Small Cap Ideas

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>>> Why Archer Aviation Stock Is Skyrocketing Today


by Johnny Rice

Motley Fool

May 13, 2025


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-archer-aviation-stock-skyrocketing-182733929.html


Key Points

Archer Aviation released its Q1 earnings, revealing a solid balance sheet.

The company is on track to launch in the UAE later this year.

Archer announced a partnership with the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered data analytics company Palantir.


Shares of Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) are surging on Tuesday. The company's stock gained 22.7% as of 2:11 p.m. ET and was up as much as 26.7% earlier in the day. The jump comes as the S&P 500 gained 0.8% and the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.6%.

The company, which develops electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, reported its Q1 2025 numbers and announced an exciting new partnership.

The company is pre-revenue, but it reported a reasonable net loss of $93.4 million for the quarter. With more than $1 billion in cash and equivalents on hand, the company has plenty of room to run and has one of the strongest balance sheets in the emerging industry.

Archer is on track to launch in the UAE later this year, a major milestone for the company as it begins to commercialize its business. The company also has customer commitments from established airlines and specific plans for a NYC air taxi network using its aircraft. CEO Adam Goldstein emphasized the company's momentum in his statement: "This quarter, the team made strong progress across our civil and defense efforts as we continue to deepen our strategic partner relationships and prepare for commercialization in the UAE later this year."

Palantir partnership

Archer also announced a "foundational partnership" with the AI-powered data analytics company Palantir Technologies to help it optimize its technology. This could give the company an edge over the competition, speeding up its development timelines and boosting efficiencies and its bottom line.

With a market capitalization of more than $6 billion, Archer is not cheap. However, I think there is a significant opportunity for the industry that will justify this over time. For risk-tolerant investors, Archer is a good choice, but expect some turbulence on the way up -- pun intended.

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>>> Should You Buy Archer Aviation Before It Reaches This Huge Goal or After?


by Reuben Gregg Brewer

Motley Fool

May 4, 2025


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/buy-archer-aviation-reaches-huge-075500390.html


Key Points

Archer Aviation is attempting to build an air taxi business based on its vertical lift short-haul aircraft.

The company hopes to carry its first commercial passenger in 2025.

Buying before that first flight requires a glass-half-full point of view.


Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has big plans for 2025. The key goal is for the company's aircraft to carry its first commercial customer. It will be an important turning point for the business, which up until that event will have only been in the testing phase. Is it a good idea to buy Archer Aviation before it reaches this important goal, or should investors wait until after?

What does Archer Aviation do?

Archer Aviation is an upstart aerospace company trying to break into an industry that is capital-intensive, heavily regulated, and highly competitive. The company has achieved a great deal so far, in that it has taken a good idea and developed a factory that is producing aircraft. Sure, 2025 will only see around 10 of the company's Midnight aircraft built, but that shouldn't diminish the achievement, since production levels have to start somewhere.

What's interesting about Archer Aviation's Midnight aircraft is that they are small, vertical lift vehicles meant only to travel short distances. Essentially, they are air taxis. The hope is that Archer Aviation can set up services in and around large cities serving customers that want to fly over street-level congestion.

To that end, Archer Aviation is working toward getting FAA approval of its aircraft. It already has FAA approval to operate an airline and to operate a flight training school. All it needs is the aircraft, since it already has an agreement in place to start an air taxi service in California.

The big news in 2025 isn't happening in the United States

That's all great news, showing that Archer Aviation is putting the puzzle pieces together now so it can take off when the FAA approves its Midnight aircraft for operation in the U.S. market. But the United States isn't likely to be the first market in which Archer Aviation's aircraft are operating. The first market is likely to be Abu Dhabi.

This is where the company is currently working with a partner to set up an air taxi service. The service is likely to carry its first commercial customers in 2025. When that happens, Archer Aviation will have taken its business from a good idea all the way to a proven concept. Buying the stock today will get you in the door before that happens. There's a high likelihood that investors will take a more positive view of the stock once its Midnight aircraft is carrying commercial customers.

There's just one caveat, and it's a big one. Carrying commercial customers isn't really the end goal. It will be a big achievement, for sure, but it's only the start of the commercial test of the air taxi concept. Just because Archer Aviation builds an air taxi doesn't mean there will be enough customers who want to use it to make the company sustainably profitable. This is why more conservative investors might want to hold off on buying Archer Aviation.

To be fair, holding off may result in missed stock gains if the air taxi concept takes off. But it will save investors sleepless nights and protect against the risk that Archer Aviation is building a product that people don't really want. If Archer Aviation's air taxi service gains traction, there will likely be years of growth ahead to benefit from, even if you miss an early share price rally.

Archer Aviation is a high-risk investment

Archer Aviation has an interesting idea that still needs to be proven out in the real world. It has achieved a great deal so far, but there is still a long way to go before the business is sustainably profitable. Buying now, before the first air taxi service using Archer Aviation's aircraft is launched, is a high-risk move that requires a glass-half-full point of view. Waiting until there is proof of a sustainable business model is a more prudent decision that will be a better choice for most investors.

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>>> Why Sezzle Stock Was Sizzling Today


by Jeremy Bowman

Motley Fool

May 8, 2025


Key Points

Sezzle posted blowout results in its first-quarter earnings report.

The BNPL company's revenue growth more than doubled and its margins expanded.

Sezzle seems to have differentiated itself in the crowded BNPL market.

Shares of Sezzle (NASDAQ: SEZL) were on fire today as the buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) platform delivered strong results in its first quarter and raised its guidance.

The quarter is the latest evidence of strong momentum in the business, and the stock was up 51% as of 1:24 p.m. ET.


Sezzle soars

The fintech company said that gross merchandise volume (GMV), or spend on the platform, jumped 64.1% to $808.7 million, with customer purchase frequency up to 6.1 times in the quarter from 4.5 in the quarter a year ago.

That drove revenue up a whopping 123.3% to $104.9 million, which crushed estimates at $64.8 million.

The company had 658,000 users in the quarter, and delivered strong results on the bottom line as well. Operating income jumped 260.6% to $49.9 million, giving it an operating margin of 47.6%. Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) earnings per share jumped from $0.22 to $1.00, which was miles ahead of the consensus at $0.32.

CEO Charlie Youakim said, "Our investments in innovation and consumer experience drove new highs in engagement and performance in the first quarter. Stronger consumer activity and better-than-expected repayment trends propelled quarterly earnings above our expectations. These positive developments give us the confidence to raise our 2025 net income guidance by nearly 50% to $120 million."

What's next for Sezzle?

