Bit Digital (BTBT) – April Production Numbers Released


Tuesday, May 07, 2024

Joe Gomes, 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.

Bitcoin Mining. For the month of April, Bit Digital produced 119.3 BTC, a 12.5% decrease from last month’s 136.4 BTC. The decrease was primarily due to the reduction of bitcoin block rewards post-halving, which we believe we’ll continue to see a lower production rate until more miners are potentially up and running. The active hash rate was approximately 2.76 EH/s as of April 30, 2024, compared to 2.73 EH/s last month.

AI and ETH Staking. Bit Digital had 251 servers running on its AI contract and earned an estimated $4.1 million in unaudited revenue during the month. The Company had approximately 17,184 ETH actively staked in native staking compared to 3,008 ETH last month. This is due to the Company changing providers last month for its native staking solutions. The Company earned a blended APY of approximately 1.0% on its staked ETH position versus 2.8% last month, with the decrease due to the lag time in redeploying its staked ETH after changing providers.


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

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

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

Release – Bowlero Reports Third Quarter Results For Fiscal Year 2024

Research News and Market Data on BOWL

05/06/2024

RICHMOND, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Bowlero Corp. (NYSE: BOWL) (“Bowlero” or the “Company”), one of the world’s premier operators of location-based entertainment, today provided financial results for the third quarter of the 2024 Fiscal Year, which ended on March 31, 2024.

Quarter Highlights:

  • Revenue increased 7.0% to $337.7 million versus the prior year and increased 64.7% versus 3QFY19 (quarter ended March 31, 2019)
  • Revenue excluding Service Fee Revenue increased 8.8% to $336.4 million versus the prior year and was up 64.1% versus 3QFY19
  • Same Store Revenue declined 2.1% versus the prior year and grew 26.1% versus 3QFY19
  • Net income of $23.8 million versus prior year loss of $32.1 million and income of $27.4 million in 3QFY19
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $122.8 million versus prior year of $127.6 million and $67.4 million in 3QFY19
  • Added 2 locations during the quarter, 1 through acquisitions and 1 new build-out, bringing year-to-date new locations to 23
  • Total locations in operation as of May 6, 2024 is 352

“Third quarter fiscal year 2024 started slowly due to weather. Post the first three weeks of January, we found a stable footing and increased investments to drive traffic. After the first three weeks of the quarter, we achieved a positive same-store-comp and double-digit total growth. Lucky Strike Miami opened in the quarter with exciting results, and we expect to have four more new builds opening in the next nine months with two in the Denver area and two in California. Summer Season Pass returned this year, and we expect that our continued investments in traffic will drive results throughout the spring and fall,” said Thomas Shannon, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bowlero.

“Last week, we closed an acquisition in the water park space by acquiring Raging Waves, the largest outdoor water park in Illinois. We bought the park at an attractive price with the opportunity to partner with a strong operator in the space,” followed Thomas Shannon. “We will continue to use internal and external investments to support increasing wallet share from customers in the out-of-home entertainment space, helping grow our industry-leading free cash flow generation.”

Bobby Lavan, Chief Financial Officer, added, “We had a strong cash flow quarter building up cash balances as we focused on investing capital in new builds and acquisitions. We ended the quarter with $212 million of cash and $432 million of total liquidity.”

Positive Update on EEOC Matter

The Company has received positive updates on the status of the age discrimination claims that had been pending with the EEOC. On April 12, 2024, the EEOC issued Closure Notices for the individual age discrimination charges that had been filed, in most cases, many years ago with the EEOC. The notices provide the claimants, as a matter of course, with an individual right to sue. The vast majority of these claims are time-barred. On May 3, 2024, the EEOC issued an additional Closure Notice for the related pattern and practice directed investigation. The notice states that the EEOC has determined not to bring litigation against the Company.

Share Repurchases

From January 1, 2024 through May 6, 2024, the Company repurchased 1.1 million shares of Class A common stock for approximately $13 million, bringing current total repurchases in fiscal year 2024 to approximately 20.8 million. Since 2021, the Company has spent approximately $446 million retiring all SPAC-related warrants, repurchasing 32.1 million shares of common stock, and 5.0 million as-converted preferred shares, reducing common stock outstanding by about 20%.

Dividend

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.055 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024. The dividend will be payable on June 7, 2024, to stockholders of record on May 24, 2024.

