LHV Group’s results for January 2026 were characterised by higher profitability and growth in business volumes. The consolidated loan portfolio of LHV Group increased by EUR 51 million over the month, reaching EUR 5.52 billion. Total deposits decreased by EUR 214 million to EUR 7.92 billion. The volume of funds managed by LHV increased by EUR 13 million to EUR 1.72 billion. In January, 8.7 million payments related to financial intermediaries were processed. AS LHV Group earned a consolidated net profit of E ...

Core Viewpoint - SouthState Bank Corporation (SSB) is recognized as one of the top bank stocks to consider for investment in 2026, with a positive outlook from UBS following strong Q4 2025 results [1][2]. Financial Performance - SSB reported a significant net income growth of 71.8% year-over-year (YoY) in Q4 2025, reaching $247.7 million, up from $144.2 million [3]. - Diluted earnings per share increased by 31.6% YoY to $2.46, compared to $1.87 in the previous year [3]. - Return on average assets improved by 24 basis points YoY to 1.47%, while return on common equity rose by 178 basis points YoY to 10.90% [3]. Revenue Drivers - The strong earnings growth was primarily fueled by a 57.2% YoY increase in net interest income (NII), totaling $581.1 million, up from $369.8 million [4]. - Net interest margin (NIM) expanded by 38 basis points YoY to 3.86%, with average earning asset yields improving by 46 basis points YoY to 5.62% [4]. Asset Growth - Earning assets grew by 41.5% YoY to $59.9 billion, with a notable 43.0% expansion in the loan book, increasing from $33.8 billion to $48.4 billion [5]. - This growth in earning assets was primarily funded by a $17.1 billion YoY increase in deposits, rising from $38.1 billion to $55.1 billion [5]. Asset Quality - Asset quality remained stable, with a slight increase in the net charge-off ratio to 0.09% YoY, while the allowance for credit loss percentage improved to 1.20% [6]. - Provisions for credit losses grew modestly by 3.6% YoY to $6.6 million [6]. Shareholder Actions - The board of directors approved a new stock purchase plan, allowing the repurchase of 5.56 million common shares, approximately 5.6% of the company's weighted average common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2025 [7].

A robust pick-up in credit and deposits in the last fortnight of January indicates that the Indian economy is gathering steam, shrugging off headwinds arising from higher US tariffs, global trade fragmentation and geopolitical tension.Credits and deposits of all scheduled banks jumped ₹3,40,934 crore and ₹3,80,346 crore, respectively, in the fortnight ended January 31, 2026, reversing the decline on both fronts in the preceding fortnight, per the latest RBI data.Credit as well as deposits of all scheduled b ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong income growth of 12%, with total income reaching GBP 16.4 billion, exceeding guidance of around GBP 16.3 billion [4] - Earnings per share grew 27% to GBP 0.68, and dividends per share increased 51% to GBP 0.325 [3] - The cost-income ratio improved to 48.6%, down 4.8 percentage points from the previous year [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Customer loans increased by 5.6% to GBP 392.7 billion, driven by growth in mortgages and unsecured lending [6] - Customer deposits rose by 2.4% to GBP 442 billion, with retail banking deposits increasing by 4% [8] - Assets under management (AUM) grew by nearly 20% to GBP 58.5 billion, with net flows up 44% [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company added 1 million new customers during the year, indicating broad-based growth across its three business lines [2] - The net interest margin increased by 21 basis points to 234 basis points, primarily due to deposit growth and margin expansion [4] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to grow customer assets and liabilities at an annual rate greater than 4% from 2025 to 2028, while reducing the cost-income ratio to below 45% [34] - There is a focus on leveraging simplification and investing in AI to drive growth and improve customer experience [34] - The company plans to manage its balance sheet and risk effectively, with an emphasis on dynamic pricing and advanced data analytics [34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expects moderate growth in the macro environment for 2026, with unemployment peaking at levels comfortable for lending risk appetite [11] - The guidance for loan impairment rates is set to be below 25 basis points, reflecting a normalization in impairments and growth in the loan book [75] - The company remains confident in its ability to generate capital and maintain a strong capital position, with a CET1 ratio of 14% [17] Other Important Information - The company successfully completed its 2025 funding plan with GBP 7.1 billion in benchmark issuance [16] - Credit ratings improved, with Fitch upgrading all rated entities and S&P raising the rating of NatWest Group PLC to A-minus [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: How do you think about risk appetite and quantum of RWAs that can be optimized? - Management highlighted the execution of SRT transactions and the potential for further transactions in 2026 and 2027 to optimize capital and risk profile [37][38] Question: How do you set the leverage buffer target in relation to the capital target or the RWA framework? - Management indicated that risk weights are expected to be the binding constraint moving forward, rather than leverage [51] Question: What is driving the higher impairment change guidance to 25 basis points? - Management explained that the guidance reflects a normalization in impairments and growth in the loan book, particularly in unsecured lending [75]

