Category: Consumer

Release – CVG Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on CVGI

EPS of $(0.05), Adjusted EPS of $0.06, reflecting additional restructuring activity

Adjusted EBITDA of $10.0 million, free cash flow of $6.4 million

Strategic actions taken to strengthen Vehicle Solutions Business

Provides updated guidance for full year 2024

NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Aug. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CVG (NASDAQ: CVGI), a diversified industrial products and services company, today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Highlights (Compared with prior year, where comparisons are noted)

  • Revenues of $229.9 million, down 12.3%, due primarily to a global softening in customer demand.
  • Operating income of $0.8 million, down 95.2%; adjusted operating income of $5.7 million, down 65.9%. The decrease in operating income was driven primarily by lower sales volumes, partially offset by reduced SG&A.
  • New business wins in the quarter of approximately $32 million when fully ramped, bringing the year-to-date total to $80 million; these wins were concentrated in our Electrical Systems segment, and includes meaningful wins in our Vehicle Solutions segment.
  • Net loss of $1.6 million, or $(0.05) per diluted share and adjusted net income of $2.1 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, compared to net income of $10.1 million, or $0.30 per diluted share and adjusted net income of $10.7 million, or $0.32 per diluted share.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $10.0 million, down 51.9%, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 4.3%, down from 7.9%.

James Ray, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “CVG continues to drive its strategic transformation, despite second quarter results that were challenged due to multiple factors. In particular, we witnessed continued softening in the construction and agricultural end markets and reduced volumes in our new business win launches, impacting our key growth segment in Electrical Systems. We also experienced operational inefficiencies in our Vehicle Solutions segment resulting from a new product launch with a major customer across multiple sites as well as activities to prepare our Cab Structures Business for sale. We made incremental investments in both internal and external support teams deployed to the affected facilities and expect to achieve more stability during the balance of the year. These market dynamics and operational activities weighed on second quarter profitability. While we are disappointed with our second quarter performance, we are taking proactive steps to right-size our cost structure and improve operational execution as we navigate a lower demand environment.”

Mr. Ray concluded, “Despite these challenges in the second quarter, we continue to position CVG for future success. We maintained our strong track record of procuring new business wins in the quarter and recently announced the sale of our Cab Structures Business, that is expected to close in the second half of 2024, which will serve to further streamline our product portfolio and aligns with our transformation strategy to reduce cyclicality, balance customer concentration, and strengthen our Vehicle Solutions business. We expect the trend of OEM’s insourcing components of their cab manufacturing to continue, so monetizing the facility now will create value for shareholders and will allow us to redeploy capital in key areas to improve our operating model. Strategic actions like this one, combined with our ongoing cost reduction and business optimization efforts, are expected to position CVG to benefit from the anticipated improvement in market conditions.”

Andy Cheung, Chief Financial Officer, added, “We are taking swift action to respond to the end market and operational challenges through restructuring and headcount reduction efforts to improve profitability. We’ve incurred $6.8 million in restructuring expenses year-to-date and have reduced our headcount by more than 10%. Additionally, we have made progress on the strategic evaluation of our Industrial Automation segment, which we believe will culminate in the third quarter of this year and is reflected in our guidance. We are adjusting our annual guidance ranges for fiscal year 2024 to reflect current market trends to include the deterioration in global construction and agriculture markets, and we are providing an adjusted version of the updated guidance for the Cab Structures and Industrial Automation businesses. Following closing, we anticipate that the majority of the disposition proceeds will support debt paydown as we further strengthen our balance sheet.”

Second Quarter Financial Results
(amounts in millions except per share data and percentages)

Consolidated Results

Second Quarter 2024 Results

  • Second quarter 2024 revenues were $229.9 million, compared to $262.2 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 12.3%. The overall decrease in revenues was due to a softening in customer demand impacting all segments and the wind-down of certain programs in our Vehicle Solutions segment.
  • Operating income in the second quarter 2024 was $0.8 million compared to $15.9 million in the prior year period. The decrease in operating income was attributable to the impact of lower sales volumes, operational inefficiencies and increased restructuring charges. Second quarter 2024 adjusted operating income was $5.7 million, compared to $16.7 million in the prior year period.
  • Interest associated with debt and other expenses was $2.5 million and $2.8 million for the second quarter 2024 and 2023, respectively.
  • Net loss was $1.6 million, or $(0.05) per diluted share, for the second quarter 2024 compared to net income of $10.1 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the prior year period.

