Core Viewpoint - SEI Investments (SEIC) has shown a 7.4% increase in stock price over the past four weeks, with a mean price target of $107.25 indicating a potential upside of 25.6% from the current price of $85.37 [1] Price Targets - The average price target consists of four estimates ranging from a low of $97.00 to a high of $115.00, with a standard deviation of $9.18, suggesting a relatively high agreement among analysts [2] - The lowest estimate indicates a 13.6% increase, while the highest suggests a 34.7% upside [2] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts are optimistic about SEIC's earnings prospects, as indicated by a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions, which historically correlates with stock price movements [4][11] - Over the last 30 days, one earnings estimate has increased, leading to a 0.1% rise in the Zacks Consensus Estimate [12] Zacks Rank - SEIC holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate factors, indicating strong potential for upside [13] Caution on Price Targets - While price targets are a common metric, they should not be the sole basis for investment decisions due to potential biases and inflated estimates from analysts [3][8][10]

Upgrades - CFRA upgraded Pool Corp. (POOL) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $304 [2] - Piper Sandler upgraded SEI Investments (SEIC) to Overweight from Neutral with a price target of $102, increased from $93, citing SEI as a "clear beneficiary" of the expanding alternatives landscape [2] - TD Cowen upgraded Ametek (AME) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $230, up from $180, noting that backlog remains near highs and is expected to grow [3] Downgrades - TD Cowen downgraded Janus Henderson (JHG) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $49 after the company agreed to be acquired for $7.4 billion or $49.00 per share [4] - Piper Sandler downgraded Clearwater Analytics (CWAN) to Neutral from Overweight with a price target of $24.55, down from $27, following its agreement to be acquired for $24.55 per share in cash [4] - BMO Capital downgraded Brown & Brown (BRO) to Market Perform from Outperform with a price target of $88, down from $90, due to lower consensus organic growth estimates for 2026 [5] - Evercore ISI downgraded Coty (COTY) to In Line from Outperform with a price target of $7, citing a lack of visibility on timing and catalysts for potential value unlock [6] Initiations - Oppenheimer initiated coverage of Spruce Biosciences (SPRB) with an Outperform rating and a price target of $283, supported by FDA confirmation of compelling clinical biomarker data [7] - LifeSci Capital initiated coverage of Sionna Therapeutics (SION) with an Outperform rating and a price target of $60, highlighting multiple quality shots on goal with its therapies [7] - Oppenheimer initiated coverage of Aardvark Therapeutics (AARD) with an Outperform rating and a price target of $35, noting the company's differentiated obesity franchise [7] - JonesResearch initiated coverage of Septerna (SEPN) with a Buy rating and a price target of $43, forecasting $2.5 billion in unadjusted U.S. peak sales in 2035 [7] - Loop Capital initiated coverage of Malibu Boats (MBUU) with a Buy rating and a price target of $34, indicating the marine industry is in the late stages of inventory rationalization [7]

Core Insights - SEI Investments Company (SEIC) has announced a semi-annual cash dividend of 52 cents per share, marking a 6.1% increase from the previous payout [1][6] - The company has a history of increasing dividends for 24 consecutive years, with a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 7% [2][6] - SEIC's board approved a $600 million increase to its stock buyback program, raising total authorization to approximately $773.2 million [3][6] - As of September 30, 2025, SEIC has a strong balance sheet with total debt of $43.8 million and cash and cash equivalents of $792.8 million, supporting ongoing capital returns [4][6] - Over the past three months, SEI Investments shares have declined by 4.2%, while the industry has seen a decline of 11.7% [5] Dividend and Share Repurchase - The recent dividend increase to 52 cents per share continues the company's trend of consistent hikes over the past 24 years [2][6] - The current dividend yield stands at 1.25%, based on a closing price of $83.08 [2] - The share repurchase program is part of SEIC's strategy to enhance shareholder value through efficient capital deployment [4][6] Financial Health - SEIC's low payout ratio of 18% of earnings indicates a sustainable capital distribution plan [2] - The company's strong liquidity position, with cash significantly exceeding its debt, supports ongoing dividend and buyback initiatives [4][6]

Group 1 - SEI Investments Company declared a regular semi-annual dividend of $0.52 per share, an increase from the previous $0.49 per share [1] - The cash dividend will be payable to shareholders of record on December 29, 2025, with a payment date of January 12, 2026 [1] Group 2 - SEI is a leading global provider of financial technology, operations, and asset management services within the financial services industry [2] - As of September 30, 2025, SEI manages, advises, or administers approximately $1.8 trillion in assets [2]

Core Viewpoint - SEI Investments Company has declared a semi-annual dividend increase from $0.49 to $0.52 per share, reflecting a positive financial performance and commitment to returning value to shareholders [1]. Company Overview - SEI is a leading global provider of financial technology, operations, and asset management services within the financial services industry [2]. - As of September 30, 2025, SEI manages, advises, or administers approximately $1.8 trillion in assets, indicating significant scale and influence in the market [2].

