Core Insights - The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.45, an increase from $0.40 in the same quarter last year, indicating a potential stabilization in its retail business despite ongoing geopolitical challenges [1][34] - Consumer money transfer transactions decreased by 2.5% in the quarter, but cross-border principal growth showed resilience, suggesting a strong customer base adapting to macroeconomic conditions [2][37] - The company aims to build a digital-first, retail-enabled consumer services model, leveraging its global brand and payment capabilities to moderate fluctuations in its core remittance business [3][4] Financial Performance - For the fourth quarter, the company reported revenue of $1 billion, reflecting a 5% decline year-over-year on an adjusted basis [3][32] - The full year GAAP revenue was $4.1 billion, with adjusted revenue growth excluding Iraq down by 2% due to challenges in the Americas retail business [32][34] - Adjusted operating margin for the full year was 20%, up from 19% in the previous year, benefiting from cost discipline [34] Consumer Services and Digital Growth - Consumer services adjusted revenue grew by 26% in the fourth quarter and nearly 30% for the full year, driven by travel money and bill payments [35][36] - The branded digital business saw a 13% increase in transactions and a 6% rise in adjusted revenue, marking nine consecutive quarters of revenue growth [38][39] - The digital business now accounts for over 40% of the principal sent globally, with significant growth opportunities in the Middle East and other regions [21][22] Market Dynamics and Strategy - The company is focusing on operational efficiencies and expanding its payment capabilities to drive productivity and market competitiveness [4][6] - Recent geopolitical changes in regions like Chile and Venezuela are impacting migration and mobility, creating a dynamic environment for the business [8][62] - The implementation of a U.S. remittance tax has not materially impacted the business so far, but the company is closely monitoring its effects [9][15] Partnerships and Expansion - The company has secured several new exclusive partnerships, including with Canada Post and Deutsche Post, expected to generate at least $100 million in incremental retail revenue annually [27][29] - The company is expanding its wallet capabilities in various countries, including Australia, Mexico, Singapore, and the Philippines, to enhance customer retention and monetization [12][13][25] - The company is also developing a digital asset strategy, including the launch of a U.S. Dollar payment token and partnerships for stablecoin transactions [24][25][73] Outlook - The adjusted revenue outlook for 2026 is projected to grow by 6% to 9%, with adjusted EPS expected to be between $1.75 and $1.85 [44][45] - The company anticipates that the integration of Intermex will contribute positively to its financial performance, with expected synergies enhancing overall profitability [70][71] - The company is adapting its customer acquisition strategies to remain competitive in a changing market landscape, particularly in response to aggressive offers from lower-scale players [76][77]

Company Overview - Pathward Financial is a diversified financial services provider focusing on innovative banking and payment solutions, leveraging expertise in commercial and consumer finance to drive growth and maintain a competitive position within the U.S. regional banking sector [8] - The company reported trailing-12-month revenue of $724.3 million and net income of $191.0 million as of September 30, 2025 [6][4] - As of January 20, 2026, shares of Pathward Financial were priced at $74.18, reflecting a 5.16% decline over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 Index by 17.67 percentage points [4][6] Recent Transaction - On January 20, 2026, Shepherd Wealth Management liquidated its entire position in Pathward Financial, selling 15,726 shares for an estimated transaction value of $10.06 million [2][4] - Following this sale, Pathward Financial represented 0% of Shepherd's reported assets under management (AUM), down from 6.7% in the previous quarter [4] Market Position and Performance - Pathward Financial's market capitalization is approximately $1.95 billion, with a current price of $74.18 [6][4] - The company's dividend yield stood at 0.27% as of January 20, 2026 [4] - The stock's 52-week range was between $64.45 and $88.66, with a trading volume of 181K and an average volume of 222K [5] Strategic Insights - The liquidation of Pathward Financial shares by Shepherd Wealth Management indicates a significant strategic overhaul, with the firm reallocating its investments towards water resources, which now constitute 27% of its portfolio [10][11] - This shift suggests a potential belief in better opportunities within water infrastructure and nuclear energy compared to traditional tech growth stocks [11]

Core Insights - Pathward Financial reported a strong position in its first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, driven by growth in its core sponsor banking business and disciplined expense management [4][12] - The company aims to enhance financial inclusion for underserved consumers and businesses through stable deposits and specialized lending [1][3] Business Model and Strategy - Pathward operates with a differentiated model focused on partner programs, facilitating various payment solutions including issuing sponsorship and merchant acquiring [3][4] - The company's value proposition is built on four pillars: experienced leadership, streamlined operations, commitment to partner success, and a consultative governance approach [2] Financial Performance - Pathward reported a net income of $35.2 million and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.57, reflecting