Commercial Lending

Business

A.O. Smith Navigates Flat Sales with Sharper Margins, Charts Course Through Inflation and China Headwinds

A.O. Smith's Q4 2025 earnings reveal a tale of two stories: revenue that missed expectations but profits that beat them. The water technology leader is leaning into commercial strength and operational discipline to expand margins, even as it braces for a challenging 2026 marked by input cost inflation and persistent softness in its China business.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Rigetti Computing's Quantum Leap: A $5,000 Bet One Year Ago Would Now Be Worth Nearly $9,000

Shares of quantum computing pioneer Rigetti Computing have delivered substantial returns over the past year, dramatically outperforming the broader market. Yet, analysts caution that sky-high valuations may have raced far ahead of the company's current commercial reality.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Palantir's AI Ambition: Can the Data Analytics Powerhouse Sustain Its Meteoric Rise?

From a $10 direct listing to a $150 S&P 500 constituent, Palantir's journey has been fueled by the AI boom. As government and commercial demand surge, analysts project staggering growth. But with sky-high valuations, the path forward requires navigating lofty expectations.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Pony AI Forges Key Alliance with ATBB to Accelerate Robotaxi Rollout Across Major Chinese Cities

Autonomous driving leader Pony AI partners with premium mobility provider Beijing ATBB, aiming to deploy its seventh-generation robotaxis in top-tier cities and key travel hubs, marking a significant step in China's driverless commercialization push.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

ExxonMobil Launches Major Louisiana Carbon Capture Project, Bolstering CCS Ambitions

ExxonMobil has begun commercial operations of a significant carbon capture and storage venture with CF Industries in Louisiana, marking a key step in its strategy to become a leading player in the emerging CCS network along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Bank of America Doubles Down on Auto Finance, Expands Digital and Branch Strategy Amid New Retirement Program Push

Bank of America extends its partnership with Volvo Car Financial Services through 2030, solidifying its position in automotive lending. Concurrently, the bank joins JPMorgan Chase in matching contributions to the new federal 'Trump Accounts' child savings program, while advancing a dual-track expansion in digital services and physical branches.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Spotify Files Landmark $13 Trillion Lawsuit Against Shadow Library Search Engine

Spotify and major record labels have filed a staggering $13 trillion lawsuit against Anna's Archive, alleging the platform facilitated the theft of metadata and audio files representing nearly all commercial recordings. The case raises profound questions about digital piracy and copyright enforcement in the streaming era.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Hilltop Holdings Navigates Shifting Rates to Deliver Strong 2025, Eyes Strategic Growth in 2026

Despite a challenging mortgage landscape and specific credit headwinds, Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH) reported a 46% surge in annual net income for 2025, buoyed by a steepening yield curve and disciplined cost management across its banking, lending, and securities divisions.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Equifax Bets on AI and Verified Data to Deepen Its Moat, But Can It Justify the Premium?

Equifax is expanding beyond traditional credit reporting with a new suite of AI-powered fraud detection and income verification tools. While this strategic push aims to embed the company deeper into the lending ecosystem, analysts remain divided on whether it's enough to support its current valuation amid high debt and execution risks.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

The Big Game's Quiet Sidelines: Ford Leads Auto Industry Exodus from Super Bowl Advertising

As the 2026 Super Bowl approaches, a notable quiet has settled over the automotive section of the advertiser roster. Ford's continued absence, alongside most major rivals, signals a profound strategic shift away from the event's iconic—and astronomically priced—commercial slots.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Boehringer Ingelheim Taps IQVIA to Power Global Data Overhaul, Aiming for AI-Driven Insights

The long-term strategic partnership will leverage IQVIA's data-as-a-service platform to unify and streamline commercial data across 59 countries, aiming to accelerate product launches and enhance decision-making for the pharmaceutical giant.

Jan 30, 2026

World

UK PM Starmer Lands in Shanghai Amid US Trade Tensions, Leading Largest Business Delegation in Years

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Shanghai Friday with over 50 business leaders, aiming to deepen UK-China commercial ties. The visit, the first by a UK premier in eight years, comes against a backdrop of renewed US skepticism over Western engagement with Beijing.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Trane Technologies Caps Strong 2025 with Record Backlog, Bullish 2026 Outlook Despite Residential Headwinds

Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT) reported robust Q4 2025 results, driven by exceptional commercial HVAC demand and a record $7.8 billion backlog. While proactive inventory adjustments pressured residential margins, executives project 12-14% adjusted EPS growth for 2026, fueled by strategic acquisitions and sustained commercial strength.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Howmet Aerospace Stock Pulls Back: A Buying Opportunity or a Sign of Overheating?

Shares of aerospace components maker Howmet Aerospace have cooled after a multi-year rally, presenting investors with a valuation puzzle. While long-term fundamentals tied to commercial aerospace and energy remain strong, a high P/E ratio raises questions about near-term risk.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Analyst Cuts Pagaya Target But Stays Bullish Amid Strong Growth Metrics

Keefe Bruyette trimmed its price target on Pagaya Technologies (PGY) to $35, while maintaining an Outperform rating. The adjustment comes despite the AI-driven lending platform reporting robust Q3 growth and a record partner pipeline.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Nuvation Bio's Ibtrozi Gains Favor on Strong Launch, Truist Raises Target

Truist Securities has increased its price target for Nuvation Bio, highlighting the promising early commercial traction of its oncology drug Ibtrozi, which is outpacing competitors in the ROS1 inhibitor space.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Visa Posts Strong Q1 2026 Results, Fueled by Payment Volume and Strategic Services Growth

Visa Inc. reported a 15% surge in net revenue for its first fiscal quarter of 2026, citing robust payments volume and significant gains in its value-added services and commercial solutions.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

First Internet Bancorp Posts Strong Q4 Revenue, Navigates Credit Headwinds with Optimistic 2026 Outlook

First Internet Bancorp (INBK) reported a robust 21% surge in quarterly revenue, successfully managing an uptick in criticized loans while laying the groundwork for growth in its fintech and SBA lending segments for the coming year.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Hexcel Eyes Sustained Aerospace Rebound After Challenging 2025, Outlines Growth Plan

Following a year hampered by supply chain issues and inventory adjustments, advanced materials maker Hexcel signals a turning point, forecasting stronger sales and profitability in 2026 as commercial aircraft production is poised for a multi-year upswing.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Microsoft's $625 Billion Backlog Signals AI Boom, But Investors Urged to Look Beyond the Headline

Microsoft's commercial contracted backlog more than doubled year-over-year to $625 billion, fueled by AI demand. However, a closer look reveals customer concentration risks, slower near-term revenue conversion, and soaring capital expenditures that temper the bullish narrative.

Jan 30, 2026