Josef Schachter: From Boom to Bust, ‘Much Higher’ Oil Prices in 2026 & The Uranium Bull Case

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Don Durrett to the show. Don Durrett is Author, Investor, and Founder of Goldstockdata.com. The podcast explores the current state of precious metals markets, with a particular focus on gold and silver's potential future trajectory. Durrett's primary thesis centers on the impending failure of the U.S. bond market, which he believes is the fundamental driver behind gold's current and future price movements. He argues that the massive U.S. government debt, currently at $38 trillion and growing by $2 trillion annually, has created an unsustainable economic situation. This instability is causing investors to lose confidence in U.S. Treasury bonds, with countries like China already reducing their holdings. Regarding gold price targets, Durrett is remarkably bullish, projecting prices between $6,000 and $8,000 per ounce. He bases this projection on historical bull market patterns, particularly comparing current trends to gold's performance in the 1970s and early 2000s. He anticipates that gold will experience significant appreciation, especially when the stock market encounters serious challenges. Silver presents a more volatile prospect, which Durrett describes metaphorically as "little sister" following "big brother" gold. He expects potential shortages and significant price fluctuations, with targets ranging from $100 to $150 per ounce. His investment strategy involves extreme diversification, currently holding 161 stocks with minimal allocation to each to manage emotional risk. Durrett emphasizes that his approach is speculation, not traditional investing. He recommends looking for companies with multiple growth potential - through project development, discoveries, and acquisitions. His website, Goldstockdata.com, provides data and analysis for investors interested in precious metal mining stocks. Critically, Durrett warns that this is a high-risk strategy requiring significant emotional discipline. Investors should be prepared for substantial portfolio volatility, potentially experiencing corrections of 30% or more while maintaining a long-term perspective focused on the anticipated economic reset.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Josef Schachter to the show. Josef Schachter is Founder, Schachter Asset Management Inc. The discussion centers on the current and future state of the global energy market, with a particular focus on oil and natural gas dynamics. Schachter provides a nuanced view of the oil market, noting both near-term challenges and long-term bullish potential. In the short term, he anticipates oil prices potentially dropping to the $56-$58 range due to significant global inventories. However, he sees a compelling long-term narrative driven by fundamental supply constraints and declining global reserves, which require approximately 5-6 million barrels of new production annually just to maintain current levels. The conversation highlights critical challenges in the energy sector, including underinvestment and lengthy development timelines. Schachter emphasizes that new production requires extensive infrastructure, environmental approvals, and significant capital expenditure. He believes this complexity will contribute to a potential energy supercycle, potentially seeing oil prices exceed the 2008 peak of $147 per barrel. Canada emerges as a key focus, with Schachter noting the country's substantial energy resources and potential for growth. He suggests that Canadian energy companies offer attractive investment opportunities, particularly those with strong balance sheets, exploration potential, and dividend yields ranging from 5-10%. Geopolitical factors and technological innovations play a significant role in Schachter's analysis. He discusses how new extraction technologies, such as fracking and advanced offshore drilling, continue to unlock previously inaccessible energy resources. Additionally, he sees potential risks in global trade tensions and potential economic slowdowns that could impact energy demand. Looking forward, Schachter is optimistic about the energy sector's potential, anticipating global oil demand increasing to 110-112 million barrels per day by 2030. He recommends investors consider diversified exposure across oil, natural gas, and service industries, with investment strategies tailored to individual risk profiles and income needs.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Doug Casey to the show. Doug Casey is Bestselling Author, Speculator, Founder of Casey Research, & Voluntarist Philosopher. In this wide-ranging discussion, Casey provides a comprehensive perspective on the global economic landscape, focusing on precious metals, commodities, and potential monetary shifts. Casey argues that the world is entering the "greatest monetary crisis in world history," with gold and Bitcoin positioned as potential alternative monetary assets. He believes the current financial system is fundamentally broken, with governments printing money and eroding currency value. While bullish on gold, he suggests it's no longer underpriced as it historically was, but remains a critical savings vehicle, especially when stored offshore. Regarding investment strategies, Casey recommends focusing on gold and silver mining stocks, particularly smaller companies with entrepreneurial management. He emphasizes evaluating mining investments through his "nine peas" approach, with people and management quality being the most critical factor. He sees significant potential in junior mining companies, noting they remain dramatically undervalued. Casey is equally enthusiastic about broader commodity opportunities, especially in energy sectors like coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium. He views these commodities as critically undervalued and essential for global economic development. He's particularly optimistic about emerging markets in the Orient, suggesting they represent better economic potential than Western economies. On silver, Casey sees it as a "poor man's gold" with significant upside potential, particularly given its industrial applications and relatively small market capitalization. He believes silver could potentially reach $200-$250 per ounce in real terms. Throughout the discussion, Casey maintains a provocative, libertarian perspective, critiquing government institutions and advocating for decentralized monetary systems. He remains fundamentally optimistic about human potential, believing that technological innovation and entrepreneurial spirit will ultimately drive economic progress. Casey concludes by directing listeners to his various platforms, including internationalman.com, his Crisis Investing newsletter, and his podcast with Matt Smith, encouraging further exploration of his economic perspectives.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Michael Oliver from Momentum Structural Analysis MSA. In this in-depth interview, Oliver provides a comprehensive analysis of the current financial landscape, with a particularly bullish outlook on gold, silver, and commodities. Oliver argues that gold and silver are on the cusp of a significant breakout, potentially reaching unprecedented levels. He suggests gold could reach $8,000, while silver might surge to $100-$200 within a few quarters. The key indicator for this potential surge is a technical spread relationship between gold and silver, which he believes is about to break out of a long-standing range. The discussion highlights the current economic context, particularly the potential for a major stock market correction. Oliver predicts the S&P 500 could decline by 50%, creating a significant shift in investment strategies. He emphasizes that this isn't just a typical market cycle, but a fundamental restructuring of asset allocation, with real-world assets like commodities becoming increasingly attractive. Oliver's analysis extends to broader economic trends, including government debt, monetary policy, and the potential for a reset in how people view money and investments. He suggests that the current monetary system, dominated by central bank interventions, is approaching a critical point of questioning and potential transformation. Regarding investment strategies, Oliver recommends focusing on silver, gold, and related mining stocks. He believes the miners, especially junior miners, could provide substantial leverage during this potential commodity boom. He's particularly excited about silver, arguing that when it breaks out, it could move dramatically and quickly enter a "new reality" of pricing. The interview concludes with Oliver emphasizing the importance of understanding market momentum and looking beyond traditional price charts. He suggests that investors should be prepared for a significant shift in asset preferences, with commodities and precious metals potentially becoming the preferred investment vehicles in the coming years.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Sven Carlin to the show. Sven Carlin is Publisher of Value Investing YouTube, Podcast, & Research Platform. During their discussion, Carlin offers insights into various investment opportunities and his value investing philosophy across multiple sectors. Regarding gold, Carlin views the current market with caution, noting excessive speculation and ETF inflows. He suggests that while gold might reach $10,000 eventually, the current environment feels risky. He recommends maintaining a modest portfolio allocation and being willing to trim positions when sentiment becomes too exuberant. In the broader market, Carlin sees significant risks, particularly among technology stocks like NVIDIA. He questions the long-term durability of tech companies' competitive advantages and warns about the potential for rapid disruption. He believes the current market is stretched, with cash flows declining as companies invest heavily in AI and other speculative technologies. Carlin finds more attractive opportunities in overlooked sectors like agriculture and commodities. He appreciates businesses with predictable long-term growth, steady dividend yields, and reasonable price-to-earnings ratios. He emphasizes the importance of patience and maintaining a disciplined approach, especially when investing in cyclical industries. His investment strategy focuses on finding undervalued companies with strong fundamentals, preferring businesses trading at low price-to-earnings multiples and offering consistent dividends. He maintains a diversified portfolio and is willing to slowly accumulate positions in sectors like oil, agriculture, and select international markets. A key principle for Carlin is understanding a company's true value and being comfortable buying more when prices drop. He warns against getting caught up in growth narratives and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clear-eyed view of a company's actual competitive advantages and potential for long-term value creation. Through his research platform, Carlin shares his investment insights, maintaining a portfolio that has compounded just under 15% annually over seven years, with a focus on value investing principles and careful, methodical investment selection.