Group 1 - Ares Capital (ARCC) is a specialty finance company focused on investing in U.S. middle-market companies [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ares Capital's current year earnings has been revised downward by 7.8% over the last 60 days [1] - Baidu (BIDU) is a Chinese-language Internet search provider [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Baidu's current year earnings has been revised downward by 6.5% over the last 60 days [1] Group 2 - Bruker (BRKR) designs and manufactures proprietary life science and materials research systems [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bruker's current year earnings has been revised downward by almost 5.8% over the last 60 days [2]

Core Insights - Standard Premium Finance Holdings, Inc. has increased its revolving line of credit with First Horizon Bank from $45 million to $50 million, supporting its strategic growth [1][2] - The company has experienced significant financial growth, with a 24.9% year-over-year revenue increase and an 84.1% surge in net income for FY 2024 [2] - The expanded line of credit will enable the company to meet growing demand, invest in innovation, and enhance customer service [3] Financial Performance - Standard Premium reported a 24.9% year-over-year revenue increase [2] - Net income surged by 84.1% in FY 2024 [2] - Loan originations rose by 14% [2] - In Q1 2025, earnings per share increased by 230% while operating expenses were reduced by 7.8% year-over-year [2] Company Background - Standard Premium has financed over $2 billion in property and casualty insurance policies since 1991 and operates in 38 states [3] - The company is actively seeking M&A opportunities to leverage economies of scale [3]

Core Insights - Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. announces index rebalancing for the second quarter of 2025, specifically affecting the KBW Nasdaq Premium Yield Equity REIT Index [1][2] - The rebalancing will take effect before the market opens on June 23, 2025, with SITE Centers Corp. being dropped from the index [2] Company Overview - KBW is a leading independent authority in the financial services sector, established in 1962, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. [4] - The firm specializes in research, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, as well as sales and trading in equities securities of financial services companies [4]

Core Viewpoint - Saratoga Investment Corp. has declared a base quarterly dividend of $0.75 per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, continuing its strong dividend distribution history and providing a 12.5% dividend yield based on its recent stock price of $24.08 per share [1][2]. Dividend Declaration - The declared dividends for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 are as follows: - June 2025: $0.25 per share, record date July 8, 2025, payment date July 24, 2025 - July 2025: $0.25 per share, record date August 6, 2025, payment date August 21, 2025 - August 2025: $0.25 per share, record date September 4, 2025, payment date September 24, 2025 [1]. Historical Dividend Distributions - The total dividend for fiscal year 2026 is projected to be $1.50 per share, with consistent monthly dividends of $0.25 per share since fiscal Q1 2026 [3]. - Historical dividends per share for previous fiscal years include: - Fiscal 2025: $2.96 total, with quarterly distributions of $0.74 - Fiscal 2024: $2.86 total, with quarterly distributions of $0.71 to $0.73 - Fiscal 2023: $2.44 total, with quarterly distributions ranging from $0.53 to $0.69 [3]. Company Overview - Saratoga Investment is a specialty finance company focused on providing customized financing solutions to U.S. middle-market businesses, primarily through senior and unitranche leveraged loans and mezzanine debt [4]. - The company aims to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns through current income and long-term capital appreciation from its investments [4]. - Saratoga Investment is regulated as a business development company and is externally managed by Saratoga Investment Advisors, LLC [4].

Dividend Announcement - Orchid Island Capital, Inc. declared a monthly cash dividend of $0.12 per share for June 2025, payable on July 30, 2025, to shareholders of record as of June 30, 2025, with an ex-dividend date of June 30, 2025 [1][7] Company Overview - Orchid Island Capital, Inc. is a specialty finance company that invests in Agency Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) on a leveraged basis, focusing on traditional pass-through Agency RMBS and structured Agency RMBS [4] Shareholder Distribution Requirements - To qualify as a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), the company must distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income annually to stockholders, excluding net capital gains [2] Share Count - As of June 10, 2025, the company had 121,210,845 shares of common stock outstanding, an increase from 119,072,481 shares as of May 31, 2025, and 107,786,614 shares as of March 31, 2025 [3] RMBS Portfolio Characteristics - The RMBS portfolio as of May 31, 2025, includes various categories of Agency RMBS, with a total mortgage asset value of $6,413,292, where Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac represent 61.4% and 38.6% of the portfolio, respectively [11][12] Borrowings and Debt Characteristics - The total borrowings of the company amount to $6,138,581, with a weighted average interest rate of 4.47% and a maturity of 29 days as of May 31, 2025 [13]

Core Insights - The company reported a modest decrease in Bitcoin mined due to the relocation of approximately 800 machines from Kentucky to Oklahoma, but its Bitcoin holdings increased to 155 Bitcoin valued at over $16 million, equating to $3.16 per share [1][2] - The revenue generated from power curtailment activities is seen as a strategy to mitigate exposure to energy and Bitcoin price volatility, enhancing capital efficiency and supporting long-term treasury accumulation [1][3] - The operational metrics for May 2025 indicate a total of 4,320 operational machines and a hashrate of 0.48 EH/s in Oklahoma, with a total hashrate remaining stable at 0.61 EH/s [4] Financial Performance - As of May 31, 2025, the estimated value of the company's Bitcoin holdings was approximately $16.2 million, based on a Bitcoin price of around $104,600, while the stock share price was $1.93 [2] - The company mined 6.3 Bitcoin in May 2025, down from 6.6 Bitcoin in April 2025, with no Bitcoin sold during May [4] Company Overview - LM Funding America, Inc. operates as a Bitcoin mining and specialty finance company, founded in 2008 and based in Tampa, Florida [3]

