Core Insights - HoldCo Asset Management has established a new position in Comerica, acquiring 2.29 million shares valued at $156.94 million, making it the largest holding in the fund's portfolio [2][6] - Comerica's shares have increased by 41% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which rose by about 16% during the same period [3][8] - The new position in Comerica accounts for 16.56% of HoldCo's 13F assets under management [3][6] Company Overview - Comerica is a leading regional financial institution with a diversified business model that includes commercial banking, retail banking, and wealth management [5][7] - The company serves a wide range of clients, including small and middle-market businesses, multinational corporations, government entities, and individual consumers [7] - As of the latest report, Comerica's market capitalization is $11.11 billion, with a revenue of $3.34 billion and a net income of $717 million for the trailing twelve months [4] Financial Performance - In the latest quarter, Comerica reported a net income of $176 million, or $1.35 per share, which is a decrease from $184 million a year ago [9] - The bank's net interest income remained stable at $574 million, with average deposits rising to $62.7 billion [9] - Comerica's common equity tier 1 ratio is at 11.9%, exceeding management's long-term target, and the bank executed $150 million in share repurchases during the quarter [9] Market Position - Comerica's performance is notable within the regional banking sector, as the S&P Regional Banks Select Industry Index is up about 9% over the past year, still 18% below 2022 highs [8] - The fund's top holdings are concentrated around regional banks, indicating a strategic overweight in this sector rather than a one-off investment in Comerica [10]

Core Viewpoint - Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) is a significant player in the financial services sector, competing with major institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America [1] Group 1: Stock Performance and Price Target - Brian Foran from Truist Financial set a price target of $55 for FITB, indicating a potential increase of about 14.35% from the current stock price of $48.10 [2][6] - The current stock price is $48.12, reflecting a slight increase of 0.60% or $0.29, with trading occurring between $47.68 and $48.19 on the day [2] - FITB's market capitalization is approximately $31.81 billion, with a trading volume of 329,858 shares on the NASDAQ exchange [5][6] Group 2: Investor Sentiment and Stake Changes - Texas Permanent School Fund Corp reduced its stake in FITB by 36.4%, selling 29,159 shares and leaving them with 50,983 shares valued at around $2.1 million [3][6] - Activest Wealth Management increased its holdings in FITB by over 1,000%, now owning 686 shares valued at $28,000, indicating varied investor sentiment [4][6] - Other firms, such as Evolution Wealth Management Inc. and Banque Transatlantique SA, have initiated new positions in FITB, valued at approximately $26,000 and $27,000, respectively [3]

Core Insights - Both OppFi Inc. (OPFI) and Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU) are fintech companies focusing on consumer lending for underserved populations and emerging credit markets [1] Group 1: OppFi Inc. (OPFI) - OPFI reported Q3 2025 revenues of $155.1 million, reflecting a 13.5% year-over-year growth driven by a 12.5% increase in net originations and a 79% auto approval rate [2][3] - Adjusted net income for OPFI improved by 41.4% year-over-year to $40.7 million, supported by strong revenue growth and disciplined expense management [3] - Management raised 2025 revenue guidance to $590-$605 million and adjusted EPS expectations to $1.54-$1.60, indicating strong demand and operational enhancements [4] - OPFI's forward earnings multiple is 5.68 times, lower than its 12-month median of 6.91 times, making it more attractive to value investors [13] Group 2: Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU) - NU achieved a 39% year-over-year revenue growth in Q3 2025, adding 4.3 million new customers, bringing the total to 110.1 million across Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia [5][6] - Gross profit for NU reached $1.8 billion, a 32% increase year-over-year, with a margin expansion to 43.5% [6] - NU's deposits grew by 37.1% year-over-year to $38.8 billion, and its loan portfolio increased by 42% to $30.4 billion, indicating strong asset quality [7] - NU's forward earnings multiple stands at 20.76 times, slightly above its median of 20.71, suggesting a higher valuation compared to OPFI [13] Group 3: Comparative Analysis - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OPFI's 2025 sales indicates a year-over-year growth of 13.6%, while NU's estimates show a 35.9% increase [9][11] - OPFI's Zacks Rank is 1 (Strong Buy), while NU carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a stronger investment appeal for OPFI [17] - Both companies are positioned as compelling fintech players, but OPFI is considered to offer better upside potential due to its lower valuation compared to NU [16]

