Conestoga Capital Advisors, an asset management company, released its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter. As many believe, US equities experienced solid returns in 2025, with double-digit gains across all major indices, yet underlying conditions revealed extreme volatility and market leadership. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In Q4 2025, Conestoga Capital Advisors Small Cap Strategy returned -1.89% net-of-fees, trailing the Russell 2000 Growth Index’s 1.22% return. The returns were volatile i ...

By Valentina Za MILAN, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Introducing the digital euro could cost European banks between 4 billion and 6 billion euros ($4.7-$7.1 billion) spread over four ‌years, a senior European Central Bank policymaker said on Thursday. ECB Governing Council member ‌Piero Cipollone also said the new digital‑only central bank currency which the ECB is working on is estimated ​to cost around 1.3 billion euros to set up. Operational costs would then be about 300 million euros, he added, without speci ...

Key Takeaways Robinhood Chain’s testnet launched on Feb. 10, 2026, and processed 4 million transactions in its first week. The Arbitrum-based Layer-2 focuses on tokenized stocks, real-world assets (RWAs), and on-chain financial services. As Ethereum reduces reliance on general-purpose L2s, Robinhood is building a custom chain tailored to regulated finance. Robinhood, the popular stock and crypto trading app, has launched its own blockchain—and it’s off to a strong start. The company’s new Robinho ...

Conestoga Capital Advisors, an asset management company, released its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter. As many believe, US equities experienced solid returns in 2025, with double-digit gains across all major indices, yet underlying conditions revealed extreme volatility and market leadership. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In Q4 2025, Conestoga Capital Advisors Small Cap Strategy returned -1.89% net-of-fees, trailing the Russell 2000 Growth Index’s 1.22% return. The returns were volatile i ...

American steel production jumped to 82 million tons in 2025, up about 3%, pushing the U.S. past Japan to become the world’s third-largest steel producer, behind only China and India. It’s the first time in 26 years the U.S. has held that spot (1). The surge was driven in large part by President Trump’s 50% tariffs on imported steel, imposed in June 2025, which made foreign steel significantly more expensive and steered buyers toward domestic suppliers. Must Read On the surface, that sounds like a win f ...

Core Insights - The tax season is currently active, with many individuals filing their taxes and the average refund from last year being $3,167 [1] Tax Deduction Overview - A new senior tax deduction has been introduced as part of President Trump's legislation, effective from tax year 2025 through 2028 [2] - The standard deduction for tax year 2025 is set at $15,750 for singles and $31,500 for couples filing jointly, with additional amounts for seniors [5] - Seniors aged 65 and older will receive an extra $2,000 (for singles) and $3,200 (for couples) on top of the standard deduction, plus an additional $6,000 if filing as single or $12,000 if married filing jointly [5] Eligibility Criteria - To qualify for the new deduction, individuals must be 65 years old by December 31, 2025, with income limits set at $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly [6] - The deduction amount decreases by 6% for every dollar earned above the income threshold, with full ineligibility occurring at $175,000 for singles and $250,000 for married couples [7]

Core Insights - Conestoga Capital Advisors reported solid returns in US equities for 2025, with double-digit gains across major indices, despite underlying volatility and market leadership shifts [1] - The Small Cap Strategy returned -1.89% net-of-fees in Q4 2025, underperforming the Russell 2000 Growth Index's 1.22% return [1] Company Overview: Digi International Inc. (NASDAQ:DGII) - Digi International Inc. specializes in Internet of Things technology, focusing on connectivity products, services, and solutions [2][3] - As of February 18, 2026, Digi's stock closed at $49.64, with a one-month return of 13.59% and a 12-month increase of 41.67% [2] - The company has a market capitalization of $1.87 billion [2] Performance Highlights - Digi's stock performed well in Q4 2025, driven by faster-than-expected growth in recurring services revenue and improved margins due to a shift towards software and subscriptions [3] - Demand visibility in industrial and infrastructure markets, along with disciplined expense management, contributed to earnings upside [3] Investment Sentiment - Digi International Inc. was held by 16 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, an increase from 11 in the previous quarter [5] - Despite acknowledging Digi's potential, the company believes certain AI stocks present greater upside potential and lower downside risk [5]

Company Overview - Novanta Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVT) is a technology solutions company specializing in precision medicine, precision manufacturing, medical solutions, robotics and automation solutions, and advanced surgery solutions [2][3] - The company has a market capitalization of $5.2 billion [2] Financial Performance - On February 18, 2026, Novanta Inc. stock closed at $145.63 per share [2] - The one-month return for Novanta Inc. was 5.29%, and its shares increased by 1.98% over the past twelve months [2] - In the fourth quarter of 2025, Novanta Inc. reported strong earnings with double-digit growth in its Advanced Surgery business [3] Market Position and Demand - Novanta Inc. experienced a 17% year-over-year growth in bookings, indicating robust future demand as customer inventory levels normalize [3] - The company is noted for its ability to exceed profit expectations while navigating a complex macro environment, showcasing the durability of its diversified, high-quality business model [3] Investment Sentiment - Novanta Inc. is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 27 hedge fund portfolios holding the stock at the end of the third quarter, unchanged from the previous quarter [4] - While the potential of Novanta Inc. as an investment is acknowledged, certain AI stocks are considered to offer greater upside potential and less downside risk [4]

Conestoga Capital Advisors, an asset management company, released its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter. As many believe, US equities experienced solid returns in 2025, with double-digit gains across all major indices, yet underlying conditions revealed extreme volatility and market leadership. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In Q4 2025, Conestoga Capital Advisors Small Cap Strategy returned -1.89% net-of-fees, trailing the Russell 2000 Growth Index’s 1.22% return. The returns were volatile i ...

Core Insights - Dividend Kings are companies that have consistently increased their dividend payments for 50 consecutive years, showcasing resilience amid economic fluctuations [1] - Investing in Dividend Kings can generate significant passive income, with an example showing a $15,000 investment yielding $578 in annual dividend income [1] Group 1: Federal Realty Investment Trust - Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT) is a REIT that has raised its dividend for 58 consecutive years, the longest in the REIT sector [5] - The company focuses on high-quality open-air shopping centers and mixed-use properties, owning 104 properties with 28.8 million square feet of commercial space and 2,700 residential units [6] - Federal Realty's strategy emphasizes quality over quantity, routinely upgrading its portfolio by selling lower-quality assets and reinvesting in better properties, such as the recent acquisition of Village Pointe for $153.3 million [7] Group 2: PepsiCo - PepsiCo has recently increased its dividend by 4%, extending its growth streak to 54 consecutive years [8]