Fiscal Year 2024 Guidance

After completing three fiscal quarters, we now expect to be near the low end of our fiscal year 2024 Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance.

Investor Webcast Information

Listeners may access an investor webcast hosted by Bowlero. The webcast and results presentation will be accessible at 10:00 AM ET on May 6, 2024 in the Events & Presentations section of the Bowlero Investor Relations website at https://ir.bowlerocorp.com/overview/default.aspx.

About Bowlero Corp.

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

Forward Looking Statements

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

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide investors with information in addition to our results as determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), we disclose Revenue Excluding Service Fee Revenue, Total Bowling Center Revenue, Same Store Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA as “non-GAAP measures”, which management believes provide useful information to investors because each measure assists both investors and management in analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of our business. Accordingly, management believes that these measurements are useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period, and management relies on these measures for planning and forecasting of future periods. Additionally, these measures allow management to compare our results with those of other companies that have different financing and capital structures. These measures are not financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for revenue, net income, or any other operating performance or liquidity measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure reported by other companies. Our fiscal year 2024 guidance measures (other than revenue) are provided on a non-GAAP basis without a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because the Company is unable to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty certain items contained in the GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Such items include, but are not limited to, acquisition related expenses, stock-based compensation and other items not reflective of the company’s ongoing operations.

Revenue Excluding Service Fee Revenue represents Total Revenue less Service Fee Revenue. Total Bowling Center Revenue represents Total Revenue less Non-Center Related Revenue, Revenue from Closed Centers (as defined below), and Service Fee Revenue, if applicable. Same Store Revenue represents Total Revenue less Non-Center Related Revenue, Revenue from Closed Centers, Service Fee Revenue, if applicable, and Acquired Revenue. Adjusted EBITDA represents Net Income (Loss) before Interest Expense, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, Share-based Compensation, EBITDA from Closed Locations, Foreign Currency Exchange Loss (Gain), Asset Disposition Loss (Gain), Transactional and other advisory costs, changes in the value of earnouts, and other.

The Company considers Revenue Excluding Service Fee Revenue as an important financial measure because provides a financial measure of revenue directly associated with consumer discretionary spending and Total Bowling Center Revenue as an important financial measure because it provides a financial measure of revenue directly associated with bowling center operations. The Company also considers Same Store Revenue as an important financial measure because it provides comparable revenue for centers open for the entire duration of both the current and comparable measurement periods.

The Company considers Adjusted EBITDA as an important financial measure because it provides a financial measure of the quality of the Company’s earnings. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, which might limit its usefulness as a comparative measure. Adjusted EBITDA is used by management in addition to and in conjunction with the results presented in accordance with GAAP. We have presented Adjusted EBITDA solely as a supplemental disclosure because we believe it allows for a more complete analysis of results of operations and assists investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are that Adjusted EBITDA:

  • do not reflect every expenditure, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
  • do not reflect changes in our working capital needs;
  • do not reflect the interest expense, or the amounts necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our outstanding debt;
  • do not reflect income tax (benefit) expense, and because the payment of taxes is part of our operations, tax expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to operate;
  • do not reflect non-cash equity compensation, which will remain a key element of our overall equity based compensation package; and
  • do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations.

To view full release click here.

Bowlero Corp. Investor Relations

IR@BowleroCorp.comSource: Bowlero Corp

Release – Bitcoin Depot Schedules First Quarter 2024 Conference Call for Tuesday, May 14th at 10:00 am ET

Research News and Market Data on BTM

May 06, 2024 8:05 AM EDT

ATLANTA, May 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin Depot (“Bitcoin Depot” or the “Company”), a U.S.-based Bitcoin ATM operator and leading fintech company, will hold a conference call and live audio webcast on Tuesday, May 14th at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time (7:00 a.m. Pacific Time) to discuss its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. Bitcoin Depot plans to release results before the market open on the same day.

Call Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2024  
Time: 10:00 a.m. Eastern time (7:00 a.m. Pacific time)
U.S. dial-in: 646-968-2525
International dial-in: 888-596-4144
Conference ID: 1037410

The conference call will broadcast live and be available for replay here following the call.

Please call the conference telephone number approximately 10 minutes before the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Bitcoin Depot’s investor relations team at 1-949-574-3860.

A replay of the call will be available beginning after 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on May 14, 2024 through May 21, 2024.

