Know What's Happening in Finance
Know What's Happening in Finance
Klarna secures $1.7B risk transfer and $2B funding facility to boost lending
Klarna unveiled a $2 billion forward‑flow facility with Elliott Investment Management that will back up to $17 billion of U.S. loan originations over the next three years. It also completed a €1.7 billion Significant Risk Transfer led by Värde Partners, freeing capital for broader lending.
Also developing:
The Fidelity Low Volatility Factor ETF (FDLO) tracks 126 U.S. stocks with a weighted‑average 24‑month beta of 0.78, positioning it as a lower‑risk vehicle. In 2026 the fund has outperformed the broad‑market S&P 500 ETF IVV, but it still trails pure low‑volatility peers such as SPLV and LGLV. Historically, FDLO has underperformed IVV since 2016 despite occasional short‑term gains. The ETF’s inherent weak upside capture suggests it may continue to lag the market over longer horizons.
Is this the most undervalued hospitality play in Malaysia right now? 🇲🇾 While everyone is chasing speculative tech, a "quiet" company just reported a 35-fold quarterly profit jump. This isn't just growth—it’s a total operational takeover. 🧵 (1/5)
Employers Holdings (EIG) posted a Q4 2025 loss of $23.4 million, with revenue slipping 21.3% year‑over‑year to $170.5 million. The full‑year net income collapsed from $118.6 million in 2024 to $10.8 million, while the GAAP combined ratio deteriorated to 106% in the quarter and...
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) posted a fourth‑quarter 2025 revenue increase of 12% to $330.7 million and net income of $37.2 million, reversing a year‑earlier loss. Full‑year results showed a profit swing to $48.2 million on $1.23 billion of operating revenue, driven by accelerated...
Vedanta Resources secured a $350 million, 3.5‑year revolving credit facility from a consortium of six banks, including First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mashreq, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan. The loan, priced at SOFR + 435 bps, will refinance existing maturities, fund interest payments and...
First Citizens BancShares, sitting at $230 billion in assets, is actively scouting acquisitions to push past the $250 billion regulatory threshold that imposes stricter capital and reporting rules. The bank recently secured 138 BMO Bank branches across 11 states, adding a solid...
The U.S. Supreme Court declared President Trump’s IEEPA‑based tariffs illegal, opening the door to massive refund claims. Estimates suggest importers could seek as much as $175 billion in reimbursements, though the Court did not specify how refunds will be administered. Treasury,...
Accounting firms are rapidly losing compliance work to AI and automation, prompting a shift toward advisory services. Experts advise firms to prune low‑margin clients and replace them with high‑value, advisory‑ready relationships. Scaling requires moving from ad‑hoc consulting to structured, team‑based...
The Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF (XSMO) retains its “buy” rating, buoyed by standout GARP characteristics and a 17.41% price gain since July 2025. It blends 20.91% estimated earnings growth with an 18.36× forward P/E, delivering a rare value‑momentum mix. Superior...
A new IDB Invest technical note analyzes 21,696 MSMEs across 30 Latin American and Caribbean economies, linking credit access to employment growth. The study finds that an extra US$1 million in financing generates roughly four permanent jobs per year. Effects vary:...
Doeren Mayhew announced the acquisition of Birmingham‑based CPA firm Dent Moses and its affiliate Impact Technology Group, effective Feb. 10. The deal adds Doeren Mayhew’s first Alabama office, nine principals and roughly 65 staff, expanding its Southeast footprint. Impact Technology brings...
The equal‑weighted S&P 500 has outperformed the cap‑weighted benchmark in 2026, breaking a decades‑long pattern of concentration in mega‑cap tech names that now comprise 19.4% of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF. Meanwhile, MSCI World ex‑USA and Emerging Markets indexes have posted double‑digit...
James Chuong, who has served nearly five years as LinkedIn’s chief financial officer, will become Atlassian’s CFO on March 30. His compensation package includes a $600,000 base salary, a 75% target bonus, a $22 million RSU grant and a $2 million signing...
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has formally requested the Treasury and IRS to issue clearer guidance on the election rules for domestic research and development (R&D) expenses under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The OBBBA reverses the Tax Cuts and Jobs...
i-80 Gold Corp reported Q4 2025 revenue of $21.3 million, an 8.3% decline from the prior year, while net loss widened to $85.6 million. The company completed a Class 3 study for the Lone Tree autoclave refurbishment, confirming 2,268 t/day capacity and a $430 million...
