QuoteMedia is a leading software developer and cloud-based syndicator of financial market information and streaming financial data solutions to media, corporations, online brokerages, and financial services companies. The Company licenses interactive stock research tools such as streaming real-time quotes, market research, news, charting, option chains, filings, corporate financials, insider reports, market indices, portfolio management systems, and data feeds. QuoteMedia provides industry leading market data solutions and financial services for companies such as the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, TMX Group (TSX Stock Exchange), Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), London Stock Exchange Group, FIS, U.S. Bank, Broadridge Financial Systems, JPMorgan Chase, CI Financial, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Hilltop Securities, HD Vest, Stockhouse, Zacks Investment Research, General Electric, Boeing, Bombardier, Telus International, Business Wire, PR Newswire, FolioFN, Regal Securities, ChoiceTrade, Cetera Financial Group, Dynamic Trend, Inc., Qtrade Financial, CNW Group, IA Private Wealth, Ally Invest, Inc., Suncor, Virtual Brokers, Leede Jones Gable, Firstrade Securities, Charles Schwab, First Financial, Cirano, Equisolve, Stock-Trak, Mergent, Cision, Day Trade Dash and others. Quotestream®, QModTM and Quotestream ConnectTM are trademarks of QuoteMedia. For more information, please visit www.quotemedia.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.
Solid Q3 results. The company reported Q3 revenue of $4.7 million, which was in-line with our estimate of $4.8 million and adj. EBITDA of $719,547, which was modestly below our estimate of $849,000, illustrated in Figure #1 Q3 Results. The slight adj. EBITDA miss was attributed to revenue mix and slightly higher than expected operating expenses. Notably, revenue and adj. EBITDA increased by 8.5% and 7.3%, respectively, from the prior year period.
Interactive Growth. The company’s interactive business had a strong quarter as revenue increased 16% from the prior year period, and does not include deferred revenue which increased 76% over the same period. Management attributed the favorable increase in revenue to large contracts that were recently signed. The company remains focused on signing larger clients, and has increased its headcount in its sales and marketing departments to support that goal.
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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Microsoft made waves this week by unveiling its first ever custom-designed chips at the Ignite conference. The tech giant introduced two new processors: the Maia 100 chip for artificial intelligence workloads and the Cobalt 100 chip for general computing purposes. These new silicon offerings have the potential to shake up the chip industry and cloud computing markets.
The Maia 100 is Microsoft’s answer to the AI accelerators from rivals like Nvidia and Amazon. It is tailored to boost performance for AI tasks like natural language processing. During Ignite, Microsoft demonstrated Maia handling queries for its Bing search engine, powering the Copilot coding assistant, and running large OpenAI language models.
Microsoft has been collaborating closely with OpenAI and is a major investor in the AI research company. OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT was trained on Azure using Nvidia GPUs. By designing its own chip, Microsoft aims to reduce reliance on third-party silicon for AI workloads.
Though performance details remain unclear, Microsoft stated that Maia handles AI tasks with high throughput and low latency. It emphasized efficiency as a key design goal. The chip was engineered in close consultation with Microsoft’s internal AI teams to ensure it fits their requirements.
Microsoft has created novel liquid cooling technology called Sidekicks to work alongside Maia server racks. This advanced thermal management unlocks Maia’s full processing capacity while avoiding the overheating issues that often plague GPU-powered data centers.
When available on Azure, Maia will provide customers access to specialized AI hardware on demand instead of buying dedicated GPUs. Microsoft did not provide a timeline for Maia’s availability or pricing. But offering it as a cloud service instead of a physical product sets Maia apart from AI chips from Intel, Nvidia and others.
The second new chip announced at Ignite was the Cobalt 100 ARM-based processor for general computing. It is expected to deliver a 40% performance boost over existing Azure ARM chips from Ampere.
Microsoft believes Cobalt will provide a compelling alternative to Intel’s server CPUs for cloud workloads. Companies like Amazon have already demonstrated success in cloud data centers by transitioning from Intel to custom ARM chips.
Virtual machines powered by Cobalt will become available on Azure in 2024. Microsoft is currently testing it for key services like Teams and Azure SQL database. More efficient ARM servers can translate to lower costs for cloud customers.
The Cobalt announcement highlights Microsoft’s growing reliance on ARM architecture across its cloud infrastructure. ARM chips are known for power efficiency in mobile devices, but companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Apple now recognize their benefits for data centers too.
By designing its own server-class ARM processor, Microsoft can optimize performance and features specifically for its cloud services. With both Maia and Cobalt, Microsoft aims to give Azure a competitive edge over rivals like AWS and Google Cloud.
Microsoft has lagged behind in cloud infrastructure market share, but introducing unique silicon could help close the gap. Its vertically integrated approach produces chips tailor-made for AI and its cloud platform. With demand for AI compute and cloud services booming, Microsoft’s gambit on custom chips could soon pay dividends.
With a government shutdown set to hit at the end of this week if new funding legislation wasn’t passed, Congress has acted swiftly to approve a short-term spending bill. The so-called “continuing resolution” will keep federal agencies open and running until January 19 for some programs and February 2 for others.
The bill easily cleared the Democratic-controlled House on Tuesday with bipartisan support. This followed the backing of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had proposed the novel “laddered” approach to stagger program expiration dates. The bill now heads to the Senate, where both Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have voiced support. With President Biden also signaling he will sign it, a shutdown appears to have been averted.
For investors, the passage of this stopgap bill means reduced short-term economic uncertainty. A shutdown would have disrupted many key government services as hundreds of thousands of federal workers are furloughed. This can dampen consumer and business sentiment. While the stock market has mostly shaken off prior shutdowns, an extended one could still eventually take a toll.
Yet longer-term risks remain on the horizon, especially regarding the fast-approaching debt ceiling. Come June, the government will hit its statutory borrowing limit, which could set up an intense fiscal battle. If the ceiling isn’t raised or suspended in time, the U.S. could default on its debt for the first time ever. Such an unprecedented event would surely roil markets.
With Speaker Johnson facing pressure from the right flank of his Republican caucus to extract steep spending cuts and other concessions in exchange for lifting the borrowing cap, the stage is set for a high-stakes showdown. Democrats have adamantly opposed using the debt limit as a bargaining chip.
For now, investors may breathe a small sigh of relief. But the reprieve could be short-lived. Once the government funding issue is settled, focus will shift to addressing the debt ceiling well before the June deadline. Otherwise, a far more damaging crisis than a temporary shutdown could be on tap, potentially threatening the full faith and credit of the United States along with the stability of financial markets.