year-over-year increases of 17% and 28% respectively [7][17] - The company raised its fiscal 2026 EPS guidance to a range of $8.55 to $9.05, assuming no additional rate cuts and ongoing share repurchases [22] Revenue Growth Drivers - Management identified three primary sources of revenue growth: balance sheet optimization, fee income from loan origination and sales, and non-interest income from new partner products [9][12] - Tax season enrollment is up over 11% year-over-year, indicating strong demand for tax-related financial products [10][11] Balance Sheet and Credit Metrics - Total deposits were $6.4 billion, down $170 million from the previous year, while average deposits increased by approximately $90 million [18] - Loans and leases increased to $5.0 billion, driven by a $531 million rise in commercial finance loans [19][20] - The company maintained low annualized net charge-offs at 0.4%, with a focus on collateral management [21] Liquidity and Capital Actions - Pathward reported liquidity of $3.7 billion and has been actively repurchasing shares, with about 652,000 shares bought back at an average price of $72.07 [22]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income of $35.2 million and earnings per diluted share of $1.57, representing increases of 17% and 28% respectively compared to the previous year [16] - Return on average assets was 1.87% and return on average tangible equity was 26.7%, compared to 1.61% and 25.5% respectively during the same quarter last year [16] - Deposits totaled $6.4 billion, a decrease of $170 million year-over-year, primarily due to an increase in custodial deposits [16][17] - Average deposits during the quarter were approximately $90 million higher than the previous year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net interest income from commercial finance increased by $9.2 million due to higher balances and slightly higher yields [14] - Non-interest income showed solid results, particularly in core card and deposit fees, with growth attributed to new partners [15] - The company originated $1.9 billion in loans during the quarter, with $678 million in commercial finance and $1.2 billion in consumer finance [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced favorable deposit balances at multiple partners due to a strong holiday season and continued partner growth [17] - The government shutdown impacted secondary market revenues, but this is expected to normalize in subsequent quarters [15][46] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to optimize its balance sheet by rotating from securities to loans, increasing net interest income without growing overall asset size [9] - The focus is on generating fee income from balance sheet velocity and originating loans while maintaining a steady balance sheet [10] - The company is committed to enhancing the client experience through an evolved operating model that supports partner growth and scalability [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in revenue growth from new partnerships and the upcoming tax season, which is expected to drive more consumers into tax preparation offices [11][45] - The company is optimistic about the impact of new partner announcements and the normalization of pricing in the industry [41][42] - Management highlighted the importance of monitoring the performance of new partners and the potential for increased revenue from tax-related financial products [43][45] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 652,000 shares at an average price of $72.07, leaving 4.3 million shares available for repurchase [21] - The fiscal year 2026 guidance for EPS has been raised to a range of $8.55-9.05, assuming no additional rate cuts and an effective tax rate of 18-22% [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the trajectory of the adjusted NIM for Q2? - Management indicated that the adjusted NIM for Q2 is expected to be around 5.31%, with potential for it to be flat to up depending on the macroeconomic environment [25][26] Question: Can you quantify the recovery recorded within the net charge-offs? - Management did not provide specific figures but mentioned that the details would be available in the earnings release [27] Question: How does the company view the threat of FinTechs obtaining their own bank charters? - Management believes that while some FinTechs may pursue bank charters, the complexity and scale required to operate effectively will limit their competitive pressure [29][30] Question: What is the current partner pipeline and expectations for future announcements? - Management reported a full partner pipeline and expressed optimism about future announcements, indicating that the number of partnerships is increasing [42] Question: What factors will influence the updated guidance for the fiscal year? - The timing of new partner contributions and the success of the tax season are key factors that will influence the guidance range [43][45]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income of $35.2 million, an increase of 17% year-over-year, and earnings per diluted share of $1.57, up 28% compared to the previous year [16] - Return on average assets was 1.87%, compared to 1.61% in the same quarter last year, while return on average tangible equity was 26.7%, up from 25.5% [16] - Deposits totaled $6.4 billion, a decrease of $170 million year-over-year, primarily due to an increase in custodial deposits [16][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net interest income from commercial finance increased by $9.2 million due to higher balances and slightly higher yields [14] - Non-interest income showed solid results, particularly in core card and deposit fees, with growth attributed to new partners [15] - Loans and leases increased to $5 billion, driven by a $531 million increase in commercial finance loans, partially offset by a $148 million decrease in consumer finance loans [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average deposits during the quarter were approximately $90 million higher than the previous year, with favorable deposit balances due to a strong holiday season [17] - The company originated $1.9 billion in loans during the quarter, with $678 million in commercial finance and $1.2 billion in consumer finance [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to optimize its balance sheet by rotating from securities to loans, increasing net interest income without growing overall asset size [9] - The focus is on generating fee income from balance sheet velocity and originating loans while maintaining a steady balance sheet [10] - The company is committed to enhancing the client experience through an evolved operating model that supports partner growth and scalability [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in revenue growth from new partnerships and the upcoming tax season, which is expected to drive more consumers into tax preparation offices [11][21] - The company anticipates that the changes in tax code for 2025 will positively impact consumer engagement [11] - Management remains optimistic about the pipeline of new partners and the normalization of pricing in the industry [44] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 652,000 shares at an average price of $72.07, leaving 4.3 million shares available for repurchase [21] - The fiscal year 2026 guidance for earnings per share has been raised to a range of $8.55-$9.05, based on several assumptions including no additional rate cuts [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the trajectory for adjusted NIM in Q2? - Management indicated that the adjusted NIM has shown an upward trajectory, with a starting point of 5.49% for Q2, assuming no rate cuts [25][26] Question: Can you quantify the recovery recorded within net charge-offs? - Management did not provide specific figures but mentioned that the details would be available in the earnings release [27] Question: How does the company view the threat of FinTechs obtaining their own bank charters? - Management believes that while there may be some competition, the scale and complexity of operations will limit the impact of new charters on their business [30][31] Question: What is the current partner pipeline and expectations for new announcements? - Management reported a full pipeline and expressed optimism about future partner announcements, indicating that the number of opportunities is increasing [44] Question: What factors will influence the updated guidance? - The timing of new partner contributions and the success of the tax season are key factors that could affect the guidance range [49][50]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income of $35.2 million and earnings per diluted share of $1.57, representing increases of 17% and 28% respectively compared to the previous year [15] - Return on average assets was 1.87% and return on average tangible equity was 26.7%, up from 1.61% and 25.5% respectively in the same quarter last year [15] - Deposits totaled $6.4 billion, a decrease of $170 million year-over-year, primarily due to an increase in custodial deposits [15][16] - Average deposits during the quarter were approximately $90 million higher than the previous year [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net interest income from commercial finance increased by $9.2 million due to higher balances and slightly higher yields [12][13] - Non-interest income showed solid results, particularly in core card and deposit fees, with growth attributed to new partners [14] - Loans and leases increased to $5 billion, driven by a $531 million increase in commercial finance loans, partially offset by a $148 million decrease in consumer finance loans [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced favorable deposit balances at multiple partners due to a strong holiday season and continued partner growth [16] - The government shutdown impacted secondary market revenues, but this is expected to recover in subsequent quarters [14][39] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to optimize its balance sheet by rotating from securities to loans, increasing net interest income without growing overall asset size [9] - Pathward is focused on financial inclusion, providing solutions for underserved and unbanked individuals and businesses [7] - The company is enhancing its operating model to better align with partners and support their growth [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in revenue growth from new partnerships and the upcoming tax season, anticipating benefits from changes in tax code [10][11] - The company is optimistic about the impact of new partner announcements and the normalization of pricing in the industry [36][37] - Management highlighted the importance of monitoring new partners and the potential for increased loan originations throughout the year [44] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 652,000 shares at an average price of $72.07, with 4.3 million shares still available for repurchase [19] - The fiscal year 2026 guidance for EPS has been increased to a range of $8.55-$9.05 [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the adjusted NIM trajectory for Q2? - Management indicated that the adjusted NIM for Q2 is expected to be around 5.31%, with potential for it to be flat to up depending on the macroeconomic environment [21][22] Question: Can you quantify the recovery recorded within net charge-offs? - Management stated that specific quantification of the recovery is not available, but aggregate numbers can be found in the earnings release [23] Question: How does the emergence of FinTechs obtaining bank charters impact the company? - Management believes that while there may be some competition, the scale and complexity of operations required to match Pathward's offerings will take time for new entrants [25][26] Question: What is the embedded growth from new partners? - Management expects mid to high single-digit contributions from new partners once programs are launched and live [32][33] Question: What factors will influence the updated guidance? - The timing of new partner contributions and the success of the tax season are key factors that could push results toward the higher end of the guidance [38][40]

