For Immediate ReleasesChicago, IL – December 17, 2025 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog includeCapital One Financial Corp. (COF) , SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SOFI) and OppFi Inc. (OPFI) .Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:3 Payment Stocks to Buy as Bull Run Extends to 2026The global payments industry ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of managing finances digitally, highlighting the convenience, control, and security offered by online banking tools [1] Group 1: Online Banking Benefits - Digital tools allow for automated bill payments, reducing stress and the risk of late fees [3] - Custom alerts can help users monitor their spending and bank activity without constant app refreshing [4] - Online money transfers are instant and can be set up for recurring transactions, facilitating easier money management [5] Group 2: Financial Portfolio Management - Opening new accounts online can lead to better rates and lower fees, as online banks typically have lower overhead costs [6] - Users can easily update personal information and enhance account security through online platforms [8]

Core Points - Banks in Guwahati, Assam are closed today for Kati Bihu, while October 18 is also noted as Dhanteras, although not a declared bank holiday [1][4] - October 2025 has a total of 21 official bank holidays, which include various religious and regional festivities such as Diwali, Maha Ashtami, Dussehra, Durga Puja, and Chhat Puja, along with weekly offs [1][4] Bank Holidays Summary - October 18 (Saturday): Banks closed in Guwahati for Kati Bihu [5][7] - October 19 (Sunday): Banks closed nationwide for Sunday weekly off [5][7] - October 20 (Monday): Banks closed in multiple cities for Diwali and related festivities [5][7] - October 21 (Tuesday): Banks closed in several cities for Diwali Amavasya and related celebrations [5][7] - October 22 (Wednesday): Banks closed in various cities for Diwali and Vikram Samvant New Year [5][7] - October 23 (Thursday): Banks closed in select cities for Bhai Bij and related festivities [5][7] - October 25 (Saturday): Banks closed nationwide for fourth Saturday weekly off [5][7] - October 26 (Sunday): Banks closed nationwide for Sunday weekly off [5][7] - Additional closures for Chath Puja on October 27 and 28, and for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Birthday on October 31 [7]

Core Viewpoint - SoFi Technologies has seen a significant increase in its stock price, gaining over 200% in the past year, yet shares are still priced under $30, indicating potential for further growth [2][12]. Company Performance - SoFi has successfully turned around its financial performance, achieving profitability while expanding its operations [6]. - In Q2, SoFi's revenue grew by 44% year over year to $858 million, and earnings per share increased by 700% to $0.08 [6]. - Member growth reached 34% year over year, totaling 11.7 million, while product growth also increased by 34% to 17.1 million [6]. Business Model and Market Position - SoFi's business model is well-suited to modern consumer needs, particularly among younger demographics, as it operates as a fully online bank with lower fixed costs [7][8]. - The trend of millennials and Gen-Z banking online positions SoFi favorably as these groups enter their financial prime and seek loans and banking products [9][10]. Risks and Considerations - SoFi's reliance on riskier personal loans may pose challenges during economic downturns due to potential default risks [10]. - The company's shares are trading at a high valuation of 47 times forward earnings, compared to the financial sector average of 16.5 [10][11]. - Despite potential short-term volatility due to valuation, SoFi's strong customer base and expanding services make it an attractive long-term investment [12].

Core Points - Banks in Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, and Chandigarh will be closed on October 7 for Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti and Kumar Purnima [1] - October 2025 has a total of 21 official bank holidays, including major religious and regional festivities such as Diwali, Maha Ashtami, Dussehra, Durga Puja, and Chhat Puja [1] - Banks across India, including the State Bank of India (SBI), observe holidays mandated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which includes the second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays [2] Bank Holidays Schedule - October 1: Banks closed in multiple cities for Navratri End / Maha Navami / Dussehra / Ayudhapooja, among others [3] - October 2: Nationwide closure for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti and other festivals [4] - October 3-4: Banks closed in Gangtok for Durga Puja [4] - October 5: Nationwide closure for Sunday weekly off [4] - October 6: Banks closed in Agartala and Kolkata for Lakshmi Puja [4] - October 7: Banks closed in Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, and Shimla for Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti and Kumar Purnima [5] - October 10: Banks closed in Shimla for Karva Chauth [5] - October 11-12: Nationwide closure for second Saturday and Sunday weekly off [5] - October 18: Banks closed in Guwahati for Kati Bihu [5] - October 19: Nationwide closure for Sunday weekly off [6] - October 20: Banks closed in multiple cities for Diwali and related festivals [6] - October 21: Banks closed in several cities for Diwali Amavasya and related celebrations [7] - October 22-23: Banks closed in various cities for Diwali and related festivities [9] - October 25-26: Nationwide closure for fourth Saturday and Sunday weekly off [10] - October 27-28: Banks closed in Patna and Ranchi for Chath Puja [10] - October 31: Banks closed in Ahmedabad for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Birthday [11] Online Banking Services - Online and mobile banking services remain available during national holidays unless otherwise notified [8] - ATMs are operational for cash withdrawals, and app and UPI services function as usual [8]

Group 1 - Banks in Agartala and Kolkata will remain closed on October 6 for Laxmi Puja, with multiple closures throughout the week due to regional celebrations and RBI mandated holidays [1][4] - October 2025 has a total of 21 official bank holidays, including significant religious and regional festivities such as Diwali, Maha Ashtami, Dussehra, Durga Puja, and Chhat Puja [2] - A detailed schedule of bank holidays in October includes closures on various dates for different festivals across multiple cities in India [4] Group 2 - Online and mobile banking services remain available during national holidays unless otherwise notified for technical reasons [3] - ATMs are operational for cash withdrawals, and app and UPI services function as usual during bank holidays [5]