Beyond the recurring fiscal battles, investors will continue monitoring the overall health of the U.S. economy amid rising interest rates and stubborn inflation. Though job growth and consumer spending have been bright spots, risks of recession still loom. Stock market volatility reflects these crosscurrents. For long-term investors, diversification and temperance remain key as policy uncertainty persists.
Looking ahead, the specter of a government default looms large. The debt ceiling debate is a critical juncture that could have widespread implications not just for the financial markets but for the broader economy. The potential fallout from a failure to raise the debt ceiling includes disruptions in government payments, increased borrowing costs, and a loss of confidence in the U.S. financial system.
The debt ceiling has been a recurrent point of contention in recent years, with temporary agreements often reached to avert a crisis. However, the underlying issues of fiscal responsibility, spending priorities, and partisan gridlock persist. The consequences of a protracted deadlock on the debt ceiling could be severe, with ripple effects felt globally.
In the midst of these challenges, investors must navigate an environment marked by uncertainty. While the short-term resolution of the government funding issue provides a momentary sense of stability, the underlying risks and complexities of fiscal policy remain. As the nation grapples with these fiscal challenges, market participants should remain vigilant and adapt their strategies to navigate potential shifts in the economic landscape.
In conclusion, the recent passage of the short-term spending bill averted an immediate government shutdown, providing a respite for investors. However, the focus now turns to the looming debt ceiling debate, introducing a new set of challenges and uncertainties. As events unfold, market participants will need to carefully assess the evolving situation and make informed decisions to mitigate risks in an ever-changing economic and political landscape.
CULVER CITY, Calif., Nov. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL), a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment, announced today that it will report financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, today, November 14, 2023, after the U.S. stock market closes. Management will host a conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the results.
Participants may listen to the live webcast and replay on the Company’s investor relations website at https://investor.snail.com/.
About Snail, Inc. Snail is a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment for consumers around the world, with a premier portfolio of premium games designed for use on a variety of platforms, including consoles, PCs, and mobile devices.
LAKE ZURICH, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– ACCO Brands (NYSE: ACCO), a world leader in branded consumer and end user products, was named one of America’s Safest Companies in 2023 by EHS Today. The magazine for environment, health, and safety leaders, announced its list of the 2023 America’s Safest Companies last month with 10 companies on the list. These companies are involved in a broad range of activities, from industrial contracting to robotics, from packaging to cabinetry, from consumer packaged goods to electrical construction, and more.
ACCO Brands was among the outstanding companies being honored because of a committed understanding of the value that safety brings to an organization. This is the third time that ACCO Brands has been awarded this title, something only six other companies have achieved.
For more than 20 years, the America’s Safest Companies competition has sought to identify those characteristics that differentiate good safety programs from great ones, and to then celebrate the best practices and procedures that exemplify safety excellence.
“Every America’s Safest Company winner is a standard-bearer of safety excellence. Each winning company has engrained into their culture and their employees a consistent and constant need to keep every person and every situation free from harm,” said EHS Today Editor-in-Chief Dave Blanchard.
To be considered as one of America’s Safest Companies, organizations must complete an application that requires them to demonstrate excellence in several areas: support from leadership and management for EHS efforts; employee involvement in the EHS process; innovative solutions to safety challenges; injury and illness rates lower than the average for their industries; comprehensive training programs; evidence that prevention of incidents is the cornerstone of the safety process; good communication about the value of safety; and a way to substantiate the benefits of the safety process.
As a company with a personal stake in all things ergonomic, ACCO Brands understands the discomfort of aches and pains. That is why the company provides on-site massages using the certified active release technique (ART) to all U.S. manufacturing and distribution center employees—regardless of whether those aches and pains are job-related or not.
“While there is a significant cost to providing the ART benefit to our employees, we believe we have prevented many minor employee issues from becoming more serious medical issues and have a healthier workforce as a result of this program,” says James Edwards, senior director of environmental, health and safety, ACCO Brands.
The best practices from the 2023 America’s Safest Companies are featured in a special section in the July/August 2023 issue of EHS Today magazine and on the brand’s website, www.ehstoday.com. Since 2002, America’s Safest Companies has honored more than 250 organizations for their unwavering commitment to worker safety, health, and environmental stewardship.
About ACCO Brands ACCO Brands, the Home of Great Brands Built by Great People, designs, manufactures and markets consumer and end-user products that help people work, learn, play, and thrive. Our widely recognized brands include AT-A-GLANCE®, Five Star®, Kensington®, Leitz®, Mead®, PowerA®, Swingline®, Tilibra® and many others. More information about ACCO Brands Corporation (NYSE: ACCO) can be found at www.accobrands.com.
About EHS Today Owned by Endeavor Business Media, EHS Today is an American occupational safety, and health media brand. It is the leading US magazine for environmental, health and safety management professionals in the manufacturing, construction, and service sectors.
Single-Dose Protection Demonstrated Against Multiple SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Atlanta, GA, November 14, 2023 – GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, today announced the presentation of preclinical vaccine efficacy data for GEO-CM02, a multi-antigen investigational SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The data were presented during the Vaccines Summit 2023 conference, being held in Boston, MA on November 13-15, 2023. The presentation, titled “MVA-vectored multi-antigen COVID-19 vaccines induce protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants spanning Alpha to Omicron in preclinical animal models,” was delivered by Mukesh Kumar, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Georgia State University.
“We are thrilled to continue to demonstrate the robust efficacy profile of GEO-CM02 with the presentation of preclinical data at this year’s Vaccine Summit,” said David Dodd, GeoVax’s Chairman and CEO. “Together, these data indicate that immunization with the multi-antigen GEO-CM02 vaccine can protect against severe disease and death induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection and regardless of the variant. Along with a demonstrated safety profile, we believe GEO-CM02 has potential as a transformative universal coronavirus vaccine.”
First-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines based on the spike (S) protein have demonstrated that they induce neutralizing antibodies, providing effective, albeit short-term levels of immune protection. Unfortunately, with the existing authorized vaccines, efficacy is disrupted by emerging variants that contribute to neutralizing antibody evasion, requiring continuous updating and booster doses. To address this limitation, GeoVax is currently evaluating its dual antigen COVID-19 vaccine, GEO-CM04S1 in three Phase 2 clinical trials. GEO-CM04S1 encodes for both the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) antigens of SARS-CoV-2 and is specifically designed to induce both antibody and T cell responses to those parts of the virus less likely to mutate over time. The more broadly functional engagement of the immune system is designed to protect against severe disease caused by continually emerging variants of COVID-19. Vaccines of this format should not require frequent and repeated modification or updating. Moreover, GEO-CM04S1 is being developed specifically as a COVID-19 vaccine in support of patients with compromised immune systems, for whom the current authorized vaccines appear inadequate in providing protective immunity.
