Core Insights - Three stocks are highlighted with strong income characteristics and a buy rank as of November 19th Group 1: First Hawaiian (FHB) - First Hawaiian offers a range of banking services including deposit products, lending services, and wealth management [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 4.9% over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a dividend yield of 4.5%, surpassing the industry average of 3.1% [2] Group 2: OP Bancorp (OPBK) - OP Bancorp provides commercial banking services to both retail and institutional customers [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 4.7% over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a dividend yield of 3.8%, compared to the industry average of 1.2% [2] Group 3: Jackson Financial (JXN) - Jackson Financial is a U.S. retirement services provider with a diverse portfolio of differentiated products [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 1.7% over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a dividend yield of 3.5%, which is higher than the industry average of 1.6% [3]

Core Insights - Equitable Holdings, Inc. reported a revenue of $3.74 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, reflecting a 1% decrease year-over-year and a surprise of -6.01% compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.98 billion [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $1.48, down from $1.53 in the same quarter last year, with an EPS surprise of -6.92% against the consensus estimate of $1.59 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Retirement net flows were reported at $1.22 billion, below the two-analyst average estimate of $1.52 billion [4] - Wealth Management advisory net new assets reached $2.21 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $1.75 billion [4] - Asset Management's assets under management (AUM) at the end of the period were $860.10 billion, slightly below the average estimate of $866.77 billion [4] - Net long-term inflows in Asset Management were reported at -$2.30 billion, better than the average estimate of -$2.44 billion [4] - Revenue from Retirement policy charges, fee income, and premiums was $296 million, compared to the average estimate of $311.81 million [4] - Revenue from investment management, service fees, and other income was $1.68 billion, below the average estimate of $1.79 billion [4] - Net derivative gains (losses) reported were -$17 million, worse than the average estimate of -$3.07 million [4] - Net investment income was $1.35 billion, slightly above the average estimate of $1.31 billion [4] - Policy charges, fee income, and premiums revenue was $729 million, compared to the average estimate of $782.48 million [4] - Corporate and Other revenue was $741 million, below the average estimate of $1 billion [4] - Wealth Management revenue was $499 million, in line with the average estimate of $498.14 million [4] - Retirement net derivative gains (losses) were reported at -$2 million, better than the average estimate of -$5.4 million [4] Stock Performance - Equitable Holdings' shares have returned -4.2% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.1% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

New York-based American International Group, Inc. (AIG) offers insurance products for commercial, institutional, and individual customers. Valued at $43.7 billion by market cap, the company provides property-casualty insurance, life insurance, and retirement services. Shares of this leading global insurance organization have underperformed the broader market over the past year. AIG has gained 2.8% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 17.7%. In 2025, AIG’s stock r ...

Core Points - Brookfield Wealth Solutions Ltd. has completed a three-for-two stock split of its class A exchangeable limited voting shares, effective from October 10, 2025 [1] - Each shareholder received one-half of a class A share for each class A share held, resulting in one additional class A share for every two shares held [1] - Fractional shares will be compensated in cash based on the closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of the record date, October 3, 2025 [1] Company Overview - Brookfield Wealth Solutions Ltd. focuses on securing financial futures through retirement services, wealth protection products, and tailored capital solutions [2] - Each class A exchangeable limited voting share is exchangeable on a one-for-one basis with a class A limited voting share of Brookfield Corporation [2]

Core Insights - Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) focuses on stable, recurring revenue streams, particularly in retirement and long-term savings, driven by strong demand in both U.S. and international markets [1][3] - The company has a solid presence in group benefits and protection, alongside a growing global asset management franchise, which reduces dependence on interest rate fluctuations [2][3] - PFG is experiencing steady growth in retirement and benefits, especially within the U.S. small to midsize business segment, supported by strong employment trends and rising wages [3][4] Business Strategy - PFG has utilized select acquisitions to enhance its core businesses, including the purchase of Wells Fargo's Institutional Retirement and Trust business, which has expanded its scale and service capabilities [4] - The company emphasizes fee-based income and aims to expand assets under management, contributing to a more resilient earnings profile [2][3] Financial Performance - Over the past five years, PFG has raised its dividend 12 times, with payouts increasing nearly 6%, and the current payout ratio is about 40% of earnings [5] - Management anticipates capital deployment to remain high in the second half of 2025, targeting $1.4 billion to $1.7 billion, including $700 million to $1 billion in share repurchases [6] Challenges - PFG faces rising operating expenses and increased claims costs, which could pressure profitability [7] - The return on invested capital (ROIC) for the trailing 12 months was 0.5%, significantly lower than the industry average of 2%, indicating inefficiencies in utilizing shareholders' funds [8] - The company's earnings history shows disappointing results, lagging estimates in three of the last four quarters with an average negative earnings surprise of 1.5% [9] Industry Context - Other players in the Insurance - Multi line sector include Radian Group Inc., Everest Group, and EverQuote, with Radian Group showing strong earnings performance [10][11] - Everest Group's growth is supported by product diversification and a balanced insurance mix, while EverQuote is positioned for long-term growth through digital adoption and technology investments [13][15]

