What 9 Market Veterans Are Betting on in 2026: A Fresh Look at Investment Frontiers

As 2026 unfolds, the investment landscape is drawing intense scrutiny from seasoned market analysts. We gathered insights from nine respected investors to understand where they see the most compelling opportunities ahead.

Precious Metals and Mining: The Consensus Play

The conversation consistently circled back to precious metals. Silver dominated the outlook, with multiple experts citing its record-breaking 2025 performance as just the beginning. Industry observers highlighted silver’s momentum, while mining stock specialists like Craig Hemke argue that silver-mining equities represent an even more leveraged play for 2026.

Gold maintained its defensive appeal as well. Byron King emphasized the yellow metal’s time-tested ability to shield wealth during uncertain periods, positioning it as a stabilizing force in any portfolio.

Industrial Metals Gaining Ground

Beyond the precious metals complex, copper emerged as another key conviction. Lobo Tiggre, among others, identified base metals as the top trade candidates for the year, backed by structural supply-demand dynamics that favor higher prices going forward.

Energy and Alternative Sectors

Rick Rule took a contrarian stance, directing attention toward oil and gas opportunities alongside an often-overlooked asset class: small-scale community banks in the US. His willingness to venture outside traditional commodity plays reflects a broader search for value in overlooked corners of the market.

Uranium also captured significant attention from investors tracking the nuclear renaissance. The case here rests on robust long-term demand paired with increasingly constrained supply, creating a favorable setup for patient capital.

Tech and Defensive Positioning

Not all conviction plays centered on commodities. Gareth Soloway recommended defensive positioning through established names like Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), arguing that certain defensive equities may outperform traditional risk assets in a volatile environment.

Clem Chambers made a bold bet on Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), betting the semiconductor heavyweight could deliver surprises amid industry-wide restructuring.

The Bigger Picture

What emerges from this roundup isn’t a monolithic view but rather a tapestry of conviction plays. Precious metals captured the lion’s share of bullish sentiment, industrial metals were gaining credibility, and alternative sectors—from energy to technology—offered targeted opportunities for those willing to do the homework. The common thread: each expert identified specific tailwinds supporting their thesis, whether structural (supply constraints, demographic trends) or cyclical (momentum recovery).

For investors charting their own 2026 course, this diversity of opinion underscores a fundamental truth: opportunity exists across multiple asset classes for those who can identify and articulate a clear case for their convictions.