Core Insights - The Baron Financials ETF experienced a decline of 2.22% in the fourth quarter of 2025, underperforming the FactSet Global FinTech Index, which fell by 7.19%, but slightly trailing the MSCI USA Financials Index, which gained 2.07% [2][3][7] - Since its inception on December 31, 2019, the Fund has achieved an annualized return of 10.21%, outperforming the FinTech Index's 2.55% but lagging behind the Financials Index's 11.97% [2][3] Performance Overview - In the fourth quarter, the Fund's performance was driven by favorable stock selection within Information Services and an overweighting in Tech-Enabled Financials, while underexposure to banks negatively impacted relative performance [7][8] - The Fund's average weighting in banks was only 6%, which cost nearly 2 percentage points of relative performance against the Financials Index, where banks had a 38% weighting and were the top-performing industry [7][8] Sector Analysis - The Fund's holdings are segmented into various industries, with Capital Markets representing 31.7%, Information Services at 20.7%, and Payments at 17.4% as of December 31, 2025 [20][23] - The Fund has a significant overweight in Information Services and Capital Markets compared to the Financials Index, while being underweight in Banks and Insurance [20][21] Key Contributors and Detractors - Top contributors to the Fund's performance included Fair Isaac Corporation, S&P Global Inc., and Jack Henry & Associates, with Fair Isaac contributing 0.37% to returns due to strong quarterly results and positive fiscal guidance [12][13][14] - Major detractors included Robinhood Markets, which fell 0.93% due to a decline in customer engagement and cryptocurrency trading volumes, and MercadoLibre, which faced competitive pressures and margin concerns [16][17] Recent Activity - The Fund made significant net purchases in Morgan Stanley, Capital One Financial Corporation, and The Charles Schwab Corporation, focusing on firms with strong growth prospects and diversified revenue streams [25][31] - The Fund trimmed positions in Guidewire Software and Interactive Brokers to manage exposure to the volatile software sector and to fund purchases with better expected returns [32][33] Market Outlook - The macroeconomic environment is viewed as generally healthy, with stable credit trends and a low unemployment rate of 4.4% as of December 2025, supporting growth in the financial sector [34][35] - The Fund anticipates continued growth driven by favorable fiscal policies and easing monetary conditions, with expectations for two rate cuts in the upcoming year [35][36]

Core Insights - The Baron Financials ETF experienced a decline of 2.22% in the fourth quarter of 2025, underperforming the MSCI USA Financials Index which gained 2.07% and the S&P 500 Index which rose by 2.66% [2][3][7] - Since its inception, the Fund has achieved a 10.21% annualized return, outperforming the FactSet Global FinTech Index which only rose by 2.55% [2][3] Performance Overview - In the fourth quarter, the Fund's performance was influenced by favorable stock selection within Information Services and an overweighting in Tech-Enabled Financials, despite underperformance against the Financials Index due to low exposure to banks [7][8] - The Fund's annualized performance over various periods shows a 0.91% gain over one year, 16.52% over three years, and 4.01% over five years [3] Market Context - The fourth quarter of 2025 saw a steady finish for equity markets, driven by easing economic pressures and lower interest rates, with large-cap technology stocks leading the market [6] - The Federal Reserve's rate cuts contributed to a favorable environment for financial markets, with large-cap stocks outperforming mid and small-cap stocks [6] Fund Strategy and Holdings - The Fund maintains a growth-oriented investment strategy focused on financial and financial-related companies, emphasizing those with sustainable competitive advantages and strong management [5] - As of December 31, 2025, the Fund held 43 positions, with the top 10 holdings representing 43.8% of net assets [19][22] Sector Allocation - The Fund's sector allocation includes 31.7% in Capital Markets, 20.7% in Information Services, and 17.4% in Payments, with a notable underweight in Banks at 8.2% [20][23] - The Fund's holdings are primarily classified as Leaders (75.6% of net assets) and Challengers (24.2% of net assets), indicating a focus on established companies with stable growth [21] Recent Activity - The Fund made significant net purchases in Morgan Stanley and Capital One Financial Corporation, reflecting a strategy to invest in firms with strong growth potential and diversified revenue streams [25][31] - The Fund trimmed positions in Guidewire Software and Interactive Brokers to manage exposure to the volatile software sector [32] Outlook - The macroeconomic environment is viewed as generally healthy, with expectations for continued growth supported by fiscal stimulus and easing monetary policy [34][35] - Political developments are seen as a potential risk, particularly regarding regulatory changes that could impact the financial sector [36]

