Core Insights - Robinhood Markets reported significant growth in Q4 2025, with total net revenues reaching $1.28 billion, a 27% increase from Q4 2024, despite challenges in cryptocurrency trading [2][3] - The company is evolving into a broader financial services provider, achieving record figures in revenue, user engagement, and asset management [1] Financial Performance - Transaction-based revenues increased by 15% to $776 million, with options trading up 41% to $314 million and equities up 54% to $94 million, while cryptocurrency revenues fell 38% to $221 million [2] - Net interest revenues rose 39% to $411 million, and net income was $605 million, with diluted EPS at $0.66, down from $1.01 the previous year but above analyst expectations [3] - For the full year, net revenues surged 52% to $4.5 billion, and net income increased by 33% to $1.9 billion, resulting in an EPS of $2.05 [3] User Metrics - Funded customers reached 27 million, a 7% year-over-year increase, and Robinhood Gold subscribers grew by 58% to 4.2 million [4] - Assets under custody increased by 68% to $324 billion, driven by record net deposits of $68.1 billion over the past year [4] Product Innovations - The company launched prediction markets with 12 billion event contracts traded in 2025 and expanded retirement accounts, banking services, and international offerings [5] - Executives expressed optimism about the future, aiming to create a comprehensive "Financial SuperApp" [6] Market Response - Despite strong financial results, Robinhood's stock fell approximately 8% in after-hours trading due to revenues falling short of Wall Street's expectations [7] - Analysts noted concerns over decelerating growth rates and a decline in monthly active users amid a slowdown in the crypto market [7] Analyst Outlook - Analysts remain generally bullish on Robinhood's prospects, with a consensus price target between $123 and $146, indicating potential upside of 50% to 70% [8] - Higher-end forecasts reach $180, driven by opportunities in prediction markets and international expansion, with most ratings leaning towards "Buy" [9]

Summary of Brighthouse Financial Special Meeting Company Overview - **Company**: Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (NasdaqGS: BHF) - **Meeting Date**: February 12, 2026 - **Purpose**: Special meeting of stockholders to discuss and vote on key proposals Key Proposals Discussed 1. **Merger Proposal** - Proposal to adopt the agreement and plan of merger dated November 6, 2025, involving Aquarian Holdings Six LP, Aquarian Beacon Merger Sub Inc., Aquarian Holdings LLC, and Brighthouse Financial - The board of directors recommended a vote in favor of this proposal [8] 2. **Compensation Proposal** - Advisory vote to approve compensation for Brighthouse Financial's named executive officers related to the merger - The board of directors recommended a vote in favor of this proposal [8] 3. **Adjournment Proposal** - Proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to solicit additional proxies if necessary - The board of directors recommended a vote in favor of this proposal [9] Voting Outcomes - All proposals (Merger, Compensation, and Adjournment) were approved according to the preliminary report from the Inspector of Election - The merger proposal's approval negated the need for adjournment to solicit additional proxies [12] Important Meeting Details - A quorum was confirmed with a majority of shares present either in person or by proxy [5] - The meeting adhered to Delaware law and SEC rules, with procedures and rules of conduct posted on the special meeting website [3] - The final vote totals will be filed in a Form 8-K with the SEC within four business days following the meeting [12] Additional Notes - The meeting was conducted virtually, and personal recording was prohibited [2] - Stockholders were invited to submit questions, but no questions were presented regarding the proposals [9]

Baron Fund, an investment management company, released its Q4 2025 letter for “Baron Durable Advantage Fund”. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund returned 2.6% in the fourth quarter, which mirrored the S&P 500 Index’s 2.7% return. The Fund returned 16.6% in 2025, compared to 17.9% for the Index and 16.1% gain for the Peer Group, Morningstar Large Growth Category average. Moving to 2026, in an environment dominated by geopolitics, changing regulatory trends, and artificial intelligence, th ...

Moelis has hired Kyle Reidy to lead its private credit secondaries business, as slower activity in dealmaking has led to surging interest in this corner of the market https://t.co/F4htzcgDLh ...

Retirees probably consider taxes, inflation or healthcare their biggest expenses. But there is another factor that can quietly cost far more: fear. Without the security of a regular paycheck, it’s easy to worry about running out of money in your so-called “golden years.” In fact, 64% of Americans say they are more worried about outliving their savings than dying, according to a 2025 survey by Allianz Life (1). Must Read Although this anxiety about money isn’t entirely unjustified, making major financia ...

Core Viewpoint - Marex Group plc is set to release its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter and full year results on March 3, 2026, before market opening [1] Group Overview - Marex Group plc (NASDAQ: MRX) operates as a diversified global financial services platform, providing essential liquidity, market access, and infrastructure services across energy, commodities, and financial markets [2] - The company offers a comprehensive range of services including Clearing, Agency and Execution, Market Making, and Hedging and Investment Solutions [2] - Marex has a strong presence in major metals, energy, and agricultural products, with access to 60 exchanges globally [2] - The client base includes large commodity producers, consumers, traders, banks, hedge funds, and asset managers [2] - The company operates over 40 offices worldwide and employs more than 2,400 staff across Europe, Asia, and the Americas [2] Upcoming Events - A conference call to discuss the financial results will occur at 9am ET on the same day as the earnings release [2] - An investor day is scheduled for March 26, 2026, in New York [2]

