http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/09/26/factsets-strong-numbers.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 26, 2007
Yesterday’s fourth-quarter and full-year earnings release confirms just why financial data provider FactSet (NYSE: FDS) is a cash king and overall dynamite business. Too bad then, that this is no secret in the stock market. However, we all know that Mr. Market is a moody fellow, so it’s best to stay up on the name in hopes a buying opportunity shows itself at some point.Â
http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2007/09/06/jackson-hewitts-future-by-the-numbers.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 6, 2007
Thursday’s front page of The Wall Street Journal‘s Money & Investing section highlighted the current beef certain investors have with H&R Block‘s (NYSE: HRB) blockhead diversification into businesses unrelated to its core tax-preparation franchise. In other words, just the type of work that Hidden Gems Pay Dirt pick Jackson Hewitt (NYSE: JTX) focuses on.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/08/31/option-weighs-down-hr-block.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
August 31, 2007
The first quarter after tax season is supposed to be a quiet time for tax-preparation firms. Unfortunately for H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), recent market turmoil is making it hard to unwind its mortgage business. But once it does make the break from Option One Mortgage, do its other businesses have any appeal for contrarian-minded Fools?
http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/08/07/a-mixed-quarter-at-marsh.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
August 7, 2007
Financial-services firm Marsh & McLennan’s (NYSE: MMC) glacial pace continues, but management isn’t sitting still. It’s working hard to recapture at least some of the company’s former glory. A recent move helped shore up some much-needed capital, and a long-anticipated recovery could be even closer on the horizon.
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/07/27/bottom-fishing-with-national-city.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
July 27, 2007
Banking stocks are struggling these days, and value investors are starting to do some bottom-fishing. At the very bottom of the barrel is Cleveland-based National City (NYSE: NCC) — but does that make it the deal of the bunch?
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/07/26/aflac-ducks-a-weak-yen.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
July 26, 2007
During supplemental insurer and Motley Fool Stock Advisor pick Aflac‘s (NYSE: AFL) second-quarter earnings call, CEO Daniel P. Amos stated that 15% annual growth isn’t as easy as it used to be. However, a weak Japanese yen and challenging trends in Aflac’s largest market weren’t enough to keep the stock from reaching an all-time high, or to derail its prospects through 2008.
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/07/23/wachovia-is-one-big-deal.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
July 23, 2007
Banking giant Wachovia (NYSE: WB) has a reputation for actively acquiring rivals, which is the primary reason it has grown into the fifth largest bank in the land. Its second quarter was no exception, and there is another big deal in the works. But will buying market share work forever?
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/07/23/bank-of-america-is-outbanked.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
July 23, 2007
Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), the second-largest bank in the land, didn’t impress for yet another quarter and was easily outflanked by the competition. But there could be relief on the horizon.
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/07/19/allstate-still-an-all-star.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
July 19, 2007
Property and casualty insurance giant Allstate (NYSE: ALL) just posted some uninspiring operating results. Its investing savvy almost saved the day, highlighting that the company has plenty of ammo to maintain its status as an industry titan.
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/07/18/wells-fargo-makes-cents.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
July 18, 2007
Banking giant Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) just posted another quarter of double-digit revenue and earnings growth, a feat it has achieved consistently for two decades now.
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/07/18/time-to-turn-the-keycorp.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
July 18, 2007
Signs are beginning to emerge that Cleveland-based KeyCorp‘s (NYSE: KEY) shift to core commercial and relationship banking is paying dividends, but there are still indications that it remains stuck in the middle compared to certain better-capitalized peers.
http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/06/20/morgan-stanley-still-shining.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
June 20, 2007
Financial services giant Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) just posted another impressive quarter of double-digit revenue and earnings growth, and it continues to outshine archrivals Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) and Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER). It will also soon part ways with its underperforming credit card unit, which should only serve to boost profitability.
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
June 1, 2007
In a number of respects, the credit card industry is an unloved business these days. Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) appears tired of Discover and plans to spin it off to shareholders late this year, while MBNA sold out to banking behemoth Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) not too long ago as its rapid growth days were firmly behind hit. Capital One Financial (NYSE: COF), or CapOne as it’s also referred to, has taken another path by acquiring its way to a position as the 11th-largest depository institution in the United States.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/06/01/fool-on-the-street-time-to-cross-state-street.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
June 1, 2007
Boston-based State Street (NYSE: STT) is one of the largest providers of financial services to money management institutions. Exposure to such a large market has allowed it to post a sturdy, long-term track record of sales and earnings gains. However, the recently announced acquisition of Investors Financial Services (Nasdaq: IFIN) scared investors into thinking growth prospects may not be so robust, causing State Street to pay a hefty premium for control of a hometown archrival.
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
May 31, 2007
Back in January, I tagged Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) as the best financial stock for 2007. Well, here we are at the end of May and the shares are about flat from where they started the year. However, a recent presentation at the annual Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH) Financial Services Conference renewed my confidence that Wells Fargo is a rock-solid financial institution with a number of qualities that set it apart from the competition.
http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/05/31/a-taxing-april-for-jackson-hewitt.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
May 31, 2007
Jackson Hewitt (NYSE: JTX) experienced some turbulence closing out its fiscal year, but it still has plenty of room to open its tax-preparation stores throughout the country. It’s also a king of cash, with plenty of related ways to benefit shareholders. But is that enough to outweigh near-term concerns?
