NN, Inc. (NNBR) – Accelerating on its Transformation


Friday, November 01, 2024

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

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

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

Adjusted Results. Adjusted net loss during the quarter was $2.5 million, or $0.05 per share compared to adjusted net income of $0.1 million or $0.01 last year. Adjusted EBITDA was $11.6 million, or a margin of 10.2%, compared to last year’s $14.5 million or 11.6%. Both items were impacted by the Company’s rationalization of plants undergoing turnarounds and the sale of the Lubbock plastic plant operations.

Accelerated Transformation. Management has been accelerating its transformation initiatives, as the Company continues to win business, nearing the lower end of guidance for the year, and is continuously undergoing cost reduction, including $2 million in annualized cost savings enacted in the third quarter. New business wins bring over higher margins for NN at over 20% compared to the legacy business at around 11%, providing higher gross margins overtime as legacy contracts become more offset.


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Haynes International (HAYN) – Lowering Estimates to Reflect Anticipated Negative Revenue Impact of Boeing Strike


Friday, November 01, 2024

Haynes International, Inc. is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of technologically advanced, nickel and cobalt-based high-performance alloys, primarily for use in the aerospace, industrial gas turbine and chemical processing industries.

Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

Boeing strike. In fiscal year 2023 and for the first nine months of fiscal 2024, aerospace represented 49% and 51% of Haynes’ net revenue. A significant portion of the company’s aerospace sales are dependent on the number of aircraft built by The Boeing Company and Airbus. On September 13, Boeing union members went on strike after rejecting a contract proposal from the company. Boeing has extended a pause on component shipments for several of its programs. While we are hopeful that the strike will be resolved soon, we expect it to have a negative impact on Haynes’ fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024 which ended September 30 and the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 which ends on December 31, 2024. Seasonally, the first quarter of the fiscal year is generally the company’s weakest.

Updating estimates. We have lowered our 2024 EBITDA and EPS estimates to $67.4 million and $2.46, respectively, from $68.5 million and $2.52. The revisions reflect weaker demand in the aerospace segment and lower sales expectations for the fourth quarter. Our expectations for weaker demand extend into fiscal year 2025, and we have lowered our EBITDA and EPS estimates to $82.5 million and $3.35, respectively, from $99.5 million and $4.15. Our revisions reflect lower shipment, revenue, and margin expectations, particularly during the first half of the year.


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NN, Inc. (NNBR) – A First Look at the Third Quarter


Thursday, October 31, 2024

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

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

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

Focused on Business Wins and Costs. NN is continuing to achieve business wins with $15 million in new business wins in the quarter, totaling $49 million year-to-date, near the bottom of its $55-70 million range for the year. The Company’s transformation program is moving faster than anticipated, as evidenced by the new business growth, along with operational efficiency and structural cost reductions. An example of the latter being the previous sale of the plastics plant in July and closure of the Dowagiac plant to move operations to China, further lowering costs.

3Q Results. Third quarter results were slightly below expectations with net sales of $113.6 million, below last year’s $124.4 million and our estimate of $125 million, due to the sale of the Lubbock operations. Excluding the sale, rationalized volume at plants undergoing turnarounds, and a customer settlement, sales were down 0.5%. Adjusted EBITDA was $11.6 million, down from $14.5 million last year and our $13.9 million estimate. With decisions such as the plant closure and higher margins of new business, we expect improved performance in the short term.


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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. 

FreightCar America (RAIL) – Raising Price Target Based on Higher Revenue and Margin Growth Expectations


Thursday, October 24, 2024

Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

Pure play manufacturer. FreightCar America, Inc. is a diversified manufacturer of railroad cars and rail car components. The company designs and manufactures a broad variety of railroad car types for the transportation of bulk commodities and containerized freight products primarily in North America. The company reported strong second-quarter financial results and appears poised for greater scale and margin expansion as it increases its market share and expands its product suite.

On the path to greater profitability. While the company has broadened and diversified its product portfolio, we expect further growth into new areas such as producing tank cars which is expected to support margin expansion. Growth in the conversion and rebody business, along with increased parts sales, could enhance gross margins and reduce the company’s top-line sensitivity to the cyclicality associated with new railroad car orders. Additionally, we think FreightCar America will continue to improve its cost profile through productivity and efficiency gains.


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Euroseas (ESEA) – Raising Estimates on New Vessel Deliveries and Charters


Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Euroseas Ltd. was formed on May 5, 2005 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to consolidate the ship owning interests of the Pittas family of Athens, Greece, which has been in the shipping business over the past 140 years. Euroseas trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker ESEA. Euroseas operates in the container shipping market. Euroseas’ operations are managed by Eurobulk Ltd., an ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified affiliated ship management company, which is responsible for the day-to-day commercial and technical management and operations of the vessels. Euroseas employs its vessels on spot and period charters and through pool arrangements.

Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Hans Baldau, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

New Time Charter Contracts: Euroseas executed new time charter contracts for three feeder vessels, M/V Tender Soul, M/V Dear Panel, and M/V Symeon P. All three contracts are for a minimum period of 34 months and a maximum period of 36 months at a rate of $32,000/day. The charter for M/V Tender Soul is considerably higher than its previous $17,000 and is expected to take effect in early to mid-December. M/V Dear Panel and M/V Symeon P. are the last two of the company’s nine-vessel newbuilding program and are expected to be delivered at the beginning of January 2025. These charters are expected to contribute about $79 million of EBITDA for the minimum contract period, increasing the company’s 2025 coverage to roughly 63%.

