Gold is among the first assets that come to mind when investors look to hedge against inflation. The U.S. and other nations are now experiencing the highest levels of inflation in forty years. As consumer prices continue to increase, gold, in all of its investible forms, has been trading down or sideways at best. Will its value pick up and catch up, or has it lost its shine as an inflation hedge?
Up is Down
In any market, the economic inputs impacting prices are many. One overriding factor that has been keeping gold prices at bay is inflation expectations. That’s right; it sounds counter-intuitive, but up is now down, and down is now up in the markets as investors look several steps out to determine their expectations. In this case, the steps follow this path:
Even during the weeks when the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy making board, the FOMC, meets and is universally expected to raise interest rates, longer rates on the treasury curve trade lower, not up. The markets are being very forward-looking and are more concerned with recession than inflation. I suspect this confounds the Fed’s efforts to slow growth and price pressures via rate increases that are being undermined by recession fears.
Gold is not seeing investors increasing their allocation of bullion, gold certificates, ETFs, gold mining companies, or any other assets linked to the price of gold, in large part because markets view the Fed as on a path to wipe out the economy and inflation. This was apparent last week as so-called meme stock AMC Theaters (AMC) shared a positive event related to their gold holdings, the stock traded down.
Dollar Strength
Outside of the U.S., expectations for a deep or deeper recession are growing. This week the German central bank (Bundesbank) said “There are mounting signs of a recession in the German economy in the sense of a clear broad-based and prolonged decline in economic output. This drives investment in the stronger U.S. economy.
In addition to viewing inflation as a reason for rates to be brought down, global unrest and the U.S. central bank being perceived as tightening the most aggressively among trading partners has brought consistent strength to the U.S. dollar. When the performance of dollars and gold are viewed side by side, it hasn’t made sense to exchange the U.S. currency for gold. So in effect, gold which is often viewed as a currency is not competing well with greenbacks.
Take Away
Inflation has been rising. And not just in supply chain-related industries, in services as well. The Federal Reserve’s resolve to bring it down by increasing rates in the U.S. is attracting capital from overseas which has been keeping the dollar strong and as a perceived better alternatve to gold.
While gold prices are historically a beneficiary of higher inflation growth, the expectation that the Fed may quickly overshoot and cause a recession which could halt the run-away prices is winning the price tug-of-war with gold buyer enthusiasm.
Historically, Tightening Cycles Have Not Caused Long-Lasting Market Damage
The Fed does not plan on having a tight monetary policy, just a less easy one.
On March 16, 2022, the FOMC Committee announced their intention to target a fed funds rate that would be 0.25% higher than it had been. It was the first increase since December 2018, and the hike more than doubled this key interest rate. Fed Chair Powell made it clear it would not be the Committee’s last.
Less than two months later, on May 4, the Fed adjusted the overnight target by an additional 0.50%. This was the largest increase since the year 2000. But they were just getting started. They suspected they had fallen behind in their mandate of keeping inflation down. Stable prices generally mean balancing supply and demand, and since the Fed couldn’t do much to raise the consumable supply, they acted to dampen demand. They made money more expensive. In mid-June, the Fed hiked by 0.75%, in late July it pushed them up by 0.75% again, and that was the last time the FOMC met.
The next meeting will be held September 20-21st. The perceived guidance is that they will raise rates again by a similar amount as they did in June and July.
Tightening Cycles
The current tightening cycle is a concern for those that fear that it may lower asset prices and lower business activity. The concerns are warranted as tightening cycles are designed to do exactly that, tame prices and slow economic growth. It’s tough medicine but is supposed to provide for better economic health long term.
Over the past 30 years, the Fed has convened four recognized tightening cycles – periods when it increased the federal funds rate multiple times.
Source: Federal Reserve
Over three decades, the median number of rate hikes per period is eight, and the median time frame is 18 months (from first to last). How has the economy and markets fared through this recent history? Only two of the periods, the one ending in 2000 and then in 2006, were associated with a recession. In all four cases, the market retreated at first.
If one uses GDP as a measuring stick for an economy that is either growing or receding, then the U.S. was in a recessionary economy for a calendar quarter before the initial 0.25% hike. So the tightening may not put us into a recession, but it does have the potential to retard growth further for a deeper recession.
Market Performance
Markets have traded lower in the months following the start of a tightening cycle, but in each of the periods defined above, they have ended higher one year later. It would seem that the market fear of what slower growth would do for companies and stock prices were front-loaded; those fears then gave way to buying as expectations became better defined.
