Company Overview - Bank of America (BAC) is headquartered in Charlotte and is the second-largest bank in the United States, with a year-to-date price change of -1.52% [3] - The current dividend payout is $0.26 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.4%, which is higher than the Financial - Investment Bank industry's yield of 1% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.57% [3] Dividend Analysis - The annualized dividend of Bank of America is currently $1.04, reflecting a 4% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend four times, averaging an annual increase of 8.72% [4] - The current payout ratio is 32%, indicating that Bank of America paid out 32% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bank of America's earnings in 2025 is $3.68 per share, with an expected increase of 12.20% from the previous year [5] Investment Considerations - Dividends are favored by investors for various reasons, including improving stock investing profits and providing tax advantages [6] - High-yielding stocks may face challenges during periods of rising interest rates, but Bank of America presents a compelling investment opportunity as a strong dividend play [7] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a neutral outlook [7]

PayPal (PYPL 1.01%) was one of the biggest winners of the pandemic years, as hundreds of millions of people were forced to shop online for goods and services, and to send money to friends and family without any physical contact. PayPal's business surged, and so did its stock price, reaching an all-time high of about $309 per share in July 2025.Almost four years later, the stock trades for about $67 as of this writing. And to be fair, if you compare the numbers from 2021 and today, it's easy to see why.Looki ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets have experienced significant volatility, with major indexes like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite in negative territory year to date, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq in correction zones [1] - The mid-cap S&P 400 is also in the red, while the small-cap Russell 2000 is in bear territory year to date [1][2] Economic Concerns - Market participants are worried about the Trump administration's tariff and trade policies and their potential impact on U.S. economic growth and inflation [2] - Recent economic data indicates a weakening U.S. economy, with retail sales, industrial production, manufacturing PMI, housing sector data, and consumer confidence all falling below expectations [2] Stock Performance - A select group of stocks has shown price strength despite the overall market downturn, with five notable stocks identified: DRDGOLD Ltd. (DRD), GeneDx Holdings Corp. (WGS), EverQuote Inc. (EVER), HCI Group Inc. (HCI), and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA) [3] Stock Screening Criteria - Stocks must show a percentage change in price greater than zero over the last four weeks and greater than 10% over the last 12 weeks to indicate sustained momentum [5] - A Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and an average broker rating of 1 or 2 are also important indicators of potential performance [6] - Stocks should be trading at a minimum price of $5 and have a current price/52-week high-low range greater than 85% to ensure they are near their highs [7] Individual Stock Highlights - **DRDGOLD Ltd. (DRD)**: Stock price increased by 34.6% in the past four weeks, with an expected earnings growth rate of 29.3% for the current year [8] - **GeneDx Holdings Corp. (WGS)**: Stock price rose by 29% in the past four weeks, with expected earnings growth exceeding 100% for the current year [10] - **EverQuote Inc. (EVER)**: Stock price surged by 22.7% in the past four weeks, with expected earnings growth of 34.1% for the current year [12] - **HCI Group Inc. (HCI)**: Stock price increased by 16.9% in the past four weeks, with expected earnings growth exceeding 100% for the current year [14] - **Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA)**: Stock price advanced by 13.1% in the past four weeks, with expected earnings growth of 23.1% for the next year [17]

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks are appealing due to their above-average financial growth, but identifying those with true potential can be challenging [1] Group 1: Company Overview - SPS Commerce (SPSC) is highlighted as a recommended growth stock with a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] - The company provides supply chain software services to businesses, making it a strong growth pick [3] Group 2: Earnings Growth - SPS Commerce has a historical EPS growth rate of 20.1%, with projected EPS growth of 11% this year, surpassing the industry average of 9.5% [4] Group 3: Cash Flow Growth - The year-over-year cash flow growth for SPS Commerce is 22.6%, exceeding the industry average of 14.6% [5] - The company's annualized cash flow growth rate over the past 3-5 years is 21.2%, compared to the industry average of 8% [6] Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for SPS Commerce, with a 1.3% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past month [8] Group 5: Investment Positioning - SPS Commerce holds a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Growth Score of B, positioning it well for potential outperformance in the growth stock category [10]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are increasingly seeking growth stocks that demonstrate above-average growth potential, with Hillman