Investar press release ( ISTR ): Q1 Non-GAAP EPS of $0.87. Revenue of $35.64M. Net interest margin improved 39 basis points to 3.59% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to 3.20% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Exclusive of the interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans and interest recoveries, adjusted net interest margin improved eight basis points to 3.28% for the...
Investar press release ( ISTR ): Q1 Non-GAAP EPS of $0.87. Revenue of $35.64M. Net interest margin improved 39 basis points to 3.59% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to 3.20% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Exclusive of the interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans and interest recoveries, adjusted net interest margin improved eight basis points to 3.28% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to 3.20% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Diluted earnings per common share were $0.77 for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to $0.51 for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Core diluted earnings per common share were $0.87 for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to $0.58 for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Return on average assets increased to 1.25% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to 0.83% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Core return on average assets improved to 1.41% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to 0.93% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Efficiency ratio improved to 64.08% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to 69.34% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Core efficiency ratio improved to 58.46% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to 66.13% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. The yield on the loan portfolio increased to 6.28% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to 5.99% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. The overall cost of funds for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 decreased four basis points to 2.94% compared to 2.98% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. The cost of deposits decreased six basis points to 2.85% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to 2.91% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Total loans increased by $891.8 million, or 41.0%, to $3.07 billion at March 31, 2026 compared to $2.18 billion at December 31, 2025. Variable-rate loans as a percentage of total loans was 49% at March 31, 2026...
Moussa81/iStock via Getty Images Agnico Eagle Mines ( AEM ) down 2.2% pre-market Monday after announcing three separate deals aimed at consolidating assets in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, a key gold district in northern Finland, and establishing a pathway to become a ~500K-oz annual gold production hub within the next decade. Agnico Eagle ( AEM ) said it agreed to acquire Rupert Resources...
Moussa81/iStock via Getty Images Agnico Eagle Mines ( AEM ) down 2.2% pre-market Monday after announcing three separate deals aimed at consolidating assets in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, a key gold district in northern Finland, and establishing a pathway to become a ~500K-oz annual gold production hub within the next decade. Agnico Eagle ( AEM ) said it agreed to acquire Rupert Resources ( RUPRF ) in a deal valued at ~C$2.9B (US$2.12B), with each Rupert share exchanged for 0.0401 of an Agnico Eagle common share, representing ~C$12, and contingent value rights worth up to C$3 in cash, payable upon achieving specific milestones over 10 years; Agnico already owns a ~13.9% stake in Rupert. Agnico ( AEM ) also will acquire Aurion Resources ( AIRRF ) for C$481M in cash, offering C$2.60/share, a 46% premium to the stock's latest closing price, and buy B2Gold's ( BTG ) 70% stake in the Fingold joint venture for US$325M, which, combined with Aurion's 30% holding, will give Agnico full ownership of the asset and eliminate overlapping ownership structures across the district. The acquisitions will consolidate 2,492 sq km and integrate the Ikkari gold project with Agnico's ( AEM ) existing Kittila mine, the largest primary gold mine in Europe. Agnico ( AEM ) said the deals could generate up to C$500M in operating and development synergies, helped by the removal of property boundaries and the sharing of infrastructure, procurement, and regional expertise. More on Agnico Eagle Mines Agnico Eagle: High Quality Comes At A High Price Agnico Eagle: A Gold Standard With A 'Platinum' Premium Agnico Eagle: Finding Support Amid Sinking Gold Prices
Jonathan Kitchen Stock index futures were lower on Monday as optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal faded amid escalating tensions. Here are the four stocks to watch on the day: Eli Lilly ( LLY ) slipped 0.19% in premarket trading amid reports the pharmaceutical giant is in advanced negotiations to acquire Kelonia Therapeutics in a transaction valued at more than $2 billion. According to T...