Sezzle is clearly gaining market share rapidly in the fragmented BNPL space, and has some key differences from other BNPLs, including that it gives users the option to choose whether their data is reported to credit bureaus, meaning it appeals to users who don't want to risk hurting their credit scores.

The model appears to be resonating, given the skyrocketing growth, and management raised its guidance as well, calling for total revenue growth for the year of 60%-65%, up from 25%-30%. It expects earnings per share to reach $3.25, up from a previous level of $2.21.

Based on that forecast, Sezzle still looks very reasonably valued at a price-to-earnings ratio of just 25. The stock could easily move higher from here if its rapid growth continues.

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>>> Sezzle Announces Six-for-One Stock Split and $50 Million Stock Repurchase Program


GlobeNewswire · Sezzle

March 10, 2025


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sezzle-announces-six-one-stock-200900811.html


Minneapolis, MN, March 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ: SEZL,) (Sezzle or Company) // Purpose-driven digital payment platform, Sezzle, today announced that the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) declared a six-for-one split of the Company’s common stock in the form of a stock dividend to make ownership more accessible to investors and employees. Each Sezzle stockholder of record at the close of business on March 21, 2025, will receive a dividend of 5 additional shares of common stock for every share held on the record date, to be distributed after the close of trading on March 28, 2025. Trading is expected to begin on a stock split adjusted basis on March 31.

Additionally, the Board has authorized the Company to repurchase up to $50.0 million of the Company’s common stock. The repurchase program has no fixed expiration, allowing flexibility in execution based on market conditions and other factors.

Repurchases under the program will be made in open market transactions in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b-18 and federal securities laws. The stock repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and it may be extended, suspended or discontinued at any time at the Company’s discretion.

Contact Information

Lee Brading, CFA

Investor Relations

[phone]

[e-mail]

Erin Foran

Media Enquiries

[phone]

[e-mail]

About Sezzle Inc.

Sezzle is a fintech company on a mission to financially empower the next generation. Sezzle’s payment platform increases the purchasing power for millions of consumers by offering interest-free installment plans at online stores and select in-store locations. Sezzle’s transparent, inclusive, and seamless payment option allows consumers to take control over their spending, be more responsible, and gain access to financial freedom.

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>>> Winmark Corporation Announces Year End Results


Business Wire

February 19, 2025


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/winmark-corporation-announces-end-results-153200853.html


MINNEAPOLIS, February 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Winmark Corporation (Nasdaq: WINA) announced today net income for the year ended December 28, 2024 of $39,954,200 or $10.89 per share diluted compared to net income of $40,178,100 or $11.04 per share diluted in 2023. The fourth quarter 2024 net income was $9,583,100 or $2.60 per share diluted compared to net income of $9,716,800 or $2.64 per share diluted for the same period last year. Revenues for the year ended December 28, 2024 were $81,289,100, down from $83,243,500 in 2023. 2024 results were impacted by the Company’s decision in May 2021 to run-off its leasing portfolio.

Winmark - the Resale Company®, is a nationally recognized franchisor focused on sustainability and small business formation. - We champion and guide entrepreneurs interested in operating one of our award winning resale franchises: Plato’s Closet®, Once Upon A Child®, Play It Again Sports®, Style Encore® and Music Go Round®. At December 28, 2024, there were 1,350 franchises in operation and over 2,800 available territories. An additional 79 franchises have been awarded but are not open.

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>>> Sezzle Inc. (SEZL) operates as a technology-enabled payments company primarily in the United States and Canada. The company provides payment solution in-store and at online retail stores; and through proprietary payments solution that connects consumers with merchants. It also offers Sezzle Platform that provides a payments solution for consumers that extends credit at the point-of-sale allowing consumers to purchase and receive the ordered merchandise at the time of sale while paying in installments over time; Pay-in-Four, which allows consumers to pay a fourth of the purchase price up front and then another fourth of the purchase price every two weeks thereafter over a total of six weeks; Pay-in-Full that allows consumers to pay for the full value of their order up-front through the Sezzle Platform without the extension of credit; and Pay-in-Two and other alternative installment options, which allow consumer to pay half of the value of their order up-front and the second half in two weeks. In addition, the company provides Sezzle Virtual Card that allows consumers to access the Sezzle Platform in the form of close-end installment loans and shop with merchants that are not integrated with Sezzle; Sezzle Anywhere, a paid subscription service that allows consumers to use their Sezzle Virtual Card at any merchant online or in-store; Sezzle Premium, a paid subscription service that allows its consumers to access large, non-integrated premium merchants; and Sezzle Up, an opt-in feature of the Sezzle Platform. Further, it offers Long-Term Lending through collaboration with third-party lenders and Product Innovation. Sezzle Inc. was incorporated in 2016 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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

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>>> Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI) manufactures and markets flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions worldwide. It offers mechanical or static water meters, and related radio and software technologies and services to municipal water utilities market. The company also provides flow instrumentation products, including meters, valves, and other sensing instruments to measure and control fluids going through a pipe or pipeline, including water, air, steam, and other liquids and gases to original equipment manufacturers as the primary flow measurement device within a product or system, as well as through manufacturers' representatives.

In addition, the company offers ORION Cellular endpoints to power network as a service; ORION mobile read endpoints support for deploying AMR solution; radio products; hardware, instruments, and sensors, and related software, to enhance connected data to a water utility's operation; water quality monitoring solutions, including optical sensing and electrochemical instruments; and high frequency pressure and leak detection sensors to aid in burst pipe and leak events; as well as BEACON, a secure cloud-hosted software suite that establishes alerts for specific conditions and allows consumer engagement tools that permit end water customers to view and manage their water usage activity. Its flow instrumentation products are used in water/wastewater, heating, ventilating and air conditioning, and corporate sustainability markets.

The company serves water utilities, commercial, and industrial industries; and provides training, project management, technical support, and other collaborative services for customers. It sells its products and software directly, as well as through resellers and representatives. The company was incorporated in 1905 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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>>> Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE:SLVM)

https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/12-best-land-and-timber-stocks-to-buy-according-to-analysts-1415148/4/

Average Price Target Upside Potential According to Analysts: 17.37%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE:SLVM) is a significant player in the paper industry, producing paper for education, communication, and entertainment. The company operates mills in Europe, Latin America, and North America, and manages over 294,000 acres of forest in Brazil. Sylvamo is dedicated to sourcing all its fiber from sustainably managed forests. SLVM is one of the best land and timber stocks to buy according to analysts.