Bread Financial Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Bread Financial (NYSE: BFH) - **Industry**: Consumer finance and payments, focusing on private label card issuance, co-brand cards, proprietary cards, and buy now, pay later loans [1] Key Points and Arguments Financial Performance - **January Results**: Positive trends in January with flat loan growth and improved loss and delinquency rates. February is expected to see a seasonal increase in activity, approaching 8% [2] - **Expense Management**: Non-interest expenses were $500 million in Q4, expected to decrease slightly in Q1. Adjusted expenses exclude one-time charges from previous years [3] - **Loan Growth Outlook**: Anticipated low single-digit growth for the year, supported by new partnerships and improved credit quality [18] Customer Insights - **Customer Demographics**: Bread Financial primarily serves middle-income consumers with an average income of $94,000. The customer base is resilient despite economic challenges, adjusting spending habits due to inflation [9][10] - **Spending Behavior**: Consumers are making more budget-conscious choices, opting for lower-cost options while maintaining financial stability [10] Product Diversity and Partnerships - **Product Expansion**: Bread Financial has diversified its offerings beyond private label credit cards to include co-brand products, direct-to-consumer products, and buy now, pay later options [12][14] - **Partner Relationships**: The expanded product set enhances partnerships by providing more options for consumers, increasing revenue opportunities for partners [16] Market Dynamics and Competitive Landscape - **Pipeline and Competition**: The company has a robust pipeline for new partnerships, with opportunities in both de novo programs and existing partner renewals. Competition remains intense, but Bread Financial is well-positioned to leverage its expertise [39][41] - **Vertical Expertise**: Strong performance in verticals such as beauty, jewelry, and technology, with a focus on expanding into digital and home improvement sectors [43][44] Financial Strategy and Outlook - **Funding Strategy**: Significant progress made in refinancing debt, with a goal to increase direct-to-consumer deposits to 50% of total funding. The company aims to maintain a stable funding structure while exploring opportunities for preferred stock issuance [45][46] - **NIM Guidance**: Net interest margin (NIM) is expected to remain flat to slightly up, influenced by pricing changes and improvements in credit quality [49] Risks and Opportunities - **Macro Risks**: Potential impacts from tax refunds on consumer behavior and loan performance. The company is cautious in its guidance, accounting for various macroeconomic factors [24][25] - **Technology Transformation**: Ongoing tech transformation efforts, including migration to cloud services and AI integration, are seen as critical for future growth [53][58] Future Initiatives - **Focus Areas for 2026**: Emphasis on responsible growth, managing expenses, and leveraging technology to enhance customer service and underwriting processes [65][67] Additional Important Insights - **Consumer Behavior with Windfall Gains**: The use of tax refunds varies among consumers, with some opting to save, spend, or pay down debt, reflecting diverse financial strategies [27] - **AI Strategy**: Bread Financial is adopting a thoughtful approach to AI, focusing on governance, use cases, and ensuring returns on investments in technology [57][59] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during the conference call, highlighting Bread Financial's performance, market positioning, and future outlook.

