Noble Capital Markets Research Morning Call

Noble Capital Markets Research Report Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Century Lithium Corp. (CYDVF)/OUTPERFORM – Recent Financing Provides Financial Flexibility to Advance Angel Island
GDEV (GDEV)/OUTPERFORM – Operating Metrics Gain Positive Momentum

Century Lithium Corp. (CYDVF/$0.19 | Price Target: $2.35)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Recent Financing Provides Financial Flexibility to Advance Angel Island
Rating: OUTPERFORM

LIFE offering closed. Century Lithium closed the second and final tranche of its financing under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (LIFE). Together with the initial closing, the company issued a total of 15,785,833 units for aggregate gross proceeds of C$4,735,749.90. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of C$0.45 for a period of 60 months following the issuance of the units.

Use of net proceeds. Net proceeds from the financing will be used to complete an updated feasibility study for the company’s Angel Island Lithium Project, complete the project’s Plan of Operations, work towards National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, and fund general working capital.

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GDEV (GDEV/$15.53 | Price Target: $70)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Jacob Mutchler jmutchler@noblefcm.com |
Operating Metrics Gain Positive Momentum
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Strong Q2 Results. The company reported strong Q2 results. Revenue of $119.9 million, and adj. EBITDA of $20.7 million, both easily surpassed our estimates of $97.0 million and $7.0 million, respectively, as illustrated in Figure #1 Q2 Results. Notably, management attributed the strong quarter to an increase in consumable in-app purchases, which are recognized during the quarter rather than being deferred over the average player life cycle of 28 months.

Key operating metrics. Bookings and monthly paying users (MPU) decreased by 14% and 18%, respectively, compared to the prior year period, but the decrease was expected as the company is focused on the quality of gameplay and not over-monetizing its user base. However, the company is showing signs of returning to growth as both average bookings per paying user (ABPPU) and MPUs increased sequentially from Q1. ABPPU increased from $90 in Q1’25 to $93 in Q2’25, and MPUs increased from 284,000 to 312,000 over the same period.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

MustGrow Biologics Corp. (MGROF)/MARKET PERFORM – Reports 2Q25 Results; Sold Out of TerraSante
Nicola Mining Inc. (HUSIF)/OUTPERFORM – Early Innings of a Compelling Growth Story

MustGrow Biologics Corp. (MGROF/$0.55)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Reports 2Q25 Results; Sold Out of TerraSante
Rating: MARKET PERFORM

2Q25 Results. MustGrow reported record second quarter revenue of $2.8 million in 2Q25, compared to no revenue in the same period last year. Revenue was driven by the NexusBioAg segment, although TerraSante sales amounted to $318,832. Gross margin improved to 20.9%, up from 14.3% in the first quarter of 2025. MustGrow recorded a net loss of $1.1 million, or a loss of $0.02/sh in 2Q25, compared to a net loss of $0.96 million, or a loss of $0.02/sh, in 2Q24.

TerraSante. Initial sales ramp up of TerraSante has begun, with $318,832 of sales in the quarter, or triple its full year 2024 sales. MustGrow sold out of its TerraSante inventory in the U.S during the quarter. The improved TerraSante sales were a key driver in gross margin improvement. MustGrow is working on producing more TerraSante to meet demand.

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Nicola Mining Inc. (HUSIF/$0.55 | Price Target: $0.75)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Early Innings of a Compelling Growth Story
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Second quarter financial results. Nicola Mining Inc. (OTCQB: HUSIF, TSX.V: NIM) reported net income of C$1,181,286, or C$0.01 per share, compared to a net loss of C$2,519,885, or C$(0.02) per share, during the second quarter of 2024. We had projected a net loss of C$1,077,068, or C$(0.01) per share. The variance to our estimate was mostly due to a revaluation gain on marketable securities. We increased our 2025 net income and EPS estimates to C$11,004,631 and C$0.06 per share, respectively, from C$7,582,855 and C$0.04. We updated our commodity grade assumptions based on actual April and May pricing and CME futures settlements for the remainder of 2025 and 2026.

Merritt Mill is ramping up production. With 200 tonnes per day of capacity, Nicola’s Merritt Mill is transitioning to full commercial production and cash flow generation. Nicola expects to utilize 100% of the mill’s capacity by the end of the third quarter. In early July, the Merritt Mill began processing ore received from Talisker Resources’ (OTCQX: TSKFF, TSX: TSK) Bralorne project. In addition to processing ore for Talisker, ore is expected to be received during the third quarter from Blue Lagoon’s (OTCQB: BLAGF, CSE: BLLG) Dome Mountain gold mine, and from the Dominion Creek Gold Project, of which Nicola owns a 75% economic interest.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Friday, August 29, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Lucky Strike Entertainment (LUCK)/OUTPERFORM – Throws A Curve Ball, But Delivers A Strike!

Lucky Strike Entertainment (LUCK/$10.46 | Price Target: $17.5)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Jacob Mutchler jmutchler@noblefcm.com |
Throws A Curve Ball, But Delivers A Strike!
Rating: OUTPERFORM

A solid finish to the year. The company beat our fiscal Q4 revenue and adj. EBITDA estimates, culminating in a transitional fiscal full year 2025 with improving revenue trends. Total Q4 revenues of $318.0 million, beat our $292.0 million estimate, and adj. EBITDA of $88.7 million was better than our $83.0 million estimate.  

Improving revenue trends. Same store revenues, while down 4.1%, reflecting sequential monthly improvement from the down   6% in April, negative 3% in May and flat in June. Management indicated that same store revenue trends were up over 1% in July.  

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

V2X (VVX)/OUTPERFORM – More Potential Opportunity

V2X (VVX/$58 | Price Target: $72)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
More Potential Opportunity
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Another Seat. V2X, through its Vertex Aerospace unit, was awarded a seat on the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program. CTR is a combined $3.5 billion ID/IQ multiple award vehicle, according to the Department of Defense daily awards notice. This award adds to V2X’s strong opportunity potential, in our view.

CTR. CTR is a ten-year cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost, cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, firm-fixed-price-level of effort, and time-and-materials contract. This contract will deliver a broad range of services and products to provide sustainable chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threat reduction capabilities to partner nations. The CTR Program partners with willing countries to reduce the threat from weapons of mass destruction and related materials, technologies, facilities, and expertise.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Euroseas (ESEA)/OUTPERFORM – Two New Vessels to be Delivered in 2028
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD)/OUTPERFORM – Some Additional Work & Delivery of the Amelia Island
The GEO Group (GEO)/OUTPERFORM – Some Estate Planning Moves

Euroseas (ESEA/$62.04 | Price Target: $71)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Hans Baldau hbaldau@noblefcm.com |
Two New Vessels to be Delivered in 2028
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Two new orders. Euroseas Ltd. executed a contract for the construction of two modern fuel-efficient 4,300 twenty-foot-equivalent unit container vessels that are expected to be delivered in March and May of 2028. The vessels will cost approximately $59.25 million each and will be financed with a combination of debt and equity. Currently, Euroseas has a fleet of 22 vessels, including 15 feeder containerships and seven intermediate containerships, with a cargo capacity of 67,494 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). After the sale of the M/V Marcos V and the delivery of four intermediate containerships in 2027 and 2028, Euroseas’ fleet will consist of 25 vessels with a total carrying capacity of 78,344 TEU.

Commitment to growth and modernization. The most recent orders demonstrate Euroseas’ commitment to growing and modernizing its fleet. Management believes that investing in eco intermediate-sized containerships, a segment with a low orderbook and an aging existing fleet, will enhance the company’s competitive position, enable it to capitalize on future market opportunities, and create value for shareholders. 

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Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD/$11.77 | Price Target: $14)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Some Additional Work & Delivery of the Amelia Island
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Some Additional Work. According to the daily Department of Defense contract awards notice, Great Lakes continues to receive additional work, adding to an already full scorecard. The recent contract wins highlight the strength of the Company, as well as the overall bid environment, in our view.

Amelia Island. Last week, Great Lakes announced the delivery of its newest Jones Act-compliant hopper dredge, the Amelia Island. This completes the Company’s dredge newbuild program. The Amelia Island is specially designed for efficient and safe operations along shallow and narrow waters throughout all U.S. coastlines. With a full schedule for 2025 and 2026, the dredge will be going immediately to work.

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The GEO Group (GEO/$21.03 | Price Target: $35)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Some Estate Planning Moves
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Stock Sales. After the market closed yesterday, The GEO Group Executive Chairman George Zoley filed a Form 4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission reporting the sale of GEO shares. We would note the sales were in connection with pre-arranged estate planning that ultimately will result in the sale of 230,918 GEO shares held by Mr. Zoley or trusts held for the benefit of his children.

Details. According to the filing, a total of 72,038 GEO shares were sold on 8/21 and 8/25 at prices ranging from $21.16-$21.72 per share. An additional 75,000 shares were reported sold for estate planning purposes on a Form 4 filed August 20th, with these shares sold at prices ranging from $20.93-$21.72 per share.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Friday, August 22, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Aurania Resources (AUIAF)/OUTPERFORM – Private Placement Financing Enhances Financial Flexibility
Government Solutions (Government Solutions) – An ISAP RFP
Nicola Mining Inc. (HUSIF)/OUTPERFORM – Pivoting to Revenue and Cash Flow Growth
SelectQuote (SLQT)/OUTPERFORM – Pharmacy Strength Highlights Revenue Stability

Aurania Resources (AUIAF/$0.09 | Price Target: $0.4)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Private Placement Financing Enhances Financial Flexibility
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Oversubscribed private placement. Aurania raised gross proceeds of C$1,906,355.76 with the issuance of 15,886,298 units at C$0.12 per unit. Each unit is composed of one common share and one common share purchase warrant that entitles the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of C$0.25 for 24 months following the date of issuance. Dr. Keith Barron, CEO and director, acquired 5,741,666 units during the offering.

Use of proceeds. Aurania intends to use the net proceeds primarily for exploration programs and general working capital purposes. In our view, the oversubscribed private placement significantly enhances the company’s financial flexibility.

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Nicola Mining Inc. (HUSIF/$0.17 | Price Target: $0.75)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Pivoting to Revenue and Cash Flow Growth
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Accelerated warrant exercise. Nicola Mining Inc. (TSX.V: NIM, OTCQB: HUSIF, FSE: HLIA) reported the accelerated exercise of 2,019,477 share purchase warrants at C$0.40 each, generating C$807,791 in gross proceeds. On July 21, Nicola Mining announced that it was electing to accelerate the expiry of all the outstanding common share purchase warrants originally issued under a financing that closed in March 2025.  

Merritt Mill is ramping up production. With 200 tonnes per day of capacity, Nicola’s Merritt Mill is transitioning to full commercial production and cash flow generation. Nicola expects to utilize 100% of the mill’s capacity by the end of the third quarter. In early July, the Merritt Mill began processing ore received from Talisker Resources’ Bralorne project. In addition to processing ore for Talisker, ore is expected to be received during the third quarter from Blue Lagoon’s Dome Mountain gold mine, and from the Dominion Creek Gold Project, of which Nicola owns a 75% economic interest. Cash milling margins of 15% to 18% are expected at full capacity.

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SelectQuote (SLQT/$2.59 | Price Target: $7)
Patrick McCann, CFA pmccann@noblefcm.com | (314) 724-6266
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Pharmacy Strength Highlights Revenue Stability
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Fiscal Q4 beat. SelectQuote posted Q4 revenue of $345.1 million and adj. EBITDA of $2.7 million, beating expectations. Agent productivity improved with AI integration and workflow streamlining. The company navigated Medicare enrollment headwinds by reallocating resources efficiently, demonstrating continued operating discipline across its core platform.

SelectRx paying off. Healthcare Services revenue rose 49% year-over-year to $210.6 million with membership hitting 108,000, up from 82,000 the year prior. Notably segment adj. EBITDA margins of 5.5% are expected to improve throughout fiscal 2026 based on efficiency gains from the Kansas facility and customer maturity.

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Government Solutions
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
An ISAP RFP

ISAP RFP. In a somewhat surprising development, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued a request for proposals for the fifth iteration of its Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP), with a plan to award a potential $2 billion indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Consensus expectations were that an RFP would be released more towards the end of 2025.

Details. The contract will have a maximum performance period of two years, divided into two one-year ordering periods, a significant change from the prior 5-year performance periods. Responses are due by September 1st, a much shorter period than the 6 weeks from the 2019 contract. The contract is scheduled to begin on October 1, 2025.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Thursday, August 21, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Newsmax (NMAX)/OUTPERFORM – Riding The Red Wave

Newsmax (NMAX/$12.98 | Price Target: $23)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Patrick McCann, CFA pmccann@noblefcm.com | (314) 724-6266
Riding The Red Wave
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Initiating coverage with an Outperform rating and $23 price target. Newsmax (NYSE: NMAX) is a conservative media company with growing reach across cable and digital platforms. Its national cable channel has evolved into the fourth most-watched cable news network in the U.S, with a loyal core audience and full distribution across major MVPDs and streaming platforms. We believe the company is positioned to unlock a multi-year monetization opportunity across both advertising and affiliate fee revenue streams.

Loyal audience and diversified revenue model. Newsmax serves a highly engaged, politically right-of-center audience that has historically been underserved by mainstream outlets. This loyal viewership has enabled the company to scale both advertising and distribution revenues while maintaining low customer acquisition costs. Since 2019, revenue has grown more than 300%, fueled by steady digital expansion and greater platform reach. 