U.S. replay number: 609-800-9909
International replay number: 800-770-2030
Conference ID: 1037410

About Bitcoin Depot
Bitcoin Depot Inc. (Nasdaq: BTM) was founded in 2016 with the mission to connect those who prefer to use cash to the broader, digital financial system. Bitcoin Depot provides its users with simple, efficient and intuitive means of converting cash into Bitcoin, which users can deploy in the payments, spending and investing space. Users can convert cash to bitcoin at Bitcoin Depot kiosks in 48 states and at thousands of name-brand retail locations in 29 states through its BDCheckout product. The Company has the largest market share in North America with approximately 7,400 kiosk locations as of April 1, 2024. Learn more at www.bitcoindepot.com

Contacts:

Investors 
Cody Slach, Alex Kovtun 
Gateway Group, Inc. 
949-574-3860 
BTM@gateway-grp.com

Media 
Zach Kadletz, Brenlyn Motlagh, Ryan Deloney 
Gateway Group, Inc.
949-574-3860 
BTM@gateway-grp.com

Source: Bitcoin Depot Inc.

Released May 6, 2024

Release – V2X to Continue Legacy of Excellence in Delivering Training Solutions to the U.S. Army at the National Training Center

Research News and Market Data on VVX

MCLEAN, Va., May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — V2X, Inc. (NYSE: VVX) announces its continued support to the National Training Center Training Services Contract (NTCTSC) under a one-year bridge contract with the US Army. The bridge contract extends the period of performance of the original five-year award. This extension reinforces V2X’s longstanding record of excellence in preparing warfighters for deployment.

The NTCTSC contract enables V2X to maintain its role in supporting training operations at NTC, located in Ft. Irwin, CA. V2X’s responsibilities under the contract include providing advisory services, technical expertise, and system operators to ensure training is both effective and efficient. Specifically, the NTCTSC Bridge facilitates training support services, which include audio-visual operations for after-action review productions, leadership advisory services, secure LAN operations, skilled role players, Blue Force Tracker system management, battlefield effects, computer training, analytical system operations, and a range of other specialized services.

“We are proud to be a trusted partner in delivering mission-critical support to the brigade combat teams cycling through the National Training Center,” said Ken Shreves, Senior Vice President of Global Mission Solutions and Chief Service Delivery and Growth Officer at V2X. “With our proven track record of providing high-consequence training support to the US Army, V2X is uniquely positioned to prepare soldiers for global missions.”

For nearly three decades, our team has met or exceeded all customer requirements at the NTC and continues to perform in an exceptional manner across the U.S. Army’s training centers,” said Aileen Amirault, Vice President and General Manager of V2X Global Training Solutions. “Our commitment extends globally, as evidenced by our work at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Germany, and our delivery of training support, maintenance, and range operations services to U.S. Army Central Command (ARCENT) in Kuwait. This sustained excellence underscores our dedication to supporting our troops wherever they serve.” This training builds on V2X’s time-honored pivotal role in supporting the strategic readiness of the United States Army.

About V2X
V2X delivers a comprehensive suite of integrated solutions across defense and commercial training, operations and logistics, aerospace, and technology markets to national security, defense, civilian and international clients. 
Our global team of approximately 16,000 employees brings innovation to every point in the mission lifecycle, from preparation to operations, to sustainment, as it tackles the most complex challenges with agility, grit, and dedication.

Media Contact
Angelica Spanos Deoudes 
Director, Corporate Communications  
Angelica.Deoudes@goV2X.com 
571-338-5195

Investor Contact
Mike Smith, CFA 
Vice President, Treasury, Corporate Development and Investor Relations 
IR@goV2X.com 
719-637-5773

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/v2x-to-continue-legacy-of-excellence-in-delivering-training-solutions-to-the-us-army-at-the-national-training-center-302136646.html

SOURCE V2X, Inc.

Kelly Services (KELYA) – Announces Largest Acquisition in Company History


Monday, May 06, 2024

Kelly (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB) connects talented people to companies in need of their skills in areas including Science, Engineering, Education, Office, Contact Center, Light Industrial, and more. We’re always thinking about what’s next in the evolving world of work, and we help people ditch the script on old ways of thinking and embrace the value of all workstyles in the workplace. We directly employ nearly 350,000 people around the world and connect thousands more with work through our global network of talent suppliers and partners in our outsourcing and consulting practice. Revenue in 2021 was $4.9 billion. Visit kellyservices.com and let us help with what’s next for you.

