We recently compiled a list of the Blackrock’s 30 Most Important AI Stocks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) stands against the other AI stocks.

In the third quarter of 2024, investment titan Blackrock released a commentary on the market outlook for artificial intelligence heading into the closing months of the year, stressing that investors were becoming cautious about the scale of AI spending by tech firms and thus diversifying investments into energy, utilities, real estate, and resources tied to AI infrastructure (for more on this click on 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock). Following this warning, in September 2024, BlackRock, in collaboration with Microsoft, Global Infrastructure Partners, and MGX, announced a new AI partnership aimed at investing in data centers and supporting power infrastructure. This initiative was part of a larger strategy by the investment firm to enhance American competitiveness in AI while meeting the growing need for energy infrastructure to power economic growth.

The investment giant also expanded product offerings to cater to the growing interest in AI. In October 2024, the firm launched two new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) designed to provide investors with exposure to the burgeoning AI market. These ETFs aimed to capitalize on the increasing demand for AI-driven investment opportunities. Though still in their early stages, the initiatives appear to have paid off. BlackRock reported a net profit of $6.37 billion last year, marking a 16% increase from the previous year. Revenues rose by 14% to $20.4 billion, and assets under management expanded to $11.55 trillion. The firm has attributed a major part of this growth to advancements in AI technologies and projected that AI will be a significant driver of US equities and economic expansion in 2025.

The BlackRock Investment Institute notes that AI innovations are expected to outpace similar developments in Europe, with private markets playing a crucial role in funding AI-related infrastructure. BlackRock’s 2025 Global Outlook suggests that the global economy has moved beyond the traditional boom and bust cycle due to transformative mega forces such as AI technologies, net-zero carbon emission efforts, geopolitical fragmentation, demographic shifts, and the digitization of finance. The firm believes that significant investments, akin to those of the Industrial Revolution, are needed, particularly in infrastructure tied to AI and green technology. The claims made by BlackRock in relation to AI are shared by investment firm JPMorgan.

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American Honda Finance Corporation (AHFC) reached an agreement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to settle the regulator’s allegations that the company reported inaccurate information that was then added to consumers’ credit reports.

The CFPB alleged that the company violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by furnishing false and harmful information that ended up on borrowers’ credit reports, continuing doing so after determining that several types of information were inaccurate, failing to investigate disputes about information it provided to credit reporting companies, and failing to send the results of investigations to those companies and consumers, when required, the regulator said in a Friday (Jan. 17) press release.

AHFC is the auto financing arm of American Honda Motor Co. and the sole authorized distributor of Honda and Acura vehicles in the United States. The inaccurate information it provided affected the credit reports of 300,000 borrowers, according to the release.

“Honda Finance used sloppy practices that smeared the credit reports of hundreds of thousands of its customers,” CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in the release. “False accusations on a credit report can have serious implications for Americans seeking a job, housing or a loan.”

The CFPB’s order resolving these charges requires AHFC to take steps to correct its prior erroneous reporting, pay $10.3 million in redress to harmed consumers and pay a $2.5 million penalty to the regulator’s victims relief fund.

Reached by PYMNTS, AHFC said in an emailed statement: “AHFC has not admitted any wrongdoing but resolved this matter to better focus on its customers. AHFC will continue its efforts to provide the best possible financing experience for its customers.”

This news came on the same day that consumer reporting agency Equifax agreed to a settlement and consent order that will resolve CFPB allegations that it failed to take steps to ensure the accuracy of its credit reports. That consent order requires the company to pay a $15 million civil penalty.

In November 2023, the CFPB ordered Toyota Motor Credit to pay a $60 million fine for engaging in illegal lending practices and credit reporting misconduct that knowingly tarnished consumers’ credit reports with false information.

In July 2022, the regulator ordered Hyundai to pay more than $19 million for providing inaccurate information to credit reporting companies and failing to take proper steps to deal with inaccurate information after it was identified.

NEW YORK, January 17, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (“KREF”) (NYSE: KREF) announced today that it plans to release its financial results for the fourth quarter 2024 on Monday, February 3, 2025, after the closing of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

A conference call to discuss KREF’s financial results will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (844) 784-1730 (U.S. callers) or +1 (412) 380-7410 (non-U.S. callers); a pass code is not required. Additionally, the conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet and may be accessed through the Investor Relations section of KREF’s website at http://www.kkrreit.com/investor-relations/events-and-presentations. A slide presentation containing supplemental information may also be accessed through this website in advance of the call.

A replay of the live broadcast will be available on KREF’s website or by dialing (877) 344-7529 (U.S. callers) or +1 (412) 317-0088 (non-U.S. callers), pass code 4697062, beginning approximately two hours after the broadcast.

About KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc.

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. is a real estate finance company that focuses primarily on originating and acquiring senior loans secured by commercial real estate properties. KREF is externally managed and advised by an affiliate of KKR & Co. Inc. For additional information about KREF, please visit its website at www.kkrreit.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250117176772/en/

Contacts

Investor Relations:
Jack Switala
(212) 763-9048
kref-ir@kkr.com

Media:
Miles Radcliffe-Trenner
Tel: (212) 750-8300
media@kkr.com