djiledesign/iStock via Getty Images This article serves as an update on my previous analysis of Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation ( AUB ) that was published on August 12 on Seeking Alpha. At that time, the company had recently reported its Q2 2025 results, which were some of the strongest for the bank holding company in four years. I rated AUB as a Buy based not only on the company’s improving...
djiledesign/iStock via Getty Images This article serves as an update on my previous analysis of Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation ( AUB ) that was published on August 12 on Seeking Alpha. At that time, the company had recently reported its Q2 2025 results, which were some of the strongest for the bank holding company in four years. I rated AUB as a Buy based not only on the company’s improving profitability but also some recent insider optimism that had become evident during some buying in July and August. Since that analysis was posted on this site, Atlantic Union stock is up 10.1% when dividends are included. That gain is just over 8% better than the S&P 500 and about 2% ahead of the State Street SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF ( KRE ). My Buy recommendation was looking even better in early February when AUB was trading for over $41 per share. As I write this update today, its share price is just a few cents above $36. After reading through the results from Q3 2025 and Q4 2025 , there is little to dim my optimism for Atlantic Union in the year ahead. I think the banking operations of the company are growing at a healthy pace and operate in an area that is an active territory for regional banking mergers and acquisitions. Regional banks that are taken over in AUB's service area are being bought at a premium to the overall market, and for all of these reasons, I am maintaining my Buy rating on Atlantic Union Bankshares. Company Overview Atlantic Union Bankshares operates under the name Atlantic Union Bank, with 178 branch locations in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The holding company also operates additional financial services companies including Atlantic Union Equipment Finance, Atlantic Union Financial Consultants, and Union Insurance Group. In its Q4 2025 earnings presentation , AUB referred to itself as the largest regional bank headquartered in the Lower Mid-Atlantic region of the US. The complete geographic footprint of the bank can be seen below a...
Iran continued to target Gulf countries with ballistic missiles and drones Thursday as the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued a security alert warning of attacks by Iran-backed militias. (Image credit: AFP via Getty Images)
Iran continued to target Gulf countries with ballistic missiles and drones Thursday as the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued a security alert warning of attacks by Iran-backed militias. (Image credit: AFP via Getty Images)
Singapore will enhance existing support measures announced in this year’s budget and bring some of them forward to provide earlier relief, as oil prices surge and supply chains come under strain amid disruptions from the Middle East conflict. While the government hopes talks to end the war succeed, it expects the impact of the conflict to persist, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in a video messa...
Singapore will enhance existing support measures announced in this year’s budget and bring some of them forward to provide earlier relief, as oil prices surge and supply chains come under strain amid disruptions from the Middle East conflict. While the government hopes talks to end the war succeed, it expects the impact of the conflict to persist, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in a video message on Thursday, adding that his ministers will provide further details when Parliament sits next week. Singapore has convened a Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee to coordinate its response, with Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong serving as adviser, Wong said. The government is updating contingency plans and developing new measures in response to the evolving situation. Even if a ceasefire is reached quickly, the impact is likely to persist as damaged energy infrastructure may take months to be restore, keeping prices elevated, the premier added.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) , since its 2023 spinoff of its consumer health division into Kenvue (NYSE: KVUE) , no longer sells bandages. However, if you're looking to salve your financial wounds, the stock remains a buy. No stock is recession-proof, but the healthcare giant is known for weathering economic storms better than most stocks. During the Great Recession from December 2007 to June 200...
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) , since its 2023 spinoff of its consumer health division into Kenvue (NYSE: KVUE) , no longer sells bandages. However, if you're looking to salve your financial wounds, the stock remains a buy. No stock is recession-proof, but the healthcare giant is known for weathering economic storms better than most stocks. During the Great Recession from December 2007 to June 2009, the S&P 500 index's total return was negative 33%. Johnson & Johnson's total return was only negative 13.9%. After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a steep stock market slump in early 2020, Johnson & Johnson stock's total return recovered completely by early May, while the S&P 500's total return was still down more than 14%. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
Crude oil soared after President Trump vowed to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’ in the coming weeks. Trump's comments during a rare prime-time address offered little clarity on a resolution to the war, dampening hopes for a quick de-escalation to the conflict. The Opening Trade has everything you need to know as markets open across Europe. With analysis you won't find anywhere else, we break down the bi...
