NewtekOne ( NASDAQ:NEWT – Get Free Report ) and Old National Bancorp ( NASDAQ:ONB – Get Free Report ) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, risk, valuation and profitability. Profitability This table compares NewtekOne and Old National Bancorp’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for NewtekOne and Old National Bancorp, as provided by MarketBeat. Valuation and Earnings This table compares NewtekOne and Old National Bancorp”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Old National Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings than NewtekOne. NewtekOne is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Old National Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Dividends NewtekOne pays an annual dividend of $0.76 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.2%. Old National Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $0.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.4%. NewtekOne pays out 42.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Old National Bancorp pays out 33.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Institutional and Insider Ownership 38.4% of NewtekOne shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 83.7% of Old National Bancorp shares are held by institutional investors. 6.5% of NewtekOne shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of Old National Bancorp shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Volatility and Risk NewtekOne has a beta of 1.29, meaning that its share price is 29% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Old National Bancorp has a beta of 0.82, meaning that its share price is 18% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Old National Bancorp beats NewtekOne on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks. About NewtekOne ( Get Free Report ) NewtekOne, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Newtek Bank, National Association that engages in the provision of various business and financial solutions under the Newtek brand name to the small- and medium-sized business market. The company accepts demand, savings, NOW, money market, and time deposits; and provides loans including SBA loans, commercial and industrial loans, and commercial real estate loans. It is also involved in the provision of electronic payment processing services comprising credit and debit card processing services, check approval services, processing equipment, and software, as well as cloud-based Point of Sale systems for a various restaurant, retail, assisted living, taxi cabs, parks, and golf course businesses. In addition, it offers wholesale brokerage insurance agency services; and payroll management, and related payment and tax reporting services to independent business owners. Further, the company provides website hosting, dedicated server hosting, cloud hosting, web design and development, internet marketing, ecommerce, data storage, backup and disaster recovery, and other related services, including consulting and implementing technology solutions for enterprise and commercial clients as well as SMBs. The company was formerly known as Newtek Business Services Corp. and changed its name to NewtekOne, Inc. in January 2023. NewtekOne, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. About Old National Bancorp ( Get Free Report ) Old National Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for Old National Bank that provides various financial services to individual and commercial customers in the United States. It accepts deposit accounts, including noninterest-bearing demand, interest-bearing checking, negotiable order of withdrawal, savings and money market, and time deposits; and offers loans, such as home equity lines of credit, residential real estate loans, consumer loans, commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, agricultural loans, letters of credit, and lease financing. The company also provides debit and automated teller machine cards, telephone access, online banking, and other electronic and mobile banking services; cash management, private banking, brokerage, trust, investment advisory, and other traditional banking services; wealth management, investment, and foreign currency services; and treasury management, merchant, and capital markets services, as well as community development lending and equity investment solutions. The company was founded in 1834 and is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. Receive News & Ratings for NewtekOne Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NewtekOne and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Ivana Bacik had separate meetings with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris on Tuesday afternoon. Fianna Fail, which won 48 seats in last month’s general election, and Fine Gael, which secured 38 seats, headed up the last coalition in Dublin and are expected to continue that partnership into the next mandate. However, with a combined 86 seats, they are just short of the 88 required for a majority in the Dail parliament. If they wish to return to government together, they would need one smaller party as a junior partner, or a handful of independents. Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have ruled out doing business with Sinn Fein, which won 39 seats. The centre-left Social Democrats and Irish Labour Party, both of which won 11 seats in the election, are seen as the only two realistic options if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael seek to convince a smaller party to join the coalition. In a statement, the Labour Party said Ms Bacik outlined key policy priorities in her meetings with Taoiseach Mr Harris and Tanaiste Mr Martin. “There was discussion in both meetings on policies and manifesto commitments on housing, health, climate, workers’ rights and disability services among other issues,” said the statement. “The parliamentary party will meet at 1pm on Friday where the party leader will provide an assessment of engagement to date and consider the outcome of these meetings.” A spokesman for Mr Harris said there had been a “constructive engagement” with Ms Bacik. “The Taoiseach is grateful for the time and engagement on a range of substantial policy issues,” he said. The spokesman said Mr Harris had also met independent TDs who are aligned together in what is called the regional group. “These meetings have been productive,” he added. Mr Harris and party colleagues are due to meet the Social Democrats on Wednesday. Fianna Fail deputy leader Jack Chambers and Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee met on Tuesday evening for discussions on government formation, with the parties’ full negotiating teams set to meet on Wednesday. Fine Gael said the meeting between Ms McEntee and Mr Chambers was “positive” and focused on the “structure and format” of the substantive negotiations going forward. When the two parties entered coalition for the first time after the last general election in 2020, there was only a three-seat difference in their relative strength. That resulted in an equal partnership at the head of the coalition, with the Green Party as the junior partner. The two main parties swapped the role of taoiseach halfway through the term. With Fianna Fail’s lead over Fine Gael having grown to 10 seats following this election, focus has turned to the future of the rotating taoiseach arrangement and whether it will operate again in the next mandate and, if so, on what basis. There are similar questions around the distribution of ministries and other roles. While Mr Martin has so far refused to be drawn on the specifics, he has suggested that he expects Fianna Fail’s greater strength of numbers to be reflected in the new administration. However, Mr Harris has insisted that Fine Gael’s mandate cannot be taken for granted when it comes to government formation. Richard Boyd Barrett from People Before Profit-Solidarity, which won three seats, urged Labour not to “prop up” up a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael administration. “We think that’s a huge mistake,” he told reporters in Dublin. “They shouldn’t do it. They should learn the lessons of the past and actually work with other parties of the left to form a decent left opposition to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and campaign on the issues that matter.” His party colleague Paul Murphy pointed to the experience of the Green Party, which lost all but one of its 12 seats in the election. “In reality, what is going to happen is a changing of the mudguard for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael,” he said. “And for those who are now auditioning to be a new mudguard for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, there is a very, very sharp and stark lesson in what happened to the Green Party – obviously almost entirely wiped out. “We think it is a very major mistake for anyone who has the perception of being left, with the votes of people who are looking left, to seek to go into coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.”Tech review: Earbuds and phones for those on your holiday list
ROME, Ga. — A motorist was killed as police responded to a bomb threat at the Georgia home of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, authorities said. A police officer on the local bomb squad was traveling to the scene when he collided with another car on Monday, Rome police said in a statement. Greene identified the woman killed as Tammie Pickelsimer. The emailed threat — which warned of a pipe bomb in Greene’s mailbox and referenced Palestine — was sent to the assistant police chief. That touched off the police response, Greene said on social media. The source of the email was traced to a Russian internet address, she added. It was the latest instance of a crime known as “swatting” in which false threats are made to draw first responders to her home, Greene said. She said it has happened to her at least nine times. “These violent political threats have fatal consequences,” Greene said on the social media platform X, calling the crime a “despicable act.” “The perpetrator of this crime has committed murder in our small community of Rome, Georgia,” she added. The police officer was driving his personal vehicle to join the bomb squad on the call, police said. The officer was injured in the wreck, but the extent of his injuries was not immediately known Tuesday. “I’m sick to my stomach, but I’m also angry,” Greene said. “This should have never happened and I pray it never happens again.”U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has denied an appeal by TikTok, upholding a ban that will go into effect in January. The Biden administration followed through on what the Trump administration had previously tried, banning TikTok over national security concerns. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent, has until January 19 to sell the social media app’s US operations or it will be banned. According to , the three-judge panel upheld the ban, throwing out an argument by ByteDance that the ban unfairly targeted the app and infringed on users’ First Amendment rights. The judges said the law banning TikTok was “carefully crafted to deal with only control by a foreign adversary,” and therefore the First Amendment wasn’t an issue. “The government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States,” the judges continued. TikTok has vowed to fight the ban all the way to the Supreme Court. “The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” said company spokesperson Michael Hughes, saying the ban amounted to “outright censorship of the American people.” Despite TikTok’s stand, it seems unlikely that the Supreme Court will overturn the ban, especially given the argument presented by the appeals court. What’s