Key Takeaways Robinhood Markets' platform assets rose 59% y/y to $324.4B in January 2026.HOOD posted $4.5B net deposits; the margin balance surged 122% y/y to $18.4B.Securities lending revenues rose 36% y/y as equity volumes jumped 57%.Robinhood Markets, Inc.’s (HOOD) platform assets have become the company’s primary financial growth engine, driving both resilience and operating leverage. In January 2026, total platform assets climbed to $324.4 billion, marking a 59% year-over-year jump, supported by contin ...

Key Takeaways LPL Financial's total brokerage and advisory assets rose 1.6% in January to $2.41 trillion.LPLA's advisory assets jumped 43.4% from a year earlier and brokerage assets increased 20.3%.LPL Financial reported $4.2B in organic NNAs and $56.5B in client cash, down 7.4% from the prior month.LPL Financial (LPLA) witnessed a rise in total brokerage and advisory assets in January 2026. The metric was $2.41 trillion, rising 1.6% from the previous month and 32.9% year over year.LPLA’s January Performanc ...

Here at PropNotes, I focus on uncovering high-yield investment opportunities for individual investors.With a background in professional prop trading, my goal is to break down complex concepts into clear, actionable insights that help you achieve better returns.Follow me today and take control of your portfolio.Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of IBKR either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opi ...

Fintech Clear Street withdraws US IPO filing | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]The Wall Street sign hangs outside the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) building on Tuesday following Monday's broad sell off in New York City, U.S., March 11, 2025. REUTERS/Shannon... [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab] Read moreFeb 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street broker Clear Street has withdrawn its registration statement for a U.S. list ...

Selling cash secured puts on stocks an investor is happy to take ownership of is a great way to generate some extra income. A cash-secured put involves writing an at-the-money or out-of-the-money put option and simultaneously setting aside enough cash to buy the stock. The goal is to either have the put expire worthless and keep the premium, or to be assigned and acquire the stock below the current price. It’s important that anyone selling puts understands that they may be assigned 100 shares at the strike ...

While retail investors continue to “buy every dip” in the broader market, Eisman implies that this strategy may not hold for assets facing structural headwinds and competitive pressures, particularly when valuations offer little cushion against adverse developments.He drew a direct parallel, asserting that “as long as crypto prices keep going down, so will the stock price of Coinbase,” which has already seen a significant year-to-date decline.The sentiment extended to Coinbase, another major player heavily ...

Core Insights - Robinhood's performance in 2025 indicates a maturation of the business, moving away from being a sentiment-driven trading app to a diversified financial platform with sustainable earnings power [1][2][4] Financial Performance - In 2025, Robinhood achieved a 52% year-over-year revenue growth, driven by strong performance across transaction, interest, and subscription categories [4] - The company demonstrated consistent profitability, with operating leverage as expenses grew more slowly than revenue, marking a significant shift from previous years [5][6] Revenue Diversification - Revenue sources diversified significantly in 2025, with interest income from customer cash balances, margin lending, and securities lending becoming meaningful contributors [9] - Multiple business lines now generate over $100 million in annualized revenue, reducing reliance on any single product category [10] Market Position and Perception - Robinhood's inclusion in the S&P 500 in 2025 symbolized a shift in perception, positioning the company alongside established large-cap firms and enhancing its credibility [11][12] - This inclusion is expected to generate automatic demand from passive funds and ETFs, reflecting institutional acceptance [11] Product Development - Product development accelerated in 2025, with the launch of the Robinhood Gold Card and improvements in crypto infrastructure, indicating a strategic intent to expand beyond brokerage services [13][14] - The company aims to increase user engagement and expand wallet share through recurring services [15] Market Exposure - Despite improvements, Robinhood remains exposed to market cycles, with trading volumes in crypto and options still influencing quarterly performance [16] - The company now has more revenue pillars to support its structure, providing some resilience against cyclical declines [17] Investor Implications - The key takeaway for investors is that Robinhood executed effectively in 2025, achieving consistent profitability, diversifying revenue streams, and gaining institutional validation [18] - The focus has shifted from survival during market downturns to the potential for long-term compounding economics in its growing ecosystem [19]

Core Insights - Charles Schwab (SCHW) reported total client assets of $12.15 trillion in January 2026, reflecting a 17.6% increase year-over-year and a 2.1% increase sequentially, attributed to market volatility [1][7] - The company's core net new assets (NNA) were $27.8 billion, which is a decrease of 9.2% from January 2025 and a significant drop of 64.9% from December 2025 [1][7] Performance Breakdown - Client assets under ongoing advisory services reached $6.16 trillion, marking an 18.6% increase from the previous year and a 2.3% increase from the prior month [2] - Average interest-earning assets rose to $441.7 billion, up 2.4% year-over-year and 1.3% sequentially [2] - Margin balances increased to $116.3 billion, showing a 40.3% rise from January 2025 and a 3.6% increase from December 2025 [2][7] Account Activity - The company opened 476,000 new brokerage accounts in January 2026, which is a 9.9% increase compared to the same month last year and stable compared to the previous month [3] - Active brokerage accounts totaled 38.7 million at the end of January 2026, up 5.5% year-over-year and slightly from December 2025 [4] - Client banking accounts reached 2.23 million, reflecting a 10.9% increase from January 2025 and a 1.1% increase sequentially [4] - Workplace plan participant accounts rose to 5.79 million, up 6.3% year-over-year and marginally from December 2025 [4] Market Comparison - In the past three months, Schwab shares have gained 2%, while the industry has seen a growth of 4.5% [5]

Group 1: Interactive Brokers Performance - Interactive Brokers experienced a strong performance in 2025, with its stock price increasing over 45% [1] - The firm allows investors to trade in various asset classes, including stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies, through a single brokerage account [1] - Interactive Brokers is recognized for offering relatively low interest rates on margin loans, which enhances trading opportunities for investors [1] Group 2: Robinhood's Growth and Financial Performance - Robinhood Markets is growing at a faster rate than Interactive Brokers, with a significant increase in profit margins [2] - The company doubled its revenue in Q3 2025, indicating strong financial growth [2] - Transaction-based revenue for Robinhood surged by 129% year over year, while net interest revenue rose by 66% as more customers utilized margin [4] Group 3: Customer Base and User Engagement - Robinhood added approximately 2.5 million new users in Q3, bringing the total number of funded customers to 26.8 million [6] - The average revenue per user (ARPU) increased by 82% year over year, driven by heightened trading activity and successful expansion into prediction markets [7] - The growth in customer base and ARPU suggests potential for continued gains for Robinhood [6][7] Group 4: Overall Profitability - Robinhood reported a remarkable 271% year-over-year increase in overall profits, indicating sustainable growth [5] - The success of innovative products, including Robinhood Gold, contributed to the doubling of the "Other revenues" segment [4][5]

Core Insights - Several companies are downsizing or postponing their U.S. IPOs in 2026 due to market volatility, valuation scrutiny, and weak peer performance [1][2] - Goldman Sachs analysts predict the number of IPOs will double to 120 this year, but caution about valuation risks highlighted by a selloff in software stocks [1] Company Actions - Clear Street has postponed its U.S. IPO, marking its second delayed listing this month due to "market conditions" [2][5] - Clear Street reduced its fundraising target by 65% before postponing the listing [3] - Agibank raised $240 million in its downsized U.S. IPO, selling 20 million shares at $12 each, down from an initial offering of approximately 43.6 million shares priced between $15 and $18 [4] - Liftoff Mobile has also postponed its planned New York listing, citing "current market conditions" amid a significant selloff in software stocks [5]