Release – Euroseas Ltd. Reports Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2026 and Declares Quarterly Common Stock Dividend

May 21, 2026

ATHENS, Greece, May 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Euroseas Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESEA, the “Company” or “Euroseas”), an owner and operator of container carrier vessels and provider of seaborne transportation for containerized cargoes, announced today its results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2026 and declared a common stock dividend.

First Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights:

  • Total net revenues of $55.8 million. Net income of $32.5 million or $4.67 and $4.65 earnings per share basic and diluted, respectively. Adjusted net income1 for the period was $32.9 million or $4.72 and $4.70 per share basic and diluted, respectively.
  • Adjusted EBITDA1 was $40.9 million.
  • An average of 21.0 vessels were owned and operated during the first quarter of 2026 earning an average time charter equivalent rate of $30,354 per day.
  • Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.80 per share for the first quarter of 2026 payable on or about June 16, 2026 to shareholders of record on June 9, 2026, as part of the Company’s common stock dividend plan.
  •  As of May 21, 2026 we had repurchased 480,460 of our common stock in the open market, representing about 6.8% of the outstanding shares, for a total of about $11.36 million, under the share repurchase plan of up to $20 million announced in May 2022. The Board approved the continuation of the share repurchase plan for a further year in May 2026 and will review it again after a period of twelve months

Recent developments:

  • On May 4, 2026, Euroseas formed a joint venture with a group of investors represented by NRP Project Finance AS (“NRP Investors”) in relation to the ownership of the third 4,484 TEU vessel in the series of four 4,484 TEU vessels announced on August 25, 2025. The vessel, M/V Thrylos, is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2028 Under the terms of the transaction, the NRP Investors will acquire a 49% ownership interest in the vessel for total consideration of approximately $12.2 million, including certain transaction structuring costs, with the assumption that the vessel will be financed with at least 60% of debt.

________________
1 Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted earnings per share are not recognized measurements under US GAAP (GAAP) and should not be used in isolation or as a substitute for Euroseas financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. Refer to a subsequent section of the Press Release for the definitions and reconciliation of these measurements to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Aristides Pittas, Chairman and CEO of Euroseas commented:
“We are pleased to report the financial results for one of the most profitable quarters of the last fifteen years. This was the result of our solid contracts at very profitable rates and low drydocking expenses incurred during the period. Throughout the first quarter of 2026 and in April and May 2026 to date, containership charter rates maintain their high levels. Container freight rates also maintained their level during the first quarter of 2026 and, subsequently, increased notably in April and May. Secondhand prices have remained elevated at near record levels since their recent peak in 2022.

“Our latest charter fixtures have confirmed the continuing strength of the market. With the last charters just announced today, we have [$650m] contracted revenues backlog over the next five years. Our coverage is over 90% for the rest of 2026, 88% for 2027 and 48% for 2028 ensuring that our profitability will remain strong regardless of the levels that expiring charters will be renewed at.

“During the first quarter of 2026, the shipping and macroeconomic environment we operate in has become even more uncertain due to the Iran war and the practical closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Although the near-term effect of these developments on shipping are positive due to the inefficiencies introduced in the transport of goods and the necessary vessel rerouting, the medium-term risks of increased inflation and world economic slowdown are negative factors for our industry. Other trade-related matters like the almost forgotten by now US imposed tariffs can only add to the overall uncertainty. In addition to the above, the containership market has to cope with an increasing orderbook across all segments. Still though, feeders and intermediate containerships are to face a much better supply side situation with their segment fleets likely to shrink over the next 2-3 years rather than grow as the great majority of the new orders are for larger vessels.

“We feel that the very high secondhand prices of containerships make the acquisition of secondhand vessels, less attractive. However, we feel that there is an opportunity to invest in building new vessels, the price of which is less volatile. We decided to expand our newbuilding program by adding four new shipbuilding contracts to our existing orderbook of six vessels bringing our total number of vessels on order to ten. This ten-vessel newbuilding program complements the previous nine-vessel newbuilding program we completed in early 2025. When all the ten vessels are delivered, we will have one of the youngest feeder and intermediate containership fleets amongst our peers.

“Finaly, I am also pleased to announce that our balance sheet strength and contracted revenues backlog provide us with sufficient comfort to increase the rewards to our shareholders by increasing our dividend by 6.7% to $0.80 per share providing an annualized yield of between 4.5-5% on the recent range our share price trades.”

Tasos Aslidis, Chief Financial Officer of Euroseas commented:
“Our revenues for the first quarter of 2026 are slightly decreased by approximately 1% compared to the same period of 2025. The Company operated an average of 21.0 vessels, versus 23.68 vessels during the same period last year. At the same time the average time charter rates our vessels earned in the first quarter of 2026 increased by 10.1% compared to the same period of last year. Net revenues amounted to $55.8 million for the first quarter of 2026 compared to $56.3 million for the first quarter of 2025.

“Total daily vessel operating expenses, including management fees, general and administrative expenses, but excluding drydocking costs, increased by approximately 5.0%, during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same quarter of last year. This increase is mainly attributable to the softening of the USD which increases the dollar costs of our euro denominated costs.
   
“Adjusted EBITDA1 during the first quarter of 2026 was $40.9 million compared to $37.1 million achieved in the first quarter of last year.

“As of March 31, 2026, our outstanding bank debt (before deducting the unamortized loan fees) was $213.3 million, versus restricted and unrestricted cash of approximately $161.4 million. As of the same date, our scheduled debt repayments over the next 12 months amounted to about $18.7 million (excluding the unamortized loan fees).”

First Quarter 2026 Results:
For the first quarter of 2026, the Company reported total net revenues of $55.8 million representing a 1% decrease over total net revenues of $56.3 million during the first quarter of 2025. On average, 21.0 vessels were owned and operated during the first quarter of 2026 earning an average time charter equivalent rate of $30,354 per day compared to 23.68 vessels in the same period of 2025 earning on average $27,563 per day. The Company reported net income for the period of $32.5 million, as compared to net income of $36.9 million for the first quarter of 2025.

Voyage expenses for the first quarter of 2026 amounted to $0.2 million remaining at the same levels compared to the same period of 2025 and related to owners’ expenses incurred in various ports.

Vessel operating expenses for the first quarter of 2026 amounted to $11.2 million as compared to $12.3 million for the same period of 2025. The decreased amount is due to the lower number of vessels owned and operated in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the corresponding period of 2025.

Vessel depreciation expense for the first quarter of 2026 amounted to $6.7 million compared to $8.0 million for the same period of 2025 due to the decreased number of vessels in the Company’s fleet.

Despite the decreased numbers of vessels owned and operated, related party management fees for the first quarter of 2026 were $2.0 million, at the same level compared to the first quarter of 2025. This was the result of the adjustment for inflation in the daily vessel management fee, effective from January 1, 2026, increasing it from 840 Euros to 875 Euros, and the softening of the euro/dollar exchange rate during the period.

