Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services. In addition, the company engages in securities dealing activities. The company was formerly known as Barclays Bank Limited and changed its name to Barclays PLC in January 1985. Barclays PLC was founded in 1690 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Barclays PLC

Key Points
President Trump has threatened to levy tariffs of up to 200% on pharmaceutical imports.
Lilly's margins could be negatively affected if the company absorbs the higher costs.
However, any effect on Lilly should only be temporary.
The active ingredients of roughly 80% of prescription drugs sold in the U.S. are made in other countries. President Trump wants that to change.
Instead of a carrot-and-stick approach, the president plans to rely solely on a stick -- tariffs. Trump recently threatened to levy steep tariffs on all pharmaceutical imports to the United States.
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As you might expect, the pharmaceutical industry doesn't like the idea. But can a top pharma stock such as Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) withstand the threat of Trump's new sweeping tariffs?
About the president's threatened pharmaceutical tariffs
First of all, firm details about Trump's pharmaceutical tariffs have not been released yet. However, the president said that tariffs on pharmaceutical imports will come "very soon." We do know, though, that Trump wants steep tariff levels. He said during a Cabinet meeting earlier this month, "They're going to be tariffs at [a] very high rate, like 200%."
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick provided further clarification in an interview with CNBC. He said that the details on pharmaceutical tariffs will be announced at the end of July. Lutnick noted that a Section 232 investigation related to pharmaceuticals and semiconductors will be completed at the end of this month. Once that investigation is finished, Trump will establish his tariff policies. Section 232 investigations are intended to assess the effect of imports on national security.
Trump doesn't plan for pharmaceutical tariffs to take effect immediately, though. He said, "We'll give them [drugmakers] a certain period of time to get their act together." He suggested that pharmaceutical companies would have "about a year, year and a half" to move manufacturing to the U.S. to avoid the tariffs.
How Lilly could be affected
Lilly CEO Dave Ricks addressed the issue of tariffs head-on in his company's first-quarter earnings call on May 1, 2025. Ricks stated, "We support the U.S. government's goals to increase domestic investment. However, we don't believe tariffs are the right mechanism." He suggested tax incentives as a better way to promote U.S. manufacturing of prescription drugs.
But Ricks acknowledged the possibility that pharmaceutical tariffs could be imposed. He predicted that they "would have a negative effect on Lilly and for our industry." Wall Street agrees with that view.
Analysts at Barclays wrote to investors, "A 200% tariff would inflate production costs, compress profit margins, and risk supply chain disruptions, leading to drug shortages and higher prices for U.S. consumers." UBS analysts agreed, stating that tariffs could significantly hurt drugmakers' margins on products manufactured outside the U.S.
Lilly has three options in light of the steep pharmaceutical tariffs Trump has threatened. The option the president hopes drugmakers take is to relocate manufacturing to the Unites States. Lilly is already planning to build up its U.S. operations so that it can supply all products sold in the U.S. entirely from U.S. manufacturing facilities. However, it's doubtful that the company will complete this effort within the 12 to 18 months Trump mentioned. UBS said in a note to investors that four to five years is more reasonable for relocating manufacturing operations.
The second option for Lilly is to pass higher prices along to customers. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) estimates that a pharmaceutical import tariff of only 25% would increase prices by as much as 12.9%.
Lilly's third option is to absorb the higher costs. Pharmaceutical tariffs of up to 200% could hurt the company's margins considerably.
Evaluating the threat
Let's return to our original question: Can Eli Lilly withstand the threat of Trump's new sweeping tariffs? I think the answer is "yes," albeit with a major caveat. The devil is in the details. Lilly's ability to navigate high tariffs depends on exactly what the Trump administration plans to do.
Ricks said in Lilly's Q1 earnings call that tariffs would "have a transient effect for Lilly, but probably not a long-term one." I suspect he's right.
The company already manufactures many of the products it sells in the U.S. inside the country. Those products wouldn't be affected. As Ricks mentioned, Lilly is already boosting U.S. production, which will also help.
Finally, don't discount legal challenges to the president's tariffs. An argument could be made that pharmaceutical products made in Ireland, the primary overseas source for Lilly, don't present a national security threat to the U.S., since Ireland is a staunch ally.
Granted, Lilly could face a bumpy ride for a while. But I don't think the threat of tariffs undermines the long-term investment thesis for this top pharma stock.
Should you invest $1,000 in Eli Lilly right now?
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Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Barclays Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Can Eli Lilly Stock Withstand the Threat of President Trump's New Sweeping Tariffs?