more, there is little hope the incoming Trump administration will overturn the ban. While Trump has to save TikTok, those plans likely involve ByteDance giving up control of its US operations, much like Trump’s initial attempt to ban the app during his first term. In addition, Trump has made escalating the trade war with China a critical theme of his second term, adding to the unlikelihood of any meaningful attempt to reverse the ban. Either way, the future of TikTok in the US is looking increasingly bleak.By Jim Rossman, Tribune News Service (TNS) Everyone seems to be listening to something. I’m not sure what they’re listening to, because they all seem to be wearing headphones. I suppose they’re all listening to their favorite podcast or just their playlists. Here are a few gift suggestions for headphones that’ll make anything sound better. I’ve listed the retail pricing, but don’t be surprised if you find them on sale. We’ve all tried traditional earbuds. They can sound good if the fit is correct. The SoundCore AreoFit 2 ($99.99, soundcore.com) don’t fit inside your ear canal. Instead, they sit on the outside of your ear. The battery sits behind your ear, much like a hearing aid. The speaker is attached by a sturdy, yet flexible cable. The only adjustment is on the speaker end – it clicks to adjust the angle of the speaker to sit directly over your ear canal. The fact that they don’t insert into your ears means you can still hear the outside world, so you are not so isolated. These are great for jogging or biking. The sound is really nice. The full range of sound comes in very clearly and the form factor is comfortable to wear, even for hours at a time. There are four microphones, so your voice sounds clear on phone calls. They have an IP55 rating, so they can withstand water spashing, sweat or dust. They can also connect to more than one device, so you can keep them paired to your phone and laptop and switch easily between them. The AeroFit 2 can play for 10 hours on a charge. They live in a battery case that can keep them charged for more than 40 hours. The charging case can power up via a USB-C port or a Qi wireless charger. They are available in white, blue, green or black. The Soundcore C40i ($99.99, soundcore.com) is another fun option in a non-traditional form factor. Instead of going inside or even over the top your ears, the C40i earbuds are u-shaped and they clip on the sides of your ears. They are unlike anything I’ve ever tried, and they sounded surprisingly good once you get them in the right spot. They are a bit flexible, in that you can pull them apart slightly to get them in the right spot. Once you let go, they gently grip your earlobe. I must admit I was a little self-conscious when I first started wearing the C40i earbuds, as they look a bit like earrings. The fit is interesting. The end with the speaker sits in front of your ear canal and the end with the battery and action button goes behind your ear. You can adjust them on your ear until the sound becomes clear. It’ll be obvious to your ears when you have them adjusted correctly. If your earlobes are thin, there are some rubber sleeves that can help with the fit. You want them to be snug, but not to the point where they are pinching your ears. There is a customizable button on the back of each earbud for call and music control. They are on the small side, so the battery life is seven hours before needing to return to the case for a charge. The case can charge them twice more before it needs recharging. The case charges via USB-C cable, but it is too small for wireless chargers. The earbuds have a 12mm x 17mm oval shaped driver and the sound quality is very good. Voice quality on phone calls also surprised me with its clarity. They sync with the Soundcore phone app to let you assign the button commands and tweak the sound settings. They also can pair to two devices at once. Frequent flyers know all about noise canceling over-the-ear headphones. These headphones usually have active noise canceling, which uses microphones to listen to the ambient noise and reduce it before it can get to your ears. What I’m noticing is more and more people wearing these during workouts or just walking around. The Baseus Bowie 30 Max noise canceling headphones ($79.99, baseus.com) are fairly generic looking headphones, but their performance is incredible for the price. Baseus says the Bowie 30s can eliminate 96 percent of noise, but that actual noise cancellation will vary depending on the ambient noise level. I can tell you the noise canceling is impressive. There is also a transparency mode that lets in outside sounds so you can have a conversation with someone without taking them off. You can pair them to the free Baseus phone app to unlock some additional features including spatial acoustics, bass enhancement and low-latency mode. These connect to your phone or PC wirelessly via Bluetooth or wired with an included 3.5mm cable. They last an impressive 65 hours on a charge without noise canceling or 50 hours with noise canceling enabled. The ear cups and piece that fits over the top of your head are nicely padded and the entire headset folds up to take up less room in your bag. ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Corporations must brace for heightened regulatory scrutiny in 2025 with various regulators preparing to enforce stricter oversight and actions. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), Competition Commission of India (CCI), Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), and tax authorities are expected to tighten their stance, forcing businesses to enhance compliance, streamline processes, and adapt to evolving governance standards. Transparency, sustainability, and accountability will remain key priorities in the coming year, top legal experts told Mint. “The increase in the volume and complexity of transactions, coupled with India’s integration into global markets, has kept regulators busy," said Alok Sonkar, partner at law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. “Regulatory scrutiny is strict, focusing on public policy, investor protection, and long-term market impacts. However, challenges persist around compliance costs, misalignment with global norms, and overlapping frameworks." Akhil Chowdary Unnam, partner at Unnam Law, added: “In 2025, corporations and investors should expect greater emphasis on sustainability, technology, and financial transparency. Corporations must invest in robust compliance mechanisms, while stricter regulations on cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and data mining markets are inevitable as these sectors grow." As for investors, Sameena Jahangir, partner at Kochhar & Co., emphasized that they “should diversify portfolios and closely monitor regulatory developments, especially in technology-driven sectors." The markets and Sebi In 2024, Sebi led significant changes, including enforcing rigorous ESG (environmental, social, and governance) guidelines, introducing , and revamping disclosure rules to include objective criteria for material events. Sebi also streamlined processes for initial public offerings of shares by mandating quarterly results publication within 21 days of listing to ensure timely disclosures and stabilize market conditions. It took proactive steps to protect retail investors by cracking down on unregistered bond platforms, (ODI) and enforcing detailed ownership disclosures for ODI subscribers. “Regulators have raised the governance bar with stricter due diligence for AIFs and performance evaluations for market infrastructure institutions, ushering in greater transparency," said Kaushik Mukherjee, partner, IndusLaw. CCI’s actions India’s competition watchdog introduced the , simplifying filing procedures, strengthening confidentiality, and permitting external agencies to monitor merger orders. CCI raised its thresholds for merger approvals, , particularly in the digital market. Key enforcement actions included a over WhatsApp’s privacy policy, and investigations into Flipkart, Amazon, Zomato, and Swiggy for anti-competitive practices. Additionally, CCI reduced the merger review timeline from 210 days to 150 days, expediting regulatory processes. Tax authorities’ crackdown Tax authorities took proactive measures in 2024, issuing significant compliance notices. Goods and services tax (GST) authorities , while . Initiatives like the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas scheme, revised compounding guidelines, and operationalization of the GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) aimed to ease litigation burdens and enhance compliance. “Businesses can anticipate heightened scrutiny, increased audits, and broader use of technology by tax authorities. This is likely to include a stronger focus on GST reconciliations, cross-border transactions, and sector-specific compliance in areas such as e-commerce, manufacturing, and automotive industries," said Sandeep Sehgal, partner-tax, AKM Global, a tax and consulting services firm. CCPA’s investigations India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority was highly active in 2024. It ordered an despite the company claiming a 99% resolution rate. The CCPA also introduced guidelines to combat misleading environmental claims, banning vague terms like “eco-friendly" or “sustainable" unless supported by reliable scientific evidence or third-party certifications. “Transparency and compliance are critical," said Lalit Kumar, partner at JSA, a law firm. “Investor sentiments are severely affected when corporate governance norms are compromised." Challenges and missed opportunities Despite the progress, some experts believe Indian regulatory activity in 2024 had notable gaps. According to Sameena Jahangir, partner at law firm Kochhar & Co., while Indian regulators adopted a stricter stance, their approach in several instances lacked flexibility. Sebi’s crackdown on insider trading and fraudulent IPOs and the CCI’s investigations into global tech giants improved corporate transparency, offering long-term stability for investors. However, key issues such as the Hindenburg-Adani controversy and inefficiencies in Debt Recovery Tribunals received limited attention. Jahangir also noted that the CCI imposed relatively small fines on e-commerce and tech companies while avoiding deeper scrutiny of major market players. Away from regulators, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, which is essential for corporate governance in India, has been the focus in 2024. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2024 paved the way for major resolutions such as Jaypee Healthcare Ltd, Lanco Amarkantak Power Ltd, and Coastal Energen Pvt Ltd, resulting in significant recoveries for creditors. With 51 businesses revived under IBC in the September quarter, 109 businesses struck deals in the first half of 2024-25. While this is slightly lower than the 130 resolutions approved in the same period of the fiscal year prior, a record 271 businesses received a fresh lease of life under the IBC in FY24, show data from the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI). “2024 was a lively year for insolvency law in the country," said Anoop Rawat, partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas. “While there were no changes to the parent legislation, the IBBI implemented key reforms, particularly in real estate insolvencies and voluntary mediation." However, the efficiency of IBC came under question, especially in airline insolvencies. Jet Airways and Go First failed to revive, with the former being sent to liquidation and the latter unable to secure a resolution plan. Vacancies in the National Company Law Tribunal also hindered the process, with 19 out of 63 sanctioned positions, including the president’s post, lying vacant.
