LOS ANGELES, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN – IBN, a multifaceted communications organization engaged in connecting public companies to the investment community, is pleased to announce the release of the latest episode of The GotStocks Podcast as part of its sustained effort to provide specialized content distribution via widespread syndication channels. The GotStocks Podcast shines a spotlight on the small-cap sector through in-depth interviews with executives leading promising companies poised ...

Core Insights - ICICI Bank Ltd. reported a net income of INR126.3 billion ($1.5 billion) for Q4 FY2025, marking an 18% increase year-over-year, driven by growth in net interest income, non-interest income, and loans and deposits, despite facing higher operating expenses and provisions [1][8]. Financial Performance - Net interest income (NII) rose 11% year-over-year to INR211.9 billion ($2.5 billion), with a net interest margin of 4.41%, up 1 basis point [2]. - Non-interest income increased by 18.4% to INR70.2 billion ($821 million), while fee income grew 16% to INR63.1 billion ($738 million) [2]. - Operating expenses totaled INR107.9 billion ($1.26 billion), reflecting an 11.1% year-over-year increase [3]. Loans and Deposits - As of March 31, 2025, total advances reached INR13,417.7 billion ($157 billion), up 1.2% sequentially, primarily driven by business banking loans [4]. - Total deposits grew 5.9% sequentially to INR16,103.5 billion ($188.4 billion) [4]. Credit Quality - The net non-performing assets (NPA) ratio improved to 0.39%, down from 0.42% in the prior-year quarter, with recoveries and upgrades of NPAs amounting to INR38.17 billion ($447 million) [5]. - There were net additions of INR13.25 billion ($155 million) to gross NPA, with gross NPA additions totaling INR51.42 billion ($602 million) and write-offs of INR21.18 billion ($248 million) [6]. Provisions and Capital Ratios - Provisions (excluding tax) increased by 24.1% year-over-year to INR8.9 billion ($104 million), with total contingency provisions at INR131 billion ($1.5 billion) [6]. - ICICI Bank's total capital adequacy ratio was 16.55%, and Tier-1 capital adequacy was 15.94% as of March 31, 2025, both exceeding minimum requirements [7]. Market Outlook - Increased consumer loan demand, improved deposit balances, and growth in NII and non-interest income are expected to support ICICI Bank's financials, although elevated expenses and weak asset quality present near-term challenges [8].

January 25, 2025 Q3-2025: Performance review 3 Key highlights for Q3-2025 (1/2) Certain definitions in this release relating to a future period of time (including inter alia concerning our future business plans or growth prospects) are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under applicable securities laws including the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results ...

Core Insights - United Overseas Bank Ltd. (UOVEY) has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while ICICI Bank Limited (IBN) has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - UOVEY is considered a better value option compared to IBN based on various valuation metrics [6] Valuation Metrics - UOVEY has a forward P/E ratio of 9.83, significantly lower than IBN's forward P/E of 19.17 [5] - The PEG ratio for UOVEY is 1.55, while IBN's PEG ratio is slightly higher at 1.58 [5] - UOVEY's P/B ratio stands at 1.24, compared to IBN's P/B ratio of 2.84, indicating UOVEY's stock is more undervalued relative to its book value [6] Value Grades - UOVEY holds a Value grade of B, while IBN has a Value grade of D, further supporting the conclusion that UOVEY is the superior value option [6]

Core Viewpoint - ICICI Bank Limited has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with stock price movements, particularly due to institutional investors' reliance on these estimates for valuation [4][6]. - For the fiscal year ending March 2025, ICICI Bank is projected to earn $1.53 per share, reflecting a 10.1% increase from the previous year, with a 0.2% rise in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a proven track record of Zacks Rank 1 stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - The upgrade of ICICI Bank to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Core Viewpoint - ICICI Bank Limited is one of the largest multinational banks in India, headquartered in Mumbai, with a global presence in 15 countries [1] Group 1: Company Overview - ICICI Bank has a well-diversified loan portfolio, focusing on long-term and medium-term value investments [1] - The bank targets companies with strong fundamentals and adopts a sector-agnostic investment approach [1] Group 2: Investment Focus - The bank emphasizes equity investments, aiming for substantial returns over the long haul [1]

