Self-Directed Investors May Find Opportunities by Watching Insiders

Image Credit: InsiderMonkey.com (Flickr)

Is it Better to Shadow Trade Insiders Rather than Congress Members or Fund Managers?

As tricky as the overall market has been, a new crop of investors that had been primarily index investors have spent the past 11 months gravitating more toward creating their own diversified mix of above-average probability stocks. One proven way to put the odds more on your side as a self-directed investor is to watch trends in insider buying. It was Peter Lynch of Magellan Fund fame who said, “Insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.”  To be sure, management only has so much control over performance, but they are likely to have greater clarity than anyone else evaluating their company.

Why Shadow Insiders?

Following insiders into stocks you otherwise are positive about is a form of shadow investing. Shadowing successful investors is a growing trend. There are websites dedicated to highlighting the transactions of investors like Paul Pelosi, Warren Buffett, Michael Burry, Cathie Wood, and others. But shadowing directors or key executives of publicly traded companies provides investors with much more current information – SEC Form 4 is used to disclose a transaction in company stock within two days of the purchase or sale. Compare the two-day reporting to institutional funds managing over $100 million that report 45 or more days after quarter-end on quarter-end holdings using SEC Form 13F. Or Congress-persons that can wait 45 days after a transaction to report it. Moreover, the insider is generally restricted to trading windows, so their holding time tends to be longer term. So their commitment level may be much higher than say a hedge fund manager like Michael Burry that may have purchased a security just before his 13F statement date, and then sold it a week later.

And the performance is above average. University of Michigan finance professor Nejat Seyhun, the author of “Investment Intelligence from Insider Trading” wrote stock prices rise more after insiders’ net purchases than after net sales. On the whole, insiders do earn profits from their legal trading activities, and their returns are greater than those of the overall market.

Current Example

I thought to write about following legal insider buying of stocks on your watch list after a link to a research note posted on Channelchek appeared in my inbox. It was on a company I follow and it highlighted legal insider trading by an executive.  The report, available here, reported that the CEO of an expanding company in the cannabis sector name Schwazze (Medicine Man Technologies), was adding substantially to his ownership of the company he runs. The note by Noble Capital Markets Sr. Research Analyst, Joe Gomes, said:

“In a series of Form 4 filings, between November 14th and November 23rd Schwazze CEO Justin Dye purchased 1,325,852 SHWZ shares at a cost of $2.36 million, or a per share average of $1.78. According to the most recent Form 4 filed on November 25th, Mr. Dye directly currently owns 1,368,062 SHWZ common shares and indirectly owns 9,287,500 SHWZ common shares through Dye Capital & Company.”

Schwazze (SHWZ) is up 42% over the past month.

How Do You Screen and Watch for Insider Buying Activity?

There are websites such as SECForm4.com and InsiderMonkey.com that aggregate SEC Form 4 filings and post them in a searchable, fully filterable online environment so you may search for characteristics you may prefer in your stock selections. While using insider activity, whether it be raw from the SEC or served up on online screening tools, here are four things to keep in mind to help hone your skills.

Some insiders are better than others. As a rule, directors tend to know less about a company’s outlook than top executives. Key executives are the CEO and CFO. The people day-to-day running the company are better able to assess risk of an investment in their company.

More insiders are better than a few. If one insider is buying in unusual amounts, it is a green flag to dig deeper. If several have begun adding to their holdings, it can be seen as a stronger signal.

People at small companies may have more insight.  At smaller companies, a higher percentage of insiders are privy to company plans, changes in strategy, and financials. At big corporations, information is more dispersed, and typically only the core management team has the big picture.

Stay the course. Insiders tend to act far in advance of expected news. This is in part because of trading windows and also to avoid the appearance of illegal insider trading. A study by academics at Pennsylvania State and Michigan State contends that insider activity precedes specific company news by as long as two years before the eventual disclosure of the news.

Take Away

Insider tracking takes some work, but the resources to monitor a list of stocks you are interested in do exist to make it easier. Investors that would prefer to build their own diversified portfolio rather than own an index fund may find that watching insider buys helps point the way toward stocks more likely to beat a particular index. Another Peter Lynch quote says, “Know what you own, and why you own it.” Following insider buying allows you to have a methodology where you do know exactly why you are in a position. And although I have no hard data, I’d guess over the past five years it has paid better to follow insiders’ reported trades rather than social media influencers’ suggestions for a trade.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

Sources

https://www.secform4.com/insider-trading/1622879.htm

https://www.channelchek.com/research-reports/25422

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/02/121002.asp#:~:text=Stock%20prices%20rise%20more%20after,those%20of%20the%20overall%20market.

http://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262194112/investment-intelligence-from-insider-trading/

Release – Bowlero Corp. to Participate in the UBS Global TMT Conference

Research, News, and Market Data on BOWL

11/28/2022

RICHMOND, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Bowlero Corp. (NYSE: BOWL) (“Bowlero”), the global leader in bowling entertainment, announced today that management will participate in The UBS Global TMT Conference taking place December 5-7, 2022 at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel in New York, NY.