Joe Gomes, 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.

Acquisition. Friday, Kelly Services announced the largest acquisition in Company History. Kelly is purchasing Motion Recruitment Partners LLC (MRP) for $425 million, with an additional earnout potential of up to $60 million. The acquisition significantly expands and strengthens Kelly’s scale and capabilities, in our view. The transaction will enhance the revenue growth potential and accelerate EBITDA margin expansion for Kelly.

Financing. Kelly expects to fund the purchase with debt and available capital, including the $100 million recently received from the sale of the European staffing business. At year-end, Kelly had $427 million of available liquidity, consisting of $126 million of cash and $301 million of availability under undrawn credit facilities. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024.


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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. 

GoHealth, Inc. (GOCO) – Highlights from Noble Virtual Conference; Building Loyalty


Monday, May 06, 2024

Patrick McCann, CFA, Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

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

Noble Virtual Conference. On April 18, GoHealth CEO, Vijay Kotte, presented at Noble’s Virtual Healthcare Equity Conference. Mr. Kotte discussed several important topics, including GoHealth’s consumer-centric Medicare policy platform, additional revenue opportunities, and the company’s large addressable market. The presentation replay is available here.

Built for purpose technology. Mr. Kotte highlighted the company’s process of using proprietary technology together with its licensed agents to make recommendations for consumers based on their unique needs. Notably, individual Medicare consumers have 40-50 plan options on average, making the company’s machine learning technology an important tool in narrowing down the options to the best available.


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. 

Cumulus Media (CMLS) – Advertising Remains Choppy


Monday, May 06, 2024

Cumulus Media (NASDAQ: CMLS) is an audio-first media company delivering premium content to over a quarter billion people every month — wherever and whenever they want it. Cumulus Media engages listeners with high-quality local programming through 406 owned-and-operated radio stations across 86 markets; delivers nationally-syndicated sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming from iconic brands including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, CNN, the AP, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and many other world-class partners across more than 9,500 affiliated stations through Westwood One, the largest audio network in America; and inspires listeners through the Cumulus Podcast Network, its rapidly growing network of original podcasts that are smart, entertaining and thought-provoking. Cumulus Media provides advertisers with personal connections, local impact and national reach through broadcast and on-demand digital, mobile, social, and voice-activated platforms, as well as integrated digital marketing services, powerful influencers, full-service audio solutions, industry-leading research and insights, and live event experiences. Cumulus Media is the only audio media company to provide marketers with local and national advertising performance guarantees. For more information visit www.cumulusmedia.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.

Q1 results. The company reported revenue of $200.5 million, which was in-line with our estimate of $200.0 million. Adj. EBITDA in the quarter was $8.4 million, in line with our estimate of $8.0 million. Notably, the company announced the completion of its favorable debt swap, which should alleviate near term refinancing concerns for investors.

Solid digital results. Notably, in Q1 the company’s digital segment grew revenue by 7% from the prior year period. The digital revenue growth was largely attributed to its digital marketing services business, which increased revenue by 25% from the year earlier period. 


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

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

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

ACCO Brands (ACCO) – Overcoming Top-Line Weakness, But Tempering Expectations for 2024


Monday, May 06, 2024

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

Joe Gomes, 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.

Segments. Americas revenue decreased 14.3% to $197.2 million, with comp sales down 15.3%. Segment adjusted operating income declined to $12.3 million from $18.7 million. International revenues fell 6.3% to $172.6 million, with comp sales off 5.9%. Adjusted operating income was $16.9 million versus $17.5 million in 1Q23.

Factors. Both segments experienced softness in consumer and business demand for office and computer categories. Americas also felt the impact from the exit of lower margin business while International benefitted from price increases. Although computer sales are still soft, the rate of decline is moderating.


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. 

Robinhood’s Crypto Arm Receives Wells Notice from SEC: What Investors Need to Know

On May 4, 2024, Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOD) announced that its cryptocurrency trading division, Robinhood Crypto, had been served with a Wells notice from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The news sent ripples through the market, prompting concerns among investors and stakeholders. But what exactly does this mean for Robinhood and its investors?

