Small Cap Ideas

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>>> LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (LMAT) develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices and implants used in the field of vascular surgery worldwide.

It offers human cadaver tissue cryopreservation services; angioscope, a fiberoptic catheter used for viewing the lumen of a blood vessel; embolectomy catheters to remove blood clots from arteries; thrombectomy catheters for removing thrombi in the venous system; occlusion catheters that temporarily occlude the blood flow; and perfusion catheters to perfuse the blood and other fluids into the vasculature.

The company also provides artegraft biologic graft, a bovine carotid artery used for dialysis access; XenoSure biologic patches, used for closure of vessels after surgical intervention; VascuCel and CardioCel biologic patches, used in vessel repair, heart repair and reconstruction, and neonatal repairs; cardiovascular patches; carotid shunts that temporarily shunt the blood to the brain during the removal of plaque in a carotid endarterectomy surgery; biosynthetic vascular graft indicated for lower extremity bypass and dialysis access; and vascular grafts used to bypass or replace diseased arteries.

In addition, it offers radiopaque tape, a medical-grade tape applied to the skin that enables surgeons and interventionalists to cross-refer between the inside and the outside of a patient's body and allows them to locate tributaries or lesions beneath the skin. Further, the company provides valvulotomes, which cut or disrupt valves in the saphenous vein to function as an artery to carry blood past diseased arteries to the lower leg or the foot; and closure systems to attach vessels to one another with titanium clips instead of sutures.

It markets its products through a direct sales force and distributors. The company was formerly known as Vascutech, Inc. and changed its name to LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. in April 2001. LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. was incorporated in 1983 and is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts.

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https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/LMAT/profile/


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>>> PC Connection (CNXN) Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results


Business Wire

Jul 31, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/connection-cnxn-reports-second-quarter-200500679.html


Record Quarter for Net Income and Earnings per Share

SECOND QUARTER SUMMARY:

Net sales: $736.5 million, increase of 0.4% y/y

Gross profit: $136.5 million, up 6.9% y/y

Gross margin: 18.5%, up 112 basis points y/y

Net income: $26.2 million, increase of 32.8% y/y

Diluted EPS: $0.99, compared to $0.75


MERRIMACK, N.H., July 31, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Connection (PC Connection, Inc.; NASDAQ: CNXN), a leading information technology solutions provider to business, government, healthcare and education markets, today announced results for the second quarter June 30, 2024. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share of the Company’s common stock. Payment will be made on August 30, 2024, to shareholders of record on August 13, 2024.

"Connection achieved record net income and earnings per share of $0.99 cents for the second quarter of 2024. These results reflect the successful execution of our strategic priorities and our ability to adapt to the needs of our customers in this dynamic and rapidly evolving technology landscape," said Timothy McGrath, President and Chief Executive Officer of Connection.

Second Quarter of 2024 Results:

Net sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 increased by 0.4%, year over year. Gross profit increased 6.9% while gross margin expanded 112 basis points to 18.5%, compared to the prior year quarter. Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 increased by 32.8% to $26.2 million, or $0.99 per diluted share, compared to net income of $19.7 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, for the prior year quarter. Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share1 increased to $1.00 per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to $0.80 per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Performance by Segment:

Net sales for the Business Solutions segment increased by 6.6% to $278.2 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $261.0 million in the prior year quarter. Gross profit increased by 8.1% to $66.3 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $61.4 million in the prior year quarter. Gross margin increased by 34 basis points to 23.8% for the second quarter of 2024.

Net sales for the Public Sector Solutions segment decreased by 14.0% to $159.5 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $185.4 million in the prior year quarter. Sales to state and local governments and educational institutions decreased by $17.6 million, while sales to the federal government decreased by $8.3 million, compared to the prior year quarter. Gross profit increased by 3.0% to $24.1 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $23.5 million in the prior year quarter. Gross margin increased by 250 basis points to 15.2% for the second quarter of 2024.

Net sales for the Enterprise Solutions segment increased by 4.1% to $298.8 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $287.1 million in the prior year quarter. Gross profit increased by 7.2% to $46.1 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $42.9 million in the prior year quarter. Gross margin increased by 45 basis points to 15.4% for the second quarter of 2024.