Brett Parker, President & Chief Financial Officer of Bowlero, will participate in a fireside chat at 3:50 PM ET on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. Mr. Parker will also be available for meetings during the conference.

For more information, or to request a meeting with management, please reach out to your UBS representative.

About Bowlero Corp

Bowlero Corp. is the global leader in bowling entertainment, media, and events. With more than 300 bowling centers across North America, Bowlero Corp. serves more than 27 million guests each year through a family of brands that includes Bowlero, Bowlmor Lanes, and AMF. In 2019, Bowlero Corp. acquired the Professional Bowlers Association, the major league of bowling, which boasts thousands of members and millions of fans across the globe. For more information on Bowlero Corp., please visit BowleroCorp.com.

For Media:
PR@BowleroCorp.com

For Investors:
IRSupport@BowleroCorp.com

Source: Bowlero Corp.

Release – Labrador Gold Intersects 23.44g/t Au over 1.27 Metres at Big Vein Southwest

Research, News, and Market Data on NKOSF

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Labrador Gold Corp. (TSX.V:LAB | OTCQX:NKOSF | FNR: 2N6) (“LabGold” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce results from recent drilling targeting the prospective Appleton Fault Zone over a 12km strike length. The drilling is part of the Company’s ongoing 100,000 metre diamond drilling program at its 100% owned Kingsway Project.

Highlights of the drilling include an intersection of 8.60g/t Au over 4.41 metres from 326.89 metres that included 53.52g/t Au over 0.31 metres in Hole K-22-211 that contains visible gold, and 1.31g/t Au over 7 metres from 270 metres including 8.49g/t Au over 0.91 metres in Hole K-22-207 from Big Vein Southwest. Hole K-22-202, drilled at the northeast end of Big Vein, intersected 5.68g/t Au over 2.65 metres from 189.7 metres that included 18.27g/t Au over 0.78 metres.

Hole K-22-211 was collared 40 metres southwest of Hole K-22-174 that intersected 284.1 g/t Au over 0.58 metres and 15.05g/t Au over 1.11 metres (see News Release dated July 7, 2022) and extends the mineralized zone further to the Southwest.

“We continue to have drilling success at both ends of Big Vein which has now been drilled over a strike length of approximately 520 metres and remains open in both directions. In particular, the high grade zone containing visible gold at Big Vein Southwest continues to expand,” said Roger Moss, President and CEO. “Two drill rigs continue drilling at Big Vein to test for extensions of the mineralization in both directions. Drilling will continue through the winter.”

Table 1. Summary of assay results. All intersections are downhole length as there is insufficient Information to calculate true width.

Figure 1. Visible gold in Hole K-22-211.
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03572774-0511-4519-bf5e-5b6043993756

Figure 2. Big Vein plan map.
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/902bb7b2-45ed-49bb-b988-35872c854fbe


A total of 61,404 metres have been drilled to date out of the planned 100,000 metre program. Assays are pending for samples from approximately 4,263 metres of core (11.4% of the total submitted).

The Company has $20 million in cash and is well funded to carry out the remaining 39,000 metres of the planned drill program as well as further exploration to add to the pipeline of drill targets on the property.

Table 2. Drill hole collar details

QA/QC

True widths of the reported intersections have yet to be calculated. Assays are uncut. Samples of HQ split core are securely stored prior to shipping to Eastern Analytical Laboratory in Springdale, Newfoundland for assay. Eastern Analytical is an ISO/IEC17025 accredited laboratory. Samples are routinely analyzed for gold by standard 30g fire assay with atomic absorption finish as well as by ICP-OES for an additional 34 elements. Samples containing visible gold are assayed by metallic screen/fire assay, as are any samples with fire assay results greater than 1g/t Au. The company submits blanks and certified reference standards at a rate of approximately 5% of the total samples in each batch.

Qualified Person

Roger Moss, PhD., P.Geo., President and CEO of LabGold, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this release.

The Company gratefully acknowledges the Newfoundland and Labrador Ministry of Natural Resources’ Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) Program for its financial support for exploration of the Kingsway property.

About Labrador Gold
Labrador Gold is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of prospective gold projects in Eastern Canada.

Labrador Gold’s flagship property is the 100% owned Kingsway project in the Gander area of Newfoundland. The three licenses comprising the Kingsway project cover approximately 12km of the Appleton Fault Zone which is associated with gold occurrences in the region, including those of New Found Gold immediately to the south of Kingsway. Infrastructure in the area is excellent located just 18km from the town of Gander with road access to the project, nearby electricity and abundant local water. LabGold is drilling a projected 100,000 metres targeting high-grade epizonal gold mineralization along the Appleton Fault Zone with encouraging results. The Company has approximately $20 million in working capital and is well funded to carry out the planned program.

The Hopedale property covers much of the Florence Lake greenstone belt that stretches over 60 km. The belt is typical of greenstone belts around the world but has been underexplored by comparison. Work to date by Labrador Gold show gold anomalies in rocks, soils and lake sediments over a 3 kilometre section of the northern portion of the Florence Lake greenstone belt in the vicinity of the known Thurber Dog gold showing where grab samples assayed up to 7.8g/t gold. In addition, anomalous gold in soil and lake sediment samples occur over approximately 40 km along the southern section of the greenstone belt (see news release dated January 25 th 2018 for more details). Labrador Gold now controls approximately 40km strike length of the Florence Lake Greenstone Belt.

