Category: Consumer

Release – Vince Holding Corp. Reports First Quarter 2026 Results

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Vince Holding Corp.

Research News and Market Data on VNCE

06/16/2026

Net Sales Increased 10.5% to $64.0 Million vs. 1Q25

Raises Full Year Fiscal 2026 Guidance

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Vince Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: VNCE) (“VNCE” or the “Company”), a global retail platform, today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended May 2, 2026.

Brendan Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer of VNCE said, “We delivered strong first quarter results that demonstrate the powerful momentum we’ve built is not only sustained but accelerating. Net sales grew 10.5%, with direct-to-consumer up 15.6% and wholesale increasing 5.9% demonstrating strength across our entire business. Our strategic investments in customer experience are paying off, fueling double-digit growth in both new and reactivated customers and supporting healthy full-price selling.”

Mr. Hoffman continued, “We’re executing with discipline and precision across our business. The strength we’ve established has carried into the second quarter, reinforcing my confidence in our trajectory. With our strategic foundation firmly in place and a talented team driving product and execution, we are raising our full year guidance and remain focused on driving sustained profitable growth and creating long-term shareholder value.”

In this press release, the Company is presenting its financial results in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) as well as on an “adjusted” basis. Adjusted results presented in this press release are non-GAAP financial measures. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for more information about the Company’s use of non-GAAP financial measures.

For the first quarter ended May 2, 2026:

  • Total Company net sales increased 10.5% to $64.0 million compared to $57.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The year-over-year increase was driven by a 15.6% increase in the direct-to-consumer segment and a 5.9% increase in the wholesale segment.
  • Gross profit was $32.4 million, or 50.6% of net sales, compared to gross profit of $29.2 million, or 50.3% of net sales, in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The increase in gross margin rate was primarily driven by approximately 130 basis points due to the favorable impact from higher pricing and 100 basis points due to the favorable impact of lower discounting, largely offset by the unfavorable impact of higher tariffs.
  • Selling, general, and administrative expenses were $35.0 million, or 54.7% of sales, compared to $33.6 million, or 58.0% of sales, in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The increase in SG&A dollars was primarily driven by higher benefit costs as well as marketing and advertising costs.
  • Loss from operations was $2.6 million compared to loss from operations of $4.4 million in the same period last year.
  • Income tax benefit was $0.4 million compared to an income tax expense of $0 in the same period last year. The benefit is due to the impact of applying the Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate to the year-to-date ordinary pre-tax loss.
  • Net loss was $2.1 million or $(0.16) per share compared to net loss of $4.8 million or $(0.37) per share in the same period last year.
  • Adjusted EBITDA* was $(1.1) million compared to $(3.0) million in the same period last year.
  • The Company ended the quarter with 54 company-operated Vince stores, a net decrease of 4 stores since the first quarter of fiscal 2025.

First Quarter Review

  • Net sales increased 10.5% to $64.0 million as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2025.
  • Wholesale segment sales increased 5.9% to $32.1 million compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2025.
  • Direct-to-consumer segment sales increased 15.6% to $32.0 million compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2025.
  • Income from operations excluding unallocated corporate expenses was $12.0 million compared to income from operations of $8.6 million in the same period last year.

Balance Sheet

At the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2026, total borrowings under the Company’s debt agreements totaled $29.1 million and the Company had $31.2 million of excess availability under its revolving credit facility.

Net inventory at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2026 was $70.8 million compared to $62.3 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The year-over-year increase in inventory includes approximately $4.5 million of higher inventory carrying value due to tariffs.

During the quarter ended May 2, 2026, the Company did not make any offerings or sales of shares of common stock under the Virtu At-the-Market Offering. At May 2, 2026, $0.9 million was available under the Virtu At-the-Market Offering.

Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal 2026 the Company expects the following:

  • Net sales to increase approximately 10% to 12% compared to the prior year period.
  • Adjusted operating income as a percentage of net sales to be approximately 6.5% to 7.0%.
  • Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales to be approximately 8.0% to 8.5%.

For fiscal 2026 the Company expects the following:

  • Net sales to increase approximately 7% to 8% compared to the prior year.
  • Adjusted operating income as a percentage of net sales to be approximately 4% to 4.5%.
  • Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales to be approximately 5.5% to 6.0%.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision striking down certain tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, (“IEEPA”), the Company’s outlook assumes a 10 percent rate for applicable inventory receipts under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The Company’s outlook does not consider potential tariff refunds resulting from the Supreme Court’s decision on the IEEPA tariffs.

*Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with GAAP, the Company has provided, with respect to the financial results relating to the three months ended May 2, 2026 and May 3, 2025, adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, and capitalized cloud computing amortization.

The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP measures facilitates an understanding of the Company’s continuing operations without the impact associated with the aforementioned items. While these types of events can and do recur periodically, they are excluded from the indicated financial information due to their impact on the comparability of earnings across periods. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results has been provided in Exhibit 3 to this press release.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss the first quarter results will be held today, June 16, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET, hosted by Vince Holding Corp. Chief Executive Officer, Brendan Hoffman, and Chief Financial Officer, Yuji Okumura. During the conference call, the Company may make comments concerning business and financial developments, trends and other business or financial matters. The Company’s comments, as well as other matters discussed during the conference call, may contain or constitute information that has not been previously disclosed.