In the first quarter of 2025, we recorded a $10.23 million gain on the sale of M/V “Diamantis” that was completed in January 2025. No such case existed in the first quarter of 2026.

In the first quarter of 2026 none of our vessels was drydocked. The total cost of $0.05 million for the quarter relates to supplies performed for upcoming drydocks. In the first quarter of 2025 two of our vessels completed extensive repairs afloat for a total cost of $1.8 million.

General and administrative expenses slightly decreased to $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2026, as compared to $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2025 due to decreased professional fees.

Other operating income of $0.16 million recognized in the first quarter of 2026 refers to a settlement and closure of a claim with a charterer. No such case existed in the respective period of 2025.

Interest and other financing costs for the first quarter of 2026 amounted to $3.0 million. For the same period of 2025 interest and other financing costs amounted $3.9 million and the capitalized interest charged on the cost of our newbuilding program was $0.1 million. This decrease is due to the decreased benchmark rates of our loans and the decreased amount of debt in the current period compared to the same period of 2025.

For the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recognized a $0.3 million unrealized loss on its investments in equity securities. This was the result of an investment in equity securities with an initial cost of $20.0 million acquired in the first quarter of 2026 and fair valued at $19.7 million as of the end of the reporting period. This investment was made as part of the Company’s short-term cash and liquidity management strategy, in the context of which the Company also acquired debt securities of initial cost of $20.0 million and fair valued at $19.2 million as of March 31, 2026, classified as available-for-sale under US GAAP, for which an unrealized loss of $0.8 million was recorded in “Other comprehensive loss”.

For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company recognized a $0.17 million loss on its interest rate swap contract, comprising a $0.07 million realized gain and a $0.24 million unrealized loss. The specific contract was closed within the year 2025 and no such case existed in the first quarter of 2026.

Adjusted EBITDA1 for the first quarter of 2026 was $40.9 million, compared to $37.1 million achieved for the first quarter of 2025.

Basic and diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2026 was $4.67 and $4.65, respectively, calculated on 6,962,481 basic and 6,990,935 diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $5.31 and $5.29, respectively for the first quarter of 2025, calculated on 6,958,137 basic and 6,974,994 diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding.

The adjusted earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, would have been $4.72 and $4.70 per share basic and diluted, respectively, compared to adjusted earnings of $3.76 per share basic and diluted for the first quarter of 2025. Usually, security analysts include Adjusted Net Income in their determination of published estimates of earnings per share.

Fleet Profile:
The Euroseas Ltd. fleet profile as of May 21, 2026 is as follows:

NameTypeDwtTEUYear BuiltEmployment(*)TCE Rate ($/day)

Container Carriers
      
SYNERGY BUSAN (*)Intermediate50,7274,2532009TC until Dec-27$35,500
SYNERGY ANTWERP (*)Intermediate50,7274,2532008TC until May-28$35,500
SYNERGY OAKLAND (*)Intermediate50,7884,2532009TC until May-26 then until Mar-29$42,000
$33,500
SYNERGY KEELUNG (*)Intermediate50,6974,2532009TC until Jun-28$35,500
EMMANUEL P (*)Intermediate50,7964,2502005TC until Sep-28$38,000
RENA P (*)Intermediate50,7654,2502007TC until Jul-28$35,500
EM KEA (*)Feeder42,1653,1002007TC until Jul-26
then until Jul-29
$19,000
$30,000
GREGOS (*)Feeder38,7332,8002024TC until Mar-29$30,000
TERATAKI (*)Feeder38,7332,8002024TC until Jul-26
Then until Jun-29
$48,000
$30,000
TENDER SOUL (*)Feeder38,7332,8002024TC until Oct-27$32,000
LEONIDAS Z (*)Feeder38,7332,8002024TC until May-26
Then until Apr-29
$20,000
$30,000
DEAR PANEL(*)Feeder38,7332,8002025TC until Nov-27$32,000
SYMEON P(*)Feeder38,7332,8002025TC until Nov-27$32,000
PEPI STAR(*)Feeder22,5631,8002024TC until Jun-26$24,250
EVRIDIKI G (+)Feeder34,6542,5562001TC until Jun-26$29,500
EM CORFU (*)Feeder34,6492,5562001TC until Aug-26$28,000
MONICA (*)Feeder22,5631,8002024TC until May-27$23,500
STEPHANIA(*)Feeder22,5631,8002024TC until May-26$22,000
EM SPETSES (*)Feeder23,2241,7402007TC until Feb-28$21,500
JONATHAN P (*)Feeder23,7321,7402006TC until Oct-26$25,000
EM HYDRA (*)Feeder23,3511,7402005TC until May-27$19,000
Total Container Carriers21786,36261,144   

 
Note: (*) TC denotes time charter. All dates listed are the earliest redelivery dates under each TC unless the contract rate is lower than the current market rate in which cases the latest redelivery date is assumed; vessels with the latest redelivery date shown are marked by (+).

Vessels under constructionTypeDwtTEUTo be deliveredEmploymentTCE Rate ($/day)
ELENA (H1711)(**)Intermediate56,2664,484Q3 2027TC until Jun-31$35,500
NIKITAS G (H1712) (**)Intermediate56,2664,484Q4 2027TC until Sep-31$35,500
THRYLOS(YZJ-1768) (**) (***)Intermediate56,2664,484Q1 2028TC until Feb-32$35,500
SOCRATES CH (YZJ-1769) (**)Intermediate56,2664,484Q2 2028TC until Apr-32$35,500
DANAI (HCY- 438)Feeder35,1002,798Q2 2028  
NENI (HCY- 439)Feeder35,1002,798Q3 2028  
SPYROS CH (S-1170)Feeder23,8501,781Q2 2028  
GAVROS (S-1171)Feeder23,8501,781Q3 2028  
TONIS M (HCY – 440)Feeder35,1002,798Q4 2028  
SWEET EVELINA (HCY-441)Feeder35,1002,798Q1 2029  
Total vessels under construction10413,16432,690   

 
(**)         Charterer has the option to convert to a five-year charter at $32,500/day for the entire period.
(***)        The entity owning the vessel is 51% owned by Euroseas Ltd. and 49% by NRP Investors.