GEO-CM02 is a multi-antigen SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, based on the S, membrane (M), and envelope (E) proteins, which are designed to also engage both the humoral (antibody) and cellular (T-cell) arms of the immune system and to broaden both the function and specificity, potentially as a universal coronavirus vaccine. Efficacy of this investigational vaccine was tested using the industry standard, lethal hACE2 transgenic mouse model.
Data highlights from the Vaccine Summit 2023 presentation are as follows:
The GEO-CM02 vaccine induced immune responses that were efficacious against the original Wuhan strain and BA.1 Omicron variant with a single dose.
Animals were protected prior to the detection of neutralizing antibodies, likely indicating a critical T-cell contribution.
GEO-CM02 significantly reduced or eliminated inflammation and immunopathology in the lungs of vaccinated animals.
The data generated in the GEO-CM02 studies validate GeoVax’s hypothesis that vaccines designed to induce both antibodies and T-cells to multiple viral structural proteins can address the issue of viral variation and escape from the immune system. GEO-CM02 is based on GeoVax’s MVA viral vector platform, which supports the presentation of multiple vaccine antigens to the immune system in a single dose.
GeoVax’s more advanced, next-generation COVID-19 vaccine, GEO-CM04S1, is being evaluated in three ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials:
As a primary vaccine in immunocompromised patients (with hematologic cancers receiving cell transplants or CAR-T therapy). ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04977024. GeoVax recently announced clinical site expansion for this trial.
As a booster vaccine in immunocompromised patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a recognized high-risk group for whom current mRNA vaccines and monoclonal antibody (MAb) therapies appear inadequate relative to providing protective immunity. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05672355.
As a booster vaccine for healthy patients who have previously received the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine. gov Identifier: NCT04639466. GeoVax recently announced that this trial has fully enrolled.
About GeoVax
GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies and vaccines for solid tumor cancers and many of the world’s most threatening infectious diseases. The company’s lead program in oncology is a novel oncolytic solid tumor gene-directed therapy, Gedeptin®, presently in a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial for advanced head and neck cancers. GeoVax’s lead infectious disease candidate is GEO-CM04S1, a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine targeting high-risk immunocompromised patient populations. Currently in three Phase 2 clinical trials, GEO-CM04S1 is being evaluated as a primary vaccine for immunocompromised patients such as those suffering from hematologic cancers and other patient populations for whom the current authorized COVID-19 vaccines are insufficient, and as a booster vaccine in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In addition, GEO-CM04S1 is in a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the vaccine as a more robust, durable COVID-19 booster among healthy patients who previously received the mRNA vaccines. GeoVax has a leadership team who have driven significant value creation across multiple life science companies over the past several decades. For more information, visit our website: www.geovax.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements regarding GeoVax’s business plans. The words “believe,” “look forward to,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors, including whether: GeoVax is able to obtain acceptable results from ongoing or future clinical trials of its investigational products, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines can provoke the desired responses, and those products or vaccines can be used effectively, GeoVax’s viral vector technology adequately amplifies immune responses to cancer antigens, GeoVax can develop and manufacture its immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines will be safe for human use, GeoVax’s vaccines will effectively prevent targeted infections in humans, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines will receive regulatory approvals necessary to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax raises required capital to complete development, there is development of competitive products that may be more effective or easier to use than GeoVax’s products, GeoVax will be able to enter into favorable manufacturing and distribution agreements, and other factors, over which GeoVax has no control.
Further information on our risk factors is contained in our periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K that we have filed and will file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
The Last Great Hamburger Stand Set to Debut in Hidalgo County
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Fatburger and 17 other restaurant concepts, announces a new development deal set to bring six additional franchised Fatburger locations to Hidalgo County, Texas in the next five years. The news comes on the heels of the recent opening of the first co-branded Fatburger and Round Table Pizza restaurant in Lantana, Texas.
“The Fatburger brand continues to expand in Texas,” said Taylor Wiederhorn, Chief Development Officer of FAT Brands. “Fatburger has a pipeline of approximately 50 restaurants to be built in Texas alone and the franchisee demand to develop more Fatburger restaurants throughout the state has not slowed down. We look forward to adding six more restaurants to our existing development pipeline in Texas with further growth near the southern border.”
Ever since the first Fatburger opened in Los Angeles 70 years ago, the chain has been known for its delicious, grilled-to-perfection and cooked-to-order burgers. Founder Lovie Yancey believed that a big burger with everything on it is a meal in itself; at Fatburger “everything” is not just the usual roster of toppings. Burgers can be customized with everything from bacon and eggs to chili and onion rings. In addition to its famous burgers, the Fatburger menu also includes Fat and Skinny Fries, sweet potato fries, scratch-made onion rings, Impossible™ Burgers, turkeyburgers, hand-breaded crispy chicken sandwiches, and hand-scooped milkshakes made from 100 percent real ice cream.
FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) is a leading global franchising company that strategically acquires, markets and develops fast casual, quick-service, casual and polished casual dining restaurant concepts around the world. The Company currently owns 18 restaurant brands: Round Table Pizza, Fatburger, Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, Twin Peaks, Great American Cookies, Smokey Bones, Hot Dog on a Stick, Buffalo’s Cafe & Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Pretzelmaker, Elevation Burger, Native Grill & Wings, Yalla Mediterranean and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses, and franchises and owns over 2,300 units worldwide. For more information on FAT Brands, please visit www.fatbrands.com.
About Fatburger An all-American, Hollywood favorite, Fatburger is a fast-casual restaurant serving big, juicy, tasty burgers, crafted specifically to each customer’s liking. With a legacy spanning 70 years, Fatburger’s extraordinary quality and taste inspire fierce loyalty amongst its fan base, which includes a number of A-list celebrities and athletes. Featuring a contemporary design and ambiance, Fatburger offers an unparalleled dining experience, demonstrating the same dedication to serving gourmet, homemade, custom-built burgers as it has since 1952 – The Last Great Hamburger Stand™.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the future financial and operating results of the Company, estimates of future EBITDA, the timing and performance of new store openings, future reductions in cost of capital and leverage ratio, our ability to conduct future accretive acquisitions and our pipeline of new store locations. Forward-looking statements generally use words such as “expect,” “foresee,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “should,” “estimate,” “will,” “plans,” “forecast,” and similar expressions, and reflect our expectations concerning the future. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. We refer you to the documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as our reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our current expectations and from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.