Core Insights - The Principal Financial Group is a global leader in investment management, offering a range of financial products and services including retirement services, insurance solutions, and asset management [1] - Founded in 1879, the company is a member of the FORTUNE 500 and manages $519.3 billion in assets [1] - The Principal serves approximately 19.7 million customers worldwide from various regions including Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States [1] - The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG [1] Company Overview - Principal Financial Group provides diverse financial services through its family of companies, catering to businesses, individuals, and institutional clients [1] - The company offers plan administrative services through Principal Life and distributes its funds via Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. [1] - Insurance products are issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Co [1]

Group 1: Technology Sector Overview - Technology stocks constitute approximately one-third of the S&P 500 index and are significantly outperforming the broader index this year [1] - The lack of dividends in many tech stocks is due to reinvestment of profits into scaling successful products, research, and AI infrastructure [2][4] Group 2: Cisco Systems - Cisco Systems reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 revenue of $14.1 billion, an 11% increase year-over-year, with earnings per share (EPS) of $0.62, up 35% from the previous year [5] - The company generated over $1 billion in AI-related revenue in 2024 and aims to double that in 2025, aided by the $28 billion acquisition of Splunk [6] - Cisco's stock has risen 15% in 2025 and offers a dividend yield of 2.3% [7] Group 3: International Business Machines (IBM) - IBM, known for its long history, is currently focused on cybersecurity, cloud computing, and consulting, with 81% of Fortune 500 companies using its mainframe computers [8] - The company has gained 30% in stock value this year, bolstered by its 2019 acquisition of Red Hat, which enhanced its hybrid cloud-computing capabilities [9] - Analysts project IBM's revenue to increase by 5.5% to $66.2 billion this year, with a further 4% growth expected in fiscal year 2026, alongside a 2.3% dividend yield [10] Group 4: Paychex - Paychex, a leader in payroll and human resources services, surpassed $5 billion in revenue in 2024 and serves over 745,000 clients [11][13] - The company experienced double-digit growth in its retirement services division, which now manages $52 billion in assets [13] - Paychex's revenue for fiscal Q4 2025 was $1.42 billion, a 10% increase year-over-year, despite an 11% drop in operating income due to a $4 billion acquisition of Paycor [13] - The company forecasts revenue growth of 16.5% to 18.5% and EPS growth of 8.5% to 10.5% for the next fiscal year [14] - Paychex stock has increased by 2% this year and offers a dividend yield of 3%, with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 26 [15]

Core Insights - Understanding market incentives and narratives is crucial, as investors typically buy stocks for profit but often hesitate to sell to realize those profits [1] Company Overview - Robinhood Markets Inc. has seen significant insider trading activity, with director Baiju Bhatt selling up to $31 million worth of stock, while another director, Christopher Payne, purchased up to $2 million worth of shares during the same period [3][4] - Despite not being added to the S&P 500 index, Robinhood's stock rallied by 8% following the announcement, indicating market resilience and potential optimism [5][6] Market Position and Performance - Robinhood is positioned to benefit from increased volatility in the market, with over 75% of American households having significant net worth tied to the stock market [8][9] - The company reported $1 billion in revenue, a 115% increase year-over-year, driven by new services like futures trading and retirement accounts [11][12] - Robinhood has 25.2 million funded customers and an 88% annual growth in assets under custody, reaching $193 billion, marking its emergence as a significant player in retail brokerage [12] Strategic Moves - The acquisition of Bitstamp, a cryptocurrency exchange, allows Robinhood to expand its offerings and cater to the growing interest in cryptocurrency trading [13] - The current stock price forecast for Robinhood is $58.00, indicating a potential downside of 25.97% from the current price of $78.35, based on 19 analyst ratings [11]

Core Points - Brookfield Wealth Solutions announced the approval of all business items at its annual general and special meeting of shareholders held virtually [1] - All five nominees for the board of directors from both class A and class B shares were elected [2] Election Results - Class A shareholders voted as follows for the five nominated directors: - Dr. Soonyoung Chang: 23,747,124 votes (99.17% for, 0.83% withheld) - William Cox: 22,970,300 votes (95.92% for, 4.08% withheld) - Michele Coleman Mayes: 23,696,733 votes (98.96% for, 1.04% withheld) - Lars Rodert: 23,273,435 votes (97.19% for, 2.81% withheld) - Anne Schaumburg: 23,678,628 votes (98.88% for, 1.12% withheld) [3] - The holder of class B shares voted all 24,000 shares in favor of the five nominated directors: Barry Blattman, Gregory Morrison, Lori Pearson, Sachin Shah, and Jay Wintrob [3] Additional Approvals - All other matters presented at the meeting were approved by shareholder vote, with a summary of the votes to be available on EDGAR and SEDAR [4] Company Overview - Brookfield Wealth Solutions focuses on securing financial futures through retirement services, wealth protection products, and tailored capital solutions [5]

Group 1 - Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PFG) operates in retirement, asset management, and life insurance sectors but lacks a competitive advantage compared to peers in these segments [1] - The current valuation of Principal Financial Group appears to be underwhelming when compared to its competitors [1]