Sales by Product Mix:

Notebook/mobility and desktop sales increased by 7% year over year and accounted for 47% of net sales in the second quarter of 2024, compared to 44% of net sales in the second quarter of 2023.


Software sales increased by 7% year over year and accounted for 9% of net sales in the second quarter of 2024 and 2023.


Servers/storage sales increased by 19% year over year and accounted for 9% of net sales in the second quarter of 2024, compared to 7% of net sales in the second quarter of 2023.


Networking sales decreased by 33% year over year and accounted for 7% of net sales in the second quarter of 2024, compared to 11% of net sales in the second quarter of 2023.


Accessories sales decreased by 6% year over year and accounted for 11% of net sales in the second quarter of 2024 and 2023.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses increased in the second quarter of 2024 to $105.2 million from $101.0 million in the prior year quarter. SG&A as a percentage of net sales increased to 14.3%, compared to 13.8% in the prior year quarter. The increase in SG&A was primarily due to an increase in variable compensation due to higher levels of gross profit in the quarter.

Interest income in the second quarter of 2024 was $4.7 million, compared to $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2023.

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were $385.8 million as of June 30, 2024, compared to $244.0 million as of June 30, 2023. During the second quarter of 2024, the Company repurchased 56,716 shares of stock at an aggregate purchase price of $3.6 million.

Six Months of 2024 Results:

Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2024 decreased by 6.3%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. Gross profit increased 1.8% while gross margin expanded 149 basis points to 18.6%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 increased by 16.0% to $39.3 million, or $1.48 per diluted share, compared to net income of $33.9 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2023. Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share1 increased to $1.49 per share for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $1.36 per share for the six months ended June 30, 2023.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for stock-based compensation expense and restructuring and other charges ("Adjusted EBITDA")1 increased 4% to $125.4 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $120.2 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023.

_________________

1 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share are non-GAAP measures. See page 9 for definitions and reconciliations of these measures.

Conference Call and Webcast

Connection will host a conference call and live web cast today, July 31, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. EDT to discuss its second quarter financial results. For participants who would like to participate via telephone, please register here to receive the dial-in number along with a unique PIN number that is required to access the call. A web-cast of the conference call, which will be broadcast live via the Internet, and a copy of this press release, can be accessed on Connection’s website at ir.connection.com. For those unable to participate in the live call, a replay of the webcast will be available at ir.connection.com approximately 90 minutes after the completion of the call and will be accessible on the site for approximately one year.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share are non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are included to provide additional information with respect to the Company’s operating performance and earnings. Non-GAAP measures are not a substitute for GAAP measures and should be considered together with the GAAP financial measures. Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Definitions for each Non-GAAP measure and a reconciliation to their most directly comparable GAAP measures are available in the tables at the end of this release.

About Connection

PC Connection, Inc. and its subsidiaries, dba Connection, (www.connection.com; NASDAQ: CNXN) is a Fortune 1000 company headquartered in Merrimack, NH. With offices throughout the United States, Connection delivers custom-configured computer systems overnight from its ISO 9001:2015 certified technical configuration lab at its distribution center in Wilmington, OH. In addition, the Company has over 2,500 technical certifications to ensure that it can solve the most complex issues of its customers. Connection also services international customers through its GlobalServe subsidiary, a global IT procurement and service management company. Investors and media can find more information about Connection at http://ir.connection.com.

Connection–Business Solutions (800.800.5555) is a rapid-response provider of IT products and services serving primarily the small-and medium-sized business sector. It offers more than 460,000 brand-name products through its staff of technically trained sales account managers, publications, and its website at www.connection.com.

Connection–Enterprise Solutions (561.237.3300), www.connection.com/enterprise, provides corporate technology buyers with best-in-class IT solutions, in-depth IT supply-chain expertise, and real-time access to over 460,000 products and 2,500 vendors through MarkITplace®, a proprietary next-generation, cloud-based supply chain solution. The team’s engineers, software licensing specialists, and subject matter experts help reduce the cost and complexity of buying hardware, software, and services throughout the entire IT lifecycle.

Connection–Public Sector Solutions (800.800.0019), is a rapid-response provider of IT products and services to federal, state, and local government agencies and educational institutions through specialized account managers, publications, and online at www.connection.com/publicsector.