The Company has 169,189,979 common shares issued and outstanding and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol LAB.

For more information please contact:
Roger Moss, President and CEO      Tel: 416-704-8291

Or visit our website at: www.labradorgold.com

Twitter @LabGoldCorp

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release .

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such as actual results of current exploration programs, the general risks associated with the mining industry, the price of gold and other metals, currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Release – Direct Digital Holdings to Participate in The Benchmark Company 11th Annual Discovery One-on-One Investor Conference

Research, News, and Market Data on DRCT

November 28, 2022 9:00am EST

HOUSTON, Nov. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Direct Digital Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRCT) (“Direct Digital Holdings” or the “Company”), a leading advertising and marketing technology platform operating through its companies Colossus Media, LLC (“Colossus SSP”), Huddled Masses LLC (“Huddled Masses”) and Orange142, LLC (“Orange142”), today announced that the Company will be participating in The Benchmark Company 11th Annual Discovery One-on-One Investor Conference taking place on December 1, 2022 at The New York Athletic Club in New York, NY.

Keith Smith, President of Direct Digital Holdings, and Susan Echard, Chief Financial Officer of Direct Digital Holdings, will be attending on behalf of the Company and available for meetings during the conference. For more information, or to schedule a meeting with management, please reach out to your Benchmark Company representative.

About Direct Digital Holdings
Direct Digital Holdings (Nasdaq: DRCT), owner of operating companies Colossus SSP, Huddled Masses, and Orange 142, brings state-of-the-art sell- and buy-side advertising platforms together under one umbrella company. Direct Digital Holdings’ sell-side platform, Colossus SSP, offers advertisers of all sizes extensive reach within general market and multicultural media properties. The company’s subsidiaries Huddled Masses and Orange142 deliver significant ROI for middle market advertisers by providing data-optimized programmatic solutions at scale for businesses in sectors that range from energy to healthcare to travel to financial services. Direct Digital Holdings’ sell- and buy-side solutions manage approximately 90,000 clients monthly, generating over 100 billion impressions per month across display, CTV, in-app and other media channels. The company has been named a top minority-owned business by The Houston Business Journal.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/direct-digital-holdings-to-participate-in-the-benchmark-company-11th-annual-discovery-one-on-one-investor-conference-301687529.html

SOURCE

Released November 28, 2022

Release – Onconova Therapeutics To Present At The Upcoming RHK Capital Disruptive Growth Conference

Research, News, and Market Data on ONTX

Nov 28, 2022

PDF Version

NEWTOWN, Pa., Nov. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer, today announced that it will participate in the RHK Capital Disruptive Growth Conference being held in the offices of Reed Smith in New York, NY on December 5-6, 2022. Mark Guerin, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, will present a corporate overview at the conference on Tuesday, December 6th at 11:20 a.m. ET.

To learn more or submit a registration request for the conference, visit http://disruptnyc.com/.

About Onconova Therapeutics, Inc.

Onconova Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer. The Company has proprietary targeted anti-cancer agents designed to disrupt specific cellular pathways that are important for cancer cell proliferation.

Onconova’s novel, proprietary multi-kinase inhibitor narazaciclib (formerly ON 123300) is being evaluated in two separate and complementary Phase 1 dose-escalation and expansion studies. These trials are currently underway in the United States and China.

Onconova’s product candidate rigosertib is being studied in an investigator-sponsored study program, including in a dose-escalation and expansion Phase 1/2a investigator-sponsored study with oral rigosertib in combination with nivolumab for patients with KRAS+ non-small cell lung cancer.

For more information, please visit www.onconova.com.

Company Contact:
Mark Guerin
Onconova Therapeutics, Inc.
267-759-3680
ir@onconova.us
https://www.onconova.com/contact/

Investor Contact:
Bruce Mackle
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
646-889-1200
bmackle@lifesciadvisors.com

Release – Lineage Announces Launch of Phase 2a Study By Genentech Of Rg6501 (Opregen®) In Patients With Geographic Atrophy Secondary To Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Research, News, and Market Data on LCTX

November 28, 2022 at 8:00 AM EST

CARLSBAD, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 28, 2022– Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American and TASE: LCTX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing allogeneic cell therapies for unmet medical needs, announced today that its partner Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, has launched a Phase 2a, multicenter, open-label, single arm clinical study of RG6501 (OpRegen), a retinal pigment epithelial cell therapy. The study is intended to optimize subretinal surgical delivery and evaluate the safety and activity of OpRegen in approximately 30, and up to 60 patients with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration. The primary objectives of the study are to evaluate (i) the proportion of patients with subretinal surgical delivery of OpRegen to target regions under the retina, and (ii) to evaluate the safety of subretinal surgical delivery of OpRegen as measured by the incidence and severity of procedure-related adverse events at 3 months following surgery. A key secondary objective is to evaluate the proportion of patients with qualitative improvement in retinal structure, as determined by Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) imaging, within 3 months following surgery. RG6501 (OpRegen) is currently being developed under an exclusive worldwide collaboration between Lineage, Roche and Genentech.