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Greenwich LifeSciences, Inc. (GLSI)/OUTPERFORM – Initiating Coverage With An Outperform Rating and $45 Price Target
Snail (SNAL)/OUTPERFORM – Building The Foundation For StableCoin

Greenwich LifeSciences, Inc. (GLSI/$11.47 | Price Target: $45)
Robert LeBoyer rleboyer@noblefcm.com | (212) 896-4625
Initiating Coverage With An Outperform Rating and $45 Price Target
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Greenwich LifeSciences Is Developing An Immunotherapy For Prevention Of Breast Cancer Recurrence. Greenwich LifeSciences is a biotechnology company developing GSLI-100, an immunotherapy based on HER2/neu. GLSI-100 completed four clinical trials that lead to the design of the current Phase 3 Flamingo-01 trial. The trial is currently enrolling patients in the US and Europe.

GLSI-100 Is Directed At A Validated Target. GLSI-100 contains GP2, a segment of the HER2/neu (HER2, or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) receptor found on the surface of breast cancer cells. HER2 is overexpressed in several common cancers, with an estimated 75% of all breast cancers expressing HER2 at some level. Monoclonal antibodies targeting HER2 are the current standard of care for treating certain types of breast cancer.

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Snail (SNAL/$0.98 | Price Target: $3.5)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Jacob Mutchler jmutchler@noblefcm.com |
Building The Foundation For StableCoin
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Disappointing Q2. Total company revenues of $22.2 million increased nearly 3% over the prior year earlier period, but was lighter than our $26.0 million estimate. The variance was largely attributable to quality issues of its Aquatica DLC and subsequent disappointing sales. Adj. EBITDA loss of $2.2 million was higher than our slightly positive adj. EBITDA expectation. 

Stronger finish to the year expected. While we believe that the company’s product roadmap should significantly improve revenue performance, particularly in Q4, we are lowering our second half and full year 2025 revenue and adj. EBITDA expectations. Based on a 2025 lower revenue base, we are tweaking our 2026 estimates lower, as well. 

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW)/OUTPERFORM – A CEO Transition
Hemisphere Energy (HMENF)/OUTPERFORM – Solid Second Quarter Performance Versus Our Estimates
InPlay Oil (IPOOF)/OUTPERFORM – Outsized Production, Debt Reduction, and Strategic Alignment Drive Outlook
Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP)/OUTPERFORM – Webcast Details Product Attributes and Potential Market

CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW/$20.67 | Price Target: $28)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
A CEO Transition
Rating: OUTPERFORM

A Transition. CoreCivic announced President and COO Patrick Swindle will succeed current CEO Damon Hininger effective January 1, 2026. As part of the transition, Mr. Hininger and the Company have entered into a transition agreement with an effective date of January 1, 2026. Under the transition agreement, Mr. Hininger will work closely with both Mr. Swindle and Mr. Emkes, as a Special Advisor to the CEO and Chairman, to ensure a smooth transition. Mr. Hininger will resign from CoreCivic’s Board effective January 1, 2026, with Mr. Swindle appointed to fill the vacancy.

Patrick Swindle. Mr. Swindle joined CoreCivic in 2007 as Managing Director, Treasury, and has held numerous positions, including Vice President, Strategic Development; Senior Vice President, Operations; Executive Vice President and Chief Corrections Officer; and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, before being promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer in January 2025. Prior to joining CoreCivic, Mr. Swindle spent ten years in equity research in the equity capital markets divisions of SunTrust Equitable Securities, Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., and Avondale Partners, LLC.

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Hemisphere Energy (HMENF/$1.4 | Price Target: $2.5)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Hans Baldau hbaldau@noblefcm.com |
Solid Second Quarter Performance Versus Our Estimates
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Second quarter financial results. Hemisphere reported oil and gas revenue of C$24.4 million in the second quarter, down 15.7% from the prior year period but ahead of our estimate of C$20.9 million. Net income was C$7.1 million, or C$0.07 per share, compared to C$10.4 million, or C$0.10 per share, last year, and above our forecast of C$5.8 million, or C$0.06 per share. Average daily production rose to 3,826 boe/d, up from 3,628 in Q2 2024 and modestly ahead of our estimate of 3,800 boe/d. The company realized an average sales price of C$70.06/boe, compared to C$87.65/boe in the prior year quarter. Adjusted funds flow totaled C$10.3 million, or C$0.10 per diluted share, versus C$13.6 million, or C$0.14 per diluted share, a year ago. This result exceeded our estimate of C$8.9 million, or C$0.09 per diluted share.

Updating estimates. Given the stronger-than-expected second quarter, we are raising our 2025 revenue forecast to C$97.7 million from C$95.0 million. Our operating expense assumption has been modestly increased to C$38.8 million from C$38.4 million. We now project net income of C$29.6 million, or C$0.30 per share, up from our prior forecast of C$28.7 million, or C$0.28 per share. Adjusted funds flow is expected to reach C$43.3 million, compared to our earlier estimate of C$42.2 million. For 2026, we forecast revenue of C$93.7 million, net income of C$27.5 million, or C$0.28 per share, and AFF of C$39.6 million, reflecting our expectation of a softer commodity price environment relative to 2025.

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InPlay Oil (IPOOF/$8.11 | Price Target: $15)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Hans Baldau hbaldau@noblefcm.com |
Outsized Production, Debt Reduction, and Strategic Alignment Drive Outlook
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Second quarter financial results. InPlay Oil reported Q2 2025 revenue of C$91.6 million, above our estimate of C$87.9 million, driven by stronger-than-expected production of 20,401 boe/d compared to our forecast of 19,000 boe/d. The company recorded a net loss of C$3.2 million, versus net income of C$5.4 million in the prior-year period. On an adjusted basis, which excludes C$10.1 million in transaction and integration costs and reflects C$4.9 million in hedging gains, net income was C$2.0 million. Adjusted funds flow totaled C$40.1 million, or C$1.49 per share, ahead of our forecast of C$38.6 million, or C$1.38 per share.

2025 Guidance. Despite strong second-quarter production and AFF growth, management maintained full-year 2025 guidance across all metrics, noting that output is now expected to reach the upper end of the range. With oil prices still subdued, the company remains focused on maximizing free cash flow, materially reducing debt, and returning capital to shareholders, while benefiting from robust post-acquisition production levels.

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Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP/$40.07 | Price Target: $70)
Robert LeBoyer rleboyer@noblefcm.com | (212) 896-4625
Webcast Details Product Attributes and Potential Market
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Management Discussed Plans For Marketing and Launch. Following the FDA approval of Tonmya (or TNXP-102 SL) on August 15, Tonix held a webcast to discuss plans for marketing and sales in advance of its 4Q25 launch. The presentations included a discussion of fibromyalgia, the market, and the Tonmya product label. We believe the clinical data shows meaningful improvements for several important symptoms.

Fibromyalgia Market Is Large and Underestimated. The fibromyalgia population is estimated at about 10 million diagnosed patients. Patients live with symptoms for an average of 7 years before diagnosis, including bodily pain (the most common). Other symptoms include fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, “brain fog”. and depression. Many patients are on multiple drugs, taking an average of 2.7 drugs at any given time. As a non-opioid, non-habit forming drug, we believe Tonmya can meet the need for an effective therapy.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Monday, August 18, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

AZZ (AZZ)/OUTPERFORM – Analyst Day Highlights
Bit Digital (BTBT)/OUTPERFORM – Second Quarter Results
Comstock (LODE)/MARKET PERFORM – De-Risking the Company by Raising Funds to Reduce Debt and Fund Growth
Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP)/OUTPERFORM – TNX-102 SL Receives FDA Approvals As Expected
QuoteMedica Inc. (QMCI)/OUTPERFORM – Improved Revenue Trends

AZZ (AZZ/$112.63 | Price Target: $125)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblecapitalmarkets.com | (561)999-2272
Analyst Day Highlights
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Analyst Day. AZZ hosted an analyst day that included a tour of the company’s new Precoat Metals facility in Washington, Missouri. Mr. Tom Ferguson, CEO, provided opening remarks followed by presentations by Mr. Kurt Russell, Chief Strategy Officer, Mr. Todd Bella, Senior Vice President, Metal Coatings, Mr. Jeff Vellines, President and Chief Operating Officer, Precoat Metals, and Mr. Jason Crawford, Chief Financial Officer.

Organic and acquired growth. The company’s three-year goals include generating over two billion dollars in sales in fiscal year 2028 compared to its trailing twelve-month sales of $1.6 billion. Organic growth is expected to exceed GDP growth by a factor of two, and AZZ is targeting acquisitions that strengthen both of its business segments. Management has identified over 68 potential acquisition opportunities, with 13 under evaluation. The company recently acquired Canton Galvanizing, LLC in July, which expanded AZZ’s metal coating capabilities in the U.S. Midwest.

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Bit Digital (BTBT/$3.01 | Price Target: $5.50)
Joe Gomes jgomes@noblecapitalmarkets.com | (561)999-2262
Second Quarter Results
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Transformation. Since the end of 1Q25, Bit Digital has transformed the business: first moving to an Ethereum treasury and staking platform, and then the WhiteFiber IPO. The focus going forward at Bit Digital is to build one of the largest institutional balance sheets in the public markets and generate scalable staking yield. We expect the WhiteFiber holding to be liquidated over time to fund this goal.

2Q25 Results. Revenue of $25.7 million fell from $29.0 million in 2Q24, was flat sequentially, and in-line with our $25.4 million estimate. The key difference was Mining revenue, which fell to $6.6 million from $16.1 million last year. Cloud Services revenue rose to $16.6 million from $12.5 million in 2Q24. Higher one-time G&A costs and lower gross margins across most business lines, offset by a $27.1 million gain on Digital Assets, resulted in operating income of $13.9 million, compared to an operating loss of $11.5 million in 2Q24, which was impacted by a $11.5 million loss on Digital Assets. The Company reported net income of $14.9 million, or $0.07/sh, versus a net loss of $12 million, or $0.09/sh last year. 

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Comstock (LODE/$2.33)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblecapitalmarkets.com | (561)999-2272
De-Risking the Company by Raising Funds to Reduce Debt and Fund Growth
Rating: MARKET PERFORM

Second quarter financial results. Comstock reported a net loss of $7.8 million or $(0.27) per share, compared to a net loss of $8.6 million or $(0.60) per share during the prior year period. Revenue decreased to $339.5 thousand compared to $434.8 thousand during the prior year period. The loss from operations widened to $7.7 million compared to $5.6 million during the second quarter of 2024 due to higher selling, general, and administrative expenses that increased to $4.6 million from $2.8 million. Relative to our net loss estimate of $5.0 million, or $(0.16) per share, revenues were below our estimates, while operating expenses were higher. 

Recent financing. Comstock raised gross proceeds of ~$30.0 million with a public offering of 13.3 million shares priced at $2.25 per share. The net proceeds will be used to fund capital expenditures associated with commercializing its first industry-scale facility for Comstock Metals, development expenses, and general corporate purposes, including the repayment of existing debt. As of August 14, LODE shares outstanding were 49.3 million compared to 32.4 million as of June 30. The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2.0 million shares to cover over-allotments, which we assume will be exercised.

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Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP\$51.35 | Price Target: $70)
Robert LeBoyer rleboyer@noblecapitalmarkets.com | (212) 896-4625
TNX-102 SL Receives FDA Approval As Expected
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Tonix Announced The Approval of TNX-102 SL. As we had anticipated, TNX-102 SL (Tonmya) has received approval for the treatment of fibromyalgia. A conference call is planned for 8:30 am on August 17. Further details on the marketing program and plans for product launch are expect to be discussed. First sales are expected by 4Q25.

TNX-102 SL Addresses Numerous Symptoms of Fibromyalgia. The NDA (New Drug Application) was based on two Phase 3 studies. The primary endpoint was a reduction in pain scores at 14 days compared with placebo. After three months about 30% of the patients had a clinically meaningful reduction in pain compared with placebo. The studies also met all six of the secondary endpoints with high levels of statistically significance.

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QuoteMedia Inc. (QMCI\$0.17 | Price Target: $0.23)
Michael Kupinski mkupinksi@noblecapitalmarkets.com | (561) 994-5734
Improved Revenue Trends
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Mixed Q2 Results. The company reported improved Q2 revenue trend, with revenue growing 5% over the prior year period to $4.9 million, marking the highest quarterly revenue in the company’s history and sequential improvement from 3% in Q1. Adj. EBITDA of $0.1 million in Q2 was lower than our estimate of $0.4 million, largely due to increased development costs, as illustrated in Figure #1 Q2 Results. In our view, the company’s business pipeline appears to be improving and revenue should gain momentum throughout the year and into 2026. 

