Core Viewpoint - The Russell 2000 index is positioned to potentially be the second-best-performing index in the U.S. stock exchanges as 2025 approaches, driven by a significant shift towards small-cap stocks due to the Federal Reserve's easing cycle [1]. Interest Rate Impact - The Federal Reserve has reduced the benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points, bringing it to a range of 3.5-3.75%, down from a high of 5.25-5.5% in 2023 during a tightening cycle aimed at controlling post-pandemic inflation [2]. Small Business Financing - Lower interest rates are favorable for small businesses, particularly as the period from mid-December to early March is historically strong for the Russell 2000 due to tax-loss harvesting and increased investor risk appetite at the start of the new year [3]. Top Performers in Russell 2000 - **Celcuity (CELC)**: - Stock Price: $100 - YTD Return: +695% - Market Cap: $4.71 billion - The company focuses on cellular analysis and precision oncology, experiencing significant stock price increases due to breakthrough clinical trials [5][6]. - **Better Home & Finance (BETR)**: - Stock Price: $48 - YTD Return: +442% - Market Cap: $794.72 million - Operates as an AI-powered mortgage lender and fintech company, with projected annual sales growth of over 50% this year and 67% next year [9][12]. - **Cogent Biosciences (COGT)**: - Stock Price: $40 - YTD Return: +413% - Market Cap: $5.58 billion - Focused on precision therapies for genetically defined diseases, with strong clinical progress on its lead drug, bezuclastinib [13][14]. Earnings Projections - Celcuity is expected to report a loss of -$3.86 per share in FY25 and -$4.05 in FY26, despite positive EPS revisions [8]. - Better Home's EPS revisions for FY25 and FY26 have slightly decreased, indicating potential short-term momentum loss [12]. - Cogent is projected to have a narrower adjusted loss of -$1.77 per share in FY26, with modestly higher EPS revisions in the last 60 days [14]. Investment Considerations - The strong performance of the Russell 2000 suggests that these top-performing stocks may be worth monitoring, although better buying opportunities may arise in the future [16].

Kimberly Draxler, a single mom on disability, couldn’t believe it when her mortgage lender confirmed she was on the verge of losing her home in Hillview, Kentucky — with a distress sale just days away. "I did not want to lose my house," Draxler, 57, told CBS News. "I wouldn't have (a) place to go." She had only just learned of the foreclosure when an attorney sent her a letter offering his help in preventing the bank from taking away her home of 30 years. Must Read "They never called me and told me t ...

Related Publications NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KBRA assigns preliminary ratings to 10 classes of mortgage-backed notes from New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust 2025-NQM7 (NRMLT 2025-NQM7), a $493.7 million non-prime RMBS transaction sponsored by Rithm Capital Corp. (formerly New Residential Investment Corp.), a publicly traded (NYSE: RITM) real estate investment trust (REIT). The underlying mortgages in the subject pool were primarily originated by NewRez LLC (48.7%) and Champions Funding, LLC (16.1%). In ...

[music] Hello and welcome to Market Domination Overtime. We're getting a fresh look at how traders are positioning now into year end with the new STAX report from Charles Schwab. The STAX index, which tracks the sentiment of retail investors, jumping to an 8month high in November.For more, we're bringing in now Joe Maza, head trading and derivative strategist at Charles Schwab. Joe, great to see you. So, let let's start right there, Joe.So, the stacks hitting an 8month high here. What does that suggest to y ...

President Trump, on Truth Social, recently offered a possible solution to the home affordability crisis: a 50-year mortgage. While Trump often floats ideas on social media, there has been no White House announcement of the plan, although Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte said the administration was "working on it." Is a 50-year mortgage the answer to housing affordability, or simply adding the burden of long-term debt to potential first-time home buyers? The 50-year mortgage could spar ...

Mortgage rates have been rangebound for over six weeks, with nothing to compel them higher or lower. According to Zillow, the average 30-year rate is 6.07%. The 15-year average rate is 5.53%. A Federal Reserve rate cut is likely tomorrow, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments and the Fed's dot plot likely to lead bond market sentiment. Today's mortgage rates Here are the current mortgage rates, according to our latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.07% 20-year fixed: 6.03% 15-year fixed: 5.53% 5/1 ...

