Core Insights - Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) has a market capitalization of $37.5 billion and operates in life insurance, retirement solutions, and global asset management, managing approximately $1.5 trillion in assets through its PGIM division [1] Performance Overview - PRU shares have underperformed compared to the broader market, declining 18.8% over the past 52 weeks and 12.7% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 Index has returned 13.7% and 13.4% respectively [2] - The stock has also lagged behind the iShares U.S. Insurance ETF, which experienced a marginal dip over the past year but surged 4.4% this year [3] Earnings Report - On October 29, Prudential reported third-quarter earnings, with shares rising 1.9% following a strong earnings beat, posting after-tax adjusted operating income of $1.5 billion, or $4.26 per share, compared to $1.2 billion and $3.33 per share a year earlier [4] - Net income increased significantly to $1.4 billion from $448 million [4] - Adjusted book value rose to $99.25 per share, and assets under management grew 3.5% year-over-year to $1.6 trillion, indicating strong performance in PGIM [5] Analyst Expectations - Analysts project PRU's EPS to increase by 12.8% year-over-year to $14.23 for the current year ending in December [6] - The company has exceeded analysts' consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters, with one miss [6] - Among 19 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a "Hold," consisting of two "Strong Buy" ratings, 15 "Holds," and two "Strong Sells" [6] Price Target - Analyst John Barnidge from Piper Sandler reiterated a "Hold" rating on Prudential Financial with a price target set at $110 [7]

Core Insights - The London Company reported a 6.3% return for its Large Cap Strategy in Q3 2025, underperforming the Russell 1000 Index which gained 8.0% [1] - The US economy maintained momentum despite mixed economic data, driven by a Fed rate cut, strong corporate earnings, and enthusiasm for AI [1] Company Overview: Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) - Equitable Holdings is a diversified financial services company focused on retirement and wealth management, managing over $1 trillion in client assets [3] - The stock experienced a one-month return of -4.28% but gained 9.67% over the past 52 weeks, closing at $48.79 with a market cap of $14.614 billion on November 3, 2025 [2] - The company operates with an asset-light model, generating strong free cash flow used for share repurchases and dividend growth, with an annual share count decline of about 8% and a dividend growth rate of 7% [3] Recent Developments - A recent reinsurance transaction with Venerable released nearly $2 billion in excess capital, reducing risk and validating reserves for Equitable Holdings [3] - The company is shifting towards higher-quality, fee-based retirement and asset management businesses, which is expected to enhance its market valuation [3] Market Position - Equitable Holdings is not among the top 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 42 hedge fund portfolios holding the stock at the end of Q2 2025, down from 49 in the previous quarter [4] - While the company shows potential, certain AI stocks are viewed as having greater upside potential and lower downside risk [4]