Capitalizing less development costs. Notably, the company capitalized less development costs in Q2 than in the prior year, leading to more development costs expensed in Q2. While this impacted Q2, we believe that margins should improve as the company begins to recognize the revenue from the new business “wins” in future quarters. Furthermore, the company will be expensing development costs at a similar rate to Q2 moving forward.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Friday, August 15, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Cocrystal Pharma (COCP)/OUTPERFORM – 2Q25 Reported With Norovirus and Influenza Product Updates
Conduent (CNDT)/OUTPERFORM – New Business Momentum Picking Up
CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW)/OUTPERFORM – Another New Contract
DLH Holdings (DLHC)/OUTPERFORM – Ongoing Work with NIH
Euroseas (ESEA)/OUTPERFORM – Second Quarter Financial Results Exceed Expectations; Increasing Estimates
Unicycive Therapeutics (UNCY)/OUTPERFORM – Actions Taken To Address Issues That Caused The CRL
Xcel Brands (XELB)/OUTPERFORM – Influencer Brands Set To Launch

Cocrystal Pharma (COCP/$1.68 | Price Target: $10)
Robert LeBoyer rleboyer@noblefcm.com | (212) 896-4625
2Q25 Reported With Norovirus and Influenza Product Updates
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Antivirals Continue To Move Forward. Cocrystal reported 2Q25 loss of $2.1 million or $(0.20) per share. During 2Q, the company presented data from its CDI-988 Phase 1 study in norovirus. Separately, CDI-988 has demonstrated inhibition of multiple strains, including GII.17 and GII.4 that have caused norovirus outbreaks over the past 2 years. The Phase 2a human challenge study testing CC-42344 in influenza has been extended. CC-42344 has shown inhibition of several strains of avian influenza that have caused public health concerns. Cash on June 30, 2025 was $4.8 million.

Phase 1b Is Planned For CDI-988  In Norovirus. Data from a Phase 1 trial showing safety and efficacy of CDI-988 was presented in August. The data show that CDI-988 was safe and effective through a range of doses in a single-ascending (SAD) and multiple-ascending (MAD) dose cohorts. A Phase 1b study testing CDI-988 as both treatment and prophylaxis for norovirus is planned for later in FY2025.

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Conduent (CNDT/$2.49 | Price Target: $7)
Patrick McCann, CFA pmccann@noblefcm.com | (314) 724-6266
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
New Business Momentum Picking Up
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Solid Q2 results. Q2 revenue of $754 million aligned with our estimate, while adj. EBITDA of $37 million exceeded our forecast of $33 million. All three segments delivered sequential, new business, Annual Contract Value (ACV ) growth, a key forward indicator. This sales momentum supports our view that Conduent is on track to return to top-line growth in 2026.

Big Beautiful Bill may present upside. We view the recently passed “Big Beautiful Bill” as a potential tailwind for Conduent’s Government segment. The legislation tightens eligibility enforcement for public benefits, which may drive increased demand for outsourced eligibility verification and fraud detection, which are core capabilities for the company.

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CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW/$20.46 | Price Target: $28)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Another New Contract
Rating: OUTPERFORM

West Tennessee. As anticipated, CoreCivic announced another new contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Through an intergovernmental services agreement (IGSA) between the City of Mason, Tennessee, and ICE, CoreCivic will resume operations at the Company’s 600-bed West Tennessee Detention Facility, a facility that has been idle since September 2021.

Details. The IGSA expires in August 2030 and may be further extended through bilateral modification. The agreement provides for a fixed monthly payment plus an incremental per diem payment based on detainee populations. Total annual revenue once the facility is fully activated is expected to be approximately $30 million to $35 million, with margins consistent with the CoreCivic Safety segment.

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DLH Holdings (DLHC/$5.88 | Price Target: $10)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Ongoing Work with NIH
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Task Order. DLH has been awarded a task order valued at up to $46.9 million to continue providing information technology services, including enterprise IT systems management, cyber security, software development, cloud computing, and more, to the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Information Technology (“OIT”).

Details. The task order includes a base period and multiple options aggregating to a three-year period of performance. Through this award, DLH will leverage a comprehensive suite of digital transformation and cyber security solutions to support approximately 7,000 end-customers. As part of this new effort, DLH will design and implement a cloud migration strategy built on partnerships with leading commercial CSP vendors, including Azure, AWS, and Google.

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Euroseas (ESEA/$56.03 | Price Target: $71)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Second Quarter Financial Results Exceed Expectations; Increasing Estimates
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Second quarter financial results. Total net revenues for the second quartertotaled $57.2 million, a 2.5% decrease year-over-year, but slightly higher than our estimate of $56.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA and EPS were $39.3 million and $4.20, respectively, above our estimates of $38.5 million and $3.87. The better-than-expected results were due to higher time charter equivalent (TCE) rates of $29,420 per day compared to our estimate of $28,502 per day, along with modestly lower-than-expected operating expenses of $23.9 million compared to our estimate of $24.7 million.

Market outlook. TCE rates for feeder vessels increased 8% in the second quarter due to limited vessel availability and robust demand. While the global containership orderbook remains high, the feeder and intermediate segments have a much smaller pipeline of just 4 to 8%, offering some insulation from the potential negative impact of an oversupplied market. Ongoing Red Sea conflicts have further supported rates by prompting Suez Canal re-routings and increasing distance. Although U.S. trade policies cloud visibility, we expect TCE rates to remain strong through year-end 2025 and into 2026.

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Unicycive Therapeutics (UNCY/$4.63 | Price Target: $6)
Robert LeBoyer rleboyer@noblefcm.com | (212) 896-4625
Actions Taken To Address Issues That Caused The CRL
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Actions Taken To Correct Manufacturing Findings. Unicycive reported a 2Q25 loss of $6.4 million or $(0.52) per share, with cash on June 30, 2025 of $22.3 million. Based on our current estimates, we believe this is sufficient to fund operations through 2H25. On June 30, the company received a CRL (Complete Response Letter) following an FDA inspection that found deficiencies at a contract manufacturer’s facility. The findings stopped the labeling discussions required for completion of the NDA review. The company has shifted to one of its other manufacturers, and filed a request for a meeting with the FDA. 

A Request For A Type A Meeting Was Filed. Following the receipt of the CRL, Unicycive filed a request for a Type A meeting with the FDA. This type of meeting is held to discuss the issues that led to the CRL and how to correct them. These meetings are usually scheduled within 30 days of the request. After meeting is held the company will receive the meeting minutes with requirements for resubmission of the NDA application. Unicycive expects to announce an updated plan for OCL development during 3Q25.

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Xcel Brands (XELB/$1.06 | Price Target: $9)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Jacob Mutchler jmutchler@noblefcm.com |
Influencer Brands Set To Launch
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Q2 Results. The company reported Q2 revenue of $1.3 million and an adj. EBITDA loss of $0.3 million, as illustrated in Figure #1 Q2 results. Importantly, while revenue was 22.3% lower than our estimate of $1.7 million, the adj. EBITDA loss of $0.3 million was largely in line with our expectations of a loss of $0.35 million. Furthermore, the on target adj. EBITDA figure was driven by the company’s strategic cost reduction and business transformation efforts, as well as the Lori Goldstein divestiture.

Favorable outlook. While the company is approaching the back half of the year with caution, largely driven by potential tariff impacts, we believe it stands to benefit from a number of favorable developments. Notably, the company is launching its Longaberger brand in Q3 on QVC and announced an accelerated timeline for its new influencer brands. Additionally, the company stands to benefit from its Halston brand as royalties kick in.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Thursday, August 14, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

SKYX Platforms (SKYX)/OUTPERFORM – Revised Forecasts Reflect Phased Rollout, Long-Term Outlook Intact
The Oncology Institute, Inc. (TOI)/OUTPERFORM – Patient Additions And Pharmacy Division Drive 2Q25 Revenues Above Expectations

SKYX Platforms (SKYX/$1.28 | Price Target: $5)
Patrick McCann, CFA pmccann@noblefcm.com | (314) 724-6266
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Revised Forecasts Reflect Phased Rollout, Long-Term Outlook Intact
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Q2 results. SKYX reported Q2 revenue of $23.1 million, up 7.5% year over year and 14.7% sequentially. Gross margin expanded 190bps to 30.3%, supported by a favorable mix shift toward proprietary tech-embedded products. The adj. EBITDA loss of $2.6 million was slightly wider than our forecast of a $2.3 million loss but reflects underlying operating leverage as revenue scales.

Smart City partnership reinforces revenue growth trajectory. The company’s partnership with the $3 billion Smart City development in Miami’s Little River District positions it for sustained long-term growth. We expect the rollout to drive meaningful topline and branding impact over time, with strategic visibility among large-scale developers likely to reinforce future adoption of SKYX’s technology in both residential and commercial verticals.

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The Oncology Institute, Inc. (TOI/$4.1 | Price Target: $8)
Robert LeBoyer rleboyer@noblefcm.com | (212) 896-4625
Patient Additions And Pharmacy Division Drive 2Q25 Revenues Above Expectations
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Revenues Were Driven By New Patients Under Contract. The Oncology Institute reported a loss for 2Q25 of $17.0 million or $(0.15) per share. Revenues of $119.8 million exceeded our estimate of $110.4 million. The company discussed newly active or pending contracts that will add covered lives during 2H25. It reiterated its guidance for Revenues, Gross Profit, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free Cash Flow. Cash on June 30, 2025 was $30.3 million.

Patient Services Were Close To Our Expectations. The Patient Services division reached $55.9 million. New payor contracts added patients during 1H25 that began generating revenues, although they have a period of higher cost during the transition to TOI management. We expect the patient mix to include more continuing patients during 2H25, improving margins while new contracts continue to drive growth.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Bit Digital (BTBT)/OUTPERFORM – WhiteFiber IPO
Bitcoin Depot (BTM)/OUTPERFORM – Q2 Upside Drives Full-Year Upward Revisions
EuroDry (EDRY)/MARKET PERFORM – Weak Second Quarter, Better Results Expected Ahead
Sky Harbour Group (SKYH)/OUTPERFORM – Pre-Leasing Momentum Reinforces Competitive Moat
Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP)/OUTPERFORM – 2Q25 Reported As We Await The TNX-102 SL PDUFA Date Of August 15

Bit Digital (BTBT/$3.03 | Price Target: $5.5)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
WhiteFiber IPO
Rating: OUTPERFORM

IPO. WhiteFiber has been brought public through the sale of 9.375 million shares at $17/sh. Upon completion of the offering, Bit Digital retained ownership of 74.3% of the 36.4 million outstanding shares (71.5% if the underwriters exercised the full option). WhiteFiber shares are trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol WYFI.

Funding. Net proceeds from the IPO were expected to be approximately $145.1 million, or approximately $167.4 million if the underwriters exercised their option in full. Management anticipates using the funds for the build out and expansion of the business.

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Bitcoin Depot (BTM/$4.22 | Price Target: $9)
Patrick McCann, CFA pmccann@noblefcm.com | (314) 724-6266
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Q2 Upside Drives Full-Year Upward Revisions
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Strong Q2 results. Bitcoin Depot reported Q2 revenue of $172.1 million (5.5% growth YoY), better than our estimate of $167.5 million. Adj. EBITDA of $18.5 million (46.2% growth YoY) beat our estimate of $15.5 million. The impressive results were driven by stronger revenue per kiosk, particularly among mature locations.

Kiosk expansion. The company added roughly 600 kiosks during Q2, ending with 9,000 units in operation. About 3,300 kiosks are still in early ramp, suggesting room for productivity gains. Bitcoin Depot also holds 1,700 units in inventory, enabling growth without near-term capex. In Australia, 200 kiosks have been deployed, and management is evaluating two more international markets.

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EuroDry (EDRY/$10.67)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Hans Baldau hbaldau@noblefcm.com |
Weak Second Quarter, Better Results Expected Ahead
Rating: MARKET PERFORM

Second quarter financial results. EuroDry generated Q2 net revenues of $11.3 million, in line with our $11.4 million estimate but down about $6 million year-over-year due to a decline in average time charter equivalent (TCE) rates. Adjusted EBITDA of $1.9 million and a loss per share of $1.10 per share were better than our forecasts of $1.6 million and a loss of $1.23 per share, aided by lower voyage expenses, but trailed last year’s $5.0 million and $0.17 loss.

Market Outlook. The dry-bulk market saw a brief improvement in the second quarter as rates recovered from early-year lows, though momentum slowed later in the period amid trade policy developments and softer Chinese import activity. However, since the start of the third quarter, rates have improved, and the IMF slightly raised its 2025 global GDP guidance. Red Sea disruptions have continued to extend voyage distances, and demand has picked up slightly based on improved sentiment toward growth in China. The orderbook remains near historical lows, so while rates hover below 2024 levels, we expect the recent improvement to hold for the remainder of the year.

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Sky Harbour Group (SKYH/$10.95 | Price Target: $23)
Patrick McCann, CFA pmccann@noblefcm.com | (314) 724-6266
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Pre-Leasing Momentum Reinforces Competitive Moat
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Q2 slightly below forecast. Sky Harbour reported Q2 revenue of $6.6 million and an adj. EBITDA loss of $3.0 million, both below expectations. Despite the shortfall, development milestones were notable with new long-term ground leases signed at Hillsboro (HIO) and Stewart (SWF), reinforcing execution on its expansion strategy.

Expansion on track. The company began pre-leasing at IAD and BDL (both pre-construction) at strong average rates of $47.06 per square foot, underscoring brand strength and tenant confidence. With DVT and ADS operational and leasing underway, management reiterated its goal of securing five additional long-term leases by year-end, which would bring the total to 23.