In the third quarter of 2024, Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE:SLVM) reported a net income of $95 million, or $2.27 per diluted share, an increase from $83 million in the second quarter of 2024. The company achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $193 million, reflecting a 20% margin, up from 18% in the second quarter. This strong performance was driven by higher shipment volumes in North America.

The company is focused on optimizing its operations. Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE:SLVM) is terminating a supply agreement with International Paper for uncoated freesheet, bristols and specialty papers, effective December 31, 2024. This move is part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE:SLVM) has also made significant strides in returning value to shareholders. In 2024, the corporation has repurchased $30 million of its shares and plans to return at least 40% of its free cash flow to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share in the fourth quarter, which was paid in October. Year-to-date, Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE:SLVM) has distributed $62 million through four quarterly dividends. With its commitment to sustainability, strong financial results, and strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and shareholder value, Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE:SLVM) is well-positioned for future growth.

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>>> UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI) , through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets wood and non-wood composites, and other materials in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through Retail, Packaging, and Construction segments.

The Retail segment offers treated lumber products, including decking, fencing, lattice, and other products; pressure-treated and fire-retardant products used primarily for outdoor decking environments; and lawn and garden products, consisting of wood and vinyl fencing options, garden beds and planters, pergolas, picnic tables, and other landscaping products. This segment also offers wood plastic composites, composite decking, and related decking accessories, including non- aluminum railing systems, balusters, post caps, and other products, as well as pre-painted and primed shiplap and project boards.

The Packaging segment provides custom and structural packaging products, pallets, corrugate, foam, labels, strapping, and films.

The Construction segment offers roof trusses, cut-to-size dimensional and board lumber, plywoods, and oriented strand boards; engineered wood components, including roof and floor trusses, wall panels, I-joists, and lumber packages; and alternate materials components, such as metal trusses, sheathed and pre-finished light gauge metal wall panels, aluminum decks, and rail accessories, as well as distributes siding, electrical, and plumbing products. This segment also engages in the manufacture of components; design, manufacture, and supply of wood forms and related products to set or form concrete for structures, such as parking garages, stadiums, and other infrastructure projects. It also offers interior fixtures, millwork, and casework for retail and commercial structures.

The company was formerly known as Universal Forest Products, Inc. and changed its name to UFP Industries, Inc. in April 2020. UFP Industries, Inc. was incorporated in 1955 and is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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


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>>> Innodata Inc. (INOD) operates as a global data engineering company in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Digital Data Solutions (DDS), Synodex, and Agility.

The DDS segment engages in the provision of artificial intelligence (AI) data preparation services; collecting or creating training data; annotating training data; and training AI algorithms for its customers, as well as AI model deployment and integration services. This segment also provides a range of data engineering support services, including data transformation, data curation, data hygiene, data consolidation, data extraction, data compliance, and master data management.

The Synodex segment offers an industry platform that transforms medical records into useable digital data with its proprietary data models or client data models.

The Agility segment provides an industry platform that offers marketing communications and public relations professionals to target and distribute content to journalists and social media influencers; and to monitor and analyze global news channels, such as print, web, radio, and TV, as well as social media channels. It serves banking, insurance, financial services, technology, digital retailing, and information/media sectors through its professional staff, senior management, and direct sales personnel.

The company was formerly known as Innodata Isogen, Inc. and changed its name to Innodata Inc. in June 2012. Innodata Inc. was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

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



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>>> Where Will SoundHound AI Be in 1 Year?


Motley Fool

By Chris Neiger

Dec 1, 2024


https://www.fool.com/investing/2024/12/01/where-will-soundhound-ai-be-in-1-year/


Key Points

The company is successfully tapping into conversational AI.

SoundHound AI's losses are narrowing.

The stock is relatively expensive right now.


The rapidly expanding artificial intelligence (AI) market is fueling growth among many tech companies, and SoundHound AI's (SOUN) strong position in voice-enabled products and services is benefiting from the trend.

SoundHound's stock has soared more than 250% over the past 12 months (as of this writing), leaving some investors wondering where the company will be one year from now. So, let's take a closer look at what's happening with SoundHound and what investors might expect from the company in the coming year.

How SoundHound is doing right now

SoundHound has successfully expanded its business lately, moving into new conversational AI markets and boasting more than 200 enterprise brands using its tech, including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Qualcomm, and Stellantis' automotive brands.

The popularity of its voice AI platform is evident from the company's third quarter (which ended Sept. 30) results, in which revenue rose 89% from the year-ago quarter to $25.1 million, outpacing analysts' consensus estimate of $23 million. SoundHound's non-GAAP loss per share of $0.04 was an improvement from a loss of $0.06 in the year-ago quarter and ahead of Wall Street's expectation of a loss of $0.08.

Not only were the company's third-quarter results solid, but SoundHound's revenue growth is likely to continue. Management recently issued 2024 revenue guidance of $83.5 million for the full 2024 year at the midpoint and then increased to $165 million in 2025. That represents substantial year-over-year sales growth for the company and outpaces analysts' consensus estimate of $152.1 million in revenue for 2025.

SoundHound's opportunity and one word of caution

SoundHound is already successfully tapping into the AI market, and its momentum comes as large companies ramp up their AI spending. According to SoundHound's management, companies will invest an estimated $175 billion to $250 billion in AI enterprise spending by 2027.

This could provide SoundHound with new growth opportunities over the coming year and beyond. The company just closed on its acquisition of Amelia, giving it more avenues for conversational AI growth in finance, healthcare, and insurance that haven't been tapped fully into.

But there are two things investors should be cautious about with SoundHound right now. The first is that the company isn't profitable. The company's losses narrowed in the third quarter, and analysts estimate the company's loss per share will continue to improve from $0.38 in 2024 to $0.27 in 2025. That's good news, but it'll take time for the company to reach profitability.

More importantly, SoundHound's stock is relatively expensive right now. The company's shares trade at a price-to-sales ratio of 35.9, which is far above the S&P 500's average of about 3.1.

That doesn't mean SoundHound's stock doesn't have more room to run, but some of the company's future benefits from an expanding AI market are likely baked into its current share price. So, if you're bullish on the company's long-term opportunity, adding a small position now and buying more shares if there's a pullback in the stock price might be a good strategy.

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>>> Oklo CEO wants to make clean nuclear energy more accessible


Yahoo Finance

by Julie Hyman and Josh Lipton

October 29, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/video/oklo-ceo-wants-clean-nuclear-204758791.html


Energy and power grid constraints look to be the biggest hurdles for Big Tech to overcome in the industry's wider buildout of AI data center infrastructure. Tech players have begun investing in nuclear energy developers to find the clean energy output needed to power these expansions.