Company Secures Preferred Vendor Status for Bitcoin ATM Services to AATAC’s 50,000 Members
ATLANTA, Nov. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin Depot Inc. (“Bitcoin Depot” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BTM), a U.S.-based Bitcoin ATM operator and leading fintech company, today announced it has been named a preferred vendor with the AATAC, a national trade association of retailers, distributors, vendor suppliers and partners for the convenience store and retail industries. Bitcoin Depot is the first BTM company to have gained recognition as a preferred vendor for AATAC, strengthening Bitcoin Depot’s value proposition.
“Bitcoin Depot is proud to work with the AATAC as the association’s preferred BTM vendor, which introduces our company to AATAC’s 50,000 associated retailers nationwide,” said Bitcoin Depot CEO Brandon Mintz. “This is another milestone in our mission to bring Bitcoin to the masses.”
Bitcoin Depot is listed as a preferred ATM & Credit vendor on the AATAC website. The Company attended an AATAC trade show this year to meet with AATAC customers and members.
“We are thrilled to offer Bitcoin Depot’s services for our members,” said Ivy LaBrie, Operations Director at AATAC. “Our network of retailers represents an incomparable buying power, and we’re proud to connect them with quality, trusted companies such as Bitcoin Depot that will expand their service offerings.”
AATAC is a national association comprised of smaller buying groups, regional sub-chapters, independents, and other trade organizations under one blanket that consist of over 50,000 operators controlling over 80,000 locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Currently, there are approximately 150,000 AATAC-associated C-stores in the country.
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’s kiosks and at thousands of name-brand retail locations through its BDCheckout product. The Company has the largest market share in North America with approximately 6,400 kiosk locations as of September 30, 2023. Learn more at www.bitcoindepot.com
About AATAC AATAC is a national association comprised of smaller buying groups, regional sub-chapters, independents, and other trade organizations under one blanket that consist of over 50,000 operators controlling over 80,000 locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
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
New Contract and Contract Renewal Momentum Continues
BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Nov. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE: CXW) (“CoreCivic”) announced today it signed a new management contract with the state of Montana for the housing of up to 120 inmates at the Company’s 1,896-bed Saguaro Correctional Facility in Eloy, Arizona.
The new management contract commences immediately and ends October 31, 2025. The contract may be extended by mutual agreement. The total term, including renewals, may not exceed seven years. We anticipate completing the receipt of the inmates from Montana at the Saguaro facility by December 31, 2023.
Damon T. Hininger, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, “We are grateful for our longstanding partnership with the Montana Department of Corrections and honored by the opportunity to meet their evolving needs at both our Crossroads Correctional Facility in Shelby, Montana as well as at our Saguaro Correctional Facility in Eloy, Arizona. Our modern Saguaro facility, built in 2007, will now care for incarcerated individuals for three different state partners.”
Hininger continued, “This new contract further reflects the attractiveness of our available bed capacity as well as the high level of service and trust for which CoreCivic is recognized. We continue to anticipate heightened need for our modern and flexible capacity from states and local agencies, as well as from Federal partners.”
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 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, or DOJ, 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 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) the impact resulting from the termination of Title 42, the federal government’s policy to deny entry at the United States southern border to asylum-seekers and anyone crossing the southern border without proper documentation or authority in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus and related variants, or COVID-19; (vii) government budget uncertainty, the impact of the debt ceiling and the potential for government shutdowns and changing funding priorities; (viii) our ability to successfully identify and consummate future development and acquisition opportunities and realize projected returns resulting therefrom; (ix) 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 (x) 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.
Contact:
Investors: Michael Grant – Managing Director, Investor Relations – (615) 263-6957
Financial Media: David Gutierrez, Dresner Corporate Services – (312) 780-7204
Announced 75% of ICI-naive patients alive at 36 months in the NCI-led triple Phase 2 combination trial for advanced HPV16-positive cancer patients; published median overall survival of 7-11 months with FDA approved ICI1
Announced 2-year overall survival rate of 74% in VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 trial of ICI-naïve HPV16-positive recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer patients; published 2-year overall survival of less than 30% with FDA approved ICI1
Announced interim safety and immune response data for Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating docetaxel and PDS01ADC in metastatic prostate cancer patients; PSA decline was seen in all 18 patients and 61% of patients had at least a 60% decrease in PSA levels
Company to host conference call and webcast today at 8:00 AM EST
PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB) (“PDS Biotech” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines based on the Company’s proprietary T cell activating platforms, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The Company will provide a business update on its conference call and webcast at 8:00 AM EST today.
CEO Comments: “We are pleased with the outcome of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-led Phase 2 triple combination trial of PDS0101, PDS01ADC (formerly known as PDS0301) and an investigational immune checkpoint ihnibitor (ICI). The data show that 75% of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-naïve patients remain alive at three years, and the 12-month overall survival (OS) rate in the ICI-resistant patients is 72%,” said Frank Bedu-Addo, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of PDS Biotech. “Furthermore, the triple combination continues to be well tolerated, with only 4% of patients reported to have Grade 4 treatment-related adverse events.”
He continued, “As the development of our IL12 fused antibody-drug conjugate or ADC, PDS01ADC, continues to progress, its potential to overcome key safety and efficacy limitations associated with existing cytokine therapy is reinforced. Data presented at Cytokines 2023 marked the first-in-human clinical trial evaluating the combination of docetaxel chemotherapy and PDS01ADC to treat advanced metastatic castration sensitive (mCSPC) and castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Decreases in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were reported in all patients. In addition, with our lead candidate PDS0101, the interim Phase 2 VERSATILE-002 data presented during our Key Opinion Leader (KOL) roundtable showed a 2-year overall survival rate of 74% in ICI-naïve human papillomavirus (HPV)16- recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer patients. We are excited about the strides we are making across our pipeline, fueled by our commitment to developing groundbreaking therapies that revolutionize cancer treatments.”
Recent Business Highlights: PDS0101 Lead Drug Candidate
VERSATILE-003: Received feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the Phase 3 clinical protocol for a randomized, controlled multicenter trial of PDS0101 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in patients with HPV16-positive recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck cancer. PDS Biotech anticipates initiation of VERSATILE-003 in Q1 2024.
VERSATILE-002: Phase 2 open-label, multicenter clinical trial of PDS0101 in combination with KEYTRUDA® in patients with HPV16-positive recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck cancer.
