ARLINGTON, Texas, Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agora Data, Inc. (“Agora” or the “Company”), a non-prime auto fintech and analytics platform, and Figure Technology Solutions (NASDAQ: FIGR) (“Figure”), a pioneer in blockchain-based capital markets infrastructure, today announced a strategic partnership to launch the first blockchain-enabled platform bringing U.S. auto loans to modern capital markets as tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). The partnership marks a significant milestone in the evolution of c ...

Expansion into Auto Extends Democratized Prime to a Major New Asset Class and Brings Non Figure LOS Originated Loans into the Figure Connect EcosystemNEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Figure Technology Solutions (“Figure”) (Nasdaq: FIGR) today announced a strategic partnership with Agora Data, a leading AI-powered auto fintech platform, to bring auto finance assets onto the Figure Connect Marketplace and into Democratized Prime, Figure’s decentralized lending marketplace. This partnership marks Fi ...

Core Insights - Inverite Insights Inc. is a Canadian risk infrastructure company that specializes in real-time financial data, bank verification, income analytics, and AI-driven fraud prevention solutions [5]. Company Overview - Inverite will participate in the Automotive Finance Canada 2026 conference on February 10, 2026, in Toronto, which focuses on the auto finance ecosystem [1][6]. - The company aims to modernize the approval process in automotive finance by utilizing better decision signals to streamline legitimate applications while mitigating fraud risks [4]. Industry Context - The automotive finance sector is facing dual pressures: the need for faster customer approvals and the necessity to combat sophisticated fraud techniques such as synthetic identities and document manipulation [3]. - The conference will address key sector priorities including fraud prevention, digital transformation, regulatory challenges, and changing consumer behaviors [2][6]. Strategic Focus - Inverite emphasizes the importance of balancing automated decision-making with compliance and operational adoption to enhance underwriting and onboarding processes in auto finance [3]. - The company believes that improving decision quality early in the customer journey can prevent operational losses and manual reviews [3].

Core Points - Dave Wright, president of Dave Wright Nissan Subaru, was awarded the 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year at the 109th National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA) Show, marking the 57th year of the award and Ally Financial's 15th year as the exclusive sponsor [1][4] - The award recognizes industry excellence and community service, with Wright being noted for his leadership and commitment to community impact, having been recognized as one of the Best Dealerships to Work For 12 times [2][3] - Ally Financial will provide grants totaling nearly $1 million to charitable organizations selected by nominees, finalists, and the winner, including $10,000 to Wright's chosen charity and $5,000 to each finalist's nonprofit [6] Company and Industry Summary - Ally Financial Inc. is a financial services company with a leading position in auto financing and the largest all-digital bank in the nation, committed to supporting customers and communities [9] - The TIME Dealer of the Year award is a prestigious recognition in the automotive industry, celebrating dealers who demonstrate excellence and community commitment [5] - The selection process for the award involves a panel from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan, which chooses finalists from each NADA region and a national winner [5]

Core Insights - Credit Acceptance is focusing on enhancing dealer relationships and improving operational efficiency under new CEO Vinayak Hegde, emphasizing a digital-first and AI-enhanced servicing strategy [4][7][10] Group 1: Leadership and Strategy - CEO Vinayak Hegde has implemented disciplined operating rhythms, including weekly business reviews and a quarterly game plan to align functions with annual objectives [2][4] - The company aims to remove friction for dealers and consumers, make data-driven decisions, and invest in culture and talent [2][3] Group 2: Financial Performance - In Q4, Credit Acceptance financed nearly 72,000 contracts and collected $1.3 billion, while enrolling over 1,200 new dealers, resulting in approximately 9,800 active dealers [6][12][13] - Active dealers decreased by 2.8% year-over-year, and unit volume fell by 9.1% year-over-year, with core subprime used-vehicle market share declining from 5.4% to 4.5% [6][14] Group 3: Credit Performance - The company reported modest credit underperformance in the 2023-24 vintages, with declines of approximately 0.4% and 0.2%, attributed to pre-scorecard originations and inflation [5][15] - Loan performance showed a moderate decline, with the 2023 and 2024 vintages experiencing slight decreases, while other vintages remained stable [15][16] Group 4: Technology and Innovation - A new contract origination experience was launched in Q4, specifically designed for franchise and large independent dealers, integrating RouteOne e-contracting and deal structuring tools [8][9] - The technology aims to reduce friction in dealer workflows and improve the speed of deal optimization to less than two seconds [10][9] Group 5: Capital Allocation and Leverage - Management indicated that leverage is at the higher end of the target range, with a focus on maintaining capital for new originations while being active in share repurchases [17][18] - The company’s approach to capital allocation considers intrinsic value relative to market price when deciding on buybacks [18][19]

