Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1] - The Zacks Style Scores offer a rating system for stocks based on value, growth, and momentum, aiding investors in selecting securities with high potential for market outperformance [2] Zacks Style Scores - Stocks are rated from A to F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with A being the highest score indicating a better chance of outperforming the market [3] - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E and Price/Sales [3] - The Growth Score assesses a company's future prospects through projected earnings and cash flow to find stocks with sustainable growth [4] - The Momentum Score identifies trends in stock prices and earnings estimates to help investors time their positions effectively [5] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors seeking attractive value, growth, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that utilizes earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.83% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7] - There are over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, making it essential for investors to use Style Scores to narrow down their choices [8] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B are recommended for maximizing upside potential [9] Company Spotlight: Deutsche Bank - Deutsche Bank AG, headquartered in Frankfurt, is the largest bank in Germany and a major global financial institution, offering a range of investment and financial services [11] - Deutsche Bank holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and has a VGM Score of A, with a Value Style Score of B, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 8.71 [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates and a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.15 per share for fiscal 2026, along with an average earnings surprise of +3.7%, make Deutsche Bank a strong candidate for investors [12][13]

Core Viewpoint - Ledyard Financial Group, Inc. has authorized the repurchase of up to 173,135 shares of its common stock, representing approximately 5% of its issued and outstanding shares, indicating a strategy to enhance long-term shareholder value [1][2]. Company Overview - Ledyard Financial Group, Inc. is headquartered in Hanover, New Hampshire, and serves as the holding company for Ledyard National Bank, which was founded in 1991. The bank offers a comprehensive range of banking, investment, and wealth management services [3]. Stock Information - Shares of Ledyard Financial Group, Inc. are traded on the OTCQX® Best Markets under the symbol LFGP, providing investors with access to the company's stock activity and financial results through its Investor Relations section on the bank's website [4].

Core Viewpoint - Wells Fargo & Company is undergoing a transformation from a defensive to an offensive strategy following regulatory limitations, with significant growth in assets and a reaffirmed positive outlook from RBC Capital [1]. Group 1: Company Performance - Wells Fargo's assets exceeded $2.1 trillion in Q4 2025, marking a significant achievement after over seven years of growth constraints due to regulatory directives [1]. - The medium-term return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) target for Wells Fargo is set at 17-18%, indicating management's commitment to growth while managing capital ratios effectively [2]. Group 2: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - RBC Capital has maintained an Outperform rating for Wells Fargo with a price target of $100, reflecting confidence in the bank's strategic transformation [1]. - Evercore ISI has reduced its price target for Wells Fargo from $110 to $105 while still maintaining an Outperform rating, alongside a slight decrease in EPS expectations for 2026 and 2027 to $7.17 and $8.32, respectively [2].

Company Overview - U.S. Bancorp (USB) has a market capitalization of $87.2 billion and offers a variety of banking, lending, payment, investment, and trust services to individuals, businesses, institutions, and government entities [1] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, USB stock has increased by 16.9%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index, which returned 14.3% during the same period [2] - Year-to-date, USB shares are up 5.2%, compared to a 1.4% gain for the S&P 500 Index [2] - USB has also outperformed the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF), which rose by 3.2% over the past 52 weeks [3] Financial Results - In Q4 2025, U.S. Bancorp reported an EPS of $1.26 and total revenue of $7.37 billion, driven by record consumer deposits of $515.14 billion and an improved net interest margin of 2.8% [6] - The company maintains solid capital metrics, including a CET1 ratio of 10.8% [6] Earnings Forecast - For the fiscal year ending December 2026, analysts project U.S. Bancorp's EPS to grow by 8.4% year-over-year to $5.01 [7] - The company has a strong earnings surprise history, having beaten consensus estimates in the last four quarters [7] Analyst Ratings - Among 24 analysts covering U.S. Bancorp, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with 11 "Strong Buy" ratings, one "Moderate Buy," 11 "Holds," and one "Strong Sell" [7] Price Target - RBC Capital has raised its price target on U.S. Bancorp to $59 while maintaining an "Outperform" rating [8] - The mean price target of $62.33 indicates an 11.1% premium to USB's current price levels, while the highest price target of $77 suggests a potential upside of 37.2% [8]

Core Insights - Lynn Crump-Caine has been elected as the board chair of Thrivent, making her the only Black woman currently in that position at a Fortune 500 company [1][3] - Thrivent reported revenues exceeding $12 billion and assets under management of over $200 billion, marking the highest metrics in the firm's 120-year history [2] Company Overview - Thrivent provides a range of services including insurance, banking, investment, and financial advice to over two million clients [2] - The firm has a long-standing history of over 120 years in the financial services industry [2] Leadership Transition - Crump-Caine will chair her first board meeting in February and succeeds N. Cornell Boggs III, who will remain on the board [3] - Crump-Caine has been a board member since 2016 and previously chaired the human resources and governance committee [4] Leadership Experience - Crump-Caine has extensive experience, including 30 years at McDonald's Corp, where she was executive vice president of worldwide operations [5] - She is also the founder of OutsideIn Consulting, which focuses on business management and leadership development [5] Board Representation - Crump-Caine's appointment is significant as only two other Black women are CEOs on the 2025 Fortune 500 list, highlighting the importance of diversity in corporate leadership [3][7] - Both Crump-Caine and Boggs emphasized the need for increased Black board representation and corporate engagement in this area [7]