Solutions Corp. identified as a strong candidate due to its favorable growth metrics and Zacks Rank [1][2]. Group 1: Earnings Growth - Hillman Solutions Corp. has a historical EPS growth rate of 28.5%, with projected EPS growth of 17.3% for the current year, significantly outperforming the industry average of 5.5% [4]. Group 2: Cash Flow Growth - The company exhibits a year-over-year cash flow growth of 12.5%, which is substantially higher than the industry average of 2.7% [5]. - Over the past 3-5 years, Hillman Solutions Corp. has maintained an annualized cash flow growth rate of 40.2%, compared to the industry average of 8.9% [6]. Group 3: Earnings Estimate Revisions - The current-year earnings estimates for Hillman Solutions Corp. have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 1.3% over the past month [8]. Group 4: Overall Assessment - Hillman Solutions Corp. has achieved a Growth Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 2, indicating its potential as an outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors [10].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. reported record gross sales of $15.3 billion for the full year 2024, a 16% increase over 2023, with $3.5 billion in the fourth quarter [8] - Adjusted net earnings for Q4 2024 were $153 million, up 17% from $131 million in Q4 2023, and for the full year 2024, adjusted net earnings were $657 million, a 22% increase from $539 million in 2023 [36] - The company achieved an adjusted return on equity (ROE) of 12% in Q4 2024, compared to approximately 10% in Q4 2023, and expanded adjusted ROE from 10% to over 12% over the last year [42][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail channel sales reached $12 billion for the full year, a 20% increase over 2023, with record sales in fixed indexed annuities (FIA), multi-year guaranteed annuities (MYGA), and indexed universal life (IUL) products [9] - Institutional market sales totaled $3.3 billion for the year, with pension risk transfer (PRT) sales of nearly $2.3 billion, reflecting a 15% increase over 2023 [12] - Funding agreements were $1 billion for the full year, down from $1.6 billion in 2023, with no funding agreements in Q4 [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company’s assets under management (AUM) reached a record $65.3 billion at the end of Q4 2024, a 17% increase over Q4 2023, driven by net new business flows [18] - The retained portfolio was high quality, with 97% of fixed maturities being investment grade, and the company holds very little office exposure at 1.7% of the total portfolio [19][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on diversifying earnings beyond spread-based sources and driving margin expansion, with a strategic emphasis on flow reinsurance and owned distribution [23] - F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. plans to continue expanding its distribution channels and has entered the registered indexed linked annuity (RILA) market, expecting significant sales growth in the medium term [10][11] - The company aims to grow AUM by 50% and increase adjusted ROA to 133 to 155 basis points, while targeting an adjusted ROE of 13% to 14% [48] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the ongoing secular demand for their products, particularly as baby boomers age and seek fixed income solutions [64] - The company has not seen meaningful impacts from industry lawsuits related to pension risk transfer and continues to see opportunities in the $100 million to $1 billion deal size market [57] - Management anticipates a rebound in fixed income yield in 2025 as they fully deploy cash and refine strategic asset allocation [21] Other Important Information - The company has invested $680 million in strategic owned distribution companies, with an estimated annualized EBITDA of approximately $90 million expected in 2025 [24] - F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. returned $125 million of capital to shareholders through dividends and received upgrades in financial strength ratings from AM Best and Moody's [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the evolving organizational structure at the company and what that growth opportunity means? - Management indicated that the organizational changes are in response to significant growth and the need to drive value through new distribution channels and flow reinsurance arrangements [54] Question: Can you discuss the impact of industry lawsuits related to pension risk transfer? - Management noted that they have not felt any impact from industry lawsuits and continue to see opportunities in their targeted market segment [57] Question: What is the outlook for growth in net sales or retained AUM over the next few years? - Management remains optimistic about growth, citing strong secular demand and the addition of distribution partners as key drivers [62][66] Question: How do you expect the ROA to trend from here? - Management expects ROA to rebound in 2025, with adjustments made to asset allocation and renewal rate settings to mitigate any compression [71] Question: What is the current state of MYGA sales and market demand? - Management indicated that while MYGA sales have seen a decline, they do not anticipate a significant long-term decline in demand for MYGA products [114] Question: Can you provide insights on the funding agreement-backed note market? - Management explained that they will issue funding agreement-backed notes opportunistically based on capital allocation priorities and market conditions [81][83]