Core Insights - Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:DCOM) operates primarily in the New York metropolitan area, providing a range of personal and business banking services, and competes with regional banks such as Flushing Financial Corporation and Brookline Bancorp [1] - DCOM's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is 2.15%, while its Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) is 15.71%, resulting in a ROIC to WACC ratio of 0.137, indicating inefficiency in capital use [2][5] - Comparative analysis shows that CVB Financial Corp. (CVBF) and City Holding Company (CHCO) have more favorable ROIC to WACC ratios, suggesting they are more efficient in generating returns than DCOM [4][5] Financial Efficiency Comparison - Flushing Financial Corporation (FFIC) has a negative ROIC of -12.80% and a WACC of 16.70%, leading to a ROIC to WACC ratio of -0.767, indicating greater inefficiency than DCOM [3] - Brookline Bancorp (BRKL) and OceanFirst Financial Corp. (OCFC) also show negative ROIC to WACC ratios of -0.082 and 0.012, respectively, further highlighting inefficiencies in these institutions [3] - In contrast, CVB Financial Corp. (CVBF) has a ROIC of 5.15% and a WACC of 9.05%, resulting in a ratio of 0.570, while CHCO has a ROIC of 18.41% and a WACC of 7.79%, achieving a ratio of 2.361, indicating superior efficiency [4]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The focus for 2026 in Asian markets will shift from AI-driven stocks to growth opportunities beyond AI, dividends, and previously overlooked stories in Asia [2][12][14] - Key themes include structural stories in energy self-sufficiency, new technology, financial deepening, and the growth of formal retail in ASEAN [12][14] Company-Specific Insights 1. Harbin Electric (1133 HK) - **Sector**: Electrical Equipment - **Market Cap**: USD 3.648 billion - **Current Price**: HKD 15.53; **Target Price**: HKD 22.00 - **PE Ratio**: 10.7; **PB Ratio**: 1.6; **ROE**: 16.2% - **Key Points**: - Benefiting from China's push for energy self-sufficiency, particularly in coal and nuclear power [16][18] - Expected earnings CAGR of 34% from 2024-2027 [19] - Potential inclusion in Stock Connect in 2026 [19] 2. Horizon Robotics (9660 HK) - **Sector**: Auto Components - **Market Cap**: USD 14.901 billion - **Current Price**: CNY 8.44; **Target Price**: CNY 11.00 - **Key Points**: - Positioned to benefit from the growth of autonomous driving technology [23][25] - Expected revenue CAGR of 64% from 2025-2027 [27] 3. Goldwind Science & Tech (002202 CH) - **Sector**: Electric Utilities - **Market Cap**: USD 8.753 billion - **Current Price**: CNY 15.35; **Target Price**: CNY 20.40 - **Key Points**: - Leading manufacturer of wind turbines with strong demand in emerging markets [30][32] - Expected net profit growth of 58% in 2025 [32] 4. Trip.com Group (TCOM US) - **Sector**: Internet Software & Services - **Market Cap**: USD 48.707 billion - **Current Price**: USD 74.52; **Target Price**: USD 90.00 - **Key Points**: - Dominates China's online travel market with over 50% GTV [39] - Expected revenue growth of 15% CAGR from 2025-2027 [39] 5. BOCHK Holdings (2388 HK) - **Sector**: Commercial Banks - **Market Cap**: USD 54.013 billion - **Current Price**: HKD 39.70; **Target Price**: HKD 45.20 - **Key Points**: - Benefits from increased cross-border opportunities and offers a 5.5% dividend yield [44][46] 6. PB Fintech (POLICYBZ IN) - **Sector**: Internet Software & Services - **Market Cap**: USD 8.999 billion - **Current Price**: INR 1,734.70; **Target Price**: INR 2,250.00 - **Key Points**: - Operates India's largest online insurance marketplace [49] - Expected revenue CAGR of 30% from 2025-2028 [51] 7. Phoenix Mills (PHNX IN) - **Sector**: Real Estate Management & Development - **Market Cap**: USD 6.904 billion - **Current Price**: INR 1,714.80; **Target Price**: INR 2,110.00 - **Key Points**: - Largest mall operator in India, evolving into a mixed-use developer [54][56] 8. E-Mart (139480 KS) - **Sector**: Multiline Retail - **Market Cap**: USD 1.482 billion - **Current Price**: KRW 79,000.00; **Target Price**: KRW 120,000.00 - **Key Points**: - Trading at 0.2x PB, highlighting deep value [59] - Transformation into a multiline retailer with various catalysts for growth [60] 9. E Ink Holdings (8069 TT) - **Sector**: Technology - **Market Cap**: Not specified - **Current Price**: TWD 169.00; **Target Price**: TWD 305.00 - **Key Points**: - Holds over 90% of the global e-paper market and expanding capacity [62] 10. ICTSI (ICT PM) - **Sector**: Transport & Logistics - **Market Cap**: Not specified - **Current Price**: PHP 558.50; **Target Price**: PHP 630.00 - **Key Points**: - Offers growth and yield at attractive valuations [62] 11. City Developments (CIT SP) - **Sector**: Real Estate Management & Development - **Market Cap**: Not specified - **Current Price**: SGD 7.43; **Target Price**: SGD 11.00 - **Key Points**: - Positioned to benefit from a turnaround in Singapore's property sector [62] 12. Sumber Alfaria Trijaya (AMRT IJ) - **Sector**: Retail - **Market Cap**: Not specified - **Current Price**: IDR 1,895.00; **Target Price**: IDR 2,900.00 - **Key Points**: - Expected to benefit from policies boosting consumption in Indonesia [62] Additional Insights - Asian dividends have doubled over the last 20 years, indicating potential for further increases in payout ratios [12] - The report emphasizes the importance of EPS growth for continued market gains, particularly in China [12][14]

