JUST IN: 🇬🇧 UK government to appoint a Digital Markets Champion in an effort to digitize its financial markets. https://t.co/6kkrC8BKLN ...

The UK government will appoint a so-called digital markets champion to spearhead its efforts to digitize wholesale financial markets using blockchain technology https://t.co/jZ9Fr9nvNe ...

Group 1 - G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. is making significant investments to relaunch the DKNY, Donna Karan, and Karl Lagerfeld brands, which is expected to accelerate business growth [1] - The company has entered new agreements with brands such as Converse and BCBG, further enhancing its growth potential [1] - Ongoing digitization efforts and international expansion, particularly in Europe, are key strategies for the company's future growth [1]

The startups are more than a testament to India's rapid digitization, they're about young people's dreams and despair, writes @andymukherjee70 (via @opinion) https://t.co/iCvZB1rsxW ...

Diana Olick: Despite its name, Schneider Electric does not generate electricity. It's an energy management company mixing electrification and digitization together so customers like Nvidia know exactly where their energy is consumed and can then optimize in real time their energy usage. I sat down with company chairman Jean-Pascal Tricoire, who has been with Schneider nearly 40 years, but says he has never seen a revolution in energy technology like he's seeing now.Jean-Pascal Tricoire: AI is a revolution o ...

Group 1 - Blackstone Inc. is optimistic about data centers due to a surge in demand for computing and does not perceive a bubble in the sector [1] - The demand for data centers is driven by the increasing need for information, computing power, and content as the world becomes more digitized [2] - Major tech companies are planning to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in data centers, indicating strong market interest [3] Group 2 - There is a consensus on the attractiveness of real estate as an investment asset class, particularly following a decline in construction and an increase in cash flow [5] - The global themes influencing the real estate sector include demographics, digitization, decarbonization, deglobalization, and defense [6] - Investment strategies in the sector are focusing on logistics, living spaces, and data centers, with an emphasis on stable income or net leases [6]

Global payments company Visa Inc. has kick-started a process that would allow it to utilize stablecoins for cross-border remittances. It announced the new development on Sept. 30, citing that the prefunding pilot for the initiative will be rolled out soon through Visa Direct. At the core of this pivot is the speed and low transaction fees that come with these digital assets tied to a fiat currency. Fixing Slow and Costly Transactions with Stablecoins Instead of pre-depositing cash in local accounts, Visa ...

Core Insights - BlackRock is preparing to bring exchange-traded funds (ETFs) onto the blockchain, reflecting a broader industry trend towards digitization [1][2] - Tokenization of ETFs could revolutionize trading by allowing shares to be traded outside of market hours and increasing access for international investors [2][3] - The move is driven by rising retail demand for digital assets, with BlackRock's existing tokenized money market fund, BUIDL, managing around $2 billion in assets [3][4] Group 1 - BlackRock's initiative to tokenize ETFs is seen as an inevitable step in the industry's shift towards digital assets [1][2] - Current tokenized products include a tokenized money market fund by Franklin Templeton and a tokenized digital mutual fund by WisdomTree, but no tokenized ETFs are yet available on major exchanges [2] - Tokenization is expected to enhance operational efficiencies for issuers and broaden access for retail investors, similar to the decentralization seen in Bitcoin [3] Group 2 - BlackRock's spot bitcoin ETF, the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), has attracted $87 billion in assets since its launch last year, indicating strong market interest in digital asset products [4] - The tokenized fund BUIDL, which also launched last year, currently manages approximately $2 billion in assets, showcasing BlackRock's commitment to digital liquidity solutions [4]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Savings and Loan industry is benefiting from an improving lending environment, characterized by relatively low interest rates and expectations of further rate cuts [1][4] - The industry primarily consists of specialized U.S. banks focused on residential mortgage finance, offering various loan products and funding mortgages with FDIC-insured savings [3] Industry Trends - Lower interest rates are expected to enhance net interest income (NII) and net interest margin (NIM), as the Federal Reserve has reduced rates by 100 basis points in 2024 and is anticipated to cut rates again [4] - The digitization of operations is a key trend, with companies transitioning to technology-driven models to improve operational efficiency despite initial cost increases [5] - Asset quality is deteriorating, which may impact borrowers' repayment capacity due to rising inflation and less substantial rate cuts from the central bank [6] Industry Performance - The Zacks Savings and Loan industry ranks 19, placing it in the top 8% of over 245 Zacks industries, indicating solid near-term prospects [7][8] - The industry's earnings estimate has increased by 25.6% over the past year, reflecting growing analyst confidence in earnings growth potential [8] Stock Performance - The industry has underperformed compared to the Zacks Finance sector and the S&P 500, with a collective stock rally of 14.7% over the past year, while the S&P 500 rose by 21.3% [11] Valuation Metrics - The industry has a trailing 12-month price-to-tangible book ratio (P/TBV) of 2.00X, below the five-year median of 2.09X, indicating a discount compared to the broader market [15][18] - The Zacks Finance sector's current P/TBV is significantly higher at 5.69X, suggesting that the savings and loan industry is trading at a decent discount [18] Company Highlights - **ServisFirst Bancshares (SFBS)**: With total assets of $17.4 billion and loans of $13.2 billion, SFBS is expected to benefit from solid loan balances and improving market share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is $5.22, reflecting a 24.9% year-over-year increase [21][23] - **WSFS Financial**: This company has $20.8 billion in assets and is projected to maintain stable loan growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings is $4.91, indicating an 11.9% rise [25][28] - **Provident Financial**: Following its merger with Lakeland Bancorp, Provident Financial has $24.6 billion in assets and is expected to see improved mortgage banking revenues. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is $2.15, a 77.7% year-over-year surge [32][34]

