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Insider Watch: 3 CEOs Buying Shares in 2025

Insider Watch: 3 CEOs Buying Shares in 2025

Globe and Mail6 days ago
Investors closely monitor insider buys, as they can give hints surrounding the long-term picture.
But it's critical to note that insiders have a longer holding period than most, and many strict rules apply to their transactions.
In 2025, CEOs of several companies – GameStop GME, Everest Group EG, and MicroStrategy MSTR – have made splashes, acquiring shares. Let's take a closer look at the transactions for those interested in trading like the insiders.
GameStop Sees Bullish Outlook
Most investors are familiar with GameStop thanks to the 'meme stock' mania a few years back, with the company reflecting the poster child of the bunch overall. Though shares are down nearly 20% year-to-date, CEO Ryan Cohen stepped in and purchased 500k shares at a total transaction value of roughly $10.7 million.
Analysts have continued to deliver bullish EPS revisions for its current fiscal year, with the current $0.75 Zacks Consensus EPS estimate up big from the $0.02 per share estimate in June of last year.
MicroStrategy Shares Outperform
MicroStrategy shares have become notably popular amid the broader surge in bitcoin over recent years, up nearly 34% in 2025 and widely outperforming relative to the S&P 500. CEO Phong Le swooped in earlier in the year and acquired 6k MSTR shares at a total transaction value of roughly $510k.
Investors should be aware of the high-volatility nature of MSTR shares, which are largely dictated by price swings within BTC.
EG Enjoys Consistent Sales Growth
Everest Group, through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products principally in the United States, Bermuda, and internationally. CEO James Williamson 1k shares at a total transaction value of roughly $340k.
The company's top line has shown consistent growth over recent years, as shown below.
Bottom Line
Many investors closely monitor insider buys, looking to receive insights into the longer-term picture. The transactions shouldn't be relied on for near-term performance, as insiders' holding periods are longer than most, and many strict rules apply.
Rather, investors can see insider buys as an overall net positive concerning the longer-term outlook.
All large-cap stocks above – GameStop GME, MicroStrategy MSTR, and Everest Group EG – have seen recent insider activity.
Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
GameStop Corp. (GME): Free Stock Analysis Report
Everest Group, Ltd. (EG): Free Stock Analysis Report
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USB vs. MTB: Which Regional Banking Stock Holds More Upside?
USB vs. MTB: Which Regional Banking Stock Holds More Upside?

Globe and Mail

time34 minutes ago

  • Globe and Mail

USB vs. MTB: Which Regional Banking Stock Holds More Upside?