February 10, 2026 © Fifth Third Bancorp | All Rights Reserved Top performing regional bank with local scale and national reach Assets $294 billion Ranked 9th in the U.S.1 Loans $173 billion Ranked 8th in the U.S.1 Deposits $237 billion Ranked 9th in the U.S.1 BofA Securities Financial Services Conference 2 A simple, diversified business portfolio | Commercial | Banking | | Consumer & Small Business Banking | | Wealth & Asset Management | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Loans | Deposits | Loans | Dep ...

Core Viewpoint - State Bank of India (SBI) reported a strong third-quarter net profit of ₹21,030 crore, exceeding estimates by 18%, driven by higher fee income and lower provisions, leading to bullish price targets from various brokerages, with some reaching as high as ₹1,300 [1][10]. Financial Performance - Net interest income increased by 9% year-on-year and 5% quarter-on-quarter to ₹45,190 crore, aligning with estimates [6][11]. - The net interest margin improved to 2.99%, with domestic margins rising to 3.12%, and the bank anticipates margins above 3% in fiscal 2026 and beyond [6][11]. - The loan book grew by 15.6% year-on-year and 6.1% quarter-on-quarter, while deposits increased by 9% and 2%, respectively [9][11]. Brokerage Ratings and Price Targets - Jefferies maintained a Buy rating with a price target of ₹1,300, up from ₹1,190, citing a 1.5x valuation on adjusted book value for March 2028 and projecting a 12% compound annual growth in core profit over fiscal 2026-28 [2][10]. - Motilal Oswal matched the ₹1,300 target, valuing the bank at 1.4 times fiscal 2028 adjusted book value plus ₹354 for subsidiaries, while raising earnings estimates by 3% and 4.3% for fiscal 2027-28 [3][10]. - Nomura raised its target price to ₹1,235 from ₹1,100, reflecting an improved return on equity outlook [7][11]. - JP Morgan maintained an Overweight rating and increased its price target to ₹1,250, revising fiscal 2026 earnings estimates by 7% [7][8][11]. - BofA Securities adopted a more cautious stance, maintaining a Neutral rating with a new price objective of ₹1,100, citing balanced risk-reward at current valuations [9][11]. Asset Quality and Capital Adequacy - The bank's asset quality showed improvement, with slippages moderating and credit costs remaining low at 29 basis points [3][11]. - The CET-1 capital adequacy ratio stood at 11%, indicating a healthy capital position [2][10].

Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) is one of the best affordable long term stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On February 3, Bank of America Corporation’s (NYSE: BAC) Board declared a $0.28 per share for Q1 2026. This matches the amount paid in the previous quarters since July 2024, when management raised the quarterly dividend from $0.24. Bank of America (BAC) Maintains Dividend Amid Strong Earnings and Moderate Outlook Pixabay/Public Domain Meanwhile, on January 15, TD Cowen lowered its price ...

Core Insights - State Bank of India (SBI) reported a 24% year-on-year increase in net profit for the quarter ended December, amounting to ₹21,028 crore, driven by stable growth in core income [1] Financial Performance - Net interest income (NII) increased by 9% year-on-year to ₹45,190 crore, with a net interest margin of 2.99%, which is up 2 basis points quarter-on-quarter but down 2 basis points year-on-year [2] - Other income decreased by 8% year-on-year to ₹18,359 crore, primarily due to a one-time gain of ₹4,593 crore from a partial stake sale in YES Bank in Q2FY25 [2] - Gross advances grew by 15% year-on-year to ₹46.83 lakh crore in Q3, while deposits rose by 9% year-on-year to ₹57.01 lakh crore [2]

Brokerages remain divided on the extent of net profit moderation. While Emkay Research remains most optimistic among its peers, pegging the decline at 4%, Nuvama Institutional Equities, YES Securities and Elara Capital see a double-digit decline. The bottom line range is 17,190 crore to Rs 19,430 crore, the estimates revealed.The lender is expected to see a sequential growth of 2.7%-4% in Q3 at Rs 44,162 crore to Rs 44,599 crore. India's largest lender will announce its October-December quarter earnings on ...