Core Insights - Investing in stocks based on valuation metrics, particularly the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, can identify opportunities with strong upside potential, especially for unprofitable or early-stage growth companies [1][2] Valuation Metrics - The P/S ratio compares a company's market capitalization to its revenues, providing a clearer picture of value when earnings are minimal or volatile [2][5] - A P/S ratio below 1 indicates a good bargain, as investors pay less than a dollar for each dollar of revenue generated [6] - The P/S ratio is preferred over the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio because sales are harder to manipulate than earnings [7] Investment Opportunities - Low P/S stocks can offer compelling opportunities, often trading below their intrinsic value, making them attractive for investors seeking upside potential [3] - Companies with low P/S ratios and improving fundamentals are highlighted as having discounted valuations [10] Screening Parameters - Stocks should have a P/S ratio less than the median for their industry, a P/E ratio below the industry median, and a debt-to-equity ratio lower than the industry median [9][11] - Stocks must trade at a minimum price of $5 and have a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) to qualify for investment consideration [12] Company Profiles - **Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. (HG)**: A specialty insurance and reinsurance company benefiting from strong execution and a clear growth roadmap, with gross premiums written rising significantly [12][13] - **Macy's Inc. (M)**: Undergoing a transformation with its Bold New Chapter program, focusing on digital initiatives and omnichannel retailing, currently holding a Value Score of A and Zacks Rank 2 [14][15] - **GIII Apparel Group (GIII)**: A designer and distributor of apparel focusing on product differentiation and international expansion, with owned brands generating higher margins [16][17] - **Green Dot (GDOT)**: A pro-consumer bank holding company with a strong position in prepaid cards and Banking-as-a-Service, expanding its addressable market with low debt and significant cash reserves [18][20] - **PRA Group (PRAA)**: A global financial services company focusing on non-performing loans, benefiting from strategic acquisitions and a positive purchasing environment [21][22]

Group 1 - Generative AI has been a major topic in 2025, but financial returns have not matched the initial excitement, leading to a recalibration of market expectations according to JPMorgan's 2026 outlook [1][6] - A PwC survey of over 4,700 CEOs revealed that while over 40% expected GenAI to increase revenue and nearly half anticipated profitability improvements, only about one-third reported significant gains by year-end [2] - Efficiency improvements were noted, but they also fell short of initial expectations, indicating a gap between anticipated and actual performance [2][3] Group 2 - The shift in focus is towards return on investment, with boards and CFOs prioritizing projects that demonstrate clear financial outcomes rather than open-ended experimentation [4] - Valuation frameworks are tightening, with metrics like the Rule of 40 and JPMorgan's stricter Rule of X becoming more critical in evaluating projects [4] - For 2026, the narrative around AI remains important, but companies must demonstrate durable earnings power alongside innovation to attract investor interest [6]

A Japanese financial industry chief has expressed frustration on X, complaining that crypto traders may have to wait until 2028 before key tax reform measures take effect. Quoting an unnamed political insider, the Japanese media outlet CoinPost reported that a one-year delay to the much-vaunted tax plans was possible, but was “yet to be finalised.” “This is an extremely slow schedule,” wrote Tomoya Asakura, the CEO of the wealth management giant SBI Global Asset Management. “Japan will lag behind not o ...

Core Insights - Apollo Global Management Inc. is enhancing its risk review process to account for the impact of extreme weather on asset valuations, reflecting a growing concern over the damage caused by floods, storms, and wildfires [1][3] - The firm is expanding its top-down analyses to include more granular, company-level risk assessments before closing deals, as climate-driven disruptions are increasingly affecting operating costs, supply chains, and insurance markets [2][5] Group 1: Risk Assessment and Management - Apollo is implementing deeper analyses of "acute and chronic climate hazards," focusing on loan-level mapping in mortgage portfolios and evaluating exposure to drought, flood, heat, and wildfire in hard-asset sectors [5] - The integration of technology and data availability is allowing Apollo to refine its approach to measuring physical and transition risks, making these assessments a standard part of every deal across all asset classes [5] Group 2: Industry Trends and Responses - The awareness of extreme weather's potential to alter asset values is increasing, with firms like KKR & Co. introducing new credit climate risk models to assess physical risks for new and existing issuers [6][7] - Investors are beginning to recognize the need to assess climate risks similarly to other financial risks, as these can significantly impact cash flows and costs [9][10] Group 3: Market Impact and Future Considerations - A report by MSCI highlighted that 55% of companies in a $2 trillion analysis already face severe physical hazards, affecting sectors such as real estate, insurance, and utilities, leading to higher premiums and lower asset values [10] - The realization that physical risks are already impacting portfolios is prompting investors to adjust their strategies, with a focus on long-term asset holding and the potential for both risks and opportunities in the evolving market landscape [9][11]

Core Insights - Women We Admire has announced The Top 50 Women Leaders of Buffalo for 2025, highlighting the city's economic transition from manufacturing to sectors like healthcare, education, and tourism [1] Group 1: Featured Leaders - Megan Bahleda, Director of Nursing Services at Kaleida Health, is recognized for her leadership in optimizing patient care through resource allocation and operational oversight [2] - Katielynn Meyers, Partner Technology Strategist at Microsoft, is acknowledged for aligning business needs with technology strategy, particularly in supporting nonprofits and social impact organizations [3] - Elizabeth Smith, Assistant Vice President at Acacia Network, is celebrated for her role in managing integrated behavioral health services and advancing culturally competent care [4] Group 2: Additional Recognitions - The list includes notable leaders such as Elizabeth Mauro (Endeavor Health Services), Kimberly Beaty (University at Buffalo), and many others, showcasing a diverse range of industries and contributions [6]

