What the Shiller P/E (CAPE) Can and Can’t Tell You
A listener named Chris emailed in with a question a lot of investors are quietly thinking: if the CAPE ratio is around 40 and forecasts say future stock returns could be low, why keep investing at all—especially when CDs, T-bills, and high-yield savings accounts are paying 4–5%? In this episode, Andrew and Stephen break down what CAPE (the Shiller P/E) actually measures, why it’s elevated, and how to use it as a long-term expectations tool without turning it into a market-timing panic button. They also dig into the psychology behind investing when valuations feel “stretched,” why behavior matters more than being perfectly “right,” and how to think about risk if the market really does drop hard. The bottom line: CAPE can inform your expectations, but it can’t predict the future—and it shouldn’t stop you from building a consistent, long-term investing plan. What You Will Learn What CAPE (Shiller P/E) is and why it’s different from a normal P/E ratio Why a high CAPE can imply lower long-term returns without being a timing signal How market “top-heaviness” (mega-caps) can distort what CAPE seems to say How to think about investing behavior when you’re anxious or tempted to react A practical framework for deciding where your “next dollar” should go (based on time horizon + comfort) Timestamps 00:00 CAPE near 40, forecasts low returns, so why invest? 01:07 What CAPE is and why it’s a tool, not a crystal ball 02:35 CAPE basics: smoothing earnings over time 03:16 “Does it still make sense to invest?” 05:05 CAPE vs inflation analogy 08:25 CAPE is not for market timing 09:10 “Thermometer, not a calendar” 10:15 Why CAPE is top-heavy: mega-caps tilt the ratio 12:00 What’s driving CAPE higher: big tech valuations + “new” profit growth 22:25 Where does your next dollar go? Steps, psychology, time horizon, and staying consistent Resources Mentioned The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/ Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at newsletter@einvestingforbeginners.com or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast! Remember, invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you next time. Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening. Today’s show is sponsored by: Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/IFBpodcast Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/0th4z72y #CashAppPod As a Cash App partner, I may earn a commission when you sign up for a Cash App account. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. For additional information, see the Bitcoin disclosures. Shopify: Stop waiting for permission to build something. Your next revenue stream starts for free at shopify.com/beginners Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing The Perfect Jean makes insanely comfortable, great-fitting jeans you can wear all day—check them out at theperfectjean.nyc. Function Health helps you get ahead of your health with comprehensive lab testing and clear, actionable insights—learn more at functionhealth.com. Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at equity@einvestingforbeginners.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Tunein Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices