The broader equity markets have witnessed a steady uptrend over the past couple of days as investors shrugged off stringent tariff threats from President Trump on more countries. After announcing a slew of proposed tariffs on imported goods from 14 countries, including major trading partners and allies, Japan and South Korea, Trump threatened to impose additional levies on more countries in the coming days. With doors being kept wide open for negotiations, investors widely believe that a mutually beneficial ...

Financial Performance - Net income reached $5.5 billion, or $1.60 per diluted common share, including a $253 million gain from acquiring the remaining interest in the merchant services joint venture[4] - Revenue totaled $20.8 billion, a 1% increase, with net interest income at $11.7 billion (down 2%) and noninterest income at $9.1 billion (up 4%)[4] - The effective income tax rate was 14.3%[4] - Return on Equity (ROE) was 12.8%, and Return on Tangible Common Equity (ROTCE) was 15.2%[4] Credit Quality - Provision for credit losses amounted to $1.0 billion[6] - Total net loan charge-offs were $1.0 billion, down $304 million, representing 0.44% of average loans (annualized)[6] - Allowance for credit losses for loans stood at $14.6 billion, a 1% decrease[6] Capital and Liquidity - The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio was 11.1%[5] - The Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) was 121%[5] - Total Loss Absorbing Capacity (TLAC) ratio was 24.4%[5] Loans and Deposits - Average loans were $916.7 billion, stable year-over-year[4] - Average deposits totaled $1.3 trillion, down 1%[4]

Key Takeaways VST now operates six nuclear units, contributing 16% to its capacity and output stability. High nuclear capacity factors and low variable costs enhance VST's earnings and shareholder returns. VST's ROE of 87.33% exceeds its industry average and its shares gain 68.7% in 3 months.Vistra Corp. (VST) is a diversified power producer with a strong presence in competitive electricity markets across the United States. Its balanced portfolio of natural gas, coal, solar and battery storage assets is c ...

Group 1 - BOC Aviation (BOCA) delivered 13 aircraft in 2Q25, maintaining flat year-over-year (YoY) and increasing two quarter-over-quarter (QoQ), with a total of 24 aircraft delivered in 1H25, which is an increase of six YoY and four half-over-half (HoH) [1] - The firm’s self-owned fleet grew to 441 aircraft by the end of 1H25, up 12 YoY and six HoH, while the order book increased to 351, reflecting a growth of 132 YoY and 119 HoH [1] - Aircraft lease rates are trending upward, with the Airbus A320NEO lease rate rising approximately 6% YoY as of February 2025, supporting high-priced contract execution and potentially lifting gross lease rental yields [2] Group 2 - The firm sold 14 self-owned aircraft in 2Q25, an increase of three YoY and 10 QoQ, with a total of 18 self-owned aircraft sold in 1H25, also up three YoY [3] - The market value of the firm’s self-owned fleet exceeded book value by 15% as of the end of 2024, indicating that steady aircraft disposals could improve fleet quality and realize asset premiums [3] Group 3 - The firm has a higher exposure to floating-rate liabilities (27% at end-2024), making it more sensitive to interest rate cuts compared to leasing peers, with historical share price movements closely tied to US Treasury yields and interest rate cut expectations [5] - In previous periods of rising interest rate cut expectations, the firm’s share price increased by 18.7% from its trough to peak in November 2023 and climbed 26.2% by July 2024, suggesting potential short-term catalysts for share price [5] Group 4 - Improved aircraft deliveries are expected to drive up gross lease rental yields, while overseas interest rate cuts may lower financing costs, leading to a steady recovery in the firm’s return on equity (ROE) [6] - The firm’s historical average valuation has shown a strong correlation with its ROE, indicating that ROE expansion could provide room for a steady rise in valuation [6]

Core Insights - OneMain Holdings, Inc. (OMF) shares reached a 52-week high of $60.08, with a 47.8% increase over the past three months, outperforming the industry and S&P 500 Index [1][8] - The company's revenue has shown a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6%, driven by growth in net interest income [4] - OneMain Holdings has a trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) of 19.30%, significantly higher than the industry average of 10.11% [11][12] Revenue Growth - The company aims to enhance margins by reducing Back Book over time and has strengthened its auto finance capabilities through the acquisition of Foursight [5] - OneMain Holdings is expected to continue top-line growth due to its diversified product base and efforts to expand credit card and auto finance businesses [4][5] Financial Position - As of March 31, 2025, OneMain Holdings had total debt of $22.2 billion and cash and cash equivalents of $1.4 billion, indicating a decent balance sheet position [9] - The company has a share repurchase program worth $1 billion, with $609.8 million remaining as of March 31, 2025 [11] Expense Trends - Total other expenses have seen a CAGR of 3% over the last five years, primarily due to rising salaries and benefits [15] - Elevated expenses are expected to persist as the company invests in new products and capabilities [16] Asset Quality Concerns - Provision for finance receivable losses has a CAGR of 9.1% over the past five years, indicating underwriting concerns [19] - The allowance ratio has consistently increased, suggesting challenges in asset quality that may hinder growth [21] Valuation Metrics - OMF stock has a P/E (F1) ratio of 9.68, below the industry average of 11.72, indicating it may be undervalued [22] - Despite the attractive valuation, analysts have revised earnings estimates lower for 2025 and 2026, reflecting concerns over growth potential [25]

