Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the journey of an individual transitioning from a potential career in politics to a focus on value investing, emphasizing the importance of risk management and long-term wealth growth [1] Group 1: Career Transition - The individual initially pursued a career in politics but faced challenges that led to a shift towards finance and investing [1] - After experiencing financial setbacks in 2019, the decision was made to study value investing to create wealth and mitigate risks [1] Group 2: Professional Experience - From 2020 to 2022, the individual worked in a sales role at a law firm, where they became the top-grossing salesman and managed a team, contributing to sales strategy [1] - The experience gained during this period was instrumental in assessing company prospects based on sales strategies [1] Group 3: Investment Advisory Role - Between 2022 and 2023, the individual served as an investment advisory representative with Fidelity, focusing on 401K planning [1] - Despite excelling in this role and passing Series exams ahead of schedule, there was frustration due to the reliance on modern portfolio theory rather than value investing principles [1] Group 4: Current Endeavors - In November 2023, the individual began writing for Seeking Alpha, sharing investment opportunities and insights with readers [1] - The articles serve as a platform for the individual to document their investment journey and the opportunities they pursue [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the full year, the company grew revenue by 23%, with cash flow from operations increasing by nearly 24% [6][10] - In Q4, total revenues reached $1.6 billion, a growth of 35.7%, while organic revenue decreased by 2.8% [9][10] - Adjusted EBITDAC margin remained flat at 32.9%, and adjusted earnings per share grew over 8% to $0.93 [9][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Retail segment grew total revenues by 44.4%, primarily driven by acquisition activity, but EBITDAC margin decreased by 120 basis points to 26.6% [21] - Specialty Distribution segment saw total revenues grow by 27%, with EBITDAC margin decreasing by 60 basis points to 41.3% due to lower flood claims processing revenue [22][23] - Organic growth for Retail was 2.8% for the full year, while Specialty Distribution experienced a decline of 7.8% in Q4 [15][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Casualty and cat property rates showed moderation, with casualty rates increasing by 3-6% for primary layers [11][12] - Rates in the admitted P&C market moderated slightly, remaining flat to up 5%, while workers' compensation rates were flat to down 3% [12] - The E&S property market saw rate changes similar to the previous quarter, generally down 15-30% [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasizes competition and integrity, focusing on customer outcomes and defending its rights against competitors [7][8] - Integration efforts from the Accession acquisition are progressing well, with expected EBITDA synergies of approximately $30 million-$40 million in 2026 [26][27] - The long-term margin target range has been increased to 32%-37%, reflecting a focus on balanced, profitable growth [31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management believes economic growth will remain stable, with a cautiously optimistic outlook from customers [10][32] - The company anticipates continued competition in pricing, particularly in casualty lines, while expecting some moderation in admitted property rates [32][33] - The management is confident in the company's ability to deliver solid results and drive shareholder value, aiming for $8 billion in revenue and beyond [35] Other Important Information - The company generated $1.45 billion in cash flow from operations, growing 23.5% over the prior year [25] - The effective tax rate for the quarter was 21%, a decrease from the previous year's rate of 24.9% [19][20] - The company paid $100 million on its revolving credit facility and bought back $100 million of shares [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of former teammates leaving for a competitor - Management stated that the compensation structure remains unchanged and that the departure of 275 individuals, mostly in non-production roles, is being addressed legally [40][72] Question: Shift of business from E&S to standard - Management noted that there is a cyclical movement of accounts between E&S and standard markets, particularly in smaller accounts [45][46] Question: Deceleration in casualty pricing increases - Management indicated that the moderation in casualty pricing is a normal market trend and not indicative of a structural change [54][56] Question: Contingent commissions and accident years - Contingent commissions are generally calculated over a 12-month horizon, with some rolling adjustments [68] Question: Future impact of lost revenues from departed employees - Management clarified that the $23 million in lost revenue is currently the assessed impact, but future retention could be affected [78][79]

Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO) Q4 2025 Earnings call January 27, 2026 08:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsJ. Powell Brown - CEOR. Andrew Watts - CFOConference Call ParticipantsAlex Scott - AnalystAndrew Andersen - AnalystBrian Meredith - AnalystC. Gregory Peters - AnalystElyse Greenspan - AnalystJimmy Bhullar - AnalystJoshua Shanker - AnalystMark Hughes - AnalystMeyer Shields - AnalystMichael Zaremski - AnalystRobert Cox - AnalystTracy Benguigui - AnalystYaron Kinar - AnalystOperatorGood morning, and welcome to the B ...

