Financial

Nov. 5 (UPI) — European lawmakers have agreed to a fifth disbursement of $2 billion for Ukraine, supporting its financial stability and government as its defense against a Russian invasion nears its fourth year.

The European Council, the collegiate body of the 27-member bloc, adopted a decision Monday to disburse the funds under its Ukraine Facility, the EU’s main framework for sustaining Ukraine’s economy, governance and reconstruction.

The disbursement comes after Kyiv’s successful completion of nine steps required for the money to be released and one outstanding step from the fourth disbursement of $3.6 billion in August.

“The funding aims primarily to bolster Ukraine’s macro-financial stability and support the continued operation of its public administration,” the council said in a statement.

The Ukraine Facility was adopted in February 2024 and came into force the next month to provide Ukraine with up to $57.4 billion in stable financing in the form of grants and loans through 2027.

Up to $36.7 billion of the funds are earmarked for reforms and investments established in the Ukraine Plan, which will also accelerate Kyiv’s EU accession.

Under the Ukraine Facility, the EU has disbursed about $6.8 billion in bridge financing, $2.1 billion in pre-financing and now five installments of $4.8 billion, $4.1 billion, $4 billion, $3.6 billion and $2 billion on Tuesday.

The disbursement came as the European Commission, the executive branch of the bloc, published a report assessing that Ukraine has made progress in its accession process.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said in a statement that the report “is the best assessment to date — proof that even as we defend against Russia’s full-scale aggression, Ukraine continues to reform and transform according to European standards.”

“Ukraine’s progress on the path to the EU is achieved by efforts of millions of our people,” he said.

“We are committed to working together to strengthen Europe and our shared values.”

It’s been a rough few years for Santa Monica.

Businesses have abandoned its once-thriving downtown. Its retail and office vacancy rates are among the highest in Los Angeles County. The crowds that previously packed the area surrounding the city’s famous pier have dwindled.

Homelessness has risen. City officials acknowledge crime incidents had become more visible and volatile.

The breadth and depth of the issues became apparent just last month when the city was forced to declare itself in fiscal distress after paying $229 million in settlements related to alleged sexual abuse by Eric Uller, a former city dispatcher.

Now, Santa Monica is trying to plot a new path forward. A significant first step could come Tuesday.

That’s when the City Council is set to consider a plan to reverse its fortunes.

A shuttered business on Broadway in Santa Monica.

(David Butow/For The Times)

The plan includes significantly increasing police patrols and enforcing misdemeanor ordinances, investing in infrastructure and new community events, and taking a more business-friendly brush to permits and fees. Officials also plan to be more aggressive in making sure property owners maintain unused properties.

The blueprint tackles many “quality of life” issues that critics say have contributed to lower foot traffic in the city’s tourist districts since the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s far from clear the tactics will work. But given the city’s current trajectory, officials say bold action is necessary.

“We’re trying to usher in a rebirth — a renaissance of the city — by investing in ourselves,” Councilmember Dan Hall said.

Hall, 38, is part of a relatively youthful City Council majority that swept into office in recent years as voters opted for new leadership and a fresh approach. Five of the seven council members are millennials, and six members first joined the council in either 2022 or 2024.

Also new on the scene is City Manager Oliver Chi, who five months ago was hired away from the same position in Irvine.

“The city is in a period of distress, for sure,” said Chi, 45. “We’re not in a moment where the city is broke. The city still has resources. … But right now, if we do nothing, the city’s general fund operating budget is projected to run a structural deficit of nearly $30 million a year, and that’s because we’ve seen big drops” in revenues, such as from hotel taxes, sales tax and parking.

“But part of that is the private sector hasn’t been investing in the city. And we haven’t had people traveling to the city,” Chi said.

Santa Monica is far from the only city — in California or nationwide — to face the pain of a downtown in decline. Brick-and-mortar retailers have long bled business to online offerings, and the pandemic upended the cadence of daily life that was the lifeblood of commercial districts, with many people continuing to work from home at least part of the week.

Birds fly over and people walk on the Santa Monica Pier.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

But the hope is through concerted, planned investment that Santa Monica can shine once again and modernize to be competitive in the postpandemic era.

The City Council had already decided to set aside $60 million from its cash reserves to spend over the next four or five years to cover any operating deficits. But with Tuesday’s vote, Santa Monica would instead use those dollars as an investment in hopes of getting the city back on track.

“Those things really are issues related to public safety, disorder in town, the disrepair that we’ve seen in our infrastructure,” Chi said. “All of those things are preventing, I think, confidence in the local economy.”