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Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP/$59.76 | Price Target: $70)
Robert LeBoyer rleboyer@noblefcm.com | (212) 896-4625
2Q25 Reported As We Await The TNX-102 SL PDUFA Date Of August 15
Rating: OUTPERFORM

We Are On The Edge Of Our Seats Waiting For TNX-102 SL. Tonix reported a 2Q25 loss of $28.3 million or $(3.86) per share. Importantly, the PDUFA date for TNX-102 SL is August 15. This is the date when the FDA is required to answer the application for approval. We continue to expect TNX-102 SL to be approved this week. Cash on hand at the end of the quarter was $125.3 million.

TNX-102 SL Launch Is Planned For 4Q25. The company expects to have TNX-102 SL available during 4Q25, as we expected. It will be the first drug developed and approved for fibromyalgia, compared with the current therapies that were approved for other conditions then expanded into fibromyalgia. Importantly, TNX-102 SL met its primary endpoint of pain relief and all six secondary endpoints for relief of symptoms.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Cadrenal Therapeutics (CVKD)/OUTPERFORM – 2Q25 Included Clinical Strategy Change and Manufacturing Progress
Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT)/MARKET PERFORM – A Significant, Positive Development
MariMed Inc (MRMD)/OUTPERFORM – Expand the Brand
Nutriband (NTRB)/OUTPERFORM – CEO Gareth Sheridan To Run For President Of Ireland
V2X (VVX)/OUTPERFORM – Expanding Capabilities

Cadrenal Therapeutics (CVKD/$10.94 | Price Target: $45)
Robert LeBoyer rleboyer@noblefcm.com | (212) 896-4625
2Q25 Included Clinical Strategy Change and Manufacturing Progress
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Cadrenal Reports 2Q With Product News. Cadrenal reported a 2Q25 loss of $3.7 million or $(1.87) per share. During the quarter, the company announced a design modification for the upcoming tecarfarin clinical trial. The company also transferred its manufacturing technology to a CDMO and completed production scale-up in preparation for clinical trials. Cash on June 30, 2025 was $5.6 million.

New Trial Focuses On First Months Of Dialysis. As described in our Research Note on August 7 , the new trial design reflects recent research showing the first four to six months after the start of renal dialysis are an ultra-high-risk period for cardiac events including myocardial infarction, stroke, embolism, and death. The design change will be testing tecarfarin as an anticoagulant to reduce these events. The clinical site activation and trial enrollment are expected to begin around year-end.

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Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT/$0.42)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
A Significant, Positive Development
Rating: MARKET PERFORM

Converts the majority of its debt. The company announced that it has converted $25.0 million of its roughly $34.4 million in debt into a perpetual Series A Preferred Convertible Stock. The Preferred Stock will carry a cumulative annual 10% dividend, based on board of approval, and will be convertible at $2.50 per Class A common share. Following the transaction, the company will have roughly $9.4 million debt remaining under its Term Loan Facility. The move is viewed favorably. 

Significant, but manageable restrictions. The company will be required to maintain total leverage below 3.5 to1 declining to 3.25 to 1. In addition, the company will need to maintain a fixed charge coverage of 1.25 to 1 rising to 1.5 to 1. In addition, the company must maintain $1.5 million in unrestricted cash. Finally, the company must maintain a minimum of consolidated EBITDA of $1.0 million for fiscal quarters end Sept. 2025 and then $500,000 thereafter. 

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MariMed Inc (MRMD/$0.13 | Price Target: $0.25)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Expand the Brand
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Expand the Brand. With the recent Pennsylvania and Maine announcements, MariMed continues to implement its Expand the Brand strategy, which is focused on making the Company’s products accessible to as many consumers as possible. We expect the Company to look at additional new markets, such as New York and New Jersey, for additional expansion.

Market Remains Mixed. There remains a lot of near-term uncertainty in the cannabis industry. Pricing pressures, market saturation, and the lack of federal reform still pose a challenge that MariMed will need to navigate. Entering into established cannabis markets that are expanding into the adult recreational use market enables the Company to quickly capture share in proven markets.

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Nutriband (NTRB/$6.85 | Price Target: $15)
Robert LeBoyer rleboyer@noblefcm.com | (212) 896-4625
CEO Gareth Sheridan To Run For President Of Ireland
Rating: OUTPERFORM

CFO Will Transition To CEO. Nutriband CEO and Co-Founder Gareth Sheridan has announced plans to take a three-month leave from the company to run for President of the Republic of Ireland. The current CFO and Co-Founder, Serguei Melnik, will become Acting CEO as Mr. Sheridan campaigns. The election is expected to be held in late September or early October. If elected, Sergeui will become CEO. If Mr. Sheridan is not elected, he may return to the company.

We Wish Gareth Sheridan Well In The Election. As a Co-founder and CEO of the company, Gareth Sheridan has guided the company from an idea to becoming a NASDAQ-listed company with three divisions. Nutriband’s financial planning has allowed  it to develop the AVERSA technology with low operating losses, keeping the share base low.

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V2X (VVX/$52.93 | Price Target: $72)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Expanding Capabilities
Rating: OUTPERFORM

A Tuck-in. Last night, after the market closed, V2X announced it had entered into an agreement to acquire a specialized data engineering, intel mission support, and cyber solutions business serving the Intelligence Community (IC). The transaction is valued at approximately $24 million, net of estimated tax benefits. We expect additional details to follow.

IC Expansion. The acquisition advances V2X’s strategic growth objectives and further extends its reach beyond traditional defense markets, enabling the Company to pursue a greater share of the National Intelligence Program budget and related opportunities. The acquisition adds some 70 people to V2X.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Monday, August 11, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW)/OUTPERFORM – Post call Commentary
DLH Holdings (DLHC)/OUTPERFORM – Post Call Commentary
E.W. Scripps (SSP)/OUTPERFORM – Fed Rate Action Could Ignite Auto Advertising
Information Services Group (III)/OUTPERFORM – Post 2Q25 Call Commentary
Kelly Services (KELYA)/OUTPERFORM – New CEO; Reports 2Q25 Results
Kratos Defense & Security (KTOS)/OUTPERFORM – Strong 2Q25, Raises Guidance, Increasing PT
NN (NNBR)/OUTPERFORM – Post Call Update
V2X (VVX)/OUTPERFORM – AIP Sells Some More

CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW/$20.5 | Price Target: $28)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Post call Commentary
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Availability. Increased use of CoreCivic’s remaining beds will help drive operating results going forward. If all of the idle 13,419 beds were activated, this would imply around $500 million in annual revenue, and around $200 million to $225 million in incremental EBITDA.

Activations. During the quarter, CoreCivic made substantial progress in reactivating three previously idled facilities, and the Company’s activation teams are preparing for additional contracting activity. Management noted that CoreCivic is in advanced negotiations to activate a fourth idle facility and has just begun negotiations for a fifth facility.

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DLH Holdings (DLHC/$5.5 | Price Target: $10)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Post Call Commentary
Rating: OUTPERFORM

When, Not If. We continue to believe it is a matter of when, not if, DLH begins to capitalize on the large opportunity set for its mission critical skill set. Current disruptions in Federal government contracting will pass, and DLH’s capabilities, in areas such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, and addressing critical public health issues, align well with the government’s goals.

Still Accumulating. Mink Brook Asset Management continues to accumulate DLHC shares, including 5,900 shares at the end of last week. Mink Brook now owns 2,389,350 DLHC shares, representing 16.6% of the outstanding common, up from 2,164,058 shares at the end of May.

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E.W. Scripps (SSP/$2.52 | Price Target: $10)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Jacob Mutchler jmutchler@noblefcm.com |
Fed Rate Action Could Ignite Auto Advertising
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Q2 results largely in line. Total company revenue of $540.0 million was a tad shy of our $546.6 million estimate, but was close enough. The biggest downside variance was Political, which is very unpredictable especially in an off election year. Importantly, the company overachieved our adj. EBITDA estimate, $88.8 million versus $84.8 million. 

Tweaking estimates. Management indicated that Q3 Core advertising was pacing flat in Q3, a sequential improvement from down 1.9% in q2, but a little lighter than we had hoped given the year earlier Political displacement. We tweaked our Q3 revenue estimate down 2.1% to $528.5 million and adj. EBITDA estimate down 2.8% to $71.5 million. 

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Information Services Group (III/$4.44 | Price Target: $5)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Jacob Mutchler jmutchler@noblefcm.com |
Post 2Q25 Call Commentary
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Riding the Waves. ISG is riding two key waves, one is AI adoption, with clients investing aggressively in modernizing their technology operations and infrastructure to support it. The other is cost optimization, as one of the means of funding the AI adoption is through optimization of cloud, infrastructure, and software costs.

AI & Recurring Revenue. AI-related revenue was 2.5x higher than it was a year ago. And in both the second quarter and first half, nearly 20% of total revenue was AI related. Recurring revenues in the second quarter reached $28 million, up 7% sequentially and represented 45% of overall revenue.

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Kelly Services (KELYA/$14.15 | Price Target: $27)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Jacob Mutchler jmutchler@noblefcm.com |
New CEO; Reports 2Q25 Results
Rating: OUTPERFORM

New CEO. Chris Layden has been selected to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 2, 2025, replacing the retiring Peter Quigley. Having spent nearly two decades at Manpower Group and as COO of Prolink, Mr. Layden has extensive experience leading organizations through transformations to advance go-to-market initiatives and accelerate profitable growth.

2Q25 Results. Kelly reported revenue of $1.1 billion, up 4.2% y-o-y but down 3.3% on an organic basis. Second quarter adjusted EBITDA of $37.0 million was down 8.7% versus the prior year, with adjusted EBITDA margin down 40 bp to 3.4%. EPS was $0.52 compared to EPS of $0.12 in the second quarter of 2024. On an adjusted basis, EPS was $0.54 in 2Q25 compared to $0.71/sh in 2Q24. We had forecast $1.17 billion of revenue, $42.5 million adjusted EBITDA, EPS of $0.73, and adjusted EPS of $0.71.

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Kratos Defense & Security (KTOS/$63.88 | Price Target: $75)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Strong 2Q25, Raises Guidance, Increasing PT
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Opportunity Knocks! Virtually every Kratos business unit is forecasting significant future organic growth, including the hypersonic system franchise, small jet engines for drones, missiles, and loitering munitions, the Israeli based microwave electronics business, and the military grade hardware business supporting missile, radar, hypersonic, counter UAS and strategic weapon systems.

2Q25 Results. Kratos reported revenue of $351.5 million, reflecting 17.1% y-o-y growth and 15.2% organic growth. We had projected revenue of $308 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $28.3 million versus $29.9 million a year ago and our $27.5 million estimate. Adjusted net income was $17.1 million, or $0.11/sh, versus $20.8 million, or $0.14/sh, last year and our $18.8 million, or $0.12/sh, estimate.

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NN (NNBR/$2.12 | Price Target: $6)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Hans Baldau hbaldau@noblefcm.com |
Post Call Update
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Second Quarter Developments. NN leveraged the soft market environment to upsize its business development activities and investments. The soft top-line centers around certain automotive customers, which NN was able to partially offset through the contribution of new business launches and precious metals pass-through pricing.

Changing for the Better. Management continues to work on its transformation plan to position the Company for significant upside when end markets improve. For example, YTD, the 18.2% adjusted gross margin is an expansion of 190 basis points over the past two years and well on the way to the 20% gm goal. 

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V2X (VVX/$50.78 | Price Target: $72)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
AIP Sells Some More
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Another Sale. AIP, through its Vertex Aerospace Holdco LLC sub, is selling another 2 million shares of VVX stock through an offering that is expected to close on August 11th. This will be the fourth such sale as the private equity firm continues to lighten its V2X holdings.

V2X to Buy. Subject to the closing of the offering, V2X has agreed to purchase 200,000 shares of V2X’s common stock that are subject to the offering at a price per share of common stock equal to the price to be paid to Vertex Aerospace by the underwriter. V2X intends to fund the repurchase of its common stock with cash on hand. This will cost approximately $10 million.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Friday, August 8, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Cumulus Media (CMLS)/MARKET PERFORM – Can It Pull A Rabbit Out Of The Hat?
GoHealth (GOCO)/OUTPERFORM – Forecast Trimmed, Flexibility Restored
Saga Communications (SGA)/OUTPERFORM – Outlook Offers Glimmer Of Revenue Improvement

Cumulus Media (CMLS/$0.17)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Can It Pull A Rabbit Out Of The Hat?
Rating: MARKET PERFORM

Exceeds Q2 expectations. Q2 revenue of $186.0 million was a tad better than our $183.9 million estimate, with the largest upside variance being Digital revenue and a little lift from Political advertising. Its Digital Marketing Services business was up an impressive 38% in revenue. Adj. EBITDA exceeded expectations at $22.4 million versus our $15.6 million estimate.

Ad trends still negative. Core spot advertising appears to be moderating and its Digital Marketing Services business appears to be a bright spot, pacing up 35% in Q3. Total company revenue is pacing down low double digits in Q3, however, worse than expected. Network advertising continues to be the culprit given the challenged macro economic environment and the company’s decision to decrease content/inventory.

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GoHealth (GOCO/$5.73 | Price Target: $20)
Patrick McCann, CFA pmccann@noblefcm.com | (314) 724-6266
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Forecast Trimmed, Flexibility Restored
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Hits headwinds in Q2. GoHealth reported Q2 revenue of $94.0 million, below our $110.0 million forecast, as Medicare Advantage softness and CMS policy shifts weighed on volumes. Revenue declined 11% year-over-year. Despite the top-line miss, adj. EBITDA loss of $11.3 million beat our expected loss of $13.2 million, reflecting ongoing cost discipline and benefits from automation initiatives underway in agent workflows.