Core Insights - Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) is valued at a market cap of $30.1 billion and offers a diverse range of financial services [1] - The company is expected to announce its fiscal Q3 earnings for 2025 on October 17, with analysts predicting a profit of $0.90 per share, a 5.9% increase from the previous year [2] - FITB has consistently exceeded Wall Street's earnings estimates in the last four quarters, with an EPS of $0.88 reported in Q2 [2] Financial Performance - For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast FITB to report a profit of $3.51 per share, a 4.2% increase from $3.37 in fiscal 2024, with further growth expected to $4.02 in fiscal 2026 [3] - In Q2, FITB's adjusted revenue increased by 6.3% year-over-year to $2.3 billion, and the adjusted efficiency ratio improved by 130 basis points to 55.5% [5] - However, the provision for credit losses rose by 78.4% annually to $173 million, and nonperforming loans surged 37.8% from the prior year, indicating potential credit quality concerns [5] Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - FITB shares have gained 5.9% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 15.6% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's 19.6% [4] - Analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating on FITB, with 14 out of 25 recommending "Strong Buy," one "Moderate Buy," and 10 suggesting "Hold" [6] - The mean price target for FITB is $48.86, suggesting a 7.6% potential upside from current levels [6]

Group 1 - Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) is highlighted as a relatively cheap stock within the S&P 500, with a projected earnings growth of nearly 14% next year and a valuation of approximately 11 times next year's earnings [1][2] - The company recently merged with Discover, which is expected to enhance its profitability, particularly in the credit card sector, with low default rates reported [2] - The overall financial health of households is noted to be stable, contributing to the positive outlook for Capital One [2] Group 2 - Capital One provides a range of banking and financial services, including credit cards, deposits, consumer lending, and commercial real estate financing, as well as digital banking and treasury management solutions [2]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q2 2025, total revenue increased by 22% year over year to $764 million, with originations rising 28% to $1.8 billion [9][20][28] - Adjusted EPS grew by 48% year over year to $3.23 per diluted share, reflecting efficient marketing and lower cost of funds [10][28] - The consolidated net charge-off ratio improved to 8.1%, down from 8.6% in the previous quarter and 7.7% a year ago [10][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Small business revenue increased by 30% year over year to a record $326 million, with originations reaching $1.2 billion, marking a 35% year-over-year growth [9][20][21] - Consumer revenue rose by 17% year over year to $428 million, with originations growing 15% to $564 million [20][21] - Small business products accounted for 65% of the loan portfolio, while consumer products made up 35% [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. economy added 147,000 jobs in June, with the unemployment rate falling to 4.1%, indicating resilience in the labor market [11] - Small businesses are increasingly optimistic, with over 90% expecting moderate to significant growth over the next year [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on sustainable and profitable growth through a diversified business model and advanced technology [17][19] - Leadership changes are part of a planned transition to ensure continued strategic direction and growth [5][6][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate economic fluctuations, citing strong credit quality and operational adjustments [12][39] - The company anticipates revenue growth of around 20% for the full year 2025, with adjusted EPS growth of approximately 30% [32] Other Important Information - The company has a strong liquidity position with $1.1 billion in liquidity, including $388 million in cash and marketable securities [28] - The marketing expense was 19% of total revenue, slightly below expectations, indicating efficient marketing strategies [10][26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the consumer portfolio's credit issues? - Management clarified that the elevated defaults were isolated to one of five consumer products and have since been addressed through tightened credit models [34][36][39] Question: What factors contributed to the strong small business performance? - Management noted that the small business segment has shown consistent strength, with stable credit and a favorable competitive environment [40][42] Question: How do macro trends affect originations and revenue growth? - Management emphasized the importance of balancing growth and risk, stating that while macro trends are positive, the company remains cautious in its approach [78][80] Question: How stable are the fair value marks in light of delinquency fluctuations? - Management indicated that fair value marks have remained stable, reflecting the overall stability of the credit outlook [98][100] Question: What is the sensitivity of the company's debt to interest rates? - Approximately 50% of the company's debt is floating rate, primarily sensitive to SOFR [102]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported GAAP earnings per share of $0.97, an increase of $0.06 or 6.6% year-over-year and up $0.04 or 4.3% from the previous quarter [10] - Operating earnings per share were $1.04, compared to $0.95 a year prior and $0.98 in the linked first quarter [10] - Total operating revenues reached $199.3 million, up $16.1 million or 8.8% year-over-year and up $3.3 million or 1.7% from the previous quarter [10][11] - Net interest income was $124.7 million, representing a $4.5 million or 3.8% increase from the previous quarter and a $15.3 million or 14% improvement year-over-year [11] - The company's operating margin increased to 23%, driving operating pretax earnings expansion of 70% year-to-date [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Employee Benefits Services business remained flat year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter, with recordkeeping growing at high single digits while Fiduciary Trust faced headwinds [5] - Wealth Management Services experienced muted revenue growth year-over-year but saw a 16% increase in pretax operating earnings [6] - Banking fee income remained strong, with