Core Insights - SEI announces the resignation of founder Alfred P. West, Jr. as part of a planned transition, effective January 1, 2026, with Carl A. Guarino appointed as the new Chairman of the Board [1][2] Company Overview - SEI Investments, founded in 1968, has grown from a small financial technology startup to a global publicly traded company managing approximately $1.8 trillion in assets and generating over $2.1 billion in annual revenues [2][8] - The company specializes in financial technology, operations, and asset management services, aiming to help clients effectively deploy their capital [7] Leadership Transition - Alfred P. West, Jr. has served as CEO for 54 years and has been instrumental in SEI's growth and success, providing strategic vision and industry expertise [2][4] - Carl A. Guarino, who has been an independent director since 2014, will take over as Chairman, bringing nearly 40 years of executive leadership experience [5][6] Future Direction - Guarino expresses commitment to building on West's legacy and emphasizes the importance of innovation and client relationships in driving long-term value for stakeholders [5][6]

Core Insights - The acquisition of Stratos Wealth Holdings by SEI is aimed at accelerating growth and enhancing operational capabilities, leveraging SEI's resources to capitalize on market opportunities [1][2][4][6] - The deal is expected to facilitate a greater volume of acquisitions, with plans to announce 15 simultaneous acquisitions in January [4][5] - SEI's investment in Stratos will enhance its asset management capabilities and provide a more robust platform for financial advisors [16][18] Company Overview - SEI has acquired Stratos Wealth Holdings for approximately $441 million, which includes a controlling stake in the U.S. business and plans to acquire the Mexico-based business next year [5][6] - Stratos manages about $37 billion in client assets and has over 350 advisors, positioning it as a significant player in the registered investment advisor (RIA) space [6] Strategic Goals - The partnership with SEI is intended to provide Stratos with the necessary capital and resources to pursue larger and more numerous transactions in the RIA market [7][12][14] - SEI aims to integrate Stratos's operations with minimal disruption while enhancing the value offered to Stratos advisors through improved technology and investment management capabilities [21][22] Market Positioning - The acquisition aligns with the growing demand for financial advice, as the industry faces a shortage of financial advisors, which is expected to increase the sustainability of advisor income [16] - Stratos's focus on Main Street investors complements SEI's existing ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) business, allowing for a broader service offering [18][19] Integration and Collaboration - SEI plans to leverage its extensive resources, including over 5,000 employees, to support Stratos in scaling its operations and enhancing service delivery [22] - There is a focus on collaboration between Stratos and SEI's existing capabilities, particularly in the OCIO (Outsourced Chief Investment Officer) space, to better serve clients [20][24]

Core Insights - SEI Investments Co. (SEIC) has completed the first phase of its strategic collaboration with Stratos Wealth Holdings, initially announced in July 2025, involving an investment of approximately $527 million for a 57.5% stake in Stratos [1][4] Group 1: Collaboration Details - The newly formed entity, SEI-Eclipse Holding Company, LLC, acquired the U.S.-based Stratos business for about $441 million, which represents approximately 81% of the total transaction value [3] - The finalized deal now totals around $544 million for a 57.5% stake in SEI-Eclipse Holding Company, with existing Stratos equity holders retaining a 42.5% interest, subject to put/call rights [4][8] - The second phase of the deal, which involves acquiring the Mexico-based NSC business, is expected to be completed in 2026, pending regulatory approvals [5][8] Group 2: Operational Impact - Founder and CEO Jeff Concepcion will continue to lead Stratos, which will maintain its established brand while operating as an affiliated business of SEI Investments [6] - Stratos' current business operations and client service model will remain unchanged, with SEI Investments enhancing its offerings through resources in technology, custody, operations, and asset management [6] Group 3: Market Context - Ryan Hicke, CEO of SEI Investments, highlighted three core growth opportunities in wealth management: advice, asset management, and administration, emphasizing that Stratos enhances their ecosystem with an advice platform that respects advisor independence [7] - SEI Investments' shares have declined by 7.1% over the past six months, compared to a 14.1% decline in the industry [7]

Core Insights - SEI has completed the first stage of its strategic investment in Stratos Wealth Holdings, acquiring the U.S.-based Stratos business for approximately $441 million, which represents about 81% of the total transaction value [1] - The partnership aims to enhance the wealth management ecosystem by combining SEI's strengths in advice, asset management, and administration with Stratos' independent advisory platform [1] - Stratos operates a national network of over 350 financial advisors across 29 states, advising approximately $38 billion in client assets [1] Company Overview - SEI is a leading global provider of financial technology, operations, and asset management services, managing approximately $1.8 trillion in assets as of September 30, 2025 [1] - Stratos Wealth Holdings supports independent financial advisors through flexible affiliation models and provides practice management consulting, operations, IT, and compliance services [1] Transaction Details - SEI will pay a total cash consideration of approximately $544 million for 57.5% of the equity of SEI-Eclipse Holding Company, with certain legacy Stratos equity holders retaining 42.5% [1] - The second stage of the transaction, involving the purchase of the Mexico-based NSC business, is expected to close in 2026, subject to regulatory approval [1]

Core Insights - SEI has completed the first stage of its strategic investment in Stratos Wealth Holdings, acquiring the U.S.-based Stratos business for approximately $441 million, which constitutes about 81% of the total transaction value [1] - The partnership aims to enhance the wealth management ecosystem by combining SEI's strengths in advice, asset management, and administration with Stratos' independent advisory platform [3][4] - Stratos operates a national network of over 350 financial advisors across 29 states, advising approximately $38 billion in client assets [5][8] Company Overview - SEI is a leading global provider of financial technology, operations, and asset management services, managing approximately $1.8 trillion in assets as of September 30, 2025 [7] - Stratos Wealth Holdings supports independent financial advisors through flexible affiliation models and offers practice management consulting, operations, IT, and compliance services [8] Transaction Details - SEI will pay a total cash consideration of approximately $544 million for 57.5% of the equity of SEI-Eclipse Holding Company, with legacy Stratos equity holders retaining 42.5% [5] - The second stage of the transaction, involving the purchase of the Mexico-based NSC business, is expected to close in 2026, subject to regulatory approval [6]