Those who wish to participate in the call may do so by dialing (833) 461-5787, conference ID 639507707. Any interested party will also have the opportunity to access the call via the Internet at http://investors.vince.com/. To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register and download any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a recording will be available for 12 months after the date of the event. Recordings may be accessed at http://investors.vince.com.

ABOUT VINCE HOLDING CORP.

Vince Holding Corp. is a global retail platform that operates the Vince brand women’s and men’s ready-to-wear business. Vince, established in 2002, is a leading global luxury apparel and accessories brand best known for creating elevated yet understated pieces for everyday effortless style. Vince Holding Corp. operates 41 full-price retail stores, 12 outlet stores, and its e-commerce site, as well as through premium wholesale channels globally. Please visit www.vince.com for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements: This document, and any statements incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include the statements under “Outlook” above as well as statements regarding, among other things, our current expectations about possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company and are indicated by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “plan,” “target,” “project,” “forecast,” “envision” and other similar phrases. Although we believe the assumptions and expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these assumptions and expectations may not prove to be correct and we may not achieve the results or benefits anticipated. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of actual results, and our actual results may differ materially from those suggested in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control, including, without limitation: changes to and unpredictability in the trade policies and tariffs imposed by the U.S. and the governments of other nations; general economic conditions; our ability to maintain adequate cash flow from operations or availability under our revolving credit facility to meet our liquidity needs; restrictions on our operations under our credit facilities; our ability to improve our profitability; our ability to maintain our larger wholesale partners; our ability to accurately forecast customer demand for our products; our ability to maintain the license agreement relating to the Vince brand with ABG Vince; ABG Vince’s expansion of the Vince brand into other categories and territories; ABG Vince’s approval rights and other actions; our ability to realize the benefits of our strategic initiatives; our ability to make lease payments when due; our ability to open retail stores under favorable lease terms and operate and maintain new and existing retail stores successfully; our operating experience and brand recognition in international markets; our ability to remediate the identified material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting; our ability to comply with domestic and international laws, regulations and orders; increased scrutiny regarding our approach to sustainability matters and environmental, social and governance practices; competition in the apparel and fashion industry; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; seasonal and quarterly variations in our revenue and income; the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights relating to the Vince brand; the extent of our foreign sourcing; our reliance on independent manufacturers; our ability to ensure the proper operation of the distribution facilities by third-party logistics providers; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials; the ethical business and compliance practices of our independent manufacturers; our ability to mitigate system or data security issues, such as cyber or malware attacks, as well as other major system failures; our ability to adopt, optimize and improve our information technology systems, processes and functions; our ability to comply with privacy-related obligations; our status as a “controlled company”; our status as a “smaller reporting company”; and other factors as set forth from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including those described under “Item 1A—Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We intend these forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of this release and do not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available, except as required by law.

View full release here.

Investor Relations Contact:
ICR, Inc.
Caitlin Churchill, 646-277-1274
[email protected]

Source: Vince Holding Corp.

Release – Xcel Brands Announces License Agreement for Trust. Respect. Love by Cesar Millan with EcoStrong

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NEW YORK, June 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Xcel Brands (NASDAQ: XELB), an industry-leading media and consumer products company specializing in building influencer led brands through social commerce and livestream shopping, is pleased to announce a new licensing partnership for Trust. Respect. Love by Cesar Millan with licensing partner EcoStrong for product categories that include cleaning products, odor management, shampoo and conditioners.

The partnership will introduce a collection of innovative pet care, pet shampoo, and home cleaning products inspired by Cesar Millan’s philosophy that trust, respect, and love are the foundation of every meaningful relationship between pets and their owners. The collection includes environmentally safe cleaning, grooming, and odor control solutions designed to support healthier homes and happier pets.

“We are excited to partner with EcoStrong as our licensing partner for the Trust. Respect. Love by Cesar Millan. Cesar Millan is one of the most recognized and trusted names in the pet space, and this partnership allows us to expand his philosophy into thoughtfully designed pet care products that align with today’s consumer demand for effective and environmentally safe solutions. EcoStrong’s expertise and innovation in pet safe products make them an ideal partner for this category launch,” said Robert D’Loren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xcel Brands.

“Cesar Millan has spent his career helping people build stronger relationships with their pets, and his mission aligns perfectly with EcoStrong’s commitment to creating safer, healthier environments for pets and their families,” said Bryan Sims, Chief Executive Officer and President of EcoStrong.

The Trust. Respect. Love by Cesar Millan collection will combine practical everyday functionality with products designed to help pet owners maintain clean and comfortable living environments while also supporting the health and wellness of their pets through premium grooming essentials, including pet shampoos and other pet care products.

“For me, trust, respect, and love are not just words — they are the foundation of every relationship with a dog,” said Cesar Millan. He further stated, “I’m excited to work with EcoStrong Pet Products and Xcel Brands to create products that support healthier homes and happier pets.”

