​Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) is one of the Cheap NASDAQ Stocks to Buy Now. On December 3, Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) reached a major milestone in the Southeast expansion strategy by announcing the opening of its 200th financial center in Florida and 100th center in the Carolinas. ​The new openings reflect the bank’s execution of its commitment to expanding in high-growth markets. Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) has accelerated its expansion during the year and now has more than 1,100 bankin ...

Core Insights - StoneCo Ltd. is expected to report third-quarter 2025 results on November 6, with anticipated year-over-year increases in revenues and earnings per share (EPS) [1][8] Financial Performance - In the previous quarter, StoneCo reported an EPS of 39 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 36 cents, with total revenue and income showing year-over-year growth [2] - The total Payments Active Client base reached 4.6 million, reflecting a 5.1% sequential growth [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is projected at $700.7 million, indicating a 15.7% increase from the same period last year [7] - The EPS estimate has been revised upward by 2 cents to 43 cents, suggesting a 22.9% increase from the prior-year quarter [7] Growth Drivers - StoneCo's performance is likely to benefit from strong momentum in its financial services and software business sectors [3] - The MSMB (Micro, Small and Medium-sized Businesses) segment is expected to be a key growth driver, with growth in Total Payment Volume and higher take rates [4] - Enhancements in banking solutions for small and medium-sized businesses are anticipated to contribute positively to banking revenues [5] - The credit offering through merchants and credit cards has shown significant growth, with low non-performing loan ratios and plans for expansion [5] Operational Efficiency - The company's focus on cost management is likely to enhance profitability and operational efficiency, driving significant operating leverage [6] - However, increased competition from banks serving Small and Medium Enterprises may pose challenges [6] Earnings Prediction - The model predicts a positive surprise in EPS for StoneCo, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +7.81% and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [8][9]

Core Insights - Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP is investigating Fiserv, Inc. for potentially issuing misleading statements and failing to disclose material information to investors, which may violate federal securities laws [1][3] Financial Performance - Fiserv reported third-quarter earnings for 2025, with adjusted earnings of $2.04 per share, missing analysts' expectations of $2.64 per share [3] - The company revised its 2025 adjusted earnings forecast to a range of $8.50 to $8.60 per share, down from the previous forecast of $10.15 to $10.30 per share made in July 2025 [3] - Following the earnings report, Fiserv's share price dropped approximately 47%, falling from $126.17 to as low as $66.58 per share on October 29, 2025, amid heavy trading volume [3] Company Overview - Fiserv is a global fintech and payments company that provides solutions for banking, global commerce, merchant acquiring, billing and payments, and point-of-sale [2]

Core Insights - NDBT reported net earnings of $2,153,174 or $0.84 per share for the three months ending September 30, 2025, and net earnings of $5,563,832 or $2.17 per share for the nine months ending September 30, 2025 [1][5]. Financial Performance - Interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $21,679,467, an increase from $19,690,721 in 2024, while for the nine months, it rose to $62,497,724 from $57,809,406 [5]. - Interest expense decreased to $10,511,837 for the three months in 2025 from $11,417,563 in 2024, and for the nine months, it fell to $31,538,242 from $32,759,175 [5]. - Net interest income increased significantly to $11,167,630 for the three months in 2025 from $8,273,158 in 2024, and for the nine months, it rose to $30,959,482 from $25,050,231 [5]. - Noninterest income for the three months was $1,415,333, slightly down from $1,546,280 in 2024, while for the nine months, it increased to $4,555,246 from $4,384,215 [5]. - Noninterest expenses rose to $9,671,275 for the three months in 2025 from $9,302,724 in 2024, and for the nine months, they increased to $28,447,278 from $26,524,077 [5]. - Income before taxes and extraordinary items was $2,577,688 for the three months in 2025, up from $516,714 in 2024, and for the nine months, it increased to $6,627,450 from $2,470,369 [5]. - Total assets as of September 30, 2025, were $1,866,276,212, a slight decrease from $1,867,355,555 in 2024, while total loans increased to $1,281,642,359 from $1,211,656,001 [5]. - Deposits rose to $1,586,843,853 in 2025 from $1,543,618,454 in 2024, and stockholders' equity increased to $179,838,525 from $170,479,567 [5].

Core Insights - Northern Trust Corporation (NASDAQ:NTRS) is a prominent financial services firm specializing in wealth management, asset servicing, asset management, and banking solutions, competing with major players like State Street and BNY Mellon [1] - Truist Financial has set a price target of $139 for NTRS, indicating an 11.85% potential upside from its current trading price of $124.28 [1] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Northern Trust reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $2.29, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.26 and improving from $2.22 EPS in the same quarter last year [2] - The company's total revenues reached $2.02 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 2.8% [4][6] - Net income on a GAAP basis was $457.6 million, showing a slight 1.6% decrease from the prior-year quarter [3] Challenges and Market Position - Northern Trust faced a 4.6% rise in expenses and a nearly 19% decline in other non-interest income compared to the previous year [3] - Despite recent challenges, the company’s robust performance and growth potential position it as an attractive investment opportunity in the financial sector [5]