Block (NYSE: XYZ) had a decent, if unspectacular, June, ultimately emerging from the month with a 10% gain in share price. A product launch in an important market overseas, announced as we approached July, was a catalyst, as were several positive analyst notes across the preceding weeks.
A good month for analyst takes
In the opening days of the month, Block earned a recommendation upgrade from Evercore ISI, whose analyst Adam Frisch ticked up his rating to outperform (buy, in other words) from in line (hold). With that, he also substantially increased his price target to $75 per share from the former $58.
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According to reports, Frisch's move was based on several factors, including the lack of more aggressive -- and therefore risky -- company lending to customers of its popular Cash App. The analyst also said that low-end consumer spending trends were holding steady; these support the small and mid-sized businesses that typically use the company's Square point-of-sale payment system.
Frisch was also heartened by new product rollouts from the company in both the hardware and software realms. In terms of the stock's valuation, the pundit wrote that it was cheap on several metrics when matched against peer fintech companies.
This positive tone was matched by several other Block-watching analysts during the month. While none went so far as to change their recommendation like Frisch, several either reiterated their existing bullish takes or raised their price targets.
Among the latter was Barclays's Ramsey El-Assal, who pushed his fair value assessment higher, to $75 per share from $57. He also maintained his overweight (buy) recommendation.
Stablecoins brought volatility, but...
Block did take a bit of a hit to its stock price when a Wall Street Journal article stated that top U.S. retailers were exploring ways to process stablecoin payments. Much of this has to do with saving fees charged by companies like Block and credit card processors for transactions effected through their networks.
The mood seemed to change when Block announced the rollout of its recently introduced Square Handheld to the U.K. market. This is a point-of-sale device that looks (and in some ways acts) like a smartphone. Given its form factor and the payment software packed inside, it's ideal for restaurants, a crucial Block customer demographic.
Unfavorable unpredictability
Block has always been a strong performer in the transaction management space, particularly within its wheelhouse of small and mid-sized businesses. But it's something of a wild card since it likes to plunge into other related finance segments in a way that feels almost haphazard. Its embrace of cryptocurrencies, for example, feels less than careful and has introduced a significant degree of risk.
With that wild card quality, I would personally shy away from the stock. I feel there are other titles in the fintech space more worthy of consideration.
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Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Block. The Motley Fool recommends Barclays Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Block Stock Zoomed 10% Higher in June

Warren Buffett appears to be on track to go out in style as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. The legendary investor has outperformed the S&P 500 throughout most of his career. He's doing it again with only six months or so remaining at Berkshire's helm.
One stock in Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway portfolio is performing especially well. It's crushing the market in 2025 -- and Wall Street thinks it could soar 70% higher.
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Not the typical Buffett stock
What is this big year-to-date winner for Buffett? Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD (OTC: BYDD.F) (OTC: BYDDY). Its shares have jumped roughly 48% so far in 2025 and were even higher in May.
BYD isn't the typical Buffett stock. He primarily invests in U.S. companies, with Berkshire's stakes in five Japanese trading houses being notable exceptions. Buffett and electric vehicles generally don'y go together. He hasn't been a big fan of auto stocks in general. In 2023, Buffett said that he and his longtime business partner, the late, great Charlie Munger, "for long have felt that the auto industry is just too tough."
However, Munger was a passionate advocate for BYD. He persuaded Buffett to invest in the EV maker in 2008. At Berkshire Hathaway's 2023 annual shareholder meeting, Munger declared, "I have never helped do anything at Berkshire that was as good as BYD, and I only did it once."
BYD bulls on Wall Street
Wall Street really likes BYD, too -- or at least the lone analyst surveyed by LSEG who covers the stock does. Barclays thinks the Chinese EV maker's shares trading under the BYDDF ticker could rise by more than 70% over the next 12 months and rates the stock as a "strong buy."
Barclays isn't the only analyst that's upbeat about BYD, though. LSEG surveyed two analysts who provided revenue estimates for the company's next two quarterly updates. The average estimate is that BYD will deliver year-over-year revenue growth in Q2 of 31.4% and in Q3 of 53%.
A much larger group of 29 analysts weighed in on how BYD might perform in full-year 2025. The consensus estimate of these analysts was revenue growth of nearly 27%.
Two factors stand out as the likely reasons behind the overall bullishness about BYD. First, the company unveiled its new "Super e-Platform" technology that will allow its cars to be driven for around 249 miles (400 kilometers) after only five minutes of charging. Second, BYD plans to double its sales outside China to 800,000 vehicles in 2025.
Is Wall Street right about this high-flying stock?
I'm not convinced that Barclays is right that BYD stock could skyrocket another 70% or so. The company's EV price war in China is the culprit behind BYD's pullback from its high set earlier this year. This could hurt BYD's profitability over the near term.
However, BYD's expansion beyond China bodes well for its long-term growth prospects. In April, the company sold more EVs than Tesla in Europe for the first time ever. Despite higher tariffs imposed by the European Union, BYD made significant traction in the European market.
BYD's new charging technology could be a game-changer. Being able to charge an EV in roughly the same amount of time that it takes to fill up a gasoline-powered car should make EVs more attractive to many auto buyers.
I think BYD should have a tremendous opportunity in the autonomous ride-hailing (robotaxi) market, too. The Chinese company's partnership with Uber to roll out 100,000 BYD EVs in Europe, Latin America, and other regions is significant.
While I'm unsure whether or not BYD will vault 70% higher over the next 12 months, I suspect the stock will keep rising over both the near term and long term. And Munger's pick is likely to help Buffett step down as Berkshire's CEO at year's end on a winning note.
Should you invest $1,000 in BYD right now?
Before you buy stock in BYD, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and BYD wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $689,813!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $906,556!*
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Keith Speights has positions in Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway, Tesla, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends BYD Company and Barclays Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

