Core Viewpoint - KeyCorp (KEY) is a significant player in the financial services sector with a market capitalization of $20.5 billion, providing a wide range of banking and investment services across the United States [1]. Company Overview - KeyCorp operates primarily through its Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank segments, offering retail and commercial banking products, investment management, wealth management, and capital markets services [1][2]. - The company also engages in community development financing, international banking, and advisory services [2]. Stock Performance - KeyCorp's shares have decreased by 4.9% from their 52-week high of $20.04, while the stock has returned 15.6% over the past three months, slightly underperforming the Nasdaq Composite's 15.8% increase [3]. - Year-to-date, KEY stock is up 11.2%, lagging behind the Nasdaq's 17.7% gain, and has gained 13.4% over the past 52 weeks compared to the Nasdaq's 26.4% surge [4]. - The stock has been trading above its 50-day moving average since May and above its 200-day moving average since late June [4]. Recent Financial Results - KeyCorp's shares rose by 2.4% on July 22 following stronger-than-expected Q2 2025 results, with earnings per share (EPS) of $0.35, a 40% year-over-year increase [5]. - Total revenues increased by 20.9% to $1.8 billion, driven by higher net interest income and a 10% rise in non-interest income, particularly from fee-based businesses [5]. - Improved capital ratios and sequential loan growth indicate financial strength, which offsets concerns regarding rising expenses and provisions [5]. Analyst Sentiment - Despite underperforming relative to the Nasdaq, analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook on KeyCorp, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 24 analysts [6]. - The mean price target for KEY is $20.12, representing a 5.5% premium to current levels [6].

Core Insights - The current market presents a challenge for investors seeking safe places to allocate new capital, as the S&P 500 is experiencing record highs and significant rallies [1] - There are still opportunities to find relatively inexpensive stocks with above-average growth potential, particularly within the S&P 500 [2] Stock Selection - A screen identified 104 S&P 500 stocks with above-average growth and below-average price multiples, narrowing down to 86 after excluding energy and materials sectors [3][4] - T-Mobile is highlighted for its expected 19.4% earnings growth next year, trading at just over 18 times next year's earnings [4] - Royal Caribbean and Expedia are noted as strong travel stocks, with Expedia projected to grow earnings by 18% next year while trading at 13 times earnings, significantly cheaper than Booking Holdings [5] - Dollar Tree is identified as a consumer staples stock with a 15% growth rate, trading at less than 15 times next year's earnings, making it a favorable option [6] Financial Sector Opportunities - The financial sector is experiencing favorable conditions, with 34 of the 86 identified stocks coming from this sector [7] - Capital One Financial is projected to have nearly 14% earnings growth next year, trading at roughly 11 times next year's earnings [8] - American Express is expected to grow earnings by 12.6% next year, trading at less than 20 times earnings, which is cheaper than the overall S&P [9] - Citigroup is highlighted for its strong recovery under CEO Jane Fraser, with expected growth of 28% next year while trading at just 10.5 times earnings [10] - Keycorp, a regional bank, is expected to grow at 22% next year, trading at just under 11 times next year's earnings [11] Other Notable Stocks - Charles Schwab is recognized as a strong retail brokerage, while Apollo is noted for its leadership in private equity and private credit with projected earnings growth of 19% [12][13] - Insight, a biopharma company, stands out in the healthcare sector with expected earnings growth of 19% and trading at just under 12 times next year's earnings [14] - Caterpillar is noted for its strong performance, with an expected 18% earnings growth and trading at 22 times next year's earnings [15] - Dell Technologies is mentioned as a core player in AI infrastructure, while BXP, a real estate company, has rebounded after trimming its dividend to focus on growth projects [18][19] - Energy, a utility company, is highlighted for its growth potential due to infrastructure projects, including a $10 billion data center by Meta [20]

Group 1 - KeyCorp has lowered its prime lending rate to 7.25 percent from 7.50 percent, effective September 18, 2025 [1] - KeyCorp is celebrating its bicentennial in 2025, marking 200 years of service [2] - As of June 30, 2025, KeyCorp has assets of approximately $185 billion [2] Group 2 - KeyCorp operates approximately 1,000 branches and 1,200 ATMs across 15 states [2] - The company provides a range of financial services including deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services [2] - KeyCorp also offers corporate and investment banking products under the KeyBanc Capital Markets name [2] Group 3 - KeyCorp reported a net income of $387 million for the second quarter of 2025, equating to $0.35 per diluted common share [4]

Core Insights - Small business owners are currently focused on building stronger financial foundations while managing rising costs and policy shifts [1][5] - A significant portion of small business owners are in survival mode, with 23% not focused on long-term planning and 46% feeling their performance fell short of expectations in 2025 [1][2] Financial Concerns - Inflation and rising costs are the top concerns for 50% of small business owners, surpassing competition (33%), cash flow (25%), and labor shortages (22%) [3] - 25% of small business owners are increasing prices for customers due to recent tariffs and rising costs [3] Emergency Preparedness - 46% of small business owners believe they could cover one month of operating expenses in case of an emergency, a slight decrease from 49% in Fall 2024 [2] - 72% of small business owners are very concerned about the impact of upcoming federal legislation changes on their operations [4] Confidence and Resilience - Despite uncertainties, 80% of small business owners feel confident in making informed decisions [4] - Small business owners are prioritizing strategies and resources that will help shape their resilience for the future [6][7] Seeking Professional Guidance - 21% of small business owners feel more secure by having regular conversations with their business bankers, with many seeking guidance on cash flow (33%), financial planning (33%), and tax strategy (31%) [9] - Maintaining personal resilience is also a focus, with 30% of small business owners indicating that a good night's sleep contributes to their resilience [9]

