After the Rate Cuts: Jay Hatfield on Why Income, Small Caps, and Credit Could Lead Into 2026

In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Jay Hatfield, CEO of Infrastructure Capital Advisors, to break down what the Fed’s latest rate cuts mean for markets, income investors, and portfolio positioning heading into 2026.

From a potential melt-up toward 7,000 on the S&P 500 to why preferreds, high yield credit, and small-cap value could outperform as rates fall, Hatfield explains how investors can navigate a market caught between easing policy, slowing growth, and lingering inflation uncertainty.

In this episode:
– Why Fed cuts historically favor risk assets and income strategies
– How preferred stocks and high yield credit could see upside beyond yield
– Why small caps benefit from rotation away from mega-cap tech
– How dividend and equity income strategies reduce portfolio volatility
– What Jay expects for inflation, rates, and markets into 2026

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