We Asked Meb Faber Why US Stocks Won for 250 Years — And If It Can Continue

Meb Faber, co-founder and CIO of Cambria Investment Management, joins Excess Returns to discuss his new book, Investing in America: The Rise of a 250 Year Bull Market.We explore why the United States became one of the greatest long-term compounding stories in market history, what investors can learn from 250 years of booms and busts, and why Meb can be optimistic about America while still cautious on today’s expensive market-cap-weighted S&P 500.Investing in America: The Rise of a 250 Year Bull Markethttps://amzn.to/4f1H5AwMeb Faber on Xhttps://x.com/MebFaberMain topics coveredWhy America can be viewed as the ultimate venture capital success storyHow joint stock companies, risk-taking and ownership helped shape the U.S. economyWhy studying 250 years of market history changes how investors think about volatilityThe long-term case for stocks and why the time horizon matters so muchWhy bear markets are a natural part of capitalism and long-term compoundingHow U.S. market dominance happened and why it was not preordainedWhy expensive valuations, low dividend yields and new supply may matter todayThe role of dividends, buybacks, shareholder yield and reinvestment in long-term returnsWhy diversification across global stocks, bonds and real assets can help investors stay investedWhat gold, REITs and foreign stocks teach us about starting points and narrativesWhy early investing, child investment accounts and compounding can change investor behaviorHow creative destruction reshapes sectors, companies and the market leaders of each eraWhy Meb remains optimistic about America while still cautious on parts of the U.S. marketTimestamps00:00 Why America was not guaranteed to become the market winner01:15 Meb Faber on writing Investing in America02:25 America as the ultimate venture capital success story06:22 How a culture of ownership helped the U.S. stock market compound09:19 Why studying 250 years of market history matters12:00 Why ownership is the core investing lesson15:14 Bear markets, recessions and the danger of recent history18:16 Why U.S. stocks beat the rest of the world by so much22:20 Lessons from financial history that surprised Meb27:05 Why stocks can lose for long periods and bonds can win30:00 Why investors need to get used to being in a drawdown33:24 Dividends, buybacks and the importance of reinvestment37:27 Why gold and REITs beat the S&P 500 after 200040:55 How balanced portfolios survive different market regimes43:03 The power of starting early and letting compounding work48:16 Why global diversification matters outside the U.S.50:40 Creative destruction, sector change and market leadership55:20 Why Meb is still optimistic about investing in America59:33 Where to find the book, Cambria and Meb online