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Societe Generale reports strong profitability and cost reductions in Q1 2026
Societe Generale SA reported Q1 2026 results showing a Return on Tangible Equity of 11.7% and a 6% reported cost reduction. Revenue grew 4.4% at constant perimeter, driven by a 10.7% increase in French Retail, Private Banking, and Insurance revenue. The CET1 ratio stood at 13.5%. While Global Banking & Investor Solutions revenue declined 3.9% and Fixed Income revenues fell 18.2%, the bank maintained strong liquidity reserves of EUR334 billion and achieved a cost-to-income ratio of 60.9%. CEO Slawomir Krupa highlighted the need for regulatory simplification during the earnings call.
Simply Wall St warns of dividend sustainability risks for Texas Instruments
Simply Wall St advises caution regarding Texas Instruments Incorporated (TXN) ahead of its upcoming ex-dividend date. The analysis highlights concerns over the company's dividend sustainability, noting a payout ratio of 95% of earnings and 136% of free cash flow. Additionally, the report points to flat earnings per share growth over the past five years. While the dividend has increased by an average of 15% annually over a decade, the current payout levels and lack of earnings growth suggest potential long-term risks for investors.
Sembcorp shareholders approve S$0.16-per-share final dividend
Sembcorp Industries shareholders have approved a final dividend of S$0.16 per share. The company's future success in its renewables business depends on resolving market imbalances in China, spinning off assets in India, and completing a major acquisition in Australia.
Access Holdings reports 15.7 percent profit increase as impairment charges double
Access Holdings Plc reported a profit after tax of ₦743.05 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025, a 15.7 percent increase from 2024. While interest income and fee income rose, impairment charges on financial assets more than doubled to ₦523.55 billion. Consequently, total comprehensive income fell sharply to ₦458.57 billion due to foreign exchange losses and fair value declines. Earnings per share decreased to 1,348 kobo despite higher net earnings.
T. Rowe Price reports 13% adjusted EPS growth in Q1 2026 amid mixed fund flows
T. Rowe Price Group Inc reported a 13% increase in adjusted earnings per share for Q1 2026, driven by higher revenue and lower expenses. The company saw strong net inflows in its ETF and target date businesses, launching two new ETFs. However, the firm faced $13.7 billion in net outflows from US growth-oriented equity strategies. Effective fee rates declined due to outflows from higher-fee products and growth in lower-fee offerings. Market volatility from geopolitical tensions and AI disruption created uncertainty. CEO Glenn discussed deployment opportunities and the company's positioning against AI disruption.
MoneyHero Ltd reports Q4 2025 net profit and adjusted EBITDA gain
MoneyHero Ltd achieved a net profit of $0.5 million and its first adjusted EBITDA gain of $0.7 million in Q4 2025, marking a turnaround from a loss in the prior year period. Revenue from Singapore and Hong Kong surged 56% and 27% respectively, driven by a strategic pivot to high-margin insurance and wealth verticals. AI automation reduced employee benefit expenses by 32%. However, full-year 2025 revenue declined 8% to $73.4 million with an adjusted EBITDA loss of $6.4 million, while the company searches for a permanent CEO.
Axis Capital Holdings reports strong Q1 2026 growth amid market challenges
Axis Capital Holdings Ltd reported a 17% annualized return on average common equity and an 11% year-over-year increase in gross written premiums to $3.1 billion for Q1 2026. Underwriting income rose 17% to $157 million, driven by a 20% increase in the insurance segment. The company reduced its G&A ratio to 10.7% through AI investments. However, the quarter included a $23 million charge for restructuring and leadership departures, and cat losses reached $48 million, with one-third attributed to geopolitical events in the Middle East. Property pricing decreased by 13%.
GFL Environmental Inc reports record adjusted EBITDA margin and strategic acquisitions propel growth
GFL Environmental Inc reported a record adjusted EBITDA margin of 29.1% for Q1 2026, driven by 8.5% revenue growth before FX headwinds. The company completed eight acquisitions year-to-date, including Frontier Waste Solutions, and plans to deploy $300 million to $500 million in M&A before year-end. Operational efficiency initiatives reduced cost intensity for the fifth consecutive quarter. However, diesel costs increased nearly 10% year-over-year, creating a $10 million headwind, and the SECURE acquisition faces opposition from at least one investor. Management expressed confidence in the transaction's completion and potential for upside in 2026 guidance.
FTI Consulting reports revenue growth amid profitability challenges in Q1 2026
FTI Consulting Inc reported a 9.5% revenue increase in Q1 2026, driven by growth in Corporate Finance and Strategic Communications segments. However, net income fell to $57.6 million due to higher costs. The Economic Consulting and Forensic and Litigation segments underperformed. CEO Steven Gunby highlighted talent acquisition and market share gains, while noting ongoing challenges in the Compass Lexecon business.
Jones Lang LaSalle reports record Q1 2026 revenue and earnings
Jones Lang LaSalle Inc reported record first quarter 2026 revenue and earnings, driven by strong advisory business performance. Adjusted EBITDA rose 24% and adjusted EPS increased 56%. The company exited nearly 60% of targeted Property Management contracts in Asia Pacific and invested EUR 100 million in the Encore+ fund. While capital markets revenue grew, the firm noted risks from Middle East conflict and discretionary technology spend pullbacks. CEO Christian Ulbrich and CFO Kelly Howe highlighted the Accelerate 2030 strategy and AI adoption.