“In our Phase 1/2a clinical trial, RG6501 (OpRegen) demonstrated the potential to slow, stop, or reverse the progression of GA in patients with GA. These results can be maintained beyond one year following a one-time, approximately 30-minute outpatient procedure,” stated Brian M. Culley, Lineage CEO. “We are excited that Roche and Genentech are advancing the OpRegen program in a larger clinical study and will seek not only to optimize and potentially improve its delivery, but also confirm safety and activity of OpRegen in this patient population. We expect the findings from this Phase 2a study will be highly informative and may increase the probability of success in any future larger, comparative trials.”

“We are excited for the launch of this Phase 2a study, where one of the key objectives is to optimize the delivery of OpRegen to achieve the best outcomes,” stated Seppi Lin, Vice President of OMNI Early Clinical Development at Genentech. “This study will provide key insights for the future development of the OpRegen program. Geographic Atrophy (GA) secondary to AMD is a disease area of high unmet need with no approved therapies, and we are committed to developing effective and innovative medicines for patients with serious eye diseases.”

About the Phase 2a Study

The planned Phase 2a clinical study is a multicenter, open-label, single arm study to optimize subretinal surgical delivery and to evaluate the safety and activity of OpRegen in patients with GA secondary to AMD. Approximately 30 and up to 60 patients may be enrolled across multiple sites and will receive OpRegen administered as a single subretinal injection to one eye with impaired vision. Study treatment will consist of a single subretinal injection of OpRegen at a dose of up to approximately 200,000 cells delivered to target areas of GA in the study eye.

The primary objectives of the study are to evaluate (i) the proportion of patients with subretinal surgical delivery of OpRegen to target regions under the retina, and (ii) to evaluate the safety of subretinal surgical delivery of OpRegen as measured by the incidence and severity of procedure-related adverse events at 3 months following surgery. A key secondary objective is to evaluate the proportion of patients with qualitative improvement in retinal structure, as determined by SD-OCT imaging within 3 months following surgery.

About Geographic Atrophy

Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) characterized by severe loss of visual function. GA is a leading cause of adult blindness in the developed world, affecting at least 5 million people globally. There are two forms of advanced AMD: neovascular AMD and GA. GA and neovascular AMD can occur simultaneously in the same eye, and patients treated for neovascular AMD may still go on to develop GA. GA typically affects both eyes. There are currently no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved treatment options available for patients with GA.

About Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.

Lineage Cell Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel cell therapies for unmet medical needs. Lineage’s programs are based on its robust proprietary cell-based therapy platform and associated in-house development and manufacturing capabilities. With this platform Lineage develops and manufactures specialized, terminally differentiated human cells from its pluripotent and progenitor cell starting materials. These differentiated cells are developed to either replace or support cells that are dysfunctional or absent due to degenerative disease or traumatic injury or administered as a means of helping the body mount an effective immune response to cancer. Lineage’s clinical and preclinical programs are in markets with billion dollar opportunities and include five allogeneic (“off-the-shelf”) product candidates: (i) OpRegen, a retinal pigment epithelial cell therapy in Phase 2a development for the treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration, is being developed under a worldwide collaboration with Roche and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group; (ii) OPC1, an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell therapy in Phase 1/2a development for the treatment of acute spinal cord injuries; (iii) VAC2, a dendritic cell therapy produced from Lineage’s VAC technology platform for immuno-oncology and infectious disease, currently in Phase 1 clinical development for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer; (iv) ANP1, an auditory neuronal progenitor cell therapy for the potential treatment of auditory neuropathy; and (v) PNC1, a photoreceptor neural cell therapy for the potential treatment of vision loss due to photoreceptor dysfunction or damage. For more information, please visit www.lineagecell.com or follow the company on Twitter @LineageCell.

Forward-Looking Statements

Lineage cautions you that all statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, in some cases, can be identified by terms such as “believe,” “aim,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “design,” “intend,” “expect,” “could,” “can,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “would,” “contemplate,” “project,” “target,” “tend to,” or the negative version of these words and similar expressions. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: our collaboration and license agreement with Roche and Genentech and the timing of anticipated FDA interactions; the potential of RG6501 (OpRegen) to be a safe, effective and durable, one-time treatment for geographic atrophy secondary to age related macular degeneration; the significance of this Phase 2a study, including the potential that it will be informative or increase the potential of success in future larger, comparative trials; and preclinical activities, clinical trials, and clinical data updates related to our programs. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Lineage’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release, including, but not limited to, the following risks: that positive findings in early clinical and/or nonclinical studies of a product candidate may not be predictive of success in subsequent clinical and/or nonclinical studies of that candidate; that competing alternative therapies may adversely impact the commercial potential of OpRegen; that Roche and Genentech may not successfully advance OpRegen or be successful in completing further clinical trials for OpRegen and/or obtaining regulatory approval for OpRegen in any particular jurisdiction; that Lineage may not be able to manufacture sufficient clinical quantities of its product candidates in accordance with current good manufacturing practice; and those risks and uncertainties inherent in Lineage’s business and other risks discussed in Lineage’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Lineage’s forward-looking statements are based upon its current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included under the heading “Risk Factors” in Lineage’s periodic reports with the SEC, including Lineage’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and its other reports, which are available from the SEC’s website. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Lineage undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.comhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221128005217/en/

Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. IR
Ioana C. Hone
(ir@lineagecell.com)
(442) 287-8963

LifeSci Advisors
Daniel Ferry
(daniel@lifesciadvisors.com)
(617) 430-7576

Russo Partners – Media Relations
Nic Johnson or David Schull
(Nic.johnson@russopartnersllc.com)
(David.schull@russopartnersllc.com)
(212) 845-4242

Source: Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.

