Key Points: – Retail investors remain net buyers during recent market volatility – Tech stocks and Treasury ETFs attract individual investor interest – Mixed signals emerge from different research reports and platforms
The recent turbulence in U.S. stock markets has put a spotlight on the behavior of retail investors, who have emerged as a significant force in shaping market dynamics. As major indexes experienced sharp swings, including a notable sell-off that saw declines of 2.6% to 3.4% in a single day, individual investors have demonstrated both resilience and adaptability. This article delves into the various strategies and trends observed among retail investors during this period of market volatility, drawing insights from multiple research reports and trading platforms. For investors seeking to navigate these complex markets, resources like Channelchek offer valuable research and analysis to inform investment decisions.
Vanda Research, a New York-based market analysis firm, reported that retail investors continued to be net buyers of popular tech stocks such as Nvidia, Intel, and Advanced Micro Devices during the market downturn. Marco Iachini, senior vice president of research at Vanda, noted that “There was no retail capitulation,” emphasizing the persistent “dip-buying spree” among individual investors.
This trend was further corroborated by data from Robinhood Markets, which saw a significant influx of new cash from retail clients. The popular trading platform received $1 billion in the first week of August, with half of that amount deposited during Monday’s sell-off alone. This surge in deposits far exceeded Robinhood’s second-quarter daily average of less than $350 million.
However, the picture is not uniformly bullish. A separate report from JP Morgan analysts suggested that retail investors were “aggressive net sellers” during the first hour of Monday’s trading session. This conflicting data highlights the complex and diverse nature of retail investor behavior during periods of market stress, underscoring the importance of comprehensive research platforms like Channelchek in providing investors with well-rounded insights.
Interestingly, as markets recovered on Tuesday and Wednesday, retail investors showed increased interest in the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF. Vanda Research reported that by Thursday morning, this ETF had become the second-most-actively purchased security after Nvidia shares. This shift towards a traditionally safer asset class may indicate growing anxiety among individual investors about the stock market’s outlook.
Further evidence of a cautious approach comes from Alight Solutions, which tracks trading activity in approximately 2 million 401(k) retirement accounts. Rob Austin, head of research at Alight, noted that investors were actively moving assets out of stock funds and into money markets and fixed-income products. While the volume of these shifts was significant – about eight times the average – it represented only a small fraction (0.1%) of the $200 billion in assets tracked by the firm.
The divergent behaviors observed across different platforms and research reports underscore the complexity of retail investor sentiment in the current market environment. While many individual investors continue to see buying opportunities in market dips, particularly in the tech sector, others are beginning to hedge their bets by allocating funds to more conservative investments.
This nuanced approach reflects a growing sophistication among retail investors, who are increasingly able to navigate volatile markets with a combination of opportunism and risk management. As market uncertainties persist, driven by factors such as economic data, earnings reports, and global trade dynamics, the actions of retail investors will likely continue to play a significant role in shaping market trends.
For market observers and professional investors, understanding these retail investor behaviors has become increasingly crucial. The ability of individual investors to quickly mobilize capital and their growing influence on market dynamics make them a force that cannot be ignored in today’s financial landscape.
Key Points: – Algonquin (AQN) to sell renewable energy business to LS Power for up to $2.5 billion – Transaction aims to transform AQN into a pure-play regulated utility – Deal expected to close in Q4 2024 or Q1 2025, subject to regulatory approvals
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN) has announced a strategic move to reshape its business model, entering into a definitive agreement to sell its renewable energy business to LS Power for a total consideration of up to $2.5 billion. This transaction marks a significant milestone in AQN’s transformation into a pure-play regulated utility, aligning with the company’s objective to enhance long-term value for both customers and shareholders.
The deal, unanimously approved by AQN’s board of directors, involves the sale of the company’s renewable energy assets, excluding its hydro operations. The transaction structure includes $2.28 billion in cash at closing, subject to certain adjustments, and a potential additional $220 million through an earn-out agreement related to specific wind assets.
Chris Huskilson, CEO of AQN, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of what he described as a “highly competitive strategic sale process.” He emphasized that this transaction, coupled with the previously announced plan to support the sale of AQN’s Atlantica shares, delivers on the company’s strategy to optimize its regulated business activities, strengthen its balance sheet, and improve the quality of its earnings.
The renewable energy business being divested has been a significant part of AQN’s operations for over three decades. Huskilson acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the employees who contributed to building this “compelling and competitive business with scale and strong assets.”
From a financial perspective, AQN expects to receive estimated cash proceeds of approximately $1.6 billion after accounting for the repayment of construction financing, taxes, transaction fees, and other closing adjustments. This influx of capital is expected to play a crucial role in recapitalizing the company’s balance sheet and positioning it for future growth within the regulated utility sector.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approvals from the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and relevant competition authorities. AQN anticipates the deal will close either in the fourth quarter of 2024 or the first quarter of 2025.
This strategic divestment comes at a time when many energy companies are reevaluating their business models in response to changing market dynamics and regulatory environments. By focusing on its regulated utility operations, AQN aims to provide more predictable earnings and stable returns for investors, while continuing to deliver reliable energy and water solutions to its customer base of over one million connections, primarily in the United States and Canada.
As AQN transitions to a pure-play regulated utility, investors and industry observers will be watching closely to see how this strategic shift impacts the company’s financial performance and market position in the coming years. The move represents a significant change for a company that has long been known for its diversified portfolio of generation, transmission, and distribution assets.
With this transaction, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. is betting on the stability and predictability of regulated utility operations to drive its future growth and shareholder value. As the energy landscape continues to evolve, AQN’s strategic pivot may serve as a case study for other companies in the sector considering similar transformations.
Key Points: – Eli Lilly reports blowout Q2 earnings and revenue, crushing analyst estimates – Strong Mounjaro diabetes and Zepbound weight loss drug sales drive guidance hike – Company boosts full-year revenue outlook by $3 billion, adjusts earnings higher
Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical industry leader, has delivered a remarkable performance in the second quarter of 2024, with earnings and revenue results that have easily surpassed Wall Street’s expectations. The driving force behind the company’s stellar Q2 2024 financial figures was the skyrocketing demand for its blockbuster diabetes treatment Mounjaro and weight loss injection Zepbound.
Eli Lilly reported second-quarter earnings per share of $3.92, far exceeding the $2.60 expected by analysts. Revenue for the period came in at $11.30 billion, a 36% increase from the same quarter a year earlier and well above the $9.92 billion consensus estimate. This strong showing prompted the company to significantly raise its full-year revenue outlook, increasing the range by $3 billion to between $45.4 billion and $46.6 billion. Additionally, Eli Lilly hiked its adjusted earnings guidance for 2024 to $16.10 to $16.60 per share, up from the previous range of $13.50 to $14 per share.