Hosted KOL roundtable on interim VERSATILE-002 data and current and future treatments. Highlights from ICI-naïve patients:
24-month OS rate of 74%; published 24-month OS less than 30% data with approved ICIs for head and neck cancer.2
Well tolerated with no patients having Grade 4 or 5 combination treatment-related adverse events. Thirteen percent with Grade 3 combination treatment-related adverse events.
Presented biomarker data at European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2023, highlighting that the combination of PDS0101 and KEYTRUDA® has the potential to promote a TH1 immune response which is known to promote a strong CD8 T cell response. Biomarker data demonstrated that the combination promotes the induction of HPV16-specific multifunctional CD8 T cells.
IMMUNOCERV: Phase 2 clinical trial investigating PDS0101 in combination with standard-of-care (SOC) chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer patients with large tumors over 5 cm in size and/or cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.
Data presented at American Society for Radiation Oncology 2023 Annual Meeting demonstrated PDS0101, in combination with SOC CRT, was associated with a rapid decline in HPV circulating cell-free DNA, a potential predictive biomarker of treatment response. Ninety-two percent reduction in ctDNA with PDS0101 and SOC and 53% reduction was seen with SOC at 5 weeks.
PDS01ADC (formerly known as PDS0301): IL12 Fused Antibody Drug Conjugate
NCI-led Triple Combination: Phase 2 clinical trial for combination therapy of PDS0101, PDS01ADC and an investigational ICI for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic HPV-positive, ICI-naïve and ICI-resistant HPV16-positive cancers including anal, cervical, head and neck, vaginal and vulvar cancers.
ICI-naïve group:
75% of patients remain alive at 36 months; published median OS data in similar patients is 7-11 months.1 The median OS has not yet been reached.
ICI-resistant group:
12-month OS rate of 72%.
Median OS approximately 20 months; published median OS in HPV-positive ICI-resistant cancer is 3.4 months3.
Responses were seen in all HPV-positive tumor types.
NCI-led PDS01ADC + Docetaxel: Phase 1/2, open-label, single-arm trial of PDS01ADC in combination with docetaxel in advanced mCSPC and mCRPC.
Presented interim safety and immune response data of the combination in the first clinical trial of an immunocytokine with docetaxel in prostate cancer patients at Cytokines 2023.
Decrease in PSA levels was seen in all patients at all three tested doses of PDS01ADC and 61% of patients had at least a 60% decrease in PSA levels.
All doses of the combination were well tolerated with one patient experiencing Grade 4 neutropenia.
Presented data from the NCI-led preclinical study evaluating PDS0101, PDS01ADC and an HDAC inhibitor at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer’s 38th Annual Meeting, demonstrating antitumor activity against ICI-resistant cancers.
PDS0202 Universal Flu Candidate
Presented data from the preclinical universal flu vaccine program at 9th European Scientific Working Group on Influenza, demonstrating the potential ability of PDS0202 to neutralize multiple influenza viruses. PDS0202 also demonstrated the ability to prevent viral replication in the lungs of ferrets and provide complete protection after challenge with lethal doses of the H1N1 influenza virus.
Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2023 was approximately $10.8 million, or $0.35 per basic share and diluted share, compared to a net loss of approximately $7.4 million, or $0.26 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The higher net loss reported for the three months ended September 30, 2023 is primarily due to the increase in research and development expenses and general and administrative expenses.
Research and development expenses increased to $6.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 from $4.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The increase of $2.0 million is primarily attributable to an increase of $1.3 million in clinical trials, and $0.7 million in personnel costs, including $0.3 million in non-cash stock-based compensation.
General and administrative expenses increased to $4.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 from $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The increase of $1.2 million is primarily attributable to an increase of $0.7 million in personnel costs, including $0.5 million in non-cash stock-based compensation, and $0.5 million in investor relations costs.
PDS Biotech’s cash balance as of September 30, 2023 was approximately $54.3 million. PDS Biotech believes that, with initiating the VERSATILE-003 Phase 3 clinical trial in the first quarter of 2024, its available cash resources will sustain operational and research and development endeavors into the third quarter of 2024. PDS Biotech expects to execute its current operational and research and development endeavors by obtaining additional capital, principally through entering into collaborations, strategic alliances or license agreements with third parties and/or additional public or private debt and/or equity financings. The Company has had and continues to provide, what the Company believes to be favorable development milestones to the market and has upcoming development milestones.
Conference Call and Webcast The conference call is scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM EST today, November 14, 2023. Participants should dial 877-407-3088 (United States) or 201-389-0927 (International) and reference conference ID 13741454. To access the webcast, please use the following link. The event will be archived in the investor relations section of PDS Biotech’s website for six months.
1 Baumi J, et al. J Clin Oncol 2017:1542-49 and Morris VK, et al. Lancet Oncol 2017;18:446-53.
2Ferris R.L., Nivolumab for Recurrent Squamous-Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck; N Engl J Med 2016; 375:1856-1867; Burtness B et al., Pembrolizumab alone or with chemotherapy versus cetuximab with chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (KEYNOTE- 048): a randomized, open-label phase 3 study; Lancet 2019; 394(10212):1915-1928. *No control or comparative studies have been conducted between immune checkpoint inhibitors and PDS0101. https://www.opdivo.com/head-and-neck-cancer https://www.keytruda.com/head-and-neck-cancer/keytruda-clinical-trials/
3 Strauss J et al. Journal for ImmunoTherapyof Cancer 2020;8:e001395
About PDB Biotechnology PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on our proprietary Versamune®, Versamune® plus PDS01ADC, and Infectimune® T cell-activating platforms. We believe our targeted immunotherapies have the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy approaches through the activation of the right type, quantity and potency of T cells. To date, our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has demonstrated the ability to reduce and shrink tumors and stabilize disease in combination with approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of HPV16-associated cancers in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials and plan to advance into a Phase 3 clinical trial in combination with KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer in the first quarter 2024. Our Infectimune® based vaccines have also 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. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech.
About PDS0101 PDS0101, PDS Biotech’s lead candidate, is a novel investigational human papillomavirus (HPV)-targeted immunotherapy that stimulates a potent targeted T cell attack against HPV-positive cancers. PDS0101 is given by subcutaneous injection alone or in combination with other immunotherapies and cancer treatments. In a Phase 1 study of PDS0101 in monotherapy, the treatment demonstrated the ability to generate multifunctional HPV16-targeted CD8 and CD4 T cells with minimal toxicity. Interim data suggests PDS0101 generates clinically active immune responses, and the combination of PDS0101 with other treatments can demonstrate significant disease control by reducing or shrinking tumors, delaying disease progression and/or prolonging survival. The combination of PDS0101 with other treatments does not appear to compound the toxicity of other agents.
