The financial services sector, a traditional engine of economic growth, is underperforming the S&P 500 amid economic uncertainty. We examine three specific stocks—Invesco, Enova International, and Sixth Street Specialty Lending—that investors may want to approach with heightened caution.
Primis Financial (FRST) posted Q4 earnings of $29.5M, buoyed by a one-time gain. Management pegs core quarterly earnings near $8M, citing mortgage growth and deposit mix improvements as key drivers for its 2026 profitability target.
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.
ARMOUR Residential REIT (ARR) received a bullish upgrade from Jones Trading, which moved the stock to Buy with a $20.50 target, citing a discounted valuation and expected book value growth compared to agency mortgage REIT rivals.
Analyst firm Piper Sandler reiterates its Overweight rating on AGNC Investment Corp., highlighting a favorable shift in agency mortgage-backed securities spreads that could bolster the REIT's book value.
Corebridge Financial (CRBG) has launched a novel index annuity linked to the Invesco New Economy Index, offering exposure to tech themes and Bitcoin. The move comes as analysts debate whether the company's current share price fully reflects its growth potential amid mixed recent performance.
PennyMac Financial Services capped a robust fiscal 2025 with Q4 net income of $107 million, overcoming headwinds from an unexpected wave of mortgage prepayments. While competitive pressures limited margin expansion, CEO David Spector pointed to strategic tech investments and a significant embedded refinance portfolio as catalysts for targeted mid-to-high teens ROE later this year.
Despite a softer-than-expected first quarter, Beazer Homes USA outlines a dual strategy of solar-powered community expansion and aggressive capital returns to shareholders, aiming to boost profitability in a stabilizing housing market.
Howard Wealth Management's significant purchase of the Invesco BulletShares 2030 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCU) highlights a strategic move towards defined-maturity fixed income, underscoring a disciplined approach to building cash flow ladders in a volatile rate environment.
Spanish healthtech startup Biorce has closed a substantial Series A round, backed by prominent venture capital and angel investors, to scale its AI-driven clinical trial solution, Aika, internationally amid a tightening regulatory landscape.
Hess Midstream Partners (HESM) capped off 2025 with robust operational results and the completion of its core infrastructure build-out. Management now signals a sharp pivot towards capital discipline, forecasting significantly lower spending through 2028 to fuel growing shareholder returns, even as severe winter weather tempers near-term volume expectations.
Capital Management Corp sold $5.8 million worth of Nexstar Media Group shares, reducing its position in the broadcaster after a year of strong outperformance. The move highlights investor balancing acts amid cyclical advertising headwinds and long-term election cycle potential.
StepStone Group has formally entered the core real estate arena with the launch of its S-Core platform, appointing former UBS executive Jennifer Jones as Partner to helm the global strategy. The move signals a strategic expansion aimed at capturing institutional capital seeking stable income and long-term holdings.
Restaurant Brands International (RBI) has formed a joint venture with private equity firm CPE, ceding majority control of Burger King's China operations in a deal aimed at turbocharging growth. The partnership targets a more than tripling of restaurants to over 4,000 by 2035, leveraging local expertise and capital.
Shares of Japanese financial giant ORIX (TSE:8591) have shown mixed short-term performance, yet a deeper look reveals robust 90-day and one-year returns. With the stock trading at ¥4,627, analysts debate whether the market is overlooking intrinsic value or correctly pricing future growth amid a global shift towards alternative capital.
The British government's move to retroactively alter leasehold ground rent contracts is undermining a foundational pillar of its investment landscape: trust in the rule of law. This erosion of contractual certainty risks deterring the long-term capital essential for growth, from energy to AI infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Monday that achieving a lasting and honorable peace is a realistic goal, as preparations finalize for a new round of negotiations involving Russian and U.S. officials set to begin this week in the UAE capital.
Australian miner ioneer has secured A$72 million in fresh capital to advance its flagship Nevada lithium-boron project. While the funds de-risk near-term construction, the discounted share placement sparks debate over strategic leverage versus shareholder dilution in a critical minerals race increasingly shaped by U.S. industrial policy.
Barrick Gold Corporation is strategically ramping up gold production to capitalize on high prices while simultaneously expanding its copper portfolio as a long-term hedge. The mining giant is also channeling robust profits back to investors through enhanced dividends and buybacks, following a period of stellar stock performance.
Hess Midstream Partners LP (HESM) signals a pivotal shift towards robust free cash flow generation, forecasting a 40% drop in capital expenditures for 2026 as its core system build-out concludes. Despite near-term weather headwinds, strong minimum volume commitments underpin financial targets through 2028.