Core Insights - Funding Circle, the UK's leading SME finance platform, has announced a significant transaction with Waterfall Asset Management and Citi, aimed at enhancing its funding capabilities for small businesses [1][3] Funding Agreement Details - The agreement includes a £700 million forward flow commitment from Waterfall over two years, along with senior financing from Citi and the purchase of an existing loan portfolio valued at approximately £120 million [2] - This transition from balance sheet to institutional funding is part of Funding Circle's strategy to test new propositions before scaling them with partners [2] Partnership Significance - The transaction highlights the long-term partnership between Funding Circle and Waterfall, which began in 2018, with Waterfall surpassing £3 billion in total lending through Funding Circle's platform [3] - This deal strengthens Funding Circle's position as a platform lender and enhances its capacity to meet the increasing demand for SME credit [3] Executive Statements - Dipesh Mehta, Chief Capital Officer at Funding Circle, emphasized that expanding partnerships reflects confidence in their credit underwriting and capital markets expertise [4] - James Cuby, Head of Europe at Waterfall, expressed satisfaction in deepening the relationship with Funding Circle and confidence in its technology and credit assessment capabilities [4] - Sebastian Walf, Managing Director at Citi, stated that Citi is pleased to support the funding agreement through senior financing [4] Company Overview - Funding Circle has provided approximately £17 billion in credit to over 125,000 businesses in the UK since its establishment in 2010 [5] - The platform offers a unique customer experience for SME borrowers through technology and data, while providing institutional investors access to an alternative asset class with attractive returns [6]

Core Insights - The Finnvera Group reported a significant decline in profit to EUR 16 million in 2025, primarily due to the return of a fund payment commitment of EUR 349 million to the State Guarantee Fund, despite a strong operating result of EUR 365 million [4][10][20]. Financial Performance - The operating result for the period was strong at EUR 365 million, but the total profit was reduced to EUR 16 million after the return of the fund payment commitment [4][10]. - The Group's net interest income decreased by 13% to EUR 121 million, and net fee and commission income fell by 16% to EUR 167 million compared to the previous year [22][28]. - Realised credit losses were significantly lower at EUR 36 million, down 70% from the previous period, contributing positively to the operating result [23][28]. Financing Activities - Finnvera granted domestic loans and guarantees amounting to EUR 1.0 billion, a 10% increase from EUR 0.9 billion in 2024 [5][15]. - Export credit guarantees and special guarantees surged to EUR 7.0 billion, a 143% increase from EUR 2.9 billion in 2024, reflecting strong financing volumes for the cruise shipping sector [8][15]. - The volume of export credits granted reached EUR 5.6 billion, an increase of 837% from EUR 0.6 billion in the previous year, although EUR 3.1 billion of this financing fell through [9][15]. Balance Sheet and Reserves - The total balance sheet increased by 5% to EUR 15.5 billion, while contingent liabilities rose by 12% to EUR 16.8 billion [2][4]. - Non-restricted equity and assets of the State Guarantee Fund increased by 17% to EUR 2.5 billion, indicating a strengthening of reserves for potential losses [2][4]. - Expected credit losses on the balance sheet items decreased by 14% to EUR 1.0 billion [2][4]. Strategic Developments - Finnvera updated its organizational structure to better serve Finnish companies' growth and internationalization needs [11]. - The company became a shareholder in the European Investment Fund (EIF) to enhance its integration into EU financing facilities, particularly for SMEs [12]. - A legislative overhaul was completed to improve Finnvera's operational flexibility and transparency, set to take effect in 2026 [13]. Outlook - The business outlook for 2026 anticipates moderate growth in the Finnish economy, with expectations for increased demand for domestic financing and export credit guarantees [34][35]. - Finnvera aims to support growth in emerging markets and enhance financing for innovative and scalable start-ups [37][40].

Group 1 - European stocks are expected to open higher, with the U.K.'s FTSE index and Germany's DAX projected to rise by 0.4%, France's CAC 40 by 1.1%, and Italy's FTSE MIB by 0.5% [1] - The positive market sentiment follows a mixed closing on Wednesday as investors evaluated a series of corporate earnings reports [2] - A busy earnings day is anticipated, with major companies such as Siemens, L'Oreal, Anheuser-Busch Inbev, British American Tobacco, Mercedes-Benz Group, Adyen, and Deutsche Borse set to report [2] Group 2 - Japan's Nikkei 225 index reached 58,000 for the first time, marking a continuation of its post-election rally [3] - U.S. futures related to the Dow Jones Industrial Average showed little change after the index's three-day winning streak ended [3]

Group 1 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution to eliminate punitive tariffs on Canadian goods, with a vote of 219 in favor and 211 against, indicating a potential bipartisan shift [3] - The resolution is expected to be reviewed by the Senate, where it has a high likelihood of passing, although it may ultimately be vetoed by President Trump [3] - The tariffs were initially imposed by President Trump in response to Canada's failure to effectively control the export of illegal drugs, including fentanyl [3] Group 2 - In the gold futures market, prices are currently trading around 1126.78 yuan per gram, with a slight decline of 0.09%, and have fluctuated between a high of 1135.94 yuan and a low of 1118.20 yuan [1] - Technical analysis indicates that gold futures are showing signs of stabilization, with support above 1120 yuan per gram and potential resistance in the 1130-1140 yuan range [4] - The market is expected to maintain a wide fluctuation pattern, influenced by the volatility of the RMB exchange rate and the evolving expectations of Federal Reserve policies [4]