The exceptional sales of Mounjaro and Zepbound were the primary drivers behind Eli Lilly’s blowout Q2 2024 results. Mounjaro, the company’s in-demand diabetes drug, generated $3.09 billion in revenue during the second quarter, more than tripling the sales it recorded a year earlier. Meanwhile, Zepbound, Eli Lilly’s weight loss injection, raked in $1.24 billion, significantly exceeding the $922.2 million that analysts had anticipated.
The surging demand for these incretin-based therapies has compelled Eli Lilly to rapidly scale up its production capabilities to meet market needs. The company has built six new manufacturing plants and hired thousands of additional workers to increase its output. CEO David Ricks stated that the company expects incretin drug production in the second half of 2024 to be 50% higher than it was during the same period last year, with further ramp-ups planned for 2025.
Eli Lilly’s ability to quickly adapt and expand its manufacturing capacity has been a key factor in its success. The company’s agility in addressing supply constraints and delivering a steady stream of its in-demand Mounjaro and Zepbound products has resonated with both healthcare providers and patients. As the market for incretin-based treatments continues to grow, Eli Lilly’s strategic investments in production and its relentless focus on meeting demand have positioned the company as a dominant player in the field of metabolic disorder therapies.
Looking ahead, Eli Lilly remains optimistic about the long-term prospects for its diabetes and weight loss drugs. The company is not only working to further increase its manufacturing capabilities but is also developing more convenient weight loss pills, which could help it capitalize on the skyrocketing demand for effective obesity treatments.
For investors, Eli Lilly’s stellar Q2 2024 performance and guidance hike underscore the company’s ability to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape and deliver consistent growth. As the pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, Eli Lilly’s focus on innovation, agility, and meeting the needs of patients and healthcare providers has solidified its position as a leader in the field of metabolic disorder treatments.
PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB) (“PDS Biotech” or the “Company”), a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers and the development of infectious disease vaccines, today announced that updated data from the IMMUNOCERV Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating Versamune® HPV (formerly PDS0101) with chemoradiation to treat locally advanced cervical cancer will be presented during an oral presentation at the 2024 ASTRO Annual Meeting being held in Washington, DC, and virtually September 29 through October 2, 2024.
Details of the presentation are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 2:50-3:00 p.m. ET Session title: SS 34 – GYN 2: Strategies and Innovations of Clinical Trials in Gynecologic Cancers Presentation title: 298 – IMMUNOCERV Phase II Trial Combining the HPV-Specific T Cell Immunotherapy PDS0101 with Chemoradiation for Treatment of Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Presenting author: Adam Grippin, M.D., Ph.D., The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
About PDS Biotechnology PDS Biotechnology is a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers and the development of infectious disease vaccines. The Company plans to initiate a pivotal clinical trial in 2024 to advance its lead program in advanced HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell cancers. PDS Biotech’s lead investigational targeted immunotherapy Versamune® HPV is being developed in combination with a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor, and also in a triple combination including PDS01ADC, an IL-12 fused antibody drug conjugate (ADC), and a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor.
Forward Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS01ADC, PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune® based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS01ADC, PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune® based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the other risks, uncertainties, and other factors described under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Versamune® and Infectimune® are registered trademarks of PDS Biotechnology Corporation.
Actively dosing patients in OCU400 Phase 3 liMeliGhT clinical trial
OCU410 preliminary safety and efficacy data expected later this year
Expanded access program approved for OCU400
$32.6 million net cash from underwritten public offering of common stock
MALVERN, Pa., Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ocugen, Inc. (Ocugen or the Company) (NASDAQ: OCGN), a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene and cell therapies, biologics, and vaccines, today reported second quarter 2024 financial results along with a business update.
“The first half of 2024 has been marked with significant accomplishments for our modifier gene therapy platform—including dosing patients in the OCU400 Phase 3 clinical trial for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and progressing into Phase 2 of the OCU410 ArMaDa clinical trial for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA),” said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder of Ocugen. “These meaningful milestones bring us closer to providing a potential one-time therapy for life for patients living with RP (300,000 in the U.S. and Europe) and GA (2-3 million in the U.S. and Europe) who desperately need effective treatment options. Thanks to our Ocugen team for their tireless efforts to keep these and all our clinical trials on track.”
The OCU400 Phase 3 trial has a sample size of 150 participants: one arm has 75 participants with RHO gene mutations, and the other arm has 75 participants with mutations in any of several other genes associated with RP. The Luminance Dependent Navigation Assessment (LDNA) is the primary endpoint for the study. In this assessment, a participant navigates an obstacle course that constitutes a more sensitive and specific measurement of visual function than the mobility measurement used in previous Phase 3 clinical trials. The Phase 3 liMeliGhT trial will focus on the proportion of responders, in treated and untreated groups, who achieve an improvement of at least 2 Lux (light) levels from baseline in the study eyes. More than 60% of the intent-to-treat patients from the Phase 1/2 clinical trial, including patients with the RHO mutation, meet the responder criteria established for Phase 3. The Phase 3 mobility test responder rate for the only FDA-approved product to treat one mutation in RP was 52%. The Phase 3 trial is powered greater than 95% assuming a 50% responder rate.
Recently, the FDA approved the OCU400 expanded access program (EAP) for the treatment of adult patients, aged 18 and older, with RP. This is the first ever gene therapy candidate to treat patients with RP, regardless of mutation, approved for an EAP and the EAP further supports the gene-agnostic mechanism of action for this novel modifier gene therapy.
Novel modifier gene therapy has the potential to address multiple inherited retinal diseases as well as multifactorial causes of blindness that affect millions of patients, like dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD). OCU410 and OCU410ST aim to treat geographic atrophy secondary to dAMD and Stargardt disease, respectively. These modifier gene therapies leverage a nuclear hormone receptor gene called RORA (RAR-related orphan receptor A) as a potential one-time therapy for life with a single sub-retinal injection.
OCU410 is specifically designed to address multiple pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of dAMD and offers a distinct advantage over current treatment options that target only one pathway—the complement system—and require frequent intravitreal injections (about 6-12 doses per year), accompanied by various safety concerns, such as roughly 12% of patients progressing to wet AMD. OCU410 has the potential to regulate all four pathways related to disease progression—lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the complement system—with a one-time sub-retinal injection.
OCU410ST has received an Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of Stargardt disease, which has no approved treatment and affects approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. and Europe combined. The third cohort of the clinical trial is currently receiving the high dose. OCU410ST has the potential to be the first one-time gene therapy for Stargardt disease.
Ocugen continues to pursue strategic partnerships that will drive long-term strategy, and most importantly, will help patients access these novel modifier gene therapies globally. During the 2024 BIO International Convention, Ocugen engaged with potential partners and pharmaceutical executives to explore opportunities for the Company’s dynamic pipeline.
“Ocugen’s inclusion in the Russell Index in June further bolsters the value of our pipeline and recognizes the Company’s robust growth strategy,” said Dr. Musunuri. “This ranking supports our efforts to enable long-term shareholder value, garner significant visibility for Ocugen within the investment community, and broaden our shareholder base. I look forward to the second half of 2024 as we continue to solidify Ocugen’s position as a biotechnology leader.”