Summary Fleet Data:

 Three Months, Ended March 31, 2025Three Months, Ended March 31, 2026
FLEET DATA  
Average number of vessels (1)23.6821.0
Calendar days for fleet (2)2,131.01,890.0
Scheduled off-hire days incl. laid-up (3)19.8
Available days for fleet (4) = (2) – (3)2,111.21,890.0
Commercial off-hire days (5)
Operational off-hire days (6)16.0
Voyage days for fleet (7) = (4) – (5) – (6)2,095.21,890.0
Fleet utilization (8) = (7) / (4)99.2%100.0%
Fleet utilization, commercial (9) = ((4) – (5)) / (4)100.0%100.0%
Fleet utilization, operational (10) = ((4) – (6)) / (4)99.2%100.0%
   
AVERAGE DAILY RESULTS (usd/day)  
Time charter equivalent rate (11)27,56330,354
Vessel operating expenses excl. drydocking expenses (12)6,6766,989
General and administrative expenses (13)835900
Total vessel operating expenses (14)7,5117,889
Drydocking expenses (15)84924

 
(1) Average number of vessels is the number of vessels that constituted the Company’s fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of calendar days each vessel was a part of the Company’s fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.

(2) Calendar days. We define calendar days as the total number of days in a period during which each vessel in our fleet was in our possession including off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys or days of vessels in lay-up. Calendar days are an indicator of the size of our fleet over a period and affect both the amount of revenues and the amount of expenses that we record during that period.

(3) The scheduled off-hire days including vessels laid-up, vessels committed for sale or vessels that suffered unrepaired damages, are days associated with scheduled repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys or days of vessels in lay-up, or vessels that were committed for sale or suffered unrepaired damages.

(4) Available days. We define available days as the Calendar days in a period net of scheduled off-hire days as defined above. We use available days to measure the number of days in a period during which vessels were available to generate revenues. 

(5) Commercial off-hire days. We define commercial off-hire days as days a vessel is idle without employment.

(6) Operational off-hire days. We define operational off-hire days as days associated with unscheduled repairs or other off-hire time related to the operation of the vessels.

(7) Voyage days. We define voyage days as the total number of days in a period during which each vessel in our fleet was in our possession net of commercial and operational off-hire days. We use voyage days to measure the number of days in a period during which vessels actually generate revenues or are sailing for repositioning purposes.

(8) Fleet utilization. We calculate fleet utilization by dividing the number of our voyage days during a period by the number of our available days during that period. We use fleet utilization to measure a company’s efficiency in finding suitable employment for its vessels and minimizing the amount of days that its vessels are off-hire for reasons such as unscheduled repairs or days waiting to find employment. 

(9) Fleet utilization, commercial. We calculate commercial fleet utilization by dividing our available days net of commercial off-hire days during a period by our available days during that period. 

(10) Fleet utilization, operational. We calculate operational fleet utilization by dividing our available days net of operational off-hire days during a period by our available days during that period. 

(11) Average time charter equivalent rate, or average TCE, is a measure of the average daily net revenue performance of our vessels. Our method of calculating average TCE is determined by dividing time charter revenue and voyage charter revenue, if any, net of voyage expenses by voyage days for the relevant time period. Voyage expenses primarily consist of port, canal and fuel costs that are unique to a particular voyage, which would otherwise be paid by the charterer under a time charter contract, or are related to repositioning the vessel for the next charter. Average TCE, which is a non-GAAP measure, provides additional meaningful information in conjunction with time charter revenue and voyage charter revenue, if any,, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, because it assists our management in making decisions regarding the deployment and use of our vessels and because we believe that it provides useful information to investors regarding our financial performance. Average TCE is a standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a shipping company’s performance despite changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., spot voyage charters, time charters and bareboat charters) under which the vessels may be employed between the periods. Our definition of average TCE may not be comparable to that used by other companies in the shipping industry.

(12) We calculate daily vessel operating expenses, which includes crew costs, provisions, deck and engine stores, lubricating oil, insurance, maintenance and repairs and related party management fees by dividing vessel operating expenses and related party management fees by fleet calendar days for the relevant time period. Drydocking expenses are reported separately. 

(13) Daily general and administrative expenses are calculated by us by dividing general and administrative expenses by fleet calendar days for the relevant time period. 

(14) Total vessel operating expenses, or TVOE, is a measure of our total expenses associated with operating our vessels. TVOE is the sum of vessel operating expenses, related party management fees and general and administrative expenses; drydocking expenses are not included. Daily TVOE is calculated by dividing TVOE by fleet calendar days for the relevant time period.

(15) Daily drydocking expenses are calculated by us by dividing drydocking expenses by the fleet calendar days for the relevant period, Drydocking expenses include expenses during drydockings that would have been capitalized and amortized under the deferral method. Drydocking expenses could vary substantially from period to period depending on how many vessels underwent drydocking during the period. The Company expenses drydocking expenses as incurred.

Conference Call and Webcast:
Today, Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 08:30 a.m. Eastern Time, the Company’s management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results.

Conference Call details:
Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: 877 405 1226 (US Toll-Free Dial In) or +1 201 689 7823 (US and Standard International Dial In). Please quote “Euroseas” to the operator and/or conference ID 13760749.
Click here for additional participant International Toll-Free access numbers.

Alternatively, participants can register for the call using the call me option for a faster connection to join the conference call. You can enter your phone number and let the system call you right away.  Click here for the call me option.

 Audio Webcast – Slides Presentation: 
There will be a live and then archived webcast of the conference call and accompanying slides, available on the Company’s website. To listen to the archived audio file, visit our website http://www.euroseas.gr and click on Company Presentations under our Investor Relations page. Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

The slide presentation for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, will also be available in PDF format minutes prior to the conference call and webcast, accessible on the company’s website (www.euroseas.gr) on the webcast page. Participants to the webcast can download the PDF presentation.  


Euroseas Ltd.
Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
(All amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars except number of shares)

  Three Months Ended
March 31,
2025
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2026
    
Revenues   
Time charter revenue 57,983,415 57,535,733 
Commissions (1,637,320)(1,698,949)
Net revenues 56,346,095 55,836,784 
    
Operating expenses / (income)   
Voyage expenses 232,976 166,347 
Vessel operating expenses 12,251,094 11,216,018 
Drydocking expenses 1,808,342 45,706 
Vessel depreciation 8,045,067 6,680,851 
Related party management fees 1,975,705 1,993,330 
Gain on sale of vessel (10,230,210) 
General and administrative expenses 

1,778,918
 

1,701,518
 
Other operating income  (163,021)
Total operating expenses, net 15,861,892 21,640,749 
    
Operating income 40,484,203 34,196,035 
    
Other (expenses) / income   
Interest and other financing costs (3,907,453)(3,009,526)
Loss on derivative, net (173,386) 
Loss on investments in equity securities  (348,820)
Foreign exchange gain / (loss) 2,027 (17,241)
Interest income 509,603 1,699,808 
Other expenses, net (3,569,209)(1,675,779)
    
Net income 36,914,994 32,520,256 
Earnings per share, basic 5.31 4.67 
Weighted average number of shares, basic 6,958,137 6,962,481 
Earnings per share, diluted 5.29 4.65 
Weighted average number of shares, diluted 6,974,994 6,990,935 
    