About PDS01ADC PDS01ADC, formerly PDS0301, is a novel investigational tumor-targeting antibody drug conjugate of Interleukin 12 (IL-12) that enhances the proliferation, potency and longevity of T cells and natural killer cells in the tumor microenvironment. PDS01ADC is given by subcutaneous injection and is designed to improve the safety profile of IL-12 and to enhance the anti-tumor response.
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 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 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; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; 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; 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.
Common stock, $0.00033 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 31,007,763 shares and 30,170,317 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively
10,233
9,956
Additional paid-in capital
158,075,994
145,550,491
Accumulated deficit
(133,602,399
)
(101,558,417
)
Total stockholders’ equity
24,483,828
44,002,030
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
57,187,821
$
77,007,923
PDS BIOTECHNOLOGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2023
2022
2023
2022
Operating expenses:
Research and development expenses
$
6,448,528
$
4,352,987
$
20,297,066
$
13,275,947
General and administrative expenses
4,071,158
2,926,209
12,341,207
9,575,122
Total operating expenses
10,519,686
7,279,196
32,638,273
22,851,069
Loss from operations
(10,519,686
)
(7,279,196
)
(32,638,273
)
(22,851,069
)
Interest income (expenses), net
Interest income
739,404
252,073
2,219,399
332,318
Interest expense
(1,068,887
)
(397,327
)
(3,031,129
)
(397,326
)
Interest income (expenses), net
(329,483
)
(145,254
)
(811,730
)
(65,008
)
Loss before income taxes
(10,849,169
)
(7,424,450
)
(33,450,003
)
(22,916,077
)
Benefit for income taxes
–
–
1,406,021
1,198,905
Net loss and comprehensive loss
(10,849,169
)
(7,424,450
)
(32,043,982
)
(21,717,172
)
Per share information:
Net loss per share, basic and diluted
$
(0.35
)
$
(0.26
)
$
(1.04
)
$
(0.76
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic, and diluted
30,910,520
28,458,688
30,715,458
28,452,997
PDS BIOTECHNOLOGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2023
2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
$
(32,043,982
)
$
(21,717,172
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense
6,259,464
3,821,923
Issuance of shares in consulting agreement
610,000
–
Amortization of debt discount
391,920
72,722
Depreciation expense
12,624
86
Operating lease expense
160,685
180,772
Finance lease depreciation expense
30,297
37,417
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets
73,205
(1,171,337
)
Finance lease right-of-use asset
–
(306,487
)
Accounts payable
4,147,277
727,987
Accrued expenses
(4,580,981
)
240,799
Finance lease liabilities
–
138,402
Operating lease liabilities
(239,469
)
(205,885
)
Net cash used in operating activities
(25,178,960
)
(18,180,773
)
Cash Flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of note payable
–
25,000,000
Payment for debt issuance costs
–
(449,329
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
8,849
29,917
Payments of finance lease obligations
(46,129
)
–
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs
IRVING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Salem Media Group, Inc. (the “company”) (Nasdaq: SALM) released its results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Third Quarter 2023 Results
For the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022:
Consolidated
Total revenue decreased 5.0% to $63.5 million from $66.9 million;
Total operating expenses increased 31.9% to $99.8 million from $75.6 million;
Operating expenses, excluding stock-based compensation expense, debt modification costs, gains and losses on the sale or disposition of assets, impairments, depreciation expense and amortization expense (1) increased 0.2% to $61.0 million from $60.8 million;
Operating loss increased to $36.3 million from $8.8 million;
Net loss increased to $31.3 million, or $1.15 net loss per share, from $11.9 million, or $0.44 net loss per share;
EBITDA (1) decreased to $(33.1) million from $(5.7) million; and
Adjusted EBITDA (1) increased 9.3% to $2.5 million from $2.3 million.
Broadcast
Net broadcast revenue decreased 4.2% to $49.0 million from $51.1 million;
Station Operating Income (“SOI”) (1) decreased 31.8% to $6.8 million from $10.0 million;
Same Station (1) net broadcast revenue decreased 4.9% to $48.6 million from $51.0 million; and
Same Station SOI (1) decreased 28.2% to $7.3 million from $10.1 million.
Digital Media
Digital media revenue decreased 2.2% to $10.0 million from $10.2 million; and
Digital Media Operating Income (1) decreased 20.9% to $1.5 million from $1.9 million.
Publishing
Publishing revenue decreased 17.5% to $4.6 million from $5.5 million; and
Publishing Operating Loss (1) increased 36.6% to $1.4 million from $1.0 million.
Included in the results for the three months ended September 30, 2023 are:
A $35.1 million ($26.0 million, net of tax, or $0.95 per share) impairment charge to the value of broadcast licenses in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Greenville, Little Rock, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Tampa;
A $0.7 million ($0.5 million, net of tax, or $0.02 per share) impairment charge to the value of goodwill in Townhall and Salem Author Services;
A $0.5 million ($0.3 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) net gain on the disposition of asset relates primarily to the $0.4 million pre-tax gain on the sale of radio stations in Seattle, Washington; and
A $0.1 million non-cash compensation charge ($0.1 million, net of tax) related to the expense of stock options.
Included in the results for the three months ended September 30, 2022 are:
A $7.7 million ($5.7 million, net of tax, or $0.21 per share) impairment charge to the value of broadcast licenses in Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Greenville, Honolulu, Little Rock, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento, and San Francisco;
A $0.2 million ($0.1 million, net of tax) loss on the disposal of assets;
A $3.8 million ($2.8 million, net of tax, or $0.10 per share) legal settlement expense; and
A $0.1 million non-cash compensation charge related to the expensing of stock options.
Per share numbers are calculated based on 27,216,787 diluted weighted average shares for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.
Year to Date 2023 Results
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022:
Consolidated
Total revenue decreased 2.7% to $192.8 million from $198.2 million;
Total operating expenses increased 21.9% to $237.3 million from $194.6 million;
Operating expenses, excluding gains or losses on the disposition of assets, stock-based compensation expense, debt modification costs, changes in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration, impairments, depreciation expense and amortization expense (1) increased 5.4% to $186.2 million from $176.6 million;
The company had an operating loss of $44.6 million as compared to operating income of $3.5 million;
The company recognized $4.0 million in film distribution income from an unconsolidated equity investment in the nine months ended September 30, 2022;
Net loss increased to $43.5 million, or $1.60 net loss per share, from $1.0 million, or $0.04 net loss per share;
EBITDA (1) decreased to $(34.3) million from $17.0 million; and
Adjusted EBITDA (1) decreased 68.4% to $6.6 million from $20.8 million.
