Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on "buying high and selling higher," contrasting with traditional strategies of "buying low and selling high" [1] Group 1: Momentum Investing Strategy - Momentum investing can be risky as stocks may lose momentum if future growth does not justify high valuations [1] - Identifying the right entry point for fast-moving stocks is challenging, and traditional momentum parameters may not always be reliable [1] Group 2: Bargain Stocks with Momentum - Investing in bargain stocks that have recently shown price momentum may be a safer strategy [2] - The Zacks Momentum Style Score is useful for identifying strong momentum stocks, while the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen helps find attractively priced fast-moving stocks [2] Group 3: Tree.com (TREE) Analysis - Tree.com (TREE) has shown significant price momentum with a four-week price change of 31.8% [3] - Over the past 12 weeks, TREE's stock gained 26.1%, indicating its ability to deliver positive returns over a longer timeframe [4] - TREE has a beta of 1.9, suggesting it moves 90% higher than the market in either direction, indicating fast-paced momentum [4] Group 4: Valuation and Earnings Estimates - TREE has a Momentum Score of A, indicating a favorable time to invest [5] - The stock has a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to upward revisions in earnings estimates, which attract more investors [6] - TREE is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.75, meaning investors pay 75 cents for each dollar of sales, indicating a reasonable valuation [6] Group 5: Additional Investment Opportunities - Besides TREE, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen [7] - Zacks offers over 45 Premium Screens to help identify potential winning stock picks based on various investing styles [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2024, the company achieved a 19% year-over-year increase in funded loan volume, totaling $3.6 billion, and a 50% increase in revenue, reaching $108 million [10][11] - The adjusted EBITDA loss was reduced by 26% year-over-year, amounting to $121 million [10] - For Q4 2024, funded loan volume was $936 million, a 77% year-over-year increase, while revenue was $25 million, up from $18 million in Q4 2023 [12][49] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Funded loan volume growth in Q4 was driven by home equity products and refinance loans, with purchase loan volume increasing by 25% and refinance loan volume surging by 611% year-over-year [14] - Home equity loan volume increased by 416% in Q4 2024 compared to the previous year [14] - The company reported that 81% of funded loan volume in Q4 was generated through the direct-to-consumer (D2C) channel, with 62% being purchase loans [50] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall mortgage market saw improvements in Q4 2024, but 30-year fixed mortgage rates remained high, impacting mortgage demand [16] - The company outperformed the market, with a reported 619% increase in HELOC originations compared to a 10% industry-wide increase [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage AI and technology to enhance the home ownership experience, focusing on growth, efficiency improvements, and diversification of distribution channels [9][10] - The partnership with NEO Home Loans is expected to enhance local loan officer capabilities and improve conversion rates [33][45] - The company is committed to reducing expenses and improving operational efficiency to achieve profitability in the medium term [16][47] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the growth potential in 2025, despite macroeconomic headwinds and the wind down of the Ally business [51][53] - The company anticipates a 10% to 15% decrease in funded loan volume in Q1 2025 due to seasonal slowness and the exit from non-core businesses [51] - Management highlighted the importance of AI in driving down operational costs and improving customer experience [18][30] Other Important Information - The company has implemented significant cost-saving measures, including reducing loan origination expenses by 28% and marketing expenses by 27% in Q4 [17] - The AI-driven assistant, Betsy, has significantly increased customer interactions, growing from 5,000 in June 2024 to over 115,000 by February 2025 [19][20] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the underwriting and AI technology adjust for high property insurance costs? - Management explained that their technology integrates multiple data sources to provide instant homeowners insurance quotes, significantly reducing the need for manual processing [58] Question: How does profitability impact risk-taking? - Management clarified that their marketplace model does not involve holding loans on the balance sheet, thus minimizing risk while focusing on efficiency and cost reduction [62][68] Question: Can you walk through the savings opportunities from Tinman's AI application? - Management detailed that AI has reduced costs associated with loan officer tasks and improved customer service efficiency, leading to significant savings per funded loan [78] Question: How are gain on sale margins trending in Q1? - Management reported that gain on sale margins are trending higher, particularly with the NEO partnership, which is expected to enhance overall profitability [85][88] Question: Can you contextualize contribution profit per loan? - Management indicated that contribution margins have been improving, and they are focused on reducing costs in the mortgage business to drive profitability [98][100]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are encouraged to consider Tree.com (TREE) due to solid improvements in earnings estimates and positive short-term price momentum [1][2] Earnings Estimates - Analysts are increasingly optimistic about Tree.com's earnings prospects, leading to higher estimates that are expected to reflect positively in the stock price [2] - The current quarter's earnings estimate is projected at $0.74 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of +5.71% [4] - Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tree.com has surged by 435.29%, with three estimates moving higher and no negative revisions [4] - For the full year, the earnings estimate stands at $3.92 per share, representing a year-over-year change of +22.88% [5] - The consensus estimate for the current year has increased by 111.29%, with three estimates moving higher against one negative revision [5] Zacks Rank - Tree.com has achieved a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting strong agreement among analysts in raising earnings estimates [3][6] - The Zacks Rank system has a proven track record, with Zacks 1 Ranked stocks averaging an annual return of +25% since 2008 [3] Investment Outlook - The strong estimate revisions have led to a 7.8% increase in Tree.com's stock over the past four weeks, suggesting potential for further upside [7] - Investors may consider adding Tree.com to their portfolios based on the positive earnings outlook and Zacks Rank [7]