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/05/01/back-to-basics-at-national-city.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
May 1, 2007
Recent results at Cleveland-based bank National City (NYSE: NCC) have included many moving parts because of a couple of recent acquisitions and a key divestiture. National City, an Income Investor recommendation, will be able to return its focus to key businesses soon, but will this be enough for Fools to consider placing some chips on the table?
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/04/18/sitting-pretty-at-regions-financial.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 18, 2007
Operating a bank isn’t easy, but can be a straightforward and very profitable affair over time, especially if you’re not geographically challenged.
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/04/19/keycorps-key-concern.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 19, 2007
Cleveland-based KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) primarily offers banking services to Great Lakes states and the northeastern United States. Problem is, baby boomers and people in general are moving to warmer Sun Belt states. And while KeyCorp is still doing well, investors wonder whether growth prospects will ever gain momentum.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/04/18/bulking-up-by-slimming-down.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 18, 2007
In an attempt at addition by subtraction, Wisconsin-based bank Marshall & Ilsley (NYSE: MI) will soon spin off its data-service segment, Metavante, to shareholders. Time will tell whether each segment can perform better alone, but I like their chances.
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/04/17/a-golden-opportunity-for-wachovia.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 17, 2007
Share prices of the six largest banks in the country are underwater so far this year. Investors can thank subprime mortgage market woes for Wall Street’s concerns about financial stocks in general. But the bigger banks are proving that diversified business models can withstand the heat.
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/01/22/keeping-tabs-on-keycorp.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
January 22, 2007
In the crowded, publicly traded banking space of investing, what’s one to make of the investment appeal of KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY)? The Cleveland, Ohio-based bank meets a number of the characteristics for Foolish investing, including a leading brand in its primary markets, which include Ohio, New York, Washington, Colorado, and a handful of other states. It’s also quite profitable, as are most well-run banks that earn a spread between the money they take in the form of deposits and loan out to businesses and individuals.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/01/22/regions-financial-stays-close-to-home.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
January 22, 2007
Birmingham, Ala.-based Regions Financial (NYSE: RF) has lived up to its name recently by snapping up a couple of major regional competitors over the past few years. Can investors expect it to remain an aggressor in the ever-consolidating banking industry?
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/01/17/unique-data-point-at-marshall-ilsley.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
January 17, 2007
Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley (NYSE: MI), or M&I, is not the largest bank in the nation, but it has put together a decent string of growth and has a division that sets it apart from the competition. Is that enough to make it a core financial holding?
http://www.fool.com/news/2006/12/29/marsh-mac-punts-putnam.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
December 29, 2006
The news wires this morning are reporting that financial and business services firm Marsh & McLennan (NYSE: MMC) is in the final stages of selling its Putnam investment management unit to Canadian investment firm Power Corp. If and when Putnam is sold, Marsh will be left with three business segments: Marsh and Guy Carpenter insurance broking, Mercer consulting, and Kroll risk consulting and technology. So, will the company be better off without Putnam?
http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2006/12/20/morgan-stanley-re-discovers-itself.aspx
Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
December 20, 2006
The good times continue for the largest financial-services firms, and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) has been no exception, quickly returning to form as a profitable powerhouse in the industry. The company announced its full-year earnings yesterday — along with its decision to jettison a sizeable division.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06110226.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
11/02/2006
Judging by third-quarter results released yesterday, financial and business service firm Marsh & McLennan(NYSE: MMC) may finally be recovering from an insurance bid-rigging debacle that first rocked the company in October 2004.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06101930.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
10/19/2006
Fashioning itself after the retailing industry, Commerce Bancorp(NYSE: CBH) refers to its banks as “stores” and emphasizes customer-friendly offerings — for example, the “stores” stay open past 5 p.m. on weekdays and are open on weekends. Sounds like an interesting differentiator in the stodgy, cutthroat banking industry, so why aren’t all investors fans of the stock?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06101720.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
10/17/2006
Milwaukee-based Marshall & IIsley(NYSE: MI), or M&I, reported third-quarter results yesterday. M&I, one of the top 20 largest banks in the country in terms of market capitalization, is primarily a traditional bank — but it possesses another division that sets it apart from its peers.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06101818.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
10/18/2006
National City(NYSE: NCC) is among the 10 largest banks in the country in terms of market capitalization. That sounds more impressive than it is because market cap trails off quickly after the top five; National City is still primarily a regional player, though it’s trying to change all that and reposition certain businesses.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06101708.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
10/17/2006
Wachovia Corp(NYSE: WB), the fifth-largest bank in the country in terms of market capitalization, reported third-quarter results yesterday. For Fools with better things to do than dig through the 22 pages of financial exhibits from the earnings release, here’s a recap of some of the more important figures, as well as an overview of which type of investor may be interested in investing in financial behemoths like this one.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06092104.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
09/21/2006
The Double Take brings you two takes for the price of one. Yesterday, Alex Dumortier examined Morgan Stanley’s third-quarter earnings. Today, it’s Ryan Fuhrmann’s turn.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06091802.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
09/18/2006
In a move to further cut costs until top-line growth improves, Marsh & McLennan(NYSE:MMC) has announced it is cutting an additional 750 jobs in an effort to save $350 million. While the move is another step in the right direction, Marsh still has a way to go toward regaining its former glory.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06091505.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
09/15/2006
Investment publication provider Value Line(NASDAQ:VALU) is currently trading right at its 52-week high. It’s up more than 15% over the past year, handily beating the market. Because of its strong run, now may not be the best time to place some chips on the table, but that could easily change, given the firm’s solid cash flow-generating capabilities.
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