The Global Economy Just Got a New Warning

Markets & Economy

The Global Economy Just Got a New Warning

Chuck Carlson: What Matters After the IMF's Warning

by John Trapp, Host at WorthNet

The International Monetary Fund just issued a stark warning.

Citing higher energy costs following the conflict with Iran, the IMF said the global economy is expected to slow sharply in 2026 as inflationary pressures continue building.

For investors, it raises an obvious question:

Does this change the outlook for markets?

Recently, we sat down with WorthNet Partner Adviser and Horizon Investment Services CEO Chuck Carlson to discuss how he thinks about inflation, economic uncertainty, and what ultimately drives stock prices.

Carlson believes three primary forces drive stock prices: inflation, interest rates, and corporate profits. While these latest headlines are understandably unsettling, he argues it’s important to look at the full picture rather than any single economic report.

He also explains why he watches one often-overlooked corner of the market for early warning signs… and why he believes inflation alone may not necessarily be enough to derail stocks.

The conversation also covers:

Why Carlson still favors stocks over gold in many inflationary environments
The hidden AI infrastructure bottleneck he believes investors may be overlooking
How Horizon uses its proprietary Quadrix^® system to identify opportunities

If these headlines have you wondering what comes next, I think you’ll find Chuck’s perspective worthwhile.

Carlson’s work has appeared in outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and Kiplinger across a four-decade career. He also contributes to one of the country’s longest-running independent market research letters, The Dow Theory Forecast.

WorthNet itself doesn’t provide advisory services and is not a client of Horizon Investment Services or the other advisers; rather, we are compensated for promoting certain advisers in our network, and we have a financial incentive to recommend these advisers, which creates a material conflict of interest.

Charles B. Carlson, CFA®

CEO & Portfolio Manager of Horizon Investment Services

Investment Visionary, Seasoned Asset Allocator

Charles B. Carlson is a veteran investment adviser with over 25 years of experience in retirement planning, asset allocation, and portfolio management. He is CEO of Horizon Investment Services (CRD #110642), a proud member of the WorthNet partner adviser network.

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Last Revised: July 8, 2026

The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers or authors are their own, do not necessarily represent the views of WorthNet, and are subject to change without notice. From time to time, WorthNet features partner advisers pursuant to promotional agreements. Partner advisers who enter into such agreements are clients of WorthNet, which creates a material conflict of interest because WorthNet has a financial incentive to promote its partner advisers. The guest is affiliated with a partner adviser of WorthNet. The guest stands to benefit directly or indirectly from this article. This relationship creates a material conflict of interest, as the guest may benefit from referrals or increased visibility through WorthNet. This content is intended solely for general informational and educational purposes; it does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security.

Horizon Disclosures: Horizon Investment Services, LLC is a registered investment adviser with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The firm manages equity, mutual fund, income, balanced, and ETF portfolios for U.S. investors. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Horizon Investment Services claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS^®). To receive Horizon’s GIPS-compliant performance information, contact Tom Hathoot at 1-219-852-3215 or write Horizon Investment Services, 7412 Calumet Ave., Hammond, IN 46324, or email thathoot@horizoninvestment.com. The Quadrix^® stock-rating system is a proprietary product used to support investment decision-making, wholly owned by Horizon Publishing Company, Horizon Investment Services’ sister company. Horizon Investment Services has contracted with Horizon Publishing Company to use the Quadrix stock-rating system for its stock-screening processes. From time-to-time, Horizon Publishing Company may change the weightings of the various metrics that go into computing Quadrix scores. GIPS^® is a registered trademark of the CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein. CFA^®: Chartered Financial Analyst^®. The Chartered Financial Analyst designation is a professional designation awarded by the CFA Institute. A CFA Program candidate must pass three exams in the following areas: portfolio management, accounting, ethics, money management, and security analysis. CFA charter holders are subject to rigorous ethics rules. CFA^® and Chartered Financial Analyst^® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute. As a fiduciary, Horizon is legally and ethically bound to act in the best interests of its clients. An investment in this strategy involves the risk of loss. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that the investment, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No formula or other device being offered can, in and of itself, be used to determine which securities to buy or sell. Horizon Investment Services’ clients and/or employees may hold positions in the stocks suggested in this presentation.