Subsequent to June 30, 2024, the Company closed a public offering of common stock with net proceeds of $32.6 million—extending its expected cash runway into the third quarter of 2025. The offering was led by a large premier mutual fund, along with participation from leading life sciences investors.
Ophthalmic Gene Therapies—First-in-Class
OCU400 – Ocugen is actively dosing subjects in the OCU400 Phase 3 liMeliGhT trial for the treatment of RP. With dosing of the Phase 3 trial underway, OCU400 remains on track for the 2026 BLA and MAA approval targets.
OCU410 – In July 2024, Ocugen announced the completion of dosing in the third cohort of the OCU410 Phase 1/2 ArMaDa clinical trial for the treatment of GA. To date, nine patients with GA have been dosed in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial (with low, medium, and high doses). Phase 2 of the clinical trial has been initiated and will assess the safety and efficacy of OCU410 in a larger group of patients who will be randomized into either of two treatment groups (medium or high dose) or a control group.
OCU410ST – Currently dosing the high dose of OCU410ST in the dose-escalation phase of the study.
Regenerative Cell Therapies—First-in-class
NeoCart® – Ocugen intends to initiate the Phase 3 trial contingent on the availability of adequate funding. Vaccines Portfolio—First-in-class
Inhaled Mucosal Vaccine Platform – NIAID plans to submit an IND to initiate the OCU500 (COVID-19) Phase 1 clinical trial this year. Ocugen is continuing discussions with relevant government agencies as well as strategic partners regarding funding for the development of the OCU510 and OCU520 platforms.
Ophthalmic Biologic Product
OCU200 – Ocugen continues to work with the FDA to lift the clinical hold.
Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Received $32.6 million net cash from underwritten public offering of common stock that closed on August 2, 2024.
The Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash totaled $16.0 million as of June 30, 2024, compared to $39.5 million as of December 31, 2023. The Company had 257.4 million shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2024.
Total operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2024 were $16.6 million and included research and development expenses of $8.9 million and general and administrative expenses of $7.7 million. This compares to total operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023 of $24.0 million that included research and development expenses of $14.5 million and general and administrative expenses of $9.5 million.
Ocugen reported a $0.04 net loss per common share for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to a $0.10 net loss per common share for the three months ended June 30, 2023.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
Ocugen has scheduled a conference call and webcast for 8:30 a.m. ET today to discuss the financial results and recent business highlights. Ocugen’s senior management team will host the call, which will be open to all listeners. There also will be a question-and-answer session following the prepared remarks.
Attendees are invited to participate on the call or webcast:
Dial-in Numbers: (800) 715-9871 for U.S. callers and (646) 307-1963 for international callers Conference ID: 7453742 Webcast: Available on the events section of the Ocugen investor site
A replay of the call and archived webcast will be available for approximately 45 days following the event on the Ocugen investor site.
About Ocugen, Inc. Ocugen, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene and cell therapies, biologics, and vaccines that improve health and offer hope for patients across the globe. We are making an impact on patients’ 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 X and LinkedIn.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, strategy, business plans and objectives for Ocugen’s clinical programs, plans and timelines for the preclinical and clinical development of Ocugen’s product candidates, including the therapeutic potential, clinical benefits and safety thereof, expectations regarding timing, success and data announcements of current ongoing preclinical and clinical trials, the ability to initiate new clinical programs; Ocugen’s financial condition and expected cash runway into the third quarter of 2025, statements regarding qualitative assessments of available data, potential benefits, expectations for ongoing clinical trials, anticipated regulatory filings and anticipated development timelines, 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, including, but not limited to, the risks that preliminary, interim and top-line clinical trial results may not be indicative of, and may differ from, final clinical data; that unfavorable new clinical trial data may emerge in ongoing clinical trials or through further analyses of existing clinical trial data; that earlier non-clinical and clinical data and testing of may not be predictive of the results or success of later clinical trials; and that that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments, including by regulatory authorities. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our annual and 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.
CHICAGO, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GoHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOCO) (“GoHealth” or the “Company”), a leading health insurance marketplace and Medicare-focused digital health company, today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024.
Second Quarter Highlights
Second quarter 2024 net revenues of $105.9 million, a $36.9 million decrease compared to $142.8 million in the prior year period.
Second quarter 2024 Submissions of 152,394, a 6% decrease compared to 162,837 Submissions in the prior year period, driven by an increase in Submissions generated by GoHealth’s internal captive agents offset by a decrease in Submissions generated by our external GoPartner Solutions agents.
Second quarter 2024 net loss of $59.3 million, an improvement of $10.9 million compared to a net loss of $70.2 million in the prior year period.
Second quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA(1) of negative $12.3 million, a decrease of $13.1 million compared to positive $0.8 million in the prior year period.
Second quarter 2024 trailing twelve months (“TTM”) positive cash flow from operations was $53.8 million, a decrease of $32.1 million compared to TTM positive cash flow from operations of $85.9 million in the prior year period.
“We experienced a decline in net revenues to $105.9 million due to a 6% decrease in total Submissions. Submissions generated by our internal captive agents increased year-over-year, offset by a decline in Submissions generated by our external GoPartner Solutions, or GPS, agents,” said Vijay Kotte, CEO of GoHealth. “We are particularly pleased with the performance of our internal captive agents despite unchanged shopping and switching dynamics since last year’s annual enrollment period (“AEP”). We anticipated year-over-year declines from Q1 through Q3, but our team has managed these expected dynamics by driving efficiencies. These results highlight the benefits of our proprietary Encompass workflow and PlanFit CheckUp process. GoHealth plays a critical role in helping Medicare eligible consumers navigate plan options every year. As we gear up for AEP in just 67 days, GoHealth is intensifying targeted marketing efforts to better identify and reach consumers in need of PlanFit CheckUp’s.”
“We also remain committed to leveraging our strengths and strategic initiatives to drive future growth,” continued Kotte. “GoHealth continues to advance our technology to ensure a seamless experience for agents and consumers. We believe that our advancements in artificial intelligence (“AI”) and automation are setting a new industry standard. Our proprietary technology leverages machine and deep learning models atop our sophisticated data platforms, enabling us to deliver more precise, data-driven insights and significantly enhance agent efficiency. We expect these innovations to streamline processes, provide dynamic personalization in our workflows, and improve our overall operational efficiency. By integrating AI and automation into our operations, we intend to not only enhance the consumer experience but also solidify our position as an industry leader in customer acquisition costs, represented by our Direct Cost of Submission.(2) With our consumer orientation and technology enablement, we are looking forward to continuing to support consumers during what we currently believe will be a dynamic AEP,” continued Kotte.
“We expect various factors to influence the second half of the year and we remain confident in our performance expectations for 2024. We anticipate growth in Submission volume, revenue, and Adjusted EBITDA,” said Katie O’Halloran, Interim CFO of GoHealth. “We believe our mix of agency versus non-agency agreements will be a key driver of our cash flow from operations performance. With our continued strategic focus and disciplined execution, we are committed to achieving our goals and delivering long-term value.”