Core Insights - Triumph Financial, Inc. will present at the Stephens Annual Investment Conference on November 18, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. CST [1] - The presentation will be available via live webcast on the company's website [1] Company Overview - Triumph is a financial and technology company that focuses on modernizing and simplifying freight transactions through payments, factoring, intelligence, and banking [2] - The company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and its portfolio includes brands such as Triumph, TBK Bank, and LoadPay [2]

Core Points - MetroCity Bankshares, Inc. has received all necessary regulatory approvals and shareholder consent to merge with First IC Corporation, with the merger expected to finalize on December 1, 2025 [1][2]. Company Overview - MetroCity Bankshares, Inc. is headquartered in Doraville, Georgia, and operates Metro City Bank with 20 banking offices across seven states, holding $3.6 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025 [4]. - First IC Corporation, also based in Doraville, operates First IC Bank with ten banking locations and two loan production offices across several states, holding $1.2 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025 [5]. Advisory Information - Hillworth Bank Partners served as the financial advisor for MetroCity, providing a fairness opinion to its board, while Stephens Inc. acted as the financial advisor for First IC [3].

Core Viewpoint - Companies with a strong history of dividend payments and increases are attractive to income-focused investors, with Avista, Regions Financial, and Duke Energy recently announcing dividend hikes and offering yields up to 5% [1] Avista - Avista Corp. has increased its dividends for 22 consecutive years, with the latest hike on Feb. 12 raising the quarterly payout from $0.475 to $0.49 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $1.96 per share [3] - The company maintained the same dividend payout in its announcement on Aug. 6, with a current dividend yield of 5.03% [3] - Avista's annual revenue as of June 30 was $1.96 billion, and Q2 2025 revenues were reported at $411 million with an EPS of $0.17, both missing market expectations [4] Regions Financial - Regions Financial Corp. has raised its dividends for 12 consecutive years, with a recent increase on July 16 of 6% to $0.265 per share, equating to an annual figure of $1.06 per share [5] - The company maintained the same dividend payout in its announcement on Oct. 15, with a current dividend yield of 4.37% [5] - Regions Financial's annual revenue as of June 30 was $7.29 billion, and Q3 2025 revenues were reported at $1.94 billion with an EPS of $0.63, both exceeding market expectations [6] Duke Energy - Duke Energy Corp. has increased its dividends for 18 consecutive years, with the latest hike on July 15 raising the quarterly payout from $1.045 to $1.065 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $4.26 per share [8] - The company maintained the same dividend payout in its announcement on Oct. 14, with a current dividend yield of 3.34% [8]