Other comprehensive loss:   
Unrealized loss on investments in debt securities  (818,000)
Other comprehensive loss  (818,000)
    
Total comprehensive income 36,914,994 31,702,256 

 
Euroseas Ltd.
Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(All amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars – except number of shares)

 December 31,
2025
March 31,
2026
   
ASSETS  
Current Assets:  
Cash and cash equivalents176,460,053154,452,650 
Restricted cash564,027608,168 
Trade accounts receivable10,159,57212,257,574 
Other receivables1,365,5501,026,227 
Inventories2,817,4933,031,029 
Accrued interest income162,405 
Investment in debt securities19,182,000 
Investment in equity securities19,651,180 
Prepaid expenses984,3941,295,371 
Total current assets
192,351,089211,666,604 
Fixed assets:  
Advances for vessels under construction35,890,93645,164,359 
Vessels, net465,913,492459,550,867 
Long-term assets:  
Restricted cash6,300,0006,300,000 
Total assets700,455,517722,681,830 
   
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY  
Current liabilities:  
Long-term debt, current portion19,151,93218,301,932 
Trade accounts payable3,907,7924,202,066 
Accrued expenses9,035,45210,730,328 
Accrued dividends143,510213,560 
Deferred revenue5,291,8705,227,669 
Due to related company1,821,72378,267 
Total current liabilities39,352,27938,753,822 
   
Long-term liabilities:  
Long-term debt, net of current portion197,659,451193,239,404 
Total long-term liabilities197,659,451193,239,404 
Total liabilities237,011,730231,993,226 
   
Shareholders’ equity:   
Common stock (par value $0.03, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 7,055,881 issued and outstanding)211,676211,676 
Additional paid-in capital258,724,564259,559,036 
Retained earnings204,507,547231,735,892 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(818,000)
Total shareholders’ equity463,443,787490,688,604 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity700,455,517722,681,830 

 
Euroseas Ltd.

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(All amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars)

 Three Months
Ended March 31,
2025
Three Months
Ended March 31,
2026
Cash flows from operating activities:  
Net income36,914,994 32,520,256 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:  
Vessel depreciation8,045,067 6,680,851 
Amortization and write off of deferred charges127,945 99,045 
Share-based compensation509,096 834,472 
Unrealized loss on investments in equity securities 348,820 
Gain on sale of vessel(10,230,210) 
Unrealized loss on derivative238,431  
Amortization of fair value of below market time charters acquired(1,218,240) 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities6,838,283 (2,063,336)
Net cash provided by operating activities41,225,366 38,420,108 
   
Cash flows from investing activities:  
Cash paid for vessels under construction(56,525,006)(9,278,133)
Cash paid for vessel improvements(155,303)(514,286)
Net proceeds from sale of a vessel12,875,660  
Investment in equity securities (20,000,000)
Investment in debt securities (20,000,000)
Net cash used in investing activities(43,804,649)(49,792,419)
   
Cash flows from financing activities:  
Cash paid for share repurchase(1,206,021) 
Dividends paid(4,518,889)(5,221,861)
Loan arrangement fees paid(429,000) 
Proceeds from long-term debt52,000,000  
Repayment of long-term debt(15,259,090)(5,369,090)
Cash retained by Euroholdings Ltd. at spin-off(13,129,541) 
Net cash provided by financing activities17,457,459 (10,590,951)
Net increase / (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash14,878,176 (21,963,262)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period80,666,327 183,324,080 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period95,544,503 161,360,818 
Cash breakdown  
Cash and cash equivalents88,333,158 154,452,650 
Restricted cash, current911,345 608,168 
Restricted cash, long term6,300,000 6,300,000 
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows95,544,503 161,360,818 
     

Euroseas Ltd.
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net income
(All amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars)

 Three Months Ended
March 31, 2025
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2026
Net income36,914,994 32,520,256
Interest and other financing costs, net (incl. interest income)3,397,850 1,309,718
Vessel depreciation8,045,067 6,680,851
Gain on sale of vessel(10,230,210)
Loss on interest rate swap derivative, net173,386 
Amortization of below market time charters acquired(1,218,240)
Unrealized loss on investments in equity securities 348,820
Adjusted EBITDA37,082,847 40,859,645

 
Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation:

Euroseas Ltd. considers Adjusted EBITDA to represent net income before interest and other financing costs, net, depreciation, loss on interest rate swap derivative, net, gain on sale of vessel, amortization of fair value of below market time charters acquired and unrealized loss on investments in equity securities. Adjusted EBITDA does not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, as determined by United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is included herein because it is a basis upon which the Company assesses its financial performance and liquidity position and because the Company believes that this non-GAAP financial measure assists our management and investors by increasing the comparability of our performance from period to period by excluding the potentially disparate effects between periods of financial costs, loss on interest rate swaps, gain on sale of vessel, depreciation, amortization of below market time charters acquired and unrealized loss on investments in equity securities. The Company’s definition of Adjusted EBITDA may not be the same as that used by other companies in the shipping or other industries.

Euroseas Ltd.
Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income to Net Income
(All amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars except share data and per share amounts)

 Three Months Ended
March 31, 2025
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2026
Net income36,914,994 32,520,256
Unrealized loss on derivative238,431 
Gain on sale of vessel(10,230,210)
Amortization of below market time charters acquired(1,218,240)
Vessel depreciation on the portion of the consideration of vessels acquired with attached time charters allocated to below market time charters488,312 
Unrealized loss on investments in equity securities 348,820
Adjusted net income26,193,287 32,869,076
Adjusted earnings per share, basic3.76 4.72
Weighted average number of shares, basic6,958,137 6,962,481
Adjusted earnings per share, diluted3.76 4.70
Weighted average number of shares, diluted6,974,994 6,990,935

 
Adjusted net income and Adjusted earnings per share Reconciliation:

Euroseas Ltd. considers Adjusted net income to represent net income before unrealized loss on derivative, gain on sale of vessel, amortization of below market time charters acquired, vessel depreciation on the portion of the consideration of vessels acquired with attached time charters allocated to below market time charters and unrealized loss on investments in equity securities. Adjusted net income and Adjusted earnings per share are included herein because we believe they assist our management and investors by increasing the comparability of the Company’s fundamental performance from period to period by excluding the potentially disparate effects between periods of the aforementioned items, which may significantly affect results of operations between periods.

Adjusted net income and Adjusted earnings per share do not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or earnings per share, as determined by GAAP. The Company’s definition of Adjusted net income and Adjusted earnings per share may not be the same as that used by other companies in the shipping or other industries. Adjusted net income and Adjusted earnings per share are not adjusted for all non-cash income and expense items that are reflected in our statement of cash flows.