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Chris Vermeulen to the show. Chris Vermeulen is Founder & Chief Investment Officer, The Technical Traders. In this in-depth discussion, Vermeulen provides insights into the current state of financial markets, with a particular focus on precious metals, commodities, and potential economic shifts. Vermeulen argues that gold is currently signaling potential economic instability, suggesting we are approaching a significant financial reset. He believes the precious metals market is in a temporary pullback phase, with potential for another substantial rally. Drawing parallels to the 2007-2008 market cycle, he anticipates gold could potentially reach $5,100, representing approximately a 30% move from current levels. His investment strategy, which he calls "asset revesting," focuses on moving capital into assets showing the strongest upward trends with the least risk. Vermeulen emphasizes following price action rather than getting caught up in fundamental narratives, noting that markets have their own psychology and momentum. Regarding other commodities, Vermeulen offers nuanced perspectives. He sees copper in an uptrend but isn't particularly bullish, while he's bearish on oil, predicting it could drop to around $45-$52 per barrel. Interestingly, he sees potential in the US dollar, believing it's positioned for a significant rally that could coincide with a stock market correction. His analysis suggests we're in a late-stage economic cycle characterized by innovation (currently represented by AI stocks) and potential market fragility. He warns investors to be cautious, highlighting that a handful of tech stocks are artificially propping up market indices while many underlying stocks are struggling. Vermeulen recommends investors follow price trends, manage risk carefully, and be prepared to move capital quickly between asset classes. He suggests visiting technicaltraders.com for more detailed market insights and trading signals, where he provides daily market analysis and trade recommendations based on his asset revesting strategy.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Quinton Hennigh to the show. Quinton Hennigh is an Internationally Renowned Economic Geologist who provides critical insights into the current state of mineral exploration and mining. Hennigh highlights a significant decline in metal discovery rates over the past decades, attributing this to major mining companies abandoning their internal exploration efforts and shifting responsibilities to junior exploration companies. Hennigh's current strategy focuses on acquiring assets with unrecognized exploration potential, particularly in underexplored regions like Bolivia, Argentina, and Japan. He emphasizes the importance of targeting large-scale deposits that would attract major mining companies' interest, believing that it requires nearly the same effort to explore a small project as a potentially world-class one. The discussion critically examines the current mining exploration landscape, with Hennigh expressing concern about the proliferation of junior mining companies. He argues that approximately 90% of these companies lack direction and technical capability, creating an inefficient market flooded with speculative ventures. This overcrowding has led to misallocation of capital and a diminishing pool of technical expertise in the mining sector. Hennigh is particularly critical of current industry practices, including the royalty and streaming models, which he describes as "parasitic" to mining companies. He also highlights challenges in permitting processes and regulatory compliance, suggesting these bureaucratic hurdles significantly impede mining development. Looking forward, Hennigh advocates for more efficient capital deployment, reducing permitting complexities, and attracting younger talent to the mining industry. He sees potential in unexplored regions and believes that with the right approach, significant mineral discoveries are still possible. His strategy involves identifying undervalued assets with substantial exploration potential, leveraging modern geological understanding to unlock value that previous explorers might have overlooked.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes John Feneck to the show. John Feneck is CEO Feneck Consulting Group. The podcast discussion centers on gold markets, investment strategies, and critical mineral opportunities. Feneck provides insights into the current gold market, noting that while there have been recent price fluctuations, major banks like Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and HSBC are bullish, with price targets ranging from $4,900 to $5,000 for the next year. Discussing gold miners, Feneck highlights that the GDX ETF has broken out to new all-time highs, with producers like Newmont seeing significant growth. He believes junior miners still represent substantial value, with the GDXJ ETF trading well below its 2011-2012 peak. His investment approach combines value investing with technical analysis, focusing on a diversified portfolio of 60-70 stocks to manage risk. Feneck is particularly enthusiastic about critical