Core Viewpoint - Wells Fargo & Company is recognized for its potential to benefit from AI advancements, particularly in enhancing operational efficiency, despite recent earnings misses [1][2]. Financial Performance - Wells Fargo reported a year-over-year sales increase of 4.5% and earnings growth of 13%, but both figures fell short of expectations [2]. - The earnings shortfall was significantly impacted by higher severance expenses due to recent layoffs aimed at cost-cutting [2]. - The efficiency ratio improved from 68% to 64%, indicating better cost management, although analysts had anticipated a ratio of 62.5% [2].

Core Viewpoint - XP Inc. is considered one of the most undervalued foreign stocks to buy, with analysts from Jefferies and UBS issuing Buy ratings and setting price targets of $22 and $25 respectively [1][2]. Group 1: Competitive Position and Strengths - XP Inc. has a strong competitive position in the Brazilian market, operating through a multi-brand ecosystem that provides access to digital platforms and personalized advisory services [2][3]. - The company boasts a 26% return on equity and a CET1 capital ratio of approximately 18.5%, with about 50% of Brazil's independent financial advisors partnering with XP [3]. Group 2: Financial Outlook and Valuation - Jefferies views XP Inc. as attractively valued, particularly in the context of peak interest rates, and expects the company to be a top gainer from potential rate cuts [4]. - The firm anticipates a 15% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenue and earnings through 2030, with return on equity projected to rise from 24% in 2025 to 28% by 2030 [4]. Group 3: Product Offering - XP Inc. is a technology-enabled platform that offers a variety of investment, credit, and pension products at low fees, covering diverse asset classes including equities, fixed income, and alternatives across both public and private markets [5].

Core Viewpoint - Wells Fargo reported a mixed earnings performance, with both revenue and earnings growth but falling short of analyst expectations, primarily due to increased severance expenses from layoffs [1]. Group 1: Earnings Performance - Wells Fargo's sales increased by 4.5% year-over-year, while earnings grew by 13% [1]. - The company experienced a shortfall in net interest income, contributing to the overall earnings miss [1]. - Analysts had anticipated a more favorable efficiency ratio of 62.5%, but the actual ratio improved from 68% to 64%, indicating better cost management [1]. Group 2: Cost Management - A significant portion of the earnings shortfall was attributed to higher severance expenses due to workforce reductions aimed at cost-cutting [1]. - The company has been actively laying off employees to manage costs more effectively [1]. Group 3: Company Overview - Wells Fargo provides a range of financial services, including banking, lending, investment, and wealth management solutions [2].

Core Viewpoint - Wells Fargo is experiencing a positive trend in analyst price targets, indicating growing optimism about its stock performance and future prospects [2][6]. Group 1: Analyst Sentiment - The average price target for Wells Fargo has risen from $94.48 to $100.88 over the past year, reflecting increased confidence among analysts [2][6]. - Factors contributing to this optimism may include improvements in financial performance, strategic initiatives, and favorable market conditions [2]. Group 2: Upcoming Earnings Report - Wells Fargo is set to release its fourth-quarter earnings report soon, which is anticipated to provide insights into the company's financial health [3][4]. - The earnings report is crucial for assessing the company's potential for generating consistent returns, especially in the context of the overall banking sector's outlook for 2026 [4]. Group 3: Financial Performance Expectations - Expectations for Wells Fargo's Q4 earnings include an increase in net interest income and strong loan demand [5][6]. - However, the company may face challenges such as lower non-interest income and pressure on asset quality [5].

Core Viewpoint - South Plains Financial, Inc. will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results on January 26, 2026, after market close, followed by a conference call to discuss these results [1]. Group 1: Financial Results Announcement - The fourth quarter 2025 financial results will be announced after market close on January 26, 2026 [1]. - A conference call and webcast will be held at 5:00 p.m. ET on the same day to discuss the financial results [1]. Group 2: Conference Call Participation - Investors and analysts can participate in the call by dialing 1-877-407-9716 or 1-201-493-6779 for international callers, approximately 10 minutes before the call starts [2]. - A live audio webcast will be available on the Company's website [2]. Group 3: Conference Call Replay - A replay of the conference call will be accessible within two hours after the call concludes, available through the Company's website and by dialing 1-844-512-2921 or 1-412-317-6671 for international callers [3]. - The replay will be available until February 9, 2026, with a pin code of 13757840 for telephone access [3]. Group 4: Company Overview - South Plains Financial, Inc. is the bank holding company for City Bank, headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, and is one of the largest independent banks in West Texas [4]. - The Company operates in various Texas markets, including Dallas, El Paso, Greater Houston, the Permian Basin, and College Station, as well as in Ruidoso, New Mexico [4]. - South Plains provides a range of commercial and consumer financial services, including commercial and retail banking, investment, trust, and mortgage services [4].