In downtown, the city’s plan would include doubling the number of police officers assigned to a specialized unit to at least eight to 10 a day, deploying an additional five patrol officers daily, creating a new police substation, adding two workers daily to address homelessness issues, and hiring eight public safety employees to provide a more constant presence across the city’s main commercial district, parks and parking garages.

Staff in the city attorney’s office would also be augmented to boost the ability to prosecute misdemeanor cases.

An unhoused man naps on a bench in Palisades Park.

(David Butow / For The Times)

Also on the agenda: moving the city’s homeless shelter out of downtown; making a one-time $3.5-million investment to address fraying sidewalks and streets and freshen up trees and trash cans; funding monthly events at the Third Street Promenade to attract crowds; creating a large-scale “Santa Monica Music Festival” next year; upgrading restrooms near the pier and Muscle Beach; and increasing operating days for libraries.

Another proposal would require the owners of vacant properties to register with the city, in hopes of addressing lots that remain in disrepair.

The city is also looking to be more business friendly. It’s seeking to upgrade the current permit process, utilizing artificial intelligence to get nearly instantaneous permit reviews for single-family homes and accessory dwelling units, as well as reduce permit fees for restaurants with outdoor dining.

The plan also outlines strategies to boost revenue. Santa Monica is poised to end its contract with a private ambulance operator, McCormick Ambulance, in February and move those operations in house.

“It’s going to cost roughly $2.8 million a year to stand that operation up. But the reality is, once we start running it, it’ll generate about $7 million a year in new ongoing revenues,” Chi said.

“That’s part of what we’re thinking through: How do we invest now in order to grow our revenue base moving ahead?” he said.

Parking rates are also going up, which city officials estimate should generate $8 million to $9 million in additional annual revenue — though officials say they still charge a lower rate than those of nearby cities.

The city also plans more traffic safety enforcement and will cut the current 90 minutes of free parking in downtown parking structures to 30 minutes.

There’s also been talk of a new city parcel tax, though no decision has yet been made to pursue that. A parcel tax would need voter approval.

Another priority is building back the city’s cash reserves, which have dwindled over the years, largely on account of legal payments. Eight years ago, Santa Monica had $436 million in cash reserves; today, there’s only $158 million in nonrestricted reserves.

The planned $60 million in spending would further reduce the city’s unobligated cash down to $98 million.

Santa Monica’s annual general fund operating budget is nearly $800 million a year.

Beachgoers enjoying the scene near the Santa Monica Pier.

(David Butow/For The Times)

The city is also looking to redevelop some of its underutilized properties, including a 2.57-acre parcel bounded by Arizona Avenue and 4th and 5th streets, which includes branches of Bank of America and Chase bank, the leases of which are expected to expire in a few years. Also being eyed are a 1.09-acre kiss-and-ride lot southeast of the Santa Monica light rail station; the city’s seismically vulnerable Parking Structure 1 on 4th Street, which sits on 0.75 of an acre; and the old Fire Station No. 1, which sits on 0.34 of an acre and is being used for storage.

No firm plans are in place just yet. The parcels could be sold, leased long term or redeveloped as part of a joint venture. One likely possibility is that the developments would include new housing.

“When you look at any revitalization effort of any vibrant downtown core that’s eroded, there’s always been an element of repopulating the area with people,” Chi said. A smart redevelopment plan for those properties will not only “hopefully help bring back vibrancy to the downtown, but also help replenish the city’s cash reserves.”

The seeds of downtown Santa Monica’s decline actually started before the pandemic. But COVID hit the city hard, and commercial vacancies rose significantly, Councilmember Caroline Torosis, 39, said.

Santa Monica also sustained damage in 2020 from rioters who swarmed the downtown area in what appeared to be an organized attack amid a protest meant to decry the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Tourists never came back in the numbers they had before the pandemic.

Torosis said the new council majority was elected on a promise to boost economic activity in the city.

“We need to absolutely ensure that people feel safe, welcome, invited and included in our city,” said Torosis, who serves as mayor pro tem.

Hall called the plan a bold bet.

“What we’re trying to do here is move us away from a scarcity mind-set, where we’re nickel-and-diming businesses trying to stay open, restaurants trying to open a parklet, residents trying to build an ADU,” Hall said.

The council’s relative youth, he said, is a plus for a city trying to write a bright new chapter.

“I think that that’s something that millennials are finding themselves needing to do as we take ownership of society, and we see a world where past generations have been afraid to make mistakes or afraid to make decisions,” he said.

Bank holding company HBT Financial (HBT 4.15%) published its latest set of quarterly figures Monday morning, and investors were clearly impressed by the results. They pushed up the company’s stock price by a bit over 4% in the trading session, a rate that was several times the 1.1% gain of the benchmark S&P 500 index.