(1) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. For a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure, please see below.
(2) Direct Cost of Submission is a key operating metric. For a definition of Direct Cost of Submission and a description of how it is calculated, please see below.
Conference Call Details
The Company will host a conference call today, Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss its financial results. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available via GoHealth’s Investor Relations website, https://investors.gohealth.com/. A replay of the call will be available via webcast for on-demand listening shortly after the completion of the call.
About GoHealth, Inc.
GoHealth is a leading health insurance marketplace and Medicare-focused digital health company whose purpose is to compassionately ensure consumers’ peace of mind when making healthcare decisions so they can focus on living life. For many of these consumers, enrolling in a health insurance plan is confusing and difficult, and seemingly small differences between health plans may lead to significant out-of-pocket costs or lack of access to critical providers and medicines. GoHealth’s proprietary technology platform leverages modern machine-learning algorithms, powered by over two decades of insurance purchasing behavior, to reimagine the process of matching a health plan to a consumer’s specific needs. Its unbiased, technology-driven marketplace coupled with highly skilled licensed agents has facilitated the enrollment of millions of consumers in Medicare plans since GoHealth’s inception. For more information, visit https://www.gohealth.com.
Investor Relations:
John Shave
JShave@gohealth.com
Media Relations:
Pressinquiries@gohealth.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release may be forward-looking statements. Statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including, among others, statements regarding our expected growth, future capital expenditures, debt service obligations and adoption and use of artificial intelligence technologies are forward-looking statements.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “aims,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “likely,” “future” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this press release are only predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including the factors described in the sections titled “Summary Risk Factors,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (“2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K”) and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The factors described in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in this press release, as well as the cautionary statements and other risk factors set forth in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, the forthcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
You should read this press release and the documents that we reference in this press release completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
Q2 operating earnings of $12.2 million; $28.1 million on an adjusted basis, up 95%
Q2 revenue down following sale of European staffing operations; up 0.6% on an organic basis
Q2 adjusted EBITDA margin increased 170 basis points to 3.7% driven by meaningful reduction in operating expenses resulting from business transformation initiatives and sale of European staffing operations
Company expects further expansion of EBITDA margin from the May 31, 2024 acquisition of Motion Recruitment Partners, LLC (“MRP”)
TROY, Mich. , Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kelly (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB), a leading specialty talent solutions provider, today announced results for the second quarter of 2024.
Peter Quigley, president and chief executive officer, announced revenue for the second quarter of 2024 totaled $1.06 billion, a 13.1% decrease compared to the corresponding quarter of 2023 resulting primarily from the sale of the company’s European staffing operations on January 2, 2024. Excluding the impact of the sale of the European staffing operations and the recent acquisition of MRP, revenue improved 0.6% on an organic basis reflecting the continuing impact of customers’ more guarded approach to hiring and initiating new projects or capital spending. MRP revenue is included in reported revenue upon acquisition beginning in June 2024 and added 400 bps to reported year-over-year revenue growth.
Kelly reported operating earnings in the second quarter of 2024 of $12.2 million, compared to earnings of $6.2 million reported in the second quarter of 2023. Adjusted earnings were $28.1 million in the second quarter of 2024. The $15.9 million increase from reported earnings includes a loss on the sale of our European staffing operations, charges related to transformation actions and the sale of our European staffing operations, an impairment charge related to excess leased property and a gain on the sale of assets related to the Ayers Group. The acquisition of MRP added $1.5 million of earnings from operations in the second quarter of 2024. Adjusted earnings in the second quarter of 2023 were $14.2 million. The $8.0 million increase from reported earnings included transformation related charges and an asset impairment charge. The European staffing operations produced $1 million of earnings from operations on an adjusted basis in the second quarter of 2023.
Earnings per share in the second quarter of 2024 were $0.12 compared to earnings per share of $0.20 in the second quarter of 2023. Included in earnings per share in the second quarter of 2024 were a loss on the sale of EMEA staffing operations and a gain on the sale of Ayers Group, net of tax of $0.16, as well as transaction costs related to the acquisition of MRP, restructuring charges associated with our transformation and an asset impairment charge, net of tax, of $0.43. Included in the earnings per share in the second quarter of 2023 are $0.16 per share related to restructuring charges and an asset impairment charge, net of tax. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share were $0.71 in the second quarter of 2024, a significant improvement from $0.36 per share in the corresponding quarter of 2023.
“In the second quarter, employers continued to take a cautious approach to hiring, though customer demand stabilized on a sequential basis across much of our business – a development that is reflected in Kelly’s organic revenue for the quarter,” said Quigley. “As we continued to navigate uncertain market conditions, we remained focused on what we can control. Our ongoing growth and efficiency initiatives increased Kelly’s EBITDA margin in the first half of the year to 3.4% on an organic, adjusted basis – at the midpoint of our initial expectation for EBITDA margin expansion which we established one year ago. This improvement, combined with the scale and capabilities we added through our recent acquisition of MRP, position Kelly to accelerate profitable growth as market conditions improve.”
Kelly also reported that on August 7, its board of directors declared a dividend of $0.075 per share. The dividend is payable on September 4, 2024, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 21, 2024.
In conjunction with its second-quarter earnings release, Kelly has published a financial presentation on the Investor Relations page of its public website and will host a conference call at 9 a.m. ET on August 8 to review the results and answer questions. The call may be accessed in one of the following ways:
Via the telephone (877) 692-8955 (toll free) or (234) 720-6979 (caller paid) Enter access code 5728672 After the prompt, please enter “#”
A recording of the conference call will be available after 1:30 p.m. ET on August 8, 2024, at (866) 207-1041 (toll-free) and (402) 970-0847 (caller-paid). The access code is 2784290#. The recording will also be available at kellyservices.com during this period.
This release contains statements that are forward looking in nature and, accordingly, are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Kelly’s financial expectations, are forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in this release include, but are not limited to, (i) changing market and economic conditions, (ii) disruption in the labor market and weakened demand for human capital resulting from technological advances, loss of large corporate customers and government contractor requirements, (iii) the impact of laws and regulations (including federal, state and international tax laws), (iv) unexpected changes in claim trends on workers’ compensation, unemployment, disability and medical benefit plans, (v) litigation and other legal liabilities (including tax liabilities) in excess of our estimates, (vi) our ability to achieve our business’s anticipated growth strategies, (vii) our future business development, results of operations and financial condition, (viii) damage to our brands, (ix) dependency on third parties for the execution of critical functions, (x) conducting business in foreign countries, including foreign currency fluctuations, (xi) availability of temporary workers with appropriate skills required by customers, (xii) cyberattacks or other breaches of network or information technology security, and (xiii) other risks, uncertainties and factors discussed in this release and in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release and we undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company’s expectations.
