AI Analysis

Log in to generate an AI summary for this stock.

Log in to generate a MOAT report for this stock.

Log in to generate an earnings report for this stock.

Log in to generate an operating leverage report for this stock.

Log in to generate a management report for this stock.

Log in to generate a valuation report for this stock.

WaFd, Inc.

$33.88 +$1.75 (+5.45%)
NASDAQ · 11 Sep 2026 20:00 UTC
Previous Close
$34.1
Day Range
$33.72$34.45
Year Range
$26.31$39.49
Market Cap
2.51B
AVG Volume
613.18K
Trailing/Forward PE
10.36/9.78
PEG ratio
2.01
Dividend Yield
3.19%
Next Earnings Date
2026-10-15
Primary Exchange
NASDAQUS
Revenue (USD)
0200M400M600M24 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Revenue (USD) by quarter
PeriodRevenue (USD)
26 Q3356.47M
26 Q2344.83M
26 Q1342.91M
25 Q4344.24M
25 Q3349.99M
25 Q2354.7M
25 Q1361.25M
24 Q4389.82M
24 Q3409.07M
24 Q2330.9M
Net Income (USD)
020M40M60M80M24 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Net Income (USD) by quarter
PeriodNet Income (USD)
26 Q366.13M
26 Q265.55M
26 Q164.2M
25 Q460.6M
25 Q361.95M
25 Q256.25M
25 Q147.27M
24 Q461.14M
24 Q364.56M
24 Q215.89M
Operating Income (USD)
025M50M75M100M24 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Operating Income (USD) by quarter
PeriodOperating Income (USD)
26 Q384.35M
26 Q283.81M
26 Q182.3M
25 Q477.62M
25 Q379.76M
25 Q272.01M
25 Q160.25M
24 Q480.67M
24 Q382.74M
24 Q220.96M
EBITDA (USD)
0100M200M300M24 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD EBITDA (USD) by quarter
PeriodEBITDA (USD)
26 Q384.35M
26 Q292.39M
26 Q180.74M
25 Q476.38M
25 Q366.24M
25 Q252.14M
25 Q1104.6M
24 Q420.62M
24 Q371.17M
24 Q2248.78M
Cash Flows (USD)
050M100M150M200M24 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Cash Flows (USD) by quarter
PeriodCash Flows (USD)
26 Q363.36M
26 Q267.97M
26 Q150.04M
25 Q445.6M
25 Q353.08M
25 Q266.58M
25 Q142.98M
24 Q489.42M
24 Q358.29M
24 Q2164.77M
EPS (USD)
00.250.50.75124 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD EPS (USD) by quarter
PeriodEPS (USD)
26 Q30.89
26 Q20.87
26 Q10.79
25 Q40.72
25 Q30.73
25 Q20.65
25 Q10.54
24 Q40.71
24 Q30.75
24 Q20.17
Expenses (USD)
025M50M75M100MSG&ACapex24 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Expenses (USD) by quarter
PeriodExpenses (USD)
26 Q376.15M
26 Q280.24M
26 Q175.8M
25 Q495.1M
25 Q363.56M
25 Q264.06M
25 Q171.22M
24 Q467.98M
24 Q369.63M
24 Q285.48M
Cash & Debt (USD)
