The return of the physical economy, the copper and power bottlenecks shaping the next commodity cycle, and why scarcity, security, and shifting policy are bringing Canada's energy and critical minerals advantage into focus.

In this episode of the Pender Podcast, host Laura Baker sits down with Heather Exner-Pirot, Senior Fellow and Director of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, to explore why AI, electrification, and energy security are driving a return of the physical economy. They discuss the copper and power bottlenecks shaping the next commodity cycle, why new supply takes so long to build, and how Canada's shifting policy backdrop is strengthening its position as a resource leader.

Identifying specific, evidence-backed catalysts that can unlock value

In this episode of the Pender Podcast PM Series, host Laura Baker sits down with Amar Pandya, Portfolio Manager of the Pender Alternative Special Situations Fund, to unpack what makes special situations investing distinct from traditional stock picking. They discuss why market inefficiency persists in small and mid cap companies, how to distinguish a genuine catalyst from a compelling narrative, and the four buckets Amar uses to categorize special situations opportunities across the portfolio.

How the AI Infrastructure Boom is Reshaping the Case for Small and Mid Cap Equities

In this episode of the Pender podcast, Aman Budhwar, Portfolio Manager of the Pender US Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund, sits down with host Laura Baker, Associate Client Portfolio Manager, to explore why the AI story extends far beyond the mega caps and how small and mid-cap equities can offer an alternative way to participate in its growth. They discuss the record concentration driving the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, the valuation and growth divergence between large and small/mid cap companies, and how "picks and shovels" businesses in data center infrastructure are positioned to benefit from the AI capital investment boom.