Steve Eisman of "The Big Short" fame said he has little problem with the wider stock market at current levels, but he's finding opportunities to bet against select names, including credit-scoring firm Fair Isaac. "The Real Eisman Playbook" podcast host and former Neuberger Berman senior portfolio manager said the market environment looks strikingly similar to last year: resilient credit conditions, heavy spending tied to artificial intelligence and a bifurcated, or "K-shaped," economy where strength remains unevenly distributed. "We're literally back to where we were last year, the same exact narrative, unchanged. It's as if nothing happened in between," Eisman said Thursday on CNBC's " Squawk Box. " "I don't have a problem with the market right now. I really don't." Eisman said his portfolio remains tilted toward technology and some financial stocks, while avoiding more defensive corners of the market such as consumer staples and energy. FICO short Eisman said he is short FICO, the company best known for its widely used credit scores, arguing that its pricing strategy has alienated customers and opened the door to competitors. "I'll say this openly. I'm short FICO," he said. "FICO, very arrogantly, has raised prices about 500% over the last many, many years. It has ticked off literally everybody in the lending world, and even now, after they've cut prices." FICO 1D mountain Fair Isaac Thursday He pointed to VantageScore as an alternative provider that's gaining traction, particularly in mortgage underwriting. By his math, lenders could pay around $2,000 to FICO for every 100 mortgage applications, compared with roughly $99 using VantageScore. Shares of Fair Isaac fell 7.3% Thursday after Eisman revealed his short. The stock is down 43% so far in 2026.