Growth where it counts

For HBT’s third quarter, the company earned $59.8 million in total revenue, which was up from the $56.4 million in the same period of 2024. Non-GAAP (adjusted) net income also saw a rise, advancing by 6% year over year to just under $20.5 million, or $0.65 per share.

Image source: Getty Images.

On average, analysts tracking HBT’s stock were modeling $0.62 per share for profitability. It wasn’t clear what they were estimating for revenue.

In the earnings release, HBT pointed to its asset quality as being a key factor in its growth during the period. The company’s ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was less than 0.2% for the period.

A boost in borrowing

The growth of loans also helped drive those fundamentals higher. On an annualized basis HBT’s loans rose by more than 6%, which the company attributed to what it describes as “higher loan pipelines.”

HBT showed discipline during the quarter, and that loan growth figure indicates it knows how to advance that crucial part of its business. The bullish investor response to its performance seems justified.

Range Financial Group LLC fully exited its position in Fortinet (FTNT 0.45%), selling 29,944 shares for an estimated $3.2 million, according to an SEC filing dated Oct. 17.

The fund sold its entire position in Fortinet.

The position previously accounted for 1.2% of the fund’s AUM

What happened

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated October 17, 2025, Range Financial Group LLC sold its entire stake in Fortinet. The firm liquidated the 29,944 shares it held, with the estimated value of the transaction based on the quarterly average price totaling $3.2 million. The fund now holds no position in Fortinet.

What else to know

The fund sold out of Fortinet, reducing its exposure from 1.2% of AUM as of June 30, 2025 to zero

Top holdings after the filing:

NYSEMKT: GJAN: $13.9 million (5.0% of AUM) as of Sept. 30

NASDAQ: NVDA: $10 million (3.6% of AUM) as of Sept. 30

NASDAQ: STX: $7.7 million (2.8% of AUM) as of Sept. 30

NYSEMKT: SPLG: $7.2 million (2.6% of AUM) as of Sept. 30

NYSEMKT: PJAN: $7.1 million (2.6% of AUM) as of Sept. 30

Shares of Fortinet closed at $83.44 on Oct. 17, 2025, up 3.2% over the past year but underperforming the S&P 500’s total return by 12.4 percentage points

Company overview

Company snapshot

Fortinet, Inc. is a global provider of integrated cybersecurity solutions, offering a broad product portfolio and scalable security infrastructure. The company leverages a mix of proprietary hardware and software to deliver robust network protection and threat mitigation for enterprises of all sizes.

It serves a diverse global customer base across telecommunications, technology, government, financial services, education, retail, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors.

The company generates revenue primarily through hardware and software sales, security subscriptions, technical support, and professional services, leveraging a channel partner distribution model alongside direct sales.

Foolish take

Range Financial sold its entire position after adding shares during the second quarter. During the June 30 through Sept. 30 period, the fund boosted its share ownership from 2.7 million shares to nearly 3.2 million shares.

However, the share sale follows the market’s negative reaction following Fortinet’s second-quarter earnings release on Aug. 6, sending the share price down nearly 22% the following day.

The company reported a 14% revenue increase to over $1.6 billion, the high end of management’s quarterly guidance. The company also reported adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.64, exceeding its budgeted figure. Management also raised its annual EPS guidance.

Nonetheless, investors focused on Fortinet’s announcement that it has completed 40% to 50% of its planned firewall upgrade cycle. The higher-than-expected figure led to concern that many customers have already upgraded, limiting future revenue growth. Several analysts downgraded their ratings following the announcement.

Glossary

AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of investments managed by a fund or investment firm.
Liquidated: Sold off an entire investment position, converting it to cash.
Exposure: The proportion of a portfolio invested in a particular asset, sector, or market.
Channel partner distribution model: A sales approach where products are sold through third-party partners rather than directly to customers.
Stake: The amount of ownership or shares held in a company or investment.
Quarterly average price: The average price of a security over a three-month reporting period.
Reportable U.S. equity assets: U.S. stock holdings that must be disclosed in regulatory filings.
TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.
Security subscriptions: Ongoing service contracts providing access to cybersecurity updates and support.
Centralized management: A system that allows control and monitoring of multiple devices or services from a single platform.
Endpoint protection: Security solutions designed to protect devices like computers and smartphones from cyber threats.
Threat mitigation: Actions or technologies used to reduce or prevent cybersecurity risks.

MILWAUKEE — The disparity in the payrolls was the focus of the series before the first pitch ever delivered, the handiwork of the manager in charge of the small-market franchise that won more regular season games than any team in baseball.