Oklo Inc. (OKLO) is one of these names benefitting from the trend, its stock having jumped nearly 200% over the past month. The nuclear startup is backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who is also Oklo's chairman.

Oklo Co-Founder and CEO Jake DeWitte joins Julie Hyman and Josh Lipton on Market Domination to talk about the long-term investments in small modular reactors (SMR) and the intricacies of these systems; Oklo doesn't expect to finish building its first SMR and producing power from it until 2027.

"When you split an atom, you get almost 50 million-times more energy than when you combust like a molecule of natural gas or so. It's incredible," DeWitte tells Yahoo Finance. "What that means, then, is there's a lot of energy in nuclear fuel. And actually in almost all reactors, you only use about 5% of the fuel in one pass through the reactor. And there's reasons why long story short, is you could put more fuel in, it could run for longer. But that comes at increased cost for the added systems you would need to manage all that."

US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm told Yahoo Finance that her department's focus will be on ensuring these AI data centers are powered by clean energy, while understanding the challenge in widespread SMR adoption: "Nobody wants to be the one to buy the first one."

Oklo has already inked energy partnerships with date center providersw Equinix (EQIX) and Wyoming Hyperscale. DeWitte describes the regular business model for nuclear systems as "clunky."

"One of the things that we set out to do in the beginning was, was make it easier to buy what people really want from nuclear systems, in other words, make it easier to buy nuclear power because the clean, reliable, affordable power, that's the stuff people really want," DeWitte explains.

"We're unique because we actually make that easy — we design, we own, we operate the plants, we contract someone to build them, and then we just sell the power out to the customers through off-take agreements. That makes it easy for them to buy what they want."

For more coverage on Big Tech's adoption of nuclear energy, catch Yahoo Finance's respective interviews with X-energy CEO Clay Sell about Amazon's (AMZN) investment into the nuclear reactor designer and Kairos Power Co-Founder and CEO Mike Laufer's input on the nuclear startup's partnership with Alphabet's Google (GOOG, GOOGL).

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NuScale Power - >>> Bill Gates Is Pouring Billions Into Nuclear Power. Is This the Best Nuclear Stock to Buy Now?


Motley Fool

by Jeremy Bowman

October 27, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bill-gates-pouring-billions-nuclear-220000776.html


All of a sudden, nuclear energy is trendy.

In the last month, three big tech companies, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon, have all signed deals for nuclear energy. That's not a coincidence. The AI race is forcing the tech giants to reckon with how to power the massive data centers they're building to run AI applications like ChatGPT.

In fact, the biggest constraint in AI may not be the technology itself, but a source of cheap and available energy, and that's why the world's most valuable companies are turning to nuclear, a seemingly forgotten source of energy.

Among the backers of this re-emerging technology is Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder who has become an investor and philanthropist in a wide range of areas. Gates has invested more than $1 billion in TerraPower, a privately held start-up that is building small nuclear reactors. The billionaire sees nuclear energy as necessary for bridging the gap in renewable energy and told The New York Times, "If you care about climate, there are many, many locations around the world where nuclear has got to work." He also said he's not involved in TerraPower to make money, but "because we need to build a lot of these reactors."

Since TerraPower is privately held, you can't invest in it, but there's a similar stock that you can buy. That's NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR), and the stock is up more than 400% this year as it's riding the wave of enthusiasm for nuclear power.

What is NuScale Power?

NuScale was founded in 2007 and is focused on developing small, modular reactors. Its core technology, the NuScale Power Module (NPM) can generate 77 megawatts-electrical (MWe).

It's developing the VOYGR power plant that can include as many as 12 NPMs. NuScale's technology offers an advantage over renewable alternatives like wind and solar because it generates an equivalent amount of power in a much smaller space, making a more efficient use of land.

NuScale is also the only small modular reactor (SMR) company to have received a standard design approval (SDA) from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

NuScale also benefits from a close relationship with Fluor, a top engineering, procurement, and construction company that is the majority shareholder in NuScale Power.

The company has yet to generate any material revenue today as it has not yet sold any NPMs, though it's made some negligible service revenue. NuScale faced a setback in 2023 when it canceled a project in Idaho that was expected to build momentum for new nuclear projects. The project was plagued by cost overruns and a lack of sufficient electricity buyers to make the project viable.

Is NuScale Power a buy?

There's no question that NuScale Power is a high-risk stock. After all, the company still isn't generating material revenue, and there's a lot of uncertainty around nuclear power in general.

Still, it's clear that momentum is building rapidly in the sector as the moves of the big tech companies noted above show. Billionaires like Bill Gates are pouring money into the industry for a reason. Not only does nuclear offer a potentially large return, it also looks like the best available climate-friendly power solution to meet growing power needs from AI.

Additionally, NuScale's relationship with Fluor gives it an advantage as Fluor is one of the biggest infrastructure companies and can help NuScale in a range of functions like development, finding customers, and funding.

After the recent rally, NuScale Power might look pricey at a market cap of $1.7 billion and no real revenue, but getting some exposure to the stock could pay off.

Nuclear energy seems likely to play a role in the future of AI, and NuScale Power is well positioned as a leader in SMRs. For patient, risk-tolerant investors, getting a small amount of exposure to NuScale Power could pay off handsomely.

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JOBY - >>> Toyota boosts its investment in air taxi company Joby Aviation by another $500 million


The Associated Press

October 2, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/toyota-boosts-investment-air-taxi-134933822.html


Toyota (TM) is investing another $500 million in Joby Aviation (JOBY) as part of a partnership aimed at helping get the American air taxi company's commercial business off the ground.

Toyota's investment will be used to support certification and production of Joby's electric air taxi, the companies said Wednesday, and brings Toyota Motor Corporation’s total investment in Joby to $894 million. After the investment, which will come in two equal tranches later this year and next, Toyota will own about 22% of Joby's outstanding shares.

“Today’s investment builds on nearly seven years of collaboration between our companies,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, Joby Aviation. “The knowledge and support shared by Toyota has been instrumental in Joby’s success and we look forward to deepening our relationship as we deliver on our shared vision for the future of air travel.”

Joby said it recently rolled its third aircraft off the production line and said in August that the fourth of five certifications was in progress.

In addition to the cash investment, Toyota has been spending time and human resources to share its design and manufacturing methods. The Japanese automaker said its engineers are working with Joby's team at its California headquarters.

Last year, the companies signed a long-term agreement for Toyota to supply key powertrain and other components for the production of Joby’s aircraft.

