CLINTON, N.J., Nov. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unity Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNTY), parent company of Unity Bank, announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per common share. Such dividend is payable on December 19, 2025, to shareholders of record as of December 5, 2025. Unity Bancorp, Inc. is a financial services organization headquartered in Clinton, New Jersey, with approximately $2.9 billion in assets and $2.3 billion in deposits. Unity Bank, the Company’s wholly owned ...

Here are five stocks added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) List today:Commercial Metals (CMC) : This company, which manufactures, recycles and markets steel and metal products, related materials and services, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 12.5% over the last 60 day.California BanCorp (BCAL) : This bank holding company, which offers a range of financial products and services to individuals, professionals and small to medium-sized businesses, has seen the Zac ...

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: RILY) ("BRF" or the "Company"), a diversified holding company, today announced the filing of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025. Bryant Riley, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of B. Riley Financial, commented: "Our first quarter 2025 Form 10-Q filing marks an important step towards timely financial reporting and compliance with Nasdaq listi ...

Core Viewpoint - The acquisition of the NO.宁2025Y05 land plot by JD.com for 184 million yuan marks a significant development in the Nanjing Hexi Central Innovation Zone, indicating the establishment of a headquarters cluster that includes major companies like JD.com, Xiaomi, and Alibaba [1][3]. Group 1: Land Acquisition Details - JD.com won the bidding for the NO.宁2025Y05 land plot, paying 184 million yuan, which translates to approximately 6,996 yuan per square meter [2][3]. - The land plot covers an area of 26,301.43 square meters and is designated for research and development purposes, with a maximum building area of 180,000 square meters [2][3][5]. Group 2: Strategic Importance - The new JD.com research center will serve as a regional hub, focusing on various sectors including retail, technology, finance, health, and home services, with an emphasis on attracting talent in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics [5]. - The project is expected to employ at least 5,000 research and development personnel from industries like e-commerce, modern logistics, and fintech [5]. Group 3: Headquarters Cluster Development - The Nanjing Hexi area is now home to eight major corporate headquarters, including JD.com, Newland, Alibaba, Xiaomi, and others, which enhances the region's attractiveness for talent and investment [8]. - The influx of these headquarters is driven by Nanjing Hexi's high-quality urban environment and favorable demographic structure, which collectively create a strong magnetic effect for businesses [8].

Core Insights - H&R Block, Inc. reported an adjusted loss of $1.20 per share in Q1 of fiscal 2026, which was better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.40 per share and a year-ago loss of $1.17 per share [1][8] - Total revenues reached $203.6 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.1% and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 5.03% [1][8] Financial Performance - Revenues from U.S. tax preparation and related services were $100.19 million, up 6.9% year over year [3] - Financial services revenues totaled $7.85 million, marking a year-over-year decline of 11.04% [3] - International revenues increased by 1.2% to $65.7 million, while Wave revenues jumped 13% to $29.85 million [3] Guidance and Outlook - H&R Block expects fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS in the range of $4.85-$5.00, with the midpoint of $4.925 below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.94 [2] - The company anticipates revenues for fiscal 2026 to be between $3.875 billion and $3.895 billion, with the midpoint of $3.885 billion slightly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.88 billion [5] - Expected EBITDA for fiscal 2026 is between $1.015 billion and $1.035 billion, with an effective tax rate of approximately 25% [5] Balance Sheet - H&R Block ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $376.4 million and long-term debt of $1.73 billion, up from $1.14 billion at the end of June 2025 [4] - The company utilized $356.8 million in cash for operating activities, with capital expenditures of $13.19 million [4]

Core Viewpoint - First Mid Bancshares, Inc. is set to merge with Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. in a 100% stock transaction, enhancing First Mid's market presence in Iowa [1][3]. Company Overview - Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. operates 14 branches in central and southeastern Iowa, with total assets of approximately $1.1 billion, $901 million in loans, and $988 million in deposits as of September 30, 2025 [2]. - First Mid Bancshares, Inc. is a community-focused organization with $7.8 billion in assets, providing a range of financial services across multiple states [11]. Transaction Details - Under the merger agreement, Two Rivers shareholders will receive 1.225 shares of First Mid common stock for each share of Two Rivers common stock, valuing the transaction at approximately $94.1 million based on First Mid's share price of $36.80 [3]. - The transaction is expected to be 12.3% accretive to First Mid's earnings per share by 2027, with tangible book value dilution expected to be recovered in 2.1 years [4]. Strategic Rationale - The merger is aimed at expanding First Mid's geographic footprint and enhancing its commitment to community banking [5][6]. - First Mid anticipates achieving cost savings of approximately 27% of Two Rivers' noninterest expenses, with potential revenue synergies not yet included in the estimates [4]. Leadership and Governance - The transaction has received unanimous approval from both companies' boards and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals [8]. - Shane Zimmerman, CEO of Two Rivers Bank & Trust, will join First Mid as an Executive Vice President and Divisional President post-merger [7]. Advisory and Legal Support - D.A. Davidson & Co. served as the exclusive financial advisor to Two Rivers, while Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. acted as the financial advisor for First Mid [9].