Economic Indicators - The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 2.7% in November, which is below the expected increase of 3.1% [1][24][25] - Despite the lower CPI, consumers are still facing high costs in healthcare, rent, and food [1][24] AI Infrastructure Developments - Trump Media and Technology Group and Tay Technologies are merging in an all-stock transaction valued at over $6 billion, creating a publicly traded fusion company [3][42] - Hut 8, a cryptocurrency miner, signed a $7 billion deal to lease a data center in Louisiana, backed by Google and supported by JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs [3][14][50] Company-Specific News - Lululemon is undergoing leadership changes, with Elliot Management acquiring a $1 billion stake and pushing for Jane Nielsen as the new CEO [5][35][39] - Hut 8's CEO highlighted the importance of energy value and the company's growth potential, with a focus on scaling infrastructure for AI demands [44][52][66] Market Reactions - Hut 8's stock has seen significant gains, up over 100% year-to-date, following the announcement of its new data center deal [12][13] - The market is reacting positively to the CPI report, although there are still concerns about persistent inflation in certain sectors, such as beef [24][26]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article emphasizes the significant impact of AI on business investments and the necessity for companies to rethink their processes and governance structures to effectively leverage AI technologies [2] - Companies are expected to shift 25% of their AI investments to 2027, with less than one-third of 1,596 surveyed AI decision-makers currently able to link AI value to their P&L [2] - 85% of C-level executives anticipate a return on investment (ROI) within three years for their AI investments to be deemed successful [2] Group 2 - Key use cases for AI are maturing, particularly in content production and personalization, as well as internal process efficiencies in support functions [2] - 30% of large enterprises are projected to make AI training mandatory to accelerate deployments and enhance team skills [2] - 60% of the top 100 companies are expected to appoint an AI governance officer, with examples including Sony, Bank of America, and UBS [2] Group 3 - Daily use of generative AI is expected to double in Europe, prompting brands to rethink their interfaces and customer relationships [2] - Over half of individuals under 50 seeking financial advice will turn to generative AI tools, with nearly 20% of younger generations likely to engage with AI companions [2] - A significant decline in organic traffic on financial websites is anticipated, with page views potentially dropping by up to 20% [2] Group 4 - The focus is shifting from productivity gains to AI as a new user interface, necessitating a rethinking of content strategies to align with brand-audience interactions [2] - Customer experience (CX) teams are predicted to face fatigue, with two-thirds likely to abandon journey mapping, as only 30% feel equipped to manage customer journeys effectively [2] - Approximately 15% of CX teams may fall into a detrimental cycle due to an overemphasis on CX KPIs, such as NPS, potentially neglecting the narrative and context needed to address customer issues [2] Group 5 - The article highlights the importance of making customer experience a cross-functional discipline within organizations, emphasizing the need for a culture of CX and demonstrating its value [2] - Financial modeling and correlation between operational data and customer satisfaction are essential for organizations to pivot around customer journeys [2]

What are the frozen Russian assets? Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU, along with its Western partners, froze the foreign assets of the Russian central bank as part of sweeping sanctions. The EU currently holds roughly 210 billion euros in frozen Russian central bank assets, which translates to about $246 billion in U.S. dollars. Most of this, roughly 180 billion euros (around $211 billion), are frozen at Euroclear in Belgium, and an estimated 176 billion euros (about $206 billion) of t ...

Core Viewpoint - Clip Money Inc. has secured a CAD$3 million loan from the Business Development Bank of Canada to support its working capital and growth initiatives, marking a significant milestone for the company [1][3][5]. Financial Details - The BDC Loan has a maturity date of August 15, 2028, with an interest rate of 6.8% per annum plus 1% per annum, calculated daily [2]. - An additional interest component of 7.45% per annum is applicable, calculated monthly on the total indebtedness [2]. - The principal amount can be repaid as a balloon payment on the maturity date, along with all accrued and unpaid interest [2]. Security and Guarantees - Clip Money and its subsidiary have granted BDC a first-ranking security interest over substantially all of their present and after-acquired personal property [3]. - Clip Money (USA) Inc. has provided a guarantee for 100% of the amounts owed under the BDC Loan [3]. Loan Structure and Fees - There are no bonus securities, finder's fees, or other equity instruments associated with the BDC Loan [4]. - Compensation to BDC is limited to interest payments and customary cash fees, including a monthly management fee of CAD$500 and a standby fee starting October 10, 2026, at a rate of 3% per annum on the undrawn portion of the loan [4]. Company Overview - Clip Money operates a multi-bank self-service deposit system, allowing businesses to deposit cash at various locations outside their bank branches [9]. - The company combines hardware, a mobile app, and a cloud-based transaction engine to facilitate business banking transactions efficiently [9]. - Clip Money aims to provide a cost-effective and convenient solution for business banking deposits across Canada and the United States [9].

TORONTO, Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clip Money Inc. (TSX-V: CLIP) (OTCQB: CLPMF) (“Clip Money” or the “Company”), a company that operates a multi-bank self-service deposit system for businesses, is pleased to announce that it is has secured a CAD$3 million loan (the "BDC Loan") from Business Development Bank of Canada’s (“BDC”) Growth and Transition Capital team. The BDC Loan matures on August 15, 2028 (the “Maturity Date”) and has an interest rate equal to BDC’s floating base rate, which was 6.8% pe ...