For the tightening cycle that began in 1994, a year after the Fed first took aim at the economy, the S&P 500 Index had already bounced off its low and climbed rapidly to end the 12 months with a positive 2.41% return. At it’s worst, the index had given up 6.50%.
Four months after the tightening cycle began in 1999, the market began marching higher and crossed the breakeven point three times. The first time in August, just 45 days into the cycle, and the last one in May of 2000. For the 12-month period an investor in the index would have gained 5.97%.
In 2004 the tightening cycle again began on June 30. Stock movement over the 12 months that followed are very similar as 1999. For investors that held for five months, (assuming their holdings approximated this benchmark) they were treated with returns of 4.43% 12 months later.
The most recent tightening cycle was seven years ago and began in December. Those invested in securities in 2015 that followed the overall stock market quickly broke even, and for those that held, they were up 10.81% a year later.
On average over the four periods the S&P 500 returned better than 6% after the Fed began a prolonged tightening cycle. The median drawdown is observed to be 9% in the first 49 days following the Fed’s first rate hike. For those that were invested in stocks that were more closely correlated to other indices, their experience was different.
Other Indices (Small Cap, Value, Growth)
Source: Bloomberg
The best average, although it did have a negative return in one of the periods, is the performance of the small cap Russell 2000 index. Investors in small cap stocks would have earned almost twice as much (11.30%) as those invested in the S&P 500 Large cap, almost three times as much earnings as those invested in the Russell 1000 Value stocks, and far more consistent and more than three times the Russell 1000 Growth index.
Take Away
This is not the first time the Federal Reserve has raised rates and implemented a tighter monetary policy. In the past it has not meant doom for the economy. In fact, the policy shift is intended to preserve a healthy economy before it begins causing larger problems for those that depend on jobs and stable prices along with a orderly banking system.
The most recent tightening cycle began six months ago. If history is an indicator, it may last another year, during that time stocks will rebound to a level higher than they were in March when the cycle began. While there are no guarantees that history will accurately point to the future, it helps to know what happened the last four times. Investors may also look to increase their allocation into small cap stocks as they have by far outpaced other indices.
Schwazze (OTCQX:SHWZ, NEO:SHWZ) is building a premier vertically integrated regional cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico and will continue to take its operating system to other states where it can develop a differentiated regional leadership position. Schwazze is the parent company of a portfolio of leading cannabis businesses and brands spanning seed to sale. The Company is committed to unlocking the full potential of the cannabis plant to improve the human condition. Schwazze is anchored by a high-performance culture that combines customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive decisions and outcomes. The Company’s leadership team has deep expertise in retailing, wholesaling, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector. Schwazze is passionate about making a difference in our communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and doing our part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices.
Joe Gomes, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Another Acquisition. Wednesday, Schwazze announced the Company has signed definitive documents to acquire certain assets of Lightshade Labs LLC, which contains two dispensaries located at 503 Havana St. in Aurora and 2215 E. Mississippi Ave. in Denver’s vibrant Washington Park neighborhood, which includes the University of Denver. The proposed acquisition is for $2.75 million in cash with an expected closing in the first quarter of 2023. Operating financials were not provided.
The Dispensaries. Both dispensaries are highly rated by Leafly and Weedmaps, with the Aurora location receiving 4.9 out of 5.0 ratings from each and the Washington Park store receiving 4.9 and 4.3 scores. With Schwazze already operating dispensaries about 2 miles away from each location, the acquisitions continue to fill-in existing white space on the map, in our view.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Salem Media Group is America’s leading multimedia company specializing in Christian and conservative content, with media properties comprising radio, digital media and book and newsletter publishing. Each day Salem serves a loyal and dedicated audience of listeners and readers numbering in the millions nationally. With its unique programming focus, Salem provides compelling content, fresh commentary and relevant information from some of the most respected figures across the Christian and conservative media landscape.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Patrick McCann, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Non-deal road show highlights. CFO Evan Masyr was in St. Louis last week to host meetings with investors. Masyr highlighted significant debt reduction, strong digital media revenue growth, potential upside in Q4 from Political spending and from release of a Dinesh D’Souza book 2000 Mules. Finally, the company is in a much stronger financial position than it has been in decades.
Durability of block programming. Mr. Masyr highlighted the stability and recessionary resilient qualities of block programming that is sold primarily to local and national non-profit ministries. Annual renewal rates exceed 95% and account for 29% of Salem’s total revenue. The stability of revenue from block programming provides a ballast to the cyclical nature of advertising revenue.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Joe Gomes, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
A Look-in on Programs. Yesterday, MustGrow announced the update on the Company’s biological programs with various partners Sumitomo, Bayer, Janssen PMP, and NexusBioAg. The update includes the soil biofumigation, postharvest food preservation, and bioherbicide of the Company’s mustard-derived technology.