“I’m sure that most Dodgers players can’t name eight guys on our roster,” joked Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers.

If the preceding six months were a testament to how a team can win without superstars, the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series was a display of the firepower that can be purchased with a record-breaking $415-million payroll.

The Dodgers won a game in which a confusing play at the center-field wall resulted in an inning-ending double play that cost them a run — and very likely more.

They won a game in which they stranded 11 runners.

They won a game in which the Brewers emptied their top-flight bullpen to secure as many favorable matchups as possible.

The Dodgers won because they had a $162-million first baseman in Freddie Freeman, whose sixth-inning solo home run pushed them in front. They won because they had a $182-million starting pitcher in Blake Snell, who pitched eight scoreless innings. They won because they had a $365-million outfielder-turned-shortstop in Mookie Betts, who drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning.

Talent wins.

The Dodgers can buy as much of it as they want.

The visions of the Brewers’ small-ball offense overcoming the absence of a Freeman or a Betts or a Shohei Ohtani?

In retrospect, how cute.

The thinking of how the Brewers’ pitching depth could triumph over the Dodgers’ individual superiority?

In retrospect, how delusional.

The Dodgers absorbed the Brewers’ best collective shot, and they emerged with a victory that won them control of the best-of-seven series.

Their $325-million co-ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, will start Game 2 on Tuesday. Ohtani, their $700-million two-way player, and their $136.5-million No. 4 starter Tyler Glasnow will pitch Games 3 and 4 at Dodger Stadium in some order.

How can the Brewers match that?

Bring on the Seattle Mariners.

Bring on the World Series.

The Brewers’ futile effort to stop the Dodgers on Monday night consisted of them deploying six pitchers in a so-called bullpen game. The assembly line of arms was solid, but Snell was exceptional.

Snell yielded only one baserunner over eighth innings — Caleb Durbin, who singled to lead off the third inning.

Snell picked him off.

Against the team with the lowest chase rate baseball, Snell finished with 10 punchouts.

“This,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “was pretty special.”

Only when the Dodgers turned to their bullpen in the ninth inning were they in any sort of danger, with Roki Sasaki looking gassed after his three-inning relief appearance against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the NL Division Series.

Also of concern was the effect the previous series had on the Dodgers’ most valuable property, Ohtani. In the four games against the Phillies, Ohtani was one for 18 with nine strikeouts.

There was no way of knowing whether Ohtani was out of his mini-slump, as the Brewers elected to challenge him as infrequently as possible.

Facing opener Aaron Ashby, Ohtani drew a walk to start the game. He was walked two other times, both intentionally.

He was hitless in his two other plate appearances, as he flied out to left field in the third inning and grounded out to first base in the seventh. His plate discipline was improved, and his third-inning at-bat against Quinn Priester lasted eight pitches.

“I thought Shohei’s at-bats were great tonight,” Roberts said.

Before the game, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman pushed back against the perceptionthat Ohtani was even slumping, describing how the Phillies pitched to him in borderline historic terms.

“I think it was the most impressive execution against a hitter I’ve ever seen,” Friedman said.

Perhaps not wanting to create any bulletin-board material for Ohtani, Murphy also described the mini-slump as a reflection of the excellence of Phillies pitchers Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo and Ranger Suarez.

“Those guys are really, really good,” Murphy said. “So I don’t consider Ohtani struggling. I don’t.”

Murphy behaved like it, his fear of Ohtani healthy enough to where he walked him intentionally to load the bases in the ninth inning.

The move backfired when Betts walked to push in an insurance run.

Ohtani wasn’t the only big-money player on the team.

On October 10, 2025, wealth management company Douglas Lane & Associates disclosed a purchase of Thermo Fisher Scientific valued at approximately $7.79 million, based on the average price for Q3 2025.

What happened

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dated October 10, 2025, Douglas Lane & Associates increased its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO -1.85%) by 16,745 shares during the quarter. The estimated transaction value was $7.79 million, based on the average closing price for the quarter. The fund now holds 216,276 shares after the trade.

What else to know

Following the purchase, Thermo Fisher Scientific represented 1.5% of the fund’s reportable assets under management as of September 30, 2025.

Top holdings after the filing are as follows:

• NASDAQ:NVDA: $312.46 million (4.4% of AUM) as of September 30, 2025
• NASDAQ:GOOG: $212.16 million (3.0% of AUM) as of September 30, 2025
• NYSE:JPM: $203.56 million (2.8% of AUM) as of September 30, 2025
• NASDAQ:MSFT: $184.79 million (2.6% of AUM) as of September 30, 2025
• NASDAQ:QCOM: $167.31 million (2.3% of AUM) as of September 30, 2025

As of October 9, 2025, Thermo Fisher shares were priced at $534.68, and were down about 12% over the trailing 12 months.

