Van Hesser's 3 Things in Credit - A KBRA Podcast

<p>Each week, KBRA's Chief Strategist, Van Hesser will address three things that caught his attention in credit markets that are relevant to credit investors.</p>

Credit “Froth,” Growth Quality, and Q3 Earnings

This week, our 3 Things are:Credit “froth.” How real is it? Growth quality. The outlook is brighter, but is it vulnerable?Q3 earnings. A solid headline growth number, but weakness underneath.

10-03
09:10

Inflation Target, Bond Scarcity, and Capex Supercycle

This week, our 3 Things are: Inflation target. It’s quietly slipping. Bond scarcity. Demand versus supply. Capex supercycle. We’ll compare equity versus debt.

09-20
10:50

Maximum Employment, Retail Therapy, and Risk Versus Uncertainty

This week, our 3 Things are: Maximum employment. What does that have to do with unemployment?  Retail therapy. We peel the onion on a strong retail sales report. Risk versus uncertainty. The difference explains risk market moves.

09-19
10:58

Credit’s Durability, Risk Concentrations, and Distressed Debt Exchanges

This week, our 3 Things are: Credit’s durability. Why has the asset class held up so well in 2025? Risk concentrations. A couple are noteworthy and worth monitoring. Distressed debt exchanges. We highlight a new report by Ed Altman and our own Eric Rosenthal.

09-12
12:12

Economic Lines of Defense, Q3 Earnings, and Jobs’ Revisions

This week, our 3 Things are: 1. Economic lines of defense. There are significant countervailing forces to slowdown. 2. Q3 earnings. Still positive growth in the face of rising costs. 3. Jobs revisions. The most important jobs data point this month might be next week, not Friday’s.

09-05
09:53

Spreads vs. Yields, Financial Conditions, and Walmart/Target Read-Across

This week, our 3 Things are: Spreads vs. yields. Spreads are tight. Yields, not so much. Financial conditions. Don’t lose sight of what normal is. Walmart/Target read-across. The big boxes update us on the U.S. consumer.

08-22
09:54

Earnings Momentum, 2026 Forecasts, and August Jobs

This week, our 3 Things are: Earnings momentum. What’s underneath Q2’s double-digit growth headline? 2026 forecasts. Here’s the early read on what forecasters think lies ahead. August jobs. It will likely be the most consequential data release this year.

08-15
11:46

Inflection Point, Ares’ Perspective, and Maersk’s Beat

This week, our 3 Things are: Inflection point? July jobs was a shock, but does it really reveal something different? Ares’ perspective. Insightful comments on the growth of private credit. Maersk’s beat. What it says about global growth.

08-08
10:08

Slowdown, Leveraged Loan Surge, and Default Forecasts

This week, our 3 Things are: Anatomy of slowdown. Risk markets are flying—how do we get to slowdown? Leveraged loan surge. The market has rebounded from April’s freeze with a vengeance. Is it overheating? KBRA’s default forecast. We’ll check in with Eric Rosenthal for his latest.

08-01
14:04

Growth Catalysts, Homebuilder Bounce, and Tariff Bump

This week, our 3 Things are: Growth catalysts. Something must be driving stocks higher. Homebuilder bounce. Is housing finally turning? Tariff bump. Is 15% the new 10%?

07-25
11:10

Big Bank Color, Labor Sensitivity, and European Update Description

This week, our 3 Things are: Big bank color. Here’s how credit is performing among the large lenders. Labor sensitivity. What will it take for employment to crack? European outlook. Our European Macro Strategist updates his views.

07-18
15:15

Delta Exuberance, Q3 Outlook, and Whistling Past the Slowdown

This week, our 3 Things are: Delta exuberance. We’ll put a good story in proper perspective.  A forward look at Q3. What will shape credit markets? Whistling past the slowdown. Markets have ripped as uncertainty lifts. Don’t lose sight of the whole picture. 

07-11
08:41

Middle East Tension, Powell vs. the LEI, and United Airlines

This week, our 3 Things are: Middle East tension. We’ll think through how important oil volatility is. Powell vs. the LEI. We’ll explore two divergent views of the economy. United Airlines guidance. We’ll revisit the company’s unconventional earnings guidance from April.

06-27
09:00

Data Vacuum, Sand in the Gears, and Consumer Angst

This week, our 3 Things are: Data vacuum. Be patient—the meaningful reset is coming. Sand in the gears. While we wait for data, here’s what is forecast. Consumer angst. The Fed’s latest survey reflects growing concern among the less advantaged part of our Two Economies.    

06-13
09:27

Volatility Settles, “Dangerous” Finance, and Slowdown Approaching

This week, our 3 Things are: Volatility settles. Are we past the storm or merely complacent? “Dangerous” finance. Is The Economist’s characterization accurate or just sensationalistic? Slowdown approaching. As more hard data shows slowdown, we look to this week’s Beige Book for a sentiment shift. 

06-06
10:35

Credit Scarcity, Debt and Deficits, and Markets’ Round Trip

This week, our 3 Things are: Credit scarcity. Too much money chasing too few bonds? Debt and deficits. Ignore at your own peril. Markets’ round trip. Knowing what we know, and what we don’t—does that make sense?   

05-30
10:38

Dimon on Credit, Growth Catalysts, and Earnings Outlook

This week, our 3 Things are: 1. Dimon on credit. JPMorgan Chase’s CEO is concerned about credit. 2. Growth catalysts. They’re out there, right? 3. Earnings outlook. What do Street strategists say?

05-23
10:40

Exuberance, Labor Strength, and Walmart’s Outlook

This week, our 3 Things are: 1. Exuberance. Is it irrational? 2. Labor strength. Here’s where it might crack. 3. Walmart’s outlook. The challenge of dimensioning tariff impact.

05-16
10:21

Falling Oil, Tariff Impact, and Credit Appeal

This week, our 3 Things are:  1. Falling oil. Is it good or bad for credit? 2. Tariff impact. We’ll highlight some useful commentary. 3. Credit appeal. How does credit stack up in this environment?

05-09
09:27

Complacency, Trade Progress, and European Appeal

This week, our 3 Things are: 1. Complacency. It’s back. 2. Trade progress. What’s the evidence? 3. European appeal. It’s become a fashionable trade. My European counterpart weighs in.

05-02
12:34

Recommend Channels