Group 1 - Goldman Sachs was founded in 1869 and is recognized as the world's second-largest investment bank by revenue [1] - The company is ranked 55th on the Fortune 500 list of the largest U.S. companies [1]

Core Viewpoint - Deutsche Bank has released a report on the outlook for the U.S. consumer finance sector in 2026, focusing on the earnings guidance of seven companies, which is expected to have a greater impact on stock prices than the actual Q4 performance [1] Group 1: Company-Specific Guidance - American Express (AXP): Deutsche Bank expects a short-term revenue growth slowdown to 8.5% for FY2026, below the market expectation of 9.0%, with diluted EPS projected at $17.75, slightly above the consensus of $17.56 [2] - Synchrony Financial (SYF): Projected loan receivables growth of 4.75% for 2026, exceeding the market expectation of 3.14%, but net revenue forecasted at $15.7 billion, below the market's $16.5 billion [2] - Ally Financial (ALLY): Expected average earning assets growth of 1.7% in 2026, with net interest margin rising to 3.72%, slightly above the market expectation of 3.70% [3] - OneMain Holdings (OMF): Projected management receivables growth of 6.55% for 2026, below the market expectation of 8.00%, with revenue growth of 6.15%, also slightly below the consensus [3] - SoFi Technologies (SOFI): Management reiterated EPS guidance of $0.55-$0.80 for 2026, with a midpoint forecast of $0.67, significantly above the market consensus of $0.58 [4] - Navient Corp (NAVI): Expected NIM for private education loans to rise to 2.81% in 2026, with core EPS projected at $1.15, benefiting from market opportunities due to the cancellation of the GRAD PLUS program [5] Group 2: Market Trends and Influences - The guidance from these companies is expected to influence stock prices more than their Q4 actual performance, highlighting the importance of forward-looking statements in the consumer finance sector [1] - The report indicates that the consumer finance sector is experiencing varying growth rates, with some companies facing challenges due to market saturation and regulatory changes [2][3][4]

Core Viewpoint - Ally Financial (ALLY) is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.01 per share, reflecting a 29.5% increase year-over-year, with revenues projected at $2.13 billion, a 5% increase from the previous year [1]. Earnings Estimates - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised upward by 0.4% in the last 30 days, indicating analysts' reassessment of their initial estimates [2]. - Revisions to earnings estimates are crucial indicators for predicting investor actions regarding the stock, with empirical research showing a strong correlation between earnings estimate trends and short-term stock price performance [3]. Key Financial Metrics - Analysts estimate 'Insurance premiums and service revenue earned' to be $364.22 million, a decrease of 1% year-over-year [5]. - 'Net financing revenue' is projected to reach $1.60 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 5.8% [5]. - 'Total other revenue' is expected to be $529.70 million, reflecting a 2.5% increase from the prior year [5]. Revenue and Income Projections - The estimated 'Total financing revenue and other interest income' is $3.42 billion, a decrease of 3.1% from the previous year [6]. - 'Other income, net of losses' is projected at $149.94 million, suggesting a decline of 10.2% year-over-year [6]. - The expected 'Net interest margin (as reported)' is 3.5%, up from 3.3% in the same quarter last year [6]. Efficiency and Asset Metrics - The consensus estimate for the 'Efficiency Ratio' is 55.9%, down from 67.1% in the same quarter last year [7]. - 'Total interest-earning assets (Average Balances)' are expected to reach $181.96 billion, slightly lower than the $182.17 billion reported in the same quarter last year [7]. Loan and Capital Ratios - Analysts forecast 'Non-performing loans (NPLs)' to be $1.22 billion, down from $1.49 billion reported in the same quarter last year [8]. - The projected 'Book value per share' is $41.78, an increase from $37.92 in the same quarter last year [8]. - The 'Total Capital Ratio' is expected to be 13.3%, slightly up from 13.2% in the same quarter last year [9]. - The 'Tier 1 Capital Ratio' is projected at 11.0%, down from 11.3% a year ago [9]. Stock Performance - Shares of Ally Financial have returned -1.7% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change, and the company holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the overall market [9].