Core Viewpoint - ICICI Bank Ltd. reported a net income of INR 117.9 billion ($1.4 billion) for Q3 FY2025, reflecting a 14.8% increase year-over-year, driven by growth in net interest income, non-interest income, and loans and deposits, despite higher operating expenses and provisions [1][2][9]. Financial Performance - Net interest income (NII) rose by 9.1% year-over-year to INR 203.7 billion ($2.38 billion), with a net interest margin of 4.25%, down 18 basis points [3]. - Non-interest income increased to INR 67 billion ($782 million), marking a 12.1% year-over-year growth, while fee income grew by 16.3% to INR 61.8 billion ($722 million) [3]. - Operating expenses totaled INR 105.6 billion ($1.23 billion), up 5% year-over-year [4]. Loans and Deposits - As of December 31, 2024, total advances reached INR 13,143.7 billion ($153.51 billion), a sequential increase of 2.9%, primarily driven by business banking loans and domestic corporate loans [5]. - Total deposits grew by 1.5% sequentially to INR 15,203.1 billion ($177.56 billion) [5]. Credit Quality - The net non-performing assets (NPA) ratio improved to 0.42%, down from 0.44% in the prior-year period, with recoveries and upgrades of NPAs amounting to INR 33.92 billion ($396 million) [6]. - There were net additions of INR 26.93 billion ($315 million) to gross NPA, with gross NPA additions at INR 60.85 billion ($711 million) and write-offs of INR 20.1 billion ($235 million) [6]. Provisions and Capital Ratios - Provisions (excluding tax) increased significantly to INR 37.9 billion ($442.9 million), with total contingency provisions at INR 131 billion ($1.53 billion) [7]. - ICICI Bank's total capital adequacy ratio was 14.71% and Tier-1 capital adequacy was 14.04% as of December 31, 2024, both exceeding minimum requirements [8]. Overall Assessment - The quarterly performance of ICICI Bank was strong, supported by increased consumer loan demand, improved deposit balances, and growth in NII and non-interest income, although elevated expenses and asset quality concerns pose challenges [9].

Core Insights - Thumzup Media Corp. is positioned as an emerging leader in social media branding and programmatic marketing solutions, aiming to democratize the $200 billion social media marketing industry [2][3] - The company's business model allows small businesses to pay individuals cash for promoting their brands on social media, facilitating a frictionless advertising experience [3][5] Company Overview - Thumzup Media Corp. utilizes a programmatic advertiser dashboard and a consumer-facing app to enable users to earn cash for posting about advertisers on social media [5] - The platform allows businesses to easily create campaigns, set payment amounts, and determine the number of posts they wish to purchase, highlighting its user-friendly approach [3][5] Market Position - Thumzup is compared to Uber in terms of its potential to create significant value by enabling widespread participation in social media marketing [3] - The company claims a first-mover advantage in its niche, addressing the challenge small businesses face in gaining visibility in a mobile-centric environment [3][5] Podcast Insights - The latest episode of The TechMediaWire Podcast features an interview with Robert Steele, CEO of Thumzup, discussing the company's monetization strategy and commitment to transparent compensation for creators [2][4]

Core Insights - The latest episode of The Stock2Me Podcast features Chris King, Senior VP of Corporate Services at OTC Markets Group, discussing the company's mission to facilitate access to U.S. capital markets for non-U.S. issuers [2][3] - OTC Markets Group has over 12,000 securities trading, with more than 90% of order flow occurring in companies listed outside the U.S., and has seen over $400 billion in volume traded this year, with a total market cap exceeding $27 trillion [3][4] Company Overview - OTC Markets Group differentiates itself from traditional stock exchanges like Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange by offering a streamlined process for international issuers, allowing them to rely on their home market disclosures instead of extensive SEC filings [4][5] - The company provides an exemption under SEC Rule 12g3-2(b) for international companies, simplifying compliance with U.S. securities laws and enabling trading on OTCQX and OTCQB markets [5] Market Dynamics - The OTC Markets Group's model reduces costs and complexity for companies compared to traditional exchanges, which often involve significant duplication of effort and disclosure requirements [5] - The podcast emphasizes the advantages of the OTCQB Venture Market and OTCQX Best Market for international companies, particularly those based in Canada [5] Company Commitment - IBN continues to expand its network and distribution capabilities, having served over 500 public and private companies for more than 18 years [6][7] - The organization leverages a Dynamic Brand Portfolio to provide comprehensive communication solutions, including access to a wide network of wire solutions and syndication to over 5,000 news outlets [8][9]

(ICICI Bank Q2-2025: Performance review October 26, 2024 Certain definitions in this release relating to a future period of time (including inter alia concerning our future business plans or growth prospects) are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under applicable securities laws including the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially f ...