Aristotle Capital Management, LLC, an investment management company, released its “International Equity Strategy” third quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Global equity markets continued their upward journey in the third quarter, with the MSCI ACWI Index surging 7.62%. Global fixed income markets also increased during the same period, with the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index rising 0.60%. The Aristotle International Equity Fund (Class I-2) returned 1.15% in the ...

Core Insights - CVB Financial Corp. reported a net income of $52.6 million for Q3 2025, showing an increase from $50.6 million in Q2 2025 and $51.2 million in Q3 2024, with diluted earnings per share at $0.38 [2][4] - The company achieved an annualized return on average equity (ROAE) of 9.19%, return on average tangible common equity (ROATCE) of 14.11%, and return on average assets (ROAA) of 1.35% for the third quarter [3][9] - The company has maintained profitability for 194 consecutive quarters and has paid cash dividends for 144 consecutive quarters [4] Income Statement Highlights - Net interest income for Q3 2025 was $115.6 million, a 3.6% increase from Q2 2025 and a 1.7% increase from Q3 2024 [10] - Noninterest income was $13.0 million, down from $14.7 million in Q2 2025, primarily due to an $8.2 million loss on sales of available-for-sale securities [18] - Noninterest expense increased to $58.6 million from $57.6 million in Q2 2025, with a notable increase in salaries and benefits expense [19][20] Balance Sheet Highlights - Total assets reached $15.67 billion, up 1.64% from $15.41 billion at the end of Q2 2025 [23] - Total loans and leases increased by $112.4 million to $8.47 billion, with notable increases in various loan categories [29] - Total deposits and customer repurchase agreements totaled $12.58 billion, reflecting a net increase of $186.5 million from Q2 2025 [36] Capital and Asset Quality - The company's total equity increased to $2.28 billion, with a tangible book value per share of $10.98 [39] - The allowance for credit losses was 0.94% of gross loans, with net recoveries of $333,000 in Q3 2025 [17][32] - Nonperforming assets totaled $28.5 million, representing 0.18% of total assets [34] Investment Securities - Total investment securities were $4.88 billion, with an increase of $63.8 million from the previous quarter [26] - The company reported a pre-tax net unrealized loss of $332.2 million in available-for-sale securities [28]

Core Insights - The markets started 2025 positively but have faced increased volatility due to the Trump administration's tariff plans and geopolitical uncertainties, leading to cautious investor behavior [1] Company Analysis - StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) is projected to have a sales growth rate of 10.9% in 2025 and currently holds a Zacks Rank 1, indicating strong buy potential [12] - Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR) is expected to see a sales growth rate of 4.6% in 2025 and also holds a Zacks Rank 1 [13] - Intuit Inc. (INTU) is anticipated to achieve a sales increase of 15.1% in fiscal 2025, the highest among the highlighted stocks, and has a Zacks Rank 1 [14] - The Mosaic Company (MOS) is expected to grow sales by 11.5% in 2025 and currently has a Zacks Rank 2 [15] Investment Strategy - A focus on companies with strong sales growth and high cash balances is essential for identifying potential investment opportunities [6] - Key screening parameters include a 5-Year Historical Sales Growth (%) greater than the industry average and cash flow exceeding $500 million [6] - Additional metrics for stock selection include a P/S Ratio lower than the industry average, positive sales estimate revisions, operating margin greater than 5%, and a Return on Equity (ROE) greater than 5% [7][8][9]

Core Insights - Wall Street has rebounded from early April lows and is near record highs, driven by optimism in U.S.-China trade negotiations, easing inflation, and strong corporate earnings, although uncertainty regarding Trump's policies remains [2]. Dividend Investing - Investors are increasingly turning to dividend investing for stable returns, as dividends provide consistent income and can mitigate portfolio volatility during uncertain market conditions [3]. - Stocks with a history of dividend growth are preferred, as they belong to mature companies that are less volatile and offer downside protection through consistent payout increases [5]. Selected Dividend Growth Stocks - Five dividend growth stocks identified as compelling investment options are Intuit Inc. (INTU), Fox Corporation (FOX), Qifu Technology Inc. (QFIN), UGI Corporation (UGI), and Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) [4][10]. - These stocks exhibit consistent dividend growth and strong long-term earnings potential, with positive earnings estimate revisions and solid expected earnings growth for the current fiscal year [10]. Stock Selection Criteria - Criteria for selecting dividend growth stocks include: - 5-Year Historical Dividend Growth greater than zero, indicating a solid dividend growth history [7]. - 5-Year Historical Sales Growth greater than zero, reflecting strong revenue growth [8]. - 5-Year Historical EPS Growth greater than zero, showing solid earnings growth history [8]. - Next 3-5 Year EPS Growth Rate greater than zero, indicating expected earnings growth [8]. - Price/Cash Flow less than M-Industry, suggesting undervaluation [9]. - 52-Week Price Change greater than S&P 500, ensuring better performance than the broader market [9]. Company Profiles - **Intuit Inc. (INTU)**: A business and financial software company with an expected earnings growth rate of 18.4% and a Zacks Rank 1 [11]. - **Fox Corporation (FOX)**: A media company with an expected earnings growth rate of 32.4% and a Zacks Rank 2 [13]. - **Qifu Technology Inc. (QFIN)**: A Credit-Tech platform in China with an expected earnings growth rate of 25.3% and a Zacks Rank 2 [14]. - **UGI Corporation (UGI)**: An energy products distributor with an estimated growth rate of 2.29% and a Zacks Rank 2 [16]. - **Ingredion Incorporated (INGR)**: An ingredients solutions provider with an estimated earnings growth rate of 5.2% and a Zacks Rank 2 [17].