About Kelly®
Kelly Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB) helps companies recruit and manage skilled workers and helps job seekers find great work. Since inventing the staffing industry in 1946, we have become experts in the many industries and local and global markets we serve. With a network of suppliers and partners around the world, we connect more than 500,000 people with work every year. Our suite of outsourcing and consulting services ensures companies have the people they need, when and where they are needed most. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, we empower businesses and individuals to access limitless opportunities in industries such as science, engineering, technology, education, manufacturing, retail, finance, and energy. Revenue in 2023 was $4.8 billion. Learn more at kellyservices.com.
Continued profitability improvement and stronger pace of new business wins driven by strategic transformation plan
Company reaffirms full year 2024 outlook
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NN, Inc. (NASDAQ: NNBR), a global diversified industrial company that engineers and manufactures high-precision components and assemblies, today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.
Highlights
Strategic transformation program drove enhanced results, fourth consecutive quarter of improved year-over-year performance;
Second quarter net sales of $123.0 million, down 1.8% versus prior year, driven primarily by unfavorable foreign exchange impacts and rationalization of unprofitable business in Mobile Solutions;
Second quarter operating loss of $2.1 million, an improvement of 47.5% versus prior year;
Second quarter adjusted EBITDA of $13.4 million, an improvement of 27.6% versus prior year;
Secured new business awards of $34.3 million year-to-date; and
Subsequent to quarter-end, the company executed the sale of its lone non-core plastics plant and used $15.4 million of proceeds to pay down debt.
“NN delivered another quarter of improvement, driven by the execution of our strategic transformation plan which is yielding observable momentum across key focus areas of profitability enhancement, operational performance, and accelerated new business wins,” said Harold Bevis, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our committed efforts to strengthen profitability were evident in the quarter, as our $13.4 million of adjusted EBITDA reflected solid growth over the prior year, which is the fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement. On a trailing-twelve-month basis we have delivered adjusted EBITDA of $49.2 million, an improvement of 28.7% year-over-year. Our focus on improved operating performance and productivity has helped drive solid margin expansion, advancing our profitability and overcoming the strategic rationalization of volumes which impacted our top-line.”
Mr. Bevis continued, “We continue to see strong momentum in our commercial efforts as we have won nearly $18 million of new business awards in the second quarter and $97 million over the last six quarters. We are on pace to deliver our 2024 targets for new business wins. The electrical, industrial, and medical markets remain unchanged, healthy, and growing. However, the global auto market is recalibrating the choices of powertrain and low-cost country production.”
Mr. Bevis concluded, “We are pleased with our overall performance for the quarter and remain highly confident in our ability to accelerate our transformation and pace of growth. We are delivering significantly improved plant level performance, which is strengthening our profitability and new business win platform. In the near term, we remain highly focused on optimizing our capital structure and lowering our cost of capital through a strategic refinancing which is currently underway. We are also focusing our commercial growth agenda on expanding our electrical business, across auto and non-auto end markets, as well as our high-value NN Medical business in low-cost geographies. I would like to recognize the efforts of our global team members in supporting our ongoing transformation, as we thank them for delivering results as our improved performance is generated through their hard work.”
Second Quarter GAAP Results Net sales were $123.0 million, a decrease of 1.8% from the second quarter of 2023, which was primarily due to rationalized volume at plants undergoing transformations and unfavorable foreign exchange effects of 0.8% or $1.0 million, partially offset by the net impact of contractual pricing provisions.
Loss from operations was $2.1 million compared to a loss from operations of $4.0 million in the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in loss from operations was primarily due to improved operating performance within several facilities.
Income from operations for Power Solutions was $5.3 million compared to income from operations of $2.6 million for the same period in 2023. Loss from operations for Mobile Solutions was $1.6 million compared to loss from operations of $1.5 million for the same period in 2023.
Net loss was $2.2 million compared to net loss of $14.4 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in net loss was primarily due to non-cash derivative mark-to-market gains recognized during the current quarter compared to losses recognized in the second quarter of 2023.
Second Quarter Adjusted Results Adjusted income from operations for the second quarter of 2024 was $2.1 million compared to adjusted income from operations of $1.3 million for the same period in 2023. Adjusted EBITDA was $13.4 million, or 10.9% of sales, compared to $10.5 million, or 8.4% of sales, for the same period in 2023.
Adjusted net loss was $0.8 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net loss of $3.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the same period in 2023. Free cash flow was a use of cash of $1.3 million compared to a generation of cash of $3.0 million for the same period in 2023.
Power Solutions Net sales for the second quarter of 2024 were $50.2 million compared to $48.1 million in the second quarter of 2023, an increase of 4.3%, or $2.1 million. The increase in sales was primarily due to higher precious metals pass-through pricing and inflation pricing, partially offset by lower volume during the current quarter.
Adjusted income from operations was $8.0 million compared to adjusted income from operations of $5.6 million in the second quarter of 2023. The increase in adjusted income from operations was primarily due to favorable production volumes and improved operating performance.
Mobile Solutions Net sales for the second quarter of 2024 were $72.9 million compared to $77.2 million in the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of 5.6%, or $4.3 million. The decrease in sales was primarily due to lower volume at facilities undergoing transformations, contractual reduction in customer pricing, and unfavorable foreign exchange effects.
Adjusted loss from operations was $0.7 million compared to adjusted income from operations of $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in adjusted income from operations was primarily due to lower production volumes.
Updated 2024 Outlook NN is reaffirming its full-year 2024 outlook previously provided in its news release on July 2, 2024.
Revenue in the range of $465 million to $485 million;
Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $47 million to $51 million;
Free cash flow in the range of $8 million to $12 million; and
New business wins in the range of $55 million to $70 million.
Chris Bohnert, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, commented, “NN continued to make significant progress on its transformation goals in the quarter and we are maintaining our full year 2024 guidance ranges as market fundamentals and our improved operating performance have been in line with our previous expectations. Additionally, optimizing NN’s capital structure and the proactive strategic re-financing of our term loan remains a top priority for our team in the near-term and will be a key next step in our transformational strategy.”
Conference Call NN will discuss its results during its quarterly investor conference call on August 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. ET. The call and supplemental presentation may be accessed via NN’s website, www.nninc.com. The conference call can also be accessed by dialing 1-877-255-4315 or 1-412-317-6579. For those who are unavailable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call until August 8, 2025.
NN discloses in this press release the non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted income (loss) from operations, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) per diluted common share, and free cash flow. Each of these non-GAAP financial measures provides supplementary information about the impacts of restructuring and integration expense, acquisition and transition expenses, foreign exchange impacts on inter-company loans, amortization of intangibles and deferred financing costs, and other non-operating impacts on our business.
The financial tables found later in this press release include a reconciliation of adjusted income (loss) from operations, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share, free cash flow to the U.S. GAAP financial measures of income (loss) from operations, net income (loss), net income (loss) per diluted common share, and cash provided (used) by operating activities.
About NN, Inc. NN, Inc., a global diversified industrial company, combines advanced engineering and production capabilities with in-depth materials science expertise to design and manufacture high-precision components and assemblies for a variety of markets on a global basis. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, NN has facilities in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. For more information about the company and its products, please visit www.nninc.com.