A Wells notice is not a confirmation of guilt but rather a formal notification from the SEC indicating its intent to recommend enforcement action against a company or individual. In Robinhood’s case, the SEC alleges potential violations of Sections 15(a) and 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This notice follows a prior SEC investigation into Robinhood Crypto’s cryptocurrency listings, custody practices, and platform operations.

Dan Gallagher, Robinhood’s chief legal, compliance, and corporate affairs officer, emphasized the company’s stance, stating, “We firmly believe that the assets listed on our platform are not securities and we look forward to engaging with the SEC to make clear just how weak any case against Robinhood Crypto would be.” Despite the Wells notice, Robinhood remains resolute in its position regarding the nature of the assets listed on its platform.

The receipt of a Wells notice can have multifaceted implications for both the company and its investors. From a financial perspective, Robinhood could face increased legal costs associated with defending against potential enforcement actions. Moreover, the company’s reputation may suffer, potentially leading to decreased investor confidence and stock price volatility. However, it’s essential to note that a Wells notice does not guarantee the ultimate filing of enforcement actions, and the outcome of any regulatory proceedings remains uncertain.

Following the announcement, Robinhood’s stock experienced a brief downturn in pre-market trading, dropping as much as 9%. However, the stock quickly rebounded after the opening bell. Year-to-date, Robinhood’s stock has seen substantial growth, up more than 43%, while bitcoin futures have climbed over 50%. The market’s reaction underscores the uncertainty surrounding the potential implications of the Wells notice on Robinhood’s future performance.

As Robinhood prepares to navigate the regulatory landscape in response to the Wells notice, investors should closely monitor developments and assess the potential impact on the company’s operations and financial health. While uncertainties loom, Robinhood’s proactive approach and commitment to engaging with the SEC signal its intent to address regulatory concerns head-on. Ultimately, the resolution of this matter will shape the trajectory of Robinhood’s journey in the crypto space and its relationship with investors moving forward.

Perficient to be Acquired by EQT, Taken Private

Perficient (NASDAQ: PRFT), a global digital consultancy renowned for its transformative solutions for enterprises and brands, has made headlines with its recent announcement of an acquisition agreement. The company is set to be acquired by an affiliate of BPEA Private Equity Fund VIII, part of EQT AB, a prominent global investment organization. This all-cash transaction, valued at approximately $3.0 billion, marks a significant milestone for Perficient and its shareholders.

Key Details of the Acquisition:

  • Perficient has entered into a definitive agreement with EQT AB for acquisition in an all-cash transaction.
  • The deal values Perficient at an enterprise value of approximately $3.0 billion.
  • Perficient stockholders will receive $76 per share, representing a remarkable 75% premium to Perficient’s closing stock price on April 29.
  • The transaction has been unanimously approved by Perficient’s board of directors and is expected to close by the end of the year.

Rationale Behind the Acquisition:

  • Jeffrey Davis, Chairman of the Board of Perficient, highlighted the comprehensive review conducted by the board to maximize value for shareholders.
  • The acquisition provides shareholders with compelling, certain cash value for their shares while enabling Perficient to continue supporting clients in achieving business success.
  • By partnering with EQT, Perficient aims to leverage resources and expertise to accelerate its growth trajectory and enhance its position as a global digital consultancy leader.

Impact on Perficient and Shareholders:

  • Following the transaction’s closure, Perficient will transition from being a publicly traded company on NASDAQ to a private entity.
  • The company plans to remain headquartered in St. Louis, with Tom Hogan continuing in his role as CEO and the current management team expected to stay onboard.
  • Perficient’s commitment to delivering innovative digital transformation solutions remains unwavering, supported by EQT’s strategic backing.

Market Response and Guidance Withdrawal:

  • The announcement of the acquisition propelled Perficient’s stock, with PRFT surging more than 50% in early Monday trading.
  • In response to the acquisition news, Perficient withdrew its guidance for the full year, reflecting the transformative nature of the impending transaction.

Perficient’s acquisition by EQT marks a pivotal moment in the company’s journey, reflecting its commitment to maximizing shareholder value and accelerating growth. With a focus on delivering innovative digital solutions, Perficient remains poised to continue its legacy of excellence in the ever-evolving digital landscape. As the transaction progresses, stakeholders eagerly anticipate the next chapter in Perficient’s evolution under EQT’s strategic stewardship.

