KeyBank Recognized as Best Bank in Small Business and Middle Market Banking with Nine National and Regional Coalition Greenwich 2026 Awards [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationAwards recognize Key's commitment to building relationships and enduring trust with clients, and providing excellent serviceCLEVELAND, Feb. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- [KeyBank](NYSE: KEY) is being recognized for its support of small and middle market business clients with nine 2026 Best Bank Awards from Crisil [Coalition Greenwich] ...

Core Viewpoint - Patria Investments (PAX) has experienced a significant downtrend, with a 19.4% decline in stock price over the past four weeks, but it is now in oversold territory, suggesting a potential turnaround due to improved earnings expectations from analysts [1]. Group 1: Technical Analysis - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a key technical indicator used to determine if a stock is oversold, with readings below 30 indicating oversold conditions [2]. - PAX's RSI reading is currently at 30, suggesting that the heavy selling pressure may be exhausting itself, indicating a possible reversal in the stock's trend [5]. Group 2: Fundamental Analysis - Analysts covering PAX have shown strong consensus in raising earnings estimates, with a 2.6% increase in the consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days, which typically correlates with price appreciation [7]. - PAX holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, further supporting the potential for a near-term turnaround [8].

Core Insights - AllianceBernstein L.P. reported a preliminary increase in assets under management to $875 billion as of January 31, 2026, up from $867 billion at the end of December 2025, reflecting a 1% month-over-month growth driven by market appreciation [1][1][1] Assets Under Management Breakdown - The total assets under management include: - Private: $52 billion - Institutions: $167 billion - Retail: $61 billion - Wealth: $280 billion - Total Equity: $812 billion - Total Fixed Income: $121 billion - Alternatives/Multi-Asset Solutions: $156 billion - The total equity increased from $810 billion to $812 billion, while total fixed income saw a slight increase from $121 billion to $121 billion [1][1][1] Net Outflows - The increase in assets was partially offset by net outflows concentrated in the Retail and Institutional channels, with Private Wealth also experiencing slight outflows [1][1][1] Company Overview - AllianceBernstein is a leading global investment management firm that provides diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals, and private wealth clients across major world markets [1][1][1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the quarter ended December 31, Core Net Investment Income was $0.27 per share, consistent with GAAP net investment income [5][14] - Net realized and unrealized change on investments resulted in a loss of $30 million, with NAV decreasing to $10.49 per share, down 3.1% from the previous quarter [14] - Debt-to-equity ratio was 1.57 times as of December 31, which was reduced to 1.5 times after subsequent asset sales [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The new joint venture, PSSL Two, invested $197 million during the quarter and an additional $133 million after the quarter end, with a total portfolio of $326 million [5][6] - The portfolio remains well-diversified, comprising 160 companies across 50 industries, with a weighted average yield on debt investments of 9.9% [15][16] - PIK interest represented only 2.5% of total interest income, indicating a conservative portfolio structure [7][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - An increase in M&A transaction activity in the private Middle Market is noted, expanding the pipeline of new investment opportunities [6][7] - The pricing on high-quality first lien term loans remains attractive, typically ranging from SOFR plus 475-525 basis points [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to scale PSSL Two to over $1 billion in assets, consistent with existing joint ventures, focusing on generating a steady dividend stream while preserving capital [6][13] - The strategy emphasizes strong private equity sponsor relationships and disciplined underwriting, which are seen as competitive advantages [7][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the current market environment, anticipating that increased M&A activity will drive repayments of existing portfolio investments [6][25] - The company is well-positioned to cover dividends with projected run rate NII as the new joint venture ramps up [25] Other Important Information - The company has invested $8.7 billion in 545 companies, with a loss ratio on invested capital of only 13 basis points annually [12] - The focus remains on core Middle Market companies, typically those with $10-50 million of EBITDA, which operate below the threshold of broadly syndicated loans [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why is software such a low exposure within the portfolio? - Management indicated that the low exposure is a strategic decision to focus on cash flow loans at reasonable multiples, avoiding high-leverage, covenant-lite loans prevalent in the software sector [19][21] Question: Does the expectation to cover the dividend assume full optimization of the new joint venture? - Management confirmed that the expectation is based on ramping the joint venture to about $1 billion, with M&A activity expected to populate the JV and facilitate equity rotation [22][25] Question: What are the drivers of the unrealized marks in the quarter? - Management noted that most markdowns are related to the 2021 vintage, with some specific companies experiencing softness, but they do not foresee significant additional markdowns in the near term [41][45]