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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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>>> 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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>>> 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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>>> 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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>>> Winmark Corporation (WINA), a resale company operates as a franchisor for small business in the United States and Canada. The company's Franchising segment franchises retail stores concepts that buy, sell and trade merchandise. Its Leasing segment operates middle-market equipment leasing business. The company buys and sells used clothing and accessories geared toward the teenage and young adult market under Plato's Closet brand; and operates stores which buys and sells used and new children's clothing, toys, furniture, equipment, and accessories primarily to parents of children ages infant to 12 years under the Once Upon A Child brand. In addition, it buys, sells, trades in, and used and new sporting goods, equipment, and accessories for various athletic activities including team sports, such as baseball/softball, hockey, football, lacrosse, and soccer, as well as fitness, ski/snowboard, golf, and others under the Play It Again Sports brand; and buys and sells used women's apparel, shoes, and accessories under the Style Encore brand. Further, the company buys, sells, trades in, and used and new musical instruments, speakers, amplifiers, music-related electronics, and related accessories under the Music Go Round brand. Winmark Corporation was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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>>> Winmark -- While many consumers might be unaware of small-cap stock Winmark (WINA), they are probably aware of its franchise-based retail companies that specialize in buying and selling secondhand goods: Music Go Round, Once Upon a Child, Plato's Closet, Play It Again Sports, and Style Encore.


https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/09/17/3-top-dividend-stocks-to-buy-now/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article


Winmark's stock has demonstrated remarkable performance, surging 53% year to date, and even more impressively, delivering a total return of 145% over the past five years.

Like Costco, Winmark has a relatively low annual dividend yield and frequently pays a special dividend. Its yield is 0.9%, and it has paid a special dividend each of the last three years at an average of $4.97 per share. With the announcement of its special cash dividend typically in October, it is possible another one could be soon.

As a franchise business, Winmark is incentivized to expand its network because its revenue is primarily derived from franchise fees and royalties. Prospective franchisees must make an initial franchise payment of approximately $25,000 in the United States and contribute 4% to 5% of their weekly gross sales. CEO Brett Heffes believes there are 2,800 open territories for franchises, with only 1,303 locations as of July 1, 2023.

If there is a negative for Winmark, the recent stock run-up has made its valuation expensive, with a current P/E of 32.7. For comparison, Winmark averaged a P/E of 23.2 over the past five years. Nonetheless, with record revenue of $83.2 million and near-record net income of $39.9 million over the trailing 12 months, the market might finally be taking notice of the resale company valued at a market capitalization of $1.3 billion.

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>>> Perion Network Expects 20% YoY Revenue Growth and 40% YoY Increase in Adjusted EBITDA in Second Quarter 2023


Businesswire

July 6, 2023


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/perion-network-expects-20-yoy-070000434.html


Perion Network Expects 20% YoY Revenue Growth And 40% YoY Increase In Adjusted EBITDA In Second Quarter 2023

Company to announce second quarter 2023 financial results and updated annual outlook on August 2, 2023


TEL AVIV & NEW YORK, July 06, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Perion Network Ltd. (Nasdaq & TASE: PERI), a global advertising technology company whose synergistic solutions are delivered across the three primary channels of digital advertising – search, social media and display/video/CTV advertising, today announced preliminary results for the second quarter of 2023.

$ million

Actual
Q2 2022

Preliminary
Q2 2023

YoY

Revenue

146.7

176.0

20%

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

28.5

40.0

40%

Adjusted EBITDA to Revenue(1)

19%

23%

(1) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. See a reconciliation table below

"The strength of our second quarter results reflects continued momentum of the business," said Tal Jacobson, Perion’s incoming CEO. "Both the second quarter and first six months highlight the power of our executional agility, underlying technological innovation and market fit. Our diversified and scalable business model has allowed us to capitalize on recent positive market indications, resulting in improved margins and market share gains. Based on preliminary data suggesting stronger than initially anticipated growth, we will provide an update to our annual outlook when we report our financial results on August 2."

Conference Call Details

Perion will release its financial results for the second quarter of 2023 on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, prior to the opening of the financial markets. Incoming CEO Tal Jaconson and CFO Maoz Sigron will host a conference call to discuss the results at 8:30 a.m. ET on the same day.

Registration link:

https://incommconferencing.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xMvsgXNoSAyrwYE3yNKUcA#/registration

Toll Free: 1-877-407-0779

Toll/International: 1-201-389-0914

A replay of the call and a transcript will be available within approximately 24 hours of the live event on the investors section of Perion’s website at www.perion.com/investors.

About Perion Network Ltd.

Perion is a global advertising technology company whose synergistic solutions are delivered across the three primary channels of digital advertising – ad search, social media and display / video / CTV advertising. These channels are brought together by Perion’s intelligent Hub, which integrates the company’s business assets from both sides of the open Web, providing significant benefit to its brands and publisher customers.

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>>> Camtek Ltd. (CAMT), together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells inspection and metrology equipment for the advanced interconnect packaging, memory, complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensors, micro-electro mechanical systems, radio frequency, and other segments of the semiconductor industry. It provides inspection and metrology systems, including Eagle-i, a system that delivers 2D inspection and metrology capabilities; Eagle-AP, which addresses the advanced packaging market using software and hardware technologies that deliver superior 2D and 3D inspection and metrology capabilities on the same platform; and Golden Eagle, a panel inspection and metrology system to support fanout wafer level packaging applications. The company sells its products in the Asia Pacific, the United States, and Europe. Camtek Ltd. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Migdal HaEmek, Israel.

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>>> Perion is a fast-growing ad tech company trading at a cheap valuation.


https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/01/27/want-1-million-in-retirement-invest-50000-in-these/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article


Perion Network

If you're looking for promising growth stocks, a great place to start your search is in the ad tech industry. For the most part, ad tech stocks are not only growing fast but are also profitable, and Perion Network (PERI 1.17%) offers a great example.

The company operates primarily through its intelligent hub, a digital advertising marketplace that connects buyers and sellers, optimizing ad purchases and placements and adding value for both sides. The company also offers premium experiences through connected TV and other channels, such as a "connected cart" that allows viewers to buy an advertised product with a QR code.

Like other ad tech stocks, Perion delivered strong growth early in the pandemic, but the company also continued to grow over the last year even as growth in the digital advertising industry has slowed, a sign Perion delivers a high return on investment for advertisers.

Revenue in 2023 rose 33% to $636 million, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) jumped 88% to $131 million. At a market cap of just $1.44 billion, that means the stock trades at just 11 times EBITDA, a surprisingly low valuation for a stock that just doubled its EBITDA profits.

With a combination of growth, a low valuation, and a small-cap valuation, Perion has the potential to be a multibagging stock over the coming years.

