Core Viewpoint - The Swatch Group reported weaker earnings for 2025 despite a positive sales trend in the second half of the year, with expectations for broad growth in 2026 [1][6]. Financial Performance - The company posted net sales of SFr6.28 billion ($8.11 billion), a decrease of 1.3% at constant exchange rates [1]. - Net profit fell to SFr25 million from SFr219 million the previous year [1]. - Operating profit declined to SFr135 million from SFr304 million, resulting in a margin of 2.1% [2]. - Operating cash flow improved by 52.3% to SFr507 million [3]. Sales and Market Trends - Second-half sales increased by 4.7% at constant currencies, accelerating to 7.2% in the fourth quarter across all price tiers globally [2]. - Revenue, excluding China, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR, grew by 3.4% for 2025 and over 10% in the fourth quarter [4]. - The Americas experienced nearly 20% local-currency growth, primarily driven by the US market [4]. Segment Performance - Within the watches and jewellery segment, operating profit reached SFr549 million, with a margin of 9.5%, down from 10.6% in 2024 [2]. - Retail expansion continued, with over 47% of revenue coming directly from consumers, and online sales surpassing pandemic-era levels in many regions [5]. Future Outlook - Management anticipates substantial growth in 2026 across all price segments, with higher utilization expected to significantly reduce or reverse production losses and enhance profitability [6].

Core Insights - ExxonMobil is the largest International Oil Company by market capitalization and has demonstrated exceptional operational performance, as evidenced by its 2025 financial results [1] Financial Performance - ExxonMobil generated earnings of $28.8 billion and cash flow from operations of $52 billion in 2025, achieving compound annual growth rates of 21% in earnings per share and 10% in cash flow from operations since 2019 [2] - The company reached its highest production volumes in over 40 years, producing 4.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, with record outputs in the Permian Basin and offshore Guyana [3] Cost Management - ExxonMobil achieved $3 billion in savings last year, totaling $15.1 billion in savings since 2019, surpassing all other International Oil Companies combined [4] Capital Returns - The company produced $26.1 billion in free cash flow after capital expenditures, supporting $37.2 billion in cash distributions to shareholders, including $17.2 billion in dividends and $20 billion in share repurchases [5] Financial Stability - ExxonMobil ended the year with a net-debt-to-capital ratio of 11% and a cash balance of $10.7 billion, indicating a strong financial position [6] Future Outlook - The company plans to continue its investment strategy and aims to achieve an additional $20 billion in cumulative cost savings by 2030, projecting $25 billion in earnings growth and $35 billion in cash flow growth from 2024 levels by 2030 [7]

Core Viewpoint - Mirum Pharmaceuticals is showing strong performance and growth potential, with shares more than doubling over the past year, but it is not yet consistently profitable [1][2]. Financial Performance - For the first nine months of 2025, Mirum generated $372.4 million in revenue, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 56.8% [3]. - The company reported a loss per share of $0.35 for this period, an improvement from a loss of $1.36 per share in the same period last year [3]. - In Q3 2025, Mirum achieved a net profit of $2.9 million, a significant turnaround from a net loss of $14.2 million in Q3 2024 [4]. Revenue Projections - Mirum expects to achieve $520 million in net product sales for the full 2025 fiscal year, indicating at least a 54.4% growth compared to 2024 [6]. - For 2026, the company is guiding for net sales between $630 million to $650 million, representing a midpoint growth of 23.1% compared to 2025 [6]. Strategic Acquisitions - The company recently acquired Bluejay Therapeutics for $620 million, which may negatively impact short-term profitability due to acquisition costs but is expected to enhance revenue and earnings in the long run [7]. Future Outlook - Mirum has key clinical catalysts that could positively impact its stock price and drive sales growth [8]. - Despite recent strong performance, there are concerns about limited upside potential and the timeline for achieving consistent profitability [8][9].