Emerging Growth Natural Resources, Energy, Industrials, and Transportation Companies Featured at Noble Capital Markets’ September Virtual Equity Conference

  • Emerging Growth Public Natural Resources, Energy, Industrials, and Transportation (and more) Company Executive Presentations
  • Q&A Sessions Moderated by Noble’s Analysts and Bankers
  • Scheduled 1×1 Meetings with Qualified Investors

Preview the Presenting Companies

Noble Capital Markets, a full-service SEC / FINRA registered broker-dealer, dedicated exclusively to serving emerging growth companies, is pleased to present the Basic Industries Virtual Equity Conference Emerging Growth Virtual Equity Conference, taking place September 25th and 26th, 2024. This virtual gathering is set to be an immersive experience, bringing together a unique blend of investors, industry leaders, and experts in various sectors surrounding the natural resources, energy, industrials, and transportation spaces.

Part of Noble’s Robust 2024 Events Calendar

The Natural Resources, Energy, Industrials, and Transportation Emerging Growth Virtual Equity Conference is part of Noble’s 2024 event programming, featuring a range of c-suite interviews, in-person non-deal roadshows throughout the United States, two other sector-specific virtual equity conferences, and culminating in Noble’s preeminent in-person investor conference, NobleCon20, to be held at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida December 3-4. Learn more about NobleCon20 here.

Check out the calendar of upcoming in-person non-deal roadshows here.

Sign up to receive more information on Noble’s other virtual conferences here.

What to Expect

The Natural Resources, Energy, Industrials, and Transportation Emerging Growth Virtual Equity Conference will feature 2 days of corporate presentations from up to 50 innovative public companies, showcasing their latest advancements and investment opportunities. Each presentation will be followed by a fireside-style Q&A session proctored by one of Noble’s analysts or bankers, with questions taken from the audience during the presentation. Panel presentations are planned, featuring key opinion leaders in these sectors, providing valuable insights on emerging trends. Scheduled one-on-one meetings with public company executives, coordinated by Noble’s dedicated Investor Outreach team, are also available to qualified investors.

Why Your Company Should Present

Looking to increase awareness in your company and increase liquidity? Paid participation in Noble’s investor conferences, both virtual and in-person, provides that opportunity, with a tailored experience aimed at delivering substantial value. After 40 years of serving emerging growth companies, and the investors who follow them, Noble has built an investor base eager to discover where the next success story lies.

Noble’s investor base is relevant and, in many cases, new to your company. Noble’s dedicated Investor Outreach team provides unmatched exposure to investors that can invest in your company, including small money managers, family offices, RIAs, wealth managers, self-directed investors, and institutions. Most of Noble’s investors specifically seek undervalued, overlooked, emerging investment opportunities.

The cost to present includes your corporate presentation with a Q&A session proctored by one of Noble’s analysts or bankers, a webcast recording, scheduled 1×1 meetings with qualified investors, and marketing on Channelchek.

Benefits for Investors

Hear directly from the c-suite of the next innovators in natural resources, energy, industrials, and transportation and learn about new investment opportunities. The Q&A portion of each presentation gives you the opportunity to have your questions answered during or after the proctored session. The planned panel presentations are sure to provide expert insight on growing trends in these spaces. And, for qualified investors, one-on-one meetings are available with company executives; scheduled by Noble’s dedicated Investor Outreach team. All from the comfort of your own desk, and at no cost.

How to Register

Limited presenting slots are available

Publicly traded companies in these sectors can submit their registration details here.

If you have any questions about presenting, please contact events@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Investor / Guest attendees can register here

Interested in becoming a sponsor of Noble’s virtual and in-person investor conferences?

Contact events@noblecapitalmarkets.com for sponsorship information.

Release – Conduent Announces Agreement to Sell its Casualty Claims Solutions Business to MedRisk

Research News and Market Data on CNDT

MAY 03, 2024

Transaction expected to close the third quarter of 2024

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Conduent Incorporated (Nasdaq: CNDT), a global technology-led business solutions and services company, today announced an agreement to sell its Casualty Claims Solutions business to MedRisk, the nation’s largest managed care organization dedicated to the physical rehabilitation of workers’ compensation patients.

The sale, for $240 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments, consists of Conduent’s workers’ compensation and auto casualty bill review solutions and services that includes the processing of medical bills and clinical services, and its portfolio of Strataware bill review software products. In 2023, the business, with approximately 100 clients across multiple markets, processed approximately 29 million medical bills.