About Cesar Millan 
Cesar Millan is a world-renowned dog behaviorist with over 25 years of experience transforming relationships between humans and their dogs. As the original host of the hit TV series, the Dog Whisperer, to his most recent Better Human, Better Dog, to his best-selling books and iconic workshops, Cesar has become a trusted guide for millions of dog lovers worldwide. With social media following over 21 million people and a legacy that spans two decades on television around the world, Cesar’s influence extends far and wide. Trusted by celebrities, world leaders, and first-time pet owners alike, Cesar is committed to helping you achieve lasting harmony with your dog. Cesar moves forward in his journey with purpose, and you can follow this journey at www.cesarmillan.com.

For further information please contact:

Gaetano Mastropasqua
[email protected]

About Xcel Brands
Xcel Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: XELB) is a media and consumer products company engaged in the design, licensing, marketing, live streaming, and social commerce sales of branded apparel, footwear, accessories, fine jewelry, home goods, pet products and other consumer products, and the acquisition of dynamic consumer lifestyle brands. Xcel was founded in 2011 with a vision to reimagine shopping, entertainment, and social media as social commerce. Xcel is an industry leader in developing influencer led brands and owns the Halston and C. Wonder brands, as well as the co-branded influencer led brands Tower Hill by Christie Brinkley, Trust. Respect. Love by Cesar Millan, GemmaMade by Gemma Stafford and Off/Duty by Coco Rocha brand and holds noncontrolling interests or long-term license agreement in Mesa Mia by Jenny Martinez. Xcel also owns and manages the Longaberger by Shannon Doherty brand through its controlling interest in Longaberger Licensing, LLC. Xcel is pioneering a modern consumer products sales strategy which includes the promotion and sale of products under its brands through interactive television, digital live-stream shopping, social commerce, brick-and-mortar retailers, and e-commerce channels to be everywhere its customers’ shop. The company’s previously owned and current brands have generated more than $5 billion in retail sales via livestreaming in interactive television and digital channels alone and has over 20,000 hours of content production time in live-stream and social commerce. The brand portfolio reaches more than 46 million social media followers with broadcast reaching 200 million households. Headquartered in New York City, Xcel Brands is led by an executive team with significant live streaming, production, merchandising, design, marketing, retailing, and licensing experience, and a proven track record of success in elevating branded consumer products companies. For more information, visit www.xcelbrands.com.

For further information please contact:

Xcel Brands
[email protected]

About EcoStrong

EcoStrong is one of the fastest-growing consumer brands in the pet care category, known for developing high-performance household and pet care solutions powered by the latest advancements in natural, plant-based, and bio-enzymatic technologies. Its portfolio includes innovative cleaning products, odor eliminators, stain removers, laundry care products, and pet grooming solutions that deliver professional-grade results while maintaining a strong commitment to safety and sustainability. By combining scientific innovation with environmentally responsible product development, EcoStrong helps consumers care for their homes, their pets, and the planet without sacrificing effectiveness.

For more information about EcoStrong see www.ecostrong.com

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The World Cup Is Back on American Soil for the First Time in 32 Years: Follow the Money

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins today, June 11, and runs through July 19 across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is the largest tournament in the competition’s history — 48 teams, 104 matches, a projected global audience of more than 5 billion viewers, and commercial revenues estimated between $11 billion and $13 billion, up roughly 50% from the 2022 edition in Qatar. The United States is hosting 78 of the 104 matches across 11 cities including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, Houston, and Seattle. The last time the US hosted was 1994 — a generation ago, before smartphones, before streaming, and before legal sports betting existed in virtually any American state.

The scale of what has changed in those 32 years is precisely what makes 2026 different from every prior World Cup as an investment event.

For investors, the question is not whether the World Cup generates economic activity. It clearly does. The question is where that activity concentrates — and which publicly traded companies are positioned to capture a meaningful share of it across a six-week window that begins today.

The Sports Betting Opportunity Is Real and Measurable

The single clearest financial beneficiary of a US-hosted World Cup in 2026 is the domestic sports betting industry — and the timing could not be more favorable. Legal sports betting is now available in 38 US states, compared to just three states when the tournament was last held on American soil. Global betting volumes during the tournament are projected to exceed $50 billion, averaging approximately $500 million per match, up sharply from $35 billion recorded during the 2022 World Cup. In-play wagering and parlay products tied to individual match events are expected to drive the majority of that volume growth.

For smaller publicly traded gaming and sports betting companies, a six-week window of record betting activity on 104 matches is a direct near-term revenue catalyst. Rush Street Interactive, one of the smaller publicly traded sportsbook operators, runs BetRivers across multiple US states and stands to benefit directly from elevated match-day wagering volumes. Regional casino operators with integrated sportsbook offerings in host cities are similarly positioned.

Prediction markets represent a newer layer of exposure. Robinhood’s recently launched Rothera exchange already accounted for approximately 10% of the company’s revenue in Q1 2026, making it one of the more direct plays on the prediction market boom that major sporting events historically accelerate.

The Hospitality Picture Is More Complicated

The economic impact projections for hotel and tourism spending are significant on paper — FIFA and the World Trade Organization project $6.4 billion in tourist spending in the US alone, with the accommodation and food sector identified as the primary beneficiary. However, the American Hotel and Lodging Association reported as recently as May that 80% of US host city hotels say bookings are tracking below those projections, citing visa processing barriers and geopolitical headwinds from the ongoing Iran conflict dampening international travel demand.