This Warren Buffett Stock Is Crushing the Market in 2025 -- and Wall Street Thinks It Could Soar 70% Higher

The Business Services group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. BGSF (BGSF) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Business Services sector should help us answer this question.
BGSF is a member of our Business Services group, which includes 271 different companies and currently sits at #3 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different sector groups. The average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups is measured, and the sectors are listed from best to worst.
The Zacks Rank emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. BGSF is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BGSF's full-year earnings has moved 366.7% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.
Based on the most recent data, BGSF has returned 5% so far this year. Meanwhile, the Business Services sector has returned an average of 0.3% on a year-to-date basis. This means that BGSF is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.
One other Business Services stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is FirstCash Holdings (FCFS). The stock is up 24% year-to-date.
For FirstCash Holdings, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 2.6% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
To break things down more, BGSF belongs to the Business - Services industry, a group that includes 26 individual companies and currently sits at #70 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained an average of 16.3% so far this year, so BGSF is slightly underperforming its industry in this area.
FirstCash Holdings, however, belongs to the Financial Transaction Services industry. Currently, this 35-stock industry is ranked #57. The industry has moved +0.4% so far this year.
Investors interested in the Business Services sector may want to keep a close eye on BGSF and FirstCash Holdings as they attempt to continue their solid performance.
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Zacks is the leading investment research firm focusing on stock research, analysis and recommendations. In 1978, our founder discovered the power of earnings estimate revisions to enable profitable investment decisions. Today, that discovery is still the heart of the Zacks Rank. A wealth of resources for individual investors is available at www.zacks.com.

Is BGSF (BGSF) Stock Outpacing Its Business Services Peers This Year?

Investors interested in Transportation stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Is Flex LNG (FLNG) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Transportation sector should help us answer this question.
Flex LNG is a member of the Transportation sector. This group includes 122 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #14. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.
The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Flex LNG is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for FLNG's full-year earnings has moved 12.1% higher. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.
According to our latest data, FLNG has moved about 6.4% on a year-to-date basis. At the same time, Transportation stocks have lost an average of 7.8%. This means that Flex LNG is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.
Another Transportation stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is LATAM (LTM). The stock has returned 37.8% year-to-date.
For LATAM, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 22% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Breaking things down more, Flex LNG is a member of the Transportation - Shipping industry, which includes 36 individual companies and currently sits at #186 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained an average of 0.5% so far this year, so FLNG is performing better in this area.
LATAM, however, belongs to the Transportation - Airline industry. Currently, this 27-stock industry is ranked #57. The industry has moved -10.7% so far this year.
Investors with an interest in Transportation stocks should continue to track Flex LNG and LATAM. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Zacks is the leading investment research firm focusing on stock research, analysis and recommendations. In 1978, our founder discovered the power of earnings estimate revisions to enable profitable investment decisions. Today, that discovery is still the heart of the Zacks Rank. A wealth of resources for individual investors is available at www.zacks.com.

Is Flex LNG (FLNG) Stock Outpacing Its Transportation Peers This Year?