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>>> CBIZ, Inc. (CBZ) provides financial, insurance, and advisory services in the United States and Canada. It operates through Financial Services, Benefits and Insurance Services, and National Practices segments.

The Financial Services segment offers accounting and tax, financial advisory, valuation, risk and advisory, and government healthcare consulting services.

The Benefits and Insurance Services segment provides employee benefits consulting, payroll/human capital management, property and casualty insurance, and retirement and investment services.

The National Practices segment offers information technology managed networking and hardware, and health care consulting services.

The company primarily serves small and medium-sized businesses, as well as individuals, governmental entities, and not-for-profit enterprises. CBIZ, Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Independence, Ohio.

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https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/CBZ/profile/


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>>> Cavco Industries, Inc. (CVCO) designs, produces, and retails factory-built homes primarily in the United States. It operates in two segments, Factory-Built Housing and Financial Services.

The company markets its factory-built homes under the Cavco, Fleetwood, Palm Harbor, Nationwide, Fairmont, Friendship, Chariot Eagle, Destiny, Commodore, Colony, Pennwest, R-Anell, Manorwood, MidCountry, and Solitaire brands.

It produces park model RVs; vacation cabins; and factory-built commercial structures, including apartment buildings, condominiums, hotels, workforce housing, schools, and housing for the United States military troops.

In addition, the company produces various modular homes, which include single and multi-section ranch, split-level, and Cape Cod style homes, as well as two- and three-story homes, and multi-family units.

Further, it provides conforming and non-conforming mortgages and home-only loans to purchasers of various brands of factory-built homes sold by company-owned retail stores, as well as various independent distributors, builders, communities, and developers.

Additionally, the company offers property and casualty insurance to owners of manufactured homes. It distributes its products through a network of independent and company-owned retailers, planned community operators, and residential developers. Cavco Industries, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Celsius Holdings - >>> 4 Reasons to Buy Celsius Stock Like There's No Tomorrow


by Leo Sun

Motley Fool

Aug 27, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/4-reasons-buy-celsius-stock-092000173.html


Celsius' (NASDAQ: CELH) stock is down nearly 60% since it hit its record high this March. The energy drink maker's stock fizzled out as investors fretted over its slowing sales growth, declining domestic market share, and some big inventory reductions at its distribution partner PepsiCo. It also struggled to maintain its high valuations in a high interest rate environment.

Nevertheless, now could be the right time to buy Celsius' stock. There are four simple reasons why.

1. Celsius is still one of the fastest-growing beverage makers

Celsius carved out a niche by selling sugar-free energy drinks made from all-natural ingredients like green tea, ginger, and taurine. That strategy attracted a lot of attention from younger health-conscious consumers, and Celsius' annual revenue more than doubled in each of the past three years.

That's why the bulls were disappointed when Celsius' revenue only rose 29% year over year in the first half of 2024. However, that slowdown wasn't too surprising because fully lapped its new domestic distribution deal with PepsiCo, which started in August 2022 and significantly boosted its sales throughout 2022 and 2023.

Analysts expect its revenue to only rise 19% this year, but they expect it to continue growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25% from 2024 to 2026. That would still make it one of the fastest-growing beverage makers in the world. Its larger competitor, Monster Beverage, is only expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2023 to 2026.

2. Celsius' near-term headwinds aren't that severe

On May 28, Nielsen reported that Celsius' U.S. market share had dipped 30 basis points on a weekly basis to 10.5%. By the week ending on Aug. 10, its share had slipped to 9.6%. That ongoing decline might seem like a red flag since Celsius still generated 95% of its revenue from North America in the first half of 2024.

However, Nielsen's latest data showed that Celsius actually grew faster year over year than all of its domestic competitors in the four weeks leading up to Aug. 10. Celsius' sales rose 8.8% year over year, which outpaced Red Bull's 1.8% growth and Monster's 3.5% decline (excluding its acquisition of Bang energy drinks from Vital Pharmaceuticals last year). On its own, Bang grew 6%. In other words, Celsius is still growing even as the energy drink market gets more crowded.

The expansion of Celsius' fledgling international business could also offset the slower growth of its North American business. It recently signed a new distribution deal with the Japanese beverage giant Suntory to sell its drinks in the U.K., Ireland, and Canada, and its domestic partnership with PepsiCo could eventually evolve into an international one. It's also selling a lot more products on Amazon, which contributed 10% to its second-quarter sales.

