Core Viewpoint - The financial results for fiscal year 2025 indicate a challenging past year but a promising outlook for 2026, driven by strengthening capital markets and accelerating commercial lending activities [2][3]. Financial Results - Fourth Quarter revenues were $2,591,000, a decrease of 23% year-over-year compared to $3,351,000 [6]. - Fourth Quarter net losses amounted to ($900,000), translating to $(0.02) per share [6]. - Full Year revenues reached $10,317,000, reflecting a 5% increase year-over-year from $9,794,000 [6]. - Full Year net losses totaled ($4,213,000), or $(0.08) per share, with adjusted net losses for non-recurring and non-cash items at ($2,428,000), or $(0.05) per share [6]. - Full Year EBITDA was ($1,472,000), compared to ($535,000) for fiscal year 2024 [6]. Corporate Developments - The company is experiencing improving conditions in the industry, with declining interest rates stimulating economic activity and rapid growth in its Corporate Finance business [3][4]. - Hampton Financial Corporation is focused on cost reduction initiatives and expanding its business portfolio, particularly in Wealth Management, Capital Markets, and Commercial Lending operations [3][4]. - The company continues to develop its Wealth Management and Advisory Team programs, providing experienced wealth managers with a flexible operating platform [4]. Business Operations - Hampton operates through its subsidiary, Hampton Securities Limited, which is involved in wealth management, advisory services, and capital markets activities [5]. - The company’s commercial lending business, Oxygen Working Capital Corp., offers factoring and term financing to businesses across Canada [4][7]. - Hampton is exploring opportunities to diversify its revenue sources through strategic investments in both complementary and non-core sectors [7].

Core Insights - The global merger and acquisition (M&A) cycle is experiencing a significant upswing, with 2025 marking a structural inflection point as companies and financial sponsors seek to offset slowing organic growth and secure competitive advantages, particularly in technology and AI [1][2] M&A Activity Overview - Global M&A activity surged 41% year over year to $4.81 trillion in 2025, the second-highest total on record, with 70 megadeals exceeding $10 billion [2] - Regulatory shifts under the Trump administration have created a more favorable environment for consolidation, easing approval processes [3] Outlook for 2026 - Large-scale M&As in 2026 are expected to focus on de-conglomeration and "buy-and-build" strategies, benefiting mid-market activity [5] - A 3% increase in deal volume is forecasted for 2026, with private equity-backed deals projected to rise due to undeployed capital and improved exit opportunities [7][6] Investment Banking Performance - Morgan Stanley's investment banking revenues rose 15% to $5.2 billion in the first nine months of 2025, supported by a healthy M&A pipeline [10][12] - Goldman Sachs advised on over $1 trillion in announced M&A volumes in 2025, maintaining a leadership position in global M&As [18] - Raymond James' investment banking fees increased by 26% in fiscal 2025, driven by a robust pipeline and active M&A market [24] Earnings Estimates - Morgan Stanley's earnings per share estimates for 2025 and 2026 are $9.88 and $10.41, reflecting year-over-year increases of 24.3% and 5.4% respectively [14] - Goldman Sachs' earnings per share estimates for 2025 and 2026 are $48.96 and $55.15, indicating growth of 20.8% and 12.6% respectively [20] - Raymond James' earnings per share estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 are $11.95 and $13.66, suggesting growth of 12.1% and 14.2% respectively [25]

The Zacks Investment Bank industry is set to benefit from clarity on trade and monetary policy, a resilient economy and lower financing costs, which will boost M&As and underwriting prospects in 2026. Trading revenues are likely to remain strong as geopolitical risks and tariff concerns help sustain market volatility and client activity. Meanwhile, rising investments in AI, technology and platforms may weigh on costs in the near term but are expected to enhance long-term operating efficiency. Hence, industr ...

Key Takeaways The GS stock is near its 52-week high after gaining 51.5% over the past year, outperforming major peers. GS investment banking fees rose 19% y/y in 2025, driven by a sharp rebound in global deal-making activity. GS is streamlining operations, exiting consumer banking, and expanding asset and private equity management.The Goldman Sachs Group (GS) shares have been performing remarkably well of late. At present, the stock is trading near its 52-week high of $919.10 hit during Thursday’s trading s ...