Investors interested in Finance stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (PGY) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.
Pagaya Technologies Ltd. is a member of the Finance sector. This group includes 857 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #4. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.
The Zacks Rank emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. Pagaya Technologies Ltd. is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for PGY's full-year earnings has moved 89.2% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.
Based on the latest available data, PGY has gained about 102.9% so far this year. In comparison, Finance companies have returned an average of 4.6%. This means that Pagaya Technologies Ltd. is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.
Barclays (BCS) is another Finance stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has returned 32.9%.
For Barclays, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 11% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Looking more specifically, Pagaya Technologies Ltd. belongs to the Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, a group that includes 88 individual stocks and currently sits at #141 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have lost 4.1% this year, meaning that PGY is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.
Barclays, however, belongs to the Banks - Foreign industry. Currently, this 66-stock industry is ranked #15. The industry has moved +22.4% so far this year.
Investors with an interest in Finance stocks should continue to track Pagaya Technologies Ltd. and Barclays. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.
Only $1 to See All Zacks' Buys and Sells
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Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Jabil, Inc. (JBL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Compania Cervecerias Unidas, S.A. (CCU) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Insteel Industries, Inc. (IIIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Fox Corporation (FOX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
MAG Silver Corporation (MAG) : Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Zacks is the leading investment research firm focusing on stock research, analysis and recommendations. In 1978, our founder discovered the power of earnings estimate revisions to enable profitable investment decisions. Today, that discovery is still the heart of the Zacks Rank. A wealth of resources for individual investors is available at www.zacks.com.

Is Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (PGY) Stock Outpacing Its Finance Peers This Year?

HSBC’s stock (NYSE: HSBC) fared reasonably well this year, rising by about 21% since early January. This compares to rival JP Morgan (NYSE: JPM) which remains up by about 10% over the same period. So what’s happening with HSBC stock?
HSBC’s financials have remained reasonably strong. The banking major reported better-than-expected earnings for Q1 2025. Although revenues declined 15% from last year to $17.65 billion, led by business disposals in Canada and Argentina, profits before tax came in at $9.48 billion, declining by 25% compared to last year, although they were well ahead of forecasts. Profit before tax surged by nearly 317% compared to the previous quarter, reflecting strong sequential growth. Strong performances in the Wealth business, Foreign Exchange, and Debt and Equity Markets have been driving profits and revenue in recent quarters. As an aside, market leadership is in fact one of the factors we consider in constructing the market-beating Trefis High Quality portfolio (HQ) – a strategy of 30 stocks that targets long-term value creation. HQ has outperformed the S&P 500 and achieved returns greater than 91% since inception.
Image by Kevin from Pixabay
Fee Based Product Growth
HSBC is increasingly relying on fee-based products in segments such as its Wealth and Personal Banking division to drive growth. Revenue for the Wealth business was up 21% year-over-year during Q1, led by strong client acquisition and activity in Asia, particularly Hong Kong and India. HSBC has been increasingly focusing on wealthy customers in Asia, with its Hong Kong business seeing a 29% sequential growth in new customers.
The Global Private Banking segment has also been faring well, driven by strong brokerage and trading activity in Asia. HSBC is rolling out new wealth products and promotions, including cash incentives for fresh inflows, to attract and retain premium clients. Asset management revenues have been driven by growing assets under management, positive market movements, and increased life insurance-related revenue. The current volatility in the stock markets is also expected to help the wealth business to an extent, as people increasingly seek out advisory services, while brokerage and trading businesses are also likely to benefit.
Outlook
The banking giant cautioned that loan demand and credit quality may suffer going forward due to the broader impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on major trading partners. Although the earnings don’t yet reflect the full impact of the recently announced reciprocal tariffs, HSBC is a largely trade-focused banking company compared to peers. During itsearnings callin late April, HSBC said that it was seeing a notable decline in transaction volumes along the U.S.-China corridor for sectors that were not exempt from tariffs. The bank noted that an economic slowdown could have a low single-digit impact on its revenues for the fiscal year, while seeing up to $500 million in additional expected credit losses. That said, progress in U.S.-China trade negotiations in recent weeks has raised some hopes of easing tensions.
There are a couple of reasons for optimism about HSBC stock. First, its valuation remains fair, with the stock trading at just over 1x tangible book value (net assets minus goodwill). The bank is also focused on improving efficiency and cutting costs, targeting annualized savings of $1.5 billion by the end of the next year. In January, HSBC outlined plans to scale down its mergers and acquisitions and some equities businesses in Europe and the Americas, while shifting its focus to its more profitable Asian markets which are seeing faster economic growth, rising wealth, and availability of more low-cost deposits. HSBC is doubling down on capital returns, having recently raised its share repurchase authorization to $3 billion, with the new buyback expected to be completed before its 2025 interim results.
This could also help support the stock price. Additionally, the bank is aiming for a mid-teens return on average tangible equity between 2025 and 2027, which is above the industry average. On the other hand, HSBC’s core net interest income (NII) could remain under pressure due to lower interest rates, posing a challenge to overall revenue growth, as net interest income accounts for roughly half of the bank’s total revenue. See our analysis of HSBC’s valuation for a closer look at what’s driving our valuation for HSBC stock.
Preserve & Grow Wealth With Risk-Focused Quality Portfolios
While HSBC could provide steady growth, the Trefis HQ portfolio is focused on long-term value creation. With a collection of 30 stocks, it has a track record of comfortably outperforming the S&P 500 over the last 4-year period. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
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What's New With HSBC Stock?