Recapitalization improves liquidity, alleviates covenant concerns. The company secured $80 million in new term loans and amended its credit agreement to eliminate principal payments through 2026. Liquidity covenants were reduced to a single minimum cash test. While the 4.77 million Class A shares issued represent roughly 20% dilution, we believe the transaction aligns lender and shareholder incentives and resolves the going concern issue.

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Saga Communications (SGA/$12.75 | Price Target: $18)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Jacob Mutchler jmutchler@noblefcm.com |
Outlook Offers Glimmer Of Revenue Improvement
Rating: OUTPERFORM

An in line quarter. Even though the second quarter results were lackluster, total company revenues were down 5% from the comparable year earlier quarter, it was refreshing to have a company report an in line quarter. Total company Q2 revenues were $23.4 million, roughly in line with our $24.1 million estimate. Adj. EBITDA of $3.5 million was in line with our $3.5 million estimate. 

Digital revenue gains traction. While Digital revenue grew a respectable 5.8% in the latest quarter, it faced difficult year earlier comparisons from a non recurring business (up 30.3% in the prior year quarter). Notably, management indicated that Digital revenue is pacing up 30% to 40% in Q3. 

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Thursday, August 7, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Cadrenal Therapeutics (CVKD)/OUTPERFORM – Tecarfarin Clinical Trial To Begin With Modified Design
Conduent (CNDT)/OUTPERFORM – Improved Margins and Steady Execution
CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW)/OUTPERFORM – First Look – 2Q25; Increased Guidance
Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT)/MARKET PERFORM – A More Muted Near Term Revenue Recovery Expected
DLH Holdings (DLHC)/OUTPERFORM – First Look – 3Q25 Results
Eledon Pharmaceuticals (ELDN)/OUTPERFORM – Phase 1b Data Continues To Show Improved Outcomes
Information Services Group (III)/OUTPERFORM – First Look – 2Q25 Results and an Acquisition
MariMed Inc (MRMD)/OUTPERFORM – First Look 2Q25 Results
NN (NNBR)/OUTPERFORM – First Look – 2Q25
ONE Group Hospitality (STKS)/OUTPERFORM – Some Good, Some Challenges; Reports 2Q25 Results
Seanergy Maritime (SHIP)/OUTPERFORM – Second Quarter Rebound, Raising Estimates
The GEO Group (GEO)/OUTPERFORM – Reports Second Quarter Results
The ODP Corporation (ODP)/OUTPERFORM – Making Progress in the Second Quarter
Townsquare Media (TSQ)/OUTPERFORM – Delivers On Expectations

Cadrenal Therapeutics (CVKD/$10.95 | Price Target: $45)
Robert LeBoyer rleboyer@noblefcm.com | (212) 896-4625
Tecarfarin Clinical Trial To Begin With Modified Design
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Cadrenal Announces New Trial Design. Cadrenal announced that it plans to begin a trial testing tecarfarin in patients who are starting renal dialysis, both with and without atrial fibrillation (ESKD-Afib). This design reflects recent studies showing that the first several months after starting dialysis are an ultra-high risk period for mortality and cardiac events. The trial will test tecarfarin efficacy in reducing these events and could begin in late 2025 to early 2026.

Modified Study Design Focuses On Highest Risk Period. The initiation of renal dialysis impacts several important cardiovascular and renal functions. New studies show that the first six months after starting dialysis have a 20-fold increase in cardiovascular events and mortality. This has not previously been recognized due to pathologies of the underlying conditions that lead to CKD and dialysis. 

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Conduent (CNDT/$2.45 | Price Target: $7)
Patrick McCann, CFA pmccann@noblefcm.com | (314) 724-6266
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Improved Margins and Steady Execution
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Solid Q2 results. Conduent reported second-quarter revenue of $754 million, in line with our estimate. Adj. EBITDA of $37 million exceeded our $33 million forecast. Importantly, all three business segments posted sequential growth in new business annual contract value, signaling building commercial momentum and suggesting that execution is improving across the platform.

Portfolio rationalization in the works. The company collected the remaining $50 million from its Curbside Management divestiture, completing phase one of its portfolio rationalization strategy. Management indicated additional transactions are in progress, aimed at boosting profitability. We believe updates are likely by year-end, as the team continues to reshape the business with a focus on higher-margin opportunities.

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CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW/$19.6 | Price Target: $28)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
First Look – 2Q25; Increased Guidance
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Increasing Demand. Increasing demand for the solutions provided, particularly from ICE, contributed to a strong second quarter, as nationwide detention populations under ICE custody reached an all-time high. ICE revenue rose 17.2% y-o-y, but we also note revenue from state partners increased 5.2% y-o-y and U.S. Marshals revenue increased 2.7% y-o-y.

2Q25 Results. Revenue was $538.2 million in 2Q25, up from $490.1 million last year. We were at $500.6 million. Safety and Community average occupancy increased to 76.8% from 74.3%, even with an overhang from the recently activated California City facility. Adjusted EBITDA was $103.3 million, up 23.2% y-o-y. NFFO per share was $0.59, up 40.5%. CoreCivic reported adjusted EPS of $0.36, up 80%.

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Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT/$0.48)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Patrick McCann, CFA pmccann@noblefcm.com | (314) 724-6266
A More Muted Near Term Revenue Recovery Expected
Rating: MARKET PERFORM

Mixed Q2 results. The company reported Q2 revenue of $10.1 million, below our forecast of $12.5 million, driven by continued underperformance in the Sell-side business, which generated $2.5 million vs. our forecast of $4.5 million. Despite the shortfall, adj. EBITDA loss of $1.5 million was better than expected, aided by cost reductions and lower headcount from increased automation.

Implications for second half performance. The Q2 revenue miss was largely attributable to slower-than-expected progress with the company’s “direct connections” initiative, in which its SSP integrates directly with DSPs to bypass intermediaries. While the strategy remains a critical long-term growth lever, the implementation delays have weighed on near-term Sell-side revenue performance, as well as the outlook for the second half 2025.

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DLH Holdings (DLHC/$5.56 | Price Target: $10)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
First Look – 3Q25 Results
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Making Progress. In the third quarter, DLH effectively navigated changes in the competitive landscape and transition in the industry overall, preserving margin delivery and strong operating cash flow. Headwinds such as the transition of CMOP locations, unbundling of DOD contracts, and scope reductions as a result of government efficiency efforts all impacted the quarter.

3Q25 Results. Revenue was $83.3 million, compared to $100.7 million in the year ago quarter. We had forecasted $83 million. DLH reported adjusted EBITDA of $8.1 million, down from $10 million in 3Q24 and our $8.5 million estimate. Net income was $0.3 million, or $0.02/sh, versus $1.1 million, or $0.08/sh last year. We had projected $0.35 million, or $0.02/sh.

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Eledon Pharmaceuticals (ELDN/$3.44 | Price Target: $10)
Robert LeBoyer rleboyer@noblefcm.com | (212) 896-4625
Phase 1b Data Continues To Show Improved Outcomes
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Phase 1b Kidney Transplant Data Presented. Eledon presented data from its Phase 1b trial using tegoprubart as part of an immunosuppressive regimen at The World Transplant Congress. The data from the first 32 patients at two dosage cohorts continues to show meaningful improvement over the standard of care. We believe this supports our expectations for strong data for the Phase 2 BESTOW trial in November.

Study Design. The presentation included data from 32 patients receiving kidney transplants followed by an immunosuppressive regimen tegoprubart instead of tacrolimus, the standard of care. The primary endpoints are safety and pharmacokinetics. Secondary endpoints include patient survival, graft survival, biopsy proven acute rejection, with kidney function measured by eGFR and iBOX score.

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Information Services Group (III/$4.23 | Price Target: $5)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
First Look – 2Q25 Results and an Acquisition
Rating: OUTPERFORM

2Q25 Results. Revenue of $61.6 million was up 7% versus last year, excluding results for the divested automation unit. On the same basis, revenues were $39.5 million in the Americas, up 16% versus the prior year, revenues in Europe were $16.6 million, down 7%, and Asia Pacific revenues were $5.4 million, down 1%. Adjusted EBITDA of $8.3 million rose 17% y-o-y. ISG reported adjusted net income of $4.1 million, or $0.08/sh, compared with adjusted net income of $3.8 million, or $0.08/sh last year. We were at $60 million, $7.25 million, and $0.07/sh, respectively.

An Acquisition. ISG has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Martino & Partners, a highly respected strategic advisory firm serving public and private sector clients in Italy. The transaction is expected to close in early September. The acquisition is expected to expand ISG’s client base, geographic footprint, and capabilities in Italy, including AI, in a market with emerging growth potential.

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MariMed Inc (MRMD/$0.11 | Price Target: $0.25)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
First Look 2Q25 Results
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Overview. MariMed delivered sequential growth in both wholesale and retail revenues for the second quarter, a substantial increase in adjusted EBITDA, and was cash flow positive, reflecting strong execution in Massachusetts, full-quarter contributions from Delaware, and a solid retail strategy.

2Q25 Results. Total revenue was $39.6 million, down modestly from $40.4 million in the year ago period and our $40.5 million estimate. Wholesale sales rose to $17.1 million from $15.9 million, while retail sales declined to $22.4 million from $23.6 million. The Company reported adjusted EBITDA of $4.9 million versus $4.4 million and adjusted net income of $0.4 million versus an adjusted net loss of $0.2 million last year.

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NN (NNBR/$2.14 | Price Target: $6)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
First Look – 2Q25
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Overview. NN delivered a solid quarter for gross margins, operating income, adjusted operating income, and adjusted EBITDA. The soft top-line centered around certain automotive customers, which is being partially offset through the contribution of new business launches and precious metals pass-through pricing.

2Q25. On a reported basis, Net sales were $107.9  million, a decrease of 12.3% compared to the second quarter of 2024. We were at $109 million. On an adjusted basis, net sales were off 2.4%. Adjusted income from operations for 2Q25 was $4.9  million compared to adjusted income from operations of $2.1  million for the same period in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA was  $13.2 million, or 12.2% of sales, compared to $13.4  million, or 10.9% of sales, for the same period in 2024.

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ONE Group Hospitality (STKS/$2.87 | Price Target: $5)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Some Good, Some Challenges; Reports 2Q25 Results
Rating: OUTPERFORM

A Mixed Bag.  In the second quarter, Benihana delivered positive same store sales, and STK achieved positive traffic for the second and third consecutive quarters, respectively. However, Grill concept SSS were off 14.6% and the Company closed five locations in the quarter. Expenses were also higher than anticipated.

2Q25 Results. Overall revenue increased 20.2% y-o-y to $207.2 million, mostly due to a full quarter of Benihana. We had estimated $206.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $23.4 million, up 7.3% y-o-y, but below our $24.9 million estimate. ONE Group reported a GAAP net loss of $10.1 million, versus a net loss of $7.3 million a year ago. Including the preferred dividend, net loss per share was $0.59 versus a net loss per share of $0.38 last year. Adjusted EPS was $0.05 compared to $0.19 last year.  

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Seanergy Maritime (SHIP/$7.46 | Price Target: $12)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Hans Baldau hbaldau@noblefcm.com |
Second Quarter Rebound, Raising Estimates
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Second quarter results. Seanergy reported second quarter net revenue of $37.5 million, ahead of our estimate of $36.5 million, driven by modestly higher time charter equivalent (TCE) rates. Operating expenses were in line with expectations, resulting in adjusted EBITDA of $18.3 million and EPS of $0.18, both ahead of our prior estimates of $16.7 million and $0.11.

Market outlook. The Capesize market returned to profitability in the second quarter, with improving demand fundamentals due to projects in both the Atlantic basin and West Africa. We expect elevated iron ore and bauxite volumes to support demand through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, resulting in increased ton-miles. Additionally, limited fleet growth is expected to support profitable rates.

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The GEO Group (GEO/$22.88 | Price Target: $35)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Reports Second Quarter Results
Rating: OUTPERFORM

2Q25 Results. Revenue increased to $636.2 million from $607.2 million. We were at $615 million. Adjusted EBITDA was relatively flat at $118.6 million, or 18.6% of revenue, compared with $119.3 million, or 19.6% of revenue, last year, which was impacted by growth investments. GEO recorded adjusted EPS of $0.22 in 2Q25, flat with last year.

Growth. Management outlined additional growth opportunities over and above those already announced this year. For example, activation of the 5,900 idle beds could add $310 million to revenue, while temporary expanded capacity at facilities by another 5,000 beds could add another $250 million. Management noted ISAP growth is likely a 2026 plan.

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The ODP Corporation (ODP/$19.21 | Price Target: $35)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Jacob Mutchler jmutchler@noblefcm.com |
Making Progress in the Second Quarter
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Q2 Overview. During the quarter, ODP saw improved revenue trends and delivered solid operating results, highlighted by stronger adjusted free cash flow generation. The results reflect ongoing improvements across both the consumer and B2B businesses. Retail meaningfully improved same-store sales trends versus last year, while the B2B business achieved approximately a 200-basis point improvement in year-over-year revenue trends.