Core Insights - Credit Acceptance Corporation reported consolidated net income of $122.0 million, or $10.99 per diluted share, for Q4 2025, showing a sequential growth despite declines in loan volumes and performance [1][29] - Adjusted net income for the same period was $126.0 million, or $11.35 per diluted share, indicating stability in adjusted performance metrics [1][30] - The company emphasized its commitment to maximizing intrinsic value and enhancing customer lives, despite challenges in loan performance [1][2] Financial Performance - GAAP net income decreased by 19.7% compared to Q4 2024, primarily due to increased operating expenses and legal contingencies [29][32] - Adjusted net income remained stable year-over-year, reflecting effective management of operational costs and capital [30] - The average balance of the loan portfolio was reported at $7.9 billion, with a consumer loan assignment unit volume of 71,731 and a dollar volume of $821.3 million [5][24] Consumer Loan Metrics - The forecasted collection rates for Consumer Loans showed a moderate decline, impacting net cash flows from the loan portfolio by $34.2 million, or 0.3% [5][7] - The company utilized a statistical model to estimate expected collection rates, which improved for loans assigned in 2025 but declined for those assigned in 2023 and 2024 [4][6] - The forecasted collection rates for 2025 Consumer Loans were 67.2%, reflecting a positive variance from initial forecasts [11][19] Dealer Relationships and Product Initiatives - The company enrolled 1,207 new dealers, bringing the total to 9,863 active dealers, indicating growth in dealer relationships [5][24] - Recent product initiatives aimed at enhancing dealer and consumer experiences included digital credit applications and AI-powered call-center agents, which have shown promising adoption rates [2][5] - The average volume per active dealer decreased by 6.4%, highlighting challenges in maintaining dealer performance amidst market fluctuations [24][23] Legal and Operational Challenges - The company recognized a contingent loss of $35.8 million related to ongoing legal matters, which significantly impacted operating expenses [5][32] - An increase in general and administrative expenses was noted, primarily due to legal costs, which rose by 162.7% [32] - The provision for credit losses increased by 5.0%, reflecting slower forecasted net cash flow timing and a decline in Consumer Loan performance [32]

Core Insights - GM Financial reported a decline in retail loan and lease originations in Q4 2025, attributed to an industry sales slowdown and reduced incentives [1][4] - Despite the decline in originations, GM Financial achieved a net income of approximately $2.1 billion for the full year, marking a 10.6% increase compared to 2024 [3] - The share of U.S. retail loans from GM Financial dropped to 31% in Q4 2025 from 43% in Q4 2024, influenced by the type and level of incentive programs [5] Financial Performance - GM Financial's net income for Q4 2025 was $460 million, more than double the amount from Q4 2024 [3] - Total originations for GM Financial in Q4 2025 were $12.6 billion, down 18.9% year-over-year, while total originations for the year were $55.9 billion, a slight decrease of 0.3% [4] - Year-to-date originations after three quarters in 2025 were $43.2 billion, reflecting a 6.9% increase compared to the same period in the previous year [4] Dealer Insights - An increase in off-lease returns available for dealers was reported, providing more opportunities for resale at retail [2][6] - Off-lease units, averaging three years old, tend to command premium prices and are often sold as Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles [7] - The decline in lease originations was noted, driven by lower retail sales and a decrease in EV lease share following the expiration of tax credits [5]