Financial Performance - Net interest income for 3Q 2025 was $43.1 million, a 0.2% increase from 2Q 2025[35, 38, 54] - Noninterest income was $29.4 million, representing 40.6% of revenue[35, 38, 118] - Adjusted EPS was $0.66 and adjusted ROAA was 1.28%[35, 118] - Tangible book value per share was $16.90, an increase of $0.79 from the prior quarter[35, 40, 118] Balance Sheet - Total loans reached $4.1 billion, a 1.4% increase from June 30, 2025[15, 35, 61, 118] - Total deposits amounted to $4.4 billion, a 1.7% increase from June 30, 2025[15, 35, 68, 118] - The loan to deposit ratio was 93.0%, a 0.2% decrease from the previous quarter[35, 68, 71, 118] Asset Quality and Capital Strength - Total reserves to loans were 1.51%[35, 100, 104, 118] - CET1 was 10.8%, well above bank regulatory requirements[35, 106, 118] - Net recoveries to average loans were (0.17)% for the quarter[35, 98, 104] Divisional Performance - Banking services noninterest income decreased 23.9% from 2Q 2025, primarily due to a $2.1 million gain on sale of a purchased credit deteriorated hospitality loan in 2Q 2025[75, 80] - Retirement and Benefit Services revenue increased 2.9% compared to 2Q 2025, driven by an increase in asset-based fees[85] - Wealth Advisory Services revenue decreased 10.9% from 2Q 2025, primarily due to the timing of the wealth management platform conversion and a decrease in brokerage and insurance commissions[90]

Core Points - FB Financial Corporation declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share, payable on November 11, 2025, to shareholders of record as of November 25, 2025 [1][2] - The CEO emphasized the company's commitment to delivering consistent shareholder returns and highlighted the strength of its operating performance [2] - FB Financial Corporation operates through its wholly owned banking subsidiary, FirstBank, with approximately $16.2 billion in total assets and 91 full-service branches [3] Financial Performance - For the third quarter of 2025, FB Financial reported net income of $23.4 million, or $0.43 per diluted common share, compared to $0.06 in the previous quarter and $0.22 in the same quarter last year [6] - Adjusted net income for the same period was $57.6 million, or $1.07 per diluted common share, compared to $0.88 in the previous quarter and $0.86 in the third quarter of the previous year [6] Executive Changes - FB Financial announced strategic executive appointments, with Michael Mettee becoming Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and Scott Tansil being named Chief Business and Operations Officer [8]

