Raymond James is expanding its investment banking capabilities with the launch of a dedicated employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) advisory practice aimed at helping privately held companies navigate ownership transitions. The firm said the new ESOP advisory group will operate within its investment banking division and will focus on structuring and executing tax-advantaged ownership transfer strategies for privately owned businesses. The unit will also support Raymond James advisors working with business- ...

Core Viewpoint - LPL Financial Holdings Inc. is experiencing positive institutional interest and has received an upgrade from Citigroup, indicating a favorable outlook for the company's stock performance [1][2][6]. Institutional Investment - Mutual of America Capital Management LLC increased its investment in LPL Financial by 116.6%, now holding 5,568 shares valued at approximately $1.85 million, reflecting strong institutional confidence [2][6]. - Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. raised its holdings by 9.9%, owning 301 shares valued at $113,000, while Camden National Bank increased its stake by 3.1%, suggesting a positive sentiment among institutional investors [3][6]. Stock Performance - LPL Financial's stock is currently priced at $376.33, showing a 3.25% increase or $11.83, with trading fluctuations between $362.23 and $377.47 [4][6]. - Over the past year, the stock has experienced a high of $403.58 and a low of $262.83, indicating volatility and potential for growth [4]. - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $30.12 billion, highlighting its significant presence in the financial services industry [5].

You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. This week, a handful of wealth management CEOs championed their advisor recruiting and retention efforts on quarterly earnings calls.  Raymond James even highlighted a new reporting line revealing how much they spent on recruiting and retention in their fiscal first quarter. (It was up 22% year-over-year). In the meantime, RIA roll-ups continued to announce acquisitions, ranging from firm ...

Group 1 - Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) is recognized as one of the 11 most profitable cheap stocks to invest in currently, with Scotiabank raising its price target from $114 to $152 while maintaining an Outperform rating [1] - Scotiabank has updated its price targets for gold and precious minerals companies, increasing its forecasts for gold and silver prices due to ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainties and central bank buying [2] - Citi raised its price target for Newmont from $104 to $118, maintaining a Buy rating, while expressing a neutral stance on gold prices after a recent rally and expecting some moderation throughout the year [3] - Raymond James also increased its price target for Newmont from $99 to $111, keeping an Outperform rating, and emphasized the company's lower jurisdictional risk and solid cash flow generation [4] Group 2 - Newmont Corporation is a major player in the gold mining industry and also produces copper, zinc, lead, and silver, making it one of the largest gold mining companies globally [5]

Core Viewpoint - US Bancorp (NYSE:USB) is viewed positively by analysts, with a strong buy rating from Raymond James following its acquisition announcement, indicating a strategic shift towards fee-based businesses [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Impact - The acquisition of BTIG is expected to enhance US Bancorp's capital markets division, leveraging a history of cooperation between the two entities to facilitate integration [2] - Raymond James has set a price target of $57 per share for US Bancorp, reflecting confidence in the bank's strategic direction [1] Group 2: Analyst Ratings and Forecasts - Wolfe Research downgraded US Bancorp from Outperform to Peer Perform, citing decreased upside potential despite the bank's strong growth trajectory [3] - The firm projects US Bancorp's core earnings per share to grow at a 10% CAGR through 2027 compared to 2025, but sees limited upside to 2027 consensus projections [3] - Expectations for Return on Tangible Common Equity (ROTCE) are to remain in the high teens [3] Group 3: Company Overview - US Bancorp is a bank holding company providing a range of financial services, including cash management, lending, depository services, foreign exchange, and trust and investment management [4]

Core Insights - Royce Investment Partners anticipates a rebound for small-cap quality and value stocks in 2026, moving away from speculative stocks linked to AI that have dominated the market since April 2025 [2][4] - The firm emphasizes that strong companies with solid balance sheets and attractive valuations will attract investor interest, particularly in the consumer staples, packaging, business services, and insurance sectors [3][4] - Small-cap stocks are expected to outperform larger counterparts in 2026, marking a significant shift in market dynamics [4] Company Highlights - **Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS)**: - Analysts from Goldman Sachs and Stifel Nicolaus have reiterated a Buy rating, raising the price target from $93 to $125 and from $112 to $134 respectively [8][9] - The aerospace and defense sector is projected to remain strong in 2026 due to supply-demand dynamics, with KTOS benefiting from order momentum in Valkyrie drones and advancements in hypersonic testing [10][11] - **Coeur Mining, Inc. (NYSE:CDE)**: - The company has received a Buy rating from Raymond James, with the price target increased from $21 to $24.5, and from Roth MKM, with the target raised from $20 to $23 [12][13] - The updated outlook for gold and silver prices in 2026 reflects significant increases, with gold projected at $4,125 and silver at $56.25, influenced by macroeconomic factors [13] - Coeur Mining is expected to report fiscal Q4 2025 results on February 18, with anticipated revenue of approximately $668.7 million and a GAAP EPS of $0.48 [14]