Core Insights - Verizon Communications reported its strongest subscriber gains in years, leading to a significant increase in stock price by over 11% [1][2]. Subscriber Growth - In the fourth quarter, Verizon achieved its highest quarterly net customer additions since 2019, gaining 616,000 postpaid phone subscribers and 372,000 broadband subscribers [2]. Competitive Strategy - New CEO Dan Schulman aims to strengthen Verizon's market position, stating that the company will no longer be an easy target for competitors like AT&T and T-Mobile [3]. Financial Performance - Verizon's total operating revenue for the fourth quarter rose by 2% year over year to $36.4 billion, while adjusted earnings per share slightly declined by less than 1% to $1.09, surpassing Wall Street's expectations of $1.06 [5]. Future Outlook - The company generated $20.1 billion in free cash flow in 2025, with management projecting a growth of approximately 7% to at least $21.5 billion in 2026, supported by anticipated retail postpaid phone net additions of 750,000 to 1 million [6].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted net income of $30 million or $0.06 per diluted share in Q4 2025, compared to a net loss of $0.07 per diluted share in the previous quarter [5][6] - The unadjusted pre-provision, pre-tax net revenue improved by $51 million quarter-over-quarter, while adjusted pre-provision, pre-tax net revenue improved by $45 million versus Q3 [14] - The net interest margin (NIM) expanded by 14 basis points quarter-over-quarter, reaching 2.14%, including a one-time hedge gain of approximately $20 million [17][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a 2% growth in net commercial and industrial (C&I) loans on a linked quarter basis, with a total commitment increase of 28% to $3 billion and originations rising by 22% to $2.1 billion [7][10] - The overall commercial real estate (CRE) exposure was reduced by $2.3 billion, with a concentration ratio now below 400% [7][22] - The multifamily portfolio declined by 13% or $4.3 billion year-over-year, with a reserve coverage of 1.83% [22][24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total CRE balances decreased by $12.1 billion or 25% since year-end 2023, aiding the strategy to diversify the loan portfolio [22] - The company reported a significant reduction in criticized and classified loans, down $330 million quarter-over-quarter, and a decrease in non-accrual loans by $267 million [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to solidify its balance sheet and reposition for growth, focusing on diversifying the loan portfolio and reducing reliance on wholesale funding [9][10] - The strategic initiatives over the past couple of years are expected to drive sustainable growth and profitability going forward [10][30] - The company plans to generate deposit growth across various business lines while maintaining discipline on pricing [8][9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the bank's earning power continuing to strengthen in 2026, driven by growth in net interest income and margin expansion [8][30] - The management team highlighted the importance of proactive management of CRE exposure and improving the bank's credit profile [8][30] - The company anticipates a full year of profitability in 2026, with adjusted EPS forecasted to be in the range of $0.65-$0.70 [16] Other Important Information - The company reduced brokered deposits by almost $8 billion during the year, enhancing its liquidity position [10][19] - The CET1 capital ratio increased by almost 400 basis points, now ranking among the highest capitalized regional banks [9][18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the drivers behind the lowered net interest income guidance? - Management indicated that higher payoff activity, particularly related to multifamily and CRE loans, was the primary driver for the reduction [34][35] Question: How comfortable are you with funding loan growth through core deposit growth? - Management expressed confidence in core deposit growth, leveraging bank branches and new C&I relationships to drive deposits [46][50] Question: What are the prospects for capital return and stock buybacks? - Management noted that the board will consider how to deploy excess capital based on balance sheet growth and non-performing loans [52][53] Question: Can you provide updates on the rent-regulated portfolio and potential impacts from rent freezes? - Management stated that there is ongoing dialogue regarding rent regulations and emphasized that they have not seen a decline in liquidity in the multifamily portfolio [71][76] Question: What is the expected roll-on yield for new C&I and CRE loans? - New C&I loans are coming on at a spread to SOFR of 175 to 300 basis points, while new CRE loans are at 200-225 basis points [89]

Core Viewpoint - Starbucks Corporation is a leading global coffeehouse chain with a focus on premium coffee and customer experience, currently facing a cautious market outlook despite some positive sales growth [1][2]. Financial Performance - In Q1 FY2026, Starbucks reported a 4% growth in global comparable sales and a 5% increase in revenue to $9.92 billion, but experienced a decrease in operating income and a 19% drop in earnings per share year-over-year, indicating challenges in profitability [4][5]. - The stock price is currently at $93.88, with a market capitalization of $106.95 billion, reflecting a 1.35% decrease in price despite a raised price target from $84 to $89 by TD Cowen [2][5]. Store Expansion and Strategy - Starbucks plans to open 650 new stores this year while emphasizing the performance of its existing 16,000 U.S. locations, with a focus on comparable store sales as a key metric for revenue growth [3][5].

Core Insights - Sea Limited has shown remarkable stock performance, nearly tripling in 2024 and gaining an additional 20% in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 by approximately 2.5 percentage points [1][2] - The company is expected to continue its market-beating performance into 2026, driven by strong growth across its business segments [2][6] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Sea's revenue grew by 40% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by 68% [4] - E-commerce revenue rose by 35%, while the digital finance segment (Monee) saw outstanding loan balances grow by nearly 70% [4] - The digital entertainment segment experienced a 51% increase in bookings, indicating strong performance in what was previously considered a legacy business [4] Growth Opportunities - The Shopee business's ad revenue grew by over 70%, contributing significantly to high-margin growth [5] - The Monee platform is experiencing strong loan growth outside the Shopee ecosystem, representing less than 10% of total loans, suggesting substantial future growth potential [5] - Sea is still in the early stages of capturing market opportunities in e-commerce and finance, with optimistic projections for 2026 [6]

