Core Insights - Virtu Financial, Inc. has announced the recognition of Gabriella Gambino and Julie Feng at the Markets Media's Women in Finance Americas Awards, highlighting the company's commitment to diversity and excellence in the financial services industry [1][4] Group 1: Awards and Recognition - Gabriella Gambino received the Rising Star award for her contributions across equities analytics, business development, and fixed income sales, showcasing her versatility and strong communication skills [2] - Julie Feng was honored for Individual Achievement, recognized for her decade of experience and leadership in complex onboarding initiatives, which have enhanced client relationships and created new business opportunities [3] - The company also acknowledged Kelly Pratko, Kirra Peery, and Nicole Malloy, who were shortlisted for awards, reflecting their dedication and positive impact within the firm [4] Group 2: Company Overview - Virtu Financial is a leading provider of global, multi-asset financial services, utilizing advanced technology to deliver execution services, data, analytics, and connectivity products to clients [6] - The firm offers a comprehensive product suite that includes execution, liquidity sourcing, analytics, and broker-neutral platforms, enabling clients to trade across hundreds of venues in over 50 countries and various asset classes [6] - Virtu's integrated multi-asset analytics platform provides essential pre- and post-trade services, data products, and compliance tools that assist clients in investing, trading, and managing risk in global markets [6]

Core Insights - Virtu Financial, Inc. has been recognized for its leadership in the financial services industry, particularly through the achievements of Pegah Esmaeili, who received the Excellence in Sales & Trading (Equities) award at the European Women in Finance Awards [1][4] Company Overview - Virtu Financial is a leading provider of global, multi-asset financial services, delivering liquidity and innovative products across the investment cycle to global markets [1][5] - The firm utilizes advanced technology to offer execution services, data analytics, and connectivity products, enabling clients to trade across hundreds of venues in over 50 countries and multiple asset classes [5] Leadership and Recognition - Pegah Esmaeili has over a decade of experience in her role and has been pivotal in establishing Virtu as a key player in the Nordic region through her client-first approach and collaborative efforts [2] - Esmaeili is also the driving force behind Virtu's Winter Conference in Stockholm, which has become a significant forum for discussions on market innovations and shifts [3] Commitment to Excellence - David Angel, EMEA's Head of Business Development at Virtu Financial, highlighted Esmaeili's recognition as a testament to her hard work and dedication, reflecting the company's commitment to excellence, innovation, and teamwork [4]

Core Insights - Virtu Financial, Inc. reported a strong financial performance for the first quarter of 2025, with total revenues increasing by 30.3% to $837.9 million compared to $642.8 million in the same period of 2024 [3][22] - The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share, payable on June 16, 2025, to shareholders of record as of May 30, 2025 [1] Financial Performance - Trading income, net, rose by 44.6% to $590.0 million for the quarter, up from $408.1 million in the prior year [3][22] - Net income for the quarter was $189.6 million, compared to $111.3 million in the same quarter of 2024 [3][22] - Basic and diluted earnings per share were $1.09 and $1.08, respectively, compared to $0.59 for the same period in 2024 [4][22] Adjusted Financial Metrics - Adjusted Net Trading Income increased by 35.5% to $497.1 million, compared to $366.9 million in the same period of 2024 [5][22] - Adjusted EBITDA rose by 57.7% to $319.9 million for the quarter, compared to $202.8 million in the same period in 2024 [5][22] - Normalized Adjusted Net Income increased by 67.6% to $208.3 million, compared to $124.3 million in the same period of 2024 [5][22] Operating Segments - The company operates in two segments: Market Making and Execution Services, with Market Making primarily focusing on cash, futures, and options markets across various asset classes [7][8] - Execution Services includes agency-based trading and trading venues, providing execution services in global equities, options, futures, and fixed income [8] Share Repurchase Program - Since the inception of the share repurchase program in November 2020, the company has repurchased approximately 52.1 million shares for about $1,346.2 million, with $373.8 million remaining for future purchases [13] Financial Condition - As of March 31, 2025, Virtu had $771.0 million in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, with total long-term debt of $1,768.3 million [12][34]

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market experienced a downturn in early 2025 after a strong performance in 2023 and 2024, with the S&P 500 dropping 1.4% in February and continuing losses into March [1] - Investors are concerned about the economic effects of Trump's tariff policies, which may lead to inflation and hinder growth [1] - The Atlanta Fed forecasts a 2.8% contraction in the first quarter of 2025, raising recession concerns [1] Investment Strategy - In the current uncertain market, focusing on relative price strength is a beneficial strategy for investors, as stocks with strong fundamentals tend to perform better when market sentiment stabilizes [2] - Identifying stocks that have shown resilience during market turbulence can help investors position for potential upside while managing risks [2] Recommended Stocks - Stocks recommended based on their relative price strength include Ooma, Inc. (OOMA), ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ANIP), Matson, Inc. (MATX), Virtu Financial, Inc. (VIRT), and EverQuote, Inc. (EVER) [3] Screening Parameters - The screening criteria for selecting stocks include: - Relative price change over 12 weeks, 4 weeks, and 1 week being greater than 0 [8] - Positive current-quarter estimate revisions over the last four weeks [8] - Zacks Rank equal to 1, indicating strong buy potential [9] - Current price of at least $5 and average 20-day volume of at least 50,000 [10] Company Performance Highlights - **Ooma, Inc. (OOMA)**: Expected earnings growth of 13.6% for fiscal 2026, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of approximately 18% and a share price increase of 59.3% over the past year [10][11] - **ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ANIP)**: Projected earnings growth of 21.4% for 2025, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of about 17.3%, although shares have declined by 4.4% in the past year [11][12] - **Matson, Inc. (MATX)**: Current market capitalization of $4.3 billion, with a 20.6% upward revision in earnings estimates for 2025 and a share price increase of 23.7% over the past year [12][13] - **Virtu Financial, Inc. (VIRT)**: Expected earnings growth of 3.9% for 2025, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of roughly 25.1% and a share price increase of 84.8% over the past year [14][15] - **EverQuote, Inc. (EVER)**: Anticipated earnings growth of 34.1% for 2025, with a significant 47.5% increase in earnings estimates over the past 60 days and a share price increase of 36.4% over the past year [15][16]