02B4B6BCashLong Term DebtShort Term Debt24 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Cash & Debt (USD) by quarter
PeriodCash & Debt (USD)
26 Q3676.47M
26 Q2669.8M
26 Q13.98B
25 Q43.27B
25 Q34.2B
25 Q23.35B
25 Q14.25B
24 Q44.95B
24 Q34.92B
24 Q23.94B
Debt ratios
-10-5051024 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Debt ratios by quarter
PeriodDebt ratios
26 Q37.91
26 Q27.74
26 Q1-5.43
25 Q4-4.86
25 Q3-9.1
25 Q2-2.16
25 Q1-3
24 Q4-4.19
24 Q3-1.93
24 Q23.37
Margins
0%20%40%60%24 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Margins by quarter
PeriodMargins
26 Q354.61%
26 Q256.16%
26 Q154.83%
25 Q453.83%
25 Q352.65%
25 Q249.86%
25 Q147.49%
24 Q448.38%
24 Q347.14%
24 Q246.74%
Return on Capital
0%1%2%3%24 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Return on Capital by quarter
PeriodReturn on Capital
26 Q32.19%
26 Q22.2%
26 Q12.12%
25 Q41.99%
25 Q32.06%
25 Q21.85%
25 Q11.56%
24 Q42.04%
24 Q32.18%
24 Q20.54%
Shares Outstanding
025M50M75M100M24 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Shares Outstanding by quarter
PeriodShares Outstanding
26 Q373.9M
26 Q275.49M
26 Q176.97M
25 Q478.56M
25 Q379.89M
25 Q281.06M
25 Q181.29M
24 Q481.21M
24 Q381.38M
24 Q270.13M
Dividends (USD)
00.10.20.3May 24Aug 24Nov 24Feb 25May 25Aug 25Nov 25Feb 26May 26Aug 26
WAFD Dividends (USD) by quarter
PeriodDividends (USD)
Aug 260.27
May 260.27
Feb 260.27
Nov 250.27
Aug 250.27
May 250.27
Feb 250.27
Nov 240.26
Aug 240.26
May 240.26
Employee Count
01K2K3K2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
WAFD Employee Count by quarter
PeriodEmployee Count
20252.04K
20242.21K
20232.12K
20222.13K
20212.08K
20202.08K
20191.97K
20181.88K
20171.82K
20161.81K
Book Value Per Share (USD)
020406024 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Book Value Per Share (USD) by quarter
PeriodBook Value Per Share (USD)
26 Q340.9
26 Q239.49
26 Q139.36
25 Q438.69
25 Q337.73
25 Q237.41
25 Q137.17
24 Q436.95
24 Q336.35
24 Q241.66
Total Assets (USD)
010B20B30B40B24 Q224 Q324 Q425 Q125 Q225 Q325 Q426 Q126 Q226 Q3
WAFD Total Assets (USD) by quarter
PeriodTotal Assets (USD)
26 Q327.6B
26 Q227.57B
26 Q127.29B
25 Q426.7B
25 Q326.73B
25 Q227.64B
25 Q127.68B
24 Q428.06B
24 Q328.58B
24 Q230.14B
PE Ratio
810121416med 11.01Dec 24Apr 25Jul 25Oct 25Feb 26May 26Sep 26
WAFD PE Ratio by quarter
PeriodPE Ratio
Sep 269.76
Sep 2610.46
Aug 2610.4
Aug 2610.48
Aug 2610.93
Aug 2610.71
Jul 2611
Jul 2610.99
Jul 2611.41
Jul 2611.4
Jul 2611.47
Jun 2611.35
Jun 2610.92
Jun 2611.09
