Here are two stocks with buy rank and strong value characteristics for investors to consider today, Dec. 17:Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. (BFH) : This U.S.-based tech-forward financial services company that provides payment and lending solutions carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 22.2% over the last 60 days.Bread Financial has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 7.30, compared with 12.30 for the industry. The company possesses a V ...

Core Insights - Three stocks are highlighted with a buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider on December 17 Group 1: Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited (NTB) - The company provides a range of community, commercial, and private banking services [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 5.1% over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a dividend yield of 3.9%, compared to the industry average of 2.7% [1] Group 2: F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. (FG) - The company specializes in fixed annuities and life insurance products [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 15% over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a dividend yield of 2.5%, compared to the industry average of 1.6% [2] Group 3: Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. (BFH) - The company is a tech-forward financial services provider offering payment and lending solutions [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 22.2% over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a dividend yield of 1.2%, compared to the industry average of 0.0% [3]

Here are five stocks added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) List today:F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. (FG) : This fixed annuities and life insurance products company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 15% over the last 60 days.Amphenol Corporation (APH) : This company that designs and manufactures electronic connectors, interconnect systems and sensors for diverse global industries has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 8.6% ov ...

Core Insights - Bread Financial Holdings (BFH) has attracted attention from investors, with Morgan Stanley setting a price target of $57, indicating a potential decrease of approximately -24.04% from its current trading price of $75.04 [1][5] - Zacks Investment Research identifies BFH as a top pick for momentum investors, awarding it a Momentum Style Score of A, which reflects strong recent price trends [2][5] - BFH's current stock price is $75, showing a slight increase of $0.65 or approximately 0.87%, with a trading range over the past year between $38.21 and $75.83, highlighting its volatility [3][5] Market Metrics - BFH has a market capitalization of approximately $3.42 billion, indicating its significant size and presence in the market [4] - The trading volume for BFH today is 32,721 shares, providing insight into the stock's liquidity and investor interest [4]

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Even ...

An updated edition of the October 27, 2025 article.Money is moving faster, smarter and increasingly without cash. Mobile payments are reshaping money flows across a connected global economy, with smartphones, tablets, and wearables replacing physical wallets at the point of sale. As digital transactions gain ground, reliance on ATMs is steadily declining, including in regions once considered cash-heavy. What began as a simple convenience has matured into a powerful financial ecosystem that blends speed, tru ...

Key Takeaways EVTC, ENVA, LC, OPFI and BFH are five mid-cap fintech stocks likely to benefit from the Fed's rate cut.Lower rates support fintech sector's growth as it is inversely related to market interest rate.These five fintech stocks post improved earnings estimates for next year amid expanding fintech demand.On Dec. 10, the Federal Reserve (Fed) reduced the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to the range of 3.5-3.75% in its FOMC meeting. With this, the central bank has lowered the Fed fund rate ...

Question-and-Answer SessionToday's discussion is going to be a fireside chat. So maybe I'll kick it off with you, Ralph. You've done a ton to transform the company over the past few years. Maybe just talk a little bit about what are your -- what have you done? And what are your current areas of focus as we move into 2026?Ralph AndrettaPresident, CEO & Director Brian, thank you, and thank you for recognizing what we've done. And I think it's going to be more of the same. It's -- I've got a very boring answer ...

Summary of Bread Financial Conference Call (December 10, 2025) Company Overview - **Company**: Bread Financial (NYSE: BFH) - **Industry**: Credit Card and Financial Services Key Points Company Strategy and Focus - Bread Financial continues to focus on responsible growth and disciplined risk management, aiming to be a leading provider in the credit card space [1][2] - The company has improved its financial position and is now a capital return story, with solid EPS levels expected moving forward [1] - Operational excellence is emphasized as a key driver for business transformation and investment [3] Consumer Spending and Macroeconomic Environment - Consumer spending has shown resilience, with higher risk bands spending more on travel and entertainment, while lower risk bands focus on non-discretionary items [5] - Inflation has been a concern, but consumers are budgeting well and showing flexibility in spending, particularly during the holiday season [6] - A low single-digit growth of 1%-2% year-over-year in consumer spending is expected for the fourth quarter [8] Loan Growth and Underwriting - Average loans are expected to slightly decrease in 2025, but a return to low to mid-single-digit growth is anticipated for the following year due to improved credit performance and new partnerships [15][17] - The company maintains a cautious underwriting stance, focusing on data-driven decisions rather than a broad loosening of credit standards [23][25] Partnerships and New Business Development - Bread Financial's partner pipeline remains robust, with recent partnerships announced with Bed Bath & Beyond, Furniture First, and Raymour & Flanigan [30] - The company focuses on both acquiring new partners and maintaining existing relationships, with top partners committed until 2028 and beyond [35][54] Credit Performance and Loss Rates - The company has seen improving credit performance, with expectations to come in on the lower end of the 7.8-7.9% loss rate guidance [66] - A further improvement of 30-40 basis points in loss rates is anticipated for the next year, driven by better credit quality and consumer behavior [75][96] Capital Structure and Financial Management - Bread Financial has successfully restructured its capital, achieving a CET1 ratio in the mid-13% to 14% range [139] - The company plans to issue additional preferred shares to further strengthen its capital structure [141] - A focus on returning value to shareholders through dividends and buybacks is maintained, with a strong balance sheet allowing for multiple capital allocation strategies [118][150] Technology and Innovation - The company is leveraging AI and technology to enhance customer service, fraud management, and operational efficiency [128] - Bread Financial is committed to staying competitive by building strong relationships with partners and continuously improving its offerings [130] Market Position and Future Outlook - The company is optimistic about its growth trajectory, with a focus on improving credit quality and expanding its partner base [197] - Bread Financial encourages investors to judge the company based on its consistent outcomes and strong balance sheet, highlighting the potential for future growth [198] Additional Insights - The company has successfully navigated a challenging macroeconomic environment and is positioned for continued improvement in credit quality and operational efficiency [96][197] - Bread Financial's approach to partnerships emphasizes long-term relationships rather than transactional interactions, which is seen as a competitive advantage [135]

Core Insights - Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. reported a performance update highlighting a decrease in net loss rate and delinquency rate year-over-year [1] - The company experienced a 1% decline in average credit card and other loans from November 2024 to November 2025 [1] - The impact of hurricanes Helene and Milton led to a temporary freeze on delinquency progression for affected cardholders, contributing to lower net principal losses [1] Financial Performance - End-of-period credit card and other loans as of November 30, 2025, were $18,094 million, compared to $18,143 million in 2024, reflecting a 1% decrease [1] - Average credit card and other loans decreased from $17,947 million in November 2024 to $17,776 million in November 2025, also a 1% decline [1] - Net principal losses decreased from $118 million in November 2024 to $109 million in November 2025, resulting in a net loss rate of 7.4%, down from 8.0% [1] Delinquency Metrics - The delinquency rate improved from 6.2% in November 2024 to 6.0% in November 2025 [1] - The total amount of 30 days or more delinquencies was $967 million as of November 30, 2025, compared to $1,032 million in 2024 [1] - The total principal amount of credit card and other loans was $16,251 million as of November 30, 2025, down from $16,695 million in 2024 [1]