Latest news with #financialhealth
CBS News
4 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Is there a grace period on credit card payments?
Between juggling higher grocery bills, increased rent and utilities costs and elevated gas prices, most people are working hard right now to carefully manage every dollar in their budgets. But with inflation continuing to squeeze budgets and many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, that can be a tough task to take on, especially if you're trying to pay off debt simultaneously. When every dollar counts, even the most financially savvy people can find themselves scrambling to meet payment deadlines, and missing a credit card payment becomes an increasingly common concern. Late and missing credit card payments can have a hefty impact on your financial health, adding another layer of stress to an already challenging situation. After all, credit card companies operate on a strict timeline, so if you miss your due date by even one day, you're immediately hit with late fees and penalty rates, right? The credit card industry certainly profits handsomely from these charges, after all, so logic would suggest that the penalty clock starts ticking as quickly as possible. The reality of how card payment due dates work might be more nuanced than you'd expect, though. So, do the credit card late charges start to rack up the moment midnight passes on your due date, or is there some built-in leeway that could save you from immediate penalties? That's what we'll analyze below. Explore the options you have if you're struggling with your credit card debt. The short answer to whether credit card issuers offer grace periods is both yes and no — it depends on what you're asking about. Credit cards do offer a grace period, but it's often misunderstood, and if you're late on a payment, the protection you're hoping for might not apply. Most credit cards come with a grace period on new purchases, which is the time between the end of your billing cycle and your payment due date. During this window, which is typically 21 to 25 days, you can pay off your balance in full without owing any interest. What that means is that as long as you pay the entire balance each month, you can keep using your card without racking up any finance charges. But here's the catch: If you carry a balance from one month to the next, the grace period disappears, and interest starts accruing immediately on new purchases. Now, if you're asking whether there's a grace period for late payments, the story changes. Credit card companies aren't required to give you extra time beyond the due date, and most don't. Once your due date passes, you risk: However, many credit card issuers provide a small informal window (often just a few days) before they apply a late fee or take further action. This isn't a guaranteed grace period, but if you pay as soon as you realize you've missed your due date, you might avoid the worst consequences. Explore the credit card debt relief options available to you now. If you find yourself unable to make your credit card payment by the due date, don't just ignore the problem. Taking proactive steps can help minimize the financial impact. Here's what to do if you're at risk of making a late credit card payment: While many credit card companies do offer informal grace periods for late payments, you shouldn't rely on this flexibility as part of your regular payment strategy. These grace periods are typically brief, unofficial and subject to change based on your payment history and the issuer's policies. The best approach is to treat your credit card due date as firm and build systems to ensure you never miss it. If you do find yourself late on a payment or are struggling to afford your payments, be sure to act quickly to minimize the damage.
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Introducing Reliability Rating: A Powerful New Way To Gauge Bank Health
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Our new grading system offers a clear, data-backed signal of a financial institution's strength. Our rating may have flagged vulnerabilities at Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic Bank before their failures. We found the 25 safest and 25 least safe banks and credit unions across the U.S. A total of 572 U.S. banks have failed since 2000, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), with three large regional banks closing in 2023, two banks in 2024 and two more this year. Given those headlines—and talk of recession, tariffs and stubborn inflation—it's only natural to wonder about the resilience and longevity of your own bank. That's why we developed Reliability Rating. Our proprietary model turns dense financial data into a simple letter grade, so you can see at a glance whether the overall financial health of your institution looks rock solid—or risky—before trouble starts. Moving forward, Forbes Advisor will assign letter grades to banks and credit unions, making it easier to spot the health of your institution at a glance. Reliability Rating is a data-driven scoring model that evaluates banks and credit unions on six key dimensions of financial health. Each category feeds into an