TLT

When Safe Assets Outperform Risk: The 2025 Portfolio Playbook

For the first time since Y2K, the math has flipped. The 10-year Treasury (~4.23%) now outyields the S&P 500's forward earnings yield (4.15%), creating a negative equity risk premium, a phenomenon we've seen exactly twice in modern history, both preceding significant market resets. But here's the kicker: inflation-protected bonds (TIPS) are paying 1.94% real while equity dividends deliver -1.1% after inflation. Translation: The "risk-free" rate isn't just competitive, it's winning.

U.S. Bond Trends: Economic Outlook (2025–2026) & Stock Market Impact

Treasury auctions reflect cautious investor sentiment, and equity valuations appear historically stretched relative to bonds, with equity risk premiums at near-zero levels. Markets currently assign a 45% probability to a soft landing, but recession risk remains significant at 40%. Investors should pivot defensively, favoring high-quality bonds, select financials, and defensive sectors, closely monitoring yield curves, credit spreads, and inflation signals.

From AAA to Aa1: How to Pivot Your Portfolio as U.S. Debt Hits $36 Trillion

Moody’s just downgraded America’s AAA credit rating to Aa1, citing a ballooning $36 trillion national debt and interest costs nearing $1 trillion annually. With U.S. Treasury yields spiking past 5%, it's time for strategic shifts—think hedging bonds, pivoting to defensive ETFs, and carefully adding gold (GLD) or crypto as hedges.