Citigroup Inc.’s C, through its subsidiary Citibank Europe Plc, announced that Citi Handlowy has announced an agreement to sell its consumer banking business in Poland to VeloBank S.A (Velobank). This transaction aligns with Citigroup’s broader strategy to exit consumer banking and strengthen its focus on core operations.
Details of the C’s Deal
The agreement involves the demerger of Citi Handlowy’s consumer banking operations, including wealth management, micro business banking, credit cards, consumer loans, deposits, and assets under management, consumer clients of the brokerage business, branches, and other consumer-related assets to VeloBank. Notably, employees and branches of consumer business will also transition to VeloBank S.A. upon completion of the transaction.
However, the transaction excludes Citi Handlowy’s institutional banking operations, which the company will continue to invest in and expand to serve clients in Poland locally, regionally, and globally. The transaction, subject to regulatory approvals and antitrust clearance, is expected to close by mid-2026. While financially immaterial to Citigroup, it is anticipated to provide a modest regulatory capital benefit.
The transaction, subject to regulatory approvals and antitrust clearance, is expected to close by mid-2026. While financially immaterial to Citigroup, it is anticipated to provide a modest regulatory capital benefit.
Citigroup’s head of International, Ernesto Torres Cantú, commented on the transaction, stating, "Citi Handlowy has been providing financial solutions to corporations in Poland through a history spanning 155 years, and we remain fully committed to Poland’s economic growth and to our institutional clients in the country. This transaction enables us to deploy additional resources to our institutionally focused businesses, so we can continue to connect corporations in Poland to our global network."
Cantú further added, “We’re proud of this significant milestone in simplifying our firm, and we’re pleased that our consumer banking colleagues in Poland are going to a buyer that will continue to invest in this great franchise. We wish them well in their careers with VeloBank and thank them for their dedication in serving their clients with excellence during this process.” He also emphasized Citigroup’s commitment to simplifying its operations while ensuring continuity for consumer banking clients.
Citigroup’s Prior Efforts in the Consumer Banking Business
Citigroup has been winding down its consumer banking operations globally to focus on higher-return segments. In line with this, in April 2021, Citigroup announced its plan to exit consumer banking operations in 14 markets across Asia and EMEA.
In sync with this, in December 2024, Citigroup completed the separation of its institutional banking operations in Mexico from its consumer, small business, and middle-market segments, marking a significant milestone in its restructuring efforts. Earlier, in June 2024, Citigroup sold its China-based onshore consumer wealth portfolio to HSBC China, a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc.
As part of its broader strategy, Citigroup has continued to wind down its Korea consumer banking operations and its overall presence in Russia while preparing for a planned initial public offering of its consumer banking and small business and middle-market banking operations in Mexico.
These moves by Citigroup aim to free up capital for investment in higher-return segments like wealth management and investment banking. Through these efforts, Citigroup expects revenues to achieve a compounded annual growth rate of 4-5% by 2026-end, while driving $2-2.5 billion in annualized run-rate savings by 2026. Management also projects a return on tangible common equity of 10-11% by 2026, reinforcing the company’s commitment to long-term profitability and efficiency.
Our Viewpoint on Citigroup
Through strategic exit from non-core businesses, C will enhance its focus and boost its operational efficiency within its key business segments. This strategic focus will likely lead to improved profitability in the future, as Citigroup focuses its resources on high-growth areas.
Over the past year, shares of Citigroup have gained 21.4% compared with 29.6% growth recorded by the industry.
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Currently, Citigroup carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Similar Steps Taken by Other Banks
In March 2025, HSBC Holdings Plc’s HSBC U.K. division, HSBC UK Bank plc, announced the sale of its private client trust business – HSBC Trust Company (UK) Limited – to Ludlow Trust. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
This move aligns with the HSBC business simplification plan announced in October 2024. Further, in sync with its effort, the company announced the winding down of its investment banking activities in the U.K., Europe and the United States, and divestitures of its French life insurance arm, HSBC Assurances Vie (France) and private banking business in Germany. It also announced the sale of its business in South Africa.
Likewise, in February 2025, Barclays PLC BCS completed the sale of its German consumer finance business, Consumer Bank Europe, to BAWAG P.S.K., a subsidiary of Austria-based BAWAG Group AG. This move aligns with the company’s plan to streamline its operations as outlined in the Investor Update in February 2024.
This sale is part of BCS’s broader strategy to exit retail banking in Europe, responding to shifts in consumer behavior post-pandemic. In addition to the German sale, Barclays has announced plans to enhance digital banking services in the U.K. and expand its corporate and investment banking presence globally, including new ventures in Asia.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Citigroup Arm Enters Deal to Exit Consumer Banking Business in Poland