Except for specific historical information, many of the matters discussed in this press release may express or imply projections of revenues or expenditures, statements of plans and objectives or future operations or statements of future economic performance. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future trends, plans, events, results of operations or financial condition, or state other information relating to NN, Inc. (the “Company”) based on current beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are outside of management’s control and that may cause actual results to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, general economic conditions and economic conditions in the industrial sector; the impacts of pandemics, epidemics, disease outbreaks and other public health crises on our financial condition, business operations and liquidity; competitive influences; risks that current customers will commence or increase captive production; risks of capacity underutilization; quality issues; material changes in the costs and availability of raw materials; economic, social, political and geopolitical instability, military conflict, currency fluctuation, and other risks of doing business outside of the United States; inflationary pressures and changes in the cost or availability of materials, supply chain shortages and disruptions, the availability of labor and labor disruptions along the supply chain; our dependence on certain major customers, some of whom are not parties to long-term agreements (and/or are terminable on short notice); the impact of acquisitions and divestitures, as well as expansion of end markets and product offerings; our ability to hire or retain key personnel; the level of our indebtedness; the restrictions contained in our debt agreements; our ability to obtain financing at favorable rates, if at all, and to refinance existing debt as it matures; our ability to secure, maintain or enforce patents or other appropriate protections for our intellectual property; new laws and governmental regulations; the impact of climate change on our operations; and cyber liability or potential liability for breaches of our or our service providers’ information technology systems or business operations disruptions. The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in the Company’s filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict their occurrence or how they will affect the Company. The Company qualifies all forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
With respect to any non-GAAP financial measures included in the following document, the accompanying information required by SEC Regulation G can be found in the back of this document or in the “Investors” section of the Company’s web site, www.nninc.com, under the heading “News & Events” and subheading “Presentations.”
Investor & Media Contacts: Joe Caminiti or Stephen Poe, Investors Tim Peters or Emma Brandeis, Media NNBR@alpha-ir.com 312-445-2870
BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Aug. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE: CXW) (CoreCivic or the Company) announced today its second quarter 2024 financial results.
Financial Highlights – Second Quarter 2024
Total revenue of $490.1 million
CoreCivic Safety revenue of $455.4 million
CoreCivic Community revenue of $30.3 million
CoreCivic Properties revenue of $4.4 million
Net income of $19.0 million; Adjusted Net Income of $21.8 million
Diluted earnings per share of $0.17; Adjusted Diluted EPS of $0.20
Normalized FFO per diluted share of $0.42, an increase of 27%
Adjusted EBITDA of $83.9 million, an increase of 16%
Damon T. Hininger, CoreCivic’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “CoreCivic carried its strong operating momentum into the second quarter of 2024. Revenue increased 6% versus the second quarter of 2023, with federal, state, and local revenues all increasing. Occupancy increased to 74.3% from 70.3% in the prior year quarter, and our cost management initiatives are proving effective.”
“In addition to our solid quarterly financial results,” Hininger added, “we are also proud of our continued progress toward our capital structure targets. During the quarter, we repurchased 1.3 million shares of our common stock for a total cost of $20.1 million. Through a thoughtful and disciplined capital allocation strategy, we ended the quarter with leverage, measured as net debt to Adjusted EBITDA, at 2.5x for the trailing twelve months – placing us at the midpoint of our target leverage range of 2.25x to 2.75x that we established in August 2020. Our balance sheet strength and readily available bed capacity position us well to respond to the dynamics of our industry.”
“Finally, we want to recognize the accomplishments of our South Texas Family Residential Center (South Texas Facility) in Dilley, Texas over the past decade. As we previously disclosed, U.S. Immigrations & Customs Enforcement (ICE) will discontinue using this facility as of August 9, 2024. The South Texas Facility was created in collaboration with ICE and a third-party lessor to address the unique challenges posed by then unprecedented levels of family immigration in 2014. This pioneering facility was initially designed to provide a family-oriented environment, featuring educational, medical, dining and athletic facilities. During 2021, this facility’s mission shifted to detention of single adults. We appreciate the trust placed in CoreCivic to launch this unique facility, and we appreciate our excellent leadership and staff at the South Texas Facility, whom we have offered employment opportunities at other facilities within the CoreCivic portfolio.”
Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results Compared With Second Quarter 2023
Net income in the second quarter of 2024 was $19.0 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared with net income in the second quarter of 2023 of $14.8 million, or $0.13 per diluted share. However, when adjusted for special items, Adjusted Net Income for the second quarter of 2024 improved to $21.8 million, or $0.20 per diluted share (Adjusted Diluted EPS), compared with Adjusted Net Income in the second quarter of 2023 of $13.6 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. Special items for each period are presented in detail in the calculation of Adjusted Diluted EPS in the Supplemental Financial Information following the financial statements presented herein.
The increased adjusted earnings per share amounts resulted from higher federal, state, and local populations, particularly at our facilities serving ICE, combined with lower interest expense and a decrease in shares of common stock outstanding, both resulting from our capital allocation strategy. These earnings increases were achieved despite being partially offset by the expiration of our leases with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) at our California City Correctional Center on March 31, 2024, and with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODC) at our North Fork Correctional Facility on June 30, 2023, which collectively accounted for a per share reduction of $0.06.
We continue to realize improvements in our cost structure, both as a result of operating leverage stemming from improving facility occupancy versus the prior year, as well as from other initiatives, particularly those related to labor attraction and retention. The costs of registry nursing, temporary labor resources, including associated travel expenses, overtime and incentives, declined meaningfully from the prior year quarter as well as sequentially.
Revenue from ICE, our largest government partner, increased 10.5% compared with the second quarter of 2023, when the impact of Title-42 restrictions remained. Under Title 42, which ended May 11, 2023, asylum-seekers and anyone crossing the border without proper documentation or authority were denied entry at the United States border to contain the spread of COVID-19. Revenue from ICE declined slightly versus the first quarter of 2024, reflecting a slight decline in ICE detention populations nationwide. During the second quarter of 2024, revenue from ICE was $151.0 million compared to $136.7 million during the second quarter of 2023, and compared to $153.8 million during the first quarter of 2024.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was $79.8 million in the second quarter of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes special items, was $83.9 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared with $72.1 million in the second quarter of 2023. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was attributable to an increase in occupancy, combined with a general reduction in temporary staffing incentives and related labor costs, partially offset by the expiration of the leases with the CDCR at the California City facility and with the ODC at the North Fork facility.
Funds From Operations (FFO) for the second quarter of 2024 was $43.8 million. Normalized FFO, which excludes special items, increased to $46.6 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2024, compared with $37.8 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2023, representing an increase in Normalized FFO per share of 27%. Normalized FFO was impacted by the same factors that affected Adjusted EBITDA, further improved by a reduction in interest expense resulting from our debt reduction strategy that is not reflected in Adjusted EBITDA, as well as a 2% reduction in weighted average shares outstanding compared with the prior year quarter.
Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, FFO, and Normalized FFO, and, where appropriate, their corresponding per share amounts, are measures calculated and presented on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Please refer to the Supplemental Financial Information and the note following the financial statements herein for further discussion and reconciliations of these measures to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
Business Updates
Capital Strategy
Share Repurchases. During 2022, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $225.0 million of our common stock. On May 16, 2024, our Board of Directors authorized an additional $125.0 million in shares of our common stock for our share repurchase program, increasing the total aggregate authorization to $350.0 million. During the three months ended June 30, 2024, we repurchased 1.3 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $20.1 million, excluding fees, commissions and other costs related to the repurchases. Since the share repurchase program was authorized, through June 30, 2024, we have repurchased a total of 14.1 million shares at an aggregate price of $172.1 million, or $12.20 per share, excluding fees, commissions and other costs related to the repurchases.
As of June 30, 2024, we had $177.9 million remaining under the share repurchase program. Additional repurchases of common stock will be made in accordance with applicable securities laws and may be made at management’s discretion within parameters set by the Board of Directors from time to time in the open market, through privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise. The share repurchase program has no time limit and does not obligate us to purchase any particular amount of our common stock. The authorization for the share repurchase program may be terminated, suspended, increased or decreased by our Board of Directors in its discretion at any time. As a result of ICE’s discontinued use of the South Texas Facility and the impact such discontinuation will have on our leverage ratios, we intend to prioritize the use of our free cash flow to further reduce our debt, although we may exercise discretion in repurchasing additional shares of our common stock in accordance with the repurchase program.
Debt Refinancing. On April 15, 2024, we redeemed the remaining $98.8 million outstanding principal balance of our 8.25% senior unsecured notes due 2026 (the 2026 Notes), at a redemption price of 104.125% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest on such notes to, but not including April 15, 2024, resulting in a charge of $4.1 million reported during the second quarter of 2024. This redemption completed the refinancing transactions begun during the first quarter of 2024 with the underwritten registered public offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 8.25% senior unsecured notes due 2029 (the 2029 Notes). The net proceeds from the offering of the 2029 Notes, amounting to $490.3 million, together with borrowings under our revolving credit facility and cash on hand, were used to fund the tender offer for, and subsequent redemption of, the 2026 Notes, which had an outstanding principal balance of $593.1 million. Following the completion of the tender offer of $494.3 million, or 83.3% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Notes then-outstanding during the first quarter of 2024, and the redemption of the remaining $98.8 million principal balance outstanding during the second quarter of 2024, we have no debt maturities until 2027, when $243.7 million principal amount of our 4.75% senior unsecured notes mature.
Contract Updates
New Management Contract with State of Montana. On July 25, 2024, following a competitive bid process, we received a Notice of Intent to Award a new management contract from the state of Montana to care for additional residents at CoreCivic facilities. During the third quarter of 2024, we anticipate receiving 120 residents at our 1,896-bed Saguaro Correctional Facility in Eloy, Arizona, doubling the population from the state of Montana residing at this facility under an existing management contract. As of June 30, 2024, we also cared for approximately 1,000 residents from Hawaii, and nearly 600 residents from the state of Idaho at the Saguaro Correctional Facility. Should the state of Montana need additional capacity, the State may approve the utilization of any other facility we own or operate, subject to availability. The Notice of Intent to Award a management contract is an expansion of our relationship with the state of Montana, where we also manage the fully occupied company-owned Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby, Montana for the state of Montana pursuant to a separate management contract.
South Texas Family Residential Center. As disclosed on June 10, 2024, we received notification from ICE that the agency intends to terminate an inter-governmental service agreement (IGSA) for services at the South Texas Facility on August 9, 2024. We lease the facility and the site upon which it was constructed from a third-party lessor, and we have provided notice of lease termination to the lessor, also effective August 9, 2024. Total revenue at this facility was $39.3 million and $156.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, respectively. The impact of this contract termination is included in our updated 2024 financial guidance.
2024 Financial Guidance
CoreCivic previously withdrew its financial guidance during the second quarter of 2024. Based on current business conditions, we are providing the following financial guidance for the full year 2024:
Guidance Full Year 2024
• Net income
$42.0 million to $50.4 million
• Adjusted Net Income
$65.6 million to $73.6 million
• Diluted EPS
$0.37 to $0.45
• Adjusted Diluted EPS
$0.58 to $0.66
• FFO per diluted share
$1.28 to $1.36
• Normalized FFO per diluted share
$1.48 to $1.56
• EBITDA
$268.0 million to $274.6 million
• Adjusted EBITDA
$302.4 million to $308.4 million
During 2024, we expect to invest $70.0 million to $76.0 million in capital expenditures, consisting of $30.0 million to $31.0 million in maintenance capital expenditures on real estate assets, $32.0 million to $35.0 million for maintenance capital expenditures on other assets and information technology, and $8.0 million to $10.0 million for other capital investments, including costs to prepare an idle facility for activation in the possible event an opportunity presents.
Supplemental Financial Information and Investor Presentations
We have made available on our website supplemental financial information and other data for the second quarter of 2024. Interested parties may access this information through our website at http://ir.corecivic.com/ under “Financial Information” of the Investors section. We do not undertake any obligation and disclaim any duties to update any of the information disclosed in this report.
Management may meet with investors from time to time during the third quarter of 2024. Written materials used in the investor presentations will also be available on our website beginning on or about August 26, 2024. Interested parties may access this information through our website at http://ir.corecivic.com/ under “Events & Presentations” of the Investors section.
Conference Call, Webcast and Replay Information
We will host a webcast conference call at 10:00 a.m. central time (11:00 a.m. eastern time) on Thursday, August 8, 2024, which will be accessible through the Company’s website at www.corecivic.com under the “Events & Presentations” section of the “Investors” page. To participate via telephone and join the call live, please register in advance here https://register.vevent.com/register/BIdd7601382fc644b791a9a7cfbbe4f556. Upon registration, telephone participants will receive a confirmation email detailing how to join the conference call, including the dial-in number and a unique passcode.