PepsiCo's recent inventory reductions also don't necessarily mean the domestic market's demand for Celsius drinks is drying up. It's fairly common for a distribution partner to reduce its inventories of a new drink as a deal matures, and Nielsen's latest data indicates Celsius' U.S. sales are still increasing despite the inventory reductions. It also wouldn't make sense for PepsiCo to intentionally throttle Celsius' growth when it already owns an 8.5% stake in the company.

3. Celsius' margins are still expanding

If Celsius were in trouble, we would have seen its gross and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) margins shrivel. But this is what actually happened over the past four and half years:

For 2024, analysts expect Celsius' adjusted EBITDA to rise 11% and lift its adjusted EBITDA margin to 29.5%. From 2024 to 2026, they expect its adjusted EBITDA to grow at a CAGR of 12%. That rosy outlook implies that economies of scale are kicking in.

4. Celsius stock looks reasonably valued

With an enterprise value of $9 billion, Celsius is valued at 6 times this year's sales and 25 times its adjusted EBITDA. Those valuations are reasonable relative to its growth rates and its industry peers. Monster, which is growing at a much slower rate, trades at 6 times this year's sales and 20 times its adjusted EBITDA.

Celsius might not be a hypergrowth stock anymore, but it still has plenty of upside potential. Its stock price could remain volatile, but it should stabilize and rally back toward its all-time high as the company overcomes its near-term challenges.

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>>> PC Connection, Inc. (CNXN), together with its subsidiaries, provides various information technology (IT) solutions worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Business Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, and Public Sector Solutions.

It offers IT solutions, including computer systems, data center solutions, software and peripheral equipment, networking communications, and other products and accessories; and portfolio of managed services and professional services, as well as provides services related to design, configuration, and implementation of IT solutions.

The company markets its products and services through its websites comprising connection.com, connection.com/enterprise, connection.com/publicsector, and macconnection.com. It serves small to medium-sized businesses that include small office/home office customers; federal, state, and local government and educational institutions; enterprise sutomers; medium-to-large sorporations through outbound inside and field sales; digital, web, and print media advertising; and targeted marketing program to specific customer populations. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Merrimack, New Hampshire.

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>>> StoneX Group Inc (SNEX). operates as a global financial services network that connects companies, organizations, traders, and investors to market ecosystem worldwide. The company operates through Commercial, Institutional, Retail, and Global Payments segments.

The Commercial segment provides risk management and hedging, exchange-traded and OTC products execution and clearing, voice brokerage, market intelligence, physical trading, and commodity financing and logistics services.

The Institutional segment offers equity trading services to institutional clients; clearing and execution services in futures exchanges; brokerage foreign exchange services for the financial institutions and professional traders; and OTC products, as well as originates, structures, and places debt instruments in capital markets. This segment also operates as an institutional dealer in fixed income securities to serve asset managers, commercial bank trust and investment departments, broker-dealers, and insurance companies, as well as engages in asset management business.

The Retail segment provides trading services and solutions in the global financial markets, including spot foreign exchange, precious metals trading, and contracts for differences; and wealth management services, as well as offers physical gold and other precious metals in various forms and denominations through Stonexbullion.com.

The Global Payments segment provides customized payment, technology, and treasury services to banks and commercial businesses, charities, and non-governmental and government organizations; and pricing and payments services.

The company was formerly known as INTL FCStone Inc. and changed its name to StoneX Group Inc. in July 2020. StoneX Group Inc. was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

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>>> MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA) develops, manufactures, and supplies safety products and technology solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures in the fire service, energy, utility, construction, and industrial manufacturing applications, as well as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industries worldwide.

The company's core product offerings include fixed gas and flame detection systems, such as gas detection monitoring systems, and flame detectors and open-path infrared gas detectors; breathing apparatus products, including self-contained breathing apparatus; hand-held portable gas detection instruments to detect the presence or absence of various gases in the air; industrial head protection products; firefighter helmets and protective apparel; and fall protection equipment, such as confined space equipment, harnesses, lanyards, and self-retracting lifelines, as well as engineered systems. In addition, the company offers air-purifying respirators, eye and face protection products, ballistic helmets, and gas masks.

It serves distributors and end-users through indirect and direct sales channels. The company offers its products under the V-Gard, Cairns, and Gallet brand names. MSA Safety Incorporated was founded in 1914 and is based in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.

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https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/MSA/profile/


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>>> Why Transcat Stock Is Up Big Today


by Lou Whiteman

Motley Fool

May 21, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-transcat-stock-big-today-160021347.html


Testing and calibration equipment company Transcat (NASDAQ: TRNS) easily beat quarterly expectations and forecast continued strength into its new fiscal year. Investors are taking notice, sending Transcat shares up as much as 13% at the open and up 8% as of 10:45 a.m. ET.

Strong earnings and margin growth

Transcat provides calibration and testing services primarily to the life sciences industry, as well as to the aerospace, defense, energy, and utilities sector. The company earned $0.66 per share in its fiscal fourth quarter ending March 30 on revenue of $70.9 million, surpassing Wall Street's $0.53 per share on sales of $68 million estimate.

Consolidated adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) grew by 29.8% in the quarter, and EBITDA margin expanded by 200 basis points, fueled by a combination of strong organic growth and the benefit of acquisitions.

"Adjusted EBITDA growth of 30% for the fourth quarter reflects our ability to leverage organic service revenue growth and the successful integration of acquired companies," CEO Lee D. Rudow said in a statement. "Fourth-quarter consolidated revenue was up 14%, with gross margin expansion of 300 basis points year over year driven by our widened breadth of service offerings, excellent performance in the higher-margin rental business, and execution of automation and process improvement initiatives."

Is Transcat a buy following its strong earnings report?

Rudow is forecasting further gains in fiscal 2025 thanks to predictable, recurring revenue streams from highly regulated markets including life sciences. The rental business is a good hedge against potential economic headwinds, as it tends to hold up better through the cycle.

This is an under-the-radar stock serving an important role to a number of massive and growing industries. If Transcat can continue to execute as it did in the most recent quarter, the stock can go higher from here.

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>>> Why Sterling Infrastructure Rallied on Tuesday


by Billy Duberstein

Motley Fool

Aug 6, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-sterling-infrastructure-rallied-tuesday-202608080.html


Shares of Sterling Infrastructure (NASDAQ: STRL) rallied as much as 11.1% Tuesday, before settling into a mere 4% gain as of 3:47 p.m. ET.

Sterling reported second-quarter earnings last night that handily surpassed expectations, and raised guidance, quelling some recent fears over the state of the economy generally and the construction industry specifically. But by pivoting to the hottest parts of the market, Sterling was able to fly by profit forecasts.

A beneficiary of the infrastructure bill and AI boom

In the first quarter, Sterling delivered 11.6% revenue growth to $582.8 million, along with 31% earnings-per-share (EPS) growth to $1.67 per share, with both figures handily beating analyst estimates. Management also raised full-year guidance to a range of $2.15 billion to $2.225 billion in revenue and $5.60 to $5.75 in diluted earnings per share. That was up from prior guidance of $2.125 billion to $2.215 billion and $5 to $5.30, respectively, on the first-quarter release.

Some analysts may not have been expecting results like these because a fair amount of the U.S. construction industry and consumer spending is hitting a slowdown. But Sterling was able to lean into the fastest-growing and higher-margin segments of its business, specifically riding the wave of infrastructure and AI spending.

Sterling has three main segments:

E-infrastructure solutions, which serves the data center and next-gen manufacturing sectors, as well as e-commerce warehouses and other commercial buildings

Transportation solutions, which executes projects for highways, roads, bridges, airports, ports, light rail, water systems, and others

Building solutions, which serves residential and commercial construction

Sterling has been able to capitalize on growing in the best parts of its end markets. For instance, e-infrastructure revenue declined 7%, but that segment's operating income grew 20%, as Sterling was able to achieve 100% growth in the higher-margin data center segment, even as other segments lagged. While the building solutions segment declined 2%, operating income in that segment was up 2%. Meanwhile, the transportation segment surged 54% and operating profits grew 57%, likely on the back of very strong public-private infrastructure investments resulting from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act of 2021.

