This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Brazilian digital challenger Nubank has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a U.S. national bank, the company said Thursday. While the company enters the organization phase and awaits approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Federal Reserve, Nubank “will focus on fully capitaliz ...

SÃO PAULO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nu (NYSE:NU), one of the largest digital financial services platforms in the world with 127 million customers, today announced that it has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) of the United States for the formation of a de novo national bank, Nubank, N.A.The conditional approval represents a milestone in the company's long-term strategy to expand its operational footprint and product offerings in the United States. Once fully appr ...

Financial Performance - BMO's adjusted EPS increased by 26% from $9.68 in F2024 to $12.16 in F2025[9] - The adjusted return on equity improved by 150 bps, rising from 9.8% in F2024 to 11.3% in F2025[9] - Adjusted PPPT increased by 14%, from $13.3 billion in F2024 to $15.2 billion in F2025[9] - Adjusted net income for Q4 2025 increased by 63%, excluding $123 million amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets and $102 million goodwill write-down[33] - Adjusted revenue for Q4 2025 increased by 12%, driven by broad-based growth across all operating segments and strong fee growth in Wealth Management and Capital Markets[33] Business Segment Performance - Canadian Personal & Commercial Banking revenue increased by 7%, from $11.4 billion in F2024 to $12.3 billion in F2025[15] - Wealth and Asset Management revenue increased by 15%, from $4.6 billion in F2024 to $5.3 billion in F2025[12] - Investment and Corporate Banking revenue increased by 14%, from $6.5 billion in F2024 to $7.4 billion in F2025[14] - U S Banking adjusted PPPT increased by 30% year-over-year[18] Risk and Capital Management - The PCL impaired loans ratio decreased by 230 bps[9] - The CET1 ratio stands at 13.3%[9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.28, down from $0.34 in the same quarter last year [21] - Total sales were $545 million, a decrease of 2.4% year-over-year, with a 3% decline on a comparable sales basis [22] - Gross margin was 39.8%, down from 41.4% last year, indicating a normalized margin due to steady inventory flow [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Soma experienced a 2.1% net sales increase, with comparable sales down 0.5%, marking a sequential improvement over the last four quarters [22][5] - Chico's saw a 2.5% decline in comparable sales, while White House Black Market's comparable sales fell 5.7%, both on top of nearly 30% increases on a two-year stack basis [22] - Average dollar sale and units per transaction increased across all brands, offset by a decrease in transaction count [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company gained market share among customers aged 45 and older with household incomes over $100,000, with Soma significantly outperforming the market in the same demographic [8] - Total inventory was down 11%, with on-hand inventory down 0.3%, indicating a healthy inventory position entering the second half of the year [9][26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on being customer-led, utilizing stores, digital platforms, and social media to enhance customer experiences and drive long-term growth [10] - The strategic pillars include being product-obsessed, digital-first, and operationally excellent, with ongoing investments in technology and marketing to support growth [20] - The company plans to manage expenses while investing in areas that drive customer growth and store productivity [23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the back half of the year, citing positive customer responses to new fall assortments and a healthy inventory position [29] - The company expects total sales for fiscal 2023 to be flat to low single-digit growth compared to last year, with improving trends anticipated in Q3 and Q4 [28][29] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a balanced assortment and strategic promotions to navigate the current market environment [73] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $151 million in cash and total liquidity of $386 million, with only $24 million in debt [24][25] - The redesigned loyalty programs have seen nearly 90% enrollment among apparel customers, driving higher units per transaction and average dollar sales [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on inventory and trend changes for Q4 by brand? - Management noted that total inventory was down 11%, with fresh fall inventories up 12%, indicating a healthy position for Q3 [34] Question: What are the factors affecting gross margin? - Management highlighted corporate savings and occupancy costs as key factors, with a moderate gross margin contraction expected for the year [38][39] Question: How are outlet trends progressing? - Management reported a rebound in outlet stores, with positive foot traffic and conversion rates, although digital outlet sales remained soft [42][43] Question: What is the status of customer reactivation? - Management indicated strong reactivation of lapsed customers, with new customer growth up across all brands [44] Question: How is the dress business performing at White House Black Market? - Management acknowledged a sequential improvement in sales, with inventory levels now balanced between fashion and basics [71] Question: Is there a trend back towards casual wear? - Management clarified that the trend is more about proportion changes rather than a strict shift towards casual or dressy styles [75]