Core Insights - Analysts predict significant revenue growth for four S&P 500 stocks, with expectations of 60% or more this year, surpassing Nvidia's 58.2% and Palantir's 45.2% growth rates [2][3] Group 1: Revenue Growth Projections - Expand Energy (EXE) is expected to lead with a revenue increase of 215% in 2025, reaching $9.4 billion, driven by high oil prices [5][8] - TKO Group (TKO) is projected to achieve a 67% revenue growth, hitting $4.7 billion in 2025, reflecting strong performance in the entertainment sector [7][8] - EQT (EQT) and KeyCorp (KEY) are also forecasted to see revenue growth of 60.9% and 60.1%, respectively, indicating robust performance across various sectors [8] Group 2: Market Context - The overall S&P 500 is anticipated to post a modest revenue growth of 6.2% in 2025, highlighting the exceptional nature of the aforementioned stocks [3] - Analysts have expressed increased optimism regarding earnings outlooks for the third quarter, suggesting a positive sentiment in the market [3]

Core Insights - KeyBank has announced a partnership with Jeremiah Smith, a prominent college football player, to enhance community engagement and financial education in Ohio [1][2][4] - The initiative, named "The KeyBank Financial Playbook," aims to provide financial knowledge through football-themed content, targeting younger audiences and sports fans [2][4] - Smith's growing social media presence and commitment to education align with KeyBank's mission to empower communities [3][4][5] Company Overview - KeyCorp, the parent company of KeyBank, is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2025, with assets totaling approximately $185 billion as of June 30, 2025 [5] - KeyBank operates a network of around 1,000 branches and 1,200 ATMs across 15 states, offering a range of financial services including deposit, lending, and investment services [5] - The bank also provides corporate and investment banking products under the KeyBanc Capital Markets brand, focusing on middle market companies [5]

Group 1 - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, access to the Zacks 1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market within a 30-day timeframe, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum [2][10] Group 2 - The Value Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [3] - The Growth Score focuses on a company's future prospects by analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] - The Momentum Score helps investors capitalize on price trends and earnings outlook changes, utilizing metrics like one-week price change and monthly earnings estimate percentage change [5] Group 3 - The VGM Score combines the three Style Scores to identify stocks with the best value, growth potential, and momentum, serving as a strong indicator alongside the Zacks Rank [6] - The Zacks Rank model, based on earnings estimate revisions, has shown a strong track record, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks yielding an average annual return of +23.64% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] Group 4 - KeyCorp, based in Cleveland, OH, offers a variety of financial services including commercial and retail banking, investment management, and investment banking across 15 states with around 1,000 branches and 1,200 ATMs [12] - KeyCorp holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and has a VGM Score of B, with a Momentum Style Score of A, reflecting a 5.5% increase in shares over the past four weeks [12][13] - Analysts have revised KeyCorp's earnings estimate upwards for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising to $1.43 per share, and the company has an average earnings surprise of +8.1% [13]

Group 1 - KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) is a regional bank with a nationwide presence, offering common shares and four different preferred share options for fixed-income investors [1] - Two of the preferred issuances, KEY.PR.J and KEY.PR.K, are trading at fixed payments [1] Group 2 - The article focuses on income investing through common shares, preferred shares, or bonds, with a target of two articles per week for publication [1]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to complement the Zacks Rank, providing additional stock ratings based on value, growth, and momentum [2][3] Zacks Style Scores Overview - Stocks are rated A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with higher scores indicating better performance potential [3] - The Style Scores are categorized into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score [3][4][5][6] Value Score - The Value Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3] Growth Score - The Growth Score focuses on a stock's future prospects and financial health, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score helps investors capitalize on price trends by analyzing one-week price changes and monthly earnings estimate changes [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, serving as a comprehensive indicator for investors seeking value, growth, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank Integration - The Zacks Rank utilizes earnings estimate revisions to assist investors in building successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988 [7][8] - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal returns [9] KeyCorp Overview - KeyCorp, based in Cleveland, OH, offers a range of banking and financial services across 15 states with approximately 1,000 branches and 1,200 ATMs [11] - KeyCorp holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and a VGM Score of B, indicating a solid position in the market [11] - The company has a Value Style Score of B, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 13.25, making it attractive to value investors [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates by six analysts for fiscal 2025 have increased the Zacks Consensus Estimate to $1.43 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +8.1% [12]

Group 1 - KeyCorp is represented by Clark Khayat, Chief Financial Officer, and Randy Paine, President of Key Institutional Bank [1] - Randy Paine provides an overview of Key Institutional Bank, highlighting its business operations and market differentiation [2]