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]