Mumbai: The State Bank of India is weighing a plan to take control of its investment-banking joint venture (JV) with Investec India, according to two people familiar with the matter. The move comes as India’s largest lender seeks to strengthen its deal-making and distribution capabilities in the midst of a multi-year boom in the country’s equity capital markets. SBI is considering raising its stake to 51% from about 20% after an earlier attempt to raise the stake to 40% was rebuffed by the Reserve Bank of I ...

Group 1 - The upcoming earnings reports from major banks like Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, PNC Financial, and U.S. Bancorp are crucial for assessing the health of the American consumer and the regional lending landscape [1][3] - Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are larger institutions that significantly influence the S&P 500 Index and various financial sector ETFs, while PNC and U.S. Bancorp represent key regional players focused on traditional lending [2][6] - The market is particularly interested in the net interest income trajectories of these banks, as well as updates on credit loss provisions, which could indicate their outlook on economic conditions [3] Group 2 - Morgan Stanley's wealth management division has provided stability, making it a smoother investment compared to Goldman Sachs, which is a major component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average [5] - The anticipated "thaw" in the deal-making environment for 2026 suggests a potential increase in mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings, driven by pent-up demand [4] - PNC and U.S. Bancorp are seen as a reality check for the regional banking sector, focusing on mortgages, auto loans, and small business credit rather than high-profile M&A activities [6]

Group 1 - Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is recognized among 15 dividend stocks with low payout ratios and strong upside potential [1] - Keefe Bruyette has lowered its price target for Houlihan Lokey to $228 from $230 while maintaining an Outperform rating, citing a supportive economic backdrop expected in 2026 [2] - Fiscal Q2 2026 results showed revenue of $659 million, an increase from $575 million in the same quarter of the previous year, with net income rising to $112 million or $1.63 per diluted share compared to $94 million or $1.37 per diluted share a year earlier [3] Group 2 - Revenue growth was broad-based, with Corporate Finance revenue increasing by 21% year over year, Financial Restructuring revenue rising by 2%, and Financial and Valuation Advisory revenue climbing by 10% [4] - As of September 30, 2025, the company held $1.11 billion in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities, providing significant liquidity and flexibility [4] - Houlihan Lokey operates as a global investment bank with strengths in mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and valuation and advisory services [5]

Core Insights - Lazard Ltd is set to release its quarterly earnings on October 23, 2025, with an estimated EPS of $0.44 and revenue of $726.25 million, reflecting a year-over-year EPS increase of 7.9% and revenue growth of 8% [1][5] Earnings Estimates - Analysts have revised the consensus EPS estimate downwards by 1.8% over the past 30 days, which may affect investor sentiment [1][5] Market Reaction - The market's response to earnings estimate revisions is significant; if Lazard's actual earnings exceed expectations, the stock may experience an upward trend, while disappointing earnings could lead to a decline [2] Financial Metrics - Lazard's financial metrics include a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 15.67, a price-to-sales ratio of 1.52, and an enterprise value to sales ratio of 1.37, indicating how the market values its earnings and sales [3] Financial Health - The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 1.89, suggesting a balanced approach to financing and the ability to cover short-term liabilities with short-term assets [4]

Core Insights - Houlihan Lokey reported Q1 FY2026 non-GAAP earnings per share of $2.14, surpassing analyst expectations of $2.08, while revenue of $605 million fell short of the consensus estimate by over 10% [1][2] - The company experienced year-over-year growth across all three business segments, although operating income decreased compared to the previous year [1][5] Financial Performance - Non-GAAP EPS increased by 75.4% year-over-year from $1.22 in Q1 FY2025 to $2.14 in Q1 FY2026 [2] - GAAP revenue was $605 million, a 17.7% increase from $514 million in Q1 FY2025, but below the estimate of $675.16 million [2] - GAAP operating margin decreased by 3.6 percentage points to 14.8% compared to 18.4% in Q1 FY2025 [2] - GAAP net income rose by 9.7% to $97.5 million from $88.9 million in the same quarter last year [2] - Employee compensation ratio remained stable at 61.5% [2] Business Segments Overview - Corporate Finance segment, focused on mergers and acquisitions, saw a 21% revenue increase, attributed to higher average transaction fees and an increase in closed transactions from 116 to 125 [5] - Financial Restructuring division reported a 9% revenue increase, supported by a stable headcount and a higher number of closed transactions [6] - Financial and Valuation Advisory unit achieved 16% revenue growth, driven by an expanded client base and an increase in billable milestones from 847 to 957 [7] Strategic Focus - The company is concentrating on expanding its team of senior bankers and increasing its market share in mid-cap advisory [4] - Emphasis is placed on expertise, talent acquisition, and compliance with financial regulations as key success factors [4] Expense and Tax Considerations - Overall GAAP expenses increased faster than revenue, despite the non-GAAP employee compensation ratio remaining flat [8] - The effective tax rate was notably low at 0.5%, primarily due to stock-based compensation deductions, which positively impacted net income and earnings per share [9] Management Outlook - Management did not provide specific financial guidance for the upcoming quarter, citing uncertainties in deal flow and market conditions [10] - Key indicators for future performance include the normalization of the tax rate and the pace of deal activity, particularly in mid-cap M&A and restructuring [11]