Core Viewpoint - Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) is expected to report strong earnings growth in its upcoming third-quarter results, with analysts projecting a profit increase of 13.3% year-over-year, reflecting the company's solid performance and historical earnings surprise record [2][5]. Financial Performance - NTRS is anticipated to deliver a profit of $2.13 per share for Q3, up from $1.96 per share in the same quarter last year, indicating a 13.3% increase [2]. - For the full fiscal year 2025, analysts expect an EPS of $8.55, representing an 11% growth from $7.70 in 2024, with further growth projected for fiscal 2026 to $9.32 per share, a 9% year-over-year increase [3]. - Despite a 26.4% year-over-year decline in topline revenue to $2 billion in Q2, the company exceeded market expectations, and its EPS increased by 12.1% year-over-year to $2.13, surpassing consensus estimates by 2.4% [5]. Stock Performance - NTRS stock has appreciated by 50.7% over the past 52 weeks, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 17.6% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's 18.2% gains during the same period [4]. - Following the release of Q2 results, the stock experienced a decline of 1.8%, despite reporting better-than-expected financials [5]. Analyst Sentiment - The consensus rating for NTRS is "Hold," with 16 analysts providing varied opinions: two "Strong Buys," one "Moderate Buy," nine "Holds," one "Moderate Sell," and three "Strong Sells" [6]. - The stock is currently trading above its mean price target of $132.46 [6].

Financial Performance - NDBT reported net earnings of $2,102,943 or $0.82 per share for the three months ending June 30, 2025, and net earnings of $3,410,659 or $1.33 per share for the six months ending June 30, 2025 [1] - Interest income for the three months was $20,840,077, an increase from $19,396,299 in the same period of 2024, while for six months it rose to $40,818,257 from $38,118,686 [4] - Net interest income increased to $10,329,600 for the three months and $19,791,852 for the six months, compared to $8,510,650 and $16,777,074 in 2024 respectively [4] - Noninterest income for the three months was $1,608,863, up from $1,409,222 in 2024, and for six months it increased to $3,139,913 from $2,837,935 [4] - Total assets as of June 30, 2025, were $1,875,281,283, compared to $1,804,015,338 in 2024 [4] Balance Sheet Highlights - Total loans increased to $1,273,740,979 as of June 30, 2025, from $1,218,113,548 in 2024 [4] - Deposits rose to $1,588,704,625 in 2025, compared to $1,485,693,496 in 2024 [4] - Stockholders' equity increased to $176,582,960 in 2025 from $166,632,291 in 2024 [4] Company Overview - NDBT, established in 1961, operates as an independent community bank with five banking centers located in Dallas, Addison, Frisco, Las Colinas, and Plano [3] - The bank focuses on providing authentic banking solutions, wealth management, and innovative online banking tools [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2024, adjusted net income reached BRL2.2 billion, exceeding guidance of BRL1.9 billion, despite macroeconomic headwinds and over BRL100 million in negative impacts from accounting changes [15][18] - Adjusted net margin was 18.4% in Q4 2024, up 1 percentage point year-over-year [18] - Total revenues for Q4 2024 increased by 11% year-over-year, driven by active client base growth and higher monetization [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - MSMB card TPV reached BRL403 billion in 2024, a 15% year-over-year growth, while total MSMB TPV reached BRL454 billion, a 22% increase [10] - The MSMB take rate was 2.55% in 2024, exceeding guidance of 2.49% [13] - The credit portfolio grew to BRL1.2 billion, significantly above the BRL800 million target, with non-performing loans over 90 days at a controlled 3.61% [13][34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail deposits closed 2024 at BRL8.7 billion, surpassing guidance of BRL7 billion, reflecting strong performance in bundled payments and banking offerings [11] - The banking active client base increased by 46% year-over-year to 3.1 million clients [28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to establish Stone accounts as the primary financial hub for clients, focusing on enhancing the value proposition with a comprehensive product ecosystem [11][12] - The strategy includes a shift towards using deposits to fund operations, which is expected to reduce funding costs and improve capital structure [30][31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continuing to outpace market growth and expanding share in the MSMB payments market [10] - The company remains focused on delivering sustainable long-term value creation despite potential macroeconomic challenges [65] Other Important Information - The company introduced gross profit as a key performance measure, which reached BRL1.7 billion in Q4 2024, growing 13% year-over-year [21] - A goodwill impairment charge of BRL3.6 billion was recognized for the software cash-generating units, which is a non-cash accounting adjustment [42] Q&A Session Summary Question: Performance of banking solutions and room for improvement - Management highlighted that deposit growth is outpacing TPV due to successful bundling of payments and banking solutions, with ongoing development of new products [68][70] Question: View on dividends given excess capital - Management indicated that while they have returned over BRL2 billion in share buybacks, they are not committing to specific targets for capital allocation at this time [76][78] Question: Details on price increases and guidance on EPS - Management confirmed that a substantial repricing initiative was executed at the beginning of Q1 2025, with adjustments based on yield curve projections [89][92] - The decision to guide basic EPS instead of diluted EPS was made to avoid volatility and complexity in calculations [94][96] Question: Potential sale of the Software business - Management stated that no offers met their intrinsic value for the software assets, and they will focus on maximizing value through cross-selling financial services [112][114]