Core Insights - Mercury General Corporation (MCY) shares have increased by 27% over the past year, outperforming the Finance sector and the S&P 500 composite, which grew by 20.4% and 11.7% respectively [1] - The company has a market capitalization of $3.71 billion, with an average trading volume of 0.3 million shares over the last three months [2] - MCY's shares are currently trading above both the 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages, indicating strong upward momentum [3] Financial Performance - MCY's top line has experienced a 7.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2020 to 2024, driven by increased net premiums earned and other revenues [6] - Net investment income has surged with a CAGR of 15.7% over the past five years [6] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 revenues is projected at $5.88 million, reflecting a year-over-year improvement of 9.1% [8] Valuation Metrics - MCY shares are trading at a price-to-book value of 2.04X, which is higher than the industry average of 1.57X, indicating a premium valuation [7] - The average price target for MCY is $80 per share, suggesting a potential upside of 18.8% from the last closing price [10] Return on Capital - The return on equity (ROE) for the trailing 12 months stands at 9.52%, outperforming the industry average of 6.1% [9] - Return on invested capital for the trailing 12 months is 6.73%, also better than the industry average of 5.96% [9] Growth Drivers - The company has seen improvements in net premiums written, particularly in the California automobile and homeowners insurance segments [15] - Rising average yields and higher invested assets are expected to benefit net investment income, which has been a significant contributor to top-line growth [16] Operational Efficiency - Mercury General has consistently generated positive cash flow from operations since its public offering in 1985, indicating strong operational efficiency [17] - However, the company has faced rising expenses due to higher losses, policy acquisition costs, and other operating expenses, which could impact margins if revenue growth does not outpace expense increases [18]

A c t i o n | 13 Jun 2025 16:09:15 ET │ 27 pages US Equity Strategy "Good ROE" Increasingly Scarce CITI'S TAKE Stocks where ROE is expected to improve due to margin expansion and/or total asset turnover gains are becoming less abundant in the S&P 500. This is largely a function of downgraded outlooks on softer macros and trade concerns. The stocks that still find their way into our Positive ROE Trend baskets are expected to generate excess EPS growth over comparable indices, and even more so relative to Neg ...

Core Insights - The markets started 2025 positively but have faced increased volatility due to the Trump administration's tariff plans and geopolitical uncertainties, leading to cautious investor behavior [1] Company Analysis - StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) is projected to have a sales growth rate of 10.9% in 2025 and currently holds a Zacks Rank 1, indicating strong buy potential [12] - Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR) is expected to see a sales growth rate of 4.6% in 2025 and also holds a Zacks Rank 1 [13] - Intuit Inc. (INTU) is anticipated to achieve a sales increase of 15.1% in fiscal 2025, the highest among the highlighted stocks, and has a Zacks Rank 1 [14] - The Mosaic Company (MOS) is expected to grow sales by 11.5% in 2025 and currently has a Zacks Rank 2 [15] Investment Strategy - A focus on companies with strong sales growth and high cash balances is essential for identifying potential investment opportunities [6] - Key screening parameters include a 5-Year Historical Sales Growth (%) greater than the industry average and cash flow exceeding $500 million [6] - Additional metrics for stock selection include a P/S Ratio lower than the industry average, positive sales estimate revisions, operating margin greater than 5%, and a Return on Equity (ROE) greater than 5% [7][8][9]

Core Viewpoint - UGI Corporation's planned investments are expected to enhance its aging infrastructure and improve overall performance, making it a strong investment option in the utility sector due to growth opportunities and a solid return on equity (ROE) [1] Group 1: Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 earnings per share (EPS) has increased by 3.3% to $3.13 [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 sales is projected at $7.81 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 8.4% [2] - UGI's long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 5.2%, with a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 75.7% [2] Group 2: Financial Health - UGI's current ratio stands at 1.23, surpassing the industry average of 0.63, indicating sufficient short-term assets to cover liabilities [3] - The company's ROE is 16.21%, significantly higher than the industry average of 9.24%, demonstrating effective utilization of funds [4] - UGI's total debt to capital ratio is 58.34%, better than the sector's average of 59.23%, and the time-to-interest earned ratio is 2.5, indicating strong ability to meet interest obligations [5] Group 3: Dividend Performance - UGI has a long history of paying dividends for 141 years, with a current quarterly dividend of 37.5 cents per share, leading to an annualized dividend of $1.50 [6] - The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for UGI's 10-year dividend is 6% for fiscal 2014-2024, and the current dividend yield is 4.1%, above the industry's average of 3.28% [6] Group 4: Strategic Investments - UGI plans to invest $800-$900 million in fiscal 2025 and up to $4.1 billion by 2027 to modernize its infrastructure [8][10] - These investments aim to enhance safety and reliability in natural gas production and storage, as well as replace aging infrastructure to efficiently serve an expanding customer base [9] - UGI has added over 6,600 residential heating and commercial customers year to date [9]

Key Takeaways PLTR posts a 23.56% ROE, falling short of the 32.34% industry average and trailing more efficient peers. Long-cycle contracts and heavy investments may be holding down PLTR's short-term capital efficiency. PLTR's modular pricing shift could impact margins now, but it aims to expand its commercial client base.Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) currently has a return on equity (ROE) of 23.56%, trailing the industry average of 32.34%. While still solid, this disparity suggests that Palantir is g ...