NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xcel Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: XELB) (“Xcel” or the “Company”), announces today that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement for a private investment in public equity (“PIPE”) financing that is expected to result in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $2.05 million, before deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes and working capital. Pursuan ...

Market Outlook - Oppenheimer's chief investment strategist, John Stoltzfus, expressed optimism about the market rally, attributing it to positive news from the New York Fed and Boston Fed [1] - The expectation of a Fed interest rate cut in December is a key issue driving market focus, with a predicted 25 basis point cut [2] Investment Recommendations - Stoltzfus advised focusing on fundamentally strong stocks that may be sold off by aggressive traders, rather than buying dips indiscriminately [1] - Oppenheimer maintains a long-term preference for cyclical sectors over defensive ones, specifically recommending Information Technology, Communication Services, Industrials, Financials, and Consumer Discretionary [1] Company Analysis: Deckers Outdoor Corporation - Deckers has a market capitalization of $12.41 billion, TTM net income of $1.02 billion, and a net income margin of 19.36% as of November 21 [8] - The company reported a total revenue of $1.43 billion for FQ2 2026, marking a 9% year-over-year increase, with diluted EPS increasing by 14% to $1.82 [9] - HOKA revenue grew by 15% and UGG revenue rose by 12% in H1 of the fiscal year, driven by strong international performance [10] Company Analysis: Roper Technologies Inc. - Roper Technologies has a market capitalization of $47.76 billion, TTM net income of $1.57 billion, and a net income margin of 20.34% as of November 21 [12] - The company reported over $2 billion in total revenue for Q3 2025, a 14% year-over-year increase, with diluted EPS of $5.14, an 11% increase [14] - Roper's acquisition strategy has been effective, yielding durable free cash flow and growing recurring revenue [13]

Core Insights - RiverPark Advisors reported strong performance in U.S. equity markets during Q3 2025, with the S&P 500 Total Return Index increasing by 8.12% and the Russell 1000 Growth Index rising by 10.51% [1] - The RiverPark Large Growth Fund achieved a return of 4.73% in the same quarter, with market leadership concentrated among a few mega-cap tech and consumer companies driven by AI innovation [1] - The sectors of Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services outperformed, while Energy and Utilities lagged behind [1] Company Focus: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) - Apple Inc. reported a one-month return of 3.48% and a 52-week gain of 16.79%, closing at $267.44 per share with a market capitalization of $3.969 trillion on November 18, 2025 [2] - The company experienced a strong quarter, with total revenue of approximately $94 billion, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth, driven by a 15% increase in iPhone sales and record Services revenue of $27 billion [3] - Apple Inc. ranked 8th among the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds, with 156 hedge fund portfolios holding its shares at the end of Q2 2025, down from 159 in the previous quarter [4] - The September quarter revenue for Apple Inc. was reported at $102.5 billion, marking an 8% year-over-year increase [4]