Soil Biofumigation. Data regarding efficacy continue to remain positive, as the Company recently extended the program with Sumitomo that we highlighted in August. Sumitomo is working with MustGrow and the EPA in the registration approval process in the U.S. along with registration in Mexico. In Chile, the country approved an Experimental Use permit and registration work has commenced. Bayer has shown positive results in laboratory and greenhouse studies, and has new trials underway and further studies planned for Europe, Asia, and Africa.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated provides local news, information, and advertising primarily in midsize markets in the United States. It publishes 49 daily newspapers, as well as offers 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 23 states. The company also provides online advertising and services; and online infrastructure and online publishing services for approximately 1,500 daily and weekly newspapers and shoppers. In addition, it offers commercial printing services. The company has a strategic alliance with Yahoo!, Inc. to provide its classified employment advertising customer base the opportunity to post job listings and other employment products on Yahoo!�s HotJobs national platform. Lee Enterprises, Incorporated was founded in 1890 and is based in Davenport, Iowa.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Patrick McCann, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Transferring pension liabilities. The company announced in its latest 8-K that it has agreed to purchase annuities from an insurance company with a portion of its pension plan assets, whereby it will transfer roughly $86 million in pension liabilities off the balance sheet.
A cleaner balance sheet. We view this development favorably, as it is a move to de-risk the balance sheet. Notably, the pension plan, which was already overfunded by roughly $1 million, is expected to increase the over funded amount by several million. The pension obligations are expected to decrease as interest rates rise, but this move de-risks the company from funding should interest rates fall.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Comstock (NYSE: LODE) innovates technologies that contribute to global decarbonization and circularity by efficiently converting under-utilized natural resources into renewable fuels and electrification products that contribute to balancing global uses and emissions of carbon. The Company intends to achieve exponential growth and extraordinary financial, natural, and social gains by building, owning, and operating a fleet of advanced carbon neutral extraction and refining facilities, by selling an array of complimentary process solutions and related services, and by licensing selected technologies to qualified strategic partners. To learn more, please visit www.comstock.inc.
Mark Reichman, Senior Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
U.S. Department of Energy grant application. Comstock filed a grant application with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to build a pre-pilot scale system to demonstrate one of its methods to produce renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, gasoline, and marine fuel from woody biomass utilizing Comstock’s technology and processes leading to greater yield, efficiency, and cost relative to other methods.
An impressive roster of grant participants. Comstock’s grant application is supported by an impressive roster of collaborators, including Marathon Petroleum Company LP, Topsoe Inc., Novozymes, Xylome Corporation, RenFuel K2B AB, Emerging Fuels Technology Inc., the University of Nevada, Reno, the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Natural Resources Research Institute, and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Bowlero Corp. is the worldwide leader in bowling entertainment, media, and events. With more than 300 bowling centers across North America, Bowlero Corp. serves more than 26 million guests each year through a family of brands that includes Bowlero, Bowlmor Lanes, and AMF. In 2019, Bowlero Corp. acquired the Professional Bowlers Association, the major league of bowling, which boasts thousands of members and millions of fans across the globe. For more information on Bowlero Corp., please visit BowleroCorp.com.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Reports a strong year. The company reported another strong quarter. Q4 revenue of $267.7 million increased a strong 68% from year earlier levels and an impressive 42% above our estimate of $188.3 million. The strong revenue was attributed to favorable “walk-in” revenue. Adj. EBITDA was well above our estimate at $82.4 million, 45% higher than our forecast of $56.8 million.
The COVID bounce continues. Management noted the strong performance was driven in large part by a continuation of the COVID recovery. This is perhaps best illustrated by Group Event revenue which was $46 million, up 140% from the prior year period. Notably, the recovery of Event revenue will likely get an additional boost over the upcoming holiday season as year earlier results reflected lingering Covid issues.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
ARPA-H: High-Risk, High-Reward Health Research is the Mandate of New, Billion-Dollar US Agency
A new multibillion-dollar federal agency was created with a goal of supporting “the next generation of moonshots for health” in science, logistics, diversity and equality. And the agency now has it’s first leader, as President Joe Biden announced Renee Wegrzyn as director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H, on Sept. 12, 2022.
Since the announcement of the intention to establish ARPA-H two years ago, this new agency has sparked interest and questions within both academia and industry.
This article was republished with permission from The Conversation, a news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It represents the research-based findings and thoughts of Tong Sun, Assistant Dean of Translational Health Sciences, University of Washington.