Core Insights - Brown & Brown (BRO) reported a revenue of $1.61 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 35.7% [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $0.93, up from $0.86 in the same quarter last year, with an EPS surprise of +2.53% compared to the consensus estimate of $0.91 [1] Financial Performance - The reported revenue was a slight miss, with a surprise of -2.16% against the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.64 billion [1] - Total organic growth was reported at -2.8%, which was below the five-analyst average estimate of -0.7% [4] - Commissions and fees totaled $1.58 billion, which was below the six-analyst average estimate of $1.62 billion, but represented a year-over-year increase of 36.1% [4] - Retail commissions and fees were reported at $911 million, compared to the average estimate of $935.63 million [4] - Total revenues from retail were $920 million, exceeding the estimated $965.15 million, marking a year-over-year increase of 44.7% [4] - Specialty distribution revenues were reported at $678 million, slightly below the average estimate of $684.38 million [4] Income Metrics - Income before income taxes for retail was $131 million, lower than the average estimate of $165.67 million [4] - Income before income taxes for other segments was reported at -$21 million, significantly better than the average estimate of -$106.77 million [4] - Specialty distribution income before income taxes was $211 million, compared to the average estimate of $233.13 million [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, shares of Brown & Brown have returned -2%, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite saw a +0.2% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Brown & Brown reported a rise in fourth-quarter adjusted profit on Monday, as the insurance broker benefited from higher income from commissions and fees on the back of strong demand. ...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) (the "Company") announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2025.For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2025, the Company achieved:Total revenues of $1.6 billion, increasing $423 million, or 35.7%, compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year, with Organic Revenue decreasing 2.8%.Income before income taxes of $321 million, increasing 16.7%, with Income Before Income Taxes Margin ...

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 22, 2026 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Amendment No. 3 To FORM F-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 Zhibao Technology Inc. (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Not Applicable (Translation of Registrant's name into English) Cayman Islands 6411 Not Applicable (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (Primary Standard Industrial Classification ...

Core Viewpoint - The investment strategies have shown positive returns for the year, with a focus on long-term performance over short-term results [2][5]. Performance Summary - Large Cap Composite (Gross) returned -1.4% QTD, 8.5% YTD, and 10.4% annualized since inception [3][22]. - Small Cap Composite (Gross) returned 3.4% QTD, 10.3% YTD, and 8.3% annualized since inception [3][31]. - Focus Composite (Gross) returned 0.2% QTD, 7.5% YTD, and 14.3% annualized since inception [3][36]. - All Cap Composite (Gross) returned 1.5% QTD, 11.5% YTD, and 11.1% annualized since inception [3][53]. Market Environment - The current market resembles the late 1990s, with concerns about overvaluation and a focus on AI-related stocks [5][6][7]. - AI is seen as a transformative technology, similar to the Internet, but caution is advised regarding valuations [7][9]. Investment Strategy - The company emphasizes buying only those companies with stable values, often waiting for them to become discounted enough for investment [10][12]. - The portfolio has shifted towards more healthcare and insurance-related businesses, with a focus on smaller companies outside the top 10 largest market capitalizations [11][12]. Notable Holdings - Medpace (MEDP) has shown significant growth, with a stock price increase of over 73% for the year, driven by strong free cash flow and share repurchases [13][14]. - Ryan Specialty Holdings Inc. is highlighted for its robust growth and stable margins, despite facing a short-term pricing cycle [24][25][38]. - TransUnion is recognized for its strong operating margins and successful diversification beyond credit reports [26][38]. Performance Contributors and Detractors - Alphabet Inc. and Salesforce Inc. were significant contributors to performance, while CoStar Group and Microsoft Corporation were notable detractors [37][46]. - Fiserv Inc. was a material detractor due to downward guidance and strategic shifts in its business model [30][46]. Market Trends - The small-cap sector has lagged behind large-cap returns, presenting potential opportunities for investment as it is often overlooked [15]. - The dominance of large-cap stocks in market returns continues, with the top 10 S&P 500 stocks accounting for over 50% of its return in 2025 [16].

Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) is one of the Best Depressed Stocks to Buy Right Now. On January 14, Cantor Fitzgerald reduced the firm’s price objective on the company’s stock to $52 from $63, while maintaining a “Neutral” rating, as reported by The Fly. Notably, the initial positive stance on insurance brokers seems to be premature and overly optimistic. This is because near-term fundamentals are expected to deteriorate before they improve. Cantor Fitzgerald Reduces the Firm’s PT on Ryan Speci ...

Fenimore Asset Management, an investment management company, released its Q4 2025 investor letter. A copy of the same can be downloaded here. The stock market was solid in 2025 but volatile. While investors balanced AI enthusiasm, economic uncertainty, and monetary policy concerns.  The summer rally was driven by AI-related spending and economic resiliency, whereas the fourth quarter saw a more volatile market due to valuation pressures and macro uncertainty. Stocks from the large-cap technology and communi ...