Rocket Companies said on Monday it would acquire real estate listing platform Redfin in an all-stock deal valued at $1.75 billion, seeking to boost its lending business. Rocket's $12.50 per share offer equates to a near 115% premium to Redfin's Friday close. Redfin's shares rose about 74%, while Rocket's fell about 12% before the bell.Founded in 2004, Redfin operates a home search platform with more than 1 million for-sale and rental listings and a tech-powered brokerage of more than 2,200 agents. US PENDIN ...

Guild Holdings Company (NYSE:GHLD) Q4 2024 Earnings Conference Call March 6, 2025 5:00 AM ET Company Participants Terry Schmidt – Chief Executive Officer David Neylan – President and Chief Operating Officer Amber Kramer – Chief Financial Officer Conference Call Participants Derek Sommers – Jefferies Rick Shane – JPMorgan Jake Katsikas – BTIG Operator Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Guild Holdings Company fourth quarter and full year 2024 earnings conference call. At this time, all parti ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Velocity Financial, Inc. reported a 64% increase in originations for 2024, leading to a 37% increase in net revenue [8][9] - The Q4 pretax return on equity (ROE) was 26.8%, with core earnings of $0.60 per share for Q4 and $2.03 per share for the full year [13][14] - The total loan portfolio reached $5.1 billion, marking a 6.4% increase from Q3 and over 24% year-over-year growth [22][23] - The non-performing loan (NPL) rate was stable at 10.7%, consistent with the previous quarter [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total loan production for Q4 was $563.5 million, an 18.2% increase from Q3 [19] - The weighted average coupon on the total portfolio was 9.53%, a 16 basis points increase from Q3 [23] - The net interest margin (NIM) for Q4 was 3.70%, reflecting a 10 basis points increase quarter-over-quarter [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced strong demand from borrowers, particularly in larger, more liquid metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) [10] - The securitization market showed significant improvement post-presidential election, leading to tighter spreads and increased investor participation [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to continue capturing market share by lending to both residential and commercial real estate investors, addressing unmet needs in the market [7] - The strategy includes retaining earnings and building book value, with an adjusted book value estimated at $18.73 per share [17][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued growth for 2025, citing strong borrower demand and a favorable capital market environment [34] - The company remains less sensitive to interest rate fluctuations compared to other mortgage segments, focusing on delivering capital to underserved borrowers [12] Other Important Information - The company reported $96 million in liquidity at the end of Q4, with a maximum line capacity of $785 million [31][32] - Non-performing loan resolution gains for Q4 were $5.6 million, with a total of $10.2 million for the year [27][28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Production expectations for 2025 - Management indicated that the current run rate is a good forecast for the year, with potential for upward growth due to increasing demand [39] Question: Average loan balance increase - The increase in average loan balance is attributed to a higher commercial component rather than entering new markets [41][43] Question: Capital needs for growth - Current retained earnings and ATM issuance are sufficient for growth, but additional capital may be needed if growth accelerates significantly [45] Question: Borrower mindset amidst rate volatility - Borrowers focus on property management and acquisition rather than interest rates, valuing certainty of execution [55] Question: NPL resolutions process - Most NPL resolutions involve borrowers paying current or refinancing, with only a small percentage leading to foreclosure [66] Question: CMBS market response to volatility - The company has not seen significant volatility in its securitizations, which are more comparable to non-QM RMBS executions [73] Question: Visibility into NPL resolution pipeline - NPL resolutions are unpredictable and can vary significantly, but historical trends suggest a durable source of returns [75] Question: Composition of the portfolio - The portfolio is nearly evenly split between one to four rental properties and small commercial assets, with a focus on liquid and easily sellable REO [80]

UWM Holdings Corporation (NYSE:UWMC) Q4 2024 Results Conference Call February 26, 2025 11:00 AM ET Company Participants Blake Kolo - Chief Business Officer & Head, Investor Relations Mathew Ishbia - Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Andrew Hubacker - Chief Financial Officer Conference Call Participants Terry Ma - Barclays Eric Hagen - BTIG Derek Sommers - Jefferies Bose George - KBW Brad Capuzzi - Piper Sandler Doug Harter - UBS Jeff Adelson - Morgan Stanley Mikhail Goberman - Citizens Regina Good morning. ...