Group 1: Chevron - Chevron has a long history of increasing dividends, having raised them for 38 consecutive years [3] - The latest dividend hike on January 31 increased the quarterly payout by 5% to $1.71 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $6.84 per share [3] - The current dividend yield for Chevron is 4.37% [3] - As of June 30, Chevron's annual revenue was $187.74 billion, with Q2 2025 revenues reported at $44.82 billion, which was below the consensus estimate of $45.88 billion [4] - Chevron's EPS for Q2 2025 was $1.77, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.70 [4] Group 2: Robert Half - Robert Half has consistently raised its dividends for the last 20 years [6] - The most recent dividend increase on February 12 raised the quarterly payout from $0.53 to $0.59 per share, equating to an annual figure of $2.36 per share [6] - The current dividend yield for Robert Half stands at 8.06% [6] - As of June 30, Robert Half's annual revenue was $5.57 billion, with Q3 2025 revenues reported at $1.35 billion, meeting Street estimates [7] Group 3: Horace Mann Educators - Horace Mann Educators provides various insurance products and financial services specifically designed for educators and their families [7]

Core Insights - NatWest Group PLC has reported a 30% increase in third-quarter profit, driven by growth in loans and assets in its wealth management sector [2][6] - RBC Capital maintains a "Sector Perform" rating for NatWest, recommending investors to hold the stock [1][6] - The bank has upgraded its performance targets for the year, reflecting confidence in its future performance [2][6] Financial Metrics - NatWest's Return on Tangible Equity (RoTE) is 22%, and its Net Interest Margin (NIM) stands at 2.37% [3][6] - The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio is at 14.2%, indicating strong capital reserves [3][6] - The current stock price is $15.59, with a market capitalization of approximately $31.52 billion [5][6] Strategic Initiatives - The bank's strategic structural hedging aims to secure margins through 2027, providing a safeguard against potential rate cuts by the Bank of England [4][6] - NatWest's valuation is appealing, with a price of 1.58 times its Tangible Net Asset Value (TNAV) and a yield of 4.5% [4][6] - The company is engaging in buybacks to support further returns to shareholders [4][6] Market Evaluation - Zacks Investment Research is assessing whether investors might be undervaluing NatWest, focusing on earnings estimates and revisions [5][6]

Core Insights - Bank of Marin Bancorp (NASDAQ:BMRC) reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.47 for Q3 2025, exceeding the estimated $0.42, resulting in an 11.9% earnings surprise [2] - The company experienced a significant year-over-year EPS increase from $0.28, indicating strong profitability growth [2][5] - Despite the positive EPS results, BMRC's revenue for the quarter was approximately $28.19 million, which fell short of the estimated $30.92 million [3] Financial Performance - BMRC showcased a 14.5% increase in year-over-year revenue, reflecting its ability to grow its top line despite missing revenue estimates [5] - The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is around 41.40, indicating that investors are willing to pay a premium for the company's earnings [3] - The price-to-sales ratio stands at 3.08, suggesting a relatively high valuation compared to sales [3] Financial Health - The company maintains a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.044, indicating minimal reliance on debt [4][5] - A high current ratio of 80.64 suggests strong liquidity, enabling BMRC to effectively cover its short-term liabilities [4][5] - These financial metrics highlight the company's solid financial foundation and potential for future growth [4]

Core Viewpoint - Lakeland Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:LKFN) has demonstrated strong financial performance, with consistent growth in earnings and revenue, despite some fluctuations in quarterly results [1][2][4]. Financial Performance - For the third quarter of 2025, Lakeland Financial reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.03, which met market expectations and represented a 13% increase in net income to $26.4 million compared to the previous year [2][4][5]. - The company's revenue for the quarter was $69.03 million, reflecting a 12.8% increase year-over-year, although it fell short of the estimated $69.7 million [2][5]. - The EPS of $1.03 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02 by 0.98%, indicating the company's ability to exceed market expectations [3][5]. Year-over-Year Comparison - The net income for the nine months ending September 30, 2025, showed a 6% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, highlighting overall growth despite a slight quarterly decline [4]. - The EPS improved from $0.91 in the previous year, showcasing consistent growth in profitability [3]. Competitive Position - Lakeland Financial operates within the Zacks Banks - Midwest industry, competing with other regional banks in the Midwest, and has consistently outperformed market expectations in recent quarters [1].