MarketBeat December market recap
Jan. 5, 2026
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Pathward Financial (NASDAQ: CASH) — On Dec. 9, Pathward Financial was named to Monitor’s Bank 50 ranking, a list that recognizes the top U.S. banks in equipment leasing and finance in the United States. Pathward was selected based on its commitment to delivering high-quality, diverse equipment financing products and services.
SAB BIO (NASDAQ: SABS) — Enrollment in SAB BIO’s Phase 2b SAFEGUARD study for SAB-142, which is being developed for the treatment of stage 3 Type 1 diabetes, is ongoing at multiple centers globally. The company announced that it had dosed its first patient, keeping it on track to share Phase 2b data for its lead candidate in the second half of 2027.
First Interstate BancSystem (NASDAQ: FIBK) — Analyst sentiment toward First Interstate BancSystem has remained mixed following the company’s November earnings report. Two analysts rate the stock the equivalent of a “buy,” while two assigned it the equivalent of a “hold.” However, three of the four analysts have raised their price targets, with two of the revised targets being above the consensus.
The Bancorp (NASDAQ: TBBK) — According to its latest earnings report, The Bancorp’s net interest income grew at a 16.2 percent annualized rate over the past five years, better than the broader banking industry. Net interest income is one of the key metrics to assess bank health.
Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) — On Dec. 10, the Wells Fargo Investment Institute released its 2026 Outlook report: Trendlines Over Headlines, which highlighted how favorable economic and policy trends that are already in place will create a broad range of investment opportunities.
NorthWestern Energy (NASDAQ: NWE) — NorthWestern Energy announced that it will increase its stake in Montana’s Colstrip Plant from 15 percent to 55 percent. The company said this move will prevent a premature plant closure driven by out-of-state interests while allowing it to continue delivering cost-effective energy to Montana communities.
CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNH) — In November, CNH Industrial released the 2025 edition of its A Sustainable Year series, which outlines the company’s continued progress in advancing sustainability initiatives across its agriculture and construction businesses.
Citigroup (NYSE: C) — Citigroup announced the completion of the sale of its equity stake in Banamex. The transaction, which included an approximately 25 percent stake, advances the bank’s priority of divesting Banamex and placing it in the hands of one of Mexico’s most successful investors.
Smithfield Foods (NASDAQ: SFD) — Smithfield Foods partnered with Kroger to distribute 1,000 free holiday hams to families facing hunger in southeastern Virginia. The effort was part of the company’s Season of Serving food initiative and included grocery bags filled with side dishes for a complete meal.
McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) — On Dec. 15, McDonald’s delivered a cash dividend of $1.86 per share to shareholders of record on Dec. 1. The dividend was up 5.08 percent from the prior quarter and marked the company’s 49th year of increasing its dividend payout.
Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) — Dec. 9 marked the first day that Walmart stock traded on the NASDAQ exchange. The move was done to showcase Walmart’s deep commitment to innovation and growth as a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer.
Target (NYSE: TGT) — On Dec. 1, Target delivered a cash dividend of $1.14 per share to shareholders of record on Nov. 12. The dividend was up 1.79 percent from the prior quarter and marked the dividend king’s 54th year of increasing its dividend payout.
Macy’s (NYSE: M) — On Dec. 3, Macy’s delivered a surprisingly strong third quarter earnings report for its 2026 fiscal year. The company reported positive earnings per share of 9 cents, which was higher than the forecasted 13-cent loss. Macy’s also beat revenue expectations. The $4.91 billion was higher than the forecast and also higher on a year-over-year basis.
Dillard’s (NYSE: DDS) — Today, Dillard’s paid out a special cash dividend of 30 cents per share to shareholders of record on Nov. 12. The dividend was announced a week after the company’s third quarter earnings report.
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) — In December, Amazon Web Services introduced Graviton5, its most powerful and efficient central processing unit. The fifth-generation chip provides the best price performance for a broad range of workloads in its cloud service Amazon EC2.
Costco (NASDAQ: COST) — On Dec. 11, Costco delivered a strong earnings report for the first quarter of its 2026 fiscal year. Earnings per share of $4.34 beat expectations for $4.27, and revenue of $67.31 billion beat forecasts for $67.03 billion.
Ford Motor (NYSE: F) — Ford and Renault Group announced the formation of a strategic partnership for passenger and commercial vehicles on Dec. 9. The collaboration is expected to begin with the release of two affordable electric vehicles in Europe.
General Motors (NYSE: GM) — On Dec. 18, General Motors issued a cash dividend of 15 cents per share to shareholders of record on Dec. 5.
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