That gap between projection and reality is a meaningful qualifier for smaller regional hospitality operators in host cities who may have priced in demand that has not fully materialized. The domestic fan spending story remains more reliable than the international tourism story for this particular tournament, and investors tracking consumer-facing companies in host cities should weigh both sides of that equation carefully.

The Longer Arc

Beyond the six-week tournament window, the structural story is more compelling. Multiple research firms have characterized 2026 as soccer’s cultural inflection point in the United States — the moment the sport transitions from niche followership to mainstream commercial relevance in the largest sports economy in the world. Broadcast rights, digital engagement, merchandise, and youth participation spending all have multi-year trajectories that a successful US-hosted World Cup accelerates in ways that outlast the final whistle on July 19.

For companies in sports media, digital fan engagement, sports data and analytics, and gaming technology, that longer arc may ultimately matter more than the tournament itself. The 32-year wait is over. The commercial machine behind it has never been larger.

ONE Group Hospitality (STKS) – Noble Virtual Conference June 2026

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Monday, June 08, 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.

Noble Virtual Conference. ONE Group Hospitality CEO Manny Hilario and CFO Nicole Thaung presented at the Noble Virtual Conference. Highlights included accelerating SSS, pursuing capital-efficient growth, and optimizing the portfolio.  A rebroadcast is available at https://www.channelchek.com/videos/the-one-group-hospitality-stks-noble-capital-markets-virtual-conference-replay-june-2026.

SSS. Improving Same Store Sales remains a key focus of management. In the first quarter of 2026, all brands saw sequential SSS growth, with STK reporting positive SSS and Benihana flat SSS. Even the Grill concepts have experienced a significant improvement in SSS over the past three quarters. ONE Group’s focus on providing value, the vibe experience, execution, and targeted marketing is paying dividends in a tough operating environment.


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Release – Xcel Brands Announces Mega Model, TV Celebrity and Influencer Coco Rocha to Launch fashion brand OFF/DUTY by Coco Rocha on QVC Fall 2026

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Research News and Market Data on XELB

June 4, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT

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NEW YORK, June 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Xcel Brands (NASDAQ: XELB), a leading media and consumer products company specializing in building influencer-led brands through social commerce and livestream shopping, today announced the launch of OFF/DUTY by Coco Rocha, a new elevated fashion and accessories brand created in partnership with internationally renowned supermodel, entrepreneur, and fashion icon Coco Rocha. The collection will debut on QVC.

After more than two decades at the center of the fashion industry, Coco Rocha is bringing her unique perspective on style to consumers through a collection inspired by the pieces she has relied on throughout her career. From airports and backstage at fashion weeks to business meetings, school pickups, and international travel, OFF/DUTY by Coco Rocha is built around the belief that the most important pieces in a woman’s wardrobe are the ones she reaches for again and again. The collection combines effortless sophistication, versatility, and comfort with the confidence and polish that have become synonymous with Coco’s personal style.

Think of the oversized sweater thrown on between castings, the perfectly worn denim that transitions seamlessly from airport to dinner, the statement coat that instantly elevates a look, the chic tote that carries everything needed for a day navigating the streets of Paris, and the effortless layers, textures, and wardrobe staples that make getting dressed feel easy.

Known globally as the “Queen of Pose,” Coco Rocha has spent her career redefining the role of the modern supermodel. Having worked alongside the world’s leading fashion houses, celebrated designers, and renowned photographers while pioneering social media and personal branding within the industry, OFF/DUTY represents a natural evolution of her career, translating decades of industry expertise into a collection inspired by how women actually live and dress.

“Coco Rocha is one of the most recognizable and influential figures in fashion today. With OFF/DUTY by Coco Rocha, we are bringing Coco’s extraordinary fashion credibility, modern point of view, and global influence to QVC customers in an accessible and exciting way. The brand perfectly captures the intersection of luxury-inspired style and everyday versatility that today’s consumer is seeking,” said Robert D’Loren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xcel Brands.

“Fashion has always been about confidence and self-expression for me,” said Coco Rocha. “With OFF/DUTY by Coco Rocha, I wanted to create a collection that empowers women to feel elevated, stylish, and comfortable in every part of their lives, whether they’re traveling, working, relaxing, or stepping out. This brand reflects the pieces I genuinely love to wear when I’m off the runway and off duty.”

After spending more than twenty years wearing the creations of the world’s most celebrated designers, Coco Rocha is now sharing her own vision of modern dressing, one built not for the runway, but for the realities of everyday life.