As part of this transaction, current Conduent employees in the Casualty Claims Solutions business will join MedRisk. Conduent will continue to provide mailroom services for current casualty claims clients including MedRisk. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

“This transaction is an additional example of the significant progress we have made in our strategy to streamline our portfolio while increasing our focus on core capabilities to fuel Conduent’s growth,” said Cliff Skelton, Conduent President and CEO. “MedRisk is well-established in the workers’ compensation industry, and we are confident in a seamless transition for our associates and clients.”

About Conduent

Conduent delivers digital business solutions and services spanning the commercial, government and transportation spectrum – creating valuable outcomes for its clients and the millions of people who count on them. The Company leverages cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation and advanced analytics to deliver mission-critical solutions. Through a dedicated global team of approximately 59,000 associates, process expertise and advanced technologies, Conduent’s solutions and services digitally transform its clients’ operations to enhance customer experiences, improve performance, increase efficiencies and reduce costs. Conduent adds momentum to its clients’ missions in many ways including disbursing approximately $100 billion in government payments annually, enabling 2.3 billion customer service interactions annually, empowering millions of employees through HR services every year and processing nearly 13 million tolling transactions every day. Learn more at www.conduent.com .

About MedRisk

Based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, MedRisk is the nation’s largest managed care organization dedicated to the physical rehabilitation of workers’ compensation patients. For more information, please visit www.medrisknet.com or call 800-225-9675.

Note: To receive RSS news feeds, visit www.news.conduent.com . For open commentary, industry perspectives and views, visit http://twitter.com/Conduenthttp://www.linkedin.com/company/conduent or http://www.facebook.com/Conduent.

Trademarks

Conduent is a trademark of Conduent Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “will,” “aim,” “should,” “could,” “forecast,” “target,” “may,” “continue to,” “endeavor,” “if,” “growing,” “projected,” “potential,” “likely,” “see,” “ahead,” “further,” “going forward,” “on the horizon,” and similar expressions (including the negative and plural forms of such words and phrases), as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, all statements regarding the sale of Conduent’s Casualty Claims Solutions business, including that such transaction will be consummated and the timing of such consummation, expectations regarding our strategy to streamline our portfolio while increasing our focus on core capabilities to fuel Conduent’s growth, expectations regarding continued efforts to be strategic regarding the allocation of capital and any future portfolio rationalization efforts, and our confidence in a seamless transition for our associates and clients. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, any exhibits to this press release and other public statements we make. Important factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: Conduent’s ability to realize the benefits anticipated from the sale of its Casualty Claims Solutions business, including as a result of a delay or failure to obtain certain required regulatory approvals or the failure of any other condition to the closing of the transaction such that the closing of the transaction is delayed or does not occur; unexpected costs, liabilities or delays in connection with the proposed transaction; the significant transaction costs associated with the proposed transaction; negative effects of the announcement, pendency or consummation of the transaction on the market price of our common stock or operating results, including as a result of changes in key customer, supplier, employee or other business relationships; the risk of litigation or regulatory actions; our inability to retain and hire key personnel; the risk that certain contractual restrictions contained in the definitive transaction agreement during the pendency of the proposed transaction could adversely affect our ability to pursue business opportunities or strategic transactions; and other factors that are set forth in the “Risk Factors” and other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements made by us in this press release speak only as of the date on which they are made. We are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Media Contacts

SEAN COLLINS

Conduent

Sean.Collins2@conduent.com

+1-310-497-9205

GILES GOODBURN

Conduent

ir@conduent.com

+1-203-216-3546

Release – PDS Biotechnology Announces Details of Virtual KOL Event

Research News and Market Data on PDSB

Virtual Webinar Updated VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 Trial Results, Unmet Treatment Needs in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer and Planned Triple Combination Trial to be held May 8, 2024

PRINCETON, N.J., May 03, 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 additional details of its virtual Key Opinion Leader (KOL) event to be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 1:30 PM ET. To register for the event, click here.

The virtual webinar will focus on the positive, updated data from the Company’s VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 clinical trial, current unmet need in HPV-positive head and neck cancer, and next steps for PDS Biotech’s planned triple combination trial including Versamune® HPV and PDS01ADC (IL-12 fused antibody drug conjugate).