Core Insights - Investors should focus on companies that generate solid returns after covering all operating and non-operating expenses, making profitable businesses more attractive than money-losing ones [1] Group 1: Semiconductor Stocks - Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) and NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) are highlighted as top profitable picks, with shares increasing by 239.1% and 38.8% respectively last year [2] - Micron Technology has a 12-month net profit margin of 28.2%, indicating strong profitability among chipmakers [6][8] - NVIDIA reported a 12-month net profit margin of 53%, showcasing its strong ability to generate income from computing solutions [7][8] Group 2: Profitability Metrics - The net income ratio is a key indicator of a company's profitability, reflecting the percentage of net income to total sales revenues [3] - A higher net income ratio implies a company's effectiveness in managing revenues and expenses [3] - Additional screening parameters include Zacks Rank, trailing 12-month sales and net income growth, and a strong buy percentage rating greater than 70% [4][5]

Core Insights - UMB Financial reported a strong finish to 2025 with record full-year earnings and continued organic balance sheet growth, driven by the integration of the Heartland Financial acquisition [2][5] - The company achieved a net income of $209.5 million for Q4 2025, translating to $2.74 per diluted share, which is a 16.1% increase from the previous quarter [5][10] - Full-year earnings reached $684.6 million, or $9.29 per diluted share, with improved profitability metrics including a return on average assets (ROA) of 1.20% [5][10] Financial Performance - The fourth quarter included $39.7 million in acquisition expenses, up from $35.6 million in the prior quarter [1] - Excluding acquisition costs, net operating income was reported at $235.2 million, or $3.08 per diluted share [1] - The efficiency ratio improved to 55.5 from 58.1 in the third quarter and 61.8 a year earlier [1][5] Net Interest Income and Margin - Net interest income rose 10% sequentially to $522.5 million, aided by double-digit growth in loans and non-interest bearing deposits [6][10] - The reported net interest margin (NIM) was 3.29%, with a core margin of 2.96%, reflecting an 18 basis point increase from the prior quarter [7][10] - Management expects the first quarter margin to remain relatively flat, with contractual accretion expectations of $126 million for 2026 [8][9] Loan and Deposit Growth - UMB experienced a 13% linked-quarter annualized growth in average loans and a 5.6% growth in average deposits [10] - Quarterly loan production reached $2.6 billion, with commercial and industrial lending being the strongest contributor [10][11] - Deposit growth was supported by new customer acquisitions and significant public funds inflows, although management cautioned about limited visibility into short-term deposit movements [12] Expenses and Capital Management - The company reported $39.7 million in merger-related costs, with operating non-interest expenses at $391.8 million, a 1.8% increase from the third quarter [17] - For Q1 2026, operating expenses are projected to be between $385 million and $390 million, including seasonal and inflation-related increases [18] - The common equity Tier 1 ratio stood at 10.96%, up 26 basis points from September, with a focus on organic growth as the top capital priority [20] Tax Rate - The effective tax rate for Q4 was 20.3%, with an expectation of 20% to 22% for 2026 [21]

Core Viewpoint - CoStar Group is committed to prioritizing profitable growth and enhancing long-term value for shareholders, responding to feedback from major shareholders, including Third Point, by implementing a series of strategic initiatives aimed at improving profitability and transparency [2][3]. Strategic Initiatives - The Board has recommended a plan to accelerate profitability for Homes.com, invest in core platforms, return capital to shareholders, align executive compensation with shareholder interests, and enhance investor transparency [3][5]. - A Capital Allocation Committee has been formed to review the company's capital structure and investment priorities, including significant investments in major brands like CoStar and Apartments.com [5]. - The company plans to moderate investment in Homes.com, reducing net investment by $300 million in 2026 and over $100 million annually thereafter, aiming for breakeven profitability by the end of 2029 [5][6]. Financial Performance and Projections - CoStar Group expects revenue of $3.8 billion in 2026, an 18% increase from 2025, with adjusted EBITDA projected to rise 83% to $770 million, achieving a margin of 20% compared to 13% in 2025 [8]. - The company anticipates entering a new phase of accelerated, profitable growth, with a long-term goal of achieving adjusted EBITDA of $2.3 billion and a margin of 35% by 2030 [9]. Market Position and Growth - Homes.com is showing strong momentum, with a 337% increase in subscribers since Q1 2024, and is expected to scale rapidly while lowering capital intensity [6]. - The company has a proven track record of successful acquisitions, having acquired over 40 businesses for approximately $7.3 billion, generating internal rates of return (IRRs) between 17% and 39% [7]. Shareholder Returns - CoStar Group has delivered approximately 290% total shareholder returns over the last 10 years, significantly outperforming the median of its real estate marketplace peers [14]. - The company is accelerating its $500 million share repurchase program initiated in 2025 and has authorized a new $1.5 billion repurchase program in January 2026 [5].