Q2 Results. The ODP Corporation reported revenue of $1.59 billion in 2Q25, down from $1.72 billion in 2Q24. We had estimated $1.58 billion. Adjusted EBITDA was $47 million, down from $57 million a year ago and in-line with our $44 million estimate. Adjusted EPS came in at $0.51 compared to $0.56 in 2Q24 and our $0.23 estimate.

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Townsquare Media (TSQ/$6.78 | Price Target: $21)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Jacob Mutchler jmutchler@noblefcm.com |
Delivers On Expectations
Rating: OUTPERFORM

In line Q2 results. Total revenue of $115.4 million, down 2.3% from the comparable year quarter, was in line with our $114.9 million estimate, a reflection of economic headwinds and slower digital revenue growth. Adj. EBITDA of $26.4 million was better than our $25.2 million estimate, reflecting better margins. 

Digital revenue slows, but margins improve. Digital advertising revenues were adversely impacted by industry wide declines in search referrals. And, its Interactive business revenue growth was interrupted by sales restructuring. Notably, margins rose in Q2 and are expected to be elevated above normalized levels for the balance of the year due to lower sales staffing.  

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Century Lithium Corp. (CYDVF)/OUTPERFORM – First Tranche of Financing Closed; Angel Island Added to the Federal Permitting Dashboard
Commercial Vehicle Group (CVGI)/OUTPERFORM – Post Call Commentary
FreightCar America (RAIL)/OUTPERFORM – Better Than Expected Second Quarter Financial Results
Graham (GHM)/OUTPERFORM – Another Good Quarter
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD)/OUTPERFORM – Another Strong Quarter
Superior Group of Companies (SGC)/OUTPERFORM – Operating Momentum Improves

Century Lithium Corp. (CYDVF/$0.21 | Price Target: $2.35)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
First Tranche of Financing Closed; Angel Island Added to the Federal Permitting Dashboard
Rating: OUTPERFORM

First tranche of LIFE offering closed. Century Lithium recently closed the first tranche of its previously announced the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (LIFE) offering of up to 16,666,667 units at a price of C$0.30 per unit for gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of C$0.45 for a period of 60 months following the issuance of the units. In the first tranche, Century issued a total of 9,559,833 units for aggregate gross proceeds of C$2,867,950. Certain directors and officers of the company purchased a total of 168,333 units in the initial closing.

Use of net proceeds. Net proceeds from the financing will be used to complete an updated feasibility study for the company’s Angel Island Lithium Project, complete the project’s Plan of Operations, work towards National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, and general working capital.

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Commercial Vehicle Group (CVGI/$1.8 | Price Target: $4)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Hans Baldau hbaldau@noblefcm.com |
Post Call Commentary
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Positives. There were a number of positives in the quarter, such as the 120 bp sequential improvement in gross margin, strong FCF generation, improved top line performance in Electrical Systems, and higher adjusted operating income in both Seating and Electrical Systems, reflecting benefits from prior restructuring actions.

But End Markets. In spite of the operating successes, CVG’s end markets remain challenged. It appears the much hoped for rebound in the Class 8 truck market will not occur in 2026, with only modest improvement in 2027. Still early days for these types of forecasts, but the Class 8 truck market is still 40% of revenue. And no real change in the Ag and Construction markets, which remain soft.

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FreightCar America (RAIL/$10.4 | Price Target: $17)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Better Than Expected Second Quarter Financial Results
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Second quarter financial results. FreightCar America generated adjusted net income of $3.8 million or $0.11 per share, compared to our estimate of $2.0 million or $0.06 per share. Second quarter revenue of $118.6 million exceeded our estimate of $100.6 million. Rail car deliveries were 939 units compared to 1,159 units during the prior year period and our estimate of 850. The year-over-year decline was attributed to a strategic shift in the product mix toward higher-margin rail cars. As a percentage of revenue, second quarter gross margin increased to 15.0% compared to 12.5% during the prior year period and our 12.7% estimate. Adjusted EBITDA amounted to $10.0 million compared to our $8.8 million estimate and represented an EBITDA margin of 8.4%.

Updating estimates. We are increasing our 2025 adjusted EBITDA and EPS estimates to $47.3 million and $0.54, respectively, from $45.9 million and $0.47. Our 2026 EBITDA and EPS estimates have increased to $53.2 million and $0.64, respectively, from $48.6 million and $0.53. While our estimates reflect higher gross margin as a percentage of revenue, they also reflect increased sales, general, and administrative expenses.

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Graham (GHM/$46.97 | Price Target: $52)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Hans Baldau hbaldau@noblefcm.com |
Another Good Quarter
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Strong Quarter. Driven by continued strength across the diversified product portfolio, Graham delivered another solid quarter to start fiscal 2026. A highlight was the Energy and Process markets with strong growth driven by execution on major commercial projects and robust aftermarket demand, along with increasing momentum in emerging energy segments.

1Q26 Results. Revenue increased 11% to $55.5 million, slightly above our $54 million estimate. Gross margin improved 170 bp to 26.5%. Adjusted EBITDA rose 33% y-o-y to $6.8 million, with adjusted EBITDA margin up 200 bp to 12.3%. We were at $5.1 million. EPS increased 56% to $0.42 with adjusted EPS up 36% to $0.45. We were at $0.22 and $0.25, respectively.

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Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD/$11.45 | Price Target: $14)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Hans Baldau hbaldau@noblefcm.com |
Another Strong Quarter
Rating: OUTPERFORM

2Q25 Results. Revenue was $193.8 million, compared to $170 million a year ago. We had forecast revenue of $175.5 million. Gross margin improved to 18.9% from 17.5% in the year ago quarter. Great Lakes reported adjusted EBITDA of $28 million in the quarter and EPS of $0.14. In 2Q24, the Company had adjusted EBITDA of $25.8 million and EPS of $0.11.

Drivers. Great Lakes delivered another solid quarter, supported by strong project execution, continued strength in capital dredging, and favorable equipment utilization, even with the headwinds of four dredges undergoing their regulatory drydocking at various points during the quarter.

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Superior Group of Companies (SGC/$9.58 | Price Target: $16)
Michael Kupinski mkupinski@noblefcm.com | (561) 994-5734
Jacob Mutchler jmutchler@noblefcm.com |
Operating Momentum Improves
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Solid Q2 results. The company reported solid revenue and adj. EBITDA of $144.0 million and $7.4 million, respectively, both of which were better than our estimates of $131.8 million and $6.1 million, respectively. Notably, the strong operating results were largely driven by a 14% increase in Branded Products sales over the prior year period.

Mitigating tariff impact. Notably, management highlighted that its Branded Products segment is well-positioned to navigate the current tariff environment. Importantly, the company started diversifying manufacturing away from China during the first Trump administration and now sources the majority of its Branded Products outside of China. Furthermore, the company’s Healthcare Apparel segment produces all of its finished products outside of China.

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Noble Capital Markets Research Report Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Companies contained in today’s report:

Commercial Vehicle Group (CVGI)/OUTPERFORM – First Look: 2Q25 Shows Some Improvement but End Markets Remain Challenging
FreightCar America (RAIL)/OUTPERFORM – Second Quarter Financial Results Exceed Expectations
InPlay Oil (IPOOF)/OUTPERFORM – Delek Group Ltd. to Acquire Major Stake in InPlay Oil
Steelcase (SCS)/MARKET PERFORM – To Be Acquired for $18.30/sh
V2X (VVX)/OUTPERFORM – Solid 2Q25 Results

Commercial Vehicle Group (CVGI/$1.85 | Price Target: $4)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
First Look: 2Q25 Shows Some Improvement but End Markets Remain Challenging
Rating: OUTPERFORM

2Q25 Results. Revenue came in at $172 million, down from $193.7 million a year ago, but above our $158 million estimate. Adjusted EBITDA was $5.2 million, down from $8.2 million a year ago, and in-line with our $5 million estimate. Net loss from continuing operations was $4.1 million, or a loss of $0.12/sh, versus $1.3 million, or a loss of $0.04/sh in 2Q24. Adjusted net loss was $0.09/sh in 2Q25 versus adjusted EPS of $0.05 last year. We had forecasted a net loss of $2 million, or a loss of $0.06/sh.

Highlights. Gross margin improved 80 bp sequentially to 11.3% due to operational efficiency improvements. Free cash flow was $17.3 million, up $16.5 million, due to better working capital management. Net debt decreased $31.8 million compared to the year end 2024 level.

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FreightCar America (RAIL/$9.92 | Price Target: $16)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Second Quarter Financial Results Exceed Expectations
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Second quarter financial results. FreightCar America generated adjusted net income of $3.8 million or $0.11 per share, compared to our estimate of $2.0 million or $0.06 per share. Second quarter revenue of $118.6 million exceeded our estimate of $100.6 million. Rail car deliveries were 939 units compared to 1,159 units during the prior year period and our estimate of 850. The year-over-year decline was attributed to a strategic shift in the product mix toward higher-margin rail cars. As a percentage of revenue, second quarter gross margin increased to 15.0% compared to 12.5% during the prior year period and our 12.7% estimate. Adjusted EBITDA amounted to $10.0 million compared to our $8.8 million estimate and represented an EBITDA margin of 8.4%. RAIL generated adjusted free cash flow of $7.9 million and ended the quarter with $61.4 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Favorable outlook. During the second quarter, RAIL received 1,226 new rail car orders valued at $106.9 million. With a backlog of 3,624 units valued at $316.9 million, we expect deliveries to accelerate throughout the year. During the quarter, RAIL increased utilization across its four production lines, enhanced productivity, and benefited from a higher-margin product mix. The company is advancing its growth strategy by investing in its tank car capabilities, which it expects to strengthen its cost position and support long-term accretive growth.

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InPlay Oil (IPOOF/$7.47 | Price Target: $15)
Mark Reichman mreichman@noblefcm.com | (561) 999-2272
Hans Baldau hbaldau@noblefcm.com |
Delek Group Ltd. to Acquire Major Stake in InPlay Oil
Rating: OUTPERFORM

Delek Group to acquire major stake in InPlay.  Delek Group Ltd. (TASE: DLEKG) executed a definitive agreement to acquire Obsidian Energy’s (TSX: OBE, NYSE American: OBE) common share position in InPlay Oil, consisting of 9,139,784 common shares representing approximately 32.7% of InPlay’s issued and outstanding shares. Subject to certain adjustments, the purchase price is C$10.00 per InPlay share, representing an aggregate transaction value of C$91,397,840. Recall that Obsidian received the shares as partial consideration for its April sale of Pembina Cardium assets to InPlay Oil. The transaction with Delek is expected to close in the first half of August 2025 and remains subject to satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions.

Rationale. Delek is an independent exploration and production company based in Israel that has embarked on an international expansion with a focus on high-potential opportunities in the North Sea and North America. Delek views Canada as a strong and stable jurisdiction for oil and gas investment and identified InPlay as an attractive partner in the Canadian energy sector due to its strong record of operational performance and successful acquisitions. Delek holds a 52% equity interest in Ithaca Energy plc and has played a key role in supporting Ithaca’s production growth since the time of its initial investment.

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Steelcase (SCS/$16.58)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
To Be Acquired for $18.30/sh
Rating: MARKET PERFORM

To Be Acquired. Steelcase has entered into an agreement to be acquired by HNI Corporation in a cash and stock transaction with total consideration of approximately $2.2 billion to Steelcase common shareholders, or about $18.30/sh, an 80% premium to Friday’s close.

Details. Under the terms of the agreement, Steelcase shareholders will receive $7.20 in cash and 0.2192 shares of HNI common stock for each share of Steelcase. The implied per share purchase price of $18.30 is based on HNI’s closing share price of $50.62 on Friday, August 1, 2025, reflecting a valuation multiple at transaction close for Steelcase of approximately 5.8x TTM adjusted EBITDA, inclusive of run-rate cost synergies of $120 million. Upon closing, HNI shareholders will own approximately 64%, and Steelcase shareholders will own approximately 36% of the combined company. The deal is expected to close by year-end.

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V2X (VVX/$48.5 | Price Target: $72)
Joe Gomes, CFA jgomes@noblefcm.com | 561-999-2262
Solid 2Q25 Results
Rating: OUTPERFORM

2Q25 Results. Revenue came in at $1.078 billion, essentially flat with last year’s $1.072 billion and was in-line with our $1.08 billion estimate. Helped by the pull forward of the conclusion of a non-recurring contractual commitment, adjusted EBITDA was $82.4 million, or a 7.6% margin, compared to $72.3 million, or a 6.7% margin, last year. V2X reported adjusted EPS of $1.33 for 2Q25, up from $0.83 in 2Q24.

Moving Up to Franchise Programs. Highlighted by last week’s T-6 services award, V2X’s pipeline is reflecting larger, franchise type programs. These programs typically leverage all of V2X’s mission critical capabilities. Management noted the 3-year qualified pipeline is now approximately $50 billion in size.

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Bit Digital (BTBT) – More News; Updated Model


Friday, July 18, 2025

Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Updated Model. Earlier this week, Bit Digital announced preliminary revenue for 2Q25 in the $24.3-$26.9 million range, which is modestly below our and consensus estimates. The difference, in our view, is likely driven by the push to the right of some contracts. We are not too concerned as of now, as we expect the contracts to come online this year.

