Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Year-to-date premium growth increased by 4%, with earnings per share at $2.09, slightly below expectations due to volatility in the closed block [4][5][13] - Adjusted after-tax operating income per share decreased from $2.13 in the same period last year to $2.09 this quarter [13] - Return on equity for core operations remains near 20%, while the overall return on equity is 11.3% [8][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core operations premium grew 2.9%, exceeding 4% when adjusted for ceded business impacts [12] - Unum US adjusted operating income was $334.9 million, down from $363.3 million year-over-year, with Group Disability adjusted operating earnings at $133.5 million [14][15] - Colonial Life's adjusted operating income increased to $116.6 million, with premium growth of 3.3% [17] - International segment reported adjusted operating income of $38.8 million, with premium growth of 9.5% [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Persistency for total group was 89.8%, down from 92.5% a year ago, but above expectations [16] - Sales growth across core segments was nearly 4.5%, with Unum US growing nearly 4%, Colonial Life up over 3%, and International delivering 10% growth [5][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on disciplined pricing and risk selection, with a commitment to long-term growth and profitability [7][10] - Strategic actions taken include a long-term care reinsurance transaction to manage risk and reduce the size of the closed block [8][9] - The company aims to invest in strategic initiatives, pursue selective M&A opportunities, and return capital to shareholders [10][25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the core business's ability to deliver sustainable results and maintain strong margins [11][27] - The company anticipates continued growth into 2026, supported by a robust capital position and strategic initiatives [27][28] Other Important Information - The annual reserve assumption review resulted in a net increase in reserves of $478.5 million pre-tax, with significant impacts on long-term care [13][20] - The investment portfolio maintains an A-average rating, with historically low exposure to below investment-grade securities [10][26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more color on the statutory side of the LTC assumption review? - Management indicated that the adjustments impacted the entire block of business, with statutory reserving levels remaining well in excess of best estimate reserves [30][31] Question: What is the rationale for keeping capital in Fairwind? - Management decided to retain capital in Fairwind due to strong protections and a robust capital position [32] Question: How do the recent assumption changes impact the premium rate increases? - The changes are linked to the removal of morbidity and mortality improvement assumptions, which will flow through to the rate increase program [34][36] Question: What is the outlook for group disability recoveries? - Management reported stable recoveries and a benefit ratio around 62%, indicating confidence in the sustainability of recovery trends [41][42] Question: What are the plans for share buybacks and capital management? - The company plans to continue increasing share repurchases while prioritizing investments in core operations and selective M&A opportunities [58][59]

Core Points - Watts Water Technologies, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $0.52 per share on its Class A and Class B Common Stock, to be paid on December 15, 2025, to stockholders of record as of December 1, 2025 [1][8]. Company Overview - Watts Water Technologies, Inc. is a global manufacturer headquartered in the USA, providing a broad range of plumbing, heating, and water quality products [2]. - The company offers innovative solutions aimed at controlling the efficiency, safety, and quality of water across commercial, residential, and industrial applications [2]. Upcoming Events - Watts Water Technologies will participate in and present at the 2025 Baird Global Industrial Conference [4][6]. - The company has also announced its third quarter 2025 earnings release and earnings conference call [8]. Recognition - Watts Water Technologies was named one of "America's Greenest Companies 2026" by Newsweek [7].

Core Viewpoint - Commerce Bancshares, Inc. has announced a share repurchase program allowing for the repurchase of up to 5,000,000 shares of its common stock, reflecting the company's strategy to enhance shareholder value [1] Group 1: Share Repurchase Program - The Board of Directors approved a repurchase program that includes the remaining amount from a prior authorization, allowing for the repurchase of up to 5,000,000 shares [1] - Repurchases may occur through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, or other compliant methods, with management having sole discretion over timing and number of shares [1] - The program does not obligate the company to repurchase a specific number of shares and can be suspended, modified, or terminated at any time [1] Group 2: Company Overview - Commerce Bancshares, Inc. is a regional bank holding company with $32.3 billion in assets, offering a full range of banking services through its subsidiaries [2] - The company operates full-service banking facilities across the Midwest and maintains commercial offices in several major cities beyond the Midwest [2] - Commerce Bank, a subsidiary, has a 160-year history of providing financial solutions to individuals and businesses [2] Group 3: Financial Performance - For the third quarter of 2025, Commerce Bancshares reported earnings of $1.06 per share, an increase from $1.01 per share in the same quarter of the previous year [6] - Net income for the third quarter of 2025 was $141.5 million, compared to $138.0 million in the third quarter of 2024 [6] - For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, earnings per share totaled $3.18 [6] Group 4: Merger Activity - FineMark Holdings' shareholders have approved the merger agreement with Commerce Bancshares, marking a significant step in the strategic combination of the two institutions [7] - Over 83% of FineMark's issued and outstanding shares were represented at the special meeting for the merger approval [7]