Summary of Xometry Conference Call - September 10, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Xometry (NasdaqGS: XMTR) - **Industry**: Custom manufacturing and digital marketplace Key Points and Arguments Growth and Market Penetration - **Strong Year**: 2025 has been a strong year for Xometry with accelerated growth attributed to deeper penetration within enterprise customers [5][6] - **Enterprise Focus**: Transitioning from small companies to larger enterprise customers, leveraging technology tools and a specialized sales team [5][6] - **Software Development**: Increased output from software development enhances user experience and marketplace functionality [6] Technology and AI Integration - **AI Utilization**: AI is central to Xometry's operations, improving pricing accuracy and supplier matching, which enhances gross margins [7][30][48] - **Marketplace Efficiency**: The platform allows for instant quoting and sourcing flexibility, addressing supply chain resilience and digitization trends [6][14] Executive Team Expansion - **New Leadership**: Recent appointments include a new President, CTO, and CMO from larger companies to guide Xometry's growth towards a billion-dollar revenue mark [10][11] Marketplace Dynamics - **Strong Marketplace Growth**: Over 100 accounts spent more than $500,000 last year, with a 40% growth rate among these customers [14][22] - **Technology-Driven Sales**: Integration with enterprise procurement software reduces friction and enhances customer experience [14][15] International Expansion - **International Revenue Growth**: From $2 million in 2020 to over $100 million run rate, with a 31% growth last quarter [24][25] - **Global Market Resonance**: The business model is effective in Europe and Asia-Pacific, with expectations for international revenue to reach 30%-40% of total [25][26] Financial Performance - **Gross Margin Improvement**: Achieved an all-time high gross margin of 35.4% in Q2, with expectations to maintain a long-term range of 35%-40% [30][31] - **Adjusted EBITDA**: Positive adjusted EBITDA margins expected as the company scales towards a billion-dollar revenue target [52] Supplier Services and Thomasnet - **Advertising Strategy**: Thomasnet, with nearly 500,000 suppliers, is being enhanced with updated technology to improve advertiser engagement and ROI [36][37] - **Self-Service Improvements**: Transitioning to a self-service model for advertisers to increase ease of use and engagement [38][39] Strategic Priorities - **Long-Term Vision**: Aim to be the default choice for custom manufacturing, providing a seamless experience for buyers and suppliers [56][57] - **Supplier Support**: Offering free software to suppliers to streamline their operations and enhance profitability [58] Conclusion - **Market Positioning**: Xometry is positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for custom manufacturing solutions through technology, AI integration, and a strong marketplace strategy [56][58]