On Private Equity, Africa’s Latest Crisis, And S&P 500’s Excellent Earnings

Private equity sponsors are having difficulty selling portfolio companies and returning distributions to investors. Melissa explores the signs that the private equity market may struggle in 2026 and why the window of opportunity investors enjoyed back in 2021 has closed. … Also: William examines the impacts of the Iran war on troubled African nations, which have fielded crisis after crisis so far this decade. … And: Only Joe has positive news for us today, and it’s great! The typical end-of-quarter estimate cutting isn’t happening as the Q1 finish line nears—estimates have been soaring instead, despite the oil-price shock.