About Xcel Brands

Xcel Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: XELB) is a media and consumer products company engaged in the design, licensing, marketing, live streaming, and social commerce sales of branded apparel, footwear, accessories, fine jewelry, home goods, pet products and other consumer products, and the acquisition of dynamic consumer lifestyle brands. Xcel was founded in 2011 with a vision to reimagine shopping, entertainment, and social media as social commerce. Xcel is an industry leader in developing influencer led brands and owns the Halston and C. Wonder brands, as well as the co-branded influencer led brands Tower Hill by Christie Brinkley, Trust. Respect. Love by Cesar Millan, GemmaMade by Gemma Stafford and Off/Duty by Coco Rocha brand and holds noncontrolling interests or long-term license agreement in Mesa Mia by Jenny Martinez. Xcel also owns and manages the Longaberger by Shannon Doherty brand through its controlling interest in Longaberger Licensing, LLC. Xcel is pioneering a modern consumer products sales strategy which includes the promotion and sale of products under its brands through interactive television, digital live-stream shopping, social commerce, brick-and-mortar retailers, and e-commerce channels to be everywhere its customers’ shop. The company’s previously owned and current brands have generated more than $5 billion in retail sales via livestreaming in interactive television and digital channels alone and has over 20,000 hours of content production time in live-stream and social commerce. The brand portfolio reaches more than 46 million social media followers with broadcast reaching 200 million households. Headquartered in New York City, Xcel Brands is led by an executive team with significant live streaming, production, merchandising, design, marketing, retailing, and licensing experience, and a proven track record of success in elevating branded consumer products companies. For more information, visit www.xcelbrands.com.

For further information please contact:

Xcel Brands
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4af54555-9990-4572-aa72-f87ba6a324da

May Payrolls Nearly Double Expectations at 172,000

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The US labor market delivered its strongest headline surprise of 2026 on Friday morning. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the economy added 172,000 jobs in May, nearly doubling the 88,000 that economists surveyed by Bloomberg had anticipated. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%. The report landed alongside upward revisions to prior months: April’s original 115,000 payroll figure was revised to 179,000, and March was adjusted to 214,000, marking the first monthly gain above 200,000 since early 2024.

On the surface, the numbers paint a picture of a labor market that has defied repeated predictions of deterioration. Beneath the surface, the report is more complicated.

May’s gains were notably broad-based rather than concentrated in the healthcare sector, which has been the primary engine of US job growth for the better part of two years. Leisure and hospitality led all sectors with 70,000 new positions, followed by local government at 55,000 and healthcare at approximately 35,000. Food services and drinking places contributed 48,000 of the leisure and hospitality total.

That sectoral breakdown matters for context. A Bank of America Institute analysis released this week found that while May payroll growth accelerated, much of the underlying strength appears to be concentrated in lower-income job categories. Average hourly earnings for food services workers, one of the month’s largest contributing sectors, stand at $21.86 according to government data. Across the full economy, average hourly earnings grew 3.4% year over year in May, a pace that continues to track below the current rate of consumer price inflation.

The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released Wednesday, reinforced this picture at the ground level. Eleven of the Fed’s 12 districts described a low-hire, low-fire environment, with workers increasingly reluctant to change jobs amid broader economic uncertainty. The report noted that hiring across most districts remained selective and primarily focused on critical roles or attrition replacement rather than expansion.

For investors tracking monetary policy, Friday’s report arrives at a sensitive moment. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh presides over his first FOMC meeting June 16-17, and a labor market printing nearly double expectations gives the committee additional justification to hold rates steady. Markets had already priced in more than an 80% probability of a June hold heading into this week. A 172,000 payroll print is unlikely to change that calculus and may further push rate cut expectations into 2027.

The jobs report delivers a split verdict for the sub-$2 billion market cap space. The 70,000 jobs added in leisure and hospitality represent real incremental consumer activity that flows directly through to small cap restaurant operators, regional hospitality companies, and travel-adjacent businesses that have been managing through an uneven demand environment. More workers employed in discretionary spending sectors is a near-term tailwind for these names.

The counterweight is the Fed. A stronger-than-expected labor market that keeps the central bank on hold extends the timeline for the rate relief that smaller, variable-rate borrowers have been waiting on. Until wage growth catches up with inflation and gives the Fed room to ease, the rate environment for small cap balance sheets remains a structural headwind regardless of how many jobs the economy adds each month.

Release – Vince Announces Reporting Date for First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Posted on by [email protected]
Vince Holding Corp.

Research News and Market Data on VNCE

06/02/2026

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Vince Holding Corp., (Nasdaq: VNCE) (“VNCE” or the “Company”), a global retail platform, today announced that it plans to report its first quarter 2026 financial results pre-market on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The Company also plans to hold a conference call to discuss its financial results on the same day at 8:30 a.m. ET. During the conference call, the Company may answer questions concerning business and financial developments, trends and other business or financial matters. The Company’s responses to these questions, as well as other matters discussed during the conference call, may contain or constitute information that has not been previously disclosed.

Those who wish to participate in the call may do so by dialing (833) 461-5787, conference ID 639507707. Any interested party will also have the opportunity to access the call via the Internet at http://investors.vince.com/. To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register and download any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a recording will be available for 12 months after the date of the event. Recordings may be accessed at http://investors.vince.com/.

ABOUT VINCE HOLDING CORP.
Vince Holding Corp. is a global retail platform that operates the Vince brand women’s and men’s ready to wear business. Vince, established in 2002, is a leading global luxury apparel and accessories brand best known for creating elevated yet understated pieces for every day effortless style. Vince Holding Corp. operates 42 full-price retail stores, 12 outlet stores, and its e-commerce site, vince.com, as well as through premium wholesale channels globally. Please visit www.vince.com for more information.

This press release is also available on the Vince Holding Corp. website (http://investors.vince.com/).

Investor Relations:
ICR, Inc.
Caitlin Churchill, 646-277-1274
[email protected]

Source: Vince Holding Corp.