overall score, with capitalization and liquidity weighted most heavily to reflect their importance in financial resilience. The rating is refreshed quarterly, using the latest FDIC and National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) call report data. Here's the methodology behind the score. To ensure we provide the most insight possible into your bank or credit union, our methodology is built to evolve and adapt to current economic conditions. We made it consistent enough for quarter-over-quarter comparisons, yet flexible enough to adapt to future economic changes and regulatory developments. Reliability Rating is on its way to becoming a core measurement in all of our 'best' lists—everything from top checking accounts to the highest-earning CDs—so you'll know the institutions we recommend not only offer great rates, but are built to last. Before launching the rating, we ran a retrospective stress test on two of 2023's most notable bank failures. The results are clear: Our rating would have flagged key vulnerabilities well before the collapse of these banks. Silicon Valley Bank would have landed in the bottom 10% of our ranking, receiving an F overall. Out of six categories, it received an F in two—growth and stability and account safety and insurance. It also did poorly in the liquidity category, receiving a C. These weak scores reflect its unusually high share of uninsured deposits and its rapid balance-sheet growth relative to industry norms. would have landed in the bottom 10% of our ranking, receiving an F overall. Out of six categories, it received an F in two—growth and stability and account safety and insurance. It also did poorly in the liquidity category, receiving a C. These weak scores reflect its unusually high share of uninsured deposits and its rapid balance-sheet growth relative to industry norms. First Republic Bank would have ranked in the bottom 10% of our Reliability Rating, penalized for its insured deposit ratio, liquidity and growth and stability. It received an F overall, an F in growth and stability and a D in account safety and insurance. In addition to the two banks above, we looked at Chicago's Pulaski Savings Bank, which failed and closed its doors on January 17, 2025. It received an F overall in our ranking, penalized heavily for its poor asset quality (F), earnings (F) and liquidity (D). Using our proprietary Reliability Rating, we've ranked the top 25 most reliable banks and credit unions in the U.S. today. We combed through roughly 3,900 FDIC-insured institutions, and only 125 banks cleared our 'A' bar this quarter. None reached the ultra-rare A+ level, but 11 scored a straight A while the remaining received a still-elite A-. Charles Schwab, Northern Trust Co. and Morgan Stanley Bank sit at the very top, each boasting A+ cushions in both capitalization and asset quality with strong scores in liquidity as well. In fact, every bank in the table scores at least A or A- for both capitalization and asset quality, two of the pillars closely tied to durability in a crisis, and most also earn A- or better for liquidity. Put simply, these 25 names boast solid capital, healthy loan books and deep cash buffers—the financial traits you want on your side if a recession hits. Whether a small community bank or larger institution, F-rated banks on our list share similar characteristics: weak earnings, a large share of uninsured deposits and aggressive growth without capitalization to match. None of the banks that earned an F on our list have collapsed, but they appear far less resilient than the A- and B-rated names at the top of our list. An F grade doesn't mean a bank will fail, but it does signal higher risk. It means you should think carefully before trusting that institution with your hard-earned money. Some of these banks may offer APYs, which could mean higher rewards but also higher risk. Fortunately, your money doesn't disappear when a bank or credit union goes under: Deposits are federally insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution by FDIC for banks and the NCUA for credit unions. Bank failures are still relatively rare. Still, it's tough to stomach the potential of locked-up funds, missed paychecks or frazzled nerves while the system sorts things out. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co, Turtle Mountain State Bank and Vast Bank National Assn. sit at the bottom of our pack this round. Each carries an overall F, flunking at least two of our sub-categories. Though their loan books look clean, all three share dangerously low capital buffers and minimal growth. And Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co and Turtle Mountain State Bank both have heavy concentrations of uninsured deposits, leaving retail customers exposed. Here are the top 25 least safe institutions to keep your money: Reliability Rating is based on six critical metrics and emphasizes financial resilience and consumer protection. Retrospective testing shows the score would have highlighted significant red flags at failed banks like Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank, guiding consumers toward more stable options. The rating will be refreshed quarterly with the latest FDIC