Big Tech earnings report to decide stock market direction
Investors await earnings reports from Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft on Wednesday to gauge the stock market's future direction. These companies, part of the Magnificent Seven, are major spenders on artificial intelligence infrastructure. Traders prioritise AI-related capital expenditure and revenue growth over core business numbers. Concerns exist regarding the return on investment for these vast outlays, highlighted by OpenAI missing internal targets. The performance of these firms significantly impacts the S&P 500 and semiconductor stocks.
Property Franchise Group acquires stake in surveying firm
The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) acquired a 25% stake in Meridian HoldCo for £2.5 million. Meridian HoldCo owns Legal & General Surveying Services, which provides valuation and survey services to lenders across the UK. The firm reported revenues of £43.7 million in 2024. TPFG expects the investment to contribute modestly to earnings in 2026. CEO Gareth Samples stated the acquisition strengthens TPFG's participation in the mortgage value chain.
AB Capital buys Sapporo hotel in 12th Japan acquisition
Private equity fund manager AB Capital Investment Limited acquired the 123-room Smile Hotel Sapporo Susukino Minami in Japan, marking its 12th purchase in the country. The deal, announced on Thursday, was executed under AB Capital Fund II. The property, built in 2018, is operated by Hospitality Operations Inc. The acquisition aligns with growing investor interest in Japan's northern island due to rising inbound tourism and improved connectivity, including a planned Shinkansen extension linking Tokyo and Sapporo.
Scan-Thors (U.K.) Limited enters administration
Scan-Thors (U.K.) Limited, a UK furniture wholesaler established in 1990, entered administration on 23 April 2026 due to financial difficulties. The company, based in Silsden, Keighley, was appointed administrator by Zane Collins of Rushtons Insolvency Limited via the High Court of Justice in Leeds. The firm supplied upholstered furniture to retailers across the UK. Google now lists the business as permanently closed.
Apple sales forecast exceeds analyst expectations despite chip supply warnings
Apple forecast revenue growth of 14% to 17% for the fiscal third quarter, surpassing Wall Street estimates of 9.5% and $102.93 billion. The company reported fiscal second-quarter revenue of $111.18 billion and earnings of $2.01 per share, both exceeding analyst expectations. While iPhone revenue was slightly below forecasts, Mac, iPad, and Wearables segments outperformed estimates. Greater China sales also beat projections. Apple authorised an additional $100 billion in share buybacks, though executives warned that chip supply constraints will likely persist.
Morgan Stanley leads consumer M&A deal ranks in Q1
Morgan Stanley topped the charts of financial advisers for consumer M&A in the first quarter of 2026, according to GlobalData figures. The US bank secured the top position by value and volume, primarily driven by its advisory role in the $44.8bn merger between Unilever and McCormick & Co. announced on the last day of the quarter. Goldman Sachs and Rothschild & Co. also advised on the transaction, occupying the second and third spots respectively. Morgan Stanley additionally advised Refresco on its acquisition of SunOpta. The growth in deal value was attributed to this single high-value transaction.
Ripple warns UK to accelerate digital markets or lose to EU and Singapore
Ripple convened regulators and financial institutions at the Innovate Finance Global Summit in London to urge the UK to accelerate its digital capital markets rollout. Participants warned that delays in regulatory clarity regarding stablecoin legal treatment and collateral eligibility, alongside slower progress in the FCA and Bank of England's Digital Securities Sandbox, risk ceding the UK's financial dominance to faster-moving jurisdictions like the EU and Singapore. While the UK possesses structural strengths, the gap between policy ambition and implementation is widening as other regions process live, regulated on-chain transactions.
Goldman Sachs initiates Buy rating on Shyam Metalics and Energy with 23% upside
Goldman Sachs initiated a Buy rating on Shyam Metalics and Energy Ltd with a target price implying 23% upside potential. The company plans to invest ₹27bn to expand specialty steel capacity, focusing on high-margin products like SBQ and stainless steel. This investment complements a broader ₹100bn capex pipeline aimed at driving long-term growth and profitability. The stock declined 2.1% on the day following the announcement.
Asian shares gain amid May Day holiday as strong earnings lift tech stocks
Asian markets rebounded on Friday, with the Nikkei 225 rising 0.7% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 surging 1%, despite many regional markets being closed for May Day holidays. Global gains were driven by strong corporate profits, particularly from Alphabet, Caterpillar, Eli Lilly, and O'Reilly Automotive, which exceeded analyst expectations. While US tech giants like Meta and Microsoft saw declines due to increased AI investment forecasts, Amazon rose after beating earnings estimates. Brent crude oil remained steady near $111.66 per barrel, cooling from recent war-related spikes, while US Treasury yields eased following reports of slower economic growth and stable inflation.
Intercontinental Exchange reports robust revenue growth in Exchanges segment amid market volatility
On May 01, 2026, Intercontinental Exchange Inc released its Q1 2026 10-Q filing, highlighting significant revenue growth in its Exchanges segment driven by increased trading activity in derivatives and equity futures. While the Exchanges segment accounted for 54% of net revenue with a $504 million increase, the Mortgage Technology segment faced challenges due to rising interest rates, reporting an operating loss of $13 million. The company maintains a GF Score of 90/100 and is currently trading at a slight undervaluation.