credit results impacted by the resolution of two large nonperforming assets [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Ending loans increased by $98 million or 0.9% during the second quarter, primarily driven by growth in the consumer indirect lending portfolio [13] - Total deposits increased by $563.9 million or 4.3% year-over-year but decreased by $190.3 million or 1.4% from the previous quarter due to seasonal outflows [14] - The company's liquidity position remains strong, with readily available sources of liquidity totaling $5.9 billion, representing 246% of estimated uninsured deposits [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced a branch acquisition that will enhance its presence in a strategically important market, with no share issuance involved [8][19] - The acquisition aligns with the company's retail growth strategy and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year [7][19] - The company aims to continue deploying capital productively in the second half of the year [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that competition in lending has intensified, with competitors trying to regain market share [21] - The company expects to outperform peers and is optimistic about market share gains in the upcoming quarters [22] - Management expressed confidence in achieving growth targets, with a focus on maintaining a diversified revenue profile and strong liquidity [19] Other Important Information - The company recorded a provision for credit losses of $4.1 million during the second quarter, compared to $2.7 million in the prior year's second quarter [12] - Nonperforming loans totaled $53.3 million or 51 basis points of total loans outstanding, a decrease from the previous quarter [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you speak to the competitive landscape you're seeing in terms of lending? - Management acknowledged increased competition in the lending market, with competitors trying to make up for previous inactivity [21][22] Question: How are you feeling about the quarterly NIM expansion from here? - Management indicated expectations of a range closer to three to five basis points for NIM expansion [25] Question: Will the acquired deposits boost liquidity and be invested over time? - Management views the acquired deposits as a source for future loan growth, with initial proceeds likely to remain in short-term instruments [26] Question: Can you talk about OpEx trends from here? - Management expects OpEx to remain flat moving forward, with a focus on ensuring investments push the business forward [32][34] Question: How is the branch acquisition progressing? - Management confirmed that the acquisition is on track and complements the organic strategy in the market [35][36] Question: Can you provide an update on the pipeline and financial targets? - Management reiterated a target of mid-single-digit growth across lending portfolios, with expectations of returning to historical growth rates [42][45]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net income of $12 million and earnings per share of $0.50 for the quarter [5] - Net interest income grew by 7% to $51.4 million compared to the previous year [13] - The net interest margin on gross loans was 7.94%, up 10 basis points from the previous quarter [13] - The net book value per share increased to $16.36 from $16 in the prior quarter and $14.93 a year ago [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The consumer lending business originated $136 million in loans, maintaining a loan book of $2.4 billion [5] - Recreation loans originated totaled $86.8 million at an average rate of 16.06%, while home improvement loans were $48.8 million at an average rate of 11.5% [14] - The commercial lending division originated new and follow-on loans totaling $9.7 million [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported $2.6 million in cash collections from the taxi medallion business, consistent with the previous quarter [9] - The strategic partnership program achieved over $125 million in originations for the second consecutive quarter [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a methodical approach to growth, ensuring it continues to expand correctly [11] - The strategic partnership program is expected to diversify offerings, including loans for employee benefits and medical procedures [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the stability of cash collections from the taxi medallion business and identified recovery opportunities from charge-off loans [9] - The company anticipates continued gains from equity investments, although the timing of exits is unpredictable [8][27] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 60,000 shares and has nearly $15 million remaining under its share repurchase plan [11] - A 9% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.12 per share was approved by the Board [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Were there any nonrecurring expense items aside from those highlighted? - Management noted elevated professional fees, including $300,000 in technology costs and $600,000 related to the annual meeting [20] Question: Any update on the SEC matter? - Management believes the matter has been resolved, pending board approval and a judge's sign-off [22] Question: What flexibility exists in building reserves? - Management confirmed flexibility in determining allowances, using qualitative factors in Q1 [23] Question: Are there any anticipated capital gains from Medallion Capital for the rest of the year? - Management expects one or two more capital gains this year, though timing is uncertain [27] Question: What is the outlook on margins and total loan growth for the rest of the year? - Management anticipates margins to remain stable and expects loan growth of 5% to 7% for the year [49][50]