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>>> Perion Network Ltd. (PERI) provides digital advertising solutions to brands, agencies, and publishers in North America, Europe, and internationally. It provides Wildfire, a content monetization platform; search monetization solutions, including website monetization, search mediation, and app monetization; and cross-channel digital advertising software as a service platform. The company also offers supply management platform; demand management platform for campaign planning and design; analytics platform, which provides information and performance insights on the results of campaign investment and other campaign metrics; creative platform to create advertisements; and an AI platform that uses machine learning to bring intelligence to the various phases of campaigns. In addition, it provides an actionable performance monitoring platform to support the various phases of campaign management; an online video player and integrated ad server to upload, manage, and stream video content; content monetization system, which integrates ads within the content layouts at the page level. Further, the company offers a publisher management system that provides analytics and performance optimization tools, as well as reports; search-demand management systems; monetization products that integrate and onboards demand vendors; and AI Systems. Additionally, it provides Intelligent HUB (iHUB), a platform for pulling in signals across various advertising channels and optimizing traffic at scale, and yielding engagement metrics and KPIs; and strategic optimization of relevant traits (SORT), a provisional patent technology that eliminates the need for cookies. The company was formerly known as IncrediMail Ltd. and changed its name to Perion Network Ltd. in November 2011. Perion Network Ltd. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Holon, Israel.

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>>> InMode Ltd. (INMD) designs, develops, manufactures, and markets minimally invasive aesthetic medical products based on its proprietary radiofrequency assisted lipolysis and deep subdermal fractional radiofrequency technologies in the United States and internationally. The company offers minimally invasive aesthetic medical products for various procedures, such as liposuction with simultaneous skin tightening, body and face contouring, and ablative skin rejuvenation treatments, as well as for use in women's health conditions and procedures. It also designs, develops, manufactures, and markets non-invasive medical aesthetic products that target an array of procedures, including permanent hair reduction, facial skin rejuvenation, wrinkle reduction, cellulite treatment, skin appearance and texture, and superficial benign vascular and pigmented lesions, as well as hands-free medical aesthetic products that target a range of procedures, such as skin tightening, fat reduction, and muscle stimulation. The company was formerly known as Invasix Ltd. and changed its name to InMode Ltd. in November 2017. InMode Ltd. was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in Yokneam, Israel.

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>>> Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE:ALG)


https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171117892


Market Capitalization as of January 26, 2023: $1.82 billion

Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE:ALG) is a farming equipment company. It makes and sells a wide variety of machinery, such as tractor mowers and cutters. On the agrochemical side of things, the company provides products that allow farmers to apply fertilizers to their crops.

By the end of last year's third quarter, 11 out of the 920 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey had bought Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE:ALG)'s shares.

Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE:ALG)'s largest shareholder is James A. Star's Longview Asset Management which owns 1.3 million shares that are worth $166 million.

<<<


>>> Alamo Group Inc. (ALG) designs, manufactures, distributes, and services vegetation management and infrastructure maintenance equipment for governmental, industrial, and agricultural uses worldwide. Its Vegetation Management Division segment offers hydraulically-powered and tractor-mounted mowers, other cutters and replacement parts for heavy-duty and intensive uses and heavy duty applications, tractor- and truck-mounted mowing and vegetation maintenance equipment, and replacement parts. This segment also provides rotary and finishing mowers, flail and disc mowers, front-end loaders, backhoes, rotary tillers, posthole diggers, scraper blades and replacement parts, zero turn radius mowers, cutting parts, plain and hard-faced replacement tillage tools, disc blades, and fertilizer application components; aftermarket agricultural parts, heavy-duty mechanical rotary mowers, snow blowers, rock removal equipment, replacement parts, tractor attachments, agricultural implements, hydraulic and boom-mounted hedge and grass cutters, tractor attachments and implements, hedgerow cutters, industrial grass mowers, agricultural seedbed preparation cultivators, self-propelled sprayers and multi-drive load-carrying vehicles, cutting blades, and hydraulic and mechanical boom mowers. The company's Industrial Equipment Division segment offers truck-mounted air vacuum, mechanical broom, and regenerative air sweepers, pothole patchers, leaf collection equipment and replacement brooms, parking lot and street sweepers, excavators, catch basin cleaners, and roadway debris vacuum systems, as well as truck-mounted vacuum machines, combination sewer cleaners, and hydro excavators. This segment also offers ice control products, snowplows and heavy duty snow removal equipment, hitches, attachments, and graders; and public works and runway maintenance products, parts, and services, and high pressure cleaning systems and trenchers. The company was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Seguin, Texas. <<<





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Piedmont Lithium - >>> Former Tesla Australia director pleads guilty to insider trading on lithium deal


MarketWatch

Nov. 15, 2022

By Rhiannon Hoyle


https://www.marketwatch.com/story/former-tesla-australia-director-pleads-guilty-to-insider-trading-on-lithium-deal-271668568963?siteid=yhoof2


Tesla Inc.’s former country director in Australia pleaded guilty in a Sydney court to two counts of insider trading, having bought shares in Belmont, N.C.-based Piedmont Lithium Inc. after finding out that it was agreeing to supply the electric-vehicle maker with the battery material, Australia’s corporate regulator said Wednesday.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission said Kurt Schlosser acquired 86,478 shares in Piedmont PLL, +1.16% in September 2020 after being told of an in-principle agreement that Tesla TSLA, -1.63% had reached with the lithium company for commodity supplies.

Schlosser, who also told a friend about the agreement, sold his shares in Piedmont for a net profit of about 28,884 Australian dollars (US$19,505) after the supply arrangement became public, the regulator said.

He pleaded guilty to one count of trading while in possession of inside information and one count of communicating inside information to an associate and will next appear in the Sydney District Court on Dec. 16, said the regulator.

Tesla and Piedmont didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Schlosser couldn’t be reached for comment.