A top operator still looks like a good buy

Sterling Infrastructure is showing solid growth even as some parts of its business are challenged, along with impressive profit expansion, showing off management's execution and the ability to target the most attractive markets.

Trading at just 18.8 times this year's recently raised guidance for EPS and sporting a solid net cash position on the balance sheet, Sterling looks like a good buy, assuming the U.S. is able to avoid a recession.

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>>> UFP Technologies Acquires Marble Medical


UFP Technologies, Inc.

Jul 16, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ufp-technologies-acquires-marble-medical-200500449.html


NEWBURYPORT, Mass., July 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UFP Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPT), a designer and custom manufacturer of comprehensive solutions for medical devices, sterile packaging, and other highly engineered custom products, today announced the acquisition of Marble Medical. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Tallahassee, FL, Marble Medical develops and manufactures adhesive based medical components and single-use devices.


“Adding Marble Medical’s adhesives expertise is a great complement to our surgical robot drapes and stick to skin device platforms,” said R. Jeffrey Bailly, chairman and CEO of UFP Technologies. “Marble Medical is a 3M Preferred Converter, and along with their precision die cutting capabilities, gives our clients access to a broader range of innovative solutions incorporating highly specialized adhesive technologies.”

“In addition, Marble Medical is a longstanding partner to our DAS Medical operation, making them an excellent overall fit into our MedTech business,” continued Bailly. “This acquisition aligns with our strategic focus and provides valuable technologies in multiple key markets to bring more value to our client base. This expanded range of materials and capabilities will also allow us to vertically integrate in many existing application areas.

Joe Audie, Marble Medical’s president, stated, “We are excited to join the UFP family and be part of such a fast growing and dynamic company. UFP’s customer base, engineering skills, vast resources, and global manufacturing footprint is expected to help Marble accelerate growth by leveraging our biocompatible adhesives expertise in adjacent areas such as diagnostic patches, wound care, and other stick to skin applications.”

About UFP Technologies, Inc.

UFP Technologies is a designer and custom manufacturer of comprehensive solutions for medical devices, sterile packaging, and other highly engineered custom products. UFP is an important link in the medical device supply chain and a valued outsource partner to most of the top medical device manufacturers in the world. The Company’s single-use and single-patient devices and components are used in a wide range of medical devices and packaging for minimally invasive surgery, infection prevention, wound care, wearables, orthopedic soft goods, and orthopedic implants.

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Winmark - >>> While Amazon is one of the best-known companies in the world, Winmark (NASDAQ: WINA) flies under the radar. Winmark is a franchisor of stores that resell used items. Its brands include Play it Again Sports, Plato's Closet, Once Upon a Child, and others. Winmark has been a winning stock for a long time, but it's still relatively small, with a market capitalization of $1.4 billion.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/2-magnificent-stocks-im-never-134500518.html

What's attractive about owning Winmark's stock is its business model. As a franchisor, most of the costs associated with owning a retail business fall on the franchisees. This provides Winmark with attractive margins.

For example, in second-quarter 2024, Winmark's gross margin was 95.8%. Looking further down the income statement, this led to a net profit margin of 51.8%. These margins have also ticked up slowly and steadily over time.

While it's clear that the economics of being a franchisor work out well for Winmark and its shareholders, there's evidence that its franchisees are happy as well. In Q2 2024, Winmark had a 100% renewal rate in four out of five of its brands.

Winmark adds new stores throughout the year, but the pace is deliberate. So far in 2024, the company has grown its total store count by 1.2%. The fact that its franchisees renew in such high numbers is a good sign for the future of the business, as it helps supplement the slow but steady store growth.

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>>> Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM), together with its subsidiaries, engages in the retailing of fresh, natural, and organic food products under the Sprouts brand in the United States. It offers perishable product categories, including fresh produce, meat and meat alternatives, seafood, deli, bakery, floral, and dairy and dairy alternatives; and non-perishable product categories, such as grocery, vitamins and supplements, bulk items, frozen foods, beer and wine, and natural health and body care. Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

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>>> MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA) develops, manufactures, and supplies safety products and technology solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures in the fire service, energy, utility, construction, and industrial manufacturing applications, as well as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industries worldwide.