Jonathan Kitchen Stock index futures were lower on Monday as optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal faded amid escalating tensions. Here are the four stocks to watch on the day: Eli Lilly ( LLY ) slipped 0.19% in premarket trading amid reports the pharmaceutical giant is in advanced negotiations to acquire Kelonia Therapeutics in a transaction valued at more than $2 billion. According to The Wall Street Journal, the agreement could be announced as soon as Monday if talks are completed successfully. The final structure may also include milestone-based payments tied to Kelonia’s future progress. Marvell Technology ( MRVL ) gained more than 6% before the opening bell after reports emerged that the specialty semiconductor company may work with Google on developing future artificial intelligence chips. The news weighed on existing Google partners, with Broadcom and Celestica both declining 1.5% and 1%, respectively, on the report. PepsiCo ( PEP ) rose 0.21% in premarket trade after launching a major brand refresh for its Gatorade brand that shifts its identity from being purely a sports drink for athletes to a broader everyday hydration platform. The refresh includes new packaging, cleaner formulas, and products aimed at non-athlete occasions like work, travel, and daily routines. Under the company’s new Gatorade Advanced Hydration System, the lineup is organized by whether each drink hydrates better, faster, or longer than water. AST SpaceMobile ( ASTS ) fell 12.7% in premarket trading after Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket failed to place a satellite built by the Texas-based company into its intended orbit. While the satellite separated from New Glenn’s second stage, it entered an “off-nominal orbit,” Blue Origin said. The launch marked Blue Origin’s third New Glenn mission and its first successful booster reuse. More related stories Marvell: An AI Winner Tackling The Biggest Bottleneck With Data Transfer Optics Dividend King PepsiCo's Q1 Shows That Its Turnaroun...
Brookfield Corporation (NYSE: BN) is one of my favorite investments. The global investment firm has made me a lot of money over the years. I expect it will remain a very enriching investment going forward, given the robust growth it still has ahead. The value Brookfield provides for investors goes far beyond the rise in its stock price and dividend payment. The quarterly letters by CEO Bruce Flatt...
Brookfield Corporation (NYSE: BN) is one of my favorite investments. The global investment firm has made me a lot of money over the years. I expect it will remain a very enriching investment going forward, given the robust growth it still has ahead. The value Brookfield provides for investors goes far beyond the rise in its stock price and dividend payment. The quarterly letters by CEO Bruce Flatt have taught me how to become a better investor. They're why I'd highly recommend the financial stock to someone who has never invested before. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
Giallorossi manager has struggled to build and his relationship with Claudio Ranieri is beginning to fray Right from the beginning of Gian Piero Gasperini’s time as Roma manager, there have been people who believed it would all end in tears. Despite a brilliant record with Atalanta, whom he made into consistent top four contenders, as well as winning the Europa League in 2024 , a section of his ne...
Giallorossi manager has struggled to build and his relationship with Claudio Ranieri is beginning to fray Right from the beginning of Gian Piero Gasperini’s time as Roma manager, there have been people who believed it would all end in tears. Despite a brilliant record with Atalanta, whom he made into consistent top four contenders, as well as winning the Europa League in 2024 , a section of his new club’s support was opposed to his appointment. “Respect our history,” read one banner outside the Stadio Olimpico last May. “Don’t bring that shit Gasperini to [Roma’s training ground at] Trigoria.” Such objections were born more from rivalry than doubts about the quality of his work. Unsurprisingly, given that the Giallorossi were in direct competition with Atalanta throughout most of Gasperini’s nine-year tenure there, he had made various comments that got under fans’ skin. Continue reading...
FilippoBacci/E+ via Getty Images Grab ( GRAB ), the dominant rideshare company in much of Southeast Asia, has been on a tear in recent weeks, recovering from about $3.50 to north of $4.20. The price growth is encouraging, and I don’t believe all of the upside has been tapped into, especially in the long run. I’ve covered Grab before, and in this article I'll be focusing on things I haven't discuss...
FilippoBacci/E+ via Getty Images Grab ( GRAB ), the dominant rideshare company in much of Southeast Asia, has been on a tear in recent weeks, recovering from about $3.50 to north of $4.20. The price growth is encouraging, and I don’t believe all of the upside has been tapped into, especially in the long run. I’ve covered Grab before, and in this article I'll be focusing on things I haven't discussed with much depth. To summarize some key points from my past coverage: Grab is most well-known for rideshare services, but the company is also actively involved in e-commerce and increasingly in financial services. The company is only now shifting into profitability but has enjoyed strong, sustained revenue growth, and various other metrics have performed well. Grab will face stiff competition in many areas, including from well-funded Chinese companies. However, the company already has a dominant position in many markets. Southeast Asia is poised to rank among the strongest growing regions in terms of GDP. Fertility rates are more mixed, but overall, the region is in a better position than Europe, East Asia, and much of the Americas. As for this update, I believe the valuation, as shown via a simple reverse DCF calculation, is quite favorable. Meanwhile, Grab offers a lot of diversity in terms of geography and business segments. I've mentioned diversification previously but believe it's worth taking a closer look at. Sometimes diversified companies become unfocused, and more ends up being less. However, in Grab’s case, there’s obvious synergy in the business segments. GRAB: Instant Diversification Across Industries And Nations I believe diversification is crucial for any stock portfolio. That’s no major revelation, of course, and it’s one of the most basic concepts taught to new investors learning the ropes. Diversifying can be a bit tricky, however, and international investing carries risks, which is why you see Seeking Alpha posting cautionary comments when talking about...