Jun 2610.64
May 2610.64
May 2610.54
May 2610.27
May 2610.64
May 2611.23
Apr 2611.15
Apr 2611.16
Apr 2610.31
Apr 2610.08
Mar 269.84
Mar 269.84
Mar 269.83
Mar 269.82
Feb 269.87
Feb 2610.52
Feb 2610.41
Feb 2610.68
Jan 2611.33
Jan 2611.01
Jan 2611.26
Jan 2611.46
Jan 2611.16
Dec 2511.49
Dec 2511.58
Dec 2511.44
Dec 2511.17
Nov 2511
Nov 2511.03
Nov 2510.78
Nov 2510.65
Oct 2510.23
Oct 2510.42
Oct 259.9
Oct 2510.09
Oct 2510.57
Sep 2510.91
Sep 2511.08
Sep 2511.02
Sep 2511.19
Aug 2511.09
Aug 2511.19
Aug 2510.78
Aug 2510.49
Aug 2510.21
Jul 2510.52
Jul 2510.51
Jul 2510.89
Jul 2511.04
Jun 2510.37
Jun 259.97
Jun 259.93
Jun 2510.28
May 2510.05
May 2510.07
May 2510.58
May 2510.22
May 2510.28
Apr 2512.15
Apr 2512.07
Apr 2510.56
Apr 2510.86
Mar 2512.19
Mar 2511.91
Mar 2512.16
Mar 2512.4
Feb 2512.74
Feb 2512.6
Feb 2512.81
Feb 2512.95
Jan 2512.05
Jan 2512.01
Jan 2512.28
Jan 2512.43
Jan 2513.13
Dec 2413.24
Dec 2413.25
Dec 2414.35
Dec 2414.59
Nov 2414.85
Nov 2415.08
Nov 2415.9
Nov 2415.76
Nov 2414.45
Oct 2414.52
Oct 2415.56
Free Cash Flow Yield
5%10%15%20%med 10.25%Dec 24Apr 25Jul 25Oct 25Feb 26May 26Sep 26
WAFD Free Cash Flow Yield by quarter
PeriodFree Cash Flow Yield
Sep 269.07%
Sep 268.46%
Aug 268.51%
Aug 268.44%
Aug 268.1%
Aug 268.27%
Jul 267.81%
Jul 267.82%
Jul 267.53%
Jul 267.53%
Jul 267.49%
Jun 267.56%
Jun 267.87%
Jun 267.74%
Jun 268.07%
May 268.07%
May 268.15%
May 268.36%
May 268.07%
May 267.89%
Apr 267.95%
Apr 267.94%
Apr 268.6%
Apr 268.79%
Mar 269.01%
Mar 269%
Mar 269.01%
Mar 269.02%
Feb 268.98%
Feb 268.43%
Feb 268.51%
Feb 268.3%
Jan 268.13%
Jan 268.37%
Jan 268.18%
Jan 268.04%
Jan 268.25%
Dec 258.02%
Dec 257.95%
Dec 258.06%
Dec 258.25%
Nov 258.37%
Nov 258.35%
Nov 2510.32%
Nov 2510.45%
Oct 2510.87%
Oct 2510.67%
Oct 2511.24%
Oct 2511.03%
Oct 2510.53%
Sep 2510.19%
Sep 2510.04%
Sep 2510.1%
Sep 259.94%
Aug 2510.03%
Aug 259.94%
Aug 2510.32%
Aug 2510.6%
Aug 2510.99%
Jul 2510.67%
Jul 2510.68%
Jul 2510.3%
Jul 2510.17%
Jun 2510.82%
Jun 2511.26%
Jun 2511.31%
Jun 2510.91%
May 2511.17%
May 2511.15%
May 2510.61%
May 2510.98%
May 2510.91%
Apr 2515.49%
Apr 2515.6%
Apr 2517.82%
Apr 2517.32%
Mar 2515.45%
Mar 2515.81%
Mar 2515.48%
Mar 2515.18%
Feb 2514.78%
Feb 2514.94%
Feb 2514.69%
Feb 2514.54%
Jan 2517.2%
Jan 2517.26%
Jan 2516.88%
Jan 2516.67%
Jan 2515.78%
Dec 2415.65%
Dec 2415.64%
Dec 2414.44%
Dec 2414.21%
Nov 2413.96%
Nov 2413.74%
Nov 2413.44%
Nov 2413.56%
Nov 2414.79%
Oct 2414.72%
Oct 2413.73%
Price to Sales