The company's core product offerings include fixed gas and flame detection systems, such as gas detection monitoring systems, and flame detectors and open-path infrared gas detectors; breathing apparatus products, including self-contained breathing apparatus; hand-held portable gas detection instruments to detect the presence or absence of various gases in the air; industrial head protection products; firefighter helmets and protective apparel; and fall protection equipment, such as confined space equipment, harnesses, lanyards, and self-retracting lifelines, as well as engineered systems.

In addition, the company offers air-purifying respirators, eye and face protection products, ballistic helmets, and gas masks. It serves distributors and end-users through indirect and direct sales channels. The company offers its products under the V-Gard, Cairns, and Gallet brand names. MSA Safety Incorporated was founded in 1914 and is based in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.

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>>> UFP Technologies Acquires Welch Fluorocarbon


UFP Technologies, Inc.

Jul 16, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ufp-technologies-acquires-welch-fluorocarbon-200000577.html


NEWBURYPORT, Mass., July 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UFP Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPT), a designer and custom manufacturer of comprehensive solutions for medical devices, sterile packaging, and other highly engineered custom products, today announced the acquisition of Welch Fluorocarbon Inc. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Dover, New Hampshire, Welch Fluorocarbon develops and manufactures thermoformed, and heat sealed implantable medical device components utilizing thin, high-performance films.

“Welch Fluorocarbon will bring significant thin film thermoforming capabilities to our expanding MedTech portfolio of technologies and materials,” said R. Jeffrey Bailly, chairman and CEO of UFP Technologies. “Their expertise in developing and manufacturing components for implantable medical devices is an excellent complement to our existing thin film platform.”

“UFP and Welch Fluorocarbon share many clients and together, our expanded product development and manufacturing capabilities will allow us to serve our clients in a more comprehensive way,” continued Bailly. “Additionally, we are gaining a talented leadership team and overall, the Welch Fluorocarbon team is a very strong cultural fit.”

“We are thrilled to have selected UFP as our new home. Having a partner that understands how to support our rapidly expanding business in our niche is critical. UFP has demonstrated that they understand our needs and have the capabilities, experience, and resources to help propel Welch to its fullest potential,” said Kevin Wiley, Owner and CEO.

About UFP Technologies, Inc.

UFP Technologies is a designer and custom manufacturer of comprehensive solutions for medical devices, sterile packaging, and other highly engineered custom products. UFP is an important link in the medical device supply chain and a valued outsource partner to most of the top medical device manufacturers in the world. The Company’s single-use and single-patient devices and components are used in a wide range of medical devices and packaging for minimally invasive surgery, infection prevention, wound care, wearables, orthopedic soft goods, and orthopedic implants.

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>>> Winmark: Powering the circular economy megatrend

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/2-dividend-stocks-double-now-143800565.html

Home to over 1,300 resale franchises across its Plato's Closet, Play It Again Sports, Once Upon A Child, Music Go Round, and Style Encore brands, Winmark is a shining example of the effect that circular economies can have on the world. Thanks to its operations, the company estimates that since 2010, it has put over 1.7 billion items back to good use, helping them avoid landfills, storage units, garages, or the top shelves of closets.

While this feel-good purpose alone makes Winmark an exciting stock, the company's long-term partnerships with its franchisees could prove to be the true magic.

Since it's thinking decades ahead (sometimes even multiple generations ahead), Winmark isn't overly concerned with what happens quarter to quarter. What it wants to do is build a lasting legacy alongside its franchisees. Speaking to Jim Gilles with The Motley Fool, Chief Executive Officer Brett Heffes expounded upon this notion:

Because what happens, is our most successful franchisees, they understand that their business is a legacy asset in the community. They manage the business for themselves, the community, but more importantly, the next generation. This legacy mindset leads to continued investment on our part, whether it's technology, whether it's marketing, whether it's operations, and it just allows us to fulfill our mission.

In operating over this generational time frame, Winmark takes a slow and steady approach to its growth, inching sales higher by 4% annually over the last decade. By taking its time to vet new franchisees and scout new potential store locations, the company has generated a ridiculous 188% ROIC and a free cash flow margin of 51%.

Armed with this cash generation, Winmark always looks to reward shareholders, as it typically pays out almost all excess cash to shareholders in the form of special dividends in many years. However, if Heffes deems the company's shares to be trading below intrinsic value, he'll also swoop in to repurchase shares, which led to a 4% annualized decline in share count since 2014.

