Voya & Gator Capital: A Bit of a Flutter?

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Right. So, February 13th. Another day, another SEC filing. Apparently, Gator Capital, which sounds suspiciously like a Bond villain’s investment firm, has decided to take a punt on Voya Financial. A rather large punt, actually – $9.33 million worth of shares. Which, let’s be honest, is more than I spent on groceries all of last year. Units of Financial Prudence Exercised: 0. Hours Spent Online Shopping for Things I Don’t Need: 7.

They’ve bought 125,270 shares, which, if you’re not an accountant (and frankly, who is?), is a lot. It’s 1.89% of their US equity assets, which sounds…significant. It’s enough to make me feel vaguely inadequate about my own portfolio. Which consists primarily of a small stake in a coffee shop and a rapidly depreciating collection of vintage scarves.

What Does This All Mean?

Well, Gator Capital is clearly betting on Voya. It’s a diversified financial services provider, which, in layman’s terms, means they do a bit of everything – retirement plans, investment management, the whole shebang. They serve everyone from corporations to individual investors. It’s all very…solid. And reassuringly boring. Which, in the current climate, is almost a selling point.

Here’s a little snapshot, because numbers are always good to have, aren’t they? Revenue for the last twelve months: $8.01 billion. Net income: $733 million. Dividend yield: 2.54%. Price per share (as of February 12th): $74.10. I’ve started a spreadsheet. It’s mostly just coloured squares at this point.

Voya’s been doing okay. Shares are up 3.6% over the last year, which is…fine. Not spectacular, but fine. They’re trailing the S&P 500 by 9.3 percentage points, which is a bit of a bummer, but honestly, who isn’t trailing the S&P 500 these days?

They’re also returning value to shareholders, which is always good. They’ve authorized another $150 million in share buybacks, adding to an existing $100 million plan. So, $250 million in total. It’s like they’re trying to buy back the market. Or at least a small corner of it.

The Upside and the…Potential Downsides

Analysts are predicting about 11% year-over-year earnings growth in 2026. Which sounds…optimistic. But then again, analysts are often wrong. It’s their job, really. To predict the future and then be spectacularly incorrect.

However, there are potential headwinds. Apparently, medical cost inflation is a “significant, ongoing challenge” in their employee benefits stop-loss business. Which sounds…complicated. And worrying. Also, increased competition in the asset management space could drive fees lower. And a market downturn could lead to reduced assets under management. Which, let’s face it, is always a possibility.

List of Things Keeping Me Awake at Night: 1. Global Economic Instability. 2. The Rising Cost of Avocados. 3. Whether I’ve Locked the Front Door.

So, Should You Invest?

Well, I’m not a financial advisor. I just write things. But Voya does seem like a reasonably solid option. It has a decent dividend yield, an ongoing share repurchase plan, and potentially decent earnings growth. It’s not going to make you a millionaire overnight, but it might provide some stability in a volatile world.

Personally, I’m sticking with my coffee shop and scarves. It’s a more…colourful portfolio. And frankly, less stressful. Number of Times I’ve Considered Becoming a Goat Farmer: 6.

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2026-02-16 18:23