Company Overview

Company Snapshot

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, laboratory products, and biopharma services with revenue streams diversified across research, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical sectors.

The company operates a multi-segment business model, generating revenue through direct sales, e-commerce, and third-party distribution of proprietary products, consumables, and services. It serves pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, clinical and research laboratories, academic institutions, government agencies, and industrial customers globally.

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is a global leader in scientific instrumentation, diagnostics, and laboratory services, with a broad portfolio that supports research, healthcare, and biopharmaceutical production. The company leverages scale and a diverse product offering to drive consistent revenue growth, and serve a wide range of end markets.

Foolish take

Douglas Lane upping its Thermo Fisher Scientific holdings is noteworthy in that the wealth management company already had a substantial stake. This move suggests Douglas Lane believes Thermo Fisher stock remains attractively valued, especially after its decline over the last 12 months.

Indeed, looking at Thermo Fisher stock’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio shows it’s lower than it was a year ago. This indicates shares are a better value now, although the earnings multiple is not as low as it was after President Trump’s new tariff policies caused the entire stock market to fall last April.

As far as its business performance, Thermo Fisher is doing well. It achieved 3% revenue growth to $10.9 billion in its fiscal second quarter, ended June 28. The company did an outstanding job managing its expenses, and combined with its sales growth, allowed Thermo Fisher to deliver a 6% year-over-year increase in fiscal Q2 diluted earnings per share (EPS) to $4.28. This continues the trend of rising EPS exhibited over the last couple of years.

On top of that, Thermo Fisher raised its 2025 fiscal guidance to sales of about $44 billion. This would be a jump up from the prior year’s $42.9 billion. With rising revenue and EPS combined with a reasonable P/E ratio, Thermo Fisher stock looks like a compelling buy.

Glossary

Assets Under Management (AUM): The total market value of investments managed by a fund or investment firm.
13F Reportable Assets: Securities that institutional investment managers must disclose in quarterly SEC filings if they exceed $100 million in assets.
Alpha: A measure of an investment’s performance relative to a benchmark index, often indicating excess return.
Quarter: A three-month period used by companies for financial reporting and performance measurement.
Proprietary Products: Goods or services owned and produced exclusively by a company, often protected by patents or trademarks.
Consumables: Products intended for single or limited use, requiring regular replacement in laboratory or industrial settings.
Direct Sales: Selling products or services directly to customers without intermediaries or third-party distributors.
Third-Party Distribution: The sale of products through external companies or intermediaries rather than directly from the manufacturer.
Dividend Yield: The annual dividend payment expressed as a percentage of the stock’s current price.
Biopharma Services: Specialized services supporting the development and manufacturing of biopharmaceutical drugs.
End Markets: The final industries or customer segments that purchase and use a company’s products or services.
TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.

The former Stolper Co is a financial management company that merged with another financial services business to form Wealth Oklahoma in 2025. It initiated a new position in Allison Transmission Holdings (ALSN -2.01%), acquiring 75,606 shares in the third quarter, an estimated $6.4 million trade based on the average price for Q3 2025, according to its October 10, 2025, SEC filing.

What happened

Wealth Oklahoma disclosed the purchase of 75,606 shares of Allison Transmission Holdings in its quarterly report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2025 (SEC filing). The new holding was valued at $6.4 million as of Q3 2025, with the transaction representing 1.9% of Stolper’s $330 million in reportable U.S. equity assets.

What else to know

This is a new position; the stake now accounts for 1.9% of Wealth Oklahoma’s 13F reportable assets as of September 30, 2025.

Top holdings after the filing are as follows:

• BRK-B: $18.96 million (5.75% of AUM) as of 2025-09-30
• JPM: $17.74 million (5.37% of AUM) as of 2025-09-30
• AAPL: $14.90 million (4.52% of AUM) as of 2025-09-30
• GOOGL: $11.92 million (3.6% of AUM) as of 2025-09-30
• COF: $10.73 million (3.25% of AUM as of Q3 2025)

As of October 9, 2025, Allison Transmission shares were priced at $81.02, down 18.4% over the prior year ending October 9, 2025 and underperforming the S&P 500 by 33.9 percentage points over the past year.

The company reported trailing 12-month revenue of $3.2 billion for the period ended June 30, 2025 and net income of $762 million for the period ended June 30, 2025.

