Share BOZEMAN, Mont.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FICO (NYSE: FICO): "Oz Pearlman will demonstrate how powerful it is when you read every signal from your customers and act on it." - Nikhil Behl, President, Software, FICO Highlights: Global analytics software leader FICO today announced that Oz Pearlman, one of the world's most renowned and sought-after mentalists and New York Times bestselling author, will bring his extraordinary powers to the FICO® World 26 main stage, captivating the audience with his extraordinary ...

Core Insights - The FICO UK Credit Card Market Report for November 2025 indicates that pre-Christmas spending was below 2024 levels, with rising balances and the lowest payment rates since 2021, highlighting financial stress among consumers [1] Spending Trends - Average credit card spending increased by 2.6% from October to November, reaching £785, but remained 2.4% lower year-on-year [1] - The percentage of customers using credit cards for cash withdrawals saw a significant decline of 12.3% month-on-month and 15.2% year-on-year [1] Payment and Balance Analysis - Payment rates dropped to 33.4%, down 2.8% from the previous month and 7.4% from November 2024, indicating increased financial strain [1] - Average active balances rose to £1,915, reflecting a monthly increase of 0.8% and an annual rise of 5% [1] Delinquency and Risk Indicators - The number of credit card accounts exceeding their limit increased by 6.4% month-on-month and 5.9% year-on-year [1] - Delinquent balances have grown across all categories, suggesting that customers missing payments are doing so with higher debt loads than in previous years [1] Strategic Recommendations - Risk and collections teams are advised to enhance monitoring for customers showing early signs of payment distress, especially as the holiday season approaches [1] - Effective account management should consider consumers' current financial situations and their capacity to manage existing and additional debt [1]

Investor Presentation FOURTH QUARTER 2025 Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This presentation and certain information that management may discuss in connection with this presentation, may include "forward-looking statements," as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"), which express management's current views, expectations, beliefs, plans or forecasts with respect to a variety of matters or future events which are ...