Release – Ocugen To Present At 3rd Annual Dry AMD Therapeutics Summit

Research, News, and Market Data on OCGN

November 28, 2022

MALVERN, Pa., Nov. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ocugen, Inc. (“Ocugen” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: OCGN), a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene and cell therapies and vaccines, today announced that the Company’s Chief Scientific Officer, Arun Upadhyay, Ph.D., will participate in the 3rd Annual Dry AMD Therapeutics Summit at the Revere Hotel in Boston, Mass. from November 30-December 2, 2022.

“I am very pleased that Dr. Upadhyay will share more about our Modifier Gene Therapy platform—a novel approach to treating retinal diseases—during the Dry AMD Summit,” said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO & Co-Founder of Ocugen. “Our candidate, OCU410, is being developed to utilize the nuclear hormone receptor gene RORA for the treatment of dry AMD and we plan to file an IND application to initiate Phase 1/2 clinical trials in Q2 2023. We are enthusiastic about the potential for OCU410 to address unmet medical need in this category.”

Panel Discussion: Reviewing the Current State of Dry AMD Preclinical Models & What the Future Looks Like
Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Time: 12:45 p.m. ET

Presentation: A Modifier Gene Therapy Approach for Treatment of Dry AMD
Date: Thursday, December 1, 2022
Time: 11:45 a.m. ET

About Ocugen, Inc.
Ocugen, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene and cell therapies and vaccines that improve health and offer hope for patients across the globe. We are making an impact on patient’s lives through courageous innovation—forging new scientific paths that harness our unique intellectual and human capital. Our breakthrough modifier gene therapy platform has the potential to treat multiple retinal diseases with a single product, and we are advancing research in infectious diseases to support public health and orthopedic diseases to address unmet medical needs. Discover more at www.ocugen.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “proposed,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from our current expectations. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risk factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the quarterly and annual reports that we file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Contact:
Tiffany Hamilton
Head of Communications
IR@ocugen.com

Release – Sierra Metals Announces Appointment of Interim CEO

Research, News, and Market Data on SMT

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

The Company will Host a Conference Call on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at 8:30 AM EST

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Sierra Metals Inc. (TSX:SMT) (BVL:SMT) (“Sierra Metals” or the “Company”) announced today the resignation of Mr. Luis Marchese as the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company, and the appointment, effective immediately, of Mr. Ernesto Balarezo Valdez as Interim Chief Executive Officer to lead the Company during its current strategic review process. Mr. Balarezo will also join the Board of Directors of the Company.

The previously announced strategic review process is ongoing under the direction of the Special Committee, comprised of the Company’s independent directors.

Mr. Oscar Cabrera, Chair of Sierra Metals’ Board of Directors stated, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Luis for his commitment and service to Sierra Metals as CEO and Director, during a very challenging period for the Company. We wish him well in his future endeavours.”

He continued, “Sierra Metals’ Board is pleased that Mr. Balarezo has agreed to serve as the Company’s Interim CEO. His operations and leadership experience in the mining industry provides the right perspective and skills to lead the Company during the strategic review process.”

Mr. Balarezo’s career spans over three decades with extensive managerial and corporate experience at international and local levels with leading companies in the mining, cement and services industries, including as Executive Vice President for the Americas at Gold Fields Ltd. and as CEO of Gold Fields La Cima S.A. where he oversaw the Cerro Corona Mining unit in Peru. Mr. Balarezo’s mining experience also includes a broad range of positions with the Hochschild Group where he advanced to Vice President Operations after starting his tenure as General Manager of the Mexican branch and then as General Manager in Peru.

Mr. Balarezo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Industrial Management from Texas A&M University. He has also completed the Management Development Program from the Universidad de Piura in Lima, Peru.

The Board has mandated Mr. Balarezo to focus on the safe, efficient, and responsible operation of the Company, with the objective of maximizing the value of the Sierra Metals business and assets.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, regarding Mr. Balarezo’s appointment, at 8:30 am EST. Dial-in instructions are listed below:

Joining by Telephone:
Canada (Toll Free): 1 833 950 0062
Canada (Local): 1 226 828 7575

United States (Toll Free): 1 833 927 1758
United States (Local): 1 646 904 5544

United Kingdom (Toll Free): 44 808 189 6484

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About Sierra Metals

Sierra Metals is a diversified Canadian mining company with Green Metal exposure including copper production and base metal production with precious metals byproduct credits, focused on the production and development of its Yauricocha Mine in Peru, and Bolivar and Cusi Mines in Mexico. The Company is focused on increasing production volume and growing mineral resources. The Company also has large land packages at all three mines with several prospective regional targets providing longer-term exploration upside and mineral resource growth potential.