Allison Transmission’s dividend yield stood at 1.3% as of October 10, 2025. Shares were 35% below their 52-week high as of October 9, 2025.

Company Overview

Company Snapshot

Allison Transmission designs and manufactures fully automatic transmissions and related parts for commercial, defense, and specialty vehicles. It also offers remanufactured transmissions and aftermarket support.

The company generates revenue primarily through product sales to original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket services, including replacement parts and extended coverage.

Allison Transmission serves a global customer base of OEMs, distributors, dealers, and government agencies, with a focus on commercial vehicle and defense markets.

Image source: Getty Images.

Allison Transmission is a leading provider of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial and defense vehicles worldwide. The company leverages a broad distribution network and long-standing OEM relationships to maintain a strong position in the auto parts sector.

Foolish take

Founded in 1915, Allison Transmission is a veteran of propulsion systems technology. It’s the world’s largest manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions, according to the company.

Allison Transmission’s sales are down slightly year over year. Through the first half of 2025, revenue stood at $1.58 billion compared to $1.61 billion in 2024.

This lack of sales growth is a contributor to the company’s share price decline, adding to its dismal 2025 outlook, which it slashed due to softness in demand in some of its end markets, such as for medium-duty trucks. Allison Transmission now expects 2025 revenue to come in between $3.1 billion to $3.2 billion, down from $3.2 billion to $3.3 billion.

With Allison Transmission shares hovering around a 52-week low, Wealth Oklahoma took advantage to initiate a position in the stock. This speaks to Wealth Oklahoma’s belief that Allison Transmission can bounce back. This might be the case, given Allison’s recent acquisition of Dana Incorporated, which provides drivetrain and propulsion systems in over 25 countries.

With a price-to-earnings ratio of 9, Allison Transmission’s valuation looks attractive, which also explains Wealth Oklahoma’s purchase. The stock certainly looks like it’s in buy territory.

Glossary

13F reportable assets: U.S. equity holdings that institutional investment managers must disclose quarterly to the SEC on Form 13F.
AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of investments managed on behalf of clients by a financial institution or fund manager.
Dividend yield: Annual dividend payments divided by the share price, expressed as a percentage, showing income return on investment.
Trailing twelve months (TTM): The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM): A company that produces parts or equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer.
Aftermarket services: Products and support provided after the original sale, such as replacement parts, maintenance, or extended warranties.
Stake: The amount or percentage of ownership an investor or institution holds in a company.
Quarterly report: A financial statement filed every three months, detailing a company’s performance and financial position.
Distribution network: The system of intermediaries, such as dealers and distributors, through which a company sells its products.
Defense market: The sector focused on supplying products and services to military and government defense agencies.

On October 6, 2025, TruWealth Advisors, LLC disclosed in an SEC filing that it sold all 450,162 shares of Synovus Financial (SNV 0.77%), an estimated $23.30 million trade based on quarterly average pricing.

What happened

TruWealth Advisors, LLC reported a complete sale of its Synovus Financial holdings in its quarterly Form 13F, published October 6, 2025 (SEC filing). The fund sold 450,162 shares, with the transaction value estimated at $23.30 million. The position, previously 1.3% of fund AUM, was fully liquidated, and no shares remain as of the filing.

What else to know

The fund sold out of Synovus Financial.

Top holdings after the filing:

• NYSEMKT:FBND: $124.17 million (6.3% of AUM)
• NYSEMKT:VTI: $110.40 million (5.6% of AUM)
• NYSEMKT:PYLD: $103.49 million (5.2% of AUM)
• NYSEMKT:JAAA: $103.49 million (5.2% of AUM)
• NASDAQ:BSCS: $90.20 million (4.6% of AUM)

As of Oct. 3, 2025, Synovus Financial shares were priced at $47.83, marking a 10.7% one-year gain and underperforming the S&P 500 by 7.8 percentage points.

Company overview

Company snapshot

Synovous Financial:

• Offers commercial and retail banking products, including treasury management, asset management, loans, deposit accounts, and investment services.
• Operates as a regional bank holding company based in Columbus, Georgia.
• Served individuals, small businesses, and corporate clients across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
• Leverages a diversified portfolio of banking and financial management services to address the needs of both retail and commercial clients in the southeastern United States.

Foolish take

While it may seem alarming to Synovus Financial shareholders to see TruWealth liquidating its position in the stock, the sale may not be an indictment of the bank’s operations.

Rather, Synovus plans to merge with Pinnacle Financial Partners (NASDAQ: PNFP) in a deal that should close in the first quarter of 2026.

The all-stock deal will have an exchange rate of .5237, implying a transaction value of $48.44 per Synovus share, based on Pinnacle’s current share price of around $92.