Rocket Mortgage has made significant investments to become a full-service residential housing company.Over the past few years, the housing market has come under pressure. After home prices rose amid the COVID-19 pandemic, rising interest rates due to inflation made housing affordability an issue, and home sales have declined dramatically.There could be some hope on the horizon. Today, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has steadily fallen from the October 2023 peak of 7.76%. Experts anticipate a modest decline ...

Mortgage rates have risen since last week. According to Zillow data, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate is up 13 basis points to 6.10%, and the 15-year fixed rate has increased by 14 basis points to 5.55%. The Federal Reserve will announce whether it is cutting the federal funds rate for a third time this year on Wednesday. Many experts predict that the central bank will lower its rate again — but based on how mortgage rates have reacted to previous rate cuts, that doesn't necessarily mean home loan rates wi ...

Core Insights - Mortgage rates are on the rise, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increasing to 6.10% and the 15-year fixed rate to 5.55% [1][18][19] Current Mortgage Rates - The current average rates are as follows: - 30-year fixed: 6.10% - 20-year fixed: 5.97% - 15-year fixed: 5.55% - 5/1 ARM: 6.45% - 7/1 ARM: 6.38% - 30-year VA: 5.56% - 15-year VA: 5.22% - 5/1 VA: 5.40% [5] Refinance Rates - Mortgage refinance rates are generally higher than purchase rates, but this can vary [3] Fixed vs. Adjustable-Rate Mortgages - Fixed-rate mortgages lock in the interest rate for the entire loan term, while adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) have a fixed rate for an initial period before adjusting [10][11] - ARMs typically start with lower rates but can increase after the initial period [12] Choosing a Mortgage Lender - To secure the best mortgage rates, borrowers should apply for preapproval with multiple lenders and compare not just interest rates but also the annual percentage rate (APR) [15][16][17] - Factors influencing lower rates include higher down payments, excellent credit scores, and low debt-to-income ratios [13][19] Market Outlook - Mortgage rates are not expected to drop significantly in the near future, although minor fluctuations may occur [20]

Core Insights - Small-cap stocks are showing signs of recovery, which may indicate a bullish trend as the market approaches 2026 [3][4] - The article discusses four small-cap stocks with dividend yields ranging from 7.1% to 13.3% [5] Small-Cap Market Overview - Small-cap stocks have underperformed compared to larger stocks over the past decade, with a brief rally during the COVID reopening in 2020 [3] - Factors such as rising interest rates and a shift towards safer mega-cap stocks have contributed to the underperformance of small caps [3][4] - The recent focus on potential Federal Reserve rate cuts has led to increased interest in small-cap stocks [3][4] Featured Small-Cap Stocks - **Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending (NCDL)**: Offers a 13.0% dividend yield and is part of the business development companies (BDCs) sector, which is required to distribute at least 90% of earnings as dividends [5][6] - **UWM Holdings (UWMC)**: Provides a 7.1% dividend yield and is the largest home mortgage lender in the U.S., focusing on wholesale lending [11][12] - **Redwood Trust (RWT)**: Has a 12.7% dividend yield and is involved in jumbo residential mortgages and single-family rental loans, with a focus on improving earnings in the coming years [15][16] - **Franklin BSP Realty Trust (FBRT)**: Offers a 13.3% dividend yield and primarily deals in commercial mortgage-backed securities, with a recent acquisition expected to enhance its earnings potential [19][21] Financial Performance and Outlook - NCDL's high yield is supported by regular and supplemental dividends, although the latter have been replaced with a traditional payout schedule [6][10] - UWMC is positioned to benefit from lower mortgage rates, with plans to scale operations as rates decline [12][13] - Redwood Trust has been repurchasing shares and is on "dividend growth watch," indicating potential for future dividend increases [18] - FBRT's recent acquisition of NewPoint Holdings is expected to contribute positively to its distributable earnings, despite concerns over dividend coverage [21][22]