SPACtrac Report – BOXABL: Manufacturing The Future Of Housing

Posted on by [email protected]


Monday, June 01, 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.

Factory-Built housing meets public markets. BOXABL plans to become a publicly traded company through its proposed business combination with FG Merger II Corp. The transaction is expected to provide additional capital to support manufacturing optimization, production scaling, and broader market expansion initiatives. 

Industrializing housing at scale. BOXABL is applying centralized manufacturing processes to residential construction to improve efficiency, lower costs, and accelerate deployment timelines. By standardizing production and reducing transportation complexity, BOXABL aims to deliver lower-cost housing solutions at scale. The company’s modular housing strategy is designed to address growing affordability challenges across entry-level and workforce housing markets. 


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The Russell 2000 Is Leading Again. Is This Time Different?

Posted on by [email protected]

Small caps are back in front. The Russell 2000 climbed 1.70% Tuesday, outpacing the Nasdaq’s 1.16% gain, the S&P 500’s 0.73% advance, and the Dow’s modest 0.17% move, as markets returned from the Memorial Day holiday weekend and immediately pushed toward record territory. The outperformance did not happen in a vacuum. It happened despite fresh escalations in both the Iran conflict and the war in Ukraine, two headlines that would have rattled markets badly just a few months ago.

The fact that investors are actively choosing to ignore those risks and rotate into the smallest, most domestically exposed names in the market says something worth paying attention to.

Going into Memorial Day, the narrative around small caps had been running dark. The Russell 2000 spent three consecutive weeks underperforming large cap indices as Treasury yields hit 19-year highs, traders priced in a near 50% probability of Fed rate hikes by year-end, and consumer sentiment fell to an all-time record low. Small caps carry disproportionately more variable-rate debt and have less balance sheet flexibility to absorb a prolonged higher-rate environment, which meant they bore the brunt of that anxiety more than any other segment of the market.

Tuesday’s session is the first indication that the selling pressure may have been overdone.

To understand why today matters, the short-term volatility needs to be placed inside the larger story building all year. The Russell 2000 entered 2026 trading at a 31% discount to the S&P 500 on a forward price-to-earnings basis, a valuation gap that had reached its widest level in over 25 years. In January, the index staged a historic 15-session winning streak against the S&P 500, the longest period of small cap dominance since May 1996, as institutional capital began rotating out of overextended large cap technology and into domestic-focused companies.

That rotation stalled in March and April as the Iran conflict sent oil surging, Treasury yields spiked, and rate cut expectations evaporated. But the fundamental case never went away. Russell 2000 companies generate approximately 80% of their revenue domestically, making them direct beneficiaries of the onshoring trend and fiscal provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Consensus earnings growth estimates for the Russell 2000 sit at 44.9% year over year for Q1, the highest forward bar since mid-2025. The fundamentals have not deteriorated. The sentiment did.

Whether today represents the start of a sustained rotation or a post-holiday bounce will be answered in the sessions ahead. If the 30-year yield retreats from its 5.12% recent peak and rate hike probabilities fade, the conditions for a durable small cap rally fall into place. If yields hold and Fed Chair Kevin Warsh signals a hawkish June, today’s move fades just as quickly.

The underlying case remains intact. The Russell 2000 does not need perfection to move higher. It needs the rate picture to stop getting worse. Today, at least, that is exactly what the market decided to believe.

The Most Pessimistic American Consumer Sentiment in 74 Years Just Sent the Market a Warning

Posted on by [email protected]

The University of Michigan released its final May Consumer Sentiment reading Friday morning and the number landed well below even the most pessimistic forecasts. The index came in at 44.8 — a new all-time record low in a survey that has been tracking American consumer attitudes since 1952. The reading missed the consensus estimate of 48.2 by a wide margin, fell five full points from April’s already-depressed 49.8, and marked the third consecutive month of decline. No monthly reading in the survey’s 74-year history has ever been lower.

To place that in context: this reading is worse than June 2022 at the peak of post-pandemic inflation. Worse than the depths of the 2008 financial crisis. Worse than the early 1980s when Paul Volcker was hiking rates into double digits to break inflation. The American consumer, by this measure, has never been less confident about the economy than they are right now.

What’s Driving It

The culprits are not subtle. One-third of survey respondents spontaneously cited gasoline prices — unprompted — as a primary concern. Roughly 30% mentioned tariffs. The Iran conflict, now in its twelfth week, has pushed the national gas average to $4.56 per gallon according to AAA, up more than 50% since hostilities began February 28, and GasBuddy projects the summer average could reach $4.80 per gallon with $5 possible if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

Inflation expectations are deteriorating further rather than stabilizing. Year-ahead inflation expectations climbed from earlier in the month while long-run expectations rose from 3.5% in April to 3.9% in May — the highest reading since the Iran conflict began and well above the 2.8% to 3.2% range that prevailed throughout 2024. Surveys director Joanne Hsu noted that consumers appear to be moving beyond viewing the inflation pressure as temporary, increasingly worried it will spread beyond fuel prices and persist over the long run.