With Synovus already trading very close to this figure, TruWealth may not have seen enough upside in holding until next year. Or it simply may not have liked the look of the combined company.

For the bank itself, the new-look Pinnacle Financial Partners will not only become the fourth-largest regional bank in the Southeast, but also offer the best ten-year earnings growth rates among its peers in the area.

With the combined company set to have the best employee satisfaction, the highest customer net promoter score, and top-tier efficiency ratios compared to its peers, the new stock should be on banking-savvy investors’ radars.

Glossary

13F reportable assets: Securities holdings that institutional investment managers must disclose quarterly to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form 13F.

AUM (Assets under management): The total market value of assets a fund or investment manager oversees on behalf of clients.

Fund liquidation: The process of selling all holdings in a particular investment, resulting in a zero balance for that position.

Dividend yield: Annual dividend income expressed as a percentage of the investment’s current price.

Regional bank holding company: A company that owns and controls banks operating primarily within a specific geographic region.

Treasury management: Banking services that help businesses manage cash flow, payments, and financial risk.

TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.

Form 13F: A quarterly report filed by institutional investment managers to disclose their equity holdings to the SEC.

Stake: The amount or percentage of ownership an investor or fund holds in a particular company.

Asset management: Professional management of investments such as stocks, bonds, and other assets for clients.

St. Louis Financial Planners Asset Management, LLC initiated a new stake in AbbVie (ABBV -1.04%), acquiring 14,630 shares for an estimated $3.39 million in Q3 2025.

What happened

According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated October 02, 2025, St. Louis Financial Planners Asset Management, LLC disclosed a new position in AbbVie(ABBV -1.04%). The firm acquired 14,630 shares, bringing its quarter-end holding to $3.39 million. The position accounted for 2.1842% of the fund’s $155,093,822 in reportable U.S. equity assets across 37 positions.

What else to know

This new position represents 2.2% of the fund’s 13F assets as of 2025-09-30

Top holdings after the filing:

• NYSEMKT:BIL: $36.73 million (23.7% of AUM as of 2025-09-30)
• NYSEMKT:TFLO: $17.27 million (11.1% of AUM as of 2025-09-30)
• NASDAQ:BSCP: $10.45 million (6.7% of AUM as of 2025-09-30)
• NASDAQ:PLTR: $9.23 million (6.0% of AUM as of 2025-09-30)
• NASDAQ:AVGO: $5.16 million (3.3% of AUM as of 2025-09-30)

As of October 1, 2025, AbbVie shares were priced at $244.38, up 24.08% over the past year and outperforming the S&P 500 by 11.71 percentage points

Company Overview

Company Snapshot

AbbVie generates revenue primarily through the development, manufacturing, and sale of branded pharmaceuticals, including key products such as HUMIRA, SKYRIZI, RINVOQ, IMBRUVICA, and BOTOX Therapeutic.

The company operates a research-driven business model, focusing on innovation and the expansion of its drug portfolio across multiple therapeutic areas.

AbbVie serves a global customer base, including healthcare providers, hospitals, and government agencies, with a focus on advanced therapies for autoimmune diseases, oncology, and specialty care.

AbbVie discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals worldwide, including products for autoimmune diseases, oncology, and other conditions. Its diversified portfolio and commitment to research support its competitive position in the healthcare sector.

Foolish take

AbbVie is one of the top pharmaceutical companies on the market right now, despite its relatively recent loss of patent for Humira, which was a blockbuster drug for the company. Despite this, its dividend remains strong and its drug pipeline robust. Several new drugs are in the works for fields like immunology, oncology, and aesthetics.

Since its acquisition of Allergan, maker of Botox, AbbVie has been burdened with a higher debt load than usual, but equally high cash flows have kept balance sheets healthy. However, a dependence on a few successful drugs does create serious risk should regulation or pricing pressures become a more significant factor in the near term. Higher interest rates could also become a problem, should the company need to refinance the debt it acquired in 2019 with the purchase of Allergan.

Even so, AbbVie is still a solid Wall Street Buy recommendation, with 5 Strong Buys and 13 Buys for October, as well as 9 Hold recommendations. It continues to beat on analysis estimated EPS this year, showing that it can, in fact, pivot despite the loss of a major income stream.