About Euroseas Ltd.
Euroseas Ltd. was formed on May 5, 2005 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to consolidate the ship owning interests of the Pittas family of Athens, Greece, which has been in the shipping business over the past 140 years. Euroseas trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker ESEA.

Euroseas operates in the container shipping market. Euroseas’ operations are managed by Eurobulk Ltd., an ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified affiliated ship management company, which is responsible for the day-to-day commercial and technical management and operations of the vessels. Euroseas employs its vessels on spot and period charters and through pool arrangements.

The Company has a fleet of 21 vessels, including 15 Feeder containerships and 6 Intermediate containerships. Euroseas 21 containerships have a cargo capacity of 61,144 teu. After the delivery of ten containership newbuilding containerships gradually from the third quarter of 2027 until the first quarter of 2029, Euroseas’ fleet will consist of 31 vessels with a total carrying capacity of 93,834 teu.

Forward Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and the Company’s growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy; including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “hopes,” “estimates,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to changes in the demand for containerships, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.


Visit the Company’s website www.euroseas.gr

Company ContactInvestor Relations / Financial Media
Tasos Aslidis
Chief Financial Officer
Euroseas Ltd.
11 Canterbury Lane,
Watchung, NJ 07069
Tel. (908) 301-9091
E-mail: mailto:[email protected]
Nicolas Bornozis
Markella Kara
Capital Link, Inc.
230 Park Avenue, Suite 1540
New York, NY 10169
Tel. (212) 661-7566
E-mail: [email protected]

Release – InPlay Receives TSX Approval for Normal Course Issuer Bid

May 21, 2026, 07:30 ET

CALGARY, AB, May 20, 2026 /CNW/ – InPlay Oil Corp. (TSX: IPO) (TASE: IPO) (OTCQX: IPOOF) (“InPlay” or the “Company“) is pleased to announce that the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX“) has accepted InPlay’s notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid (the “NCIB“). 

Under the NCIB, InPlay may purchase for cancellation, from time to time, as InPlay considers advisable, up to a maximum of 1,793,976 common shares (“Common Shares“), which represents 10% of the Company’s public float of 17,939,761 Common Shares as at May 14, 2026.  As of the same date, InPlay had 28,006,416 Common Shares issued and outstanding.  Purchases of Common Shares may be made on the open market through the facilities of the TSX and through other alternative Canadian trading systems at the prevailing market price at the time of such transaction.  The actual number of Common Shares that may be purchased for cancellation and the timing of any such purchases will be determined by InPlay, subject to a maximum daily purchase limitation of 23,004 Common Shares which equates to 25% of InPlay’s average daily trading volume on the TSX of 92,017 Common Shares for the six months ended April 30, 2026. InPlay may make one block purchase per calendar week which exceeds the daily repurchase restrictions.  Any Common Shares that are purchased by InPlay under the NCIB will be cancelled.

InPlay has entered into an automatic share purchase plan (“ASPP“) with a broker to facilitate repurchases of the Common Shares. Under the Corporation’s ASPP, the broker may repurchase Common Shares under the NCIB during the Corporation’s self-imposed blackout periods. Purchases will be made by the broker based upon the parameters prescribed by the TSX and applicable securities laws, as well as the terms of the ASPP and the parties’ written agreement. Outside of these blackout periods, Common Shares may be purchased under the NCIB in accordance with management’s discretion.

The NCIB will commence on May 25, 2026 and will terminate on May 24, 2027 or such earlier time as the NCIB is completed or terminated at the option of InPlay. 

InPlay’s free cash flow has increased significantly in the current crude oil pricing environment. The Company believes renewing the NCIB is a prudent step in a volatile energy market, particularly during periods when the prevailing market price does not reflect the underlying intrinsic value of its Common Shares. The repurchase and cancellation of Common Shares demonstrates management’s confidence in the Company’s long-term prospects and the sustainability of its business model. By reducing the share count, the NCIB enhances per share metrics for shareholders and provides management with an additional tool within its disciplined capital allocation and shareholder return strategy.

About InPlay Oil Corp.

InPlay Oil is a junior oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in Alberta focused on light oil production. The Company operates long-lived, low-decline properties with drilling development and enhanced oil recovery potential as well as undeveloped lands with exploration possibilities. The Common Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “IPO”, the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange under the symbol “IPO” and the OTCQX under the symbol “IPOOF”.

For further information please contact:

Doug Bartole                               Kevin Leonard      
President and Chief Executive Officer        Vice President Corporate & Business Development
InPlay Oil Corp.    InPlay Oil Corp.
Telephone: (587) 955-0632   Telephone: (587) 955-0635

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This information includes, but is not limited to InPlay’s intentions with respect to the NCIB and purchases thereunder and the effects of repurchases under the NCIB.  Although InPlay believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because InPlay can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.  Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties.  Actual results could defer materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Certain of these risks are set out in more detail in InPlay’s Annual Information Form which has been filed on SEDAR+ and can be accessed at www.sedarplus.com.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and InPlay undertakes no obligation to update publically or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE InPlay Oil Corp.

Nvidia Just Reported the Most Profitable Quarter in Semiconductor History — the Downstream Effects Are Just Starting

The numbers Nvidia posted Wednesday evening after the closing bell were not just a beat — they were a redefinition of what a technology company can generate in a single quarter. Record revenue of $81.6 billion, up 85% year over year. Data center revenue of $75.2 billion, up 92%. Net income of $58.3 billion — a 211% increase from a year ago. Non-GAAP earnings per share of $1.87, clearing the $1.77 consensus estimate. Gross margins held at 75% despite a simultaneous transition between two major chip architectures.

And then came the guidance. Nvidia is projecting $91 billion in revenue for the current quarter — well above the $87 billion Wall Street consensus and comfortably ahead of the highest whisper numbers circulating before the print. The company announced a new $80 billion share repurchase authorization and returned approximately $20 billion to shareholders through buybacks and dividends in the quarter alone.

Nvidia’s stock rose modestly after hours, a reflection not of disappointment but of a market that had already priced in excellence and received confirmation.

What’s Driving It

The engine behind the numbers is Blackwell — Nvidia’s current generation AI chip architecture that now drives the majority of data center compute revenue. Blackwell 300 products ramped aggressively in the quarter, and Nvidia’s networking solutions — including InfiniBand, Spectrum-X Ethernet, and NVLink — posted networking revenue growth of 64% sequentially as AI factories scaled their interconnect infrastructure.

Nvidia also launched the Vera Rubin platform during the quarter — its next-generation architecture purpose-built for agentic AI workloads. The Vera CPU is described as the world’s first processor designed specifically for AI agents, with first deployments expected at Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and CoreWeave in the second half of 2026. At its March GTC conference, CEO Jensen Huang projected that Blackwell and Vera Rubin combined would generate $1 trillion in revenue across 2026 and 2027. Wednesday’s results do nothing to undermine that projection.

