Name: Tech and U.S. exceptionalism drive confidence as markets eye new highs
Uploaded: 2026-01-22T12:09:44+00:00
Duration: 257 s

Speakers

Jeff Kilburg — Founder and CEO of KKM Financial, CNBC Contributor

Dan Ives — Managing Director, Wedbush Securities

Summary

Dan Ives and Jeff Kilburg discuss a bullish market backdrop driven by U.S. exceptionalism, AI/tech strength, and falling volatility. Kilburg expects the S&P 500 to hit new highs and is using options to buy a Netflix bounce, while also expecting the 10-year Treasury note yield to move lower. Ives favors Apple as the next AI monetization story, sees tech leadership continuing, and expects broad market new highs.

U.S. exceptionalism and $18T investment commitments underpin bullish sentiment.
VIX retreat to about 16 is seen as a risk-on signal.
Kilburg expects S&P 500 new highs and a strong earnings season.
Kilburg bought Netflix $84 calls and sold puts after a 20-25% drop.
Kilburg expects the 10-year Treasury note yield to move lower.
Ives calls Apple the most discounted Mag-7 name with $75-$100/share AI upside.
Ives favors tech and sees the AI revolution spreading.
Ives expects new all-time highs for the broader market.

Ideas

Jeff Kilburg Founder and CEO of KKM Financial, CNBC Contributor 0:25

U.S. exceptionalism drives S&P new highs.

U.S. exceptionalism is strengthening, helped by commitments for $18 trillion of investment in the U.S., a great earnings season, and additional tailwinds; he expects the S&P 500 to reach new all-time highs and says bears will be chasing those highs.

Dan Ives Managing Director, Wedbush Securities 2:05

Apple is next Google on AI.

Apple is the most discounted Mag-7 name and he thinks 2026 will be for Apple what 2025 was for Google; AI monetization could be worth $75-$100 per share, and demand in China and the U.S. should drive results ahead of expectations.

Dan Ives Managing Director, Wedbush Securities 3:09

Tech offers more upside via AI.

He favors tech stocks because no investor wants to be sidelined during a 10-15% tech run; tech is already up more than 20% this year and the AI revolution is spreading into second-, third-, and fourth-derivative opportunities.

Dan Ives Managing Director, Wedbush Securities 3:22

New all-time highs ahead for market.

He expects new all-time highs for the broader market, arguing bears will always find something to worry about while investors do not want to miss the tech/AI-led run.

Dan Ives Managing Director, Wedbush Securities 3:29

AI revolution has more derivatives.

The AI revolution is still spreading into second-, third-, and fourth-derivative opportunities, which he cites as a key reason to stay invested in tech and risk assets.

Jeff Kilburg Founder and CEO of KKM Financial, CNBC Contributor 3:42

Buy Netflix bounce via $84 calls.

Netflix has sold off 20-25% and he wants to sell puts and buy calls at the $84 strike to capture a bounce over the next month, using a sell-the-pops/buy-the-drops approach after previously selling a call spread near $104.

Jeff Kilburg Founder and CEO of KKM Financial, CNBC Contributor 4:13

10-year Treasury yields heading lower.

Interest rates are the underappreciated theme; despite a slight rise in yields this week, he expects the 10-year Treasury note yield to go lower imminently, which would support risk assets.

Tech and U.S. exceptionalism drive confidence as markets eye new highs

Summary

Ideas

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