and NCUA data. The methodology is flexible, adapting over time to reflect evolving market conditions. If your bank fails, it can strand your uninsured funds, hurt your cash flow and potentially force you into inconvenient workarounds. The FDIC and NCUA guarantee only up to their insurance caps—anything beyond that limit is at risk if your institution proves unreliable. Here are a few things that can happen if your institution fails or is in serious distress. Loss of access to uninsured deposits. The FDIC and NCUA insure deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, per FDIC- or NCUA-insured bank. Funds you have deposited above that limit are at risk and could take several years to recover. Delayed access to funds. When a bank fails, the FDIC or NCUA (depending on where you bank) pays depositors up to the insurance limit, generally within a few days after the bank officially closes its doors. But depending on your case, it may take some additional time to process. Service interruptions and delayed payments. The FDIC typically tries to find an open bank to assume the responsibilities of the failed bank. If it happens quickly, you may not see any drop in service. If not, automated payments (e.g., direct deposit, bill pay) might be delayed or rerouted, leaving you to scramble to pay creditors. Required refinancing of loans. If you have a mortgage or a business loan at a failed bank, you'll be notified by the FDIC or NCUA that your service has been transferred and encouraged to seek a new lender to refinance your loan. The silver lining is that occasionally, the FDIC will offer an incentive to refinance by offsetting the closing cost on the refinance. Total loss if your bank isn't insured. Money held in nonbank payment apps—think Venmo, Paypal and Cash App—are typically not insured by the FDIC or NCUA. If these go under, you may have no way to get your money back. Savings:
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Compared to Estimates, Controladora Vuela (VLRS) Q2 Earnings: A Look at Key Metrics
For the quarter ended June 2025, Controladora Vuela (VLRS) reported revenue of $693 million, down 4.6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at -$0.54, compared to $0.09 in the year-ago quarter. The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $666.74 million, representing a surprise of +3.94%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +28%, with the consensus EPS estimate being -$0.75. While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health. Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance. Here is how Controladora Vuela performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Available Seat Miles (ASMs) - Total: $8.89 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $8.93 billion. Load factor - Total: 82.4% compared to the 85.2% average estimate based on two analysts. Operating expenses per ASM (CASM) (cents): 8.05 Cents versus 8.01 Cents estimated by two analysts on average. Fuel gallons accrued: 84.90 Mgal compared to the 83.14 Mgal average estimate based on two analysts. CASM ex fuel (cents): 5.69 Cents versus the two-analyst average estimate of 5.71 Cents. Revenue Passenger Miles (RPMs) - Total: $7.32 billion versus $7.61 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Operating revenues- Passenger revenues- Fare: $285 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $297.69 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -18.3%. View all Key Company Metrics for Controladora Vuela here>>> Shares of Controladora Vuela have returned +7.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +5.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. (VLRS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's What Key Metrics Tell Us About Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE) Q2 Earnings
For the quarter ended June 2025, Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE) reported revenue of $762.04 million, down 0.6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.33, compared to $0.25 in the year-ago quarter. The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $750.65 million, representing a surprise of +1.52%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +1.75%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.29. While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health. Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance. Here is how Alexandria Real Estate Equities performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: North America Occupancy - excluding properties held for sale: 90.8% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 91.3%. Revenues- Other income: $24.76 million versus $12.93 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +114% change. Revenues- Rental: $737.28 million compared to the $743.9 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -2.4% year over year. Net Earnings Per Share (Diluted): $-0.64 compared to the $0.52 average estimate based on three analysts. View all Key Company Metrics for Alexandria Real Estate Equities here>>> Shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities have returned +9.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +5.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (ARE) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hove And 2 More European Penny Stocks To Watch