1.251.51.7522.25med 1.75Dec 24Apr 25Jul 25Oct 25Feb 26May 26Sep 26
WAFD Price to Sales by quarter
PeriodPrice to Sales
Sep 261.8
Sep 261.93
Aug 261.92
Aug 261.94
Aug 262.02
Aug 261.98
Jul 262.01
Jul 262.01
Jul 262.08
Jul 262.08
Jul 262.09
Jun 262.07
Jun 261.99
Jun 262.02
Jun 261.94
May 261.94
May 261.92
May 261.87
May 261.94
May 261.96
Apr 261.95
Apr 261.95
Apr 261.8
Apr 261.76
Mar 261.72
Mar 261.72
Mar 261.72
Mar 261.71
Feb 261.72
Feb 261.84
Feb 261.82
Feb 261.86
Jan 261.82
Jan 261.76
Jan 261.8
Jan 261.84
Jan 261.79
Dec 251.84
Dec 251.86
Dec 251.83
Dec 251.79
Nov 251.76
Nov 251.77
Nov 251.68
Nov 251.66
Oct 251.59
Oct 251.62
Oct 251.54
Oct 251.57
Oct 251.64
Sep 251.7
Sep 251.72
Sep 251.71
Sep 251.74
Aug 251.73
Aug 251.74
Aug 251.68
Aug 251.63
Aug 251.54
Jul 251.59
Jul 251.59
Jul 251.65
Jul 251.67
Jun 251.57
Jun 251.51
Jun 251.5
Jun 251.56
May 251.52
May 251.52
May 251.6
May 251.55
May 251.56
Apr 251.54
Apr 251.53
Apr 251.34
Apr 251.38
Mar 251.54
Mar 251.51
Mar 251.54
Mar 251.57
Feb 251.61
Feb 251.6
Feb 251.62
Feb 251.64
Jan 251.68
Jan 251.68
Jan 251.71
Jan 251.74
Jan 251.83
Dec 241.85
Dec 241.85
Dec 242
Dec 242.04
Nov 242.07
Nov 242.11
Nov 242.25
Nov 242.23
Nov 242.04
Oct 242.05
Oct 242.2
EV/EBITDA
05101520med 3.65Dec 24Apr 25Jul 25Oct 25Feb 26May 26Sep 26
WAFD EV/EBITDA by quarter
PeriodEV/EBITDA
Sep 2615.4
Sep 2615.94
Aug 2615.89
Aug 2615.96
Aug 2616.3
Aug 2616.13
Jul 2616.53
Jul 2616.52
Jul 2616.86
Jul 2616.85
Jul 2616.91
Jun 2616.82
Jun 2616.46
Jun 2616.61
Jun 2616.25
May 2616.24
May 2616.17
May 2615.95
May 2616.24
May 264.48
Apr 264.41
Apr 264.42
Apr 263.67
Apr 263.46
Mar 263.25
Mar 263.26
Mar 263.25
Mar 263.24
Feb 263.28
Feb 263.85
Feb 263.76
Feb 263.99
Jan 263.7
Jan 263.45
Jan 263.64
Jan 263.79
Jan 263.57
Dec 253.82
Dec 253.89
Dec 253.77
Dec 253.57
Nov 253.45
Nov 253.47
Nov 250.93
Nov 250.81
Oct 250.42
Oct 250.6
Oct 250.11
Oct 250.29
Oct 250.73
Sep 251.06
Sep 251.21
Sep 251.15
Sep 251.32
Aug 251.22
Aug 251.31
Aug 250.93
Aug 250.66
Aug 257.26
Jul 257.54
Jul 257.54
Jul 257.89
Jul 258.02
Jun 257.41
Jun 257.04
Jun 257
Jun 257.33
May 257.11
May 257.13
May 257.6
May 257.27
May 257.33
Apr 252.15
Apr 252.12
Apr 251.48
Apr 251.61
Mar 252.17
Mar 252.05
Mar 252.15
Mar 252.26
Feb 252.4
Feb 252.34
Feb 252.43
Feb 252.49
Jan 251.99
Jan 251.96
Jan 252.1
Jan 252.18
Jan 252.54
Dec 242.6
Dec 242.6
Dec 243.17
Dec 243.29
Nov 243.42
Nov 243.54
Nov 244.97
Nov 244.9
Nov 244.33
Oct 244.37
Oct 244.82
Price/Operating Cashflow
4681012med 8.91Dec 24Apr 25Jul 25Oct 25Feb 26May 26Sep 26