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>>> J&J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF) manufactures, markets, and distributes nutritional snack foods and beverages to the food service and retail supermarket industries in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It operates in three segments: Food Service, Retail Supermarkets, and Frozen Beverages. The company offers soft pretzels under the SUPERPRETZEL, PRETZEL FILLERS, PRETZELFILS, GOURMET TWISTS, MR. TWISTER, SOFT PRETZEL BITES, SOFTSTIX, SOFT PRETZEL BUNS, TEXAS TWIST, BAVARIAN BAKERY, SUPERPRETZEL BAVARIAN, NEW YORK PRETZEL, KIM & SCOTT'S GOURMET PRETZELS, SERIOUSLY TWISTED!, BRAUHAUS, AUNTIE ANNE'S, and LABRIOLA, as well as under the private labels. It also provides frozen novelty under the LUIGI'S, WHOLE FRUIT, PHILLY SWIRL, SOUR PATCH, ICEE, and MINUTE MAID brands; churros under the TIO PEPE'S and CALIFORNIA CHURROS brands; and handheld products under the SUPREME STUFFERS and SWEET STUFFERS brands. In addition, the company offers bakery products, including biscuits, fig and fruit bars, cookies, breads, rolls, crumbs, muffins, and donuts under the MRS. GOODCOOKIE, READI-BAKE, COUNTRY HOME, MARY B'S, DADDY RAY'S, and HILL & VALLEY brands, as well as under private labels; and frozen beverages under the ICEE, SLUSH PUPPIE, and PARROT ICE brands. Further, it provides funnel cakes under the FUNNEL CAKE FACTORY brand, as well as various other food products; and sells machines and machine parts to other food and beverage companies. The company sells its products through a network of food brokers, independent sales distributors, and direct sales force. It serves snack bars and food stand locations in chain, department and mass merchandising stores, malls and shopping centers, fast food and casual dining restaurants, stadiums and sports arenas, leisure and theme parks, convenience stores, movie theatres, warehouse club stores, schools, colleges and other institutions, and independent retailers. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Pennsauken, New Jersey.

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J&J Snack Foods - >>> It's An $222M Ice Cream Treat For ICEE Parent J&J Snack Foods


Benzinga

by Shivani Kumaresan

May 19, 2022


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/222m-ice-cream-treat-icee-184119364.html


J&J Snack Foods Corp (NASDAQ: JJSF) has agreed to acquire Dippin' Dots L.L.C, a producer of flash-frozen beaded ice cream treats, for $222 million.

JJSF noted Dippin' Dots brand complements its frozen novelty and frozen beverage businesses. JJSF's brands include ICEE, SuperPretzel, Luigis, and others.

JJSF expects to further leverage its combined strength in entertainment and amusement locations, theaters, convenience, and supermarkets.

Dippin' Dots is headquartered in Paducah, KY, along with a main production facility, warehousing, distribution, and administrative offices. It also leases four additional frozen warehouses strategically located in California, Canada, Australia, and China.

J&J Snack Foods expects this transaction to be $0.30 - $0.40 accretive to its EPS in the first 12 months after closing. The deal is expected to close by the end of June 2022.

JJSF plans to fund the transaction through a combination of cash and senior debt financing. It held $225.5 million in cash and equivalents as of March 26, 2022.

Price Action: JJSF shares are trading higher by 2.93% at $122.34 on the last check Thursday.

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>>> J&J Snack Foods Corp. Announces Closing of Dippin’ Dots Acquisition


Yahoo Finance

J & J Snack Foods Corp.

June 21, 2022


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/j-j-snack-foods-corp-131500063.html


PENNSAUKEN, N.J., June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- J&J Snack Foods Corp. (NASDAQ: JJSF), a leader and innovator in the snack food industry, announced today that it has closed the previously announced acquisition of Dippin’ Dots, L.L.C., a leading producer of flash-frozen beaded ice cream treats. The acquisition also includes the Doc Popcorn business operated by Dippin’ Dots.

“This is a significant day for J&J Snack Foods as we close the largest acquisition in our company’s 50+ year history” said Dan Fachner, President & Chief Executive Officer at J&J Snack Foods. “We look forward to leveraging our combined strength in entertainment and amusement locations, theaters, and convenience to continue to expand this iconic business,” Mr. Fachner added.

About J&J Snack Foods Corp.

J&J Snack Foods Corp. (NASDAQ: JJSF) is a leader and innovator in the snack food industry, providing innovative, niche and affordable branded snack foods and beverages to foodservice and retail supermarket outlets. Manufactured and distributed nationwide, our principal products include SUPERPRETZEL, the #1 soft pretzel brand in the world, as well as internationally known ICEE and SLUSH PUPPIE frozen beverages, LUIGI’S Real Italian Ice, MINUTE MAID frozen ices, WHOLE FRUIT sorbet and frozen fruit bars, SOUR PATCH KIDS Flavored Ice Pops, Tio Pepe’s & CALIFORNIA CHURROS, and THE FUNNEL CAKE FACTORY funnel cakes and several bakery brands within DADDY RAY’S, COUNTRY HOME BAKERS and HILL & VALLEY. With nearly twenty manufacturing facilities, and more than $1 billion in annual revenue, J&J Snack Foods Corp. has continued to see steady growth as a company, reaching record sales for 48 consecutive years. The company consistently seeks out opportunities to expand its unique niche market product offering while bringing smiles to families worldwide.

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>>> Canoo (GOEV) gets the Walmart seal of approval


Motley Fool

7-12-22


https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/07/12/pepsis-earnings-were-strong-but-this-ev-stock-is-t/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article


But posting the biggest gains on Tuesday morning was Canoo (GOEV 66.08%). The electric vehicle specialist got great news from a huge customer that boosted the stock price by more than 75% in premarket trading.

Walmart (WMT 0.31%) announced that it would buy 4,500 of Canoo's electric delivery vehicles. The retailer intends to use the vehicles for last-mile deliveries as it continues to build out its e-commerce business. Walmart will have the option to buy up to 10,000 units.

Canoo and Walmart don't expect the Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle (LDV) to show up on highways until next year. However, advance deliveries are expected in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that should help Walmart and Canoo finalize the details in their collaboration.

Canoo touted several elements of its LDV, including easy handling, ample cargo space, modular design, and sustainability. For Walmart, the move helps it in its goals to reach zero-emissions status by 2040.

EV companies are competing fiercely for business, so getting a big-name buyer like Walmart is a point in Canoo's favor. Yet even with today's gain, the stock is still down sharply from where it traded during the past couple of years, so investors want to see even more wins before they'll have full confidence in Canoo's future.

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Neogen - >>> 3M Food Safety Unit and Neogen to Combine in $9.3 Billion Deal

A merger will enable 3M's food-safety unit and Neogen to form a dedicated global food-safety group.


Dec 19, 2021

The Street

https://www.thestreet.com/markets/mergers-acquisitions/3m-food-safety-unit-neogen-combining-in-9point3-billion-deal?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO



VERONIKA BONDARENKODEC 14, 2021 3:36 PM EST
Food-safety and animal-health company Neogen (NEOG) - said it would combine with the food-safety branch of 3M (MMM) - Get 3M Company Report, creating a global food-safety and security provider.

The deal is designed to be tax-free to 3M holders. At closing, holders of Neogen, Lansing, Mich., will have 49.9% of the new company and 3M holders receive 50.1%.

