Credit Where It Will Soon Be Due

About this episode

Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/4yUgtt9 In this Friday Dividend Cafe (recorded Thursday), David discusses rising credit risk concerns in the AI investment ecosystem, emphasizing that while comparisons to 2008 are often fear-mongering and today’s risks are not centered in commercial banking, credit markets still matter because major market events often begin in credit. Using a Michael Burry chart as an example, he highlights the complex, interconnected financing behind AI buildouts, citing Anthropic’s massive compute commitments relative to revenue. He notes sharp increases in credit default swap (CDS) costs and volumes across AI-linked issuers, including Oracle (with large purchase obligations and debt) and a particularly stressed example in CoreWeave, alongside a surge in AI-affiliated debt issuance. David argues accounting complexity may be legal yet worth questioning, and warns CDS spreads can both signal and shape outcomes via a negative feedback loop of higher capital costs, reduced projects, and tighter financing. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 01:44 No Fearmongering 04:21 Why Credit Matters 05:45 Burry Chart Breakdown 09:22 CDS Spreads Surge 13:13 Accounting Complex