Core Insights - Three stocks are highlighted with strong buy rankings and positive momentum characteristics for investors to consider on January 22nd Group 1: Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria (BBVA) - BBVA is engaged in a variety of banking and financial activities in Spain and has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BBVA's current year earnings has increased by 0.5% over the last 60 days [1] - BBVA's shares have gained 27.9% over the last three months, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 2.5% [2] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of A [2] Group 2: Metropolitan Bank Holding (MCB) - MCB is a chartered commercial bank providing various financial services and has a Zacks Rank of 1 [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MCB's current year earnings has increased by 7% over the last 60 days [3] - MCB's shares have gained 20.8% over the last three months, also outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 2.5% [4] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of A [4] Group 3: Plains All American Pipeline (PAA) - PAA is a master limited partnership involved in the transportation and marketing of crude oil and natural gas in the U.S. and Canada, with a Zacks Rank of 1 [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PAA's current year earnings has increased by 4.8% over the last 60 days [5] - PAA's shares have gained 18.4% over the last three months, again outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 2.5% [6] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of A [6]

Core Insights - Green Dot Corporation (GDOT) has shown strong performance recently, with potential for continued momentum, making it a recommended addition to investment portfolios [1] Performance Overview - GDOT's stock has increased by 19.2% over the past month, significantly outperforming the industry average increase of 6.5% [2][9] Investment Ratings - GDOT holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of B, indicating it is an attractive investment opportunity [3] Earnings Performance - The company has consistently exceeded earnings estimates, achieving an average earnings surprise of 86.6% over the last four quarters [3][9] Revenue Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GDOT's Q4 2025 revenues is $506.2 million, reflecting a 12.1% increase year-over-year, with full-year 2025 revenues projected at $2.1 billion, a 20.4% rise [4] Growth Strategies - GDOT is expanding its user base through prepaid card issuance and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) offerings to major corporations like Walmart, Uber, and Apple [5][9] - The company is launching new features such as Crypto.com's Cash Earn and Dole FinTech's banking product, enhancing its Financial Services Cloud market presence [6] Strategic Partnerships - GDOT has formed partnerships with Stripe, Workday, and Amscot to enhance its service offerings and expand its customer reach [7]

Core Insights - The S&P 500 is currently trading at historically high valuations, making defensive growth stocks like Visa a smart addition to investment portfolios [1] - Visa is recognized for its dominant market position, strong financials, resilient business model, and growth catalysts [1] Company Overview - Visa has shown remarkable revenue, earnings, and cash-flow growth over the years, which is reflected in its stock price [3] - The company is one of the largest payment-processing firms globally, with over 4.7 billion credentials in circulation, including credit and debit cards, prepaid cards, and digital wallets [4] - Visa earns fees for transaction processing, cross-border payments, and value-added services such as advisory and risk management [4] Business Model and Growth Potential - Visa operates an asset-light business model with a vast global presence, creating powerful network effects that lead to higher margins and profits [5] - In the last fiscal year, Visa processed over 300 billion transactions totaling $16 trillion in volume, with expectations for continued growth due to the rise of e-commerce and cashless economies [5] - The company's expansion into commercial payments, money transfers, and additional value-added services is expected to drive further growth [7] Investment Considerations - While Visa is considered one of the safest stocks, it is noted that not all stocks are completely risk-free [6] - The Motley Fool Stock Advisor has identified other stocks that may offer better investment opportunities than Visa at this time [8]

Core Insights - Paysign, Inc. reported a revenue increase of 33.12% year-over-year in Q2 2025, indicating strong business performance and growth potential for the upcoming periods [1]. Financial Performance - The company experienced a significant revenue growth of 33.12% YoY in Q2 2025, showcasing its robust financial health and operational efficiency [1]. Future Outlook - Paysign expressed optimism regarding its business prospects for the second half of 2025 and into 2026, highlighting the consistency of its results and potential for continued growth [1].