The following are the top rated Financial stocks according to Validea's Growth Investor model based on the published strategy of Martin Zweig. This strategy looks for growth stocks with persistent accelerating earnings and sales growth, reasonable valuations and low debt.
XP INC (XP) is a large-cap value stock in the Investment Services industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Martin Zweig is 92% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: XP Inc. is a Cayman Islands-based holding company. The Company owns technological platforms for investments, financial services and education, in addition to media and content platforms, including brands, such as XP, Rico, Clear, Infomoney, XPeed and IM+. It distributes a range of financial products and services, such as financial education and digital content platform, financial advisory services and open financial product platform. Xpeed is a financial education platform in Brazil, which offers courses, MBAs and learning tools, as well as a range of digital content. It advises and supports its customers in a range of activities related to the financial universe, such as advisory services for institutional clients, private banking for high income clients, international financial services, structuring and issuance of financial products for corporate clients and issuers. It offers an open financial product platform to its clients, encompassing both proprietary and partnership products.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
P/E RATIO:
PASS
REVENUE GROWTH IN RELATION TO EPS GROWTH:
PASS
SALES GROWTH RATE:
FAIL
CURRENT QUARTER EARNINGS:
PASS
QUARTERLY EARNINGS ONE YEAR AGO:
PASS
POSITIVE EARNINGS GROWTH RATE FOR CURRENT QUARTER:
PASS
EARNINGS GROWTH RATE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL QUARTERS:
PASS
EPS GROWTH FOR CURRENT QUARTER MUST BE GREATER THAN PRIOR 3 QUARTERS:
PASS
EPS GROWTH FOR CURRENT QUARTER MUST BE GREATER THAN THE HISTORICAL GROWTH RATE:
PASS
EARNINGS PERSISTENCE:
PASS
LONG-TERM EPS GROWTH:
PASS
INSIDER TRANSACTIONS:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of XP INC
XP Guru Analysis
XP Fundamental Analysis
BARCLAYS PLC (ADR) (BCS) is a large-cap value stock in the Money Center Banks industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Martin Zweig is 77% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Barclays PLC is a diversified bank with five divisions comprising Barclays UK, Barclays UK Corporate Bank, Barclays Private Bank and Wealth Management, Barclays Investment Bank and Barclays US Consumer Bank. The Barclays UK division represents businesses that sit within the United Kingdom ring-fenced bank, Barclays Bank UK PLC and its subsidiaries, and comprises Personal Banking, Business Banking and Barclaycard Consumer UK. The Barclays UK Corporate Bank division offers lending, trade and working capital, liquidity, payments, and FX solutions for corporate clients. Barclays Private Bank and Wealth Management division comprises the Private Bank, Wealth Management, and Investments businesses. Barclays Investment Bank division incorporates the Global Markets, Investment Banking, and International Corporate Banking businesses. Barclays US Consumer Bank division represents the United States credit card business, focused in the partnership market, as well as an online deposit franchise.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
P/E RATIO:
PASS
REVENUE GROWTH IN RELATION TO EPS GROWTH:
FAIL
SALES GROWTH RATE:
FAIL
CURRENT QUARTER EARNINGS:
PASS
QUARTERLY EARNINGS ONE YEAR AGO:
PASS
POSITIVE EARNINGS GROWTH RATE FOR CURRENT QUARTER:
PASS
EARNINGS GROWTH RATE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL QUARTERS:
PASS
EPS GROWTH FOR CURRENT QUARTER MUST BE GREATER THAN PRIOR 3 QUARTERS:
PASS
EPS GROWTH FOR CURRENT QUARTER MUST BE GREATER THAN THE HISTORICAL GROWTH RATE:
PASS
EARNINGS PERSISTENCE:
FAIL
LONG-TERM EPS GROWTH:
PASS
INSIDER TRANSACTIONS:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of BARCLAYS PLC (ADR)
BCS Guru Analysis
BCS Fundamental Analysis
COMMERCE BANCSHARES INC (CBSH) is a mid-cap growth stock in the Money Center Banks industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Martin Zweig is 77% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Commerce Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company offering a full line of banking services through its subsidiaries, including payment solutions, investment management and securities brokerage. The CompanyGs subsidiary, Commerce Bank (the Bank), operates full-service banking facilities across the Midwest, including the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas, Springfield, Central Missouri, Central Illinois, Wichita, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Denver. It also maintains commercial offices in Dallas, Houston, Cincinnati, Nashville, Des Moines, Indianapolis, and Grand Rapids and wealth offices in Dallas, Houston, and Naples. Its segments include Commercial, Consumer, and Wealth. The Commercial segment provides a full array of corporate lending, merchant and commercial bank card products, payment solutions, leasing, and international services, as well as business and government deposit, investment, institutional brokerage, and cash management services.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
P/E RATIO:
PASS
REVENUE GROWTH IN RELATION TO EPS GROWTH:
FAIL
SALES GROWTH RATE:
PASS
CURRENT QUARTER EARNINGS:
PASS
QUARTERLY EARNINGS ONE YEAR AGO:
PASS
POSITIVE EARNINGS GROWTH RATE FOR CURRENT QUARTER:
PASS
EARNINGS GROWTH RATE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL QUARTERS:
