NewBridge Asset Management, an investment management company, recently released its Q4 2025 letter for “NewBridge Large Cap Growth Equity Strategy”. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Equity markets continued their upward momentum in the fourth quarter, driven by resilient economic growth and solid corporate returns. In the fourth quarter, large-cap growth outperformed, while in the third quarter, small-cap and value equities exceeded the growth strategy. The NewBridge Large Cap Growth Strategy g ...

Core Insights - Tradeweb Markets has demonstrated exceptional revenue and profit growth, with a significant increase in trading volume and market penetration over the past decade [6][7]. Business Model - Tradeweb's revenue model is diversified, with approximately 75% of its revenue being variable, dependent on trading volumes and negotiated fees with institutional clients [4]. - The company also benefits from fixed revenue arrangements, contributing about 25% of its total revenue, which includes reliable market data streams [5]. Financial Performance - From 2016 to 2024, Tradeweb's revenue grew at an average annual rate exceeding 16%, with a notable acceleration to 21% year-over-year growth in 2025 [6]. - Net income increased almost sixfold to $695 million during the same period, with EBITDA growing at an average rate of 21% annually [7]. Cash Flow and Capital Allocation - Tradeweb generated approximately $1 billion in free cash flow over the past 12 months, supporting a strong balance sheet with $1.9 billion in cash and cash equivalents [8]. - The company employs a balanced capital allocation strategy, investing in acquisitions and organic growth while also returning capital to shareholders through modest stock repurchases [9][10]. Market Position and Future Outlook - Despite recent financial success, Tradeweb's stock has underperformed, declining nearly 20% over the past year, prompting the company to focus on growth strategies to improve shareholder value [11].

Core Insights - Tradeweb Markets is a crucial service provider for institutional investors, facilitating efficient trading in financial markets globally [3][5][9] - The company operates electronic marketplaces primarily focused on fixed income investments, while also catering to equity investors through ETFs [5][6] Company Overview - Tradeweb has established a reputation over 25 years, serving over 3,000 clients across 85 countries, including 90% of the top 100 global asset managers and 80% of the 25 largest insurance companies [9] - The company trades more than 50 products and is a leader in electronic markets for government bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and interest rate swaps [10] Trading Operations - Tradeweb's electronic platform handles an average of $2.5 trillion in trades daily, providing services from order placement to trade execution and reporting [10] - The company targets four asset classes: rate-related fixed-income investments, credit, equity (ETFs), and money market instruments [6] Market Data Services - Tradeweb offers proprietary market data products to help institutions make informed trading decisions [7] Financial Performance - The next article in the series will discuss Tradeweb's financial performance and its impact on shareholder returns [11]

Group 1: U.S. Legal and Regulatory Developments - The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed the legality of taking action against smuggling boats, which could significantly change maritime interdiction strategies [2][9] - Fentanyl has been classified as a chemical weapon, intensifying the legal framework for operations against drug trafficking [2][9] Group 2: Serbia's Energy Crisis - Serbia faces a critical decision regarding its only oil refiner, which is under Russian ownership, due to persistent U.S. sanctions [3][9] - The Serbian Energy Minister indicated that the country must either nationalize the company or risk running out of crude oil, highlighting geopolitical pressures on energy security [3][9] Group 3: Market Performance - Major global indices experienced slight upward movements over the weekend, with the DAX up 0.04%, DOW rising 0.03%, and NASDAQ increasing by 0.06% [4][9] - U.S. Oil prices climbed 0.46% to 6011, while Gold remained stable at 4084 [5][9] Group 4: Transformation of Financial Infrastructure - The Chicago Board of Trade's trading floor is being repurposed into an electricity substation by Commonwealth Edison, symbolizing the shift towards electronic trading [6][9]

Core Thesis - Tradeweb Markets Inc. is positioned as a leading global operator of electronic marketplaces, benefiting from the ongoing electronification of fixed-income and derivatives trading [2][4] Financial Performance - The company has achieved nearly 18% annual revenue growth from 2020 to 2024, with projected revenues of $1.73 billion in 2024 [2] - Tradeweb's net income reached $502 million in 2024, with earnings per share (EPS) compounding at over 26% annually since 2020 [3] - The company maintains a strong balance sheet with over $1.6 billion in net cash and negligible debt, supporting acquisitions and shareholder returns [3] Competitive Advantage - Tradeweb's competitive moat is characterized by a powerful network effect that attracts dealers and asset managers, creating a cycle of liquidity that is hard to replicate [4] - The company has developed a diversified platform across various financial products, enhancing its ecosystem and cross-selling opportunities [4] Valuation and Investment Thesis - Despite trading at a premium valuation compared to peers, this is justified by superior growth, operating leverage, and sustainable returns on capital [5] - A discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis suggests an intrinsic value of approximately $125 per share, indicating modest near-term upside but a compelling long-term investment opportunity with a projected 20%+ five-year internal rate of return (IRR) [6] Strategic Initiatives - Tradeweb's strategic initiatives include expansion into credit, portfolio trading, and international markets, with international revenues growing over 36% in 2024 [4]

Core Insights - CME Group Inc. shares have increased by 23.1% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 5.8%, the Finance sector's return of 17.2%, and the S&P 500 composite's appreciation of 17.6% [1] - CME Group's market capitalization stands at $96.84 billion, with an average trading volume of 2 million shares over the last three months [1] - The company has a strong track record of beating earnings estimates, achieving this in three of the last four quarters with an average beat of 1.62% [1] Valuation - CME Group shares are currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.44X, which is lower than the industry average of 24.19X, indicating that the shares are undervalued [2] - Other companies in the sector, such as Intercontinental Exchange Inc. and Nasdaq, are also trading at discounts to the industry average, while Cboe Global Markets is trading at a higher multiple [3] Technical Analysis - CME shares closed at $268.73, trading above the 200-day simple moving average of $261.41, suggesting solid upward momentum [4] Revenue Drivers - CME's primary revenue source comes from clearing and transaction fees, which are bolstered by market volatility [7] - The growth in electronic trading and increased interest in cryptocurrencies are also contributing to revenue growth [7] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects an 8.7% year-over-year increase in earnings per share (EPS) for 2024, with revenues expected to reach $6.53 billion, reflecting a 6.5% year-over-year improvement [9] - For 2026, EPS and revenue estimates indicate increases of 3.6% and 4.7%, respectively, compared to 2025 estimates [9] Analyst Sentiment - Two out of eleven analysts have raised their earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 in the past 60 days, leading to a 0.2% upward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for both years [10] Price Target - The average price target from 18 analysts is $286.17 per share, indicating a potential upside of 8.2% from the last closing price [11] Market Position - CME Group benefits from strong organic growth, particularly during periods of heightened market volatility, which increases trading activity and revenue from fees [13] - The company is well-positioned to capitalize on a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment, which is expected to enhance its growth prospects [14] Financial Performance - CME has demonstrated strong financial performance, with free cash flow conversion exceeding 85% in recent quarters, indicating solid earnings quality [15] - The company maintains a robust capital base that supports growth initiatives, including expanding its market data business and product offerings [15] Dividend Policy - CME Group has a strong dividend history, paying five dividends per year, with the fifth being variable based on excess cash flow, making it attractive for yield-seeking investors [16] Investment Outlook - Given its solid growth projections, attractive valuation, and positive analyst sentiment, CME Group is considered a compelling investment opportunity [17]