Otello Corporation announced that its share buyback program, launched on 9 February 2026, has purchased a further 128,441 shares between 16 and 20 February at an average price of NOK 18.08, bringing the total repurchased shares to 273,954 at an average...
Ryerson Holding Corp reported Q4 2025 revenue of $1.105 billion, a 4.9% QoQ decline but a 9.7% YoY increase, while full‑year revenue slipped 0.6% to $4.57 billion. The company posted a Q4 net loss of $37.9 million and a full‑year loss of $56.4 million,...
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reported a sharp decline in 2025 net earnings, falling roughly 12% year‑over‑year. The drop coincides with an 8% contraction in bank holdings of agency residential mortgage‑backed securities in Q4 and a reduced share of correspondent...
Representative Hill voiced strong skepticism toward President Trump’s proposal to launch an initial public offering of the government‑sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He warned that a rushed IPO could destabilize the secondary mortgage market and raise borrowing costs...
SmartCraft ASA completed a share‑buy‑back on 20 February 2026, purchasing 4,166,666 shares at NOK 18 each, representing up to NOK 75 million of capital. The offer, run through a reverse book‑building process, reduced the free‑float and increased the company’s own holdings to 11,293,403 shares out...
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced the repeal of its longstanding fair‑lending and fair‑housing rule that imposed heightened nondiscrimination standards on GSE‑originated mortgages. A recent GAO review gave FHFA a clean bill of health on its accounting, while noting...
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced plans to tighten supervision of non‑bank mortgage lenders following a GAO recommendation. A GAO review gave FHFA a clean bill of health on its financial statements but highlighted $32.9 million in costs tied to...
A recent study shows that loans backed by government‑sponsored enterprises (GSEs) for investor purchases are increasingly displacing first‑time homebuyers (FTHBs) in the mortgage market. Investor‑originated, GSE‑secured loans grew 12% year‑over‑year, while FTHB loan share slipped 8% in Q3 2025. The...
Oil States International posted Q4 2025 revenue of $178.5 million, an 8% year‑on‑year increase, but reported a GAAP net loss of $117.2 million due to one‑time asset impairment and restructuring charges. Adjusted EBITDA improved 22% to $22.8 million, and adjusted net income rose...
In this episode, host Bainbridge critiques SEC Rule 14a-8, arguing it should be repealed or substantially reformed due to high costs, procedural flaws, and misuse, while proposing higher ownership thresholds and stricter materiality standards as alternatives. He then evaluates Joseph...
Airbus recorded a $500 million impairment on its A220 program as the aircraft’s production ramp slowed and order growth lagged expectations. The write‑down reflects weaker cash‑flow projections and higher unit costs, casting doubt on the A220’s earnings contribution. CEO Guillaume Faury remains...
Jump, an AI platform for financial advisors, closed an $80 million Series B round led by Insight Partners. The financing, which also attracted new backers such as F‑Prime, Allianz Life Ventures, TIAA Ventures and Peterson Partners, brings the company's total capital to...
Revenue leaders often face unexplained forecast gaps, like a $700K shortfall, because traditional variance analysis is accountant‑focused and lags behind real‑time sales activity. The guide introduces nine revenue‑specific variance types—from sales volume to quota attainment—and a five‑step process that turns...
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) released the final terms for the adjusted CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) options identified as PANW1/2PANW1. Each contract now delivers 220 Palo Alto Networks (PANW) common shares plus $4,508.64 cash, reflecting a distribution ratio of 2.2005...
SFPI Group released its second‑half 2025 liquidity agreement report, detailing a €500 million financing package aimed at strengthening the company's cash position. The agreement introduces stricter covenants, including a minimum net‑debt‑to‑EBITDA ratio, and extends maturity to the fourth quarter of 2026....
Atlanta‑based CargoSprint, a cargo‑industry software provider, announced the acquisition of Dray Dog, a drayage‑focused platform. The deal is backed by Lone View, the venture firm that previously funded CargoSprint. By combining Dray Dog’s real‑time drayage capabilities with CargoSprint’s broader freight...
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, opening the door for refunds of roughly $130 billion collected by the Treasury. Importers, retailers and apparel groups are already petitioning for clear guidance on how to reclaim these...