Core Points - Banks in India will be closed on multiple dates next week due to regional celebrations and RBI mandated holidays, including Laxmi Puja and Karva Chauth, leading to potential long weekends for some regions [1][2] - October 2025 has a total of 21 official bank holidays, which include various religious and regional festivities such as Diwali, Maha Ashtami, Dussehra, Durga Puja, and Chhat Puja, along with weekly offs [1] Summary by Dates - October 1: Banks closed in multiple cities for Navratri End and related festivities [5] - October 2: Nationwide bank closure for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti and other festivals [5] - October 3-5: Banks closed in Gangtok for Durga Puja and nationwide for Sunday weekly off [5] - October 6: Banks closed in Agartala and Kolkata for Lakshmi Puja [4] - October 7: Banks closed in Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, and Shimla for Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti [4] - October 10: Banks closed in Shimla for Karva Chauth [4] - October 11: Nationwide closure for the second Saturday weekly off [4] - October 12: Nationwide closure for Sunday weekly off [4] - October 18: Banks closed in Guwahati for Kati Bihu [5] - October 19: Nationwide closure for Sunday weekly off [5] - October 20-21: Banks closed in various cities for Diwali and related festivities [5][6] - October 22-23: Banks closed in multiple cities for Diwali and related celebrations [6] - October 25-26: Nationwide closure for the fourth Saturday and Sunday weekly off [6] - October 27-28: Banks closed in Patna and Ranchi for Chath Puja [6] - October 31: Banks closed in Ahmedabad for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Birthday [6]

Core Points - October 2025 has a total of 21 official bank holidays in India, including major religious and regional festivities such as Diwali, Maha Ashtami, Dussehra, Durga Puja, and Chhat Puja [1][5] Group 1: Bank Holidays Overview - Banks across India, including the State Bank of India (SBI), will remain closed during holidays mandated by the central bank, which includes the second and fourth Saturdays of each month and all Sundays [2] - A detailed list of bank holidays for October 2025 includes closures for various festivals, with specific dates outlined for each celebration [3][5] Group 2: Specific Holiday Dates - October 1: Banks closed in multiple cities for Navratri End / Maha Navami / Dussehra [5] - October 2: Nationwide bank closure for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti and other festivals [5] - October 3: Banks closed in Gangtok for Durga Puja [5] - October 20-23: Multiple closures for Diwali celebrations across various cities [5] - October 27-28: Banks closed in Patna and Ranchi for Chath Puja [5] - October 31: Banks closed in Ahmedabad for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Birthday [5] Group 3: Banking Services During Holidays - Online and mobile banking services remain available during national holidays unless otherwise notified, and ATMs are operational for cash withdrawals [6]

Core Points - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated a bank holiday on September 29 for Agartala, Kolkata, and Guwahati in observance of Maha Saptami, part of the Durga Puja festival [1][5] - A series of bank holidays will occur from September 29 to October 5 across various cities in India due to religious celebrations and national holidays [3][5] - Online and mobile banking services remain operational during these holidays, and ATMs are available for cash withdrawals [4] Summary by Category Bank Holidays - September 29 marks a bank holiday for Maha Saptami in Agartala, Kolkata, and Guwahati [1][5] - September 30 will see bank closures in cities like Agartala, Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata for Maha Ashtami/Durga Ashtami [5] - October 1 will have bank closures in multiple cities for Navaratri End/Maha Navami/Dussehra [5] - October 2 is a pan-India bank holiday for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti and other celebrations [5] - Additional closures are noted on October 3 and 4 in Gangtok for Durga Puja, and October 5 is a weekly Sunday closure [5] Banking Operations - Banks in India, including the State Bank of India (SBI), observe holidays as mandated by the RBI, which includes second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays [2] - The RBI and state governments collaborate to create a holiday list based on various factors including national and local occasions [2]

Core Points - All seven days from September 29 to October 5 will be bank holidays in various parts of India due to religious celebrations and national holidays [1][2] - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandates these holidays, which include the second and fourth Saturdays of each month and all Sundays [1][3] Summary by Date - **September 29 (Monday)**: Bank holiday in Agartala, Kolkata, and Guwahati for Maha Saptami, the seventh day of the Durga Puja festival [4] - **September 30 (Tuesday)**: Multiple cities including Agartala, Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata will observe bank closure for Maha Ashtami/Durga Ashtami, the eighth day of Durga Puja [4] - **October 1 (Wednesday)**: Banks closed in cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata for Navaratri End/Maha Navami/Dussehra [4] - **October 2 (Thursday)**: Nationwide bank closure for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti/Dussehra/Durga Puja [4] - **October 3 (Friday)**: Banks closed in Gangtok for Durga Puja [4] - **October 4 (Saturday)**: Banks closed in Gangtok for Durga Puja [4] - **October 5 (Sunday)**: Nationwide bank closure for the weekly Sunday off [4] Banking Operations - Online and mobile banking services remain available during national holidays unless otherwise notified [4] - ATMs will be operational for cash withdrawals, and app and UPI functions will continue as usual [4]