Key Points SoFi Technologies and Interactive Brokers have delivered substantial returns to investors in recent years. SoFi is expanding its financial services platform and continues to see its customer base grow rapidly. Interactive Brokers offers a global brokerage platform with efficiency and low costs, making it especially appealing to high-volume traders. 10 stocks we like better than SoFi Technologies › SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI) and Interactive Brokers Group (NASDAQ: IBKR) are two gro ...

Renasant (NYSE:RNST – Get Free Report) is one of 20 publicly-traded companies in the “State Commercial Banks – Fed Reserve System” industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare Renasant to related companies based on the strength of its institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation, dividends and risk. Get Renasant alerts: Valuation and EarningsThis table compares Renasant and its rivals revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.Gross RevenueN ...

Core Insights - Columbia Banking System is experiencing a strategic shift with a focus on capital accumulation, margin expansion, and significant share buybacks despite slowing headline profits [1][12] Company Overview - Columbia Banking System operates as a regional financial institution with a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and California, offering a diversified banking model that includes both lending and non-interest income streams [6][9] - The company has recently completed a transformative acquisition, increasing total assets to approximately $67.5 billion and achieving a net interest margin of 3.84%, up from 3.56% a year earlier [10] Financial Performance - For the trailing twelve months (TTM), Columbia Banking System reported revenue of $2.07 billion and net income of $478.68 million, with a dividend yield of 5% [4] - The company’s GAAP EPS fell to $0.40 from $0.73 in the prior quarter due to merger and restructuring costs, but the operating EPS was reported at $0.85, indicating strong normalized earnings power [11] Investment Activity - HoldCo Asset Management increased its stake in Columbia Banking System by purchasing 1.24 million shares valued at $31.48 million, bringing its total holdings to 5.72 million shares worth $147.30 million as of September 30 [2][3] - Columbia Banking System now represents 15.55% of HoldCo's $947.56 million assets under management (AUM) [3] Strategic Initiatives - The management has authorized a $700 million share repurchase program through late 2026, reflecting confidence in the bank's ability to generate excess capital even after a major acquisition [12] - The bank's core deposit growth increased by approximately $14 billion quarter over quarter, reaching $55.8 billion, largely attributed to the recent acquisition [10]

FinTech company Mercury has applied for a national bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and for federal deposit insurance with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMN ...

Core Insights - Fintech is significantly enhancing financial access for underserved populations in emerging markets, presenting substantial growth opportunities as AI technology evolves [1][2] Group 1: SoFi Technologies - SoFi Technologies has transitioned from a student loan refinancer to a comprehensive digital bank, offering various financial products, which increases customer lifetime value [3][4] - As of Q3 2025, SoFi's member base reached over 12.6 million, with total products exceeding 18.6 million, marking a 35% year-over-year increase in members and a 36% increase in products [4] - SoFi was granted a national bank charter in 2022, allowing it to utilize low-cost member deposits for lending, providing a competitive edge over fintechs reliant on third-party funding [6] - Shares of SoFi have risen approximately 60% over the past year, reflecting investor enthusiasm for its financial performance and market potential [7] Group 2: American Express - American Express targets higher-income consumers, benefiting from loyalty and high retention rates, which allows for annual fee increases while maintaining profitability [8] - Unlike Visa and Mastercard, American Express operates as both card issuer and payment processor, generating revenue from merchant fees and interest payments, providing income stability [9] - In Q3, American Express reported a 16% year-over-year profit increase to $2.9 billion, with total revenue growing 11% to $18.4 billion, driven by a 9% increase in card member spending [11] - The company has a strong balance sheet and a history of returning capital to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, maintaining dividend payments even during economic downturns [12]

Core Insights - Revolut Ltd. achieved a valuation of $75 billion in its latest share sale, significantly up from $45 billion last year, indicating strong investor interest and confidence in the company's business model [1][2] - The funding round was led by prominent investors including Coatue, Greenoaks, Dragoneer, and Fidelity Management & Research Company, with participation from Nvidia's venture capital arm, Andreessen Horowitz, Franklin Templeton, and T. Rowe Price [1][2] - Revolut is now recognized as Europe's most valuable startup, having allowed employees to sell shares for the fifth time, reflecting a commitment to employee engagement and liquidity [2] Business Model and Growth Strategy - Revolut operates as a digital bank offering a range of services including checking and savings accounts, international money transfers, cryptocurrency and stock trading, as well as budgeting tools [3] - The company plans to invest $13 billion to expand its customer base to 100 million globally, up from approximately 65 million currently [3] - Revolut is preparing to enter 30 new markets and is focused on obtaining regulatory authorizations, alongside efforts to secure a full banking license in the UK [4] Fundraising Details - Although the exact amount raised in the share sale was not disclosed, it was reported that the company aimed to raise about $3 billion through a combination of primary and secondary funding [5]

