RT fan of vaporware (@vaporwarefan96).@Tradermayne.@LSDinmycoffee.@pierre_crypt0the BEST 3 playaz in the game with more than 100k followers (in my humble opinion)i try to filter my following to mostly lower to mid-tier follower counts as i've noticed that edges fade over-timethese guys stay, they are my GOATsSmart, systematic approaches that don't fade over-time because they've figured out what works for them and hit it hard on their strengthsThey also don't lie to you and feed you bullshit like that you sh ...

Group 1 - The YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETF (YMAX) is being rated as a Buy, indicating a positive outlook for the fund [1] - The previous rating of Hold was established during a tariff sell-off in April 2025, and the core reasons for that rating remain valid [1] - The analyst has over 20 years of experience in quantitative research, financial modeling, and risk management, focusing on equity valuation and market trends [1] Group 2 - The analyst emphasizes a long-term perspective on value creation, combining rigorous risk management with macroeconomic trends and corporate earnings analysis [1] - The research is co-authored with a partner, highlighting a collaborative approach to delivering data-driven insights [1]

Investment Strategy - The company focuses on spotting high-potential winners before they break out, emphasizing asymmetric opportunities with an upside potential of 2-3 times outweighing the downside risk [1] - The investment methodology includes identifying high-conviction opportunities through leadership and management analysis, market disruption and competitive positioning, financial health and risk management, valuation, and portfolio construction [1] Leadership & Management Analysis - Proven track record in scaling businesses is essential, along with smart capital allocation and insider ownership [1] - Consistent revenue growth and credible guidance are critical factors for evaluation [1] Market Disruption & Competitive Positioning - A strong technology moat and first-mover advantage are key competitive advantages [1] - Network effects that drive exponential growth and market penetration in high-growth industries are prioritized [1] Financial Health & Risk Management - Sustainable revenue growth with efficient cash flow is a focus area [1] - Maintaining a strong balance sheet and long-term survival runway is crucial, along with avoiding excessive dilution and financial weakness [1] Valuation & Asymmetric Risk/Reward - Revenue multiples compared to peers and DCF modeling are used for valuation [1] - Institutional backing and market sentiment analysis are considered to ensure downside protection with significant upside potential [1] Portfolio Construction & Risk Control - Core positions (50-70%) are allocated to high-confidence, stable plays [1] - Growth bets (20-40%) are high-risk, high-reward opportunities, while speculative investments (5-10%) are aimed at moonshot disruptors with massive potential [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - CME Group generated revenue of $1,700,000,000, up 10% from Q2 2024 [10] - Average rate per contract for the quarter was $0.69, resulting in the highest quarterly clearing and transaction fees of $1,400,000,000, up 11% year over year [10] - Adjusted operating income reached a record $1,200,000,000, up 14% year over year, with an adjusted operating margin of 71%, up from 69.1% in the same period last year [11] - Adjusted net income was $1,100,000,000, and adjusted diluted earnings per share were $2.96, both up 16% from the previous year [11] - Capital expenditures for the quarter were approximately $19,000,000, and cash at the end of the quarter was $2,200,000,000 [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average daily volume (ADV) for the quarter was 30,200,000 contracts, a 16% increase year over year, with records in interest rates, agricultural commodities, and metals [4][5] - Financial products volume grew by 17%, while commodity sector volume grew by 15% [5] - International business had an ADV of 9,200,000 contracts per day, up 18% from the prior year, with EMEA up 15% and APAC up 30% [6] - Over 90,000 new retail traders participated in CME markets for the first time, a 56% increase compared to the same period last year [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Open interest increased by 7% from the end of Q2 2024 and 10% from year-end 2024 [5] - Nasdaq 100 futures and options trading volume climbed to more than 2,500,000 contracts per day, up 22% versus last year [7] - Record activity in gold and crypto markets, with gold up over 37% among retail and micro Bitcoin up 94% [40] Company Strategy and Development Direction - CME Group focuses on expanding its retail trader base and enhancing market access through partnerships with new futures brokers [6][39] - The company is optimistic about the growth of its crypto franchise and plans to continue participating in that market [33] - CME Group announced a ten-year extension of its exclusive license to offer futures and options on NASDAQ indexes, ensuring continued access to these products [8][9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the resilience of markets amid global uncertainties, including record levels of debt and geopolitical tensions [18][20] - The company anticipates continued demand for risk management products due to macroeconomic factors [20] - Management expressed optimism about the retail segment's growth and the increasing sophistication of new traders [29][30] Other Important Information - CME Group's adjusted effective tax rate was 23.3% [11] - The company paid dividends of $455,000,000 in Q2 and approximately $3,000,000,000 over the first half of the year [11] - CME Group's total adjusted operating expenses for the year are expected to be approximately $1,635,000,000, which is $15,000,000 below prior guidance [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the key drivers that can sustain strong hedging activities going into the second half? - Management noted the difficulty in predicting volumes but emphasized the need for risk management due to global uncertainties, including high debt levels and geopolitical unrest [17][20] Question: Can you discuss the recent take-up of retail traders and their trading behavior? - Management reported a significant increase in new retail traders and expressed confidence in their continued participation across various asset classes [27][29] Question: How is the company thinking about capital deployment given the cash balances? - Management stated that capital deployment strategies remain opportunistic, balancing buybacks and dividends based on market conditions [51][53] Question: Can you discuss the impact of tariffs on the physical commodities business? - Management indicated that tariffs are leading to market dislocations, creating opportunities for increased trading activity across various client segments [58][60] Question: What is the status of the trial with former floor traders? - Management refrained from commenting on pending litigation but confirmed no accruals have been made for potential damages [90] Question: What are the hurdles for bringing 24/7 trading to the marketplace? - Management acknowledged the costs associated with staffing for 24/7 trading and indicated that demand will dictate the feasibility of such an initiative [96][100] Question: How has the FX Spot Plus product performed since its launch? - Management reported strong initial performance with significant trading volume and participation from new entities, enhancing market quality [107][109]

The Alerian MLP ETF (NYSEARCA: AMLP ) is a very interesting investment option, and it deserves a "BUY" recommendation, as we will explain. It perfectly suits investors who are looking for medium- to long-term positions. The diversification it offers by nature, across some of the bestMr. Mavroudis is a professional portfolio manager specializing in institutional and private portfolios. He focuses on risk management, which is accompanied by in-depth financial market analysis (fundamental, macro and technical) ...