On June 30, 2024, the Company had $7.0 million of outstanding borrowings on its U.S. revolving credit facility and no outstanding borrowings on its China credit facility, $39.3 million of cash and $152.9 million of availability from the credit facilities, resulting in total liquidity of $192.2 million.

Second Quarter 2024 Segment Results

Vehicle Solutions Segment

  • Revenues were $140.9 million compared to $152.7 million for the prior year period, a decrease of 7.7%, due to lower customer demand and the wind-down of certain operations.
  • Operating income was $5.1 million, compared to $14.1 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 64.1%, primarily attributable to lower customer demand, operational remediation investments, and increased freight costs partially offset by lower SG&A. Second quarter 2024 adjusted operating income was $8.3 million compared to $14.5 million in the prior year period.

Electrical Systems Segment

  • Revenues were $50.2 million compared to $63.6 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 21.2%, primarily due to a global softening in the Construction & Agriculture end-markets and the phase out of certain lower margin business.
  • Operating income was $0.5 million compared to $7.7 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 93.4%. The decrease in operating income was primarily attributable to lower customer demand, restructuring costs, labor inflation, and unfavorable foreign exchange impacts. Second quarter 2024 adjusted operating income was $1.9 million compared to $7.7 million in the prior year period.

Aftermarket & Accessories Segment

  • Revenues were $33.9 million compared to $36.8 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 8.1%, primarily as a result of lower sales volume due to decreased customer demand and the reduction of backlog in the prior period.
  • Operating income was $4.5 million compared to $5.5 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 19.4%. The decrease in operating income was primarily attributable to lower sales volumes, product mix and higher labor and benefit costs. Second quarter 2024 adjusted operating income was $4.7 million compared to $5.5 million in the prior year period.

Industrial Automation Segment

  • Revenues were $5.0 million compared to $9.0 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 44.6%, as a result of lower sales volume due to decreased customer demand.
  • Operating loss was $1.0 million, compared to $2.1 million in the prior year period. The decrease in operating loss was primarily attributable to benefits from recently implemented restructuring programs. Second quarter 2024 adjusted operating loss was $0.9 million, compared to $1.7 million in the prior year period.

Outlook

CVG issued the following outlook for the full year 2024 which reflects both market developments and pending strategic portfolio actions:

MetricPrior 2024 OutlookRevised 2024 OutlookAdjusted
Revised 2024 Outlook (1)
Net Sales$915 – $1,015$900 – $960$730 – $780
Adjusted EBITDA$60 – $73$42 – $52$28 – $36

(1) This Adjusted Revised outlook excludes any contribution from CVG’s Cab Structures or Industrial Automation businesses in 2024. On July 31, 2024, CVG signed an asset purchase agreement for the sale of the Cab Structures business with closing expected in the second half of 2024. Separately, CVG is currently exploring strategic alternatives for the Industrial Automation business.

This outlook reflects, among others, current industry forecasts for North America Class 8 truck builds. According to ACT Research, 2024 North American Class 8 truck production levels are expected to be at 308,000 units. The 2023 actual Class 8 truck builds according to the ACT Research was 340,247 units.

Agriculture and construction market conditions have deteriorated relative to our prior update in March 2024. Based on industry data, we now project segments within global agriculture market demand to be down 15% to 20% and construction market demand to be down 10% to 15% in 2024.

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this release is included as Appendix A to this release.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss this press release is scheduled for Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Management intends to reference the Q2 2024 Earnings Call Presentation during the conference call. To participate, dial (800) 549-8228 using conference code 11335. International participants dial (289) 819-1520 using conference code 11335.

This call is being webcast and can be accessed through the “Investors” section of CVG’s website at ir.cvgrp.com, where it will be archived for one year.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available for a period of two weeks following the call. To access the replay, dial (+1) 888 660 6264 using access code 11335#.

Company Contact
Andy Cheung
Chief Financial Officer
CVG
IR@cvgrp.com

Investor Relations Contact
Ross Collins or Stephen Poe
Alpha IR Group
CVGI@alpha-ir.com

About CVG

At CVG, we deliver real solutions to complex design, engineering and manufacturing problems while creating positive change for our customers, industries and communities we serve. Information about the Company and its products is available on the internet at www.cvgrp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements often include words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “project”, “continue”, “likely”, and similar expressions. In particular, this press release may contain forward-looking statements about the Company’s expectations for future periods with respect to closing of the recently announced sale of its Cab Structures Business, its plans to improve financial results, the future of the Company’s end markets, changes in the Class 8 and Class 5-7 North America truck build rates, performance of the global construction and agricultural equipment business, the Company’s prospects in the wire harness, warehouse automation and electric vehicle markets, the Company’s initiatives to address customer needs, organic growth, the Company’s strategic plans and plans to focus on certain segments, competition faced by the Company, volatility in and disruption to the global economic environment and the Company’s financial position or other financial information. These statements are based on certain assumptions that the Company has made in light of its experience as well as its perspective on historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results because of certain risks and uncertainties, including those included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. There can be no assurance that statements made in this press release relating to future events will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results over time. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements.