Adjusted Numbers. We lowered our 2Q revenue expectation to $25.3 million from a prior $31.6 million, with the biggest change coming in the Cloud Services and Mining line items. Net loss is now at $4.4 million, or $0.02/sh, versus a prior loss of $1.4 million, or $0.01/sh.


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Crypto Market Hits $4 Trillion — Bitcoin Leads, Ethereum Follows with ETF Tailwind

The total cryptocurrency market cap has hit a record $4 trillion, led by a surge in Bitcoin past $120,000 and strong momentum in Ethereum, which is up 40% this month. The rally is being driven by ETF inflows, a surge in altcoins, and recent U.S. regulatory developments targeting stablecoins. With institutional interest on the rise, some analysts believe Bitcoin could reach $150,000 in the coming weeks.


Crypto Breaks Records — Again

Digital assets are once again front and center as the total cryptocurrency market capitalization surpassed $4 trillion this week — a new all-time high. Bitcoin (BTC), which makes up about 60% of the market, recently broke above $120,000, while Ethereum (ETH) is up roughly 40% month-to-date, including a 22% gain over the past five days.

The surge is being fueled by renewed investor enthusiasm, inflows into U.S.-listed crypto ETFs, and increased altcoin activity. Ethereum’s rally, in particular, has been boosted by over $1.7 billion in ETF inflows this week, a record for the token.

ETF Inflows and Institutional Interest

U.S.-listed ETFs continue to play a central role in the crypto market’s expansion. Bitcoin funds have seen more than $5 billion in inflows in July alone, while Ether ETFs have drawn nearly $3 billion. These instruments are giving both retail and institutional investors easier access to crypto exposure — and appear to be accelerating price momentum.

Altcoins Join the Party

While Bitcoin and Ethereum are leading headlines, altcoins are also seeing significant upside. Uniswap (UNI), for instance, surged double digits in early trading today. Broader altcoin strength has contributed to the market’s $4T milestone and reflects growing risk appetite among crypto investors.

Regulators Step In — Stablecoins Targeted

Adding to the momentum: policy clarity. For the first time, U.S. lawmakers passed legislation to regulate stablecoins — digital tokens pegged to fiat currencies — introducing both federal and state oversight for what is now a $265 billion market. The move is seen by many as an attempt to legitimize digital dollar substitutes and give institutional investors greater confidence in the space.

Looking Ahead

With sentiment bullish and regulatory frameworks starting to take shape, many market watchers believe the rally could continue. Some analysts are calling for Bitcoin to reach $150,000 in the near term, citing continued ETF inflows, reduced selling pressure, and growing demand from global investors.


📈 Historical Context

  • The previous all-time crypto market cap high was $3 trillion in November 2021, before falling below $900 billion during the 2022 bear market.
  • Bitcoin’s all-time low was below $70 in 2013. It hit $20,000 in late 2017, $69,000 in 2021, and now $120,000 in July 2025.
  • Ethereum launched in 2015 at under $1. Its current rally has pushed it back toward all-time highs set in 2021 (~$4,800).
  • The first U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETF was approved in January 2024, igniting a fresh wave of institutional participation.

Social Mobile to Acquire Sonim Technologies in $20 Million All-Cash Deal

Deal Enhances Social Mobile’s Position in Enterprise Mobility and Expands Carrier Channel Reach

In a strategic move to strengthen its leadership in the enterprise mobility space, Social Mobile announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and liabilities of Sonim Technologies (NASDAQ: SONM). The all-cash transaction is valued at $20 million, including a $5 million potential earn-out, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, pending customary closing conditions.

The acquisition aligns with Social Mobile’s long-term strategy to expand its footprint in the purpose-built enterprise mobility market. Sonim Technologies, known for its rugged mobile solutions trusted by first responders, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies, brings a complementary product portfolio and proven expertise in mission-critical communications to Social Mobile’s custom enterprise offerings.

“This acquisition creates a powerful synergy between Sonim’s durable, field-tested devices and Social Mobile’s scalable, custom mobility solutions,” said a spokesperson for Social Mobile. “Together, we are better positioned to deliver innovative, secure, and tailored mobility ecosystems that meet the evolving needs of our global clients.”

Sonim’s Board of Directors has approved the agreement.

Founded in 1999, Sonim Technologies has established itself as a leading U.S. provider of ultra-rugged phones, wireless data devices, and accessories, with a distribution footprint across North America, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific. The company’s products are widely adopted in industries where durability, security, and performance are non-negotiable.

For Social Mobile, a Google-certified Android Enterprise Gold Partner, this acquisition not only enhances its enterprise-grade product suite but also significantly expands its sellable addressable market, particularly through carrier channels where Sonim has longstanding relationships.

Social Mobile specializes in developing custom mobility solutions for clients across healthcare, transportation, retail, and defense. With over 15 million devices distributed globally, the company offers end-to-end services from design and deployment to lifecycle management, ensuring product availability and operational efficiency at scale.

As enterprise mobility demand continues to rise, the combined capabilities of Social Mobile and Sonim are expected to unlock new revenue opportunities and deliver greater value to customers looking for rugged, reliable, and custom-built mobile solutions.

V2X (VVX) – An $118 Million Contract


Friday, June 27, 2025

V2X builds innovative solutions that integrate physical and digital environments by aligning people, actions, and technology. V2X is embedded in all elements of a critical mission’s lifecycle to enhance readiness, optimize resource management, and boost security. The company provides innovation spanning national security, defense, civilian, and international markets. With a global team of approximately 16,000 professionals, V2X enables mission success by injecting AI and machine learning capabilities to meet today’s toughest challenges across all operational domains.

Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Support Services. According to the daily Department of Defense contract announcements, V2X subsidiary Vectrus Systems has been awarded an $118 million cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized contract for base support services in support of the Iraq F-16 program. This is another in a long line of recent wins for V2X, demonstrating the V2X value proposition and confirming the significant traction on near-term Foreign Military and International opportunities previously highlighted by management.

Details. The contract provides for base operating support, base life support, and security services. Work will be performed at Martyr BG Ali Flaih Air Base, Iraq, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2026. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Iraq. This contract was a sole source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $57.8 million are being obligated at the time of award.


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*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. 

Steelcase (SCS) – Post Call Commentary


Friday, June 27, 2025

Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Mixed Environment. Steelcase continues to face a mixed environment, both on a vertical basis and a geographical basis. The key large corporate customer cohort is doing well, driven by a number of factors such as return to office, but education and government have been hit by funding uncertainties. Germany and France remain sluggish in the key small-to-mid-sized business, but India and China are doing better.

International Actions. Steelcase is taking steps to implement additional cost reduction efforts in Europe, given the weak macroeconomic factors and lower demand in France and Germany. A goal of these actions is to get the International segment back to profitability.


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*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. 

Bit Digital (BTBT) – A Flurry of News


Friday, June 27, 2025

Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

News. Bit Digital released a flurry of news over the past two days, including a strategic shift in its business strategy, the potential IPO of its WhiteFiber subsidiary, and a $150 million equity offering. Needless to say, a lot to digest. If completed, the announced shifts would result in a significant change to Bit Digital.

Ethereum Focus. Operationally, Bit Digital will exit the bitcoin mining business and transition to become a pure-play Ethereum staking and treasury company. Given the economics of bitcoin mining versus Ethereum staking, we see the rationale in the move. The Company has commenced a strategic alternatives process for the Bitcoin mining operations.


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*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. 

AZZ (AZZ) – Quarterly Cash Dividend Increased by 17.6%, 1Q FY2026 Financial Results to be Released on July 9


Friday, June 27, 2025

Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Increase in the quarterly cash dividend. AZZ announced a 17.6% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.20 per share, or $0.80 on an annualized basis, from $0.17 per share, or $0.68 on an annualized basis. The dividend is payable on July 31 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 10. In our view, the dividend increase reflects management’s confidence in the company’s near- and long-term outlook.

First Quarter FY 2026 financial results. AZZ will release its first quarter financial results after the market close on Wednesday, July 9. Management will host an investor conference call and webcast on Thursday, July 10, at 11:00 am ET. We look forward to an update regarding the company’s new aluminum coil coating facility in Washington, Missouri, that is ramping up production, along with a review of market fundamentals and the company’s capital allocation priorities.


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*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. 

Metals & Mining Spotlight: Rare Earth Elements

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Mark Reichman, Senior Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the bottom of the report for important disclosures

Demand for rare earth elements expected to grow. Demand for rare earth elements is expected to grow meaningfully through 2030 and beyond, driven by electric vehicles, wind turbines, grid upgrades, and advanced defense technologies. According to the IEA, global rare earth demand could double by 2050 under a net-zero scenario, underscoring the growing strategic relevance in the global energy transition.

China dominates the REE market. According to the 2024 edition of the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy, China accounted for 67.9% of rare earth mineral production in 2023 and 38.1% of rare earth mineral reserves, while accounting for most of the midstream and downstream capacity. While mining activity is gradually diversifying, the refining stage remains concentrated. This level of concentration poses a risk to both the U.S. supply chain and national security.

U.S. policymakers seek to reduce dependence on China. U.S. policymakers are increasingly focused on reducing dependence on China for rare earth elements, viewing it as a national security and industrial resilience issue. Recent actions include invoking the Defense Production Act, funding domestic processing projects, and expanding international partnerships through initiatives like the Minerals Security Partnership. Legislative efforts and strategic investments are aimed at reshoring supply chains and building alternative capacity in allied countries such as Canada and Australia.

Necessity is the mother of invention. While the Trump Administration is taking appropriate action and policy momentum is growing, the path to increasing rare earth supply chain independence is complex and will take time. Policymakers may need to work with allies, such as Canada, to promote a North American supply chain that encompasses all aspects of the REE value chain, including upstream, midstream, and downstream. In addition to supportive public policy, private industry will likely need financial support from governments to kick start the effort.

Metals and Mining Spotlight: Rare Earth Elements

Rare earth elements (REEs) are comprised of 15 elements in the lanthanum series, along with scandium and yttrium. While not lanthanides, scandium and yttrium are classified as rare earth elements because they occur within the same ore deposits and share similar chemical properties. While the actual elements may not be rare, it is often difficult to find them in sufficient concentrations for economic extraction, and they require extensive processing. Cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, and promethium are considered light rare earth elements. Europium, gadolinium, and samarium are often referred to as medium rare earth elements, while dysprosium, erbium, holmium, lutetium, terbium, thulium, and ytterbium are considered heavy rare earth elements. We do not classify scandium (Sc) or yttrium (Y) as light, medium, or heavy. Below is a table summarizing the elements and their symbols.

Figure 1: Rare Earth Elements and Atomic Number and Symbol

Source: Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

One of the many uses of rare earth elements is in the production of permanent magnets which are critical components in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and other communication and defense technologies. Neodymium and praseodymium are critical materials in the manufacturing of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, which have among the highest magnetic strength among commercially available magnets and promote high energy density and efficiency in energy technologies. They are often referred to as NdPr magnets because they generally contain about one-third neodymium, of which some of that can be replaced by praseodymium. While REEs are used for a variety of applications, the highest value REEs are neodymium and praseodymium, which currently drive the value of mixed rare earth concentrates and precipitates. By economic value, neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) is the largest segment of the REE market. NdPr is primarily used in neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets for electric machines, such as electric vehicle (EV) traction motors, wind power generators, drones, robotics, electronics, and other applications. Given the wide-ranging uses of these component materials in critical infrastructure essential for national security and economic growth, the U.S. government has taken an interest in industry concentration.   

Figure 2: Rare Earth Applications

Source: National Energy Technology Laboratory

According to the 2024 edition of the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy, China accounted for 67.9% of rare earth mineral production in 2023 and 38.1% of rare earth mineral reserves. Conversely, the United States accounted for 12.2% of rare earth mineral production in 2023 and 1.6% of rare earth mineral reserves.

Figure 3: Rare Earth Metals Production and Reserves

Source: Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy 2024

Supply Chain and Pricing Overview

The supply chain for rare earths includes upstream, midstream, and downstream components.

Figure 4: Rare Earth Element Supply Chain

Source: Critical Materials Rare Earths Supply Chain: A Situational White Paper, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, April 2020

As illustrated in Figure 4, concentration or beneficiation is an extractive metallurgy process that upgrades the value of mineral ores that contain raw REEs by removing low value minerals and resulting in a higher-grade product such as rare-earth concentrate.

Separation is the process of separating individual REEs from one another in the rare earth oxide (REO) concentrates. Separation of REEs is chemically intensive because the REEs are chemically similar. Processing refers to the conversion of REOs to rare earth metals, such as neodymium metal which can then be used to form alloys. China controls most of the midstream separating and processing capacity.

There is no single price for REEs collectively, but numerous prices for REE oxides and compounds individually. Pricing information for rare earths is opaque and generally available by paid subscription. Public information is generally not comprehensive and generally does not provide detailed information as to quality and origin, which makes comparisons difficult. Below we have provided a pricing sample of the most valuable elements as of June 11, 2025.

Figure 5: Pricing Data for Select Rare Earth Elements (REE)

Source: Strategic Metals Invest

U.S. Rare Earth Element Market

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the estimated value of rare-earth compounds and metals imported by the United States in 2023 was $190 million, down 7% from $208 million in 2022. Catalysts represented the leading domestic end use for rare earths, followed by applications in ceramics and glass, metallurgical alloys, polishing, and embedded permanent magnets in finished goods. While rare earth recycling is expected to grow in the coming years, current recovery rates from sources such as batteries and permanent magnets remain limited. The table below provides some statistics associated with the rare earths market in the United States.