Market Overview - Wall Street experienced significant gains in May, with the S&P 500 increasing by 6.2% and the Nasdaq rising by 9.6%, marking the best month for both indices since late 2023 [1] - Investor optimism was fueled by a temporary pause on new trade tariffs announced by Trump, alleviating fears regarding trade tensions with China and the EU [1] Geopolitical Risks - Despite the temporary relief, the threat of tariffs remains, as China accused the U.S. of violating their trade truce by tightening controls on AI chip exports and student visas, which has raised tensions again [2] - The interconnectedness of the U.S. and Chinese economies means that even minor disputes can significantly impact market stability [2] Investment Strategy - In uncertain times, investors are turning to value investing, focusing on companies with strong fundamentals that are undervalued [3] - Value stocks with high earnings yield can provide attractive returns, especially during periods of market volatility [4] Earnings Yield - Earnings yield is calculated by dividing a company's annual earnings per share (EPS) by its current stock price, indicating potential returns for investors [5] - A higher earnings yield suggests a stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, while a lower yield may indicate overvaluation [5][7] Stock Screening Criteria - A primary screening criterion for selecting stocks is an earnings yield greater than 10%, supplemented by estimated EPS growth, average daily volume, and current price thresholds [8][9][10] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) are expected to outperform their peers [10] Selected Value Stocks - Five value stocks with earnings yields exceeding 10% have been identified as appealing options amid rising U.S.-China tensions: AngloGold Ashanti (AU), Orchid Island Capital (ORC), LATAM Airlines (LTM), Priority Technology (PRTH), and Allianz (ALIZY) [11] - All five stocks show strong projected EPS growth through 2026 and meet liquidity, price, and growth criteria [11] Company Highlights - **AngloGold Ashanti (AU)**: Expected earnings growth of 95% in 2025 and 6.7% in 2026, with a Zacks Rank of 1 and a Value Score of A [12] - **Orchid Island Capital (ORC)**: Projected earnings growth of 394% in 2025 and 24.5% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score B [13] - **LATAM Airlines (LTM)**: Anticipated earnings growth of 27.5% in 2025 and 20% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score A [14] - **Priority Technology (PRTH)**: Expected earnings growth of 108% in 2025 and 34% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score A [15] - **Allianz (ALIZY)**: Projected earnings growth of 16.4% in 2025 and 9% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score B [16]

MIAMI, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Premium Finance Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: SPFX) (Standard Premium), a leading specialty finance company, today reaffirmed its position as a stable, growth-oriented domestic investment option amid rising global trade tensions and tariff-related market volatility. The Company’s U.S.-focused business model remains shielded from international trade risks, supporting continued growth performance and resilience. “Standard Premium operations are entirely domestic, hig ...

MIAMI, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Premium Finance Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: SPFX), a leading specialty finance company, today announced that its board of directors approved a stock repurchase program where the Company may purchase up to $250,000 of common stock in privately negotiated transactions over a six-month period, expiring November 2, 2025. The program will depend on market conditions, stock price, regulatory requirements and limitations, corporate liquidity requirements, priorities and ...

Core Viewpoint - Runway Growth Finance Corp. reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting a decrease in total and net investment income compared to the previous year, while maintaining a strong investment portfolio and liquidity position [2][5][12]. Financial Performance - Total investment income for Q1 2025 was $35.4 million, down from $40.0 million in Q1 2024 [5]. - Net investment income for Q1 2025 was $15.6 million, or $0.42 per share, compared to $18.7 million, or $0.46 per share, in Q1 2024 [5][8]. - The dollar-weighted annualized yield on average debt investments was 15.4% for the quarter [6]. Operating Expenses and Gains - Total operating expenses for Q1 2025 were $19.8 million, a decrease from $21.3 million in Q1 2024 [7]. - The company realized a net gain on investments of $6.1 million for Q1 2025, compared to no net realized gains or losses in Q1 2024 [7][8]. Investment Portfolio - As of March 31, 2025, the investment portfolio had a fair value of $1.0 billion, consisting of $946.4 million in term loans, with 97.9% being senior secured loans [10]. - The company completed three investments in existing portfolio companies during Q1 2025, totaling $50.7 million in funded investments [8][11]. Net Asset Value - The net asset value as of March 31, 2025, was $503.3 million, or $13.48 per share, down from $529.5 million, or $13.36 per share, as of March 31, 2024 [12]. Liquidity and Capital Resources - The company had approximately $315.4 million in available liquidity as of March 31, 2025, including $18.4 million in cash and $297.0 million in borrowing capacity [14]. - The core leverage ratio was approximately 99%, compared to 108% at the end of 2024 [14]. Distributions - The board declared a regular quarterly distribution of $0.33 per share and a supplemental distribution of $0.02 per share for Q2 2025 [15]. Recent Developments - The company entered into a Master Note Purchase Agreement on April 7, 2025, issuing $107.0 million in Series 2025A Senior Notes with a fixed interest rate of 7.51% [18][19]. - A new share repurchase program was approved, allowing the company to repurchase up to $25.0 million of its outstanding common stock [23].