Other Information

Throughout this document, certain numbers in the tables or elsewhere may not sum due to rounding. Rounding may have also impacted the presentation of certain year-on-year percentage changes.

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Commercial Vehicle Group (CVGI) – First Look at 2Q24

Posted on by cpereira@noblefcm.com


Tuesday, August 06, 2024

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

Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

Still Challenging. 2Q24 revenue declined 12.3% y-o-y to $229.9 million due to softening global customer demand. We had projected $237.5 million. Operating income was $0.8 million and adjusted operating income totaled $5.7 million, down 65.9% y-o-y. CVGI reported a net loss of $1.6 million, or $0.05/sh, and adjusted net income of $2.1 million, or EPS of $0.06. We had forecast adjusted EPS of $0.21. Adjusted EBITDA of $10 million was down 51.9% y-o-y and short of our $16 million estimate.

Drivers. Second quarter results were challenged due to multiple factors. In particular, continued softening in the construction and agricultural end markets and reduced volumes in new business win launches, impacting the key growth segment in Electrical Systems. CVG also experienced operational inefficiencies in the Vehicle Solutions segment resulting from a new product launch with a major customer across multiple sites, as well as activities to prepare the Cab Structures business for sale.


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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. 

Release – Bowlero Declares Common Stock Dividend

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on BOWL

RICHMOND, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Board of Directors of Bowlero Corp. (NYSE: BOWL), one of the world’s premier operators of location-based entertainment, declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.055 per common share. The dividend is payable on September 6, 2024, to stockholders of record on August 23, 2024.

About Bowlero Corp.

Bowlero Corporation is one of the world’s premier operators of location-based entertainment. With over 350 locations across North America, the Company serves more than 40 million guest visits annually through a family of brands that include Lucky Strike, Bowlero and AMF. In 2019, Bowlero acquired the Professional Bowlers Association, the major league of bowling and a growing media property that boasts millions of fans around the globe. For more information on Bowlero, please visit BowleroCorp.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risk, assumptions and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and forecasts. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “confident,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this release and are based on our management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections, assumptions, beliefs and information. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. All such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. These risks include, but are not limited to: our ability to design and execute our business strategy; changes in consumer preferences and buying patterns; our ability to compete in our markets; the occurrence of unfavorable publicity; risks associated with long-term non-cancellable leases for our centers; our ability to retain key managers; risks associated with our substantial indebtedness and limitations on future sources of liquidity; our ability to carry out our expansion plans; our ability to successfully defend litigation brought against us; our ability to adequately obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights and claims of intellectual property and proprietary right infringement, misappropriation or other violation by competitors and third parties; failure to hire and retain qualified employees and personnel; the cost and availability of commodities and other products we need to operate our business; cybersecurity breaches, cyber-attacks and other interruptions to our and our third-party service providers’ technological and physical infrastructures; catastrophic events, including war, terrorism and other conflicts; public health emergencies and pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or natural catastrophes and accidents; changes in the regulatory atmosphere and related private sector initiatives; fluctuations in our operating results; economic conditions, including the impact of increasing interest rates, inflation and recession; and other factors described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Company on September 11, 2023, as well as other filings that the Company will make, or has made, with the SEC, such as Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this press release and in other filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Bowlero Corp. Investor Relations
IR@BowleroCorp.comSource: Bowlero Corp

ACCO Brands (ACCO) – 2Q 2024: A Closer Look

Posted on by cpereira@noblefcm.com


Monday, August 05, 2024

ACCO Brands Corporation is one of the world’s largest designers, marketers and manufacturers of branded academic, consumer and business products. Our widely recognized brands include AT-A-GLANCE®, Esselte®, Five Star®, GBC®, Kensington®, Leitz®, Mead®, PowerA®, Quartet®, Rapid®, Rexel®, Swingline®, Tilibra®, and many others. Our products are sold in more than 100 countries around the world. More information about ACCO Brands, the Home of Great Brands Built by Great People, can be found at www.accobrands.com.

Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , 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.