Core Viewpoint - Raymond James Investment Management is set to acquire Clark Capital Management Group, a $46 billion asset manager, as part of its strategy to expand its boutique investment management division [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition involves Clark Capital Management Group, founded in 1986 and based in Philadelphia, which will retain its name and leadership team post-acquisition [2][3]. - The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026 [2]. - Clark Capital offers multi-asset class investments, model portfolios, and mutual funds, along with a high-net-worth service team for wealth planning [2]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - This acquisition is part of Raymond James' commitment to building a leading global asset manager with a diverse range of innovative investment solutions, as stated by the Chief Operating Officer Scott Curtis [4]. - Clark Capital will join six other firms in the Raymond James Investment Management division, including Eagle Asset Management and Reams Asset Management [3]. Group 3: Leadership and Advisory - The firm is led by CEO Brendan Clark, the son of the founder and executive chairman Harry Clark [3]. - Raymond James & Associates acted as the financial advisor for the transaction, while Evercore served as the financial advisor for Clark Capital [4]. Group 4: Recent Developments - In December, Raymond James Investment Management appointed Jeff Ringdahl as president, who previously held a similar position at Summit Trail Advisors [5]. - Raymond James is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is expected to report company earnings on January 28 [5].

Group 1 - Verizon Communications Inc. is considered one of the most undervalued blue chip stocks currently available for investment [1] - As of January 7, 2026, approximately 40% of analysts covering Verizon are bullish, with a consensus price target of $46.50, indicating a potential upside of 15.40% [2] - The company's network-led strategy is resulting in steadier growth and defensible cash flows, bolstered by a recent commercial agreement with Kodiak AI for 5G, LTE, and IoT connectivity [2] - Verizon's partnership with Array Digital Infrastructure provides access to around 4,400 U.S. towers, enhancing coverage, deployment speed, and long-term cost efficiency [2] Group 2 - Raymond James has reiterated an 'Outperform' rating for Verizon with a price target of $47, reflecting confidence in the company's dividend appeal and potential subscriber growth [2] - Verizon is a leading U.S. telecommunications company offering 5G and 4G wireless, fiber, fixed wireless broadband, and advanced enterprise technology solutions [2]

Core Viewpoint - Marvell Technology, Inc. is actively pursuing growth in the AI sector through strategic acquisitions, specifically the planned acquisition of XConn for $540 million, which is expected to enhance its AI data center connectivity solutions [1][2][4]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - Marvell announced its intent to acquire XConn, a provider of PCIe and CXL switching silicon and UALink technology, for approximately $540 million [2]. - The acquisition is aimed at strengthening Marvell's switching portfolio and enhancing its Ultra Accelerator Link (UALink) scale-up switch team [2][4]. - Marvell's Chairman and CEO, Matt Murphy, emphasized that this combination will create a compelling switching platform for accelerated infrastructure, advancing the company's connectivity strategy for next-generation AI and cloud data centers [3]. Group 2: Analyst Insights - Raymond James analyst Simon Leopold reiterated a Strong Buy rating on Marvell with a price target of $125.00, indicating confidence in the company's growth potential following the acquisition announcement [1]. - The firm views the acquisition favorably, noting that XConn's technology can enhance Marvell's market reach and complement its xPU/ASIC offerings [4]. - Despite the acquisition, Raymond James is not adjusting its estimates for Marvell at this time, as XConn is described as an early-stage company [4].

Company Overview - Charles Schwab Corporation, trading under the symbol SCHW on the NYSE, is a leading financial services company offering brokerage, banking, and financial advisory services [1] - The company competes with financial giants like Fidelity and TD Ameritrade [1] Stock Performance - As of today, SCHW is trading at $104.08, reflecting a 2.47% increase, or $2.51, from the previous day [2] - The stock has experienced a trading range between $101.74 and $104.43, with the latter being its highest price over the past year [2] - Charles Schwab's market capitalization is approximately $189.31 billion, supported by a trading volume of 5,631,028 shares [3] - Despite a yearly low of $65.88, the stock's current performance shows resilience and potential for growth [3] Analyst Insights - Patrick O'Shaughnessy from Raymond James set a new price target for SCHW at $114, indicating a potential increase of 9.59% from its current price of $104.02 [1] - This upward movement aligns with the optimistic price target set by Raymond James, suggesting positive investor sentiment [2] Market Dynamics - Liz Ann Sonders, the chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab, discussed the potential for a significant decline in oil prices in late 2026 into 2027, which could influence market dynamics and investor strategies [4] - The market's reaction to recent U.S. military action in Venezuela was also addressed, which could impact stock performance [4] - Investors are advised to consider these factors when navigating the market in 2026, as the setup for stocks may present opportunities or challenges [5]