PASS
EPS GROWTH FOR CURRENT QUARTER MUST BE GREATER THAN PRIOR 3 QUARTERS:
PASS
EPS GROWTH FOR CURRENT QUARTER MUST BE GREATER THAN THE HISTORICAL GROWTH RATE:
PASS
EARNINGS PERSISTENCE:
FAIL
LONG-TERM EPS GROWTH:
FAIL
INSIDER TRANSACTIONS:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of COMMERCE BANCSHARES INC
CBSH Guru Analysis
CBSH Fundamental Analysis
US BANCORP (USB) is a large-cap value stock in the Money Center Banks industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Martin Zweig is 77% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: U.S. Bancorp is a financial services holding company. Its segments are Wealth, Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking, Consumer and Business Banking, Payment Services, and Treasury and Corporate Support. It provides a full range of financial services, including lending and depository services, cash management, capital markets, and trust and investment management services. It also engages in credit card services, merchant and ATM processing, mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and leasing. Its banking subsidiary, U.S. Bank National Association (USBNA), is engaged in the banking business, principally in domestic markets. USBNA provides a range of products and services to individuals, businesses, institutional organizations, governmental entities and other financial institutions. Its non-banking subsidiaries offer investment and insurance products to its customers principally within its domestic markets, and fund administration services to a range of mutual and other funds.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
P/E RATIO:
PASS
REVENUE GROWTH IN RELATION TO EPS GROWTH:
PASS
SALES GROWTH RATE:
FAIL
CURRENT QUARTER EARNINGS:
PASS
QUARTERLY EARNINGS ONE YEAR AGO:
PASS
POSITIVE EARNINGS GROWTH RATE FOR CURRENT QUARTER:
PASS
EARNINGS GROWTH RATE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL QUARTERS:
PASS
EPS GROWTH FOR CURRENT QUARTER MUST BE GREATER THAN PRIOR 3 QUARTERS:
PASS
EPS GROWTH FOR CURRENT QUARTER MUST BE GREATER THAN THE HISTORICAL GROWTH RATE:
PASS
EARNINGS PERSISTENCE:
FAIL
LONG-TERM EPS GROWTH:
FAIL
INSIDER TRANSACTIONS:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of US BANCORP
USB Guru Analysis
USB Fundamental Analysis
BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC (BHLB) is a small-cap value stock in the Money Center Banks industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Martin Zweig is 77% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. is a holding company for Berkshire Bank (the Bank). The Bank provides commercial banking, retail banking, consumer lending, private banking and wealth management services. The Bank provides various loans, including commercial real estate, commercial and industrial loans, residential mortgages and consumer loans. The Bank originates commercial real estate loans on properties used for business purposes, such as retail, multifamily, office, healthcare, hospitality, industrial and manufacturing facilities. The Bank is engaged in prime home equity lending, following its conforming mortgage underwriting guidelines with streamlined verifications and documentation. The Bank offers fixed-rate and adjustable-rate residential mortgage loans. The Company's Wealth Management Group provides consultative investment management, trust administration, and financial planning to individuals, businesses, and institutions, with an emphasis on personal investment management.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
P/E RATIO:
PASS
REVENUE GROWTH IN RELATION TO EPS GROWTH:
PASS
SALES GROWTH RATE:
PASS
CURRENT QUARTER EARNINGS:
PASS
QUARTERLY EARNINGS ONE YEAR AGO:
FAIL
POSITIVE EARNINGS GROWTH RATE FOR CURRENT QUARTER:
PASS
EARNINGS GROWTH RATE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL QUARTERS:
PASS
EPS GROWTH FOR CURRENT QUARTER MUST BE GREATER THAN PRIOR 3 QUARTERS:
PASS
EPS GROWTH FOR CURRENT QUARTER MUST BE GREATER THAN THE HISTORICAL GROWTH RATE:
PASS
EARNINGS PERSISTENCE:
FAIL
LONG-TERM EPS GROWTH:
FAIL
INSIDER TRANSACTIONS:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC
BHLB Guru Analysis
BHLB Fundamental Analysis
Martin Zweig Portfolio
About Martin Zweig: During the 15 years that it was monitored, Zweig's stock recommendation newsletter returned an average of 15.9 percent per year, during which time it was ranked number one based on risk-adjusted returns by Hulbert Financial Digest. Zweig has managed both mutual and hedge funds during his career, and he's put the fortune he's compiled to some interesting uses. He has owned what Forbes reported was the most expensive apartment in New York, a $70 million penthouse that sits atop Manhattan's Pierre Hotel, and he is a collector of all sorts of pop culture and historical memorabilia -- among his purchases are the gun used by Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry", a stock certificate signed by Commodore Vanderbilt, and even two old-fashioned gas pumps similar to those he'd seen at a nearby gas station while growing up in Cleveland, according to published reports.
About Validea: Validea is aninvestment researchservice that follows the published strategies of investment legends. Validea offers both stock analysis and model portfolios based on gurus who have outperformed the market over the long-term, including Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch and Martin Zweig. For more information about Validea, click here
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Validea's Top Financial Stocks Based On Martin Zweig - 5/26/2025