For further information regarding Sierra Metals, please visit www.sierrametals.com or contact:

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Sierra Metals Inc.
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Source: Sierra Metals Inc.

Newrange Gold (NRGOF) – Renewed Focus on Projects in Ontario’s Red Lake District


Monday, November 28, 2022

Newrange is focused on district-scale exploration for precious metals in the prolific Red Lake District of northwestern Ontario. The past-producing high-grade Argosy Gold Mine is open to depth, while the adjacent North Birch Project offers additional blue-sky potential. Focused on developing shareholder value through exploration and development of key projects, the Company is committed to building sustainable value for all stakeholders. Further information can be found on our website at www.newrangegold.com .

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

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

Acquisition agreement terminated. Newrange terminated its agreement to acquire the Coricancha mine in Peru from Great Panther Mining Limited. Newrange was unable to raise the necessary funds to close the transaction and fund an exploration program. Newrange had sought to raise ~C$10.1 million through a private placement offering which has been canceled. The company will not pursue a share consolidation or corporate name change.

Near-term focus will be on Argosy and North Birch. Newrange will renew its focus on district-scale exploration for precious metals in the Red Lake District of northwestern Ontario. The 100%-owned projects are almost contiguous and comprise 4,454 hectares. The past-producing high-grade Argosy Gold mine offers significant potential with prior drilling indicating that gold mineralization extends below the mine workings and is open to depth, while the adjacent North Birch project offers an attractive folded iron formation setting for gold discovery.


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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. 

PDS Biotechnology Corp (PDSB) – Raising Price Target to $19 Based On Clinical Progress


Monday, November 28, 2022

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of molecularly targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune® and Infectimune™ T-cell activating technology platforms. Our Versamune®-based products have demonstrated the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy by inducing in vivo, large quantities of high-quality, highly potent polyfunctional tumor specific CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T-cells. PDS Biotech has developed multiple therapies, based on combinations of Versamune® and disease-specific antigens, designed to train the immune system to better recognize diseased cells and effectively attack and destroy them. The Company’s pipeline products address various cancers including HPV16-associated cancers (anal, cervical, head and neck, penile, vaginal, vulvar) and breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.

Robert LeBoyer, Vice President, Research Analyst, Life Sciences , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

Raising Our Price Target to $19 Per Share. Data presentations from clinical trials for PDS0101 have driven PDSB within 10% of our previous price target. We continue to see PDS0101 as a highly promising treatment for HPV-positive cancers and see several important milestones to drive the stock higher in the coming year.

Price Target Is Based On PDS010 Sales Potential.  Our new price target is based on discounted sales estimates for PDS010 sales in HPV-positive cancer. Following an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA following the June 2022 VERSATILE-002 data presentation, the company announced that it was accelerating its timetable for the pivotal trial for PDS0101. We expect this trial to begin in 2023 and project product launch in 2026.


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. 

Even Jeff Bezos Suggests Consumers Should Slow Spending, Can Holiday Spending Meet Expectations?

Image Credit: Anthony Quintano (Flickr)

Retailers May See More Red After Black Friday as Consumers Say They Plan to Pull Back on Spending

Retailers are gearing up for another blockbuster holiday shopping season, but consumers burned by the highest inflation in a generation may have other ideas.

Industry groups are predicting another record year of retail sales, with the National Retail Federation forecasting a jump of 6% to 8% over the US$890 billion consumers spent online and in stores in November and December of 2021.

But Jeff Bezos, founder and chairman of the biggest retailer of them all, seems to be anticipating a much less festive holiday for businesses. In November 2022, Amazon said it is laying off 10,000 workers, one of several big companies announcing job cuts recently. Bezos even cautioned consumers to hold off on big purchases like cars, televisions and appliances to save in case of a recession in 2023.

This article was republished with permission from The Conversation, a news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It represents the research-based findings and thoughts of Ayalla A. Ruvio, Associate Professor of Marketing and the Director of the MS of Marketing Research program, Michigan State University and Forrest Morgeson, Assistant Professor of Marketing, Michigan State University.

Results from our new survey suggest consumers appear to be already taking Bezos’ advice, as a combination of soaring consumer prices, rising borrowing costs and growing odds of a recession weighs on their wallets. And if our survey results do pan out, it may mean the recession everyone’s worried about happens sooner than expected.

Crisis Behaviors

We conducted our survey in mid-November, about a week before Black Friday, the historical start of the holiday shopping season. The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday because it signals the period when retailers hope to sell enough goods so that their income statement shows “black,” or profit, for the year rather than “red,” which refers to losses.

We asked over 500 consumers a series of questions about their spending plans, concerns and priorities during this year’s holiday season. Participants were split evenly between men and women, and almost two-thirds had a household income of $70,000 or less.

Overall, the most alarming conclusion from our research is that consumers are reporting consumption behaviors typically exhibited during an economic crisis, similar to those observed in 2009 by consultancy McKinsey during the Great Recession.