Broadcast
Net broadcast revenue decreased 3.3% to $147.0 million from $152.0 million;
SOI (1) decreased 40.7% to $18.5 million from $31.2 million;
Same station (1) net broadcast revenue decreased 3.8% to $146.1 million from $151.8 million; and
Same station SOI (1) decreased 35.9% to $20.1 million from $31.3 million.
Digital media
Digital media revenue increased 0.1% to $31.3 million; and
Digital media operating income (1) decreased 22.4% to $4.8 million from $6.2 million.
Publishing
Publishing revenue decreased 2.7% to $14.4 million from $14.8 million; and
Publishing Operating Loss (1) increased 81.3% to $2.9 million from $1.6 million.
Included in the results for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 are:
A $38.4 million ($28.4 million, net of tax, or $1.04 per share) impairment charge to the value of broadcast licenses in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Greenville, Little Rock, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Tampa;
A $2.6 million ($1.9 million, net of tax, or $0.07 per share) impairment charge to the value of goodwill in Townhall and Salem Author Services;
A $0.1 million loss on the early retirement of long-term debt associated with the 2024 Notes;
A $0.3 million ($0.2 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) net gain on the disposition of assets reflects a $3.3 million pre-tax gain on the sale of the economic interests in the leases at our Greenville, South Carolina to a related party and a $0.4 million estimated pre-tax gain on the sale of radio station KNTS-AM and KLFE-FM in Seattle, Washington that was offset by a $3.3 million estimated pre-tax loss on the pending sale of radio station KSAC-FM in Sacramento, California and $0.1 million of net losses from various fixed asset disposals; and
A $0.3 million ($0.2 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per share) non-cash compensation charge related to the expense of stock options.
Included in the results for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 are:
A $11.7 million ($8.6 million, net of tax, or $0.32 per share) impairment charge to the value of broadcast licenses in Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Greenville, Honolulu, Little Rock, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento and San Francisco;
A $8.5 million ($6.3 million, net of tax, or $0.23 per diluted share) net gain on the disposition of assets related primarily to the $6.5 million pre-tax gain on the sale of land used in the company’s Denver, Colorado broadcast operations, the $1.8 million pre-tax gain on sale of land used in the company’s Phoenix, Arizona broadcast operations, and $0.5 million pre-tax gain on the sale of the company’s radio stations in Louisville, Kentucky offset by various fixed asset disposals;
A $4.8 million ($3.5 million, net of tax, or $0.13 per share) legal settlement expense;
A $0.1 million ($0.1 million, net of tax) goodwill impairment charge;
A $0.2 million ($0.2 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per share) charge for debt modification costs; and
A $0.2 million ($0.2 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per share) non-cash compensation charge related to the expensing of stock options.
Per share numbers are calculated based on 27,216,787 diluted weighted average shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and 27,202,983 diluted weighted average shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Balance Sheet
As of September 30, 2023, the company had $159.4 million outstanding on the 7.125% senior secured notes due 2028 (“2028 Notes”) and $20.5 million outstanding on the ABL facility.
Acquisitions and Divestitures
The following transactions were completed since July 1, 2023:
On November 6, 2023 the company sold radio stations WGTK-FM, WRTH-FM and WLTE-FM in Greenville, South Carolina for $6.8 million.
On July 21, 2023 the company sold radio station KNTS-AM in Seattle, Washington for $0.2 million.
On July 13, 2023 the company sold radio station KLFE-AM in Seattle, Washington for $0.5 million. Radio station KLFE-AM was being programmed under a Time Brokerage Agreement (“TBA”) as of August 1, 2022.
Pending transactions:
On October 17, 2023 the company entered into an agreement to sell land in Sarasota, Florida for $9.5 million. The closing is conditional upon getting the property rezoned, and the company expects to close the sale in late 2024.
On September 29, 2023 the company entered into an agreement to sell Salem Church Products for $30.0 million. At closing the company will receive $22.5 million in cash and a promissory note of $7.5 million. The principal shall be due and payable in three installments in the amount of $2.5 million starting the one-year anniversary of the closing date in 2024 through 2026. When the transaction closes, the parties will also enter into a $10.0 million multi-year agreement for the company to advertise Gloo platform’s products and services across its radio and digital platform. The company expects to close the sale in the fourth quarter of this year.
On September 1, 2023 the company entered into an agreement to sell radio station WTWD-AM and an translator in Tampa, Florida for $0.7 million subject to approval of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). The company expects to close the sale in the fourth quarter of this year.
On June 29, 2023 the company entered into an agreement to sell radio station KSAC-FM in Sacramento, California for $1.0 million subject to approval of the FCC. Radio station KSAC-FM started being programmed under a TBA on August 1, 2023. The company expects to close the sale in the fourth quarter of this year.
Conference Call Information
The company will host a teleconference to discuss its results on November 13, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Central Time. To access the teleconference, please dial (888) 770-7291, and then ask to be joined into the Salem Media Group Third Quarter 2023 call or listen via the investor relations portion of the company’s website, located at investor.salemmedia.com. A replay of the teleconference will be available through November 27, 2023 and can be heard by dialing (800) 770-2030, passcode 2413416 or on the investor relations portion of the company’s website, located at investor.salemmedia.com.
Follow us on Twitter @SalemMediaGrp.
Fourth Quarter 2023 Outlook
For the fourth quarter of 2023, the company is projecting total revenue to decline between 6% and 8% from the fourth quarter 2022 total revenue of $68.8 million. This guidance assumes the closing of the pending sale of Salem Church Products in the fourth quarter. Excluding the impact of the 2022 political revenue and the financial results from the pending asset sale, the company would project total revenue to decline between 2% and 4%. The company is also projecting operating expenses before gains or losses on the sale or disposal of assets, stock-based compensation expense, legal settlement, changes in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration, impairments, depreciation expense and amortization expense (“Recurring Operating Expenses”) to be between flat and a decrease 3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 Recurring Operating Expenses of $61.6 million. Excluding the impact of the pending asset sale, expenses are projected to be between an increase of 1% and a decrease of 2%.
