Group 1 - Equitable Holdings (NYSE:EQH) is recognized as one of the best financial pure plays under $100, with a bullish rating initiated by Mizuho Securities analyst Yaron Kinar, who set a price target of $66, indicating over 37% upside potential from current levels [1] - Kinar's positive outlook is attributed to a strong preference for life insurance businesses, where Equitable Holdings has a significant presence through a comprehensive suite of products, including Variable Universal Life, Indexed Universal Life, Term Life insurance, and Annuities [2] - As of December 30, Equitable Holdings received coverage from 8 analysts, with 6 assigning Buy ratings and 2 giving Hold ratings, leading to a median 1-year price target of $63, which implies nearly 31% upside from the current market price [3] Group 2 - Equitable Holdings is a leading financial services firm in the United States, providing retirement plans, wealth management, insurance, and protection services, along with a diverse array of products [4]

Core Viewpoint - John Hancock has declared monthly distributions for several closed-end funds, indicating a commitment to providing consistent returns to investors through managed distribution plans [1][2]. Group 1: Fund Distributions - The Preferred Income Fund II (HPF) declared a distribution of $0.1235 per share, with a market price of $16.07 and an annualized current distribution rate of 9.22% [1]. - The Preferred Income Fund III (HPS) declared a distribution of $0.1100 per share, with a market price of $14.41 and an annualized current distribution rate of 9.16% [1]. - The Premium Dividend Fund (PDT) declared a distribution of $0.0825 per share, with a market price of $12.70 and an annualized current distribution rate of 7.80% [1][2]. - The Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (HTD) declared a distribution of $0.1580 per share, with a market price of $23.66 and an annualized current distribution rate of 8.01% [1][5]. Group 2: Distribution Plans - The Premium Dividend Fund operates under a managed distribution plan (PDT Plan), ensuring monthly distributions of $0.0825 per share until further notice [2][5]. - The Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund operates under a managed distribution plan (HTD Plan), ensuring monthly distributions of $0.1580 per share until further notice [5][6]. - Distributions under both plans may include net investment income, net realized long-term capital gains, net realized short-term capital gains, and potentially a return of capital [3][6]. Group 3: Additional Distribution Information - The funds may make additional distributions to avoid federal income tax on taxable income and capital gains not included in regular distributions [4][7]. - Shareholders will receive a notice detailing the estimated components of distributions if they do not consist solely of net investment income [8].

Core Insights - MetLife Investment Management completed the acquisition of PineBridge Investments LLC from the Pacific Century Group, originally announced in December 2024 and valued at $1.2 billion [2][3] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The transaction involved $800 million in cash and two conditional payments of $200 million each [3] - The combined business will manage total assets of approximately $735 billion [3] - PineBridge's private equity funds group and its joint venture in China were excluded from the deal [4] Group 2: Strategic Implications - The acquisition enhances MetLife Investment Management's institutional strength and scale by leveraging PineBridge's global expertise [4] - This move aligns with MetLife Inc.'s New Frontier strategy, a five-year plan introduced in December 2024 [4] Group 3: Leadership and Future Outlook - Brian Funk will lead the combined entity, with a new senior leadership team announced [5][6] - MetLife's CFO John McCallion emphasized that the combined capabilities will drive future growth and success [5]

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock has announced mergers or reorganizations for certain municipal closed-end funds, with details on distributions for both Surviving Funds and Target Funds provided [1] Group 1: Mergers and Reorganizations - Certain BlackRock municipal closed-end funds are undergoing mergers or reorganizations, referred to as "Reorganizations" [1] - The distributions for the Surviving Funds will be paid post-Reorganization, while the Target Funds will distribute pre-Reorganization amounts to shareholders in January and February [1]