Segment results. Americas revenue totaled $292.3 million in Q2, a decrease of 13.1% from the prior year period. Comparable sales were down 12.7%. International revenue was $146.0 million in Q2, a decrease of 7.1% from the prior period. Comparable sales decreased 5.1%. While revenue was modestly below our estimates, largely due to soft demand for business and consumer office products and a shift from lower margin products, we believe the Company’s outlook is favorable.

Cost reduction efforts. The company made significant progress towards its cost reduction target of $60 million in annualized savings, with $10 million in cost reductions realized so far this year, and $20 million of savings expected for full year 2024. Notably, the Company reduced inventory levels by 17% from the prior year with its technology enabled SKU rationalization.


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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. 

Release – Commercial Vehicle Group Announces Sale of Cab Structures Business

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on CVGI

Divestiture streamlines CVG’s focus
Important milestone in ongoing long-term growth strategy

NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Aug. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Commercial Vehicle Group (the “Company” or “CVG”) (NASDAQ: CVGI), a diversified industrial products and services company, today announced it reached an agreement to sell its Cab Structures business with operations in Kings Mountain, North Carolina to a Volvo Group company, effective July 31, 2024. The net proceeds of the transaction are expected to be $40 million, with closure expected in the second half of 2024. The Company expects the majority of proceeds to be used for debt paydown and other general corporate purposes.

The Cab Structures business primarily serves the Class 8 truck market. This transaction continues a trend of heavy truck OEMs insourcing their cab structure production in recent years.

James Ray, CVG President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The strategic sale of our Cab Structures business marks another milestone on our journey to evolve our business towards higher-growth products and markets, in line with our ongoing strategic transformation plan, while simultaneously generating shareholder value. The sale of our Cab Structures business reduces our exposure to the cyclical Class 8 market, lowers our customer concentration, removes complexity from our business, and improves our return profile.”

About 230 CVG employees are expected to become employees of Volvo, as part of the transaction.

“We are very happy to see this plant in good hands,” said Mr. Ray. “Volvo brings proven operating experience. Kings Mountain employees will benefit from continuity of the plant’s operations and will have the unique opportunity to work for the OEM.”

Mr. Ray concluded, “This transaction also lowers our future capital investment needs and provides the opportunity to invest in high-growth opportunities moving forward. We will continue to closely review additional opportunities for value creation.”

CVG expects to update its full-year 2024 outlook to reflect the impact of the Cab Structures business divestiture in its second quarter 2024 earnings release expected to be released on August 5, 2024.

Company Contact
Andy Cheung
Chief Financial Officer
CVG
IR@cvgrp.com 

Investor Relations Contact
Ross Collins or Stephen Poe
Alpha IR Group
CVGI@alpha-ir.com 

About CVG

At CVG, we deliver real solutions to complex design, engineering and manufacturing problems while creating positive change for our customers, industries and communities we serve. Information about the Company and its products is available on the internet at www.cvgrp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements often include words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “project”, “continue”, “likely”, and similar expressions. In particular, this press release may contain forward-looking statements about the Company’s expectations for future periods with respect to its plans to improve financial results, the future of the Company’s end markets, changes in the Class 8 and Class 5-7 North America truck build rates, performance of the global construction equipment business, the Company’s prospects in the wire harness, warehouse automation and electric vehicle markets, the Company’s initiatives to address customer needs, organic growth, the Company’s strategic plans and plans to focus on certain segments, competition faced by the Company, volatility in and disruption to the global economic environment and the Company’s financial position or other financial information. These statements are based on certain assumptions that the Company has made in light of its experience as well as its perspective on historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results because of certain risks and uncertainties, including those included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. There can be no assurance that statements made in this press release relating to future events will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results over time. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements.

Source: Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.

Commercial Vehicle Group (CVGI) – A Strategic Sale

Posted on by cpereira@noblefcm.com


Friday, August 02, 2024

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

Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

Cab Structures. Yesterday, after the market close, Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG) announced the sale of its Kings Mountain, NC Cab Structures business. This is another step in the Company’s strategic plan to lessen the impact of the highly cyclical Class 8 truck business.

Details. Net proceeds of the transaction are expected to be $40 million, with closure in the second half of 2024. We expect the majority of the net proceeds to be used for debt paydown and other general corporate purposes. CVG did not release unit financial performance, but we do expect management to update its full-year 2024 outlook to reflect the impact of the business unit divesture during its 2Q24 earnings conference call on August 6th.


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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. 