A reconciliation of Recurring Operating Expenses (a non-GAAP measure) to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable efforts on a forward-looking basis due to the potential high variability, complexity and low visibility with respect to the charges excluded from this non-GAAP financial measure, in particular, the change in the estimated fair value of earn-out consideration, impairments and gains or losses from the disposition of fixed assets. The company expects the variability of the above charges may have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on its future GAAP financial results.
About Salem Media Group, Inc.
Salem Media Group is America’s leading multimedia company specializing in Christian and conservative content, with media properties comprising radio, digital media and book and newsletter publishing. Each day Salem serves a loyal and dedicated audience of listeners and readers numbering in the millions nationally. With its unique programming focus, Salem provides compelling content, fresh commentary and relevant information from some of the most respected figures across the Christian and conservative media landscape. Learn more about Salem Media Group, Inc. at www.salemmedia.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements used in this press release that relate to future plans, events, financial results, prospects or performance are forward-looking statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the ability of the company to close and integrate announced transactions, market acceptance of the company’s radio station formats, competition from new technologies, inflation and other adverse economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the company’s reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other filings filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, changed circumstances or unanticipated events.
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Regulation G
Management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures defined below in communications with investors, analysts, rating agencies, banks and others to assist such parties in understanding the impact of various items on its financial statements. The company uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate financial results, develop budgets, manage expenditures and as a measure of performance under compensation programs.
The company’s presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for or superior to the most directly comparable financial measures as reported in accordance with GAAP.
Regulation G defines and prescribes the conditions under which certain non-GAAP financial information may be presented in this earnings release. The company closely monitors EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Station Operating Income (“SOI”), Same Station net broadcast revenue, Same Station broadcast operating expenses, Same Station Operating Income, Digital Media Operating Income, Publishing Operating Loss, and operating expenses excluding gains or losses on the disposition of assets, stock-based compensation, changes in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration, impairments, depreciation and amortization, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures. The company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about its core operating results, and thus, are appropriate to enhance the overall understanding of its financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to provide management and investors a more complete understanding of its underlying operational results, trends and performance.
The company defines Station Operating Income (“SOI”) as net broadcast revenue minus broadcast operating expenses. The company defines Digital Media Operating Income as net Digital Media Revenue minus Digital Media Operating Expenses. The company defines Publishing Operating Loss as net Publishing Revenue minus Publishing Operating Expenses. The company defines EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. The company defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before gains or losses on the disposition of assets, before debt modification costs, before changes in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration, before impairments, before net miscellaneous income and expenses, before (gain) loss on early retirement of long-term debt and before non-cash compensation expense. SOI, Digital Media Operating Income, Publishing Operating Loss, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are commonly used by the broadcast and media industry as important measures of performance and are used by investors and analysts who report on the industry to provide meaningful comparisons between broadcasters. SOI, Digital Media Operating Income, Publishing Operating Loss, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of liquidity or of performance in accordance with GAAP and should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for or superior to its results of operations and financial condition presented in accordance with GAAP. The company’s definitions of SOI, Digital Media Operating Income, Publishing Operating Loss, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
The company defines Same Station net broadcast revenue as broadcast revenue from its radio stations and networks that the company owns or operates in the same format on the first and last day of each quarter, as well as the corresponding quarter of the prior year. The company defines Same Station broadcast operating expenses as broadcast operating expenses from its radio stations and networks that the company owns or operates in the same format on the first and last day of each quarter, as well as the corresponding quarter of the prior year. The company defines Same Station SOI as Same Station net broadcast revenue less Same Station broadcast operating expenses. Same Station operating results include those stations that the company owns or operates in the same format on the first and last day of each quarter, as well as the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Same Station operating results for a full calendar year are calculated as the sum of the Same Station operating results for each of the four quarters of that year. The company uses Same Station operating results, a non-GAAP financial measure, both in presenting its results to stockholders and the investment community, and in its internal evaluations and management of the business. The company believes that Same Station operating results provide a meaningful comparison of period over period performance of its core broadcast operations as this measure excludes the impact of new stations, the impact of stations the company no longer owns or operates, and the impact of stations operating under a new programming format. The company’s presentation of Same Station operating results is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The company’s definition of Same Station operating results is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
For all non-GAAP financial measures, investors should consider the limitations associated with these metrics, including the potential lack of comparability of these measures from one company to another.
The Supplemental Information tables that follow the condensed consolidated financial statements provide reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures that the company uses in this earnings release to the most directly comparable measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. The company uses non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate financial performance, develop budgets, manage expenditures, and determine employee compensation. The company’s presentation of this additional information is not to be considered as a substitute for or superior to the directly comparable measures as reported in accordance with GAAP. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231106203825/en/ Evan D. Masyr Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (805) 384-4512 evan@salemmedia.com Source: Salem Media Group, Inc. Released November 13, 2023
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.
Solid Q3 Results. The company reported Q3 revenue of $179.5 million, up 2.7% from the prior year period, and adj. EBITDA of $13.9 million, up an impressive 21.1% year-over-year. While Q3 revenue was 5.7% below our estimate of $190.3 million and Adj. EBITDA was 4.9% lower than our estimate of $14.7 million, we view the results and company outlook favorably.
2024 Outlook. The company is focused on striking additional partnerships to deploy its approximately 1000 kiosks that are currently warehoused. We anticipate the number of kiosks will gradually increase over Q4 and 2024, a development we believe will have a favorable impact on operating results.
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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.
Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication process of influenza viruses, coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), hepatitis C viruses and noroviruses. Cocrystal employs unique structure-based technologies and Nobel Prize-winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs. For further information about Cocrystal, please visit www.cocrystalpharma.com.
Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
3Q23 Reported. Cocrystal reported a 3Q23 loss of $4.2 million or $(0.41) per share. The loss included a reversal of a 2Q22 legal charge of $1.6 million after a verdict was overturned by an Appeals Court and money returned to the company. During 3Q23, clinical progress included the start of the Phase 1 trial testing CDI-988 in pan-coronavirus and pan-norovirus trials, and authorization to begin a Phase 2a human challenge study in influenza A.
CC-42344 To Start Clinical Trials Shortly. Cocrystal has received authorization from the UK’s MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency) to begin Phase 2a testing CC-42344, its orally administered protease inhibitor for influenza A. This placebo-controlled trial will administer a pharmaceutically prepared dose of influenza virus to infect healthy volunteers with, then test the safety and immunologic measurements of CC-42344 against the virus. Separately, Dr. Sam Lee, President and Co-CEO is scheduled to make a presentation at the World Vaccine Congress West Coast on the development of CC-42344 on November 28.
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.