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates Ally Financial (ALLY) will report a year-over-year increase in earnings driven by higher revenues when it releases its results for the quarter ended December 2025 [1] Earnings Expectations - The earnings report is expected on January 21, and if the results exceed expectations, the stock may rise; conversely, missing estimates could lead to a decline [2] - The consensus estimate for quarterly earnings is $1.02 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +30.8%, with revenues projected at $2.13 billion, up 5% from the previous year [3] Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 0.42% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a collective reassessment by analysts [4] - The Most Accurate Estimate for Ally Financial is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -2.93%, suggesting a bearish outlook from analysts [12] Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with a positive Earnings ESP indicating a higher likelihood of an earnings beat [8][10] - Stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 1, 2, or 3 have historically produced a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time [10] Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Ally Financial was expected to post earnings of $0.99 per share but delivered $1.15, resulting in a surprise of +16.16% [13] - Over the past four quarters, the company has consistently beaten consensus EPS estimates [14] Conclusion - Ally Financial does not currently appear to be a strong candidate for an earnings beat, and investors should consider other factors when making decisions regarding the stock ahead of the earnings release [17]

Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett has officially stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, but the company is expected to maintain its investment strategy under Greg Abel's leadership, focusing on high-quality businesses with competitive advantages [1][2]. Group 1: Ally Financial - Ally Financial is a significant holding for Berkshire Hathaway, with 29 million shares representing a 9.4% stake valued at approximately $1.3 billion [4]. - The company has shown resilience, recovering from previous challenges, with shares rising nearly 30% in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500's 16.4% gain [6]. - Analysts forecast earnings of $5.38 per share for 2026, a 44% increase from the 2025 forecast of $3.75, suggesting potential for share price recovery to previous highs [7]. Group 2: Chevron - Chevron appears overvalued at about 20 times forward P/E, compared to competitors like ExxonMobil at 16.9 times [9]. - Despite current pressures from low oil prices, investor optimism remains due to Chevron's cost-cutting plans and potential growth in natural gas power generation for AI data centers [11]. - A rebound in oil prices is anticipated in 2027 and 2028, which could lead to a significant increase in Chevron's stock performance [12]. Group 3: Kraft Heinz - Kraft Heinz represents a 27.5% stake in Berkshire's portfolio, valued at about $7.9 billion, but has faced challenges, including a $5 billion impairment loss [13][14]. - The company plans to split into two entities, separating its slower-growing staple foods business from its faster-growing sauces and seasonings business, which could unlock significant value [15]. - Current trading at 9.5 times forward earnings is low compared to peers in the packaged foods sector, which typically trade at mid-teens P/E ratios, indicating potential for investment [16].

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced a slight decline on Friday, with the Nasdaq Composite falling approximately 0.1% amid low liquidity and trading volumes following the Christmas market closure [1] - For the week, the S&P 500 increased by 1.4%, marking its fourth weekly gain in five weeks, while both the Dow and Nasdaq also rose over 1% [1] Analyst Insights - Wall Street analysts frequently update stock picks, but their track records in predicting market movements can vary significantly, leading to confusion among investors regarding which opinions to trust [2] - Benzinga's Analyst Ratings API compiles high-quality stock ratings through partnerships with major sell-side banks, providing insights that can serve as effective trading indicators for subscribers [3] Top Analyst Picks - Benzinga offers access to the latest analyst ratings, allowing traders to sort through ratings based on analyst accuracy [4] - Notable analysts and their recent ratings include: - **Truist Securities**: Maintained a Buy rating on Heico Corp (NYSE:HEI) with a price target increase from $366 to $391, indicating a potential upside of around 17% [6] - **Morgan Stanley**: Maintained an Overweight rating on CME Group Inc (NASDAQ:CME) with a price target increase from $314 to $320, suggesting a potential upside of about 15% [6] - **Truist Securities**: Maintained a Buy rating on Ally Financial Inc (NYSE:ALLY) with a price target increase from $47 to $51, expecting a surge of around 12% [6] - **RBC Capital**: Maintained an Outperform rating on GE Vernova Inc (NYSE:GEV) with a price target of $761, anticipating a gain of approximately 16% [6] - **Truist Securities**: Maintained a Buy rating on Lam Research Corp (NASDAQ:LRCX) with a price target increase from $175 to $200, expecting a jump of around 13% [7]