ACCO Brands (ACCO) – Reports 2Q24 Results

Posted on by cpereira@noblefcm.com


Friday, August 02, 2024

ACCO Brands Corporation is one of the world’s largest designers, marketers and manufacturers of branded academic, consumer and business products. Our widely recognized brands include AT-A-GLANCE®, Esselte®, Five Star®, GBC®, Kensington®, Leitz®, Mead®, PowerA®, Quartet®, Rapid®, Rexel®, Swingline®, Tilibra®, and many others. Our products are sold in more than 100 countries around the world. More information about ACCO Brands, the Home of Great Brands Built by Great People, can be found at www.accobrands.com.

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

Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

2Q24 Results. Reported results continue to be impacted by soft demand for ACCO products. In addition, the previously disclosed exit of certain lower margin business, primarily in the back-to-school categories, and a one-time impairment charge related to goodwill and intangible assets negatively impacted reported results.

Details. Revenue of $438.3 million was down 11.2% on a reported basis y-o-y, with comp sales off 10.2%, reflecting softer global business and consumer demand, although computer accessories saw growth. We had projected revenue of $455 million, in-line with consensus. Reported operating loss was $111.2 million reflecting $165.2 million of non-cash impairment charges. Adjusted operating income was $64.6 million, down from $66.2 million in 2Q23. GAAP net loss was $125.2 million, or $1.29/sh, with adjusted net income of $36.6 million, or $0.37/sh. In 2Q23, ACCO reported net income of $26.4 million, or $0.27/sh, and adjusted net income of $36.5 million, or $0.38/sh.


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. 

Release – FAT Brands Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on FAT

LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: FAT) (“FAT Brands” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

“Over the last three years, we have grown the FAT Brands portfolio to 18 iconic restaurant brands with approximately 2,300 units across 40 countries and 49 U.S. states,” said Andy Wiederhorn, Chairman of FAT Brands. “We have opened 45 restaurants year to date, including 24 that opened during the second quarter, and plan to open over 120 new restaurants in 2024. We are seeing strong new franchisee activity as well as continued demand from existing franchise partners to develop other brands within our portfolio and heightened interest from our franchise partners who are eager to explore additional co-branding opportunities that leverage synergies within our brand offerings.”

Ken Kuick, Co-Chief Executive Officer of FAT Brands, commented, “We have signed over 180 development deals year to date, compared to 226 deals for the entirety of 2023, bringing our current pipeline to approximately 1,100 locations.” Kuick continued, “Continuing in 2024 is our focus on the expansion of Twin Peaks. We opened four new lodges during the first half of 2024 and plan to open another 12 to 15 new Twin Peaks lodges in 2024, ending the year with approximately 125 lodges. Additionally, our first conversion of a Smokey Bones location is officially underway. We see this as the first of many sites we will use to fuel Twin Peaks’ fast-paced growth.”

Rob Rosen, Co-Chief Executive Officer of FAT Brands, concluded, “Opportunities in 2024 are abundant. Our long-term strategy is to create value through the organic expansion of our existing brands, acquire additional brands that strategically complement our portfolio, realize value from strategic divestments when appropriate to manage outstanding debt, and ultimately increase long-term value for our stakeholders.”

Fiscal Second Quarter 2024 Highlights

  • Total revenue improved 42.4% to $152.0 million compared to $106.8 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2023
    • System-wide sales growth of 8.6% in the fiscal second quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year fiscal quarter
      • Year-to-date system-wide same-store sales declined of 1.6% in the fiscal second quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year
    • 24 new store openings during the fiscal second quarter of 2024
  • Net loss of $39.4 million, or $2.43 per diluted share, compared to $7.1 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, in the fiscal second quarter of 2023
  • EBITDA(1) of $6.8 million compared to $25.6 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2023
  • Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $15.7 million compared to $23.1 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2023
  • Adjusted net loss(1) of $30.9 million, or $1.93 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income(1) of $3.0 million, or

$0.08 per diluted share, in the fiscal second quarter of 2023

(1) EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net (loss) income are non-GAAP measures defined below, under “Non- GAAP Measures”. Reconciliation of GAAP net loss to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net (loss) income are included in the accompanying financial tables.

Summary of Fiscal Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Total revenue increased $45.2 million, or 42.4%, in the second quarter of 2024 to $152.0 million compared to $106.8 million in the same period of 2023, driven by the acquisition of Smokey Bones in September 2023 and revenues from new restaurant openings.

Costs and expenses consist of general and administrative expense, cost of restaurant and factory revenues, depreciation and amortization, refranchising net loss and advertising fees. Costs and expenses increased $66.4 million, or 75.2%, in the second quarter of 2024 to $154.7 million compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the acquisition of Smokey Bones in September 2023 and increased activity from Company-owned restaurants and the Company’s factory.