Core Insights - Prudential Advisors has enhanced its Advisor Leads programs by leveraging AI and data science to improve lead quality and increase conversion rates, benefiting both advisors and consumers [1][2]. Group 1: AI Integration - The enhancements ensure that AI is embedded throughout the Prudential Advisors Connect platform, providing Gen AI-derived customer insights that help advisors personalize outreach and engage prospects more effectively [2][5]. - AI is viewed as a strategic investment to transform large volumes of data into actionable insights, reinforcing the advisor-client relationship as a core business strategy [2][6]. Group 2: Lead Prioritization - The program incorporates lead propensity modeling, which uses data science to prioritize leads that are most likely to convert, allowing advisors to focus their efforts on high-quality opportunities [3][4]. - Enhanced lead insights are achieved by integrating third-party data sources, adding hundreds of new attributes to lead profiles, which supports automation and deeper insights for advisors [5][6]. Group 3: Governance and Responsible AI - Governance and responsible AI practices are foundational to the program, with continuous feedback loops and performance measurement to ensure model accuracy and fairness [6]. - The goal is to build durable capabilities that scale responsibly, ultimately helping advisors and clients achieve better outcomes [6]. Group 4: Company Overview - Prudential Advisors supports over 3,000 financial advisors across the U.S., enabling them to help clients build wealth and meet financial goals through personalized advice [7]. - Prudential Financial, Inc. manages approximately $1.6 trillion in assets as of September 30, 2025, and operates globally across various regions [8].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has achieved three consecutive quarters of revenue growth, with a 7% increase in the last quarter, outperforming the apparel, accessories, and footwear market, which only grew by 1% during the same period [7] - Average order value has increased for nine consecutive quarters, with a nearly 10% rise in the last quarter [7] - Active client count has shown improving trends for six consecutive quarters, with new clients up 4%, re-engaged clients up 8%, and a 17% decrease in clients leaving the service year over year, marking the lowest churn rate in over five years [7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has successfully diversified its product offerings beyond tops and bottoms, with significant growth in women's accessories (up over 40%), women's sneakers (up over 60%), and jewelry (up over 25%) in the last quarter [26] - The transformation strategy included rationalizing the business, which led to a 24% reduction in fixed costs, a 200 basis point improvement in gross margins, and over a 500 basis point improvement in contribution margins [5] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The total addressable market (TAM) is vast, with only 10% of U.S. consumers enjoying in-person shopping for apparel and accessories, and only 15% preferring online shopping, indicating a significant opportunity for the company to capture a larger market share [10] - The company has identified a $1 billion fair share opportunity in active wear, accessories, and footwear, with ongoing efforts to deepen penetration in these categories [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging technology and innovation to enhance client experiences and has launched a new brand platform called Retail Therapy to differentiate its service from competitors [11] - The strategy includes a transformation in three phases: rationalization, rebuilding, and growth, with a strong emphasis on client-centricity and personalized shopping experiences [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to continue capturing market share and driving revenue growth, with guidance for another consecutive quarter of accelerated revenue growth [46] - The company is committed to being methodical in customer acquisition and ensuring that new client cohorts continue to spend at or above prior levels, which is crucial for sustainable growth [19] Other Important Information - The company has been actively integrating generative AI innovations to enhance client engagement and improve operational efficiencies [8] - The role of human stylists remains critical, as they build deep relationships with clients, adding value beyond AI capabilities [40] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the company manage customer acquisition spending? - The company emphasizes a methodical approach to customer acquisition, ensuring that new client cohorts are sustainable and spend at or above previous levels, avoiding unsustainable growth metrics [19] Question: What is the strategy regarding private label products? - The company has re-evaluated its private label offerings, removing underperforming items and focusing on quality and value, with private label products now accounting for approximately 40-50% of revenue and units [33][34] Question: How does the company view the future of the stylist role in relation to AI? - The company believes that human stylists are essential for building client relationships and providing personalized experiences, which will complement AI innovations rather than be replaced by them [40]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved over 7% revenue growth in the last quarter, significantly outperforming the apparel, accessories, and footwear market, which only grew 1% during the same period [6] - Gross margins improved by 200 basis points, and contribution margins increased by over 500 basis points as a result of operational efficiencies [4] - Average order value grew nearly 10% in the last quarter, marking nine consecutive quarters of growth [6][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The women's accessories business grew over 40%, women's sneakers business increased over 60%, and jewelry business rose over 25% in the last quarter, indicating strong performance across new categories [21] - The company has seen a significant reduction in client churn, with clients that left the service down 17% year over year, the lowest in over five years [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Only 10% of U.S. consumers enjoy shopping for apparel and accessories in person, and only 15% prefer online shopping, indicating a large untapped market for the company [8] - The company has identified a $1 billion fair share opportunity in active wear, accessories, and footwear, with ongoing success in these categories [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a three-phase transformation strategy: rationalization, rebuilding, and growth, aiming to create a sustainable and profitable business model [4] - A new brand platform called Retail Therapy was launched to differentiate the Stitch Fix service and target specific client segments effectively [9] - The company is leveraging generative AI innovations to enhance client experiences and operational efficiencies [6] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to continue capturing market share and achieving revenue growth, with guidance for another consecutive quarter of accelerated revenue growth [36][37] - The company is methodically approaching customer acquisition to ensure sustainable growth, focusing on high-quality client retention and engagement [15] Other Important Information - The company has made significant investments in CRM and MarTech capabilities to better understand and engage clients, enhancing the overall customer experience [19] - The role of human stylists remains critical, as they build deep relationships with clients, adding value beyond AI capabilities [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the company's strategy for customer acquisition? - The company emphasizes a methodical approach to customer acquisition, ensuring that new client cohorts continue to spend at or above prior levels before increasing marketing investments [15] Question: How does the company view its growth potential in new categories? - The company is actively adding new categories and deepening penetration in existing ones, with a significant revenue opportunity identified in active wear and accessories [26] Question: What is the importance of the stylist role in the business model? - Stylists play a crucial role in building client relationships and enhancing loyalty, complementing the company's AI capabilities [31]