3M is the St. Paul, Minn., technology and consumer-products giant, parent to everything from masks and respirators to Post-It notes.

The enterprise value of the combined company is estimated at $9.3 billion.

Both boards have approved the deal. Talks of a merger between the two companies have been in the works and reported on since 2019.

At last check, Neogen shares jumped 8.5% to $43.51 while 3M stock was little changed at $174.50.

The new company will take advantage of a "heightened global focus on food security, sustainability and supply chain solutions," said John Adent, Neogen's chief executive, John Adent, said in a statement. Adent will be leading the new company.

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>>> Lightwave Logic Announces $33.0 Million Financing Agreement with Lincoln Park Capital Fund


Yahoo Finance

October 7, 2021


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lightwave-logic-announces-33-0-123100865.html


Lincoln Park Capital Fund Purchased $3 Million of Common Stock at $9.16/share. The Agreement Provides Lightwave Logic the Right, But Not the Obligation, to Sell Stock to Lincoln Park Over A 36-Month Period at the Company's Sole Discretion

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lightwave Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ: LWLG), a technology platform company leveraging its proprietary electro-optic (EO) polymers to transmit data at higher speeds with less power, has entered into its 5th agreement with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC ("LPC"), a Chicago-based institutional investor. LPC is a long time investor in Lightwave Logic, and first invested in Lightwave Logic in 2011. LPC purchased $3 million of common stock at closing, which was sold at $9.16/share.

Under the purchase agreement, Lightwave Logic will have the right, but not the obligation, to sell up to an additional $30.0 million of its common stock to Lincoln Park over a 36-month period. Lightwave Logic will control the timing and amount of any sales to Lincoln Park with no upper limits to the price Lincoln Park may pay to purchase such common stock. The purchase agreement may be terminated by Lightwave Logic at any time, in its sole discretion, without any additional cost or penalty.

Jim Marcelli, President and Chief Operating Officer of Lightwave Logic, commented, "While we are comfortable with our current cash position of approximately $15 million and burn rate, this financing provides additional flexibility for us as we move forward toward commercialization of our products.

"The Lincoln Park facility allows us to source capital in an opportunistic manner, in addition to our S-3 shelf registration that provides the potential for additional financing alternatives. We believe that maintaining this optionality is critical to financing the company in a way that helps to create value for our shareholders over the long-term," stated Marcelli.

A description of the purchase agreement is set forth in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, which the Company filed with the SEC on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.

About Lightwave Logic, Inc.

Lightwave Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ: LWLG) is developing a platform leveraging its proprietary engineered electro-optic (EO) polymers to transmit data at higher speeds with less power. The Company's high-activity and high-stability organic polymers allow Lightwave Logic to create next-generation photonic EO devices, which convert data from electrical signals into optical signals, for applications in data communications and telecommunications markets. For more information, please visit the Company's website at lightwavelogic.com.

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>>> Lightwave Logic and Polariton Technologies Achieve World-Record Performance for Ultra-High-Speed Modulators


Yahoo Finance

September 16, 2021


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lightwave-logic-polariton-technologies-achieve-123100545.html


Breakthrough Results Presented in Peer Reviewed Paper at Prestigious 2021 European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC)


ENGLEWOOD, Colo. and ZURICH, Sept. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lightwave Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ: LWLG), a technology platform company leveraging its proprietary electro-optic (EO) polymers to transmit data at higher speeds with less power, today announced the achievement of world-record performance for a polymer modulator, as demonstrated in an optical transmission experiment by ETH Zurich, using the Company's proprietary, advanced Perkinamine™ chromophores and Polariton Technologies Ltd.'s newest plasmonic EO modulator, a silicon-photonics-based plasmonic racetrack modulator offering energy-efficient, low-loss, and high-speed modulation in a compact footprint.

The groundbreaking results were presented as a post-deadline paper at the prestigious European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC) industry exhibition and conference in Bordeaux on September 16, 2021. Polariton's plasmonic modulator transmitted 220 Gbit/s OOK and 408 Gbit/s 8PAM. Transmission of an optical signal was conducted over 100 m using a low-voltage electrical drive of 0.6Vp, an on-chip loss of 1 dB, and an optical 3 dB bandwidth of beyond 110 GHz.

"Our mission at Lightwave Logic is to continually push the frontiers of high-speed performance for electro-optic polymers, shaping the 'impossible' into reality and a new normal for the industry," said Dr. Michael Lebby, Chief Executive Officer of Lightwave Logic. "Through our collaboration with Polariton, we have achieved a new world-record for a racetrack plasmonic modulator device structure. The acceptance of a post-deadline peer reviewed paper at ECOC 2021 provides third party validation of this incredible result.

"We now turn our attention to further optimizing this performance with silicon foundries through both materials and optical device design. With performance achievements such as this, we believe that many companies will quickly see the potential impact that high performance optical switching devices using our polymers can have on their business," concluded Lebby.

Dr. Wolfgang Heni, Co-CTO at Polariton, added: "Polariton has always been dedicated to providing best-in-class devices with the highest-performance. Our goal is to make optical communications faster, the technology more scalable and with it, components and infrastructure more energy-efficient. Our recent demonstration of a plasmonic racetrack modulator once again showcased how the unique combination of plasmonics, silicon photonics, and organic electro-optics offers high-speed and energy-efficient components. We are pleased to have worked with Lightwave Logic, providing us with high-performance and reliable Perkinamine™ chromophores to demonstrate this new world record, further highlighting the benefits of our plasmonic modulator technology. Together, we hope to revolutionize the future of the internet through adoption of next-generation electro-optic polymer platforms."

About Lightwave Logic, Inc.

Lightwave Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ: LWLG) is developing a platform leveraging its proprietary engineered electro-optic (EO) polymers to transmit data at higher speeds with less power. The Company's high-activity and high-stability organic polymers allow Lightwave Logic to create next-generation photonic EO devices, which convert data from electrical signals into optical signals, for applications in data communications and telecommunications markets. For more information, please visit the Company's website at lightwavelogic.com.

About Polariton Technologies Ltd.

Polariton Technologies is on a mission to revolutionize the future of telecommunications by accelerating information transport and bringing reducing its power consumption. Polariton is providing the world's fastest, most compact, and energy-efficient electro-optic devices with applications in telecommunications, datacenters, wireless communications (5G/6G), space, and sensing. Founded in 2019, Polariton is a spin-off of ETH Zurich, taking pride in teamwork, clear and effective communication, and curiosity. Discover more about us at polariton.ch or follow us at LinkedIn @polariton-technologies

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