seeing Regional Banks do really well here. We think the tax refunds, the deregulation... is going to be important... If I had a dollar to put in the market right now, put it in Financials." The speaker dismisses recent volatility as a "reset" rather than trouble. He views the combination of a recovering economy, deregulation, and tax tailwinds as a perfect setup for banks, specifically regional ones which have been beaten down. High conviction Long on Financials and Regional Banks. Implementation of a 10% interest rate cap (mentioned as a lingering fear) or renewed deposit flight.
Paul Christopher
Head of Global Markets Strategy at Wells Fargo
"We're unfavorable on Staples... goods are going to do better here... [The move to Staples] might be a kind of a continuation of that theme... because AI is going to destroy a lot of jobs and put the economy in recession. We don't believe any of that." The market buying Staples is betting on a recession/defensive rotation. Christopher believes the economy is strengthening (rotation to Goods/Industrials), making the defensive safety of Staples unnecessary and likely to underperform cyclical sectors. Avoid Consumer Staples as the macro thesis for holding them (recession) is incorrect. The economy actually enters a recession, making defensives the correct asset class.