Core Viewpoint - Highland Global Allocation Fund has declared monthly distributions of $0.085 per share for the first quarter of 2026, reflecting an annual distribution rate of 8.5% based on the average net asset value for the last five trading days of 2025 [1][2]. Distribution Details - The distribution schedule includes: - Ex-Date: January 23, 2026; Record Date: January 23, 2026; Payable Date: January 30, 2026 - Ex-Date: February 20, 2026; Record Date: February 20, 2026; Payable Date: February 27, 2026 - Ex-Date: March 24, 2026; Record Date: March 24, 2026; Payable Date: March 31, 2026 [2]. Level Distribution Policy - The Fund operates under a Level Distribution Policy approved in March 2019, allowing for monthly distributions at a fixed rate that resets annually based on the average NAV per share [2]. - The Distribution Amount for Q1 2026 was recalibrated based on the latest NAV calculations [2]. Shareholder Options - Shareholders can choose to reinvest distributions in additional shares through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan or opt for cash distributions by contacting their financial adviser or brokerage [4]. Potential Changes to Distribution - The Board of Trustees retains the right to amend the Level Distribution Policy, Distribution Amount, or distribution intervals at any time without prior notice [5]. - The Fund may also pay out less than the total net investment income earned in a period to maintain stable distributions [6]. Return of Capital - Distributions may include a return of capital, which does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and can affect total assets and expense ratios [7]. Fund Overview - Highland Global Allocation Fund (HGLB) is a closed-end fund managed by NexPoint Asset Management, L.P., focusing on global asset allocation strategies [10][11].

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Jan. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patria Investments Limited (“Patria”) (NASDAQ: PAX), a global alternative asset manager, confirmed today the completion of its previously announced acquisition of a 51% stake in Solis Investimentos, a leading Brazilian investment manager specializing in the structuring and management of CLOs. Pro-forma as of 3Q25, the addition of Solis’ approximate US$ 3.5 bn of Fee-Earning AUM (“FEAUM”) will increase Patria’s total Credit FEAUM by over 40% to ...

®® BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MFS Investment Management (MFS) announced today monthly distributions of the following closed-end funds, all with declaration dates of January 2, 2026, ex-dividend dates of January 20, 2026, record dates of January 20, 2026, and payable dates of January 30, 2026: | Fund (ticker) | Income/ | Other Sources/ | Total Amount/ | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | Share | Share* | Share | | MFS® Charter Income Trust | $0.0000 | $0.044840 | $0.044840 | | (NYSE: MCR)^ | | | | | MFS® Government ...

Group 1 - Long-maturity Treasuries started 2026 on a defensive note after experiencing the largest annual gain in five years, with investors focusing on potential Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts to stimulate inflation [1] - The yield on the 30-year bond increased by about two basis points to 4.87%, marking the highest level since September, while shorter-maturity yields remained stable or decreased [2] - The upward pressure on yields is attributed to a concerning long-term fiscal outlook and signs of resilience in the US economy, as indicated by strong data and rising stock prices [3] Group 2 - Market volatility is expected to increase as investors assess the direction of monetary policy, with historically high valuations for US stocks providing a compelling reason to hold bonds as a hedge [4] - There has been significant demand for interest-rate derivatives that offer protection against the Fed's target range falling to 0%, while swap contracts predict a lower bound closer to 3% by year-end [5] - Despite the resilience of the US economy and inflation exceeding the Fed's 2% target, which complicates the case for further rate cuts, the market returned over 6% last year as measured by the Bloomberg US Treasury index [6] Group 3 - Other global bond markets weakened, with those closed on Wednesday catching up with declines in Treasuries, and January is typically a busy month for new corporate bond issuance, competing for investor cash [7]

If you want to invest in the alternative asset management industry, I think that The RMR Group Inc. ( RMR ) is an interesting value stock to buy. The company is currently undervalued because itI am a dynamic finance professional with a Master’s in Banking & Finance from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. My investing background mix corporate finance, M&A, and investment analysis, with a focus on real estate, renewable energy, and equity markets. I specialize in financial modelling, valuation, and qualita ...

Group 1 - The article does not provide any relevant content regarding company or industry insights [1]