The demographic breakdown adds another layer. Lower-income consumers and those without college degrees — groups most sensitive to gas and grocery price increases — posted the sharpest sentiment declines. Independents and Republicans reached their lowest readings of Trump’s second term. The breadth of the deterioration, cutting across income levels, age groups, and political affiliations, signals this is not a narrow or politically driven reading. It is a broad-based erosion of consumer confidence.

The Direct Small Cap Implication

Consumer sentiment is a leading indicator — it tells you where spending is headed before the spending data confirms it. And for small and microcap investors, the message embedded in Friday’s reading is direct: companies that depend on discretionary consumer spending are heading into Q2 earnings season with the wind at their back nowhere.

Consumer-facing small caps in casual dining, specialty retail, leisure travel, and discretionary goods are the most exposed. Unlike large cap consumer companies with global revenue diversification and balance sheet depth to absorb volume softness, smaller operators have limited buffers. Margin compression from elevated input and fuel costs combined with softening top-line demand is a particularly difficult combination for companies already operating on thin margins.

The record low also raises the stakes for the Federal Reserve. Weak consumer confidence alongside elevated inflation expectations is the definition of a stagflationary signal — and a Fed led by incoming Chair Kevin Warsh that leans hawkish has limited room to provide relief. Rate cuts that smaller companies have been counting on to refinance variable-rate debt are moving further off the table with every data point like this one.

Seventy-four years of data. The American consumer has never felt worse. That number belongs in every small cap portfolio conversation happening right now.

Release – CORRECTION — Xcel Brands, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Posted on by [email protected]

Research News and Market Data on XELB

PDF Version

NEW YORK, May 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a release issued earlier today by Xcel Brands, Inc (NASDAQ: XELB) please note that the “Conference Call and Webcast” section contained outdated information. The corrected release follows

  • Net loss on a GAAP basis was $2.5 million for the current quarter compared with $2.8 million net loss for the prior year quarter. 
  • Year-to-Date Adjusted EBITDA for 2026 was approximately negative $0.7 million for both the current and prior year quarters.:

Xcel Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: XELB) (“Xcel” or the “Company”), a media and consumer products company with significant expertise in building influencer lead brands, live-steam shopping and social commerce, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.

Robert W. D’Loren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xcel commented “I am very pleased with the progress we are making with all of our new influencer led brands”.

First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2026 was $1.1 million, representing a decrease of approximately $0.2 million (-14%) from the prior year quarter. This year-over-year decrease was primarily attributable to a transition to a new supplier for our interactive television business, impacting inventory availability during the early part of the quarter. Total revenue for the current quarter was consistent with total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2025.

Direct operating costs and expenses decreased approximately $0.2 million (-9%) from the prior year quarter to $2.1 million in the current quarter. Currently, the Company has reduced its direct operating expenses to an expected run rate of less than $8 million per annum.

During the quarter, the Company recognized a $0.06 million impairment charge related to the subsequent sale of the Judith Ripka brand in April, whereby the Company reclassified the Judith Ripka brand intangible assets to a current asset, assets held for sale.

Net loss attributable to Xcel Brands stockholders for the quarter was approximately $2.5 million, or $(0.42) per share, compared with net loss of $2.8 million, or $(1.18) per share, for the prior year quarter.

After adjusting certain cash and non-cash items, current quarter results on a non-GAAP basis were a net loss of approximately $1.4 million, or $(0.24) per share and a similar net loss of approximately $1.4 million, or $(0.58) per share, for the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was negative $0.7 million for both the current and prior year quarters.   

Balance Sheet

The Company’s balance sheet on March 31, 2026, reflected stockholders’ equity of approximately $13.2 million, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of approximately $0.2 million. On April 27, 2026, the Company netted $2 million of cash from the sale of the Judith Ripka Brand, as previously disclosed. The Company’s balance sheet on March 31, 2026, also reflected $12.6 million of long-term debt.

The Company’s working capital on March 31, 2026 (exclusive of the current portion of lease obligations, deferred revenue, and contingent obligations payable in shares or via other non-cash means and adjusted for the April debt refinancing) was break-even. On January 21, 2026, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement, pursuant to which the buyer has committed to purchase up to $15.0 million of the Company’s common stock. Under the terms and conditions of this agreement, the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to sell up to $15.0 million of the Company’s common stock. The actual amount and timing of any sales of Common Stock will be determined by the Company at its discretion.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will hold a conference call with the investment community on May 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. A webcast of the conference call will be available live on the Investor Relations section of Xcel’s website at https://xcelbrands.co/pages/events-and-presentations or directly at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/dk3zkyjv. Interested parties unable to access the conference call via the webcast may dial 800-715-9871 or 646-307-1963 and use the Conference ID 7958649. A replay of the webcast will be available on Xcel’s website.