General and administrative expense increased $19.6 million, or 197.2%, in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $9.9 million in the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the acquisition of Smokey Bones in September 2023 and the recognition of
$12.7 million in Employee Retention Credits during the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, partially offset by the recognition of
$2.1 million in Employee Retention Credits during the second quarter of fiscal year 2024.

Cost of restaurant and factory revenues was related to the operations of the company-owned restaurant locations and dough factory and increased $40.6 million, or 68.3%, in the second quarter of 2024, primarily due to the acquisition of Smokey Bones in September 2023 and higher company-owned restaurant sales.

Depreciation and amortization increased $3.2 million, or 45.1% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the acquisition of Smokey Bones in September 2023 and depreciation of new property and equipment at company-owned restaurant locations.

Refranchising net loss in the second quarter of 2024 of $0.2 million was comprised of $0.5 million in net loss related to the sale or closure of refranchised restaurants, offset by $0.3 million in restaurant food sales, net of operating costs. Refranchising net loss in the second quarter of 2023 of $0.2 million was comprised of $0.2 million in restaurant operating costs, net of food sales.

Advertising expenses increased $3.0 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the acquisition of Smokey Bones in September 2023. Additionally, these expenses vary in relation to advertising revenues.

Total other expense, net, for the second quarter of 2024 and 2023 was $34.8 million and $24.2 million, respectively, which is inclusive of interest expense of $34.0 million and $24.3 million, respectively. This increase is primarily due to new debt issuances.

Adjusted net loss(1) of $30.9 million, or $1.93 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income(1) of $3.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, in the fiscal second quarter of 2023.

Key Financial Definitions

New store openings – The number of new store openings reflects the number of stores opened during a particular reporting period. The total number of new stores per reporting period and the timing of stores openings has, and will continue to have, an impact on our results.

Same-store sales growth – Same-store sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year sales for the comparable store base, which we define as the number of stores open and in the FAT Brands system for at least one full fiscal year. For stores that were temporarily closed, sales in the current and prior period are adjusted accordingly. Given our focused marketing efforts and public excitement surrounding each opening, new stores often experience an initial start-up period with considerably higher than average sales volumes, which subsequently decrease to stabilized levels after three to six months. Additionally, when we acquire a brand, it may take several months to integrate fully each location of said brand into the FAT Brands platform. Thus, we do not include stores in the comparable base until they have been open and in the FAT Brands system for at least one full fiscal year.

System-wide sales growth – System wide sales growth reflects the percentage change in sales in any given fiscal period compared to the prior fiscal period for all stores in that brand only when the brand is owned by FAT Brands. Because of

acquisitions, new store openings and store closures, the stores open throughout both fiscal periods being compared may be different from period to period.

Conference Call and Webcast

FAT Brands will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its fiscal second quarter 2024 financial results today at 5:00 PM ET. Hosting the conference call and webcast will be Andy Wiederhorn, Chairman of the Board, and Ken Kuick, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 1-844-826-3035 from the U.S. or 1-412-317-5195 internationally. A replay will be available after the call until Wednesday, August 21, 2024, and can be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921 from the U.S. or 1-412-317-6671 internationally. The passcode is 10189773. The webcast will be available at www.fatbrands.com under the “Investors” section and will be archived on the site shortly after the call has concluded.

About FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands

FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) is a leading global franchising company that strategically acquires, markets, and develops fast casual, quick-service, casual dining, and polished casual dining concepts around the world. The Company currently owns 18 restaurant brands: Round Table Pizza, Fatburger, Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, Twin Peaks, Smokey Bones, Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Buffalo’s Cafe & Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Pretzelmaker, Elevation Burger, Native Grill & Wings, Yalla Mediterranean and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses and franchises and owns approximately 2,300 units worldwide. For more information, please visit www.fatbrands.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the future financial and operating results of the Company, the timing and performance of new store openings, our ability to conduct future accretive acquisitions and our pipeline of new store locations. Forward- looking statements generally use words such as “expect,” “foresee,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “should,” “estimate,” “will,” “plans,” “forecast,” and similar expressions, and reflect our expectations concerning the future. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. We refer you to the documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as our reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our current expectations and from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

Non-GAAP Measures (Unaudited)

This press release includes the non-GAAP financial measures of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net (loss) income.

EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization. We use the term EBITDA, as opposed to income from operations, as it is widely used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. We believe that EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of expenses that do not relate to business performance. EBITDA is not a measure of our financial performance or liquidity that is determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and should not be considered as an alternative to net loss as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as measures of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA (as defined above), excluding expenses related to acquisitions, refranchising loss, impairment charges, and certain non-recurring or non-cash items that the Company does not believe directly reflect its core operations and may not be indicative of the Company’s recurring business operations.

Adjusted net (loss) income is a supplemental measure of financial performance that is not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted net (loss) income is defined as net (loss) income plus the impact of adjustments and the tax effects of such adjustments. Adjusted net (loss) income is presented because we believe it helps convey supplemental information to investors regarding our performance, excluding the impact of special items that affect the comparability of results in past quarters to expected results in future quarters. Adjusted net (loss) income as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies, and our presentation of adjusted net loss should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by excluded or unusual items. Our management uses this non-GAAP financial measure to analyze changes in our underlying business from quarter to quarter based on comparable financial results.

Reconciliations of net loss presented in accordance with GAAP to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss are set forth in the tables below.

Investor Relations:

ICR
Michelle Michalski
ir-fatbrands@icrinc.com
646-277-1224

Media Relations:

Erin Mandzik emandzik@fatbrands.com 860-212-6509

FAT Brands Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations

Click here for full report

FAT Brands (FAT) – Overview of 2Q24 Operating Results

Posted on by cpereira@noblefcm.com


Thursday, August 01, 2024

FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) is a leading global franchising company that strategically acquires, markets, and develops fast casual, quick-service, casual dining, and polished casual dining concepts around the world. The Company currently owns 17 restaurant brands: Round Table Pizza, Fatburger, Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, Twin Peaks, Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Buffalo’s Cafe & Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Pretzelmaker, Elevation Burger, Native Grill & Wings, Yalla Mediterranean and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses, and franchises and owns over 2,300 units worldwide. For more information on FAT Brands, please visit www.fatbrands.com.

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

Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

Note: FAT Brands has entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Noble Capital Markets relating to the potential sale of up to $10.335 million of Class A common stock and/or 8.25% Series B Cumulative Preferred stock. As a result, this report will just focus on a review of FAT Brands’ second quarter operating results.

2Q24 Results. FAT’s 2Q24 results were very similar to 1Q24 results. While we had hoped for some sequential improvement, given the overall industry challenges seen so far this reporting season, relatively flat results are not too bad. Revenue totaled $152 million, flat sequentially and up 42.4% y-o-y. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $15.7 million versus $23.1 million last year, with the decline reflecting lower employee retention credits this quarter. FAT reported a net loss of $41.3 million, or $2.43 per share, compared to a loss of $8.7 million, or a loss of $0.53/sh in 2Q23.


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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. 

Xcel Brands (XELB) – A Set Up For 2025

Posted on by cpereira@noblefcm.com


Tuesday, July 30, 2024

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

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

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

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

In line Q2 preliminary results. The company announced limited, preliminary operating results from Q2. Revenue in the quarter is expected to be $3.0 million, modestly below our estimate of $3.6 million, and adj. EBITDA of negative $40,000 was in line with our estimate of negative $64,000. 

LOGO sale finalized. The sale of the LOGO brand was finalized on June 30, and the company is expected to recognized a one time gain of $3.8 million. We estimate that Lori Goldstein accounted for roughly $5 million in annual revenues and $2 million in adj. EBITDA. However, after earn-outs, we estimate that the company was losing money on the brand.


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. 

Release – FAT Brands to Announce Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results On July 31, 2024

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on FAT

LOS ANGELES, July 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: FAT) (“FAT Brands” or the “Company”), a leading global franchising company and parent company of iconic brands including Round Table Pizza, Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Twin Peaks, Fazoli’s and 13 other restaurant concepts, today announced that the Company will host a conference call to review its second quarter 2024 financial results on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 5:00 PM ET. A press release with second quarter 2024 financial results will be issued prior to the conference call that day.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 1-844-826-3035 from the U.S. or 1-412-317-5195 internationally. A replay will be available after the call until Wednesday, August 31, 2024, and can be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921 from the U.S. or 1-412-317-6671 internationally. The passcode is 10189773. Hosting the call will be Andy Wiederhorn, Chairman, and Ken Kuick, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

The conference call will also be webcast live from the corporate website at www.fatbrands.com, under the “Investors” section. A replay of the webcast will be available through the corporate website shortly after the call has concluded.

About FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands

FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) is a leading global franchising company that strategically acquires, markets, and develops fast casual, quick-service, casual dining, and polished casual dining concepts around the world. The Company currently owns 18 restaurant brands: Round Table Pizza, Fatburger, Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, Twin Peaks, Great American Cookies, Smokey Bones, Hot Dog on a Stick, Buffalo’s Cafe & Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Pretzelmaker, Elevation Burger, Native Grill & Wings, Yalla Mediterranean and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses, and franchises and owns over 2,300 units worldwide. For more information on FAT Brands, please visit www.fatbrands.com.

Investor Relations:
ICR
Michelle Michalski
IR-FATBrands@icrinc.com
646-277-1224

Media Relations:
Erin Mandzik
emandzik@fatbrands.com
860-212-6509

The Rise of Chinese E-commerce Giants and Their Impact on US Tech Earnings

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com
Key Points:
– Temu and Shein’s rapid growth in the US market is influencing tech earnings and competition.
– These platforms leverage low prices and aggressive marketing strategies to gain market share.
– The impact of Chinese e-commerce companies on US tech giants raises questions about fair competition and trade policies.

In recent months, the e-commerce landscape in the United States has been dramatically altered by the meteoric rise of Chinese discount shopping apps Temu and Shein. As Wall Street prepares for the latest round of tech earnings reports, the influence of these platforms on industry giants like Amazon, Meta, and eBay is becoming increasingly apparent.

Temu and Shein have captured the attention of American consumers with their rock-bottom prices and aggressive marketing campaigns. Temu, which launched in the US in 2022, quickly surpassed established social media apps in popularity on the Apple App Store. Shein, present in the US market since 2017, has seen similar success. Both platforms offer incredibly low-priced goods, such as $3 shoes or $15 smartwatches, directly from Chinese manufacturers to American consumers.

The success of these platforms is partially attributed to a trade loophole known as the de minimis exception. This rule allows packages valued under $800 to enter the US duty-free, giving Chinese retailers a significant competitive advantage. Amazon’s top public policy executive, David Zapolsky, has expressed concern about this trend, suggesting that some business models may be unfairly subsidized.

The impact of Temu and Shein extends beyond just e-commerce. Their substantial ad spending has become a significant revenue source for companies like Google and Facebook. However, recent data suggests that Temu may be adjusting its marketing strategy, potentially affecting ad revenue for these tech giants.

Established e-commerce players are responding to this new competition in various ways. Amazon, while emphasizing its delivery speed advantage, is reportedly planning to launch its own discount store featuring unbranded items priced below $20. eBay has stressed its differentiated selection, while Etsy has highlighted its focus on artisan goods.

The rise of these Chinese platforms has also sparked discussions about fair competition and trade policies. US officials, along with their counterparts in the European Union, are considering closing the de minimis loophole, which could significantly impact the growth of Temu and Shein.

Despite the challenges posed by these new entrants, analysts suggest that major players like Amazon and Walmart are relatively insulated from the competition. The established e-commerce giants’ superior shipping speeds and extensive logistics networks provide a significant competitive advantage.

As the tech industry braces for the upcoming earnings reports, all eyes will be on how companies address the impact of Temu and Shein. Investors will be particularly interested in any commentary on changes in e-commerce marketplaces and shifts in ad spending patterns.

The story of Temu and Shein’s rise in the US market is more than just a tale of successful market entry. It represents a shifting dynamic in global e-commerce, raising important questions about international trade policies, fair competition, and the future of retail. As these Chinese platforms continue to grow and evolve, their impact on the US tech industry and broader economy will likely remain a topic of intense scrutiny and debate.

Release – CVG Announces Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Call

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on CVGI

NEW ALBANY, Ohio, July 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CVG (NASDAQ: CVGI) will hold its quarterly conference call on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET, to discuss second quarter 2024 financial results. CVG will issue a press release and presentation prior to the conference call.

Toll-free participants dial (800) 549-8228 using conference code 11335. International participants dial (289) 819-1520 using conference code 11335. This call is being webcast and can be accessed through the “Investors” section of CVG’s website at ir.cvgrp.com where it will be archived for one year.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until August 20, 2024. To access the replay, toll-free callers can dial (877) 674-7070 using access code 11335#.

About CVG

At CVG, we deliver real solutions to complex design, engineering and manufacturing problems while creating positive change for our customers, industries, and communities we serve. Information about the Company and its products is available on the internet at www.cvgrp.com.

Investor Relations Contact:
Ross Collins or Stephen Poe
Alpha IR Group
CVGI@alpha-ir.com                                                

Source: Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.