Core Insights - Car insurance rates are increasing for drivers over the age of 65 due to insurers' concerns about age-related risks, making it essential for seniors to shop around for affordable coverage [1][40] - Yahoo Finance analyzed 20 leading auto insurers to identify the best options for senior drivers, focusing on costs, discounts, coverage features, and claims handling [2][41] Company Rankings - The Hartford received the highest rating of 5.0 stars, offering the lowest rates for seniors at an average of $103 per month, along with discounts for AARP members and nationwide availability [3][40] - American Family ranked second with a rating of 4.9 stars, providing affordable rates, a low-mileage program, and strong discounts, with an average cost of $104 per month [8][40] - Farm Bureau earned a rating of 4.8 stars, also offering competitive rates at $104 per month, with excellent claims handling scores and a usage-based insurance program [11][40] Coverage and Discounts - The Hartford provides 13 coverage options and 11 types of discounts, including accident forgiveness and roadside assistance [7] - American Family offers a low-mileage program that can save seniors up to 25% per month, along with 11 coverage options and 17 types of discounts [8][13] - Farm Bureau features 11 coverage options and 17 types of discounts, including a low-mileage discount and accident forgiveness [13][14] Claims Handling - The Hartford has a claims handling grade of C+ from the CRASH Network, indicating average performance [7] - American Family's claims handling is noted for being particularly favorable for drivers post-accident [8] - Farm Bureau received high marks for claims handling, with grades ranging from A+ to B- across different states [11][13] Additional Insights - Senior drivers' average monthly premium for full coverage is $129, highlighting the importance of comparison shopping to find the best rates [30] - Insurers are encouraged to offer tailored discounts and coverage options that cater specifically to the needs of senior drivers [39][41]

Summary of Voya Financial's Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Voya Financial - **Industry**: Life Insurance and Investment Management Key Messages and Financial Performance - **Exceptional Year in 2025**: Voya reported cash generation of $775 million, significantly up from the previous year, and achieved record commercial results in Retirement and Investment Management, with combined assets of $1 trillion in these sectors [2][3] - **Growth Momentum**: The company anticipates continued growth in cash generation into 2026, driven by commercial growth in retirement and investment management, alongside improvements in employee benefits margins [3][4] - **Strong Balance Sheet**: Voya maintains a robust balance sheet and cash-generative businesses, allowing flexibility in capital deployment, including $300 million allocated for share repurchases in the first half of the year [3][4] Retirement Business Highlights - **Record Performance**: The retirement business achieved a margin of close to 40%, exceeding the target range of 35%-39%, with record organic growth of $28 billion in flows, plus an additional $60 billion from the OneAmerica acquisition [6][9] - **Participant Growth**: Voya added nearly 2 million participants, bringing the total to approximately 10 million, indicating strong retention and scale in the retirement sector [6][9] - **Investment in Wealth Management**: Voya is focusing on expanding its wealth management capabilities to serve clients more holistically, leveraging its existing participant base [7][22] OneAmerica Acquisition Insights - **Successful Integration**: Voya exceeded revenue and earnings targets from the OneAmerica acquisition, achieving $200 million in revenue growth and $75 million in earnings, with strong client retention [11][12] - **Market Positioning**: Voya is positioned as a net consolidator in the retirement space, with opportunities for further acquisitions as the industry consolidates [12][13] Wealth Management Strategy - **Established Business**: Voya's wealth management business generates $200 million in existing revenues, representing about 10% of the overall business, with plans to grow this segment by adding advisors and enhancing digital tools [22][23] - **Targeting Mass Affluent**: The focus is on serving the mass affluent market, particularly millennials who lack access to financial advisors, by providing guidance and digital tools for retirement planning [28][29] Employee Benefits and Stop Loss Business - **Claims Environment**: The stop loss business is experiencing increased claims volatility, prompting Voya to adopt a more conservative approach to reserving [50][56] - **Rate Increases**: Voya successfully implemented a 21% rate increase for the January 2025 business and a 24% increase for January 2026, reflecting the broader market trend [53][54] - **Market Demand**: There is a growing demand for stop loss products as employers seek to manage healthcare costs, with RFPs for these products increasing significantly [55][62] Investment Management Performance - **Organic Growth**: Voya's investment management segment has outpaced industry growth, with a focus on expanding relationships in the insurance channel and increasing private and alternative investments [42][44] - **Active ETFs Launch**: The launch of active ETFs is part of Voya's strategy to enhance its investment management offerings and leverage its retirement and wealth management businesses [43][48] Capital Return Strategy - **Consistent Capital Return**: Voya is committed to returning capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, while also pursuing bolt-on acquisitions [73][75] - **High Return on Equity**: The company is achieving a return on equity close to 19%, making it an attractive investment opportunity [73][75] Conclusion - Voya Financial is positioned for continued growth in 2026, driven by strong performance in its retirement and investment management businesses, strategic acquisitions, and a commitment to returning capital to shareholders. The company is actively engaging with younger generations to enhance financial planning and retirement savings, while navigating challenges in the stop loss market.

Core Insights - Loews Corp reported a significant increase in net income for Q4 2025, reaching $402 million compared to $187 million in the same quarter last year, and a full-year net income of $1.67 billion, driven by investment gains and corporate segment performance despite weaker results in several operating units [1][6] Financial Performance - Q4 net income per share was $1.94, up from $0.86 in the prior-year period, which had included a $265 million after-tax pension settlement charge at CNA Financial [2] - CNA Financial's net income attributable to Loews, excluding the prior-year pension charge, saw a slight decline due to an unfavorable non-economic charge related to asbestos and environmental pollution loss portfolio transfer, along with lower underwriting income, partially offset by higher net investment income [2] Segment Performance - Boardwalk Pipelines reported lower net income, primarily due to the absence of a $36 million tax benefit recorded in Q4 2024 [3] - Loews Hotels experienced a decline in net income due to a $20 million after-tax asset impairment charge related to the planned replacement of the Arlington Sheraton Hotel [3] - The corporate segment showed improved results year over year, driven by higher investment income from the parent company's trading portfolio [3] Balance Sheet and Shareholder Actions - Book value per share increased to $90.71 at the end of 2025 from $79.49 a year earlier, while book value per share excluding accumulated other comprehensive income rose to $95.89 from $88.18 [4] - The company ended the year with $3.9 billion in cash and investments and $1.8 billion in debt [4] - Loews repurchased 1 million shares in Q4 for $98 million and 8.9 million shares for $782 million during 2025 [5] Stock Performance - Shares of Loews opened up 1.5% at $113, reflecting an increase of about 7% so far this year [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated record combined fee-related earnings (FRE) and spread-related earnings (SRE) of $5.9 billion, driving adjusted net income of $5.2 billion, which is up 14% year-over-year, equating to $8.38 per share [4][6] - FRE for the year was $2.5 billion, reflecting a 23% increase year-over-year, while SRE was $3.4 billion, normalized to a 9% increase year-over-year [6][34] - The company achieved record inflows of $228 billion, marking the third consecutive record year for both Athene and Asset Management [6][7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The origination volume crossed the $300 billion mark, with a robust consistent spread of 350 basis points over treasuries [6][7] - In the individual market, inflows exceeded $18 billion, with nine strategies raising over $500 million annually [9] - Athene's net invested assets grew by 18% year-over-year to $292 billion, with record inflows of $83 billion driven by retail and funding agreements [31][36] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported that all buckets of credit increased by 8%-12%, with hybrid value up 16% for the year [8] - The global wealth business raised $18 billion, up nearly 50% year-over-year, indicating strong demand across multiple client types and geographies [30] - The institutional business had a record year, with $15 billion in new mandates from third-party insurance [28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning from serving one market to six markets, including individuals, insurance, and traditional asset managers, requiring different products and investments in technology [8][9] - The focus is on a total portfolio approach, which opens up debt and equity buckets to private assets, enhancing competition with public assets [10][11] - The company aims for 20%+ FRE growth in 2026, with a strong emphasis on maintaining quality alongside scale [11][40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the increasing demand for retirement income and the global retirement crisis, expecting approximately $85 billion of inflows in 2026 [11][12] - The outlook for SRE growth remains durable, with a reaffirmed expectation of 10% growth on average through 2029 [12][41] - Management emphasized the importance of a principal mindset in investing, focusing on long-term ownership rather than short-term market trends [13][14] Other Important Information - The company plans to increase the annual per-share dividend by 10% from $2.04 to $2.25 starting in Q1 2026, reflecting a commitment to returning capital to shareholders [40] - The company has returned approximately $1.5 billion to shareholders through dividends and repurchases during the year [39] Q&A Session Summary Question: Implications of the ARI transaction on SRE - Management indicated that the ARI transaction helps de-risk the year and supports the goal of 10% SRE growth, but it should not be assumed to be additive [46][50] Question: Dynamics in the non-traded BDC space and ADS - Management noted that the philosophy of portfolio construction in ADS has resonated well, with net new assets increasing over $5 billion last year despite market turbulence [52][53] Question: Interaction with LPs regarding private allocations - Management expects increased dispersion among managers and a shift in institutional allocations towards private assets, driven by public market volatility [57][60] Question: Origination opportunities and margin profile - Management highlighted the globalization of origination strategies and the focus on quality and scale, with expectations for continued growth in FRE margins [73][75]