Market Overview - The Dow and S&P 500 indexes advanced 1.3% and 0.2%, respectively, reaching all-time high closings, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3% [1] - Market participants are shifting from technology to rate-sensitive cyclical sectors such as utilities, industrials, financials, energy, materials, and health care due to the recent Fed rate cut and high valuations in the tech sector [2] Recommended Stocks - Five non-tech large-cap stocks are recommended, currently trading below their 52-week highs and at attractive valuations: On Holding AG (ONON), Lennar Corp. (LEN), Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF), Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC), and Thomson Reuters Corp. (TRI) [3][9] On Holding AG (ONON) - On Holding specializes in footwear and sports apparel, offering products through various channels [6] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 20.6% and 79.3%, respectively, with a 22% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [7] Lennar Corp. (LEN) - Engaged in homebuilding and financial services, focusing on tech-enabled manufacturing to enhance efficiency and reduce costs [8] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 1.9% and 11.1%, respectively, with a 0.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [10] Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) - Gained market share in investment banking without significantly expanding its balance sheet, which is expected to drive top-line growth [11] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 16.5% and 59.5%, respectively, with a 0.8% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [13] Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC) - Operates a diverse portfolio in traditional and digital marketing, enhancing revenue stability [14] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 3.1% and 8.8%, respectively, with a 2.4% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [16] Thomson Reuters Corp. (TRI) - A leading provider of information and technology across various sectors, including law, tax, and financial services [17] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 7.6% and 12.4%, respectively, with a 2.1% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [18]

Core Viewpoint - Evercore Inc. (EVR) has demonstrated strong stock performance, with shares rising 37.9% over the past six months, outperforming both the industry and the S&P 500 Index [1][10] Price Performance - EVR's stock performance has surpassed that of peers Moelis & Company (12.8% increase) and Stifel Financial Corp. (31% increase) during the same period [1][10] Factors Supporting Performance - Strong Investment Banking Franchise: The company benefits from a solid business foundation, with its Investment Banking segment showing a healthy CAGR of 8.6% from 2017 to 2024, supported by a recovery in global M&A markets in 2024 [4][5][7] - Healthy Liquidity Position: As of September 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $851.9 million, with total investment securities and certificates of deposit at $1.6 billion, indicating a strong liquidity position [8][11] - Stable Capital Return Policy: The company raised its quarterly dividend by 5% to 84 cents per share in April 2025, with a 10.4% CAGR in annual dividends over the past six years [12][13] - Strong Return on Equity (ROE): EVR's trailing 12-month ROE stands at 29.56%, significantly above the industry average of 15.87% [14] Near-Term Challenges - Weak Investment Management Performance: The Investment Management segment has faced challenges, contributing a small share of total revenues and experiencing subdued growth due to restructuring [15] - Rising Expense Base: The company's expenses have increased at a CAGR of 9.8% over the past seven years, with higher employee compensation and travel costs expected to constrain profitability [16] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share has been revised upward to $13.53 for 2025, indicating projected growth of 43.6% [17][18] Valuation - EVR stock is currently trading at a trailing P/E ratio of 17.9X, higher than the industry average of 14.6X, suggesting it may be considered expensive relative to peers [19] Long-Term Outlook - Evercore's strong advisory momentum, solid liquidity, and consistent capital distribution strategy are expected to support long-term performance, particularly in an improving M&A environment [21]

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Morgan Stanley (MS) . Shares have added about 3.5% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Morgan Stanley due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.Morgan Stanley Q3 Earnings Beat on Deal-Making Bo ...