WAFD Price/Operating Cashflow by quarter
PeriodPrice/Operating Cashflow
Sep 269.36
Sep 2610.03
Aug 269.97
Aug 2610.05
Aug 2610.48
Aug 2610.27
Jul 2610.87
Jul 2610.86
Jul 2611.27
Jul 2611.27
Jul 2611.34
Jun 2611.22
Jun 2610.79
Jun 2610.96
Jun 2610.52
May 2610.52
May 2610.42
May 2610.15
May 2610.51
May 2611.01
Apr 2610.92
Apr 2610.94
Apr 2610.1
Apr 269.87
Mar 269.64
Mar 269.65
Mar 269.63
Mar 269.62
Feb 269.67
Feb 2610.3
Feb 2610.2
Feb 2610.46
Jan 2610.81
Jan 2610.5
Jan 2610.74
Jan 2610.93
Jan 2610.65
Dec 2510.96
Dec 2511.05
Dec 2510.91
Dec 2510.66
Nov 2510.5
Nov 2510.52
Nov 258.84
Nov 258.74
Oct 258.4
Oct 258.55
Oct 258.12
Oct 258.28
Oct 258.67
Sep 258.96
Sep 259.09
Sep 259.04
Sep 259.18
Aug 259.1
Aug 259.18
Aug 258.84
Aug 258.61
Aug 258.32
Jul 258.57
Jul 258.57
Jul 258.87
Jul 258.99
Jun 258.45
Jun 258.12
Jun 258.09
Jun 258.38
May 258.19
May 258.2
May 258.62
May 258.33
May 258.38
Apr 256.06
Apr 256.02
Apr 255.27
Apr 255.42
Mar 256.08
Mar 255.94
Mar 256.07
Mar 256.19
Feb 256.36
Feb 256.29
Feb 256.4
Feb 256.46
Jan 255.49
Jan 255.47
Jan 255.59
Jan 255.66
Jan 255.98
Dec 246.03
Dec 246.03
Dec 246.54
Dec 246.64
Nov 246.76
Nov 246.87
Nov 247.07
Nov 247
Nov 246.42
Oct 246.45
Oct 246.92
Price to Book
0.60.70.80.911.1med 0.83Dec 24Apr 25Jul 25Oct 25Feb 26May 26Sep 26
WAFD Price to Book by quarter
PeriodPrice to Book
Sep 260.83
Sep 260.89
Aug 260.88
Aug 260.89
Aug 260.93
Aug 260.91
Jul 260.93
Jul 260.93
Jul 260.97
Jul 260.96
Jul 260.97
Jun 260.96
Jun 260.92
Jun 260.94
Jun 260.9
May 260.9
May 260.89
May 260.87
May 260.9
May 260.9
Apr 260.89
Apr 260.9
Apr 260.83
Apr 260.81
Mar 260.79
Mar 260.79
Mar 260.79
Mar 260.79
Feb 260.79
Feb 260.84
Feb 260.84
Feb 260.86
Jan 260.84
Jan 260.82
Jan 260.84
Jan 260.85
Jan 260.83
Dec 250.85
Dec 250.86
Dec 250.85
Dec 250.83
Nov 250.82
Nov 250.82
Nov 250.81
Nov 250.8
Oct 250.77
Oct 250.78
Oct 250.74
Oct 250.76
Oct 250.79
Sep 250.82
Sep 250.83
Sep 250.83
Sep 250.84
Aug 250.83
Aug 250.84
Aug 250.81
Aug 250.79
Aug 250.77
Jul 250.79
Jul 250.79
Jul 250.82
Jul 250.83
Jun 250.78
Jun 250.75
Jun 250.75
Jun 250.78
May 250.76
May 250.76
May 250.8
May 250.77
May 250.78
Apr 250.76
Apr 250.75
Apr 250.66
Apr 250.68
Mar 250.76
Mar 250.74
Mar 250.76
Mar 250.78
Feb 250.8
Feb 250.79
Feb 250.8
Feb 250.81
Jan 250.8
Jan 250.8
Jan 250.82
Jan 250.83
Jan 250.88
Dec 240.88
Dec 240.88
Dec 240.96
Dec 240.97
Nov 240.99
Nov 241.01
Nov 241.02
Nov 241.01
Nov 240.92
Oct 240.93
Oct 240.99
WaFd, Inc.
WAFD
Stockpicker

