There will be transaction costs and transition costs associated with the merger and integration. Q2 should be viewed as an integration quarter, not a fully synergized quarter. But the base business will have increased revenue and will have improvement on the bottom line as it relates to EBITDA. Quarter three integration work should be executed, and Q2 should begin to flow through the financials in a more meaningful way. We expect positive top line growth and improved operating leverage with a stretch object ...

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (AMP) is a Minnesota-based diversified financial services company providing wealth management, asset management, insurance, and retirement planning solutions to individual and institutional clients. Founded in 1894 and valued at a market cap of $43.8 billion, Ameriprise operates through a nationwide network of financial advisors supported by integrated brokerage, banking, and advisory platforms. The asset management giant has substantially underperformed the broader market over ...

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks have been a significant driver of market performance over the past three years, but many are now considered overpriced, making it essential to evaluate individual companies for fair valuations [1] Company Overview - Chewy is the leading e-commerce provider for pet supplies, known for its strong customer loyalty [5] - The company has a net sales retention rate exceeding 100%, indicating that customers tend to spend more in subsequent years [6] Financial Performance - Chewy's Autoship program accounted for 84% of its sales in Q3 2025, allowing for predictable sales and improved inventory management [7] - The company achieved a 5.4% adjusted EBITDA margin over the trailing 12 months, with a long-term target of a 10% margin [7] Growth Opportunities - Chewy's expansion into pet healthcare, insurance, and advertising is expected to enhance margin growth and customer loyalty [8] - The integration of these services with core retail operations allows for higher-margin sales without significantly increasing operating expenses [8] Revenue and Earnings Projections - Chewy is expected to achieve solid revenue growth in the high single digits, with earnings projected to grow at 23% year-over-year [9]

Core Viewpoint - Manulife Financial Corporation has announced a 10.2% increase in its quarterly common shareholders' dividend, raising it to $0.485 per share, effective March 19, 2026 [1]. Group 1: Dividend Announcement - The Board of Directors declared a dividend increase of 4.5 cents per share, resulting in a new dividend of $0.485 per share [1]. - The dividend is payable to shareholders of record as of February 25, 2026 [1]. - The company will purchase common shares on the open market for its Canadian and U.S. Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plans, with no applicable discounts on the purchase price [1]. Group 2: Company Overview - Manulife is a leading international financial services provider, operating under the name Manulife in Canada, Asia, and Europe, and as John Hancock in the United States [1]. - The company offers financial advice, insurance, and investment services, serving over 36 million customers globally [1]. - As of the end of 2024, Manulife had more than 37,000 employees and over 109,000 agents [1].

Core Viewpoint - Lithia Motors, Inc. is a significant player in the U.S. automotive retail industry, offering a wide range of services and maintaining a strong online presence [1] Price Target and Analyst Sentiment - The consensus price target for Lithia Motors has fluctuated, with the current average at $374, down from $414.5 last quarter and $390.17 a year ago, indicating changing analyst sentiment [2] - Wells Fargo has set a price target of $350, reflecting confidence in the company's growth potential despite the recent decrease in the average price target [3] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Lithia Motors reported a 5% increase in revenue and a 17% rise in adjusted earnings per share (EPS) [4] - The company executed share buybacks amounting to 5.1% of its shares at an average price of $312, indicating a shift towards a more mature capital strategy [4] Stock Performance - Lithia Motors' stock has declined by 11.5% since the last earnings report 30 days ago, yet the price target set by Wells Fargo remains at $350, suggesting potential long-term confidence in the company's performance [5]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 is trading slightly below its all-time highs, showing resilience despite recent selling in sectors like software and AI, with a focus on projected earnings growth in 2026 and potential rate cuts [1] - Long-term investors are encouraged to continue buying strong stocks, as market fluctuations may not significantly impact overall investment strategies [2] Investment Opportunities - Investors are advised to consider best-in-class, cheap stocks trading under $10, which have strong Zacks Ranks due to improving earnings outlooks [3] - Stocks priced under $10 are generally seen as less risky than penny stocks, which trade for less than $5, but still carry speculative risks [4][6] Stock Screening Criteria - A screening process for identifying the best cheap stocks under $10 includes parameters such as price, volume, Zacks Rank, average broker rating, number of analysts covering the stock, and earnings estimate revisions [8][9] Featured Stock: Itaú Unibanco (ITUB) - Itaú Unibanco (ITUB) is highlighted as a strong investment opportunity, being one of the largest private banks in Brazil, with a full range of financial services [10] - ITUB stock has increased by 75% over the past year, with projected adjusted earnings growth of 18% in FY26 and 10% in the following year, supported by 7% sales growth in both periods [11] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and is part of the Banks – Foreign industry, which ranks in the top 16% of Zacks industries, indicating strong potential for price movement [13]

Core Insights - Baron Asset Fund outperformed the Russell Midcap Growth Index by 11.59 percentage points in Q4 2025, returning 7.89% [1] - The Fund's strong performance was attributed to favorable stock selection, particularly in the financial sector with Arch Capital Group Ltd. [1][3] Fund Performance - The Russell Midcap Growth Index ended Q4 2025 down 3.70% [1] - Baron Asset Fund held 53 positions, with the top 10 holdings representing 52.8% of net assets and the top 20 holdings representing 73.3% [1] Arch Capital Group Ltd. Overview - Arch Capital Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:ACGL) is an insurance company with a market capitalization of $35.852 billion [2] - The stock closed at $96.06 on February 9, 2026, with a one-month return of 5.83% and a twelve-month return of 7.21% [2] Financial Performance of Arch Capital Group Ltd. - Arch Capital's stock rose due to strong earnings results, with Q3 earnings per share exceeding expectations [3] - The company achieved an 18% return on equity and 9% growth in book value per share, with 18% growth when adjusted for a special dividend [3] - Share repurchases reduced the share count by 4% year to date, indicating management's confidence in the company's valuation [3] Hedge Fund Interest - Arch Capital Group Ltd. was held by 40 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, down from 46 in the previous quarter [4] - While the company has potential, certain AI stocks are considered to offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]

