Ethereum's ether (ETH) surged on Tuesday to its strongest price since mid-November, leading crypto markets higher as bitcoin (BTC) climbed above $94,000. The second-largest cryptocurrency climbed to just shy of $3,400, rallying 8.4% over the past 24 hours. Those gains significantly outpaced bitcoin’s 4.5% advance and the broad-market benchmark CoinDesk 20 Index’s 6% climb. The rally also drove the ETH/BTC ratio — a closely-watched gauge of ether’s relative performance to bitcoin — to its strongest level ...

On this episode of the "ETF of the Week†podcast, VettaFi's Head of Research, Todd Rosenbluth, discussed the Goldman Sachs Corporate Bond ETF (GIGL) with Chuck Jaffe of Money Life. The pair discussed several topics related to the fund to give investors a deeper understanding of the ETF. Chuck Jaffe: One fund, on point for today. The expert to talk about it. Welcome to the ETF of the Week! Yes, this is the ETF of the Week, where we examine trending, new, newsworthy, unique, and intriguing exchange-traded fund ...

Summary of AllianceBernstein Conference Call (December 09, 2025) Company Overview - **Company**: AllianceBernstein (NYSE: AB) - **AUM**: Over $850 billion - **Core Capabilities**: Fixed income, private markets, global equities - **Partnership**: Collaboration with Equitable enhances product development opportunities Key Themes and Insights Market Outlook and Client Allocation - **Inflation Expectations**: Anticipation of higher inflation impacting real returns and diversification challenges [10][11] - **U.S. Market Valuation**: The U.S. is considered expensive, with tight credit spreads and strong returns, making future performance uncertain [10][11] - **Global Investment Shift**: Encouragement for clients to consider offshore investments due to better returns and governance in foreign markets, particularly in Asia and emerging markets [12][27] - **Dollar Weakness**: A belief that the U.S. administration favors a weaker dollar, which could affect investment strategies [11][12] Fixed Income and Investment Strategies - **Interest in Fixed Income**: Increased interest in intermediate duration assets as clients move away from cash and money market funds [15][16] - **High Yield Demand**: Strong demand for high yield and investment-grade assets, despite a significant issuance in the market [16][18] - **Market Dynamics**: The back end of the yield curve may widen due to Treasury issuance needs, impacting fixed income strategies [21] Global Equity and Non-U.S. Investments - **Interest in Non-U.S. Equities**: Growing interest in EFA products from international clients looking to reduce U.S. exposure [26] - **Emerging Markets Focus**: Notable interest in China and emerging markets, particularly during periods of dollar weakness [27] Active ETFs and Product Development - **Active ETF Growth**: Approximately $10 billion in AUM across 20 strategies, with 60% being net new flows [31] - **Customization and Thematic Investing**: Focus on mass customization and thematic strategies, such as Security of the Future, to meet client needs [33][34] Defined Contribution Market - **Market Size**: Defined contribution market stands at $105 billion in assets [37] - **Annuities in Retirement Plans**: Discussion on the importance of integrating annuities into target date funds to provide security for retirees [39][40] - **DOL Advisory Opinion**: Recent advisory opinion from the Department of Labor provides a safe harbor for including annuities in retirement plans, potentially increasing adoption [41][43] Private Markets and Growth Strategy - **Private Markets Target**: Aiming for $90-$100 billion in private markets by 2027, currently close to $90 billion [46][49] - **Growth Pillars**: Continued growth expected from Equitable, third-party institutional support, and private wealth channels [50][52] Private Credit Landscape - **Competitive Environment**: Increased competition in private credit, particularly in direct lending, with weaker terms compared to previous years [59][60] - **Risk Management**: Emphasis on careful deployment of capital and proactive management of potential risks in portfolios [63][64] Financial Performance and Profitability - **Management Fees**: Steady fee rates around 38-39 basis points, with expectations of durability despite market fluctuations [69][70] - **Operating Margin**: Current operating margin tracking around 33%-34%, with ongoing focus on expense control and growth in private alternatives [75][84] Additional Insights - **Market Sentiment**: Despite concerns in the private credit space, there has not been a significant pullback in allocations from knowledgeable clients [64] - **Future Opportunities**: Potential for growth in the defined contribution market and private credit, with a focus on innovative product offerings [41][52][84]

Core Viewpoint - Brookfield has evolved into a leading global alternative asset manager with over $580 billion in fee-bearing capital across various strategies [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Brookfield operates a fast-growing insurance and annuities business under BN, showcasing its diverse expertise in the investment landscape [1] - The firm is led by CEO and Chair of the Board Bruce Flatt, who is expected to provide insights on the company's future direction [1] Group 2: Future Outlook - The discussion anticipates insights on the investment environment and Brookfield's strategic plans for the upcoming year and beyond [1]