Notably, Nvidia’s Q2 guidance explicitly excludes any data center compute revenue from China — the H20 export restrictions imposed in April remain fully in effect — making the $91 billion outlook that much more significant.

The Small and Microcap Read-Through

For investors operating below the $2 billion market cap threshold, Nvidia’s quarter is not just a large-cap story. It is a forward demand signal for an entire ecosystem of smaller companies.

The top five hyperscalers — Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Oracle — are now expected to nearly double their capital expenditure spending in 2026, a significant revision upward from prior estimates of 62% year-over-year growth. That level of infrastructure commitment does not get executed through Nvidia alone. It flows through hundreds of suppliers, component manufacturers, and technology providers operating at every layer of the AI buildout stack.

Smaller companies in specialty semiconductor materials, advanced cooling systems, power infrastructure, optical networking components, and AI-optimized software are direct downstream beneficiaries of a sustained hyperscaler capex cycle. Many of those companies sit well below the $2 billion market cap threshold and have yet to see their valuations reflect the demand environment Nvidia’s results just confirmed.

The AI infrastructure buildout is not slowing. Wednesday night’s print made that case with $81.6 billion worth of evidence.

Xcel Brands (XELB) – Creator Rollout Gains Momentum Into Second Half


Thursday, May 21, 2026

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.

Favorable color on Q1 results. Q1 2026 results were pressured by temporary HSN supplier disruptions, although management indicated that delayed shipments should benefit Q2 performance. Importantly, the quarter marked the beginning of commercialization for Xcel’s influencer-led portfolio as Jenny Martinez and Gemma Stafford launched on QVC and HSN.

Product Roadmap Expanding Across Multiple Categories. Early launches for Jenny Martinez and Gemma Stafford showed stronger demand for food products versus hard goods, prompting a broader push into consumables, while Cesar Millan’s Amazon storefront and pet product rollout are expected within 6–8 weeks. Notably, the food products are consumable offerings with shorter lead times, domestic production, and recurring-purchase potential. 


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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. 

SKYX Platforms (SKYX) – Conversation with Management; Updated Model


Thursday, May 21, 2026

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.

Overview. We had the opportunity to chat with SKYX management this week following the Company’s first-quarter earnings release. In short, management believes momentum continues to build with new agreements in the European hospitality business, the ongoing AI upgrading of the retail websites platform, recent capital raises which provide a runway to cash flow positive, and the potential for regulatory reform.

Key Drivers. The announced major construction and hospitality projects represent over one million units alone, with several projects projected to begin ordering this year, while management expects to deploy 100,000 units by year-end through the retail and pro channels. Turbo Heater retail sales are exceeding expectations, and the Company is developing additional line extensions here. The economy and, in particular, the housing market, remain a variable that could impact the pace of sales, in our view.


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Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.

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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. 

Kelly Services (KELYA) – Never Too Early to Plan


Thursday, May 21, 2026

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.

Letter. In a letter to the members of Kelly’s Board of Directors, Chris Hunt, CEO of Hunt Companies and Chairman of Kelly’s Board, requested, on behalf of Hunt Companies, that Kelly form a special committee of independent and disinterested directors so that Kelly may be prepared to discuss and evaluate new potential opportunities for Kelly involving Hunt and its affiliates if and when presented without delay.

Letter Agreement. The formation of such a committee is a requirement of the Letter Agreement between Hunt and Kelly. In its letter, Hunt states, “We want to emphasize that any potential transaction would be pursued only in accordance with the terms of the Letter Agreement,” which contains a 1-year standstill on a going private transaction, which we believe provides protection to A shareholders as management continues to transform the Company. As a reminder, in January Hunt acquired approximately 92.2% of the controlling B shares.


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Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.

This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

The Federal Government Just Bet $2 Billion on Quantum Computing — and Several of the Winners Are Small Caps

The Trump administration moved Thursday to establish the United States as the dominant force in quantum computing, announcing $2 billion in equity investments across nine domestic companies as part of a coordinated push to accelerate the technology’s development and close the gap with China. The move sent shares in several of the recipients surging between 6% and 31% on the day — and for investors paying attention to the small and microcap names in the deal, the signal goes well beyond a single-session pop.

The investments will be funded through incentives under the CHIPS and Science Act, originally signed by former President Biden, and represent the latest instance of the Trump administration taking direct equity stakes in strategic technology companies — a model it has already deployed with Intel and rare-earth mining company MP Materials.

Who Gets What

IBM is the largest recipient, securing $1 billion to establish a new company called Anderon in New Albany, New York — which the administration is positioning as America’s first dedicated quantum chip manufacturing facility. IBM will contribute $1 billion alongside intellectual property, assets, and workforce, with plans to bring in additional private investors as the venture scales. Contract chipmaker GlobalFoundries received $375 million and launched a new division called Quantum Technology Solutions, with the government taking approximately a 1% equity stake in the company.

The remaining funding flows directly into smaller players. D-Wave, Rigetti Computing, and Infleqtion each received approximately $100 million, while Diraq received up to $38 million to address specific technical hurdles around error rates — one of the central engineering challenges still limiting quantum computing’s practical performance. PsiQuantum, which raised $1 billion in private funding last year from investors including Nvidia’s venture capital arm, is also among the recipients.

Rigetti Computing shares surged more than 25% Thursday. Infleqtion jumped nearly 29%. Both are among the smaller names in the cohort and carry market capitalizations well within ChannelChek’s coverage universe.

Why This Matters Beyond the Headlines

Quantum computers are designed to process information exponentially faster than conventional supercomputers, with potential applications spanning drug discovery, financial modeling, logistics optimization, and cryptography. The technology has faced persistent skepticism around timelines — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang suggested last year that practical quantum computers could be two decades away — but Thursday’s announcement carries a specific weight that speculation does not.

The US government has demonstrated through its CHIPS Act deployment that it does not take equity positions in technologies it considers speculative. The CEO of Infleqtion made that point directly Thursday, arguing that this level of federal commitment signals the technology is advancing faster than the broader market appreciates.

For small and microcap investors, that framing is the critical takeaway. Government equity validation in early-stage technology companies has historically served as a powerful de-risking signal that accelerates institutional interest and compresses the timeline to commercialization. Several of the quantum computing companies receiving funding today were, as recently as 18 months ago, viewed primarily as speculative bets.

Thursday’s announcement reframes that narrative — and the market reaction suggests investors are adjusting their positioning accordingly.

The Fed Has a New Chair — and He Is Walking Into One of the Hardest Jobs in Finance

Jerome Powell’s tenure as Federal Reserve Chair officially ended Friday after more than seven years leading the central bank through a pandemic, the steepest rate hiking cycle in four decades, and a prolonged battle with post-pandemic inflation. His successor, Kevin Warsh, stepped into the role this week inheriting what may be the most complicated monetary policy environment since Paul Volcker confronted double-digit inflation in the early 1980s.