minerals, especially tungsten and antimony, driven by geopolitical tensions and supply chain concerns. He sees significant opportunity in companies like Guardian Metals and Triumph Gold, which have strategic positions in these critical minerals. His investment philosophy emphasizes understanding company management, project fundamentals, and potential near-term catalysts. The conversation also touched on the challenges of mineral exploration and development, particularly in the United States, where permitting processes can take years. Feneck believes there's growing political momentum to accelerate critical mineral development, with initiatives like Trump's executive orders aimed at reducing dependence on Chinese mineral supplies. Through his consulting group, Feneck offers investment research services, including real-time updates, CEO interviews, and portfolio insights. He emphasizes the importance of active management, conducting extensive research, and maintaining flexibility in investment approach. His track record includes impressive returns, with his current portfolio up 118% for the year, demonstrating the potential of strategic investing in the mining and metals sector.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Brien Lundin to the show. Brien Lundin is Editor of 'The Gold Newsletter.com' & Host of the New Orlean's Investor Conference. Lundin discusses the current gold market, emphasizing that despite recent volatility, the fundamental factors driving the bull market remain strong. He believes the current market is part of a secular bull market with potential for gold prices to reach between $6,000 to $8,000, and potentially even higher in a significant monetary reset scenario. Central bank buying and the ongoing "debasement trade" continue to support gold's upward trajectory. Regarding mining stocks, Lundin argues that miners are still significantly undervalued. He anticipates that upcoming earnings reports will demonstrate the robust economics of gold projects at current prices. He recommends focusing on larger producers like Newmont and Newcrest in the near term, while also highlighting opportunities among developers and exploration companies. Lundin is optimistic about the increasing capital flow into the mining sector, viewing it as a positive development despite concerns about "dumb money". He sees this as part of a broader commodity super cycle affecting multiple metals, with particularly strong potential for base metals and energy metals due to supply constraints and growing demand. On silver, Lundin is bullish, noting the metal's potential for significant price appreciation. He highlights the inelastic supply of silver, with 70% of production being a byproduct of other metal mining, and expects industrial demand to consume all available mine supply in the coming years. The conversation also touched on other commodities like copper, vanadium, and zinc, with Lundin expressing optimism about their long-term potential driven by supply constraints and increasing demand. He emphasized the importance of understanding the sector, spreading risk, and being patient with investments. Lundin concluded by promoting his upcoming New Orleans Investment Conference, describing it as the longest-running investment event in the world, featuring numerous expert speakers across geopolitics, macroeconomics, and metals investing.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Edward Bonner to the show. Edward Bonner is Investment Associate, Sprott Asset Management USA, Inc. The discussion centers on the current state of gold and precious metals markets, with Bonner offering insights into the emerging gold bull market and broader commodity trends. Bonner argues that gold remains significantly under-owned, with most portfolios holding less than one percent of gold compared to historical averages of six to seven percent. He believes the current market is in the early stages of a potential bull market, driven by factors such as monetary debasement, fiscal largesse, and central bank buying. The recent geopolitical tensions, including the freezing of Russian assets, have prompted central banks to increase their gold holdings. The conversation explores various indicators for gold's potential, including the M2 money supply and the Dow Jones Industrial Average to gold ratio. Bonner suggests that gold is currently an attractive hedge against inflation and geopolitical uncertainty. He sees particular value in gold mining stocks, especially growth producers, developers, and late-stage explorers. When evaluating mining projects, Bonner emphasizes the importance of management teams, jurisdiction, and project metallurgy. He highlights the potential for mergers and acquisitions in the sector, given the significant free cash flow of senior producers. Beyond gold, Bonner discusses other potentially undervalued commodities, including platinum, natural gas, and vanadium. He sees interesting opportunities in geographical regions like the Guyana Shield, parts of the Arabian Nubian Shield, Mexico, and Argentina, while cautioning about the challenges of exploration and jurisdictional risks. The discussion concludes with Bonner's perspective on the cyclical nature of commodities and the importance of maintaining a diversified investment approach. He remains optimistic about the potential for gold and select commodities, suggesting that the current market presents unique investment opportunities for those willing to look beyond conventional wisdom.