Core Insights - The asset and investment management sector has shown impressive performance in 2025, driven by strong market rebounds, record inflows, and a broad expansion in global assets under management (AUM) [1] Market Performance - Significant equity market volatility has led to increased trading activities, positively impacting companies like BlackRock, Invesco, and Affiliated Managers Group [2] - Elevated volatility has pushed investors towards active management and tactical allocation products, resulting in increased flows into active ETFs, private credit vehicles, and multi-asset strategies [4] Asset Management Growth - Global AUM has grown sharply due to market appreciation and substantial net inflows, particularly from the Asia-Pacific region and high-net-worth channels [4][5] - Demand for alternative investments remains strong, with private credit funds and diversified alternatives attracting institutional and retail interest [5] Company-Specific Insights BlackRock - As of September 30, 2025, BlackRock's total AUM reached a record $13.46 trillion, with a CAGR of 9.2% over the past five years [11] - The company expects continued momentum in AUM growth due to its focus on the iShares unit and active equity business [12] - BlackRock's revenues are projected to grow by 17.1% year-over-year in 2026, with earnings expected to increase by 12.9% [15] Invesco - Invesco's AUM was $2.1 trillion as of September 30, 2025, with a CAGR of 8.5% over the past five years [16] - The company is focusing on improving operating efficiency and has achieved $200 million in annualized net savings from the OppenheimerFunds acquisition [18] - Invesco's revenues and earnings are expected to grow by 14.5% and 32.2% year-over-year in 2026, respectively [20] Affiliated Managers Group - Affiliated Managers had total AUM of $803.6 billion as of September 30, 2025, with a shift towards alternatives reversing previous net outflows [23][24] - The company has been pivoting towards private markets and liquid alternatives, which are expected to support cash flows [25] - AMG's revenues and earnings are projected to grow by 8% and 18.9% year-over-year in 2026, respectively [27]

MONSEY, N.Y., Dec. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Wohl & Fruchter LLP is investigating the fairness of the proposed merger of Semler Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMLR) (“Semler”) with Strive Asset Management (“Strive”) in an all-stock transaction under which Semler stockholders will receive 21.05 shares of Strive Class A Common Stock for each share of Semler common stock that they own (“Exchange Ratio”). Notably, the Exchange Ratio is fixed and will not be adjusted for changes in the market price ...

Gabelli Funds launched the Keeley Dividend ETF (NYSE:KDVD) , an actively managed fund targeting income and long-term appreciation through small- and mid-cap dividend payers, just as markets hover near record highs and investors brace for a highly anticipated Federal Reserve rate cut. • Keeley Dividend ETF stock is approaching key resistance levels. Why are KDVD shares at highs?The SMID-cap-focused strategy seeks to uncover missed dividend opportunities and is managed by the Chicago-based team of Thomas E. B ...

Core Insights - Invesco Ltd. has partnered with LGT Capital Partners to enhance private markets access for U.S. wealth and retirement investors [1][9] - The partnership aims to create a multi-alternative private markets offering, focusing initially on U.S. wealth and retirement segments [3][9] - This collaboration is part of Invesco's strategy to grow its assets under management (AUM) and boost revenues [4][9] Company Background - LGT Capital has over 25 years of experience and manages investments for more than 700 institutional clients across 50 countries [2] - The firm has established strong capabilities in managing multi-alternative and evergreen portfolios [2] Strategic Goals - The partnership intends to leverage combined strengths to improve accessibility to private markets through robust portfolio solutions and enhanced investor education [3][4] - Invesco's CEO emphasized the potential of private markets to provide differentiated income and growth sources [4] Financial Performance - Invesco's shares have increased by 74.2% over the past six months, contrasting with a 4.2% decline in the industry [5] - Currently, Invesco holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [6]

Summary of Brookfield Asset Management Conference Call Company Overview - Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager with over $580 billion in fee-bearing capital across various strategies [1][3][4] - The firm has a diversified business model including real estate, infrastructure, renewables, credit, and private equity [3][4] Fundraising Environment - Brookfield raised $120 billion in 2024 and $100 billion in 2025, with expectations for increased fundraising in 2026 due to multiple large funds in the market [4][3] - The diversified nature of Brookfield's business has insulated it from fundraising challenges faced by firms concentrated in single industries [4][3] AI Infrastructure Initiatives - Brookfield views AI infrastructure as a multi-trillion-dollar capital formation cycle, with potential assets reaching $100 billion [5][6] - The company emphasizes the critical need for power to support AI development, leveraging its extensive experience in the power sector [5][9] - Brookfield is actively building AI infrastructure, which is expected to continue for the next 15 years, creating significant opportunities [8][9] Capital Deployment and Investment Strategy - In 2025, Brookfield invested $110 billion across various sectors, including private equity, real estate, and infrastructure [16] - The company aims to maintain a diversified investment strategy to mitigate risks associated with market fluctuations [16][17] Monetization Outlook - Brookfield has seen a positive trend in monetization activities, with over $75 billion in sales year-to-date through Q3 2025 [17][18] - The expectation for 2026 is to maintain a monetization range of $75-$100 billion, driven by favorable market conditions [18] Insurance Business Growth - Brookfield's insurance platform, BWS, is positioned as an investment-led insurance organization, aiming for 15%+ return on equity (ROE) [19][20] - The company focuses on minimizing insurance risk while maximizing investment returns, differentiating itself from traditional insurance models [22][23] Real Estate Sector Insights - Brookfield has observed strong fundamentals in real estate, with successful projects even during challenging market conditions [35][36] - The company raised a significant fund of $17.5 billion, indicating strong investor interest in quality real estate opportunities [35] - As interest rates decline, Brookfield anticipates increased transaction activity in the real estate market [37] Private Credit Business - Brookfield's private credit segment, which accounts for about one-third of its asset management fees, is expected to grow through opportunistic lending and asset-backed finance [31][32] - The company aims to leverage its extensive market knowledge to achieve higher returns or lower risks in private credit investments [31][32] Conclusion - Brookfield Asset Management is well-positioned for growth across its diversified business segments, with a strong focus on AI infrastructure, real estate recovery, and strategic capital deployment. The company’s robust fundraising capabilities and innovative insurance strategies further enhance its investment potential in the coming years.

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader market. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental ...