FIND THE SIGNAL. DITCH THE NOISE.

Small-cap stocks have now trailed large caps for five straight years, matching one of the longest stretches of underperformance in recent market history.

The last gold bull market didn’t climax with price alone; it ended in billion-dollar buyouts and 30 to 60 percent premiums. From 2001 to 2011, gold surged from under $300 to over $1,500 before major players truly began scrambling for ounces. Today, with gold pressing historic highs again, investors are asking a familiar question: when does the panic premium return?

Small-cap markets reward investors who understand the difference between progress and proof. Aaron Hoddinott examines how venture capital thinking applies to sub-billion dollar companies across sectors like AI and mining, where announcements are often mistaken for outcomes.

For centuries, silver has shaped Mexico’s fortunes and fueled conflict across its mining regions. As cartel violence intensifies in key production states, investors are being reminded that extracting precious metals in Mexico has never been purely about geology. The country’s long and dangerous history with silver may once again collide with global supply.

What happens when a gold-biased investor invites a priest and hedge fund CIO to challenge the metals trade head-on? A conversation about fear, conviction, value investing, and why even the strongest theses deserve pressure testing.