Panel participants will include:

  • Jared Weiss, MD, Section Chief of Thoracic and Head/Neck Oncology, Professor of Medicine at University of North Carolina, and Principal Investigator of the VERSATILE-002 clinical trial, who will present and discuss the updated trial results
  • Robert Haddad, MD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who will discuss the unmet need in HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell cancer (“HNSCC”)

The event will be moderated by Kirk Shepard, M.D., PDS Biotech’s Chief Medical Officer who will also present the next steps on the clinical path forward to registration for the Versamune® HPV and PDS01ADC based triple combination.

The VERSATILE-002 trial (NCT04260126) is evaluating Versamune® HPV in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitor (“ICI”) KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in patients with unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic HPV16-positive HNSCC.

A live Q&A session will follow the formal presentations.

About Jared Weiss, MD
Jared Weiss, MD received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and medical degree from Yale University. He completed residency at Harvard’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center then fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently employed as a tenured professor of medicine at UNC’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center where he also serves as section chief of thoracic and head/neck oncology. Dr. Weiss is proud to volunteer for and serve on the executive board of cancergrace.org and to advocate with the Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina. Dr. Weiss has published extensively, including in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of Clinical Oncology and Lancet Oncology. He has played a role in the development of numerous approved agents, most recently including pembrolizumab, durvalumab, selpercatinib, trilaciclib and adagrasib. He has frequently presented at international conferences, including the Presidential Session of the European Society of Medical Oncology and Plenary Session of the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium. Dr. Weiss’s clinical practice is focused on lung cancer and head/neck cancer. Dr. Weiss’s research is focused on personalized and adaptive immunotherapy to treat cancer (neo-antigen cancer vaccines and cellular therapeutics). He has particular interest in small-cell lung cancer and in NUT carcinoma.

About Robert Haddad, MD
Robert Haddad, MD is Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Division Chief and Institute Physician, Center of Head and Neck Oncology Program, and a member of the Department of Adult Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Haddad received his medical degree from Saint Joseph University, French Faculty of Medicine, and served as intern and resident at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, New York. He completed his fellowship in hematology/oncology at Greenbaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Haddad is a member of several professional societies, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research and the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology. Dr Haddad research is focused on identifying innovative forms of treatment in Head and Neck Cancer. His research activities involve the use of induction chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer and the development of novel immunotherapeutic agents for treating locally advanced disease. He has been instrumental in the development, execution and publication of numerous phase II and III trials in head and neck cancer. These trials have advanced the field of head and neck oncology and have resulted in new therapies for patients.

Dr Haddad is also involved in teaching oncology fellows as well as medical residents, and ENT residents through the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute outpatient clinic and Brigham and Women’s Hospital inpatient service. He lectures extensively on head and neck cancer at the local, regional, national and international levels and has been invited to lecture in prestigious institutions and at national and international forums. He has presented his work at important scientific meetings such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Head and Neck Society Meeting (AHNS) and has edited two textbooks on head and neck cancer. Dr Haddad has an active role in the national comprehensive cancer network (NCCN) where he participates as a committee member in the head and neck committee and chair of the thyroid cancer committee. In this capacity, He helps write treatment guidelines. He has authored more than 200 publications related to Head and Neck cancer.

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 head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCC). PDS Biotech’s lead program is a proprietary dual-acting combination of IL-12 fused antibody drug conjugate (ADC) PDS01ADC and T-cell activator Versamune® HPV in regimen with a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor. We believe that proof-of-concept long-term data have shown positive survival results and tumor shrinkage with this combination and indicate favorable tolerability.

We believe that with a novel investigational “inside-outside” mechanism, the PDS01ADC and Versamune® HPV immunotherapy has shown compelling results with potential to successfully disrupt a tumor’s inside defenses, while also generating potent, targeted killer T-cells to attack the tumor from the outside. We believe that data from more than 350 patients, as well as ongoing clinical trials across multiple tumor types and standard treatment regimens, have validated the potential for both platforms and point to potential broad utility.

Our Infectimune® based vaccines have demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T-cell responses, including long-lasting memory T-cell responses in pre-clinical studies to date. For more information, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com.

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.

Keytruda® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA.

Investor Contact:
Mike Moyer
LifeSci Advisors
Phone +1 (617) 308-4306
Email: mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact:
Gina Mangiaracina
6 Degrees
Phone +1 (917) 797-7904
Email: gmangiaracina@6degreespr.com