"The Pulse With Francine Lacqua" is all about conversations with high profile guests in the beating heart of global business, economics, finance and politics. Based in London, we go wherever the story is, bringing you exclusive interviews and market-moving scoops. Today's guests: Dominic Bunning, Nomura, Head of G-10 FX Strategy; Jumana Saleheen, Vanguard, Chief European Economist; Maria Simeonova...
"The Pulse With Francine Lacqua" is all about conversations with high profile guests in the beating heart of global business, economics, finance and politics. Based in London, we go wherever the story is, bringing you exclusive interviews and market-moving scoops. Today's guests: Dominic Bunning, Nomura, Head of G-10 FX Strategy; Jumana Saleheen, Vanguard, Chief European Economist; Maria Simeonova, European Council on Foreign Relations, Head of Sofia Office; Hasan Alhasan, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Middle East Policy Senior Fellow; Jill Rutter, Institute for Government, Senior Fellow (Source: Bloomberg)
U.S. equity futures are sharply lower Monday morning as a renewed flare-up in the U.S.-Iran conflict sent crude oil surging and rattled investor confidence heading into a week packed with earnings. After recouping losses in last week’s broader market rally, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) is falling by 0.46% in early morning trading though the index ... S&P 500 Holds 7100 as Oil Surges Amid Moment of Hormuz S...
U.S. equity futures are sharply lower Monday morning as a renewed flare-up in the U.S.-Iran conflict sent crude oil surging and rattled investor confidence heading into a week packed with earnings. After recouping losses in last week’s broader market rally, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) is falling by 0.46% in early morning trading though the index ... S&P 500 Holds 7100 as Oil Surges Amid Moment of Hormuz Strait Reckoning
Futures Slide As Oil Jumps On Ceasefire Setbacks, Nasdaq In Danger Of Ending 13-Day Streak Futures are lower, but well off session lows,after a weekend of chaos in the Strait of Hormuz cast doubt over US-Iran peace talks ahead of Tuesday’s ceasefire expiration. On Saturday, Iran said the Strait will be closed until the US blockade is lifted, with ships reporting attacks. The US then fired and seiz...
Futures Slide As Oil Jumps On Ceasefire Setbacks, Nasdaq In Danger Of Ending 13-Day Streak Futures are lower, but well off session lows,after a weekend of chaos in the Strait of Hormuz cast doubt over US-Iran peace talks ahead of Tuesday’s ceasefire expiration. On Saturday, Iran said the Strait will be closed until the US blockade is lifted, with ships reporting attacks. The US then fired and seized an Iranian-flagged ship on Sunday. Both headlines point to a re-escalation, as Iran military has now vowed to retaliate. It remains unclear whether the peace talks will continue ahead of the April 22nd deadline: POLITICO yesterday reported that Trump will continue peace talks with Iran in Pakistan on Monday, while Iran said in a news conference that they have “no plan” for next round of negotiation ( here ), although subsequent reports from AP indicated the opposite . There’s a big earnings week ahead, and top Wall Street strategists expect resilient numbers to support equities. As of 8:00am ET, S&P futures are down 0.5% following a succession of record highs; the Nasdaq is down 0.4% and set to end a near-record stretch of 13 consecutive gains. Pre-market, Mag 7 are all lower with NVDA (-1.2%), MSFT (-1.0%) and META (-1.0%) being the notable laggards. European stocks slid 1.1% while Asian stocks rose in a delayed catch up to the Friday melt up in the US. Bond yields rose sharply in Europe, whereas the moves in Treasuries were more modest. The dollar was little changed, erasing an earlier gain. WTI crude oil jumped $4.6 (or 5.5%) to $88.5; both base metals and precious metals are lower with gold briefly dropping below $4,800 an ounce, before recovering. The US session is quiet for scheduled data, while Fed’s external communications blackout period has now begun ahead of the April 29 policy announcement. In premarket trading, Mag 7 stocks were mostly lower (Apple unchanged, Tesla -0.7%, Alphabet -1%, Amazon -1%, Meta -0.9%, Microsoft -0.8%, Nvidia -0.9%) Airlines and cruis...
Trump administration launches online portal on Monday after supreme court struck down tariff policy earlier this year Sign up for the Breaking News US email Oil prices have risen sharply and European stock markets have fallen after the US seizure of an Iranian vessel dented hopes for a peace deal. Brent crude , the international benchmark for oil prices, rose by 4.8% on Monday to $94.69 a barrel ....