Both U.S. Bancorp USB and M&T Bank Corporation MTB are U.S. regional banks, offering similar banking services and exposed to the same interest-rate and credit-cycle pressures. Their performance often mirrors sector-wide trends in net interest margins, deposit competition, and loan defaults. However, both have different growth strategies and geographic exposures. Let us delve deeper into the financial outlook, valuation, and risk profiles of USB and MTB to determine which stock offers better value. The Case for USB U.S. Bancorp has been making several strategic initiatives to strengthen its market position, digital capabilities, and diversify revenue streams. In the past few years, USB has acquired Salucro Healthcare Solutions LLC, MUFG Union Bank's core franchise and fintech platforms. In June 2025, USB partnered with Fiserv to integrate its Elan Financial Service credit card program into Fiserv's Credit Choice Solution. These efforts will continue to strengthen the company's fee-based businesses. Over the past few years, the company has been witnessing a rise in net interest income (NII). Going forward, investment portfolio repositioning, less deposit migration, relatively lower rates, and stabilizing funding costs will continue to support its NII growth. Organic growth and diverse revenue sources are key strengths of U.S. Bancorp. Hence, the company is well-positioned to improve its revenue trend, backed by growth in non-interest income and NII. The company has been experiencing solid growth in average loans and deposits in recent years as it expands relationships with existing customers and acquires new ones. Also, stabilizing deposit trends will continue to support deposit growth. These favorable factors will continue to aid its top line. Management projects total revenues for 2025 to grow in the range of 3–5% from the $27.6 billion reported in 2024. USB Sales Estimates The company enjoys a decent balance sheet. As of March 31, 2025, the company had long-term debt of $59.9 billion and $17 billion in short-term borrowings. Cash and due from banks was $50 billion as of the same date, reflecting a decent liquidity position. Furthermore, USB has cleared the 2025 stress test result and announced plans to increase its quarterly dividend by 4% to 52 cents per share, subject to the board's approval. It also intends to continue buybacks under its existing $5 billion share repurchase program. As of March 31, 2025, $4.9 billion remains available under the company's repurchase program. Given its decent liquidity and strong capital position, its capital deployment activities are sustainable. The Case for MTB M&T Bank has shown remarkable revenue growth over the past few years. Going forward, higher NII, driven by modest lending demand and the Fed's rate cuts, will support its revenue growth. The company's initiatives to strengthen non-interest income will further bolster the top-line growth. The company has a solid balance sheet position. It has been focused on acquiring the best deposit franchise. The company recorded solid loan and deposit growth in the past few years. Growth was supported by the acquisition of People's United in 2022, which increased M&T Bank's loans by $36 billion and deposits by $53 billion. Its deposits are well diversified in terms of clients and offerings, which will support growth in the upcoming period. Additionally, improvements in consumer, commercial, and industrial (C&I) and residential mortgage lending will support loan growth. Management expects 2025 average loans and leases to be between $135 billion and $137 billion, while average total deposits are projected to be in the range of $162–$164 billion in 2025. Last year, total loans and leases amounted to $135.5 billion, while total deposits reached $161 billion. NII is also anticipated to be between $7.05 billion and $7.15 billion for 2025. Additionally, non-interest income is expected to be between $2.5 billion and $2.6 billion. Last year, NII was $6.85 and non-interest income was $$2.4 billion. These favorable projections will likely support the company's top line. MTB Sales Estimates The financial position of M&T Bank remains healthy, backed by strong liquidity and manageable debt levels. As of March 31, 2025, the company had total borrowings of $12.1 billion, comprising both short-term and long-term debt, which was lower than the $22.8 billion held in cash and interest-bearing deposits at banks as of the same date. The company has also passed this year's stress test, although it is yet to announce any changes to its capital plans. M&T Bank hiked its quarterly dividends by 4% to $1.35 per share in May 2024. This followed an 8.3% increase in February 2023. Further, in January 2025, its board of directors authorized a share repurchase program to repurchase up to $4 billion of the company's common stock, with no expiration date. As of March 31, 2025, $3.3 billion worth of shares were available under the plan. USB & MTB: Price Performance and Valuation Over the three months, shares of USB and MTB rallied 19.9% and 20.9% outperforming the industry 's growth of 18.8% and the S&P 500 Index's increase of 15.1%. Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research In terms of valuation, USB currently trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 10.33 times, which is lower than its five-year median of 10.75 times. MTB stock is currently trading at a 12-month forward P/E of 11.42X, which is higher than its five-year median of 10.56X. Price-to-Earnings F12M Further, USB is trading at a discount compared with the industry average of 11.13X, while MTB is trading at a premium. Hence, USB is a better choice for value investors. How Do Earnings Estimates Compare USB & MTB? The Zacks Consensus Estimate for USB's 2025 and 2026 earnings indicates an 8% and 9.6% rise for 2025 and 2026, respectively. Earnings estimates for 2025 have been revised downward, while the same have been revised upward for 2026 over the past month. USB Estimates Revision Trend Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The consensus mark for MTB's 2025 and 2026 earnings indicates an 8.5% and 14.7% rise for 2025 and 2026, respectively. Earnings estimates for both years have been revised upward over the past month. MTB Estimates Revision Trend Image Source: Zacks Investment Research USB or MTB: Which Bank Stock Is More Compelling? While both USB and MTB are fundamentally strong regional banks with robust balance sheets and consistent capital returns, USB stands out as the more compelling investment choice for value-oriented investors and those seeking long-term growth. USB is trading below both its five-year median and the industry average, which signals an attractive valuation entry point. Its strategic acquisitions, fintech partnerships, and diversified revenue mix position it well capitalized on for long-term growth. Moreover, its strong capital position, planned dividend increase, and active buyback plan underscore management's confidence in delivering sustainable shareholder returns. While MTB offers appealing earnings momentum, USB's lower valuation, broader strategic initiatives, and balanced revenue sources give it the edge in terms of total return potential and long-term upside. At present, USB and MTB carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double" Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest. This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%. Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up U.S. Bancorp (USB): Free Stock Analysis Report M&T Bank Corporation (MTB): Free Stock Analysis Report

Demand for warehousing, other industrial leasing showing stress: CBRE
Demand for warehousing, other industrial leasing showing stress: CBRE

CTV News

time36 minutes ago

  • CTV News

Demand for warehousing, other industrial leasing showing stress: CBRE

TORONTO — CBRE Ltd. says leasing trends for warehouses and other industrial properties are showing signs of business stress. The commercial real estate firm says national net lease absorptions turned negative in the second quarter, marking just the second time in five years a quarter has gone negative. CBRE says market players are citing the economic uncertainty from the trade war with the United States for the drop, though it's also coming after several years of booming growth. Paul Morassutti, chairman of CBRE Canada, says it's pretty clear from the news why the market is slowing, but that even without tariffs, a wave of space coming online will test the market. He says the pandemic-induced logistics rush that led to a speculative construction boom means rising availability through 2026, as the industrial market goes through right-sizing. The market had 1.4 million square feet of net negative absorption in the second quarter, a sharp reversal from the more than six million square feet of positive absorption seen every quarter between mid-2020 and the end of 2022. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025.