Core Insights - Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in McCormick & Company by 34.0% in Q2, owning 7,605 shares valued at $577,000 after acquiring an additional 1,930 shares [2] - Other institutional investors also raised their positions, with AG2R LA Mondiale Gestion D Actifs increasing by 14.2%, Curio Wealth LLC by 39,900.0%, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. by 2.9%, Asset Management One Co. Ltd. by 3.4%, and Forum Financial Management LP by 13.6% [3] - Institutional ownership of McCormick & Company stands at 79.74% [3] Financial Performance - McCormick reported Q3 earnings of $0.85 EPS, exceeding estimates of $0.82, with revenue of $1.72 billion, slightly above expectations of $1.71 billion [5] - The company experienced a year-over-year revenue increase of 2.7% [5] - McCormick's net margin is 11.46% and return on equity is 14.30% [5] Dividend Information - McCormick declared a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share, with an annualized dividend of $1.80, yielding 2.8% [6] - The dividend payout ratio is currently 62.28% [6] Stock Performance - McCormick's stock opened at $64.15, with a 52-week low of $63.15 and a high of $86.24 [4] - The company has a market capitalization of $17.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.20, and a P/E growth ratio of 3.74 [4] - The stock has a beta of 0.63, indicating lower volatility compared to the market [4] Insider Activity - Major shareholder Lawrence Erik Kurzius sold 50,000 shares at an average price of $65.86, totaling approximately $3.29 million, resulting in a 16.85% decrease in his position [7] Analyst Ratings - Barclays lowered its price target for McCormick from $82.00 to $72.00, maintaining an "equal weight" rating [9] - Wall Street Zen upgraded the stock from "sell" to "hold" [9] - The average target price for McCormick is currently $78.22, with four analysts rating it as a Buy and seven as Hold [9]

Core Insights - Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Sensient Technologies by 75.4% in Q2, owning 5,282 shares valued at $520,000 [2] - Other institutional investors also increased their holdings, with GAMMA Investing LLC raising its stake by 132.6% in Q1, and Russell Investments Group Ltd. increasing its stake by 52.5% [3] - Sensient Technologies reported Q3 earnings of $0.96 per share, exceeding the consensus estimate of $0.90, with revenue of $412.11 million, up 5.0% year-over-year [5] Institutional Investment - Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. purchased an additional 2,271 shares in Q2 [2] - Private Trust Co. NA and Gables Capital Management Inc. made new investments worth approximately $29,000 and $59,000 respectively in Q2 [3] - 90.86% of Sensient Technologies' stock is owned by hedge funds and institutional investors [3] Financial Performance - Sensient Technologies has a market capitalization of $4.01 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.77 [4] - The company has a 52-week low of $66.14 and a high of $121.54, indicating significant price volatility [4] - The company’s net margin stands at 8.56% and return on equity at 12.56% [5] Dividend Information - Sensient Technologies announced a quarterly dividend of $0.41, with an annualized yield of 1.7% [6] - The payout ratio is currently at 51.74% [6] Analyst Ratings - Weiss Ratings reissued a "buy (b-)" rating for Sensient Technologies, with an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a target price of $110.00 [7] Company Overview - Sensient Technologies develops and markets colors, flavors, and specialty ingredients across various regions including North America, Europe, and Asia [8] - The company serves industries such as food, beverage, and personal care with a range of products including essential oils and dehydrated vegetables [8]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the current stock investing landscape, particularly focusing on dividends [1] Summary by Categories Stock Investing Landscape - A comprehensive overview of the stock investing environment is provided, highlighting the significance of dividends in investment strategies [1]