Crude oil soared after President Trump vowed to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’ in the coming weeks. Trump's comments during a rare prime-time address offered little clarity on a resolution to the war, dampening hopes for a quick de-escalation to the conflict. The Opening Trade has everything you need to know as markets open across Europe. With analysis you won't find anywhere else, we break down the biggest stories of the day and speak to top guests who have skin in the game. Hosted by Anna Edwards and Lizzy Burden. (Source: Bloomberg)
The Morning Bull - US Market Morning Update Thursday, Apr, 2 2026 US stock futures are pointing lower this morning, with S&P 500 contracts down about 1.1% and Nasdaq 100 futures off around 1.4%, as investors react to a mix of strong economic data and higher borrowing costs. The ISM Manufacturing PMI for March came in at 52.7, a level that signals factory activity is growing, but its prices index j...
The Morning Bull - US Market Morning Update Thursday, Apr, 2 2026 US stock futures are pointing lower this morning, with S&P 500 contracts down about 1.1% and Nasdaq 100 futures off around 1.4%, as investors react to a mix of strong economic data and higher borrowing costs. The ISM Manufacturing PMI for March came in at 52.7, a level that signals factory activity is growing, but its prices index jumped to 78.3, meaning companies are paying more for materials and may pass those costs on to...
Douglas Rissing/iStock via Getty Images Stock index futures fell before the bell Thursday as market sentiment soured following President Donald Trump’s rare prime-time address signaling a potential escalation in military action against Iran. Now, here are five news stories that broke overnight to watch out for: Trump blames Iran for gas price spike: President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the recen...
Douglas Rissing/iStock via Getty Images Stock index futures fell before the bell Thursday as market sentiment soured following President Donald Trump’s rare prime-time address signaling a potential escalation in military action against Iran. Now, here are five news stories that broke overnight to watch out for: Trump blames Iran for gas price spike: President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the recent surge in U.S. gasoline prices, citing attacks on oil tankers and regional targets as the primary driver. Gas prices have climbed more than 30% since the war began, topping $4 per gallon. “Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices,” Trump said during a prime-time address on Wednesday night. Oil prices surge on Trump escalation remarks: Oil prices jumped Thursday after President Trump said the U.S. will strike Iran “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks while signaling the conflict could be short-lived and that talks with Tehran remain ongoing. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures ( CL1:COM ) gained 6.1% to $106.21 a barrel, and the international benchmark Brent crude futures ( CO1:COM ) rose 6.57% to $107.80 per barrel. EU weighs stablecoin “kill switch”: Germany and Italy have jointly proposed an EU-wide “kill switch” that would let regulators abruptly ban foreign global stablecoins operating in the bloc if they threaten financial stability or breach rules, Euronews reported. The plan would allow the European Union to bar stablecoins issued outside the bloc unless their home-country regulations are deemed equivalent to EU standards. Pharma tariffs expected as soon as Thursday: The Trump administration plans to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical companies that haven’t agreed to lower U.S. drug prices, with an announcement expected as soon as Thursday, Bloomberg reported. The president had earlier threatened tariffs ranging from 100% to 200% on the pharmaceutical industry as part of a broader push to bring drug manufacturing...
Blackstone Inc. -owned AGS Health Pvt. has filed draft paperwork for an initial public offering in Mumbai through the confidential route, according to people familiar with the matter. The private equity firm is working with JM Financial Ltd , Jefferies Group LLP , ICICI Securities Ltd , JP Morgan and Nomura Holdings Inc. for the offering, which could raise as much as $500 million, the people said,...
Blackstone Inc. -owned AGS Health Pvt. has filed draft paperwork for an initial public offering in Mumbai through the confidential route, according to people familiar with the matter. The private equity firm is working with JM Financial Ltd , Jefferies Group LLP , ICICI Securities Ltd , JP Morgan and Nomura Holdings Inc. for the offering, which could raise as much as $500 million, the people said, asking not to be identified as the discussions are private. The proposed share sale is expected to comprise a mix of primary issuance and secondary stake sales by existing investors, the people said. Blackstone is seeking a valuation of as much as $3 billion for AGS Health and is likely to move toward a public listing in the coming months, one of the people said. Details of the offering, including size and timing, remain subject to change. Representatives for Blackstone and AGS didn’t respond to queries seeking comment. The pipeline for India’s primary market has been busy and riddled with uncertainties recently. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has cleared the listing of nearly 150 companies so far, while another 48 firms have filed draft papers and are awaiting approval. Blackstone acquired AGS Health in 2025 from Stockholm-based EQT AB, which had inherited the asset through its 2022 acquisition of Baring Private Equity Asia. Read More: Blackstone Is Said to Plan $500 Million India IPO for AGS (1)