Charles Schwab Corp (SCHW)

In November 2025, Charles Schwab agreed to acquire Forge Global for $660 million. The stock performed strongly in 2025, reaching a record high in December. In April 2026, despite strong first-quarter results, shares traded down due to "cash sorting fears" and lower-than-expected full-year guidance. In May 2026, Charles Schwab launched an AI-powered capability and announced the redemption of depositary shares. The Schwab Trading Activity Index™ (STAX) dropped in April 2026, indicating that retail clients were net sellers in nine of eleven S&P 500 sectors.

The Charles Schwab Corporation experiences fourth-quarter seasonality, including significant cash inflows in December. The Schwab Trading Activity Index™ provides insights into investor behavior, with clients favoring defensive sectors in April 2026. Demand is influenced by market conditions, interest rates, and investor engagement levels, with increased market volatility driving engagement among active traders.

The Charles Schwab Corporation operates in the Financial Services sector, offering banking, investing, and wealth management advisory services. Its offerings include brokerage services for various financial instruments, wealth management services like financial planning and portfolio management, and banking services through Charles Schwab Bank, SSB.

The Charles Schwab Corporation is headquartered in Westlake, Texas, with numerous regional offices across the United States and international offices in key financial centers like London and Hong Kong. Its significant subsidiaries are predominantly located in North America.

The Charles Schwab Corporation has maintained a strong brand reputation, receiving awards and recognitions such as being named one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies in 2025. Schwab Bank was recognized as the most trusted financial company in the U.S. and ranked highest in customer satisfaction for checking and savings accounts. Charles Schwab received the #1 Overall Broker Award from StockBrokers.com in 2026 and was named a winner of the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award.

Institutional investors hold approximately 75% of The Charles Schwab Corporation's shares, with The Vanguard Group, Inc. being the largest institutional shareholder. Founder Charles R. Schwab owns approximately 6% of the company's shares and is the largest individual shareholder.