Group 1: RBL Bank Transaction - BofA Securities acquired a 0.97% stake in RBL Bank from BNP Paribas Financial Markets for approximately ₹178 crore through an open market transaction [1] - The acquisition involved 60 lakh shares purchased at an average price of ₹296 each, totaling ₹177.60 crore [1] - Following the transaction, RBL Bank's shares increased by 1.31% to close at ₹297.55 on the BSE [2] Group 2: Adani Green Transaction - Goldman Sachs and Societe Generale collectively purchased 15.49 lakh shares of Adani Green from BNP Paribas for ₹136 crore [2] - Goldman Sachs acquired 10 lakh shares while Societe Generale bought 5.49 lakh shares, with prices ranging from ₹879.5 to ₹883.3 per share [3] - Adani Green's shares fell by 0.42% to settle at ₹879.60 on the BSE [3] Group 3: Restaurant Brands Asia Transaction - Massachusetts Institute of Technology and its affiliate sold a combined 2.6% stake in Restaurant Brands Asia for nearly ₹96 crore through open market transactions [4] - A total of 1,51,34,980 equity shares were offloaded at an average price of ₹63.31 each, resulting in a deal value of ₹95.82 crore [5] - Restaurant Brands Asia's shares rose by 1.46% to close at ₹64.61 on the NSE [6]

Core Insights - The year has been marked by volatility in the markets, initially driven by optimism surrounding President Trump's return, followed by market fluctuations due to tariff rollouts [1] - A strong recovery in the markets has been observed, reaching record highs, supported by the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts, which have lowered rates by 75 basis points this year [2] - Banks are expected to benefit from a favorable operating environment in 2026, with anticipated growth in net interest income (NII) and deal-making activities [4] Banking Sector Overview - The Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts and stabilizing funding costs are setting the stage for a potentially favorable 2026 for banks, with expectations of increased revenues [2][8] - Banks are focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and technology to enhance client experiences and expand online presence, which is crucial for capturing the growing mobile banking population [3] - Consumer spending remains resilient, and credit demand is showing early signs of recovery, contributing to a positive outlook for bank stocks [4] Investment Opportunities - East West Bancorp (EWBC), U.S. Bancorp (USB), and KeyCorp (KEY) are identified as compelling investment opportunities in the banking sector, with each company having a market cap exceeding $10 billion and expected earnings growth of more than 5% in 2026 [5] - EWBC has a market cap of $15.6 billion, with projected earnings growth of 13.4% this year and 7.4% in 2026, supported by solid loan demand and fee income focus [12] - USB, with a market cap of $83.5 billion, is expected to see earnings growth of 14.1% this year and 7.1% in 2026, bolstered by strategic acquisitions and rising NII [18] - KeyCorp, having a market cap of $22.4 billion, is projected to achieve earnings growth of 27.6% this year and 19.6% in 2026, benefiting from strong loan and deposit balances [23] Company-Specific Insights - East West Bancorp operates over 110 locations in the U.S. and China, with total assets of $79.7 billion and a focus on improving fee income and acquiring low-cost deposits [10][11] - U.S. Bancorp has strengthened its market position through acquisitions and partnerships, enhancing its digital capabilities and fee-based businesses [16][17] - KeyCorp is expanding its product offerings and market share through opportunistic acquisitions and is consolidating its branch network to adapt to rising digital banking demand [22]