One data point stands out: An overwhelming 62% said they were concerned about their job security, while almost 35% indicated they were “very” or “extremely” worried about their financial situation.

Here are three behaviors we found in our survey that suggest consumers are behaving as if the U.S. economy is already in a recession.

1. Spending Less

Not surprisingly, cutting spending is the first thing consumers do during economic turmoil.

A study by McKinsey in early 2009 found that 90% of U.S. households cut spending due to the Great Recession, with 33% of consumers indicating a significant cut.

Similarly, respondents to our survey said they plan to spend, on average, around $700 this holiday season, substantially lower than the roughly $880 consumers spent during each of the past three seasons – including early in the pandemic in 2020.

About a third of our sample intended to spend “slightly” or “much” less than in 2021, while 35% said they would spend “about the same” – which from a retailer’s perspective means spending less because last year’s dollars don’t go as far today. The rest said they planned to spend a little or much more.

Inflation is one of the key reasons consumers say they are spending less. Almost 80% of respondents said they are either moderately, very or extremely concerned about the surge in prices, and 87% said those concerns would affect their holiday spending behavior, such as by buying gifts for fewer people or purchasing less expensive items.

Some of our respondents even said they were planning to make their own gifts or buy used goods, rather than shop for new items. The secondhand market has boomed  in the last few years, and many shoppers view this option as a way to combat inflationary pressures.

2. Planning Ahead

Another thing consumers do when they sense a troubled economy is they plan their purchases more carefully and maintain self-control over spending.

Common strategies include spending more time searching for the best deals, adhering to strict shopping lists, prioritizing necessities and making purchases earlier to spread out their spending – all of which were mentioned by our survey respondents.

We may already be seeing signs of this last strategy. Retail sales for October were up 1.3% from the previous month and up 8.3% from October 2021, which may reflect consumers’ early holiday shopping. If that is the case, this early shopping may result in slumping sales in December.

Also, purchasing early, aided by the plethora of steep discounts offered well in advance of Black Friday, allows consumers to control their shopping behavior better and reduces the risk of impulse buying. Reduction of impulse buying is a strong indicator that consumers are shopping like the economy is in recession.

In our survey, we found that over 50% of participants said that they would be using savings to cover the cost of holiday spending, with many stressing that they would pay with cash. Using cash as a primary form of payment is the main tool consumers have to control spending.

Only 15% of our respondents said that they would use buy-now-pay-later options, which to us is another sign that consumers are preferring cash over forms of credit that creates a new debt.

3. Hypersensitivity to Price

During economic crises, consumers become hypersensitive to prices, which trump most other considerations in the minds of consumers.

A whopping 90% of our respondents confirmed that price is their major consideration when shopping during the holidays this year. Other elements of price sensitivity are free shipping, product value and the level of discount, if any.

The singular focus of consumers on price gives retailers a wide range of potential responses, including promoting house brands and private labels that are perceived as having greater value for money. In fact, according to the 2009 McKinsey report, one of the biggest shifts in consumer behavior during and after the 2008 recession was the switch in preference from high-priced premium brands to value brands that tend to have lower prices but still decent quality. During an economic slowdown, consumers typically stop buying brands they are not strongly connected with or loyal to.

Consumers in our survey said buying brand names will be one of the least important influences on their purchases this season.

While economists debate whether a recession is coming, or even whether the U.S. is already in one, our data suggests consumers are beginning to behave like one is already here. That risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy as consumers tighten their belts.

Deciding if You Should Attend an Investor Roadshow

Image Credit: Blaine O’Neill (Flickr)

Roadshows Help Investors Truly Understand a Company’s Prospects

Around the office, we debate whether Roadshow should be one word or two. We’ll never all agree, but we do all know that an investor that strives to be diligent in understanding companies in which they may invest, would likely benefit from attending an available management roadshow.

If you aren’t familiar, a roadshow is usually a series of meetings in various locations where the management of a company with either outstanding securities or undergoing an initial public offering (IPO), makes themselves available to investors in a presentation format. Each meeting’s presentation will typically include its business model, current performance, and future potential, along with competitive advantage. When an event like this is available with a company an investor would consider, there may be no better supplement to the investor’s other research than to sit with management and be able to hear from the person at the helm what their expectations are, and the biggest risk to those expectations.

Roadshows are typically organized by a financial firm that has a relationship with the company. In an IPO, this may be the firm bringing them public; for a debt issue, it may be the underwriter. For issuers already public with current outstanding securities, the introducing firm may have a relationship with the company where they are looking to bring more awareness to the opportunity.

Roadshow Events

Potential investors ask to be invited to attend a roadshow, then gather and listen to the management presentations and participate in the question/answer period. This could occur in a private room at restaurant, over cocktails, in a company office, or basically any other forum where a clear picture of the company can be conveyed and the attendees can get the information they need to understand the opportunity.

As the purpose is to get in front of and increase investor awareness, these presentations are most often held in cities that help allow maximum motivated investor participation. Technology has ushered in an  increase in roadshows that are now held virtually. This allows for a broader audience in faraway locations. Smaller investors that have never been to a roadshow should not be shy in asking for a determination if they meet the expected investor level, to attend. Often times companies actually prefer to be broadly traded by many small investors than to have a few large shareholders.