Core Viewpoint - A high payout ratio can indicate risk for dividends, but it does not always mean a dividend will be cut, as some high-yielding stocks may still maintain safe dividends despite high payout ratios [1][2]. Kenvue - Kenvue has a payout ratio exceeding 100% and a dividend yield of 5.5%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's average yield of 1.2% [3][4]. - The company recently increased its dividend by 1.2% to $0.2075 per share, totaling $0.83 per share annually, which is less than its earnings per share of $0.75 over the past four quarters [5]. - Kenvue's free cash flow was $1.6 billion, slightly above the cash dividends paid out, indicating potential sustainability concerns depending on external factors affecting its revenue [5][6]. Enbridge - Enbridge offers a higher yield of approximately 5.9% with a payout ratio of 130%, but evaluates its dividend based on distributable cash flow (DCF) rather than earnings [7][8]. - The DCF for the second quarter was 2.9 billion Canadian dollars, and management projects an annual DCF per share between CA$5.50 and CA$5.90, which exceeds the CA$3.77 per share paid in dividends [8][9]. - Enbridge has a history of increasing its dividend for 30 consecutive years, making it a stable option for long-term investors [9]. Realty Income - Realty Income has a dividend yield of 5.4% but a payout ratio exceeding 300%, which may raise concerns about the sustainability of its dividend [11][12]. - The company uses funds from operations (FFO) to assess dividend affordability, reporting an FFO per share of $1.06 in the second quarter, consistent with the previous year [12][13]. - Realty Income has a long history of regular dividend increases and offers monthly payments, appealing to investors seeking frequent income [13].

Hello, I'm Frank Colin. Welcome to CNBC. com.We are talking the current ETF market, which year to date has net inflows of $1.09% trillion, very close to last year's record of 1.12% trend. And to discuss ETFs, and also get an ETF pick. I'm joined by Jay Hatfield, the CEO, the CEO of Infrastructure Capital Partners.You're also the CIO, Jay. Thanks for joining us. >> Thanks, Frank.Great to be on. >> All right. ETF inflows topping one trillion again for the second straight year.What do you think that says about ...

Core Viewpoint - Western New England Bancorp (NASDAQ: WNEB) has received a "Moderate Buy" rating from analysts, with an average target price of $11.00 for the next twelve months [2][3]. Analyst Ratings - Piper Sandler raised the price target from $10.00 to $11.00 and assigned a "neutral" rating [3]. - Weiss Ratings maintained a "hold (c+)" rating [3]. - Wall Street Zen upgraded the stock from "sell" to "hold" [3]. Financial Performance - The stock opened at $11.43, with a market cap of $234.20 million, a P/E ratio of 17.32, and a beta of 0.88 [4]. - The company reported earnings of $0.16 per share for the last quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.03 [5]. - Revenue for the quarter was $21.27 million, exceeding expectations of $17.99 million [5]. - The net margin was 10.33%, and return on equity was 5.62% [5]. Dividend Information - A quarterly dividend of $0.07 will be paid on November 26, with an annualized dividend of $0.28 and a yield of 2.4% [6]. - The current dividend payout ratio is 47.46% [6]. Insider Trading - SVP Darlene M. Libiszewski sold 3,600 shares at an average price of $12.39, totaling $44,604, representing an 18.33% decrease in her position [7]. Institutional Holdings - Hedge funds and institutional investors hold 67.95% of the stock [8]. - White Pine Capital LLC increased its position by 1.5%, owning 168,254 shares valued at $1.55 million [8]. - Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its stake by 28.0%, now owning 14,180 shares valued at $132,000 [8].

Core Insights - Tetragon has released its Monthly Factsheet for September 2025, providing key financial metrics and updates on its performance [1]. Financial Performance - The Net Asset Value (NAV) of Tetragon is reported at $3,886 million, with a fully diluted NAV per share of $42.19 [4]. - The current share price for Tetragon (TFG NA) is $19.30, indicating a significant discount to NAV [4]. - The Monthly NAV per Share Total Return stands at 7.1%, while the Monthly Return on Equity is reported at 8.2% [4]. - A quarterly dividend of $0.11 (11.00 cents) per share has been declared, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.3% [4][5]. Corporate Actions - Tetragon has completed the sale of a minority stake in Equitix to Hunter Point Capital, marking a strategic move in its investment portfolio [6].