Core Viewpoint - Santander Holdings USA, Inc. has appointed David McClelland as the Head of the Santander US Auto business, aiming to enhance growth and customer experiences in the auto finance sector [1][2]. Group 1: Leadership Appointment - David McClelland will lead the US Auto business and is responsible for executing the company's Auto growth strategy, enhancing dealer and customer experiences, and managing OEM relationships [1]. - McClelland has over 20 years of experience in the auto finance industry and previously led global auto partnerships at Santander [3]. - He will also oversee Santander's Auto businesses in Canada and Mexico, reporting to CEO Christiana Riley and Senior Executive Vice-President Nitin Prabhu [3]. Group 2: Strategic Importance - The US market is strategically and financially significant for Santander, with operations including retail banking and being a top-10 auto lender by market share [5]. - Santander launched a national digital retail banking platform, Openbank, in late 2024, which provides lower-cost funds to support auto lending [5]. Group 3: Company Overview - Santander Holdings USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Banco Santander, S.A., with approximately 178 million customers globally and assets of $165 billion as of the fiscal year ended 2024 [7]. - The company employs over 11,300 people and serves 4.5 million customers in the US [7].

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Finance, the People's Bank of China, and the Financial Regulatory Administration have announced an extension of the personal consumption loan interest subsidy policy until the end of 2026, aiming to boost consumer spending and reduce credit costs for residents [1][3]. Group 1: Policy Implementation - The implementation period for the personal consumption loan interest subsidy policy is adjusted to be from September 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026 [3][4]. - Residents can enjoy interest subsidies for eligible consumption during this period, with a review of the policy's effectiveness planned for potential further extensions after the expiration [3][4]. Group 2: Support for Consumption - The policy encourages innovation in consumer finance, promoting collaboration between financial institutions and retail platforms to enhance the reach of the subsidy [3][4]. - The scope of the subsidy is expanded to include credit card installment payments, with an annual interest subsidy rate of 1% [4]. Group 3: Subsidy Standards and Coverage - The previous limits on the maximum subsidy amount per transaction and per borrower have been removed, while maintaining an annual cap of 3,000 yuan for each borrower at a single financial institution [4][5]. - The policy will now include a wider range of financial institutions, such as city commercial banks and foreign banks, to increase the coverage of the subsidy [4][5]. Group 4: Financial Management and Oversight - The subsidy funding will be allocated using a "pre-allocation + settlement" method, with provincial financial departments responsible for verifying and reporting funding needs [5][6]. - There will be enhanced collaboration among the Ministry of Finance, the People's Bank of China, and the Financial Regulatory Administration to monitor the implementation and compliance of the policy [6][7]. Group 5: Reporting and Compliance - Financial institutions are required to establish reporting systems to submit monthly updates on loan issuance and subsidy amounts to the relevant authorities [7]. - The new policy will take effect on January 1, 2026, superseding any conflicting regulations from previous documents [7].

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates Ally Financial (ALLY) will report a year-over-year increase in earnings driven by higher revenues when it releases its results for the quarter ended December 2025 [1] Earnings Expectations - The earnings report is expected on January 21, and if the results exceed expectations, the stock may rise; conversely, missing estimates could lead to a decline [2] - The consensus estimate for quarterly earnings is $1.02 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +30.8%, with revenues projected at $2.13 billion, up 5% from the previous year [3] Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 0.42% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a collective reassessment by analysts [4] - The Most Accurate Estimate for Ally Financial is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -2.93%, suggesting a bearish outlook from analysts [12] Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with a positive Earnings ESP indicating a higher likelihood of an earnings beat [8][10] - Stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 1, 2, or 3 have historically produced a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time [10] Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Ally Financial was expected to post earnings of $0.99 per share but delivered $1.15, resulting in a surprise of +16.16% [13] - Over the past four quarters, the company has consistently beaten consensus EPS estimates [14] Conclusion - Ally Financial does not currently appear to be a strong candidate for an earnings beat, and investors should consider other factors when making decisions regarding the stock ahead of the earnings release [17]