The Goldman Sachs Group GS is combining its three separate investment banking (IB) businesses in Asia into a single unit to integrate its regional deal advisory and capital market capabilities, according to a memo reviewed by Reuters.
Details of GS’s Integrated Asian IB Units
Iain Drayto, currently head of investment banking in Asia, excluding Japan, will lead the newly unified Asia Pacific investment banking division, per an internal memo. In his new role, Drayto will collaborate closely with executives in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand to ensure seamless operations.
"This structure will enable more holistic client engagement, more effective deployment of global and regional expertise, and increased career opportunities for our people," the company stated in the memo.
GS’s Prior Efforts to Focus on the Strength of IB
Goldman refocuses on its core strengths of IB and trading while scaling back its consumer banking business. In October 2024, the firm finalized an agreement to transfer its GM credit card business to Barclays, with Barclays set to acquire the program’s receivables this year. Additionally, in 2024, Goldman completed the sale of GreenSky, its home-improvement lending platform, to a consortium of investors. These moves demonstrate a well-thought-out exit from consumer finance, allowing Goldman to reallocate capital and attention toward higher-margin, more scalable businesses like IB.
GS’s Zacks Rank & Price Performance
In the last six months, shares of GS have lost 0.2% against the industry’s 0.8% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, the company carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Restructuring Efforts by Other Banks
Likewise, major banks worldwide have been restructuring their businesses to optimize operations and enhance efficiency. In March 2025, HSBC Holdings PLC HSBC plans to boost its IB operations in Asia and the Middle East following its exit from key businesses in Europe and the United States, which was confirmed by Georges Elhedery, CEO of HSBC, in an interview with Bloomberg.
The bank will primarily focus on debt and other financing activities globally, as well as mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets in Asia and the Middle East. HSBC aims to invest in areas where it holds a stronger competitive edge to generate “quality” revenues.
Similarly, Reuters reported that Barclays PLC BCS intends to axe unrewarding customer relationships and further reduce the proportion of capital allocated to its investment bank as it increases its efforts to deploy capital toward higher revenue-generating businesses.
This move is part of the three-year plan announced by BCS in February 2024 to save £2 billion from its cost base and redeploy its capital toward domestic businesses.
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The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Barclays PLC (BCS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Barclays PLC

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