About CoreCivic
CoreCivic is a diversified, government-solutions company with the scale and experience needed to solve tough government challenges in flexible, cost-effective ways. We provide a broad range of solutions to government partners that serve the public good through high-quality corrections and detention management, a network of residential and non-residential alternatives to incarceration to help address America’s recidivism crisis, and government real estate solutions. We are the nation’s largest owner of partnership correctional, detention and residential reentry facilities, and one of the largest prison operators in the United States. We have been a flexible and dependable partner for government for over 40 years. Our employees are driven by a deep sense of service, high standards of professionalism and a responsibility to help government better the public good. Learn more at www.corecivic.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements as to our beliefs and expectations of the outcome of future events that are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties associated with: (i) changes in government policy, legislation and regulations that affect utilization of the private sector for corrections, detention, and residential reentry services, in general, or our business, in particular, including, but not limited to, the continued utilization of our correctional and detention facilities by the federal government, including as a consequence of the United States Department of Justice not renewing contracts as a result of President Biden’s Executive Order on Reforming Our Incarceration System to Eliminate the Use of Privately Operated Criminal Detention Facilities, impacting utilization primarily by the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons and the United States Marshals Service, and the impact of any changes to immigration reform and sentencing laws (we do not, under longstanding policy, lobby for or against policies or legislation that would determine the basis for, or duration of, an individual’s incarceration or detention); (ii) our ability to obtain and maintain correctional, detention, and residential reentry facility management contracts because of reasons including, but not limited to, sufficient governmental appropriations, contract compliance, negative publicity and effects of inmate disturbances; (iii) changes in the privatization of the corrections and detention industry, the acceptance of our services, the timing of the opening of new facilities and the commencement of new management contracts (including the extent and pace at which new contracts are utilized), as well as our ability to utilize available beds; (iv) general economic and market conditions, including, but not limited to, the impact governmental budgets can have on our contract renewals and renegotiations, per diem rates, and occupancy; (v) fluctuations in our operating results because of, among other things, changes in occupancy levels; competition; contract renegotiations or terminations; inflation and other increases in costs of operations, including a continuing rise in labor costs; fluctuations in interest rates and risks of operations; (vi) government budget uncertainty, the impact of the debt ceiling and the potential for government shutdowns and changing budget priorities; (vii) our ability to successfully identify and consummate future development and acquisition opportunities and realize projected returns resulting therefrom; (viii) our ability to have met and maintained qualification for taxation as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for the years we elected REIT status; and (ix) the availability of debt and equity financing on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in the filings we make from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
We take no responsibility for updating the information contained in this press release following the date hereof to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or the occurrence of unanticipated events or for any changes or modifications made to this press release or the information contained herein by any third-parties, including, but not limited to, any wire or internet services, except as may be required by law.
Townsquare is a community-focused digital media and digital marketing solutions company with market leading local radio stations, principally focused outside the top 50 markets in the U.S. Our assets include a subscription digital marketing services business, Townsquare Interactive, providing website design, creation and hosting, search engine optimization, social media and online reputation management as well as other digital monthly services for approximately 26,800 SMBs; a robust digital advertising division, Townsquare IGNITE, a powerful combination of a) an owned and operated portfolio of more than 330 local news and entertainment websites and mobile apps along with a network of leading national music and entertainment brands, collecting valuable first party data, and b) a proprietary digital programmatic advertising technology stack with an in-house demand and data management platform; and a portfolio of 321 local terrestrial radio stations in 67 U.S. markets strategically situated outside the Top 50 markets in the United States. Our portfolio includes local media brands such as WYRK.com, WJON.com, and NJ101.5.com and premier national music brands such as XXLmag.com, TasteofCountry.com, UltimateClassicRock.com and Loudwire.com.
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 quarter. The company delivered on expectations for its second quarter. Total company revenues of $118.2 million, down a modest 2.5% from the year earlier quarter, was in line with our $117.7 million estimate. Adj. EBITDA in the quarter was $26.2 million, in line with our $26.8 million estimate and within the company’s guidance range of $26.0 million to $27.0 million.
Digital on a recovery trajectory. Its Interactive business is sequentially gaining subscribers and its programmatic business, Ignite, had solid 9% revenue growth in Q2. With easier National Digital comps and with improving revenue trends in its Interactive business, we expect its Digital segment to return toward revenue growth in the second half.
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This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) is a leading diversified government service provider, specializing in design, financing, development, and support services for secure facilities, processing centers, and community reentry centers in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. GEO’s diversified services include enhanced in-custody rehabilitation and post-release support through the award-winning GEO Continuum of Care®, secure transportation, electronic monitoring, community-based programs, and correctional health and mental health care. GEO’s worldwide operations include the ownership and/or delivery of support services for 103 facilities totaling approximately 83,000 beds, including idle facilities and projects under development, with a workforce of up to approximately 18,000 employees.
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. Revenue of $607.2 million compared to $593.9 million last year, with all business segments except BI showing y-o-y growth. Adjusted EBITDA came in at $124.1 million versus $119.3 million. Reported net loss was $0.25/sh, versus EPS of $0.20/sh las year. Excluding one-time refi costs, adjusted EPS of $0.23 versus $0.24 last year. We were at a loss of $0.22 and EPS of $0.26, respectively.
Stable, At Higher Levels. GEO ICE populations were stable at approximately 13,000 in the quarter, but up 30% from the year ago. U.S. Marshals populations remained in the 9,000 neighborhood, up some 8% over last year. With current ICE bed utilization some 4,500 beds below the 41,500 authorized level, there is room for additional growth if funding materializes.
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.
Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. is the only pure-play Capesize ship-owner publicly listed in the US. Seanergy provides marine dry bulk transportation services through a modern fleet of Capesize vessels. The Company’s operating fleet consists of 17 Capesize vessels with an average age of approximately 12 years and aggregate cargo carrying capacity of approximately 3,011,083 dwt. The Company is incorporated in the Marshall Islands and has executive offices in Glyfada, Greece. The Company’s common shares trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SHIP” and its Class B warrants under “SHIPZ”.
Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Second quarter financial results. Seanergy reported second-quarter adjusted net income of $15.3 million or $0.77 per share compared to $3.3 million or $0.18 per share during the prior year period. Unadjusted for stock compensation and loss on extinguishment of debt, EPS amounted to $0.68. We had forecast net income of $12.5 million or $0.61 per share. The variance to our estimate was largely revenue driven with greater fleet utilization of 99.7% versus our 99.4% assumption and a modestly higher average time charter equivalent rate (TCE). Expenses were also below our estimates in several categories, including voyage expenses.
Updating estimates. Despite strong second quarter results, we lowered our 2024 EBITDA and EPS estimates to $101.1 million and $2.35, respectively, from $108.7 million and $2.77. Our revised estimates reflect a reduction in operating days in the second half due to drydocking and lower average time charter equivalent rates. While the overall supply/demand outlook remains strong, some uncertainty exists beyond 2024, particularly with respect to demand in China.
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.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms, and systems for United States National Security related customers, allies, and commercial enterprises. Kratos is changing the way breakthrough technologies for these industries are rapidly brought to market through proven commercial and venture capital backed approaches, including proactive research, and streamlined development processes. At Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we specialize in unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, hypersonic systems, training and combat systems and next generation turbo jet and turbo fan engine development. For more information go to www.kratosdefense.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.
Continued Strong Results. Revenue was reported at $300.1 million, beating out our estimate of $270 million by a wide margin and last year’s revenue of $256.9 million. Organic growth was 16.7%. Net income totaled $7.9 million from a prior net loss of $2.7 million last year. We estimated net income of $0.4 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $29.9 million.
KUS. For the quarter, Unmanned Systems was the star performer, generating revenues of $85.8 million, as compared to $52.1 million in the second quarter of 2023, with organic revenue growth of 61.8% driven primarily by increased domestic target drone production and a certain international target drone delivery which contributed $17.4 million.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.