I have been a director of innovation-driven health institutes for decades and have worked with many of the government agencies that fund science. I and many of my colleagues hope ARPA-H will become an agency that can quickly turn scientific discoveries into real-world advances to detect, prevent and treat diseases like cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. But questions still remain surrounding how it will work and what makes it different from other government-funded agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
What is ARPA-H?
ARPA-H is the newest entity established within the National Institutes of Health. ARPA-H was explicitly set up as an independent agency within NIH, in theory allowing it to benefit from the NIH’s vast scientific and administrative expertise and resources while still being nimble and forward-thinking.
ARPA-H was inspired by and modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, to rapidly develop cutting-edge technologies. DARPA is small compared to other federal research and development agencies, but has long been hugely successful. It played a critical role in spawning many technologies ranging from the internet to GPS, and even funded Moderna to develop mRNA vaccine technology in 2013.
ARPA-H is not the only DARPA spinoff. In 2006, the federal government created the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity to tackle difficult challenges in the intelligence community, and in 2009, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy was launched. Though its budget is small compared to the Department of Energy, ARPA-E has been incredibly effective in funding ambitious research into fighting climate change. By funding ambitious mid- and long-term projects, IARPA, ARPA-E and now ARPA-H are meant to operate in between slow, government-funded basic research and short-term, profit-driven private sector venture capital.
ARPA-H is modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which played a key role in developing many modern technologies, including personal computers. Tim Colegrove (Wikimedia Commons)
How Will the Agency Function?
Biden wants ARPA-H to replicate the success of DARPA, but in the health care realm, by providing “leadership for high-risk, high-reward biomedical and health research to speed application and implementation of health breakthroughs equitably.”
Established federal agencies like the NIH and the National Science Foundation prefer to fund more basic research and less risky projects compared to the high-risk, high-reward, applied science approach of DARPA. If ARPA-H wants to achieve the success of its predecessor, it will need to operate differently from NIH and NSF.
DARPA employs about 100 program managers who are “borrowed” from academia or industry for three to five years. These managers travel across the nation to meet with scientists and experts in different fields in order to generate ideas and start projects. These managers make funding decisions and work closely with their funded teams to overcome problems, but will cut funding if teams cannot deliver promised milestones on time. Many DARPA projects don’t produce spectacular successes, yet they pushed the boundaries of science and technology.
Many years ago, I had the privilege of working with a DARPA program manager alongside numerous experts in various scientific and medical fields. After several months of meetings, the program manager came up with the idea to develop “fracture putty” – a puttylike material that could be applied to the shattered bones of a wounded soldier in the battlefield. The material would support weight, prevent infection, expedite healing and bone regeneration and eventually dissolve away. The program launched in 2008, and our team of chemists, nanomaterials experts, bioengineers, mathematical modelers and surgeons was one of the funded teams in this program.
President Joe Biden appointed Renee Wegrzyn, a former DARPA project manager and biotech industry expert, to lead ARPA-H. Image: Renee Wegrzyn (@rwegrzyn)
Who is the New Director?
Wegrzyn holds a Ph.D. in molecular biology and bioengineering from Georgia Tech. She is currently a vice president of business development at Ginkgo Bioworks, a U.S. biotech company. Wegrzyn spent four and half years as a program manager in DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office, where she managed projects that focused on using genetic engineering and gene editing for biosecurity and public health. She also worked for another DARPA-inspired agency, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity.
At this moment, we don’t know yet the exact plan and progress in hiring APPA-H program managers and where APAR-H’s headquarters will be located. Several cities have expressed interest.
What Should People Look for as ARPA-H Gets Started?
DARPA is driven by talented, ambitious and risk-taking program managers. They are the ones who generate ideas and turn lofty goals into executable projects. It will be interesting to see how many and what kind of program managers ARPA-H hires in its early days, as these decisions will give an indication of which areas within health care the agency will be prioritizing.
I’ll also be watching to see how well ARPA-H and its program managers work within the NIH, which has an unbelievable depth of resources and expertise in all health care related fields that ARPA-H can tap into. But the NIH has very different funding mechanisms and culture from DARPA.
The final question is money. Biden wants US$6.5 billion in funding for ARPA-H, and he’s only gotten $1 billion from Congress so far. This is its first, biggest challenge. Finding political unity for funding may have to be this new agency’s first big breakthrough if it is to reach its goals.
CALGARY, AB, Sept. 15, 2022 /CNW/ – Alvopetro Energy Ltd. (TSXV: ALV) (OTCQX: ALVOF) announces that our Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.08 per common share, payable in cash on October 14, 2022, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 29, 2022. This dividend is designated as an “eligible dividend” for Canadian income tax purposes.