With Statista projecting the circular economy to nearly double its sales between 2022 and 2026, Winmark is well-positioned to continue rewarding investors for decades -- if not generations -- to come.

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>>> Nextracker Inc (NASDAQ:NXT)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/12-best-wind-power-solar-162031158.html

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 33

Nextracker Inc (NASDAQ:NXT) provides integrated solar tracker and software solutions used in utility-scale and ground-mounted solar projects.

Insider Monkey's database of 933 hedge funds updated for the fourth quarter of 2023 shows that 33 hedge funds had stakes in Nextracker Inc (NASDAQ:NXT).

Last month Nextracker Inc (NASDAQ:NXT) posted solid Q4 results and upped its guidance. Adjusted EPS in the period came in at $0.96, beating estimates by $0.47. Revenue in the quarter jumped 38.4% year over year to $710.43 million, beating estimates by $92.94 million.

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>>> Nextracker Inc. (NXT), an energy solutions company, provides solar tracker and software solutions for utility-scale and ground-mounted distributed generation solar projects worldwide. The company offers tracking solutions, which includes NX Horizon, a solar tracking solution; NX Gemini, a two-in-portrait format tracker, which holds two rows of solar panels along the central support beam; and NX Horizon-XTR, a terrain-following tracker designed to expand the addressable market for trackers on sites with sloped, uneven, and challenging terrain. It also provides monitoring and control software solutions including TrueCapture, a solar boosting power plant, which boost plant performance by correcting for shading and diffuse light conditions; and NX Navigator, a mitigating extreme weather risk navigator which helps to maintain optimum tracker equipment health and availability. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Fremont, California. <<<



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Winmark - >>> 3 Mighty Micro-Cap Stocks to Make a Move On in Q4


Investor Place

by Will Ashworth

Sat, Nov 18, 2023


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-mighty-micro-cap-stocks-192758186.html


Barron’s recently published an article discussing the promise of small-cap funds heading into 2024. The rationale behind the thinking is that it’s possible any recession next year will be a small one. Small and micro-cap stocks do poorly in extended recessions.

It’s hard to know what’s going to happen next week, let alone next year. However, even when buying micro caps, it helps if you look for quality. The stronger the business, the more likely it will survive any recession that comes our way in 2024.

As the Barron’s article points out, micro caps are less likely to get bank financing in a recession, or if they do, the interest rates would be much higher than what large cap could obtain.

So, it makes sense to look for micro-cap businesses that self-finance their operations through cash flow. It doesn’t hurt if they also have business models that won’t be hurt by lower consumer spending. I would say these are businesses with high return on equity.

Who are these businesses? I’ll find my trio of micro-cap stocks to buy from the iShares Micro-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IWC), which tracks the performance of the Russell Microcap Index, a collection of very small U.S. public companies with market capitalizations between $4 million and $4.6 billion.

Winmark (WINA)

If there is any business positioned for a recession, it would be Winmark (NASDAQ:WINA). The Minnesota-based franchisor operates five brands that focus on resale retail: Plato’s Closet (39% of stores), Once Upon A Child (31%), Play It Again Sports (22%), Style Encore (5%) and Music Go Round (3%).

Throughout the next couple of years, its revenues will fall, but not for the reason you think.

In the nine months ended Sept. 30, Winmark generated nearly $4 million in revenue from leasing income earned from its middle market equipment leasing business. In May 2021, it decided to get out of this business.

“Winmark Corporation (Nasdaq: WINA) announced today that it will no longer solicit new leasing customers and will pursue an orderly run-off for its middle-market leasing portfolio,” Brett D. Heffes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated.

So, for example, while it generated nearly $4 million in revenue in Q3 2023, 32% less than a year ago. It will be lower in the fourth quarter and every quarter after that until it has no revenue.

But consider this, in the first nine months of 2023, its gross profit from the $4 million was approximately $578,200. Its operating profit in these same nine months was $40.8 million, or 65% of its $63.2 million in revenue.

The leasing business simply wasn’t cutting it. Worse, it was a distraction from its resale operations. Not surprisingly, its stock’s appreciated by 121% since that decision 29 months ago. If you are looking for micro-cap stocks, start here.

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