Video analysis: WAFD

All videos

No video analysis for this stock yet. Request one from our team.

Your email is used only to follow up on this request. We do not add you to marketing lists. Privacy Policy

News: WAFD

WAFD SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Ademi LLP Investigates Whether Buyout Fairly Values WaFd, Inc.

prnewswire.com · 11 Sep 2026

WAFD SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Ademi LLP Investigates Whether Buyout Fairly Values WaFd, Inc.

/PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating whether the proposed transaction of WaFd, Inc. (NASDAQ: WAFD) with EverBank provides fair value to WaFd's public

Are WAFD, ACVA, CBAN, ROKU Obtaining Fair Deals for their Shareholders?

gurufocus.com · 11 Sep 2026

Are WAFD, ACVA, CBAN, ROKU Obtaining Fair Deals for their Shareholders?

Are WAFD, ACVA, CBAN, ROKU Obtaining Fair Deals for their Shareholders?PR NewswireNEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2026Insiders may stand to receive substantial financial be

Are WAFD, ACVA, CBAN, ROKU Obtaining Fair Deals for their Shareholders?

prnewswire.com · 11 Sep 2026

Are WAFD, ACVA, CBAN, ROKU Obtaining Fair Deals for their Shareholders?

/PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws

WaFd Investor Alert: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Merger of WaFd, Inc. - WAFD

gurufocus.com · 10 Sep 2026

WaFd Investor Alert: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Merger of WaFd, Inc. - WAFD

Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick and Foti, LLC (“KSF”) are investigating the proposed merger of

WaFd Investor Alert: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Merger of WaFd, Inc. - WAFD

businesswire.com · 10 Sep 2026

WaFd Investor Alert: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Merger of WaFd, Inc. - WAFD

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (“KSF”) are investigating the proposed merger of WaFd, Inc. (NasdaqGS: WAFD) and EverBank Financial Corp. Upon closing of the proposed transaction, WaFd shareholders are expected to own 40.8% of the combined company. KSF is seeking to determine whether the merger and the process that led to it are adequate, or whether the merger is fair to WaFd shareholder.

WaFd CEO on EverBank merger: Economics are absolutely compelling

youtube.com · 8 Sep 2026

WaFd CEO on EverBank merger: Economics are absolutely compelling

Brent Beardall, WaFd CEO, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss the company's latest merger with EverBank, the deal's structuring and much more.

WaFd's EverBank Merger Deal: A Boost to Earnings & Scale?

zacks.com · 8 Sep 2026

WaFd's EverBank Merger Deal: A Boost to Earnings & Scale?

WAFD's EverBank merger targets 29% EPS accretion in 2027, a broader deposit base, and a larger, more diversified commercial banking model.

WAFD Stock Alert: Halper Sadeh LLC is Investigating Whether WaFd, Inc. is Obtaining a Fair Price for its Shareholders

gurufocus.com · 8 Sep 2026

WAFD Stock Alert: Halper Sadeh LLC is Investigating Whether WaFd, Inc. is Obtaining a Fair Price for its Shareholders

Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the merger of WaFd, Inc. (NASDAQ: WAFD) and EverBank Financial Corp. Upon closing of the propose

Similar companies

Disclaimer: The historical data presented on this platform is provided by Financial Modeling Prep. Stock Picker is a platform for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Users are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.