KeyCorp Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Review July 22, 2025 Chris Gorman Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Clark Khayat Chief Financial Officer 2Q25 Results Differentiated Fee Businesses Focused on Targeted Scale +10% Noninterest Income Growth YoY $64Bn In Assets Under Management(1) Driving New Relationships Focused on Primacy +3% Commercial Loan Growth QoQ +2% Client Deposits and Net New Relationship Household Growth YoY 39bps NCOs / Average Loans, down 4bps QoQ 66bps NPAs / Loans + OREO, down 1bp QoQ Str ...

Core Insights - The individual has extensive experience in risk management and financial analysis, with a strong educational background in applied risk management and relevant certifications [1] - The focus areas include risk management, financial analysis, data science, and the influence of economic factors on financial markets [1] - The motivation for writing is to provide actionable insights for investors by translating complex financial data into understandable analysis [1] Group 1 - The individual holds an MSc in Applied Risk Management from the University of Athens and has completed the ACA Certificate Level [1] - The professional background includes roles in assurance, financial analysis, and trade operations at leading firms such as EY, PwC, Alpha Bank, and the National Bank of Greece [1] - The approach to investing emphasizes data-driven analysis and long-term value creation [1] Group 2 - The individual aims to write on topics related to risk assessment, financial modeling, and stock analysis [1] - There is a commitment to providing informed analysis on market trends, risk management practices, and investment strategies [1] - The goal is to support informed decision-making for investors [1]

Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, personal analysis, and third-party content intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - Users are advised to perform their own research and consider their financial situation before making decisions [1]. Group 2 - The website includes information about complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1]. - It encourages users to understand how these instruments work and the associated risks before investing [1].

Market Risk Assessment - The market is currently underpricing risk, including geopolitical risks and potential deleveraging in the system [3] - There is more downside risk than upside potential in the market [5][10] - The equity market generally weakens in late July and early August [4] Investment Strategy - Recommends a risk reversal strategy for clients holding S&P 500 stock, involving selling call options (e.g, 6800 calls in December) to fund the purchase of put options [6][7] - The strategy aims to provide portfolio insurance, capping gains at 6800 but protecting against downside risk [7][8] - Suggests reassessing stock allocation, especially for those stressed by market volatility, and potentially reducing risk exposure [11] Market Outlook - Sees potential for the S&P 500 to reach 6500 based on charting and trend lines [5][9] - Identifies downside risk with potential levels at 5500 or lower [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income of $19,800,000 for Q2 2025, an increase from $17,000,000 in the same quarter last year, translating to earnings per share of $1.72 compared to $1.45 a year ago [6][13] - Net interest income rose to $51,000,000, an improvement of approximately 8.9% from $46,800,000 in the previous year [8][14] - The annualized net interest margin improved to 3.68%, up 25 basis points from the previous year and 11 basis points higher than Q1 2025 [8][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross loans totaled $4,600,000,000, a decline of $157,000,000 or 3.3% from the end of the previous year [8][20] - The largest loan categories were multifamily and commercial real estate lending, with balances of 1.58 billion and 1.49 billion respectively [9] - Non-interest income for the quarter was $8,200,000, a decrease of $1,600,000 or 16.5% compared to the same quarter last year [16][17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total deposits decreased by $73,900,000 or 1.6% from the end of Q1 2025, totaling $4,680,000,000 [9][21] - Non-performing assets were $8,100,000, representing 0.14% of total assets, a decrease from the previous quarter [10][22] - The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans stood at 1.41%, slightly up from 1.36% at the end of Q1 2025 [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains focused on prudent risk management and disciplined expense management to support long-term shareholder value [7][12] - There is an emphasis on balancing loan growth with appropriate pricing and loan structure, reflecting a conservative credit posture [9][20] - The company is committed to maintaining strong capital levels and delivering consistent value for shareholders amidst ongoing market uncertainty [12][25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism for long-term growth but noted a competitive environment with fewer opportunities in the loan market [29] - The company does not expect significant changes in origination activities in the near term, similar to the first half of 2025 [30] - Management indicated that while there may be slight increases in expenses due to technology investments, overall expense control remains a priority [32][34] Other Important Information - The company redeemed all outstanding subordinated notes totaling $75,000,000, saving future interest costs [24] - A new stock repurchase authorization for an additional 1,000,000 shares was approved, with nearly 176,000 shares repurchased in Q2 2025 [25] - Cash and cash equivalents totaled $245,900,000, with access to additional funding lines totaling $1,550,000,000 [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Loan growth outlook for the second half of the year - Management is optimistic long-term but notes a competitive environment with fewer opportunities, expecting origination activities to remain similar to the first half of 2025 [29][30] Question: Visibility on expected loan payoffs - Management indicated that loan payoffs are unpredictable and difficult to forecast, with some expected payoffs potentially being pushed back [31] Question: Expense control outlook - Management expects expenses to remain consistent, with some potential increases related to technology and compensation adjustments, but nothing significant anticipated [32][34]