Intel stock extends gains after report of possible U.S. government stake
On Monday, Jefferies maintained a positive stance on Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) with a Buy rating and a price target set at $95.00. The firm’s analyst highlighted Charles Schwab’s announcement to repurchase approximately $1.5 billion of its shares from TD’s 10.1% ownership stake. This move is seen as a display of Schwab’s increased financial flexibility, with an adjusted Tier 1 Leverage ratio expected to be around 6.5% post-transaction. With a market capitalization of $147.93 billion and a strong YTD return of 12.39%, InvestingPro data shows the company currently trades near its 52-week high, reflecting robust investor confidence.
The repurchase is part of TD’s strategy to divest its entire 10.1% stake in Schwab. This transaction will reduce Schwab’s Adjusted Tier 1 Leverage Ratio from 6.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to approximately 6.5%, which is slightly below the company’s operating objective of 6.75%-7.00%. However, it remains well above the 5.9% ratio recorded in the second quarter of 2024.
Jefferies also noted Charles Schwab’s preliminary metrics for January, which showed net new assets of $30 billion, marking a 3.6% increase. Despite a month-over-month $19 billion decline in cash levels, which aligns with normal seasonal patterns, the cash balance is still higher than in November. Additionally, a $4 billion month-over-month decrease in supplemental funding was reported, while customer engagement, indicated by trading activity, continues to be robust.
Following the share repurchase from TD, Charles Schwab will have around $7.2 billion left under its current share repurchase authorization. The company plans to continue buying back shares opportunistically throughout the year. The expected impact of the repurchase on the fiscal year 2025 earnings per share (EPS) is modestly accretive, with an estimated increase of $0.02 per share, all else being equal. According to InvestingPro, 13 analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggesting growing confidence in the company’s prospects. Subscribers can access additional ProTips and comprehensive financial analysis through the Pro Research Report.
In other recent news, TD Bank Group has announced its decision to divest its 10.1% stake in The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW). The sale will take place through a registered offering and a share repurchase by Schwab. TD currently holds around 184.7 million shares of Schwab’s common stock. Schwab has committed to repurchasing $1.5 billion of its shares from TD, contingent on the completion of the offering. TD plans to allocate C$8 billion from the proceeds to repurchase its own stock, with the remaining funds invested back into the company to support customer and client services, enhance performance, and foster organic growth.
In a related development, Charles Schwab’s stock has experienced a decline following TD’s announcement. TD’s exit marks a significant change in its investment strategy, as the bank held a substantial stake in Charles Schwab. Meanwhile, Truist Securities has increased the price target on Charles Schwab Corporation shares to $90 from the previous target of $86, while maintaining their Buy rating on the stock. This adjustment follows Charles Schwab’s strong fourth-quarter 2024 performance and optimistic projections for 2025.
Lastly, Trump Media and Technology Group Corp. has announced plans to expand into financial services with the launch of a new brand named Truth.Fi. The company plans to invest up to $250 million of its cash reserves, custodied by Charles Schwab, into this initiative.
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