As European markets remain relatively stable, with the pan-European STOXX Europe 600 Index ending roughly flat amid ongoing trade discussions, investors are keenly observing opportunities within smaller market segments. Penny stocks, often associated with smaller or newer companies, continue to capture attention due to their potential for growth and affordability. Despite being considered a somewhat outdated term, these stocks can still present viable investment options when supported by strong financial health. Top 10 Penny Stocks In Europe Name Share Price Market Cap Financial Health Rating Lucisano Media Group (BIT:LMG) €0.95 €14.11M ★★★★☆☆ Maps (BIT:MAPS) €3.43 €45.56M ★★★★★★ Angler Gaming (NGM:ANGL) SEK3.60 SEK269.95M ★★★★★★ IAMBA Arad (BVB:FERO) RON0.498 RON16.84M ★★★★★★ Cellularline (BIT:CELL) €2.87 €60.53M ★★★★★☆ Fondia Oyj (HLSE:FONDIA) €4.99 €18.66M ★★★★★★ Abak (WSE:ABK) PLN4.40 PLN11.86M ★★★★★★ Bredband2 i Skandinavien (OM:BRE2) SEK3.24 SEK3.1B ★★★★☆☆ Deceuninck (ENXTBR:DECB) €2.125 €293.39M ★★★★★★ Netgem (ENXTPA:ALNTG) €0.976 €32.91M ★★★★★★ Click here to see the full list of 335 stocks from our European Penny Stocks screener. Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks. Hove Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★☆ Overview: Hove A/S develops, produces, and supplies advanced lubrication solutions for heavy machinery both in Denmark and internationally, with a market cap of DKK90.79 million. Operations: The company's revenue is derived entirely from its Machinery & Industrial Equipment segment, amounting to DKK169.33 million. Market Cap: DKK90.79M Hove A/S, with a market cap of DKK90.79 million, has shown significant order activity in recent months, securing multiple large orders from global wind OEMs and other clients. Despite its relatively low return on equity at 7.1%, the company has demonstrated strong earnings growth of 58.4% over the past year, surpassing industry averages. However, Hove faces challenges such as high share price volatility and negative operating cash flow impacting debt coverage. The company's strategic focus on the wind energy sector is underscored by successful deployments of its IoT solution, Hove Smart Lube, enhancing operational efficiency in renewable energy markets. Navigate through the intricacies of Hove with our comprehensive balance sheet health report here. Assess Hove's previous results with our detailed historical performance reports. MKB Nedsense Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: MKB Nedsense N.V. operates in the financing and lending sector, providing funds to individuals and legal entities, with a market cap of €9.50 million. Operations: The company's revenue segment includes CAD/CAM Software, which generated -€0.022 million. Market Cap: €9.5M MKB Nedsense N.V., with a market cap of €9.50 million, operates debt-free and has short-term assets (€4.4M) comfortably covering its liabilities (€379K). However, it is pre-revenue with negative revenue of -€0.022 million for 2024 and declining net income from €0.158 million to €0.064 million year-on-year, reflecting challenges in achieving profitability. The company's return on equity is low at 0.7%, and profit margins have deteriorated significantly to -290.9%. Despite high-quality earnings reported over the past five years, recent volatility in share price remains a concern for investors considering penny stocks like MKB Nedsense. Click to explore a detailed breakdown of our findings in MKB Nedsense's financial health report. Evaluate MKB Nedsense's historical performance by accessing our past performance report. Miliboo Société anonyme Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Miliboo Société anonyme designs and sells modular and customizable furniture in Paris and internationally, with a market cap of €10.24 million. Operations: The company generates revenue of €40.55 million from its online retail operations. Market Cap: €10.24M Miliboo Société anonyme, with a market cap of €10.24 million, generates €40.55 million in revenue through its online retail operations. Despite negative earnings growth recently and a decline in net profit margins from 4% to 3.2%, the company has become profitable over the past five years with earnings growing by 33.3% annually. The board is experienced, and short-term assets exceed both short-term and long-term liabilities, indicating solid financial management. With more cash than debt and interest payments well covered by EBIT, Miliboo's financial stability is noteworthy for investors exploring penny stocks despite its high volatility. Take a closer look at Miliboo Société anonyme's potential here in our financial health report. Review our growth performance report to gain insights into Miliboo Société anonyme's future. Turning Ideas Into Actions Click this link to deep-dive into the 335 companies within our European Penny Stocks screener. Looking For Alternative Opportunities? Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include CPSE:HOVE ENXTAM:NEDSE and ENXTPA:ALMLB. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
