Core Insights - CNO Financial Group has appointed Linda Gibson as a Director, expanding the board to 10 members [1][2] Group 1: Appointment Details - Linda Gibson brings over 30 years of experience in global investment management, previously serving as Chairperson and CEO of PGIM Quantitative Solutions [2] - Gibson's leadership expertise in investment strategy and asset management aligns with CNO's focus on sustained growth and long-term shareholder return [2] Group 2: Professional Background - Prior to PGIM, Gibson held various executive roles at OMAM Asset Management, including Executive Vice President and Head of Global Distribution [3] - Gibson has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Bates College and a Juris Doctor degree from Boston University School of Law [4] Group 3: Company Overview - CNO Financial Group provides life and health insurance, annuities, and financial services, managing 3.3 million policies and $38.3 billion in total assets [5] - The company employs 3,300 associates and works with 4,900 exclusive agents and over 6,500 independent partner agents [5]

Core Viewpoint - Primis Financial (FRST) has shown strong stock performance, with a 6.2% increase in the last trading session and an 18.8% gain over the past four weeks, driven by solid trading volume [1] Group 1: Company Performance - Primis Financial has maintained its rally for two consecutive days, attributed to its effective combination of community banking and digital scalability, expanding its presence in Virginia and Maryland while growing its digital deposit base [2] - The bank's management has enhanced operational capabilities through strategic hiring, infrastructure investments, and technology innovations, including the launch of V1BE, the first on-demand banking delivery app in the industry [2] Group 2: Competitive Strengths - A key competitive advantage for Primis Financial lies in its diversified revenue streams from specialized business lines, such as the Panacea Financial Division for healthcare professionals and the Primis Mortgage Company, which have generated above-average risk-adjusted returns [3] - The bank's status as an SBA Preferred Lender allows for rapid nationwide loan decisions, increasing its attractiveness to small businesses [3] - Primis Financial's focus on underwriting discipline, asset quality, and scalable infrastructure positions it for sustained and prudent growth [3] Group 3: Earnings Expectations - Primis Financial is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.29 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 144.6%, while revenues are projected to be $36.3 million, a decrease of 7.6% from the previous year [4] - The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised down by 9.4% over the last 30 days, indicating a negative trend in earnings estimate revisions, which typically does not correlate with price appreciation [5] Group 4: Industry Context - Primis Financial is categorized under the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, holding a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [6] - Another company in the same industry, Acadian Asset Management, has seen a 28.8% decrease in its consensus EPS estimate over the past month, indicating potential challenges within the sector [7]

Group 1 - Acadian Asset Management's stock price increased by 1.63% to $50.06, with a notable rise in its Composite Rating to 97 out of 99, indicating strong performance in the market [1][3] - The stock analysis for Acadian Asset Management shows a spike to a new high before trimming back to just below the buy point of $51.65, suggesting volatility in its trading pattern [1] - The industry group ranking for Acadian Asset Management is 109 out of 197, reflecting its relative position within the sector [1] Group 2 - Janus Henderson Group's stock has seen an improvement in its Relative Strength Rating, now at 77, indicating a positive trend in its price performance [1][3] - GE Aerospace has been added to the Big Cap 20 list, highlighting its significance among top-performing stocks [3] - Ares Management has also received an upgrade in its Relative Strength Rating, suggesting improved market performance [3]

Core Viewpoint - Oportun Financial Corporation (OPRT) is expected to report a year-over-year increase in earnings despite lower revenues for the quarter ended September 2025, with the actual results being crucial for stock price movement [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - The consensus estimate for Oportun Financial's quarterly earnings is $0.26 per share, reflecting a significant year-over-year increase of +1200% [3]. - Revenues are projected to be $238.85 million, which is a decrease of 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year [3]. Estimate Revisions - Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate has been revised 3% lower, indicating a reassessment by analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [4]. - The Most Accurate Estimate for Oportun Financial is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -13.73%, suggesting a bearish outlook from analysts [12]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model indicates that a positive or negative reading can predict the likelihood of actual earnings deviating from consensus estimates, with a positive reading being a strong predictor of an earnings beat [9][10]. - Oportun Financial currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), complicating predictions regarding an earnings beat [12]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Oportun Financial exceeded the expected earnings of $0.22 per share by delivering $0.31, resulting in a surprise of +40.91% [13]. - Over the past four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times [14]. Industry Comparison - Acadian Asset Management (AAMI), another player in the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, is expected to report earnings of $0.73 per share for the same quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +23.7% [18]. - AAMI's revenues are anticipated to be $145.62 million, up 18.3% from the previous year, with a recent EPS estimate revision of +5.1% [19].

Company Overview - CaliberCos (CWD) is a small-cap alternative asset manager focused on real estate development and private equity-style strategies, but has struggled to gain traction since its debut [2][3] - The company brands itself as the "Wealth Development Company" [2] Earnings and Financial Performance - CaliberCos currently holds a Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) as earnings estimates have been declining [3] - Over the last sixty days, analysts have reduced their earnings forecasts, leading to a downward revision of the Zacks Consensus Estimates from a loss of $3.81 to a loss of $9.17 for the current year [4] - Despite the bearish sentiment, analysts still forecast a move to profitability next year with a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.50 [4] Market Position and Challenges - Revenue trends for CaliberCos have been inconsistent, and profitability remains elusive, making it less attractive to institutional investors who prefer steadier alternative managers like Blackstone or Brookfield [5] - The company faces challenges due to a tougher real estate environment characterized by higher rates, tighter liquidity, and investor caution in commercial development [3] - Caliber's relatively small size and limited operating history as a public company contribute to its volatility without much upside conviction [3] Industry Context - CaliberCos operates in the Financial – Miscellaneous Services industry, which ranks in the Top 22% of the Zacks Industry Rank [6] - Other companies in this industry, such as Lazard (LAZ) and Acadian Asset Management (AAMI), hold a more favorable Zacks Rank, indicating stronger performance [6]