For small and microcap investors, the transition is not a ceremonial changing of the guard. It is a material shift in the direction of monetary policy at precisely the moment when the cost of capital is becoming the defining variable for smaller company valuations and earnings growth.

Who Warsh Is and Why It Matters

Kevin Warsh previously served as a Federal Reserve Governor from 2006 to 2011, a tenure that included navigating the 2008 financial crisis. He is widely characterized as a hawk — a policymaker with a structural preference for price stability over growth accommodation and a historically low tolerance for above-target inflation. His academic and professional profile suggests he is less likely than Powell to hold rates steady while inflation remains elevated and more willing to tighten further if price pressures persist.

He is stepping in at a moment when that disposition will be tested immediately.

The Macro Backdrop Warsh Inherits

The numbers Warsh walks into are unambiguous. The 30-year Treasury yield closed last week at 5.12% — its highest level since June 2007. The 10-year benchmark yield has breached 4.57%. The Consumer Price Index showed consumer inflation running at 3.8% year over year in April, driven heavily by energy costs tied to the ongoing US-Iran conflict. The Producer Price Index came in at 6% annually — a number that signals upstream cost pressures have not peaked. CME’s FedWatch tool currently prices in a near-certainty of a rate hold at June’s meeting, with traders assigning close to a 50% probability of at least one rate hike before year end.

That is the environment Warsh now owns. Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran submitted his resignation last week, effective upon Warsh’s swearing in, creating additional uncertainty around the composition and internal dynamics of the board at a critical juncture.

The Direct Small Cap Implication

The cost of capital story is where this transition becomes acutely relevant for investors in the sub-$2 billion market cap space. Small and microcap companies carry disproportionately more variable-rate debt relative to their large cap counterparts. When benchmark rates rise — or even when the probability of rate hikes increases — the interest expense on that debt rises in real time, compressing earnings directly and immediately.

Beyond debt service costs, a hawkish Fed posture extends the timeline for rate relief that many smaller companies had been counting on to refinance obligations at more favorable terms. The Russell 2000 has already declined more than 1% today while the S&P 500 trades modestly higher — a divergence that reflects exactly this dynamic playing out in real time.

A Warsh-led Fed that prioritizes inflation control over growth accommodation will likely sustain higher rates longer than markets had previously anticipated. For companies with strong balance sheets and pricing power, that is manageable. For smaller companies operating on thin margins with floating rate exposure, it is a structural headwind that belongs in every portfolio risk assessment right now.

The Powell era is over. The Warsh era begins with inflation still elevated, yields near 20-year highs, and the smallest companies in the market most exposed to whatever comes next.

Power Metallic Mines Inc. (PNPNF) – Power Metallic Expands Saudi Exploration Platform


Wednesday, May 20, 2026

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.

Strategic Partnership. Power Metallic Mines executed a strategic partnership with Amaar United Mining Company to jointly pursue mining license opportunities in Saudi Arabia through a 50/50 joint venture structure. The partnership combines Power Metallic’s technical and exploration expertise with Amaar Mining’s local presence and regulatory support capabilities. Power Metallic is expected to act as the technical lead and proposed operator of any post-award joint venture, subject to the execution of definitive joint venture documentation.

Funding Structure. For the first aggregate US$10 million of approved post-award work-program funding, Power Metallic will contribute US$2.5 million, and Amaar will contribute US$7.5 million, while both parties retain equal beneficial ownership, economic interests, and equity interests in the consortium and any post-award joint venture. Following the funding of the first US$10 million of approved work-program expenditures, all further approved funding is expected to be contributed by the parties on a 50/50 basis. 


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Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.

This Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

SpaceX Is Targeting the Largest IPO in History

The IPO market is about to face its most consequential test in decades. SpaceX, Elon Musk’s aerospace, satellite, and artificial intelligence conglomerate, is targeting a June 12 Nasdaq debut under the ticker SPCX — aiming to raise as much as $75 billion at a valuation approaching $1.75 trillion. If it prices at that level, it would shatter Saudi Aramco’s 2019 record of $35.4 billion as the largest initial public offering ever completed.

The timeline is now concrete. SpaceX is expected to file its S-1 prospectus publicly this week, with a roadshow scheduled to begin June 4 and share pricing targeted for June 11. A 5-for-1 stock split is completing by May 22, adjusting the internal per-share value from $526.59 to approximately $105.32 — a move widely interpreted as lowering the entry price ahead of listing to broaden retail accessibility. Musk has reportedly directed that up to 30% of IPO shares be reserved for individual investors, an unusually high retail allocation for a deal of this magnitude.

What SpaceX Actually Is Now

SpaceX merged with Musk’s AI venture xAI in February, creating a combined entity that now encompasses the Falcon 9 rocket program, the Starlink satellite internet service, the Starship development program, and xAI’s artificial intelligence platform. The company generated between $15 billion and $16 billion in revenue in 2025, with Starlink — which now serves more than 9 million users globally — serving as the primary growth engine. At the targeted $1.75 trillion valuation, the deal implies a revenue multiple of approximately 109 to 116 times trailing sales — a figure that reflects growth expectations rather than current fundamentals.

BlackRock is reportedly in discussions to invest between $5 billion and $10 billion in the offering, which would represent one of the largest anchor commitments in IPO history. The deal’s dual-class share structure will preserve Musk’s voting control following the listing.

The Context: A Record That Puts Everything Else in Perspective

SpaceX’s targeted raise of $75 billion is more than double Aramco’s record. It is more than the combined IPO proceeds of the ten largest US technology listings in the past decade. The valuation of $1.75 trillion would immediately place SPCX among the ten most valuable publicly traded companies in the world on its first day of trading.

The deal follows Cerebras Systems’ blockbuster Nasdaq debut last week, which saw shares surge nearly 90% on the first day of trading and briefly pushed the company’s market cap above $100 billion. That listing, itself the largest US tech IPO since Uber in 2019, now looks like a warm-up act.

What It Means for Smaller Investors and the Broader Market

For small and microcap investors the SpaceX IPO is relevant on two levels. First, the deal’s scale and the retail allocation represent a genuine opportunity for individual investors to participate in a listing that institutional capital will compete aggressively to access. Second, a successful SpaceX debut at or near the targeted valuation would validate the current wave of AI and space technology investment theses — and create a rising tide for smaller companies operating in adjacent spaces.

Domestic satellite technology providers, aerospace component manufacturers, launch infrastructure companies, and AI hardware suppliers in the sub-$2 billion market cap range have historically seen multiple expansion in the wake of high-profile sector listings. SpaceX going public at $1.75 trillion would be the most powerful sector validation signal the space and AI technology markets have ever received.

OpenAI and Anthropic are both reportedly preparing IPO filings for later in 2026. The window is open and the market is paying attention.