Core Insights - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) shares have increased by 43.6% year to date, outperforming the industry average of 34.3% [1] - The investment banking (IB) business is experiencing strong growth, with IB fees reaching $6.8 billion, a 19% year-over-year increase in the first nine months of 2025 [5][9] - The company is focusing on strategic streamlining, exiting underperforming consumer banking ventures, and enhancing its Global Banking and Markets and asset and wealth management divisions [10][12] Investment Banking Performance - Goldman Sachs' IB revenues surged by 42.5% year over year in Q3 2025, driven by a resurgence in global dealmaking activity [5][6] - The bank advised on over $1 trillion in announced M&A volumes in the first nine months of 2025, positioning itself as a leader in M&A advisory [6] - Management anticipates an even stronger year for M&A activity in 2026, contingent on macroeconomic conditions [6] Strategic Streamlining and Growth Initiatives - The firm is exiting its non-core consumer banking business, which has positively impacted Global Banking and Markets revenues, increasing by 17% year over year [9][10] - Goldman Sachs raised a record $33 billion in alternatives in Q3 2025, with expectations to raise $100 billion in alternatives for the year [12] - The company plans to expand its private credit portfolio to $300 billion by 2029 and is pursuing international growth [13] Liquidity and Capital Distribution - Goldman Sachs maintains a strong liquidity profile, with cash and cash equivalents of $169 billion as of September 30, 2025 [16] - The company increased its quarterly dividend by 33.3% to $4 per common share and has a $40 billion share repurchase plan [17][18] - The firm has consistently returned capital to shareholders, with a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 22% [17] Valuation and Earnings Outlook - The stock is trading at a forward price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 15.05, slightly above the industry average of 14.86 [23] - Earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 have been revised upward, reflecting resilient earnings prospects [21][26] - Given the favorable momentum in dealmaking and asset management, holding onto Goldman Sachs' stock may be beneficial for investors [26]

Core Insights - Dominari Holdings Inc. reported a third-quarter revenue of $50.8 million, representing a 1,150% increase year-over-year and a 49% increase from the previous quarter [5] - The company achieved over 700% year-to-date revenue growth, driven by strong underwriting activity and client engagement [2] - Dominari's net income for the quarter was $125.2 million, a significant improvement from a net loss of $4.2 million in the same quarter last year [5] Financial Performance - Revenue for Q3 2025 was $50.8 million, up from $4.0 million in Q3 2024 and $34.1 million in Q2 2025 [5] - Loss from operations improved to $1.6 million from a loss of $3.2 million in Q3 2024 [5] - Other income totaled $127.7 million, largely due to an increase in the market value of investments [5] Balance Sheet Highlights - Total assets increased to $223.4 million, up 374% from $47.1 million at the end of 2024 [5] - Working capital stood at $198.8 million, reflecting a 716% increase compared to the previous year [5] - Total shareholders' equity reached $210.3 million, a 428% increase from $39.9 million at the end of 2024 [5] Strategic Developments - Dominari Securities LLC was approved as a Limited Underwriting member of the New York Stock Exchange effective October 8, 2025 [5] - The company raised over $1.4 billion in capital markets activity year-to-date to support American companies in key innovation sectors [5] - Dominari Holdings aims to enhance shareholder value through organic growth and opportunities in sectors like AI and Data Centers [9]

Core Insights - Cohen & Company Inc. reported a third quarter 2025 revenue of $84.2 million, a significant increase from $59.9 million in the previous quarter and $31.7 million in the same quarter last year [1][7]. - The net income attributable to Cohen & Company Inc. for the third quarter was $4.6 million, or $2.58 per diluted share, compared to $1.4 million, or $0.81 per diluted share in the previous quarter [2][7]. - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on December 3, 2025 [2][11]. Financial Performance - Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, were $172.8 million, compared to $61.1 million for the same period in 2024 [4]. - Net trading revenue increased to $13.6 million in Q3 2025, up from $10.8 million in Q2 2025 and $8.8 million in Q3 2024 [4][7]. - Asset management revenue was $1.9 million for Q3 2025, a slight decrease from $2.2 million in both the previous quarter and the same quarter last year [4][7]. - New issue and advisory revenue surged to $228.0 million in Q3 2025, a substantial increase from $37.4 million in Q2 2025 and $22.5 million in Q3 2024 [4][7]. Operational Highlights - The company's Capital Markets division, Cohen & Company Capital Markets (CCM), generated $68.6 million in net revenue during the quarter, primarily from advisory services [5][6]. - The decline in principal transactions revenue was attributed to negative revenue of $159.3 million from investment assets received as client consideration [4][7]. - The company experienced a 26% increase in trading revenue from the previous quarter, supported by a favorable interest rate environment [6]. Equity and Dividends - As of September 30, 2025, total equity was reported at $101.1 million, an increase from $90.3 million at the end of 2024 [11][22]. - The board of directors has committed to evaluating the dividend policy quarterly, with future decisions influenced by operating results and capital needs [11][12]. Future Outlook - The company anticipates generating over $50 million in revenue for the fourth quarter and more than $220 million for the full year 2025, driven by strong trading revenue and a robust pipeline in CCM [6].