Apollo Global Management (NYSE:APO) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 09, 2026 08:30 AM ET Speaker4Good morning and welcome to Apollo Global Management's fourth quarter 2025 earnings conference call. During today's discussion, all callers will be placed in listen-only mode, and following management's prepared remarks, the conference call will be opened for questions. Please limit yourself to one question, then rejoin the queue. This conference call is being recorded. This call may include forward-looking state ...

CNA Financial Corporation Fourth Quarter 2025 Results February 09, 2026 Notices and Disclaimers Forward Looking Statements The statements made in the course of this presentation and/or contained in the presentation materials may include statements that relate to anticipated future events (forward-looking statements) rather than actual present conditions or historical events. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and generally ...

Core Insights - Loews Corp reported weakness across most of its business units, particularly in its flagship insurance business, attributed to softer underwriting practices, although this was partially mitigated by returns on investments [1] Business Performance - The insurance business of Loews Corp experienced a decline due to weaker underwriting performance [1] - Returns on investments provided some offset to the overall weakness in business units [1]

Group 1 - The Baron Small Cap Fund experienced a decline of 1.56% in Q4 2025, underperforming the Russell 2000 Growth Index, which gained 1.22% during the same period [1] - For the entire year of 2025, the fund returned -0.66%, trailing the index by 13.67 percentage points, indicating weak performance both absolutely and relatively [1] - Large-cap growth stocks continued to lead the market for the third consecutive year, with concentrated leadership observed [1] Group 2 - Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc. (NYSE:NP) was highlighted as a new addition to the Baron Small Cap Fund's portfolio in Q4 2025, being a leading flood insurance provider [2] - As of February 6, 2026, Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc. had a stock price of $23.56 per share, with a one-month return of -9.42% and a 12-month decline of 19.20% [2] - Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc. has a market capitalization of $3.252 billion [2] Group 3 - The Baron Small Cap Fund added one new holding and increased positions in many existing holdings during Q4 2025, while also selling out of three names [3] - The market's factorization and short-term mentality led to significant price swings, with 11 stocks moving +/- 30% in the quarter, allowing the fund to capitalize on both buying and selling opportunities [3] - Throughout the year, the fund invested in 12 new ideas, with half being new to the public markets, reflecting a positive outlook on the return of IPOs as a source of successful investments [3]