Figure 6: United States REE Market Statistics

Source: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey

Given the United States’ reliance on imports, we think Canadian producers stand to benefit from a shift away from sources in China. As processing capabilities are developed, the U.S. could be an important destination for Canada sourced materials.

Key REE Market Participants

The global rare earth industry remains defined by a limited number of dominant players, most of which are concentrated in China. China Northern Rare Earth Group (SHH: 600111), and China Minmetals are the largest vertically integrated producers, with strong government alignment and control over both upstream mining and midstream separation capacity. These firms benefit from large-scale infrastructure, domestic demand, and preferential access to processing technology that remains restricted from foreign use.

Outside China, Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC, OTC: LYSDY), in Australia is the largest fully integrated producer, with upstream operations at Mount Weld and a separation plant in Malaysia. Lynas is expanding into heavy rare earth processing in Texas through a strategic partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense.

MP Materials, the most significant rare earth materials producer in the United States, completed a business combination with Fortress Value Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on November 18, 2020, under the ticker MP. MP Materials owns and operates the Mountain Pass rare earth mine and processing facility in California which opened in 1952 as a uranium producer, pivoted to one of the largest suppliers of rare earth minerals, but closed in 2002 as environmental restrictions and imports made it difficult to compete. The facility underwent various ownership changes and reopened in 2017 under MP Materials’ ownership. It is North America’s only active and scaled rare earth production site and now has a market capitalization of $4.1 billion as of June 11, 2025.

The Mountain Pass mine in California and is the only active rare-earth mine in the United States. The company has restarted oxide production and is building refining and alloying capacity in Texas. MP has signed multi-year offtake agreements with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including General Motors, aimed at creating a vertically integrated domestic supply chain. However, the company still relies on China to assist in the separation process for some of its output, underscoring the current U.S. capabilities gap.

Additional participants working to expand non-Chinese supply chains include Iluka Resources (ASX: ILU, OTC: ILKAF) and Arafura Rare Earths (ASX: ARU, OTC: ARAFF), both based in Australia. Iluka is building a new facility with support from the Australian government, aimed at handling all stages of rare earth production. Arafura is also developing a new project with backing from international lenders, focused on supplying materials used in magnets for electric motors and other technologies. On the downstream side, magnet production is dominated by firms such as Shin-Etsu (TSE: 4063, OTC: SHECY), Hitachi Metals, and JL MAG (SZSC: 300748, OTC: JMREY), with capacity heavily skewed toward Asia. Efforts among U.S. and allied countries to establish domestic magnet manufacturing are progressing but remain in the early stages.

Additional publicly traded companies that have exposure to rare earths include: M2i Global Inc. (OTC: MTWO), Defense Metals (TSX: DEFN, OTC: DFMTF), Energy Fuels (NYSE: UUUU, TSX: EFR), NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ: NB), Aclara Resources (TSX: ARA, OTC: ARAAF), Mkango Resources (TSXV: MKA, OTC: MKNGF), Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV: UCU, OTC: UURAF), Rainbow Rare Earths (LSE: RBW, OTC: RBWRF), Hastings Technology Metals (ASX: HAS, OTC: HSRMF), Pensana Plc (LSE: PRE, OTC: PNSPF), and Neo Performance Materials (TSX: NEO, OTC: NOPMF). 

U.S Policymakers Take Action

China dominates the production of many critical minerals, including rare earth elements. There appears to be an awakening among U.S. policy makers of the dangers of dependence on foreign sources for critical minerals, especially those that are adversarial to the United States. We believe a shift is underway to source REEs from countries that are friendly to the United States, including Canada. As part of its strategy to ensure secure and reliable supplies of critical minerals, the U.S. Department of the Interior identified 35 critical minerals, including the rare earth elements group. The U.S. Government is planning to fund rare earths projects to reduce reliance on China. In January 2022, bipartisan legislation was introduced, the Restoring Essential Energy and Security Holdings Onshore for Rare Earths Act, to protect the U.S. from the threat of rare-earth element supply disruptions, encourage domestic production, and reduce reliance on China. REEs are found in mineral deposits such as bastnaesite and monazite, the two largest sources of REEs. Bastnaesite, a carbonate-fluoride mineral, typically contains cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium. Monazite, a phosphate mineral, typically contains cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, and samarium. Rare earths are mined domestically in the United States. Bastnaesite is extracted at the mine in Mountain Pass, California.

Since January 2025, the Trump administration has significantly expanded its strategic focus on rare earth supply chain security. In April, an executive order initiated an investigation into whether U.S. dependence on foreign sources of rare earths constitutes a national security threat. An additional order opened up new offshore exploration zones for critical minerals, including seabed areas believed to contain rare earth and battery metals.

Furthermore, the administration has invoked the Defense Production Act to allocate capital and permit support to midstream and downstream segments of the rare earth supply chain. MP Materials began producing rare earth metals at its Texas facility, while Lynas advanced its U.S. processing plant with support from the Department of Defense. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to rebuild U.S. capabilities across the rare earth value chain.

International partnerships have also gained momentum. The U.S. is advancing cooperation with Australia, Canada, and Ukraine to secure alternative sources of supply and coordinate project financing through the Minerals Security Partnership. A bilateral agreement with Ukraine is expected to facilitate exploration and development of new deposits, while Australia remains a primary ally for both upstream mining and technical collaboration.

Outlook

The rare earth industry is entering a period of strong growth and growing strategic relevance. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), magnet-grade rare earth demand could double by 2050, and mining projects could rise by 52% by 2040, under current policy (IEA, Critical Minerals Report, 2024). These forecasts are driven by growth in electric vehicle drivetrains, offshore wind development, and precision defense systems, all of which rely heavily on rare earth magnets for performance, efficiency, and miniaturization. As a result, rare earths have transitioned from niche industrial inputs to core strategic resources.

Figure 7: REE Demand Outlook and Mining Requirements (kt REE)

Source: Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2024, International Energy Agency (IEA)

We note that the IEA’s forecasts are based on three scenarios. These include: 1) the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), 2) the Announced Pledges Scenario (APS), and 3) the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE). The Stated Policies Scenario is based on current policy settings. The Announced Pledges Scenario assumes that governments will meet all climate-related commitments they have announced, including net zero emissions targets. The Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario represents a pathway for the global energy sector to achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. These are summarized, of course, and readers may consult the IEA’s report for a more detailed description.  

In the short term, challenges will continue to shape how supply chains evolve outside of China. Most new projects in Western countries face long approval timelines due to environmental reviews, local opposition, and infrastructure gaps. While government funding and procurement support are improving, the limited availability of midstream processing remains a key constraint. 

In our view, rare earths are evolving from niche industrial inputs to foundational resources for advanced economies. Although the industry currently operates at a scale that lags its growing strategic importance, recent policy momentum and expanded investment across allied nations are setting the stage for meaningful transformation. Looking ahead, we expect a more balanced and resilient global supply chain to emerge—anchored by deepening cooperation between the United States, Canada, Australia, and European partners. While China will remain a major player in the near term, the diversification of supply chains is gaining traction, signaling a shift toward greater self-sufficiency and long-term security among like-minded nations.


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ANALYST CREDENTIALS, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE

Senior Equity Analyst focusing on Basic Materials & Mining. 20 years of experience in equity research. BA in Business Administration from Westminster College. MBA with a Finance concentration from the University of Missouri. MA in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis.
Named WSJ ‘Best on the Street’ Analyst and Forbes/StarMine’s “Best Brokerage Analyst.”
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Noble Capital Markets Emerging Growth Virtual Equity Conference 2025 – Presentation Replays

Watch the replays from the Noble Capital Markets Emerging Growth Virtual Equity Conference. Replays are available to Channelchek registered members. Registration is free and easy. Simply click the Join button in the upper right to get started.

Day 1 Replays

Day 2 Replays

Participating in 1×1 Meetings Only

Xcel Brands (XELB) – Focused On Licensing Development


Wednesday, April 02, 2025

Xcel Brands, Inc. 1333 Broadway 10th Floor New York, NY 10018 United States https:/Sector(s): Consumer Cyclical Industry: Apparel Manufacturing Full Time Employees: 84 Key Executives Name Title Pay Exercised Year Born Mr. Robert W. D’Loren Chairman, Pres & CEO 1.27M N/A 1958 Mr. James F. Haran CFO, Principal Financial & Accou

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Jacob Mutchler, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Industry dynamics. The QVC Group recently announced that it is laying off 900 employees as part of its effort to become a live social shopping company. Notably, while we don’t anticipate QVC will stop live selling on traditional TV, the increased focus on social commerce is illustrative of changing consumer viewing habits. In our view, XCEL Brands is well positioned to benefit from shift in viewing habits toward streaming alternatives.

Valuable expertise. XCEL Brands is a veteran in the live selling space and has extensive experience working with celebrities to help bring their products to market and help them sell. In our view, the company is well positioned to provide celebrities with expertise both in traditional TV and social commerce selling, or live streaming.


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Noble Capital Markets 2025 Virtual Conference

Noble Capital Markets’ Emerging Growth Virtual Equity Conference – October 8-9, 2025

Set to be an immersive experience, bringing together investors, industry leaders, and experts from middle market public companies across all sectors. Featuring:

Corporate presentations with Fireside-style Q&A session proctored by Noble’s analysts and bankers

Scheduled 1×1 meetings with qualified investors

Up to 50 presenting companies, representing a wide array of sectors.

Why Present?

Noble’s investor base extends beyond traditional institutions to include family offices, money managers, and high-net-worth individuals who actively engage in smaller cap, open market transactions.

Noble’s investors crave the undervalued investment idea.

And not just investors that attend the live event. Channelchek will host replays of the corporate presentations and Q&A sessions right here, for all investors to view, free of charge, for the rest of the year.

Participation in conferences, both in-person and virtually, has proven to help in boosting awareness and liquidity. And Noble’s service offerings extend well beyond the conference circuit; our events are an extension of the year-round investor access we provide.

Ready to Register to Present? Click the link below:


Investor / Attendee Registration is Now Open! 1×1 Meetings available for qualified investors.

Have questions about the event?

Email: Noble’s Conference Team

Learn more about Noble’s Investor Events throughout the year:

Noble Capital Markets Investor Events

Alumis and ACELYRIN Announce Definitive Merger Agreement in All-Stock Transaction

Key Points:
– Alumis and ACELYRIN have agreed to an all-stock merger, creating a well-capitalized biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing immunology treatments.
– The combined company will have approximately $737 million in cash and securities, supporting multiple clinical trial readouts and operations into 2027.
– Alumis will retain its name and leadership team, with an expanded board including two ACELYRIN members, and the merger is expected to close in Q2 2025.

Alumis Inc. (NASDAQ: ALMS) and ACELYRIN (NASDAQ: SLRN) have announced a definitive merger agreement, combining the two clinical-stage biopharmaceutical companies in an all-stock transaction aimed at advancing immunology treatments and optimizing clinical outcomes.

Strategic Rationale and Financial Position

The merger will create a strongly capitalized company with a combined cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities position of approximately $737 million as of year-end 2024. This financial strength is expected to support the advancement of the companies’ combined pipeline through multiple key clinical data readouts and fund operating expenses and capital expenditures into 2027.

The combined company will leverage its track record in research and development and a proprietary data and analytics platform to drive innovation in immune-mediated diseases.

Martin Babler, President, CEO, and Chairman of Alumis, stated: “Through this combination with ACELYRIN, Alumis will have the financial flexibility and runway to advance an expanded late-stage pipeline, now including lonigutamab, and build commercial capabilities. Since completing our IPO, Alumis has operated with speed and rigor, and the multiple development milestones expected in 2025 and 2026, coupled with potential additional indications for ESK-001, represent exciting breakthroughs for our patients and value-driving opportunities for the combined company’s stockholders. As we move forward together, we will maintain financial discipline and a flexible capital allocation strategy with the goal of maximizing the value of our highly differentiated portfolio.”

Pipeline Highlights

  • Alumis’ ESK-001: A next-generation, allosteric TYK2 inhibitor, currently in Phase 3 ONWARD trials for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) and Phase 2b LUMUS trials for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Key Phase 2 52-week updates expected in 2025, with Phase 3 topline data in H1 2026.
  • Alumis’ A-005: A CNS-penetrant allosteric TYK2 inhibitor, targeting neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s Disease. A Phase 2 trial is set to begin in H2 2025.
  • ACELYRIN’s Lonigutamab: A subcutaneous anti-IGF-1R therapy with best-in-class potential for thyroid eye disease (TED), currently under Phase 2 evaluation.

Transaction Terms & Leadership Structure

  • Exchange Ratio: ACELYRIN stockholders will receive 0.4274 shares of Alumis common stock for each ACELYRIN share owned.
  • Ownership Breakdown: 55% Alumis stockholders, 45% ACELYRIN stockholders post-transaction.
  • Leadership: The combined company will operate under the Alumis name and be led by Alumis’ executive team, strengthened by key ACELYRIN professionals and medical experts.
  • Board Expansion: The board will grow to nine members, including two from ACELYRIN.
  • Closing Timeline: The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2025, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

This merger brings together two companies dedicated to transforming immunology treatments, strengthening their pipeline, and delivering long-term value to patients and investors alike.