About Xcel Brands

Xcel Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: XELB) is a media and consumer products company engaged in the design, licensing, marketing, live streaming, and social commerce sales of branded apparel, footwear, accessories, fine jewelry, home goods and other consumer products, and the acquisition of dynamic consumer lifestyle brands. Xcel was founded in 2011 with a vision to reimagine shopping, entertainment, and social media as social commerce. Xcel owns the Halston and C. Wonder brands, as well as the co-branded collaboration brands Tower Hill by Christie Brinkley, Trust. Respect. Love by Cesar Millan, GemmaMade by Gemma Stafford and Off/Duty by Coco Rocha brand and holds noncontrolling interests or long-term license agreement in Mesa Mia by Jenny Martinez. Xcel also owns and manages the Longaberger by Shannon Doherty brand through its controlling interest in Longaberger Licensing, LLC. Xcel is pioneering a modern consumer products sales strategy which includes the promotion and sale of products under its brands through interactive television, digital live-stream shopping, social commerce, brick-and-mortar retailers, and e-commerce channels to be everywhere its customer’s shop. The company’s previously owned and current brands have generated more than $5 billion in retail sales via livestreaming in interactive television and digital channels alone and has over 20,000 hours of content production time in live-stream and social commerce. The brand portfolio reaches more than 46 million social media followers with broadcast reaching 200 million households. Headquartered in New York City, Xcel Brands is led by an executive team with significant live streaming, production, merchandising, design, marketing, retailing, and licensing experience, and a proven track record of success in elevating branded consumer products companies. For more information, visit www.xcelbrands.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements regarding future events, our future financial performance, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “appears,” “suggests,” “future,” “likely,” “goal,” “plans,” “potential,” “projects,” “predicts,” “seeks,” “should,” “would,” “guidance,” “confident” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our anticipated revenue, expenses, profitability, strategic plans and capital needs. These statements are based on information available to us on the date hereof and our current expectations, estimates and projections and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including, without limitation, the risks discussed in the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in the Company’s Annual Report on form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and its other filings with the SEC, which may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risk factors, nor can we address the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

For further information please contact:
Seth Burroughs
Xcel Brands
[email protected]

Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted EPS are non-GAAP unaudited terms. We define non-GAAP net income as net income (loss) attributable to Xcel Brands, Inc. stockholders, exclusive of amortization of trademarks, income (loss) from equity method investments, stock-based compensation and cost of licensee warrants, asset impairment charges, and income taxes. Non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP diluted EPS measures do not include the tax effect of the aforementioned adjusting items, due to the nature of these items and the Company’s tax strategy.

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP unaudited measure, which we define as net income (loss) attributable to Xcel Brands, Inc. stockholders before interest and finance expenses, accretion of lease liability for exited leases, income taxes, other state and local franchise taxes, depreciation and amortization, income (loss) from equity method investments, asset impairment charges, stock-based compensation and cost of licensee warrants, and costs associated with restructuring of operations. Costs associated with restructuring of operations include operating losses generated by certain of our businesses that have been restructured or discontinued (i.e., wholesale apparel and fine jewelry), as well as non-cash charges associated with the restructuring of certain contractual arrangements.

Management uses non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA as measures of operating performance to assist in comparing performance from period to period on a consistent basis and to identify business trends relating to our results of operations. Management believes non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA are also useful because these measures adjust for certain costs and other events that management believes are not representative of our core business operating results, and thus these non-GAAP measures provide supplemental information to assist investors in evaluating our financial results.

Non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income, earnings per share, or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Given that non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA are financial measures not deemed to be in accordance with GAAP and are susceptible to varying calculations, our non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, including companies in our industry, because other companies may calculate these measures in a different manner than we do. In evaluating non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may or may not incur expenses similar to some of the adjustments in this document. Our presentation of non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA does not imply that our future results will be unaffected by these expenses or any unusual or non-recurring items. When evaluating our performance, you should consider non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA alongside other financial performance measures, including our net income and other GAAP results, and not rely on any single financial measure.

View full release here.

Source: Xcel Brands, Inc

Snail (SNAL) – A Strong Start to the Year

Posted on by [email protected]


Thursday, May 14, 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.

Strong Q1 results. The company reported Q1 revenue of $27.2 million and adj. EBITDA of $2.4 million, both of which surpassed our estimates of $18.0 million and a loss of $4.6 million, respectively. Notably, the favorable print was supported by increased ASA and Bellwright sales, as well as continued conversion of deferred revenue.

Busy release pipeline. The company has a busy release pipeline, with eleven internally developed projects and six licensed IP titles expected in the next 12-18 months. Notably, the pipeline includes multiple ASA content releases, the expansion of Bellwright to PlayStation and Xbox, and internally developed titles such as Gobby Game. Additionally, the company continues to advance its three AAA projects, For The Stars, Nine Yin Sutra: Immortal, and Nine Yin Sutra: Wushu, as part of its portfolio expansion strategy.


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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. 

The Beachbody Company (BODI) – Retail Expansion Unlocks Next Growth Phase

Posted on by [email protected]


Wednesday, May 13, 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.

Q1 results exceeded expectations despite continued legacy business runoff. Q1 revenue of $54.3 million exceeded the high end of management’s guidance range of $49 million to $54 million and was above our estimate of $50.0 million. Adjusted EBITDA of $8.0 million also exceeded management’s guidance range of $4 million to $7 million and our estimate of $4.4 million. 

Management shifts focus toward nutrition-led growth and omnichannel expansion. During the quarter, management emphasized that the company is now deploying its significantly leaner operating model toward growth initiatives centered on nutrition, supplements, and retail expansion. Management highlighted that the global nutrition market is more than 12 times the size of the digital fitness market, positioning nutrition as the company’s largest long-term opportunity.


Get the Full Report

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.