Channelchek’s Involvement

The ongoing mission of Channelchek is to provide actionable ideas and quality equity research to investors in small and microcap companies.  Along with Noble Capital Markets, we hold ongoing Meet the Management investor meetings with companies with interesting stories and prospects. These roadshows are often in person and at times online. To see if a company you may be interested in will be meeting in your town, click here for the current list of Channelchek/Noble Capital Markets roadshows.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

Sources

https://www.channelchek.com/news-channel/noble_on_the_road___noble_capital_markets_in_person_roadshow_series

The Week Ahead – Powell’s Address on Inflation & Economy, PCE, Beige Book

Will the Fed Indicate an Altered Course This Week?

Economic numbers may take a back seat to Fed Chair Powell’s address on Wednesday and other regional Fed President addresses throughout the week.

The PCE, which is an inflation adjuster to GDP, is reported on the same day as the Fed Chair’s midweek address, the potential for volatility is high.  

Monday 11/28

  • 10:30 ET, Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey, is expected to show general activity down 20.5 vs. down 19.4 the prior month. This would be the seventh straight reduction in manufacturing.
  • 12:00 ET, John Williams, the President of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, will be speaking. Although the NY Fed President has only one vote on the Federal Open Market Committee deciding monetary policy, the NY Fed tends to have more sway as the NY Fed President assumes the role of second after Chair Powell in the level of power.

Tuesday 11/29

  • 9:00 AM ET, The FHFA House Price Index is expected to have fallen 1.2 percent in September after falling 0.7 percent in August and 0.6 percent in July. August marked the sharpest fall and first back-to-back fall in 11 years.
  • 10:00 AM ET, Consumer Confidence for November 2022 is expected to come in at 100 vs 102.5 in October. The report measures consumers’ assessments of the labor market, business activity, and consumers’ own financial conditions. This could be one of the more important numbers of the week as consumer expectations and behavior can lead stock market movements and play into overall expectations as consumer spending is two-thirds of the U.S. economy.

Wednesday 11/30

  • 8:30 AM ET, GDP this will be the second estimate of the third-quarter GDP. The consensus is 2.7 percent growth. The previous estimate for the same period came in at 2.6%. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), which is considered the Fed’s favored measure of inflation, is expected to show a rise of 1.5% for the month vs. the previous 1.4% monthly increase. The PCE component of GDP may get more attention than the GDP itself since it is considered a measure of inflation.
  • 8:30 AM ET, The U.S. Goods Deficit is expected to narrow by $1.3 billion to $90.6 billion in October after narrowing by more than $6 billion in September to $91.9 billion. Changes in the levels of imports and exports, along with netting the two (trade balance), are gauges of economic trends here and abroad. These trade figures can directly impact all financial markets; however, they do this in how they impact the valuation of the dollar.
  • 8:30 Wholesale Inventories are expected to be revised downward to 0.5%. This follows a build-up in inventories in September. A decline could suggest supply-chain difficulties are increasing.
  • 10:00 AM ET, JOLTS consensus is for job openings to fall 10.4 million vs. 10.7 million in September. This number will be focused on as the September number was at a level that caused some to question whether the economy still has job shortages.
  • 1:30 PM ET, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will speak on the subjects of inflation and economic outlook; this could very well be the most market-altering event of the week. Watch it live by clicking here.
  • 2:00 PM ET, Beige Book released. A look at how each of the 12 Federal Reserve districts are reporting economic activity in their regions is important in this is a source of information the FOMC uses to make their decisions.
  • 3:00 PM ET, Farm Prices month-over-month is expected to have declined by 0.2%. Year-over-year the inflation contributor is expected to have risen 21%.

Thursday 12/1

  • 8:30 AM ET, Jobless Claims for the November 27 week are expected to come in at 235,000 versus 240,000 in the prior week. Employment is one of the Fed’s mandates; as such, any number that significantly varies from consensus could alter the markets thinking.
  • 9:25 AM ET, Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan is scheduled to give an address.
  • 10:00 AM ET, ISM Manufacturing Index was 50.2 in October; the ISM Manufacturing Index has been gradually slowing to nearly breakeven. November’s consensus is 49.9.
  • 10:00 AM ET, Construction spending is expected to fall 0.2 percent in October. This would be dramatic relative to September’s modest 0.2 percent gain.

Friday 12/2

  • 8:30 AM ET, The Employment Situation or Non-Farm Payroll is expected to rise by 200,000, which would compare with 261,000 as reported in October. October was the sixth straight month and eight of the last nine that payroll growth exceeded consensus. Average hourly earnings in November are expected to rise 0.3 percent on the month for a year-over-year rate of 4.6; these would compare with 0.4 and 4.7 percent in October.

What Else

There are more rumblings about the Fed easing up on how rapidly it is braking to tame an inflationary economy. The Powell’s words and promises on Wednesday, taken alongside of the other Fed President addresses may confirm a turning point – a tapering of the tightening.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

Sources

www.econoday.com

https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/calendar.htm