Core Viewpoint - Affiliated Managers Group (AMG) has shown a positive performance with a 5.9% increase in shares since the last earnings report, outperforming the S&P 500, raising questions about the sustainability of this trend leading up to the next earnings release [1][2]. Financial Performance - Q3 2025 economic earnings were reported at $6.10 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.83, and reflecting a 26.6% increase year-over-year [3]. - Economic net income reached $179.7 million, up 17.3% from the previous year, surpassing the estimate of $166.8 million [4]. - Total revenues for the quarter increased by 2.2% year-over-year to $528 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $521.1 million [5]. - Adjusted EBITDA was reported at $250.9 million, a 17.2% increase, exceeding the projected $233.3 million [5]. Assets Under Management (AUM) - As of September 30, 2025, total AUM was $803.6 billion, reflecting a 10.3% increase, surpassing the estimate of $780.8 billion [6]. - Average AUM totaled $786.9 billion, up 10.6% year-over-year, with net client cash outflows of $2.8 billion during the quarter [6]. Capital and Liquidity - The company had $476.1 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2025, down from $950 million at the end of 2024 [7]. - Total debt decreased to $2.37 billion from $2.62 billion as of December 31, 2024, while stockholders' equity slightly decreased to $3.34 billion [7]. Share Repurchase Activity - During Q3, Affiliated Managers repurchased shares worth $77 million [8]. Future Outlook - Management anticipates adjusted EBITDA in the range of $325-$370 million for Q4 2025, based on current AUM levels and expected net performance fees of $75-$120 million [9]. - Economic net income (controlling interest) is projected between $234-$267 million, with economic EPS expected to range from $8.10 to $9.26 [11]. Estimate Revisions - There has been an upward trend in estimates revisions, with the consensus estimate shifting by 7.88% in the past month [12]. Investment Strategy Scores - Affiliated Managers has an average Growth Score of C, a Momentum Score of A, and a Value Score of B, resulting in an aggregate VGM Score of A [13]. Industry Context - Affiliated Managers operates within the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry, where competitor Invesco reported a 4.3% gain over the past month and revenues of $1.19 billion, reflecting a year-over-year change of +7.4% [15].

Core Points - AllianceBernstein L.P. and AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. announced that Seth Bernstein, President and CEO, will participate in the Goldman Sachs 2025 US Financial Services Conference on December 9, 2025 [1] - A live audio webcast of the conference will be available on the Investor & Media Relations section of AB's website, with a replay accessible shortly after the event [2] - AllianceBernstein is recognized as a leading global investment management firm, providing diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals, and private wealth clients [3] Ownership Structure - As of September 30, 2025, AllianceBernstein Holding owned approximately 30.8% of AllianceBernstein, while Equitable Holdings, Inc. held an approximate 68.5% economic interest in AllianceBernstein [4]

Core Viewpoint - SOFI Technologies Inc. demonstrates strong operational performance but faces high valuation multiples, necessitating a thorough evaluation of its growth potential to justify its premium status [2][7]. Valuation - SOFI's price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 9.4x, significantly higher than the S&P 500's 3.1x, while its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 49.0x, double that of the benchmark's 23.4x, indicating that investors are paying a premium for its sales and earnings [4]. Growth - The company has achieved an average annual revenue growth of 33.4% over three years, which is six times the S&P 500's growth rate of 5.5%. Recent revenues increased from $2.5 billion to $3.3 billion, reflecting a 34% rise, with the latest quarter showing a year-over-year growth of 38.6% to $962 million [5]. Profitability - SOFI reports a net income of $640 million, resulting in a net margin of 19.3%, which is significantly higher than the S&P 500's margin of 13.1%. This indicates strong profitability while pursuing rapid growth, suggesting scalable unit economics [6]. Market Performance - During the 2022 inflation crisis, SOFI's stock experienced an 83.3% peak-to-trough decline, compared to the S&P 500's 25.4% drop, highlighting its vulnerability to market volatility. However, it fully recovered by August 2025, reaching $32.21, indicating improved fundamentals [6]. In contrast, during the COVID pandemic, SOFI only declined by 2.8%, outperforming the S&P 500's 33.9% decrease [6]. Investment Conclusion - SOFI is positioned as a high-conviction growth investment despite its elevated valuation. The combination of over 30% revenue growth and nearly 20% net margins warrants attention, although sustaining current growth rates is critical to maintain its high sales multiple [7][8].

Core Insights - AllianceBernstein L.P. and AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. reported a preliminary increase in assets under management (AUM) to $869 billion in October 2025, up from $860 billion at the end of September, reflecting a 1% month-over-month growth driven by market appreciation and modest net inflows [1][2] Summary by Category Assets Under Management - As of October 31, 2025, total AUM reached $869 billion, with a breakdown of $356 billion in private institutions, $359 billion in retail, and $154 billion in private wealth [2] - The increase in AUM was primarily attributed to market appreciation, with institutional net inflows partially offset by retail net outflows and slight net outflows from private wealth [1] Investment Performance - The total equity AUM was $362 billion, which includes $283 billion in actively managed equity and $79 billion in passive equity [2] - Total fixed income AUM amounted to $314 billion, with $217 billion in taxable fixed income and $88 billion in tax-exempt fixed income [2] - Alternatives and multi-asset solutions contributed $193 billion to the total AUM [2] Company Overview - AllianceBernstein is recognized as a leading global investment management firm, providing diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals, and private wealth clients across major world markets [4]