Small Caps: The Valuation Gap Is Flashing Opportunity

A significant valuation disconnect has been building in U.S. equity markets for nearly three years — and the Q1 2026 earnings season made it harder to ignore.

Small and microcap companies are delivering some of the strongest earnings growth numbers in years, yet their valuation multiples remain near historic lows relative to large caps. For investors willing to look beyond the mega-cap trade, the message is clear:

Small caps may be entering one of the more attractive valuation reset windows in a generation.

Where Valuations Stand Right Now

The S&P 500 currently trades at approximately 22x forward earnings, above both its five-year and ten-year averages. By comparison, profitable Russell 2000 companies trade closer to 14–15x, while the S&P 600 small cap index trades around 15.8x.

That places the large-cap valuation premium at roughly 30% to 42% over small caps — one of the widest spreads seen in the past two decades.

The valuation disconnect is even more pronounced when looking at EV/EBIT, a metric many institutional investors prefer for cross-cap comparisons. According to Royce Investment Partners, the Russell 2000’s EV/EBIT relative to large caps is near its lowest level in more than 25 years.

Large caps continue to trade at a meaningful premium, while small caps remain discounted despite improving earnings momentum.

What the Earnings Data Shows

The valuation gap would be easier to justify if small caps were underperforming fundamentally. But that is not what the data shows.

Heading into Q1 2026, the Russell 2000 carried consensus earnings growth expectations of approximately 44.9% year over year, with revenue growth projected at 5.2%. That combination suggests improving operating leverage as smaller companies recover from a prolonged period of pressure caused by higher rates, inflation, and tighter capital conditions.

Performance has already started to reflect the shift.

Small-cap earnings expectations have accelerated meaningfully, suggesting improving operating leverage after years of margin pressure

The Historical Context

For much of the past 25 years, small caps traded at a valuation premium to large caps because of their higher growth potential. That relationship inverted during the higher-rate cycle, as smaller companies faced greater pressure from financing costs, inflation, and reduced investor risk appetite.

That inversion pushed the valuation spread to levels not seen since the dot-com era.

Historically, when valuation gaps between small and large caps have reached this kind of extreme, small caps have often gone on to deliver above-average returns over the following three to five years.

One additional data point reinforces the opportunity: the Russell 2000’s weight within the Russell 3000 currently sits at approximately 4.6%, well below its historical average of 7.6%. In other words, small caps remain structurally underrepresented in the broader market.

Small and microcap stocks have materially outperformed over the past year, yet their relative valuations remain near historical lows.

Time to Revisit Small Caps

  • Strong earnings growth.
  • Historically discounted valuations.
  • Improving fundamentals.
  • Low investor allocation.

That combination may create one of the more compelling small and microcap opportunities investors have seen in years.

Against this backdrop, Noble Capital Markets will host its upcoming Virtual Small Cap Conference on June 3–4, giving investors an opportunity to hear directly from emerging growth companies across multiple sectors.

For investors looking to identify opportunities before broader market recognition returns to the asset class, this may be an important time to listen, compare, and look deeper into the small-cap universe.

The valuation gap is real. The earnings recovery is underway. The time to revisit small caps may be now.

Trump Calls Off Iran Strike, But the Strait of Hormuz Crisis Is Far From Resolved

Oil markets whipsawed Tuesday after President Trump announced he had called off a planned military strike on Iran scheduled for that morning, citing active negotiations brokered by Gulf allies. The announcement briefly pulled crude prices lower, but the relief was short-lived. The underlying supply crisis has not been resolved, and the data emerging from global inventory trackers suggests the window for a clean diplomatic outcome is narrowing fast.

Brent crude slipped to around $110 per barrel following Trump’s announcement while West Texas Intermediate pulled back to approximately $103. Both contracts had been climbing sharply the session prior, with Brent settling above $112 and WTT rising more than 3% on Monday alone. The combined 54% rise in both benchmarks since the US-Iran conflict began February 28 represents one of the most sustained energy price shocks in recent memory.

What Trump Said — and What It Means

Trump posted on Truth Social Monday evening that the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates personally requested he hold off on the strike while serious negotiations proceed. He confirmed the military had been placed on full alert and instructed to act on short notice if a deal is not reached. A senior US official told reporters that Iran’s latest proposal remains insufficient, and no framework has been announced. The ceasefire is intact — but barely.

The Inventory Problem

The diplomatic pause may have eased prices temporarily, but the physical oil market tells a more urgent story. The International Energy Agency warned Monday at the G7 finance ministers meeting in Paris that global commercial oil inventories are depleting at a record pace. Stockpiles fell 129 million barrels in March and another 117 million barrels in April. At the current rate of depletion, inventories will approach all-time lows of approximately 7.6 billion barrels by end of May — a timeline measured in days, not months.

Complicating matters further, Iran has effectively converted the strait into a toll-collecting operation. Reports indicate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards are charging vessels fees for passage, with nearly two dozen tankers sitting idle around Kharg Island. Traffic through the strait last week totaled just 55 vessels — still well below pre-conflict norms and only a marginal recovery from the wartime low of 19 crossings the prior week.

The Small Cap Exposure

For investors in the sub-$2 billion market cap space, the Iran situation is an active P&L event. Consumer-facing small caps in transportation, logistics, food services, and manufacturing continue absorbing elevated fuel costs that compress margins in real time. Limited pricing power and thin operating margins make smaller companies structurally more vulnerable to a prolonged energy shock than large cap counterparts.

The counterweight remains domestic energy producers. With WTI holding above $100 despite Tuesday’s pullback, the economics for independent US oil and gas operators remain highly favorable. Energy services companies and midstream operators in the small cap space are direct beneficiaries — and a negotiated resolution that reopens the strait would not necessarily collapse prices overnight given how severely inventories have been drawn down.

Trump’s call to stand down bought time. Whether that time produces a deal or simply delays the next escalation remains the most consequential open question in global energy markets right now.

GeoVax Labs (GOVX) – Recent Events Put GeoVax Programs For Mpox, Ebola, and Infectious Disease Programs In The Spotlight


Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

WHO Has Declared Ebola A Public Health Emergency. On Sunday, May 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the highest level of global health alert it can issue. We believe the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, held from May 18 to May 23, is increasing attention to outbreaks of Mpox, Ebola, and other infectious diseases. GeoVax is one of the few companies that has developed vaccines against these diseases.

GeoVax Has Overlooked Programs For Additional Infectious Diseases. GeoVax has completed pre-clinical work testing vaccines for hemorrhagic fever viruses, including Ebola, Sudan, and Marburg. It has developed these vaccines in collaborations with the National Institutes of Health, but has focused its resources on GEO-MVA, CM-04S1, and Gedeptin. The increased attention to Ebola could help obtain non-dilutive funding for these programs.


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