Dividend payments to non-residents of Canada will be subject to withholding taxes at the Canadian statutory rate of 25%. Shareholders may be entitled to a reduced withholding tax rate under a tax treaty between their country of residence and Canada. For further information, see Alvopetro’s website at https://alvopetro.com/Dividends-Non-resident-Shareholders.
Alvopetro Energy Ltd.’svision is to become a leading independent upstream and midstream operator in Brazil. Our strategy is to unlock the on-shore natural gas potential in the state of Bahia in Brazil, building off the development of our Caburé natural gas field and our strategic midstream infrastructure.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
All amounts contained in this new release are in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated and all tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars, except as otherwise noted.
Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Language.This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words “will”, “expect”, “intend” and other similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward‐looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to vary significantly from the expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect current assumptions and expectations regarding future events. Accordingly, when relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, Alvopetro cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking information concerning the Company’s plans for dividends in the future, the timing and amount of such dividends and the expected tax treatment thereof. The forward‐looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Alvopetro, including but not limited to equipment availability, the timing of regulatory licenses and approvals, the success of future drilling, completion, testing, recompletion and development activities, the outlook for commodity markets and ability to access capital markets, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other significant worldwide events, the performance of producing wells and reservoirs, well development and operating performance, foreign exchange rates, general economic and business conditions, weather and access to drilling locations, the availability and cost of labour and services, environmental regulation, including regulation relating to hydraulic fracturing and stimulation, the ability to monetize hydrocarbons discovered, expectations regarding Alvopetro’s working interest in properties and the outcome of any redeterminations, the regulatory and legal environment and other risks associated with oil and gas operations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Actual results achieved during the forecast period will vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. In addition, the declaration, timing, amount and payment of future dividends remain at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Although Alvopetro believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Alvopetro can give no assurance that it will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on factors that could affect the operations or financial results of Alvopetro are included in our annual information form which may be accessed on Alvopetro’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and Alvopetro undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.
JERICHO, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLWS) today announced that Andy Milevoj has been named Senior Vice President, Investor Relations effective September 19, 2022. Milevoj succeeds Joe Pititto who plans to retire on December 31, 2022, after 23 years of service to the company. In his new role, Milevoj will report to Bill Shea, Chief Financial Officer.
“Andy brings deep knowledge and experience in building investor relations programs, as well as a strong network of relationships within the investment community,” said Shea. “He has a keen understanding of the retail and e-commerce industries, and we look forward to leveraging his expertise in communicating our company’s value proposition to shareholders.” Shea further remarked, “I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Joe for his more than two decades of tireless commitment to our company during a period of unprecedented growth and transformation. His drive and passion for telling our growth story has been invaluable and we wish him all the best upon his retirement.”
Milevoj joins 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. from Barnes and Noble, where he spent most of his career with Barnes & Noble, Inc. and more recently served as Vice President, Corporate Finance and Investor Relations at Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. Milevoj began his career at the book retailer in 1998 as Investor Relations Coordinator, subsequently taking on roles of increasing responsibility for articulating the company’s strategic initiatives and financial metrics to its wide audience of analysts and investors. Prior to this, Milevoj worked at Kissel-Blake Inc. as a stock surveillance account executive. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from St. John’s University in Jamaica, NY.
About1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. is a leading provider of gifts designed to help inspire customers to give more, connect more, and build more and better relationships. The Company’s e-commerce business platform features an all-star family of brands, including: 1-800-Flowers.com®, 1-800-Baskets.com®, Cheryl’s Cookies®, Harry & David®, PersonalizationMall.com®, Shari’s Berries®, FruitBouquets.com®, Moose Munch®, The Popcorn Factory®, Wolferman’s Bakery®, Vital Choice®, Stock Yards® and Simply Chocolate®. Through the Celebrations Passport® loyalty program, which provides members with free standard shipping and no service charge across our portfolio of brands, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. strives to deepen relationships with customers. The Company also operates BloomNet®, an international floral and gift industry service provider offering a broad-range of products and services designed to help members grow their businesses profitably; Napco℠, a resource for floral gifts and seasonal décor; DesignPac Gifts, LLC, a manufacturer of gift baskets and towers; and Alice’s Table®, a lifestyle business offering fully digital livestreaming floral, culinary and other experiences to guests across the country. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. was recognized among the top 5 on the National Retail Federation’s 2021 Hot 25 Retailers list, which ranks the nation’s fastest-growing retail companies, and was named to the Fortune 1000 list in 2022. Shares in 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, ticker symbol: FLWS. For more information, visit 1800flowersinc.com or follow @1800FLOWERSInc on Twitter.