Intel's new CEO explores big shift in chip manufacturing business
Intel's new CEO explores big shift in chip manufacturing business

CTV News

time37 minutes ago

  • CTV News

Intel's new CEO explores big shift in chip manufacturing business

Intel's new chip offers a promise of lighter PCs that can better compete with tablets. (AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck) SAN FRANCISCO — Intel's new chief executive is exploring a big change to its contract manufacturing business to win major customers, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters, in a potentially expensive shift from his predecessor's plans. The new strategy for Intel's foundry business would mean offering outside customers a newer generation of technology, the people said. That next-generation chipmaking process, analysts believe, will be more competitive against Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co in trying to land major customers such as Apple or Nvidia. Shares of Intel fell as much as five per cent on Wednesday morning on the Nasdaq. Since taking the company's helm in March, CEO Lip-Bu Tan has moved fast to cut costs and find a new path to revive the ailing U.S. chipmaker. By June, he started voicing that a manufacturing process known as 18A, in which prior CEO Pat Gelsinger had invested heavily, was losing its appeal to new customers, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. To put aside external sales of 18A and its variant 18A-P, manufacturing processes that have cost Intel billions of dollars to develop, the company would have to take a write-off, one of the people familiar with the matter said. Industry analysts contacted by Reuters said such a charge could amount to a loss of hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars. Intel declined to comment on such 'hypothetical scenarios or market speculation.' It said the lead customer for 18A has long been Intel itself, and it aims to ramp production of its 'Panther Lake' laptop chips later in 2025, which it called the most advanced processors ever designed and manufactured in the United States. Persuading outside clients to use Intel's factories remains key to its future. As its 18A fabrication process faced delays, rival TSMC's N2 technology has been on track for production. Tan's preliminary answer to this challenge: focus more resources on 14A, a next-generation chipmaking process where Intel expects to have advantages over Taiwan's TSMC, the two sources said. The move is part of a play for big customers like Apple and Nvidia, which currently pay TSMC to manufacture their chips. Tan has tasked the company with teeing up options for discussion with Intel's board when it meets as early as this month, including whether to stop marketing 18A to new clients, one of the two sources said. The board might not reach a decision on 18A until a subsequent autumn meeting in light of the matter's complexity and the enormous money at stake, the person said. Intel declined to comment on what it called rumor. In a statement, it said: 'Lip-Bu and the executive team are committed to strengthening our roadmap, building trust with our customers, and improving our financial position for the future. We have identified clear areas of focus and will take actions needed to turn the business around.' Last year was Intel's first unprofitable year since 1986. It posted a net loss attributable to the company of US$18.8 billion for 2024. The Intel chief executive's deliberations show the enormous risks - and costs - under consideration to move the storied U.S. chipmaker back onto solid footing. Like Gelsinger, Tan inherited a company that had lost its manufacturing edge and fell behind on crucial technology waves of the past two decades: mobile computing and artificial intelligence. The company is targeting high-volume production later this year for 18A with its internal chips, which are widely expected to arrive ahead of external customer orders. Meanwhile, delivering 14A in time to win major contracts is by no means certain, and Intel could choose to stick with its existing plans for 18A, one of the sources said. Intel is tailoring 14A to key clients' needs to make it successful, the company said. AMAZON AND MICROSOFT ON 18A Tan's review of whether to focus clients on 14A involves the contract chipmaking portion of Intel, or foundry, which makes chips for external customers. Regardless of a board decision, Intel will make chips via 18A in cases where its plans are already in motion, the people familiar with the matter said. This includes using 18A for Intel's in-house chips that it already designed for that manufacturing process, the people said. Intel also will produce a relatively small volume of chips that it has guaranteed for AMZN.O and Microsoft MSFT.O via 18A, with deadlines that make it unrealistic to wait for the development of 14A. Amazon and Microsoft did not immediately comment on the matter. Intel said it will deliver on its customer commitments. Tan's overall strategy for Intel remains nascent. So far, he has updated his leadership team, bringing in new engineering talent, and he has worked to shrink what he considered bloated and slow-moving middle management. Shifting away from selling 18A to foundry customers would represent one of his biggest moves yet. The 18A manufacturing process includes a novel method of delivering energy to chips and a new type of transistor. Together, these enhancements were meant to let Intel match or exceed TSMC's capabilities, Intel executives have previously said. However, according to some industry analysts, the 18A process is roughly equivalent to TSMC's so-called N3 manufacturing technology, which went into high-volume production in late 2022. If Intel follows Tan's lead, the company would focus its foundry employees, design partners and new customers on 14A, where it hopes for a better chance to compete against TSMC. Tan has drawn on extensive contacts and customer relationships built over decades in the chip industry to arrive at his view on 18A, the two sources said. (Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin, Max A. Cherney and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Kenneth Li and Matthew Lewis)

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