Group 1: Mortgage Rate Trends - Mortgage rates have decreased for four consecutive weeks, with the current average for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages at 6.26% as of September 18, 2025, compared to 6.09% a year ago [1][2] - The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points during its September 2025 meeting, marking the first cut of the year after three cuts in 2024 [3][4] - Mortgage rates typically mirror trends in the federal funds rate, but they do not always continue to decrease after a rate cut [4][5] Group 2: Housing Market Dynamics - The current housing market is characterized by a supply-demand imbalance, with buyers outnumbering available homes, particularly for first-time buyers [8] - The median sale price of single-family homes has risen from $208,400 in Q1 2009 to $410,800 by Q2 2025, indicating a long-term upward trend [9] - Even with potential interest rate drops during a recession, increased demand could keep home prices high due to limited supply [10] Group 3: Buyer Strategies - Buyers are advised not to wait for significantly lower mortgage rates, as home prices and supply-demand factors also play crucial roles in affordability [11] - Exploring various housing options, such as condos or fixer-uppers, can help buyers find affordable homes in today's market [14][17] - Financial tools like rate buydowns can make current mortgage rates more manageable, allowing buyers to reduce their interest rates upfront [19]

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has inched up for three straight weeks, according to Freddie Mac. So, when will mortgage rates go down again, and will they do so in time for you to buy a home before the end of 2025? Are mortgage rates dropping? Yes and no. Short-term mortgage rates aren’t moving much, but annual rates have dropped. As of Nov. 20, Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate had risen by two basis points to 6.26%. However, the 30-year rate is now 58 basis point ...

Core Insights - Mortgage rates have increased after a period of stability, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage now at 6.30%, higher than the previous year’s rate of 6.08% [1][2] - The Federal Reserve's recent rate cut has not led to a decrease in mortgage rates, which is contrary to expectations [3][4] - The current housing market is characterized by high demand and limited supply, keeping home prices elevated [11][12] Mortgage Rate Trends - The 15-year fixed mortgage rate has risen to 6.49%, which is 33 basis points higher than the same time last year [2] - Mortgage rates typically follow trends in the 10-year Treasury yield, which is currently at 4.12%, up from 3.75% a year ago [9][10] - The spread between the 30-year fixed mortgage rate and the 10-year Treasury yield is currently 2.18% [10] Federal Reserve Influence - The Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate by 25 basis points in September 2025, marking its first cut of the year [4][5] - Historically, mortgage rates do not always decrease following a fed funds rate cut, as seen in previous years [6][7] Housing Market Dynamics - The median sale price of single-family homes has increased from $208,400 in Q1 2009 to $410,800 by Q2 2025 [12] - The imbalance between buyers and available homes is contributing to sustained high home prices [11] Future Outlook - Predictions for mortgage rates vary, with the Mortgage Bankers Association forecasting a 30-year fixed rate of 6.5% by the end of 2025, while Fannie Mae is more optimistic, predicting a drop to 5.9% [21]

Mortgage rates have remained largely unchanged since the Fed cut the federal funds rate last week. You may be waiting to buy a house or refinance your loan until mortgage rates go down. However, according to many experts' 2026 housing market predictions, rates are likely to decrease only slightly next year. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad time to buy or refinance. Are mortgage rates dropping? Yes and no. Weekly rates have barely moved, but annual rates have decreased. As of December ...

Core Viewpoint - Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation plans to redeem all outstanding $25 million of its 5.40% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures early on May 12, 2025, prior to their maturity date of June 30, 2025 [1][2]. Group 1: Redemption Details - The redemption price will be $1,000 for each $1,000 principal amount of debentures, including all accrued and unpaid interest up to the redemption date [2]. - The corporation will utilize cash on hand to pay the redemption price for the debentures [2]. - Formal notice of redemption will be delivered to debenture holders through the Debenture Trustee, Computershare Trust Company of Canada [3]. Group 2: Company Overview - Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation operates as a non-bank lender providing residential and commercial short-term bridge and conventional real estate financing [4]. - The corporation's investment objective focuses on preserving shareholders' equity while providing a stable stream of monthly dividends from investments [4]. - The corporation is classified as a mortgage investment corporation (MIC) under the Income Tax Act (Canada), allowing it to avoid taxation on income if distributed to shareholders as dividends within 90 days after year-end [4].

Core Points - Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation announced a monthly cash dividend of $0.078 per share, with specific record and payable dates for the upcoming months [1] - The Corporation operates as a non-bank lender, focusing on residential and commercial short-term bridge and conventional real estate financing, including construction and equity investments [2] - The investment objective of the Corporation is to preserve shareholders' equity while providing a stable stream of monthly dividends from investments in niche markets underserved by large lending institutions [2] Dividend and Share Purchase Plan - The Corporation has a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) allowing shareholders to reinvest dividends in additional shares at a discounted price of 97% of the weighted average trading price, with no commission costs [1] - Participants in the Share Purchase Plan can purchase additional shares, with a maximum of $12,000 per year and a minimum of $250 per month, also with no commission fees [1] Taxation and Financial Reporting - As a Mortgage Investment Corporation (MIC), the Corporation is not taxed on income as long as taxable income is distributed to shareholders as dividends within 90 days after year-end [2] - Dividends are generally treated as interest income for shareholders, aligning their position with direct mortgage investments [2] - Full financial results and management discussions are available on the SEDAR website and the Corporation's website [2]

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]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on "buying high and selling higher" rather than traditional strategies of "buying low and selling high" [1] Group 1: Momentum Investing - Momentum investors often face challenges in determining the right entry point, as stocks may lose momentum when their valuations exceed future growth potential [2] - A safer strategy involves investing in bargain stocks that exhibit recent price momentum, utilizing tools like the Zacks Momentum Style Score to identify such opportunities [3] Group 2: Tree.com (TREE) Analysis - Tree.com (TREE) has shown a price increase of 3.1% over the past four weeks, indicating growing investor interest [4] - The stock has gained 17.2% over the past 12 weeks, demonstrating its ability to deliver positive returns over a longer timeframe [5] - TREE has a beta of 2.14, suggesting it moves 114% higher than the market in either direction, indicating fast-paced momentum [5] - With a Momentum Score of A, TREE is positioned as a favorable entry point for investors looking to capitalize on momentum [6] - TREE has a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to upward revisions in earnings estimates, which typically attract more investor interest [7] - The stock is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.68, indicating it is reasonably valued at 68 cents for each dollar of sales [7] Group 3: Investment Opportunities - In addition to TREE, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen, suggesting further investment opportunities [8] - The Zacks Premium Screens offer over 45 different strategies tailored to help investors find winning stock picks [9]