Core Viewpoint - Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY) shares reached a 52-week high of $46.78, closing at $46.43, driven by stronger U.S. GDP growth, which has enhanced confidence in economic resilience and future earnings [1][8]. Stock Performance - Over the past three months, ALLY stock has increased by 13.7%, outperforming the industry growth of 10.4% and the S&P 500 index's growth of 5.1% [2]. - Compared to peers, Ally has outperformed Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC), which saw a decline of 1.2%, but underperformed OneMain Holdings, which increased by 16.9% [2]. Revenue Growth Factors - Ally Financial's net financing revenues have shown a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% over the five years ending in 2024, with continued growth in the first nine months of 2025 [5]. - The company expects net financing revenues to improve due to strong origination volumes and retail loan growth [6]. Financial Projections - Total revenues for 2026 are projected to grow by 12.5% year-over-year, with net financing revenues expected to grow by 2.3% in 2025, 6.1% in 2026, and 3.7% in 2027 [9][10]. Restructuring Efforts - Ally Financial is restructuring operations to simplify its organizational structure, including divesting its credit card business and ceasing new mortgage loan originations [12][13]. - The company aims to strengthen core businesses and improve relationships with dealer customers, which is expected to drive other revenues [13]. Liquidity Position - As of September 30, 2025, Ally Financial had total debt of $20.6 billion and cash and cash equivalents of $10.2 billion, maintaining investment-grade ratings [14]. - The company has announced a multi-year share repurchase plan worth up to $2 billion, indicating strong capital distribution actions [16]. Challenges to Growth - Weak asset quality remains a significant challenge, with net charge-offs expected to remain elevated due to high interest rates and inflationary pressures [17][18]. - The company has experienced a persistent rise in expenses, with a CAGR of 8.6% over the last five years, primarily due to higher compensation costs [19]. - Pressure on net interest margin (NIM) is evident, with a decline from 3.32% in 2023 to 3.27% in 2024, influenced by rising deposit costs [20][21]. Earnings Estimates and Valuation - Analysts have revised earnings estimates upward, projecting a 60% year-over-year rise in earnings per share for 2025 to $3.76 and a 41.7% increase for 2026 to $5.32 [22][23]. - Ally Financial's forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 8.77X, below the industry average of 10.17X, indicating a discount compared to peers [24]. Investment Outlook - Increasing net financing revenues and a solid liquidity position are expected to support Ally's financials, along with business streamlining initiatives [26]. - However, weak asset quality, NIM pressure, and elevated expenses pose significant near-term headwinds, making the stock a cautious bet for investors [27].

Core Insights - Steven Cress is the Head of Quantitative Strategies at Seeking Alpha, managing quant ratings and factor grades for stocks and ETFs [1][2] - He leads Alpha Picks, a monthly selection of two attractive stocks to buy and determines optimal selling points [1][2] - Cress emphasizes a data-driven approach to investment, aiming to eliminate emotional biases and simplify complex research [2] Company Overview - Seeking Alpha has developed a quantitative stock rating system that interprets data for investors, providing insights and saving time [2] - The platform offers a systematic stock recommendation tool, Alpha Picks, designed for long-term investors to build a high-quality portfolio [2] - Cress previously founded CressCap Investment Research, which was acquired by Seeking Alpha in 2018, enhancing its quant analysis capabilities [2] Leadership Background - Steven Cress has over 30 years of experience in equity research, quantitative strategies, and portfolio management [2] - His prior roles include running a proprietary trading desk at Morgan Stanley and leading international business development at Northern Trust [2]

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) has scheduled the release of its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at approximately 7:30 a.m. ET. The results will be available on the Ally Press Room website (http://media.ally.com). Ally will host a conference call at 9 a.m. ET to review the company's performance. You may listen to the call via webcast or dial-in. The webcast will be live on Ally's Investor Relations website ...

Core Insights - The Zacks Consumer Loans industry is experiencing a positive outlook due to falling interest rates and easing lending standards, with the Federal Reserve implementing its third consecutive interest rate cut in December, bringing rates to a range of 3.5-3.75% [1][6]. Industry Overview - Lower interest rates are expected to support net interest income (NII) expansion, which is crucial for banks' earnings. Although lower benchmark rates may compress yields on loans and securities, easing funding pressures help maintain margins. This environment is likely to reduce delinquency rates and charge-offs, encouraging increased borrowing from consumers and businesses, ultimately enhancing banks' profitability [2][8]. Performance Metrics - The consumer loan industry has significantly outperformed the S&P 500 Index and the Finance sector over the past year, with a collective return of 54.5%, compared to 14.6% for the S&P 500 and 14.9% for the Finance sector [3]. Future Outlook - The Federal Reserve anticipates one additional rate cut in 2026, but improving consumer sentiment and rising loan demand driven by lower rates are expected to continue supporting consumer lenders [6]. Company Highlights Enova International (ENVA) - Enova is diversifying its product offerings and has announced the acquisition of Grasshopper Bancorp for approximately $369 million, expected to be accretive to adjusted earnings by over 15% in the first year post-acquisition [14]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Enova's earnings in 2026 is $14.12, reflecting a 10.6% increase from the previous year [15]. Ally Financial (ALLY) - Ally Financial is restructuring its operations, including divesting its credit card business and ceasing new mortgage loan originations, to focus on core businesses. This is expected to drive net financing revenues [20]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ally's earnings in 2026 is $5.32, indicating a 42.1% increase from the year-ago figure [21]. OneMain Holdings (OMF) - OneMain provides unsecured and secured personal installment loans and has shown strong revenue growth. The company has expanded into auto lending through its acquisition of Foursight Capital LLC [24]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OneMain's earnings in 2026 is $8.02, representing a 19.9% increase from the previous year [25].