In this episode of the Dividend Cafe, host David Bonson examines the current U.S. economic landscape, focusing on the paradox of disinflation that may arrive in 2026 but could be economically painful. He breaks down recent data—including a weaker-than-expected GDP...
Goldman Sachs has launched the GS Mortgage‑Backed Securities Trust 2026‑PJ2, a $321.2 million residential mortgage‑backed security backed by a pool of 255 first‑lien, fixed‑rate prime mortgages. The structure features a senior‑subordinate, shifting‑interest hierarchy with class A AAA‑rated notes and several lower‑rated tranches,...
Stellantis announced a €22.2 billion ($26 billion) write‑down tied to its electric‑vehicle strategy and sold its 49 % stake in the NextStar Energy battery JV to LG Energy Solution for a nominal $100. The charge reflects cancelled EV platforms, supply‑chain resizing and quality‑related...
Tax planning often overlooks the cash liquidity needed to implement strategies. The article explains that without sufficient cash flow, tactics like payroll optimization, Section 179 purchases, and retirement contributions cannot be executed, leading to missed deadlines and penalties. It advocates a...
VictoryShares WestEnd U.S. Sector ETF (MODL) experienced a spike in trading activity on Friday, with 728,000 shares changing hands—about ten times its three‑month average volume. The ETF edged up roughly 0.5% during the session. Among its holdings, Nvidia posted a...
Islamic finance, anchored in asset‑backed transactions and social responsibility, is emerging as a credible alternative to conventional green finance. Its core instrument, green sukuk, ties investor capital directly to renewable‑energy and sustainable‑infrastructure projects, ensuring profits stem from real economic activity....
Safran posted a strong 2025 performance, reporting €31.33 billion in revenue, €5.197 billion recurring operating income and a 16.6% operating margin, while raising its 2028 free‑cash‑flow target to €21 billion. The company delivered more than 1,800 LEAP engines—a 28% year‑over‑year increase—supporting Airbus’s plan...
Stacks AI develops purpose‑built artificial intelligence solutions for enterprise accounting, automating the most manual and error‑prone finance workflows. The platform enables finance teams to close books faster and redirect effort toward strategic initiatives. It is already trusted by public companies...
Democratic senators sent two letters to Fed Vice Chair Michelle Bowman questioning recent supervisory changes, including a 30% staff cut in the Fed's supervision arm and the removal of bank examiners at banks' request. They also demanded answers on her...
Once you use an FP&A solution, you never want to go back. Spreadsheets always have their place, but FP&A software dramatically increases FP&A productivity. Here are the highlights from my latest tech stack report. - 37 forecasting and budgeting solutions...
Laurel Real Estate Co. is marketing a two‑motel boutique portfolio in Geneva‑on‑the‑Lake, Ohio, for $2.4 million. The assets—The Palms Motel and Pete’s Lakefront Motel—offer 32 keys and sit on a prime lakefront strip with private beach access. Recent capital improvements exceeding...
Louisiana’s State Bond Commission authorized up to $400 million in general‑obligation bonds, to be sold by competitive bid on April 16. The issuance will raise about $383.7 million, with roughly 67 % earmarked for state‑government capital projects, 26 % for local governments and the remainder...
A fun(?) 🧵 on how nerdy government accounting rules had a big impact on Q4 GDP. And how they reflect how wasteful the 43-day government shutdown was. TL;DR: Small reduction in nominal federal spending in Q4. But a big decline in...
Volatility is cooling. 30D realized volatility (yellow line) just rolled over and is now below 90D (blue line). When short-term vol drops, the machines re-lever. Vol control funds start buying. Right now, the signal says grind higher until proven otherwise.
T-minus 5 days until $NVDA reports. I expect guidance to come in ahead of expectations for CY26. That said, the real question is: what about 2027? My take: Growth in CY27 will be closer to 40% vs. the Street at...
The European Commission has launched another attempt to reform capital markets, rebranded as the ‘Savings and Investment Union’. https://t.co/UQ2DvCgG3f
2026 is the year AI accountability gets real. No more hiding behind "pilot mode." If you can’t map AI spend to the P&L, your seat at the table is at risk. 💺🔥 See the roadmap: https://t.co/dJs86sTyRD #CXOtalk #Leadership #FutureOfWork
There has been near zero coverage in the endowment and foundation world about there now being a low-cost, tax-efficient investable benchmark ETF. June 30th can't come soon enough...
