Core Points - The U.S. Senate failed to advance a Republican-backed proposal to establish health savings accounts for Americans benefiting from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year [1] - The proposal required 60 votes to pass but was ultimately rejected with a vote of 51 to 48 [1] - The Senate is now set to consider a Democratic proposal to extend the ACA for three years, which analysts predict will also fail [1]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of starting the new year with a focus on financial management and outlines four key financial strategies to implement at the beginning of 2026. Group 1: Budgeting - Establishing a budget is essential for understanding spending habits and achieving financial goals, such as becoming debt-free [3][4]. - Budgeting can be done through various methods, including writing expenses down, using spreadsheets, or financial apps [3]. Group 2: Retirement Savings - Increasing contributions to an IRA or 401(k) is crucial, especially at the start of the year when raises are common [5][6]. - Early adjustments to savings rates can help individuals avoid the temptation to spend additional income from raises [6]. Group 3: Health Savings Accounts - The beginning of the year is an opportune time to evaluate eligibility for a Health Savings Account (HSA) if new health insurance is being acquired [7][9]. - HSAs allow individuals to save pre-tax dollars for qualifying healthcare expenses, which can be beneficial if the health plan has a high deductible [9].

Core Insights - HealthEquity, Inc. (HQY) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.08 for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 17.4% and showing a year-over-year improvement of 25.6% [1][9] - The company generated revenues of $325.8 million in the fiscal second quarter, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.2% and reflecting an 8.6% increase from the prior-year quarter [2][9] - Total Health Savings Account (HSA) assets reached $33.1 billion at the end of July 31, 2025, marking a 12% year-over-year increase [4][9] Revenue Performance - Service revenues amounted to $117.9 million, up 0.9% year over year, driven by a higher number of HSAs and invested HSA assets [6] - Custodial revenues totaled $159.9 million, reflecting a 15.3% increase from the previous year [7] - Interchange revenues reached $48.1 million, up 8% year over year [7] HSA Growth Metrics - As of July 31, 2025, HealthEquity served as a non-bank custodian for 10 million HSAs, a 6% increase year over year [3] - The number of HSAs with investments rose to 782,000, up 10% year over year [3] - Total accounts, including HSAs and Consumer Direct Benefits (CDBs), reached 17.1 million [3] Margin and Profitability - Gross profit increased by 13.9% year over year to $232.6 million, with a gross margin expansion of 340 basis points to 71.4% [8] - Operating profit totaled $89.6 million, a significant increase of 52.1% from the prior-year quarter, with an operating margin expansion of 790 basis points to 27.5% [11] Financial Position - At the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $304.5 million, up from $287.9 million at the end of the first quarter [12] - Total debt at the end of the second quarter was $1.01 billion, down from $1.06 billion at the end of the first quarter [12] - Cumulative net cash provided by operating activities reached $200.6 million, compared to $173.6 million a year ago [13] Future Guidance - HealthEquity updated its revenue projections for fiscal 2026 to a range of $1.290 billion to $1.310 billion, with adjusted EPS expected to be between $3.74 and $3.91 [14]