Core Insights - The article discusses how to create a mini portfolio inspired by Warren Buffett's investment strategies, highlighting his successful track record and the potential for individual investors to replicate his approach [1][2][4]. Company Overview - Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, has a market capitalization of $1,060 billion and has generated a compound annual growth rate of nearly 20%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [2][3]. Investment Strategy - The current portfolio of publicly traded U.S. stocks owned by Berkshire Hathaway is valued at over $300 billion and includes more than 40 stocks, alongside numerous wholly-owned companies [4]. - The article suggests that individual investors can start a similar portfolio with just $1,000 by selecting six specific stocks that reflect Buffett's investment philosophy [6]. Selected Stocks - **Apple (AAPL)**: Berkshire's largest holding, valued at $69.8 billion, represents over 23% of its portfolio, with a gain of 524% since the initial investment in 2016. Current share price is around $249 [7][8]. - **Bank of America (BAC)**: Accounts for more than 10% of Berkshire's portfolio, with a 17% increase this year and a dividend yield of 2.14%. Current share price is approximately $51.50 [9]. - **Coca-Cola (KO)**: Fourth largest holding, with a 3.04% yield and a 9.4% increase this year. Shares trade at about $68 [10]. - **American Express (AXP)**: Represents nearly 22% of outstanding shares, valued at $51.3 billion, with a share price of about $340 and a 15% increase in 2025 [12]. - **Chevron (CVX)**: An actively traded holding with a 4.5% yield, currently priced around $153 and up 6% this year [13]. - **Nucor (NUE)**: A steel manufacturer with a current share price of about $133, up almost 14% this year, with additional shares purchased this year for about $850 million [14]. Portfolio Cost - The total cost to purchase one share of each of the six selected stocks is approximately $995, leaving a small amount for incidental expenses [15].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported GAAP earnings per share of $1.04, an increase of $0.21 or 25.3% year over year and a $0.07 or 7.2% increase from the linked second quarter [12] - Operating earnings per share were $1.09, compared to $0.88 a year prior and $1.04 in the linked second quarter [12] - Total operating revenues reached a record $206.8 million, increasing by $7.6 million or 3.8% from the linked second quarter and $17.7 million or 9.4% from the prior year [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The pretax tangible returns for the quarter were 63% for insurance services, 62% for employee benefit services, 48% for wealth management services, and 25% for banking and corporate [9] - Operating noninterest revenues represented 38% of total operating revenues, reflecting revenue growth across all four business lines [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Ending loans increased by $231.1 million or 2.2% during the third quarter and increased by $498.6 million or 4.9% from one year prior [17] - Total deposits increased by $580.7 million or 4.3% from one year prior and $355.1 million or 2.6% from the linked second quarter [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on diversifying higher growth subscription-like revenue streams in insurance benefits and wealth management, while also pursuing strong funding and liquidity in attractive high-priority markets [8] - The company anticipates closing on the acquisition of seven Santander branches, which will accelerate its retail strategy in the banking services business [21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about continued earnings growth, supported by a diversified revenue profile, strong liquidity, and stable core deposit base [21] - The company remains constructive on growth, with the commercial pipeline at its highest level ever and expectations for strong performance in the mortgage pipeline [41] Other Important Information - The company did not hold any brokered or wholesale deposits during the quarter, maintaining a strong liquidity position with readily available sources totaling $6.2 billion [18] - The effective tax rate for the third quarter was 24.7%, up from 23% in the prior year's third quarter [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Regarding the minority investment in TALIP - Management indicated that the investment is seen as a first step towards a potentially larger investment in the future, with a financial impact expected to be roughly neutral for 2026 [26][27] Question: On deposit costs and legacy footprint - Management noted no dramatic difference in deposit costs between legacy and new markets, with expectations for overall deposit costs to trend down [28][30] Question: On loan growth and competition - Management remains optimistic about loan growth, with the commercial pipeline at its highest level and expectations for continued market share gains [41][43] Question: On margin outlook with Santander deposits - Management expects blended margins to remain in the 3% to 5% range, with cost of funds remaining low and potential for margin expansion with the Santander acquisition [45][47] Question: On the investment portfolio yields - Management explained that yields in the investment portfolio have been affected by timing of dividends and that they do not expect to make significant purchases in the near term [57][59]

Core Insights - Several markets, including Austria, the UK, Portugal, Norway, and Singapore, are currently undervalued, trading at steep discounts compared to global peers, driven by narratives that overshadow fundamental analysis [1][2][12] Austria - Austria is characterized as a small, cyclical market with a concentration in banks, energy, and industrials, often sold off during negative European headlines, leading to modest earnings multiples and strong dividend yields [3][4] - Raiffeisen Bank International exemplifies this opportunity, offering a 6% yield and trading at a discount to tangible book value, with potential for re-rating if geopolitical tensions ease [4] United Kingdom - The UK market is marked by neglect and a structural discount, trading at a significant valuation gap to the U.S. while offering higher dividend yields [5][6] - Domino's Pizza Group serves as a case study, with stable cash flow, ongoing share buybacks, and a dividend yield of around 2.5%, yet still valued lower than U.S. counterparts [6] Portugal - Portugal's market is often overlooked due to its smaller size, focusing on utilities and energy, which provide steady earnings and respectable dividends despite being labeled as low growth [7][8] - Energias de Portugal SA represents this narrative, with a 4.1% yield and growth driven by grid modernization and renewable energy expansion [8] Norway - Norway's market is heavily influenced by energy but also benefits from strong operators and a robust sovereign wealth fund, providing high free cash flow yields [9][10] - MPC Container Ships ASA fits this profile, offering a near 9% yield and generating high free cash flow through long-term contracts [10] Singapore - Singapore's market is driven by its dominant banks and a strong REIT ecosystem, providing stable income and compounding book value despite being perceived as mature [11][12] - The Singapore Exchange ADR exemplifies this, with a dividend yield of about 3.5% and a focus on expanding trading and derivatives markets [11] Common Thread - The five markets share characteristics of strong cash generation, solid balance sheets, and have been undervalued by global investors, presenting substantial future return opportunities [12][13] Global Value Perspective - The valuation gap between the U.S. and other global markets has reached historical extremes, allowing investors to acquire solid, dividend-paying businesses in Europe and Asia at half the multiples of U.S. counterparts [14][15] - As global capital costs normalize, markets that offer yield, cash flow, and tangible value are expected to lead the next investment cycle [16]