Core Viewpoint - Independent Bank is positioned as a more favorable investment compared to Peoples Bancorp based on various financial metrics and analyst recommendations [11] Profitability - Independent Bank has a net margin of 21.25%, return on equity of 14.76%, and return on assets of 1.28% - Peoples Bancorp has a net margin of 16.57%, return on equity of 9.45%, and return on assets of 1.15% [2] Institutional and Insider Ownership - 79.4% of Independent Bank shares are owned by institutional investors, while 60.7% of Peoples Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors - Company insiders own 5.7% of Independent Bank shares compared to 3.4% for Peoples Bancorp [3] Valuation and Earnings - Independent Bank's gross revenue is $222.04 million with a price/sales ratio of 2.93, net income of $66.79 million, earnings per share (EPS) of $3.26, and a price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.65 - Peoples Bancorp has gross revenue of $447.86 million with a price/sales ratio of 2.34, net income of $117.21 million, EPS of $2.86, and a P/E ratio of 10.28 - Independent Bank is trading at a lower P/E ratio, indicating it is more affordable [5][6] Analyst Recommendations - Independent Bank has a consensus target price of $36.00, suggesting a potential upside of 14.43%, while Peoples Bancorp has a target price of $33.13 with a potential upside of 12.63% - Analysts rate Independent Bank more favorably due to its higher potential upside [8] Dividends - Independent Bank pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share with a dividend yield of 3.3%, distributing 31.9% of its earnings as dividends - Peoples Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $1.64 per share with a dividend yield of 5.6%, distributing 57.3% of its earnings as dividends - Both companies have a history of increasing dividends, with Independent Bank increasing for 11 consecutive years and Peoples Bancorp for 10 consecutive years [9] Volatility & Risk - Independent Bank has a beta of 0.86, indicating it is 14% less volatile than the S&P 500 - Peoples Bancorp has a beta of 0.7, indicating it is 30% less volatile than the S&P 500 [10]

Core Insights - UBS has applied for a banking license in the US to expand its wealth management services, indicating a strategic move to enhance its market presence [1][2] - The acquisition of this license would allow UBS to offer services comparable to other US banks, including checking and savings accounts and mortgage products, with expectations of regulatory approval by 2026 [2][3] - The application is part of a long-term strategy to solidify UBS's status as a premier global wealth manager in the US, with a phased approach to developing and launching new services [3][4] Company Strategy - UBS aims to enhance its product offerings to leverage its capabilities fully, as stated by CEO Sergio Ermotti [4] - The bank has outlined a multi-year plan for service and product development, indicating a commitment to future growth [3][4] - Recent changes to the executive board, effective from 2026, reflect UBS's ongoing strategic adjustments [4]

Core Insights - Revolut is finalizing a $3 billion fundraising round, which will value the company at $75 billion, solidifying its position as the most valuable startup in Europe [1][3] - The fundraising was conducted independently by Revolut, without the assistance of its usual banking partners, and is expected to facilitate entry into numerous new markets [2][3] - The previous funding round valued Revolut at $45 billion, indicating significant growth in valuation over the past year [4] Company Expansion - Revolut has been expanding its offerings globally, including the introduction of a high-yield savings account in the U.S. [4] - The company is considering acquiring a U.S. bank or applying for its own banking license to enhance its operations in the U.S. market [5] - The U.S. market is seen as a fertile ground for expansion, particularly with the growing financial influence of Gen Z, who are increasingly inclined towards digital banking solutions [6][7] Technological Advancements - Recently, Revolut announced the acquisition of Swifty, a startup that provides AI-powered travel agent services, which will be integrated into Revolut's loyalty program [8]

Group 1 - Citigroup Inc. is recognized as one of the 12 best dividend-paying stocks to buy currently, highlighting its attractiveness to income-focused investors [1] - The company operates in traditional banking services, including checking and savings accounts, mortgages, and business loans, facing intense competition from both local and national banks [2] - Citigroup is a highly diversified institution, also engaging in capital markets, investment banking, and wealth management, making it a reasonable option for investors seeking exposure to large financial institutions [3] Group 2 - Citigroup has a strong track record of dividend distribution, having paid dividends regularly for the past 34 years, with a current quarterly dividend of $0.60 per share and a dividend yield of 2.34% as of September 19 [4]