Trump administration launches online portal on Monday after supreme court struck down tariff policy earlier this year Sign up for the Breaking News US email Oil prices have risen sharply and European stock markets have fallen after the US seizure of an Iranian vessel dented hopes for a peace deal. Brent crude , the international benchmark for oil prices, rose by 4.8% on Monday to $94.69 a barrel . Continue reading...
jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images One quarter ago , I wrote an article previewing Tesla, Inc.'s ( TSLA ) earnings release, rating the stock a Hold. While the stock has fallen ~10%, validating my cautious stance, I also expected limited downside due to lowered analyst expectations for 2026. Since then, the conflict in the Middle East and Strait of Hormuz blockade, AI bubble anxieties, ...
jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images One quarter ago , I wrote an article previewing Tesla, Inc.'s ( TSLA ) earnings release, rating the stock a Hold. While the stock has fallen ~10%, validating my cautious stance, I also expected limited downside due to lowered analyst expectations for 2026. Since then, the conflict in the Middle East and Strait of Hormuz blockade, AI bubble anxieties, and negative delivery numbers have weighed on the stock, resulting in a more bearish trend than expected. Longer term, I have been a tactical bull on shares, initially rating the company a Buy at a split-adjusted ~$12/share in 2015 and reiterating that call in April 2024 around $140/share, as the company's FSD technology presented a new bull case for the stock. However, I became perplexed by excessive valuation and have rated Tesla a Hold since downgrading around $460/share in late 2024. In the coming quarter, Tesla faces a higher bar, and expectations will only rise thereafter. The company is transitioning from a period of expecting blue-sky growth sometime in the future to a bet on specific execution milestones. The most important upcoming catalysts are: The Terafab launch in March has accelerated CapEx spending to a projected $20B in 2026 , driven by AI initiatives, compute infrastructure, and data centers, with an unclear return on investment. In April, delivery data surprised to the downside, with 408k cars produced but only 358k delivered. Energy also shrank unexpectedly. Expect investors to be laser-focused on gross margins due to the company's growing inventory. Tesla's Model S and X have received an “honorable discharge,” which could pose challenges to margins and/or market share. Tesla ended the purchase availability of FSD in February , preferring a purely SaaS subscription model; in the short term, this may have pulled forward demand. The market expects Robotaxi to expand to 7 cities this year and a concrete production schedule for the Optimus humanoid robot, wh...
jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images One quarter ago , I wrote an article previewing Tesla, Inc.'s ( TSLA ) earnings release, rating the stock a Hold. While the stock has fallen ~10%, validating my cautious stance, I also expected limited downside due to lowered analyst expectations for 2026. Since then, the conflict in the Middle East and Strait of Hormuz blockade, AI bubble anxieties, ...
jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images One quarter ago , I wrote an article previewing Tesla, Inc.'s ( TSLA ) earnings release, rating the stock a Hold. While the stock has fallen ~10%, validating my cautious stance, I also expected limited downside due to lowered analyst expectations for 2026. Since then, the conflict in the Middle East and Strait of Hormuz blockade, AI bubble anxieties, and negative delivery numbers have weighed on the stock, resulting in a more bearish trend than expected. Longer term, I have been a tactical bull on shares, initially rating the company a Buy at a split-adjusted ~$12/share in 2015 and reiterating that call in April 2024 around $140/share, as the company's FSD technology presented a new bull case for the stock. However, I became perplexed by excessive valuation and have rated Tesla a Hold since downgrading around $460/share in late 2024. In the coming quarter, Tesla faces a higher bar, and expectations will only rise thereafter. The company is transitioning from a period of expecting blue-sky growth sometime in the future to a bet on specific execution milestones. The most important upcoming catalysts are: The Terafab launch in March has accelerated CapEx spending to a projected $20B in 2026 , driven by AI initiatives, compute infrastructure, and data centers, with an unclear return on investment. In April, delivery data surprised to the downside, with 408k cars produced but only 358k delivered. Energy also shrank unexpectedly. Expect investors to be laser-focused on gross margins due to the company's growing inventory. Tesla's Model S and X have received an “honorable discharge,” which could pose challenges to margins and/or market share. Tesla ended the purchase availability of FSD in February , preferring a purely SaaS subscription model; in the short term, this may have pulled forward demand. The market expects Robotaxi to expand to 7 cities this year and a concrete production schedule for the Optimus humanoid robot, wh...