VIRGINIA CITY, Nev., Sept. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) today announced its filing of a grant application with the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) to build a pre-pilot scale system to demonstrate one of Comstock’s unique new pathways to produce renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, gasoline, and marine fuel from forestry residues and other forms of lignocellulosic biomass at dramatically improved yield, efficiency and cost in comparison to known methods.
Comstock has developed a breakthrough process that efficiently deconstructs woody biomass and residuals into uniquely isolated biointermediates that are free of the contaminants that have frustrated prior attempts at broadly commercializing cellulosic fuels. Comstock’s biointermediates include Cellulosic Sugar produced from a purified form of cellulose that has been stripped of bioconversion inhibitors, and a unique mixture of hydrocarbons that Comstock calls Bioleum.
Cellulosic Sugar can be used as a fermentation feedstock to produce ethanol, lipids, and many other products. Bioleum is a form of biocrude with about 75% of the energy content of fossil crude. While Comstock’s biointermediates can be used in multiple renewable fuel pathways, Comstock’s grant application is based on fermenting Cellulosic Sugar into lipids, reacting the lipids with Bioleum to produce a single homogenous feedstock, and converting that homogeneous feedstock into drop-in renewable fuels, at yields exceeding 80 gallons per dry ton of feedstock (on a gasoline gallon equivalent basis).
Comstock’s grant application is supported by a team of collaborators, including Topsoe Inc., Marathon Petroleum Company LP, Novozymes, Xylome Corporation, RenFuel K2B AB, Emerging Fuels Technology Inc., the University of Nevada Reno, the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Natural Resources Research Institute, and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such an exceptional team of industry leaders,” said Corrado De Gasperis, Comstock’s executive chairman and chief executive officer. “The combined team enables an extremely valuable ecosystem for advancing a highly scalable and rapidly replenishable new feedstock source for renewable fuels. This ecosystem is capable of making material contributions to neutralizing U.S. mobility emissions and delivering net-zero emissions by 2050.”
About Comstock Inc. Comstock (NYSE: LODE) innovates technologies that contribute to global decarbonization and circularity by efficiently converting under-utilized natural resources into renewable fuels and electrification products that contribute to balancing global uses and emissions of carbon. The Company intends to achieve exponential growth and extraordinary financial, natural, and social gains by building, owning, and operating a fleet of advanced carbon neutral extraction and refining facilities, by selling an array of complementary process solutions and related services, and by licensing selected technologies to qualified strategic partners. To learn more, please visit www.comstock.inc.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any related calls or discussions may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “should,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of doing so. Forward-looking statements include statements about matters such as: future industry market conditions; future explorations or acquisitions; future changes in our exploration activities; future prices and sales of, and demand for, our products; land entitlements and uses; permits; production capacity and operations; operating and overhead costs; future capital expenditures and their impact on us; operational and management changes (including changes in the Board of Directors); changes in business strategies, planning and tactics; future employment and contributions of personnel, including consultants; future land sales; investments, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, operational, tax, financial and restructuring initiatives, including the nature, timing and accounting for restructuring charges, derivative assets and liabilities and the impact thereof; contingencies; litigation, administrative or arbitration proceedings; environmental compliance and changes in the regulatory environment; offerings, limitations on sales or offering of equity or debt securities, including asset sales and associated costs; and future working capital, costs, revenues, business opportunities, debt levels, cash flows, margins, taxes, earnings and growth. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management considering their experience and their perception of historical and current trends, current conditions, possible future developments, and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, representations or warranties and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control and could cause actual results, developments, and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Some of those risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth in our filings with the SEC and the following: adverse effects of climate changes or natural disasters; adverse effects of global or regional pandemic disease spread or other crises; global economic and capital market uncertainties; the speculative nature of gold or mineral exploration, mercury remediation and lithium, nickel and cobalt recycling, including risks of diminishing quantities or grades of qualified resources; operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration or mercury remediation, metal recycling, processing or mining activities; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with precious metal based activities, including environmentally friendly and economically enhancing clean mining and processing technologies, precious metal exploration, resource development, economic feasibility assessment and cash generating mineral production; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with mercury remediation, metal recycling, processing or mining activities; contests over our title to properties; potential dilution to our stockholders from our stock issuances, recapitalization and balance sheet restructuring activities; potential inability to comply with applicable government regulations or law; adoption of or changes in legislation or regulations adversely affecting our businesses; permitting constraints or delays; ability to achieve the benefits of business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, us, including those involving battery technology, mercury remediation technology and efficacy, quantum computing and advanced materials development, and development of cellulosic technology in bio-fuels and related carbon-based material production; ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, asset sales, and investments that we may be party to in the future; changes in the United States or other monetary or fiscal policies or regulations; interruptions in our production capabilities due to capital constraints; equipment failures; fluctuation of prices for gold or certain other commodities (such as silver, zinc, lithium, nickel, cobalt, cyanide, water, diesel, gasoline and alternative fuels and electricity); changes in generally accepted accounting principles; adverse effects of war, mass shooting, terrorism and geopolitical events; potential inability to implement our business strategies; potential inability to grow revenues; potential inability to attract and retain key personnel; interruptions in delivery of critical supplies, equipment and raw materials due to credit or other limitations imposed by vendors; assertion of claims, lawsuits and proceedings against us; potential inability to satisfy debt and lease obligations; potential inability to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting; potential inability or failure to timely file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission; potential inability to list our securities on any securities exchange or market or maintain the listing of our securities; and work stoppages or other labor difficulties. Occurrence of such events or circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, or the market price of our securities. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Except as may be required by securities or other law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Neither this press release nor any related calls or discussions constitutes an offer to sell, the solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation with respect to any securities of the Company, the fund, or any other issuer.