Core Insights - September is typically a weak month for the stock market, but it presents opportunities for investors willing to take on risk, particularly in Acadian Asset Management and AllianceBernstein, which have recently dipped below their 52-week highs [1][2] Financial Performance - Acadian Asset Management reported a record AUM of $151.1 billion, while AllianceBernstein reached an all-time high AUM of $829 billion, driven by strong global equity inflows [5] - Acadian's EPS estimates for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 have increased by 17% and 26%, respectively, with an expected annual earnings surge of 35% this year and a projected 21% increase in FY26 to $4.50 per share [6][7] - AllianceBernstein's FY25 EPS estimates have risen by 4% in the last two months, with FY26 revisions up by 7%, forecasting a 2% expansion in FY25 and an 11% increase next year to $3.69 per share [7] Valuation Metrics - Both Acadian and AllianceBernstein are trading at forward P/E multiples of 11X, significantly lower than the broader Zacks finance sector's 19X and the S&P 500's 24X, indicating attractive valuation [8] Investment Outlook - Acadian Asset Management holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and is expected to rebound from its 52-week high of $51 per share, while AllianceBernstein has a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and is projected to return to its one-year peak of $43 per share, offering a 7.71% annual dividend yield [11]

Core Insights - Acadian Asset Management reported record net inflows and assets under management (AUM) for Q2 2025, with Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.64 exceeding analyst expectations of $0.53 [1][2] - The firm achieved a record AUM of $151.1 billion, reflecting a 34% year-over-year increase driven by net inflows of $13.8 billion [5][6] - Revenue increased to $127.4 million, a 16.9% rise from the previous year, while GAAP diluted EPS slightly declined to $0.28 [1][2][6] Financial Performance - Non-GAAP EPS rose by 42.2% year-over-year from $0.45 to $0.64, while GAAP EPS decreased by 3.4% from $0.29 [2] - Revenue on a Non-GAAP basis reached $124.9 million, up 15.3% from $108.3 million in Q2 2024 [2] - Non-GAAP operating margin improved to 30.7%, a 3.6 percentage point increase from the previous year [2][7] Business Strategy - Acadian focuses on systematic, data-driven investment management, primarily for institutional investors, utilizing advanced quantitative models [3] - The company is expanding its product offerings, particularly in lower-risk enhanced equity strategies and emerging markets, supported by a strong track record of outperformance [4] - Enhanced equity products have gained significant interest, appealing to investors seeking consistent, risk-managed returns [5] Client and Market Dynamics - The firm experienced a 20% rise in average AUM, contributing to a 16% increase in management fee revenue on a Non-GAAP basis [6] - Over 94% of Acadian's strategies by revenue outperformed their benchmarks over three, five, and ten-year periods, supporting ongoing client inflows [8] - The firm offers over 80 institutional funds, emphasizing lower risk compared to traditional active investing while aiming for positive excess returns [9] Risk Management and Capital Allocation - Acadian's risk management is driven by a systematic and quantitative approach, adapting to market volatility and emphasizing diversification [10] - The company plans to maintain a Non-GAAP operating expense ratio between 45% and 47% for 2025, with ongoing share repurchases and a stable quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share [11][12] - The management fee rate decreased from 39 basis points in Q2 2024 to 37 basis points in Q2 2025, indicating a shift towards lower-fee products [12]

Acadian Asset Management (AAMI) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.64 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.52 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.45 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +23.08%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this asset manager would post earnings of $0.54 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.54, delivering no surprise. The sustainability of the stock' ...

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates StoneX Group Inc. (SNEX) will report a year-over-year increase in earnings driven by higher revenues in its upcoming earnings report for the quarter ended June 2025 [1] Earnings Expectations - The consensus estimate for StoneX Group's quarterly earnings is $1.39 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +9.5% [3] - Expected revenues for the quarter are $923.1 million, which is a 1% increase from the same quarter last year [3] Estimate Revisions - Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate has been revised 7.17% higher, indicating a positive reassessment by analysts [4] - The Most Accurate Estimate for StoneX Group is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of +0.72% [12] Earnings Surprise History - In the last reported quarter, StoneX Group exceeded the expected earnings of $1.32 per share by delivering $1.41, resulting in a surprise of +6.82% [13] - The company has beaten consensus EPS estimates in all of the last four quarters [14] Industry Context - In the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, Acadian Asset Management is expected to post earnings of $0.52 per share for the same quarter, indicating a year-over-year change of +15.6% [18] - Acadian Asset Management's revenue is projected to be $118.07 million, up 8.3% from the previous year [19]

Core Viewpoint - Acadian Asset Management (AAMI) is anticipated to report a year-over-year increase in earnings and revenues for the quarter ended June 2025, with the actual results being a significant factor influencing its near-term stock price [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - The consensus estimate for AAMI's quarterly earnings is $0.52 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 15.6% [3]. - Expected revenues for the quarter are $118.07 million, which is an 8.3% increase from the same quarter last year [3]. Estimate Revisions - Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate has been revised 17.54% higher, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. - The Most Accurate Estimate for AAMI matches the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of 0% [11]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - AAMI currently holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), but the combination of a 0% Earnings ESP makes it challenging to predict an earnings beat [11]. - The company has a history of beating consensus EPS estimates, having done so three times in the last four quarters [13]. Industry Comparison - Another player in the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, Axos Financial (AX), is expected to report earnings of $1.82 per share, indicating a year-over-year change of -0.6% [17]. - Axos Financial's revenues are projected to be $312.44 million, up 7.4% from the previous year [17].