Core Insights - Xeriant, Inc. has made significant progress in 2025, particularly with its NEXBOARD™ eco-friendly composite building panel, which integrates nanotechnology for enhanced thermal performance and fire resistance, positioning the company for a commercial launch in the green construction materials market projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2030 [2][5] Group 1: Company Developments - The successful pilot production run and internal testing of NEXBOARD™ demonstrate its superior fire resistance under extreme temperatures, paving the way for certification and market entry [2] - Xeriant aims to expand its nanotechnology product portfolio and establish a technology ecosystem through its Factor X Research Group, focusing on high-impact technologies such as nanomaterials, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and data science [3] Group 2: Future Vision - The company envisions becoming a collaborative force in the technology landscape, addressing global challenges in construction, aerospace, and security [3] - Xeriant is working towards a Nasdaq uplisting and revenue generation, emphasizing its commitment to sustainable and innovative technologies [4]

Core Insights - FICO's October 2025 credit card data indicates a decline in credit card spending compared to both the previous month and the previous year, with average balances falling for the first time since May, although they remain higher than in October 2024 [1][3][8] Spending Trends - Average UK credit card spend decreased by 4.7% month-on-month and 3% year-on-year, reaching £765 [7][8] - The average card balance fell by 0.7% month-on-month to £1,900, yet is still 4.7% higher than the same month in 2024 [7][8] - The percentage of total balance paid dropped by 0.8% month-on-month to 34.36%, which is 7.6% lower than October 2024 [7][8] Payment Behavior - The percentage of customers missing one payment increased by 7.5% month-on-month, while those missing two payments rose by 2.6% [7][8] - The percentage of accounts with three missed payments decreased by 2.3% [7][8] Credit Limits and Overlimit Accounts - Average credit limits saw a modest increase of 0.2% month-on-month to £5,910, remaining 2.5% higher year-on-year [5][7] - The number of overlimit accounts decreased by 6.0% month-on-month to 1.35%, although this figure is still 3.3% higher than last year [5][6] Financial Vulnerabilities - The increase in missed payments and the high delinquent average balance raise concerns about financial vulnerabilities among consumers, particularly as the Christmas spending peak approaches [3][4][6]

Core Insights - Integral Ad Science (IAS) has appointed Melissa Furze as the Head of Data Science, who will lead the company's global data science, AI, and analytics strategy [1][2] - Melissa Furze brings over two decades of experience in data, analytics, AI, and customer insights, previously serving as Global Vice President of Customer Science at LinkedIn [2][4] - IAS aims to enhance its AI-first strategy to leverage deep data insights for new advertising solutions, focusing on trust, transparency, and performance in digital media [2][5] Company Overview - Integral Ad Science is a leading global media measurement and optimization platform that provides actionable data to improve results for advertisers, publishers, and media platforms [5] - The company's software ensures ads are seen by real people in safe environments, enhancing return on ad spend for advertisers and yield for publishers [5] - IAS's mission is to establish itself as the global benchmark for trust and transparency in digital media quality [5]

Core Viewpoint - Coursera is acquiring Udemy in an all-stock deal valued at $2.5 billion, aiming to consolidate the online education industry amid a post-pandemic slowdown and increased investor scrutiny [1] Group 1: Deal Details - Udemy shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Coursera for each share held, valuing Udemy at approximately $930 million [1][4] - The offer implies a price of $6.35 per Udemy share, representing a premium of about 18.3% [4] - The deal is expected to close in the second half of next year, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals [4] Group 2: Strategic Rationale - The combined platform is expected to better capture corporate demand for workforce training, especially in areas like artificial intelligence, data science, and software development [2] - Analysts view the merger as strategically and financially compelling due to the complementary content offerings and potential for significant cost synergies [3] Group 3: Market Context - Despite the focus on AI upskilling as a growth opportunity, investor sentiment remains cautious, with shares of online education companies lagging behind broader market performance [6] - Udemy shares have decreased by approximately 35% this year, while Coursera shares have fallen around 7%, both trading below their post-IPO highs [6]