Core Insights - Compass, Inc. will release its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 financial results on February 26, 2026, after market close, followed by a conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET [1] - The company operates as a global real estate services provider with a presence in major U.S. cities and approximately 120 countries, serving millions of buyers and sellers through well-known brands [1][2] Company Overview - Compass, Inc. empowers over 300,000 real estate professionals through its owned-brokerage and franchise business, enhancing service delivery to consumers [1] - The company offers a range of integrated services beyond brokerage, including mortgage, title, insurance, escrow, and relocation [2] Investor Relations - The company utilizes its Investor Relations website to disclose material information and comply with regulatory obligations, encouraging investors to monitor updates through various channels [3] - The upcoming conference call and shareholder presentation will be accessible online, with a replay available for 90 days post-call [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net revenue for Q2 reached ZAR 1.6 billion, a 16% year-on-year increase [12] - Group-adjusted EBITDA grew 47% year-on-year to ZAR 304 million [12][15] - Adjusted earnings per share increased more than sixfold to ZAR 1.34 [14][18] - Leverage ratio stands at 2.5x, down from 2.9x at year-end [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Merchant division net revenue decreased by 2% due to a refocus on high-potential clients and pricing pressure [15] - Consumer division net revenue rose 38% year-on-year to ZAR 567 million [15] - Enterprise division net revenue increased by 67% year-on-year to ZAR 217 million [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Active merchants increased by 8% year-on-year to over 130,000 [22] - Consumer base exceeded 2 million customers, a 21% increase year-on-year [30] - Total ADP TPV reached ZAR 11.9 billion, representing 18% year-on-year growth [37] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to build a leading independent fintech in Southern Africa, consolidating brands under "One Lesaka" [3][4] - Focus on expanding financial access through technology with a human touch [7] - Plans to integrate Bank Zero for funding and balance sheet benefits [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued growth, particularly in the consumer lending segment [32] - The company anticipates a transformative year for the merchant division, expecting growth to return in FY27 [16] - Future guidance for net revenue is set between ZAR 6.4 billion and ZAR 6.9 billion, implying growth rates of 21%-30% [41] Other Important Information - The company exited its Cell C stake, receiving ZAR 50 million, and released ZAR 65 million from a legacy contract [9] - Approximately 60% of employees are under the age of 40, reflecting a young and diverse workforce [8] Q&A Session Summary Question: Increase in transaction fees and growth in insurance and lending revenue - Management confirmed that transaction fees are reviewed annually and that they are gaining market share from competitors, particularly in underserved markets [44][45] Question: Declining ARPU in the merchant segment - Management expects ARPU to stabilize and increase over the next 12 months, driven by cross-selling opportunities [49][51] Question: Drivers behind consumer lending growth - The increase in loan sizes and the introduction of a digital USSD channel have significantly contributed to growth, with 40% of originations coming from the new medium-term loan product [53][55]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net income of BRL 4.1 billion for Q4 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of almost 6% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 1.9% [2] - The profitability ratio was maintained at 17.6%, with a goal to achieve over 20% in the future [2] - The net interest income (NII) grew by 0.8% quarter-on-quarter, although it decreased year-on-year due to market conditions [3] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer finance showed significant growth, with a year-on-year increase of 13%, and the portfolio expanded, enhancing customer experience [22] - The small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) segment also grew by 13% year-on-year, indicating a positive trend in this area [22] - The company reported a 73% increase in insurance and fees year-on-year, indicating strong performance in this segment [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Time deposits from individuals grew by nearly 20% annually, reflecting a favorable performance in the funding mix [24] - Demand deposits saw a reduction as clients migrated to time deposits, indicating a shift in customer preferences [25] - The company observed a slight improvement in asset management, although market-making activities deteriorated quarter-on-quarter [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The core strategy focuses on customer journey transformation and enhancing primary relationships through hyper-personalization and AI [5][6] - The company aims to increase customer activity and transactionality to become the primary bank for its clients [6] - There is a strong emphasis on expanding the SME segment and improving the service model to capture growth opportunities [14][34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenges posed by high interest rates affecting smaller enterprises, but remains optimistic about the long-term potential of the SME segment [36] - The company is committed to disciplined growth and improving the cost-to-serve in the low-income segment to enhance profitability [58] - Management expects to see improvements in provisions and overall portfolio quality in the coming quarters, despite current pressures [29][60] Other Important Information - The company has made significant investments in technology, with a 16% increase in tech-related expenses, indicating a focus on modernization and efficiency [18][49] - The efficiency ratio was impacted by seasonal effects, but overall expense growth remained below inflation due to effective cost management [29] - The company is actively working on migrating legacy systems to more efficient platforms, which will require substantial investment [50] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is happening with the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) delinquency ratio? - Management noted that the pressure observed in SMEs is primarily related to smaller companies rather than specific industries, and they are monitoring the situation closely [33][36] Question: How does the company view the relevance of branches in serving the low-income segment? - Management believes that while branches still play a role, the focus has shifted towards digital channels, and they are adjusting their branch footprint accordingly [40][43] Question: What is the company's strategy regarding low-income clients and the cost to serve? - Management emphasized the need to reduce the cost to serve significantly to make the low-income segment viable, with plans for further reductions in the coming years [58][59]