Revenue in the fourth quarter was nearly $267.7 million, growing $108.6 million, or 68.3%, year-over-year, and $112.2 million, or 72.2%, relative to pre-pandemic performance. Same-store revenue was $78.8 million, or 53.0%, higher than pre-pandemic. 1
Revenue in fiscal year 2022 totaled nearly $911.7 million, growing $516.5 million, or 130.7%, year-over-year, and $217.8 million, or 31.4%, relative to pre-pandemic performance. Same-store revenue grew vs. the pre-pandemic performance by $127.4 million, or 19.4%.1
Net Income for the quarter was $6.9 million. There was a Net Loss for fiscal year 2022 of $29.9 million was driven primarily by expenses related to the successful de-SPAC transaction.2
Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of $82.4 million increased $40.1 million, or 94.8%, vs. the prior year’s quarter, and grew $48.2 million, or 140.9%, relative to pre-pandemic performance. 1 2
Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2022 of $316.4 million increased $243.3 million, or 332.7%, vs. the prior year, and grew $142.5 million, or 81.9%, relative to pre-pandemic performance.1 2
The Company repurchased 3,320,913 shares of Class A common stock during the fourth quarter, bringing the fiscal year total shares repurchased to 3,430,667 shares and bringing the total Class A and Class B shares outstanding down to 163.1 million as of July 3, 2022.3
The Company retired all outstanding publicly traded and privately held warrants as of May 18, 2022.
The Company added 4 new centers during the quarter, part of the 29 new centers for the fiscal year. As of September 15, 2022, after July 3, 2022, the Company has added 1 more and has signed definitive purchase agreements for an additional 8 new centers. Total centers in operation as of July 3, 2022 were 317.
RICHMOND, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Bowlero Corp. (NYSE: BOWL) (“Bowlero” or the “Company”), the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers, today provided financial results for the fourth quarter of and the full annual results for the 2022 fiscal year, which ended on July 3, 2022. Bowlero announced revenue grew in the quarter to nearly $267.7 million, driven by continued strong growth in walk in retail and accelerated further by significant growth in event revenue. Total revenue grew by 72.2% compared to pre-pandemic performance and by 68.3% on a year-over-year basis. Same-store sales rose by 53.0% relative to pre-pandemic.1
Total Bowling Center Revenue Performance Trend (Footnote 5) (Graphic: Business Wire)
“We are very pleased with our performance in the fourth quarter and during fiscal year 2022. We achieved world-class results in our first year as a public company, while simultaneously laying important groundwork for sustained growth. We are excited about the future, and we are looking forward to continuing to provide unforgettable experiences for our guests,” said Thomas Shannon, Founder and Chief Executive Officer.
Financial Summary
Due to the Company’s reporting calendar, Q4 of FY 22 was 14 weeks long and FY 22 was 53 weeks long. During the 53rd week, we produced $14.9 million in revenue.