Glossary

Stake: The ownership or investment a firm holds in a particular company or asset.
Reportable AUM: Assets under management that must be disclosed in regulatory filings, such as the SEC’s 13F report.
13F assets: U.S. equity securities managed by institutional investment managers, reported quarterly to the SEC on Form 13F.
Top holdings: The largest investments in a fund’s portfolio, typically ranked by market value.
Dividend yield: Annual dividends paid by a company as a percentage of its current share price.
Outperforming: Achieving a higher return than a benchmark index or comparable investment.
TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.
Branded pharmaceuticals: Prescription drugs sold under a trademarked brand name, as opposed to generic versions.
Autoimmune diseases: Medical conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues.
Oncology: The branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Summit Financial Wealth Advisors, LLC disclosed in a Monday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it sold 101,515 shares of food distribution giant Sysco(SYY -0.11%), cutting the vast majority of its stake in the firm.

What happened

According to a Monday SEC filing, Louisiana-based Summit Financial Wealth Advisors, LLC sold 101,515 shares of Sysco during the quarter ended June 30. The estimated transaction value was $7.4 million based on the average closing price for the quarter. The fund’s remaining Sysco holding totaled 4,295 shares, worth $325,266, meaning the firm cut about 95% of its stake.

What else to know

The transaction reduced the Sysco position to 0.1% of fund AUM, down from 1.6% in the prior quarter.

Top holdings after the filing:

• SCHD: $53.05 million (9.5% of AUM)
• VUG: $49.21 million (8.8% of AUM)
• VYMI: $36.55 million (6.6% of AUM)
• NOBL: $24.6 million (4.4% of AUM)
• SPBO: $23.2 million (4.2% of AUM)

As of Monday, Sysco shares were priced at $81.72, up about 5% year over year but underperforming the S&P 500 by more than 10 percentage points during the same period.

Company Overview

Company Snapshot

Sysco distributes a broad range of food products—including frozen foods, fresh meats and seafood, dairy, canned and dry goods, beverages, and non-food supplies—to the foodservice industry.

The company generates revenue primarily through large-scale distribution operations, leveraging its logistics network to supply restaurants, healthcare, education, hospitality, and other institutional clients.

Sysco’s primary customers include restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, hotels, and other foodservice providers across North America and select international markets.

Sysco is a leading global food distribution company with a significant presence in North America and international markets.

Foolish take

Summit Financial’s decision to unload nearly all of its Sysco shares is notable, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the firm has lost confidence in the food distributor. Large managers regularly rebalance portfolios to free up cash or reallocate into higher-conviction ideas. In this case, Sysco had been a modest position for Summit—reflecting less than 2% of reportable assets—and now barely registers at just 0.1%.

For investors, the bigger question is how Sysco stacks up in today’s market. Shares have risen just over 5% in the past year, a steady climb but well short of the S&P 500’s double-digit gains. The lag highlights Sysco’s profile: It’s a defensive stock with dependable cash flows and a long history of paying dividends, not a high-growth story. Its dividend yield is about 2.6%, compared to an average of about 1.25% for the broader S&P 500.

Nevertheless, recent headlines—including a $388 million deal with the U.S. Navy and continued investments in distribution facilities—underscore Sysco’s ability to secure stable revenue streams. Still, the stock’s performance will ultimately depend on restaurant traffic and consumer confidence, both of which are highly sensitive to broader economic trends.

Glossary

13F assets: Securities and assets that institutional investment managers must report quarterly to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) if above a certain threshold.
AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of investments managed by a fund or financial institution on behalf of clients.
Dividend Yield: A financial ratio showing how much a company pays in dividends each year relative to its share price.
Distribution operations: The logistical processes involved in delivering products from suppliers to customers, often on a large scale.
Institutional clients: Organizations such as pension funds, endowments, or corporations that invest large sums of money.
Logistics network: The system of transportation, warehousing, and coordination used to move goods efficiently from suppliers to customers.
Reportable: Refers to holdings or transactions that must be disclosed to regulators, such as the SEC, due to their size or nature.
TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.
Underperforming: Delivering a lower return compared to a benchmark or index over a specific period.

Government shutdowns in the United States, once seen as rare emergencies, have increasingly become recurring features of partisan gridlock. The current risk stems from Congress’s failure to agree on federal funding, with both Democrats and Republicans using budget negotiations as leverage for political gain. A shutdown would immediately halt or scale back many federal operations, furlough staff, and disrupt the work of agencies that provide oversight and produce essential economic data.

What makes this episode more significant is its timing. In 2025, the U.S. economy is already navigating slower growth and persistent inflation pressures, leaving policymakers highly dependent on accurate, timely information. A shutdown that blocks employment or inflation reports would deprive the Federal Reserve and investors of the tools needed to assess economic trends. Beyond the immediate disruption, repeated shutdowns signal deeper institutional fragility, raising concerns both at home and abroad about America’s capacity to govern itself effectively.

Key Issues