Significant growth in Revenue during the quarter, totaling nearly $267.7 million, up 72.2% relative to pre-pandemic performance and 68.3% on a year-over-year basis; 53.0% on a same-store basis vs. pre-pandemic performance. Adjusting for the 14th week, Revenue was $252.8 million, increasing 62.6% relative to pre-pandemic performance and 58.9% on a year-over-year basis; 44.3% on a same store basis vs. pre-pandemic performance. 1 4
Revenue during fiscal year 2022 was nearly $911.7 million, up 31.4% relative to pre-pandemic performance and 130.7% on a year-over-year basis; 19.4% on a same-store basis vs. pre-pandemic performance. Adjusting for the 53rd week, Revenue was $896.8 million, increasing 29.2% relative to pre-pandemic performance and 126.9% on a year-over-year basis; 17.5% on a same-store basis vs. pre-pandemic performance.1 4
Net Income for the quarter was $6.9 million, including $8.6 million of non-cash expenses related to the increase in the value of earnouts and warrants. Net Income, adjusted for these items was $15.6 million vs. a Net Loss of $13.5 million in the prior year.2
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter grew to $82.4 million, up 140.9% relative to pre-pandemic performance and 94.8% vs. prior year.2
Net Loss for fiscal year 2022 of $29.9 million was driven primarily by expenses related to the successful de-SPAC transaction, which included $32.5 million in transactional expenses and $42.2 million in share based compensation, as well as $52.8 million of non-cash expenses related to the increase in the value of earnouts and warrants. Net Income for fiscal year 2022, adjusted for these items was $97.6 million vs. a Net Loss of $126.5 million in the prior year.2
Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2022 was $316.4 million and grew 81.9% relative to pre-pandemic performance and 332.7% vs. prior year.2
Cash generated from Operations during the quarter and fiscal year 2022 was $34.8 million and $177.7 million, respectively.
“We continue to see very strong demand in our bowling centers, which is driving significant same store sales growth relative to both prior year and pre-pandemic levels,” said Brett Parker, President and CFO of Bowlero Corp. “Additionally, the new units are accelerating our growth rates, as we opened 4 new locations during the quarter. Even more impressive, Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded over 1,000 basis points relative to pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating the inherent operating leverage that exists in the business and management’s strong focus on maximizing profitability despite well-documented macro cost pressures.”
Please refer to the image referencing the Revenue Performance Summary.
___________________________ 1 Same-store sales are measured by comparing revenues for centers open for the entire duration of both the current and comparable measurement periods. The pre-pandemic comparable period for the quarter ended July 3, 2022 is the quarter ended on June 30, 2019. The pre-pandemic comparable period for the fiscal year ended July 3, 2022 are the trailing twelve months ended on December 29, 2019. 2 Adjusted EBITDA, trailing twelve month Adjusted EBITDA and normalized net income are non-GAAP measures. “GAAP” stands for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the U.S. Please see the sections of this document titled “GAAP Financial Information” and “GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliations” for more information on the Company’s GAAP and non-GAAP measures. Certain figures in the tables throughout this document may not foot due to rounding. 3 Class A and Class B shares outstanding excludes 3.2 million shares that are subject to forfeiture contingent on certain stock price thresholds. 4 Fourth quarter and fiscal year 2022 represent 14 week and 53 week periods, respectively. As a result, comparisons excluding the impact of extra week are provided. 5Total Bowling Center Revenue excludes closed bowling center activity and media revenue, which is also a component of our bowling operations. Data for all weeks following the close of the fiscal year ended on July 3,2022 are preliminary and have not been audited or reviewed and are forward-looking statements based solely on information available to us as of the date of this announcement.
* The revenue performance in individual weeks can be positively or negatively impacted by timing shift of holiday/sporting events, holidays moving to weekends, and extreme weather events.
Investor Webcast Information Listeners may access an investor webcast hosted by Bowlero. The webcast and results presentation will be accessible at 4:30 ET on September 15, 2022 in the Events & Presentations section of the Bowlero Investor Relations website at https://ir.bowlerocorp.com/overview/default.aspx.
About Bowlero Corp. Bowlero Corp. is the worldwide leader in bowling entertainment. With more than 300 bowling centers across North America, Bowlero Corp. serves more than 26 million guests each year through a family of brands that includes Bowlero and AMF. Bowlero Corp. is also home to the Professional Bowlers Association, which boasts thousands of members and millions of fans across the globe. For more information on Bowlero Corp., please visit BowleroCorp.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology and include preliminary results. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this release and are based on our management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections, assumptions, beliefs and information. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. All such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. These risks include, but are not limited to: the impact of COVID-19 or other adverse public health developments on our business; our ability to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers, compete within our industry and retain our key employees; changes in consumer preferences and buying patterns; the possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; the risk that the market for our entertainment offerings may not develop on the timeframe or in the manner that we currently anticipate; general economic conditions and uncertainties affecting markets in which we operate and economic volatility that could adversely impact our business, including the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Company, as well as other filings that the Company will make, or has made, with the SEC, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this press release and in other filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