Picking its sweet spot. The company has made it a point to build out its fleet with a focus on smaller feeder vessels, insulating itself from historical growth in the industry orderbook. Furthermore, Euroseas has invested in eco-friendly vessels as the market continues to push for more environmental regulations. We believe these new profitable charters highlight the success of this two-pronged strategy. 


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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. 

EuroDry (EDRY) – Expecting Weak Third Quarter Financial Results but a Strong Finish to the Year


Wednesday, October 23, 2024

EuroDry Ltd. was formed on January 8, 2018 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to consolidate the drybulk fleet of Euroseas Ltd. into a separate listed public company. EuroDry was spun-off from Euroseas Ltd. on May 30, 2018; it trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker EDRY. EuroDry operates in the dry cargo, drybulk shipping market. EuroDry’s operations are managed by Eurobulk Ltd., an ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified affiliated ship management company and Eurobulk (Far East) Ltd. Inc., which are responsible for the day- to-day commercial and technical management and operations of the vessels. EuroDry employs its vessels on spot and period charters and under pool agreements.

Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Hans Baldau, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

Updating estimates. We lowered our 2024 net loss and loss per share estimates to $(2.3) million and $(0.85), respectively, from $(1.8) million and $(0.65). Our revisions were driven by an increase in dry-docking expenses during the third quarter and modestly lower average shipping rates. While we are forecasting a third quarter loss, we expect a relatively strong fourth quarter. We forecast 2025 EBITDA and EPS of $37.3 million and $5.65, respectively.

Market fundamentals. The outlook for the remainder of 2024 remains positive, particularly in the Capesize market which is expected to benefit from Atlantic iron ore and bauxite exports. Rates for Panamax and smaller vessels are expected to remain stable at current rates. Disruptions in the Red Sea have caused re-routing of vessels around Africa which have increased ton-miles. In 2025, bulker earnings may be impacted by outcomes of the Red Sea situation and global economic growth and infrastructure spending, particularly with respect to China.


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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. 

V2X (VVX) – Raising Price Target


Wednesday, October 16, 2024

For more than 70 years, Vectrus has provided critical mission support for our customers’ toughest operational challenges. As a high-performing organization with exceptional talent, deep domain knowledge, a history of long-term customer relationships, and groundbreaking technical expertise, we deliver innovative, mission-matched solutions for our military and government customers worldwide. Whether it’s base operations support, supply chain and logistics, IT mission support, engineering and digital integration, security, or maintenance, repair and overhaul, our customers count on us for on-target solutions that increase efficiency, reduce costs, improve readiness, and strengthen national security. Vectrus is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., and includes about 8,100 employees spanning 205 locations in 28 countries. In 2021, Vectrus generated sales of $1.8 billion. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.vectrus.com or connect with Vectrus on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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

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

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

Raising Price Target. We are maintaining our Outperform rating on VVX shares but raising our price target to $72 from a prior $62. We believe V2X is well positioned for continued operating success. Recent results and contract awards highlight the power of V2X, in our view. At our new price target. VVX shares would trade at 0.8x our projected 2024 revenue and 10.6x our projected adjusted EBITDA for the year. These multiples are still below the peer group averages.

Rationale. On Monday, VVX shares closed at $65.14, above our $62 price target. Year-to-date, VVX shares have appreciated 40.3%, compared to a 10.5% rise over the same period for the Russell 2000 index. Given the business momentum exhibited in the first half of 2024 and our projections for the remainder of the year, we believe the momentum will continue for V2X.


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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. 

Seanergy Maritime (SHIP) – Outlook for Capesize Vessel Market Remains Favorable, Increasing Our 2024 and 2025 Estimates


Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. is a prominent pure-play Capesize shipping company listed in the U.S. capital markets. Seanergy provides marine dry bulk transportation services through a modern fleet of Capesize vessels. The Company’s operating fleet consists of 18 vessels (1 Newcastlemax and 17 Capesize) with an average age of approximately 13.4 years and an aggregate cargo carrying capacity of approximately 3,236,212 dwt. Upon completion of the delivery of the previously announced Capesize vessel acquisition, the Company’s operating fleet will consist of 19 vessels (1 Newcastlemax and 18 Capesize) with an aggregate cargo carrying capacity of approximately 3,417,608 dwt. The Company is incorporated in the Marshall Islands and has executive offices in Glyfada, Greece. The Company’s common shares trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SHIP”.

Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Hans Baldau, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

Updating Estimates. We are increasing our 2024 EBITDA and EPS estimates to $102.1 million and $2.56, respectively, from $101.1 million and $2.35. Additionally, we have increased our 2025 EPS estimates to $102.0 million and $2.39 from $101.3 million and $2.00. Our revised estimates reflect greater operating days and modestly higher time charter rates, along with lower interest expense.

Capesize Vessel Market Fundamentals. We think the outlook for the Capesize shipping market will remain favorable through 2025. Many of the same 2024 tailwinds that have benefited the Capesize market are expected to continue, including strong demand growth for dry bulk commodities, continued disruptions in the Red Sea, and a historically low orderbook for Capesize vessels. Additionally, lower interest rates could boost global economic trade and benefit industry participants. 


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AZZ Inc. (AZZ) – Tempering Our Expectations; Rating Remains an Outperform


Friday, October 11, 2024

Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

Updating estimates. We have lowered our 2025 EBITDA and EPS estimates to $343.0 million and $4.95, respectively, from $350.3 million and $5.00. Our estimates reflect seasonality in the second half of the year. Our 2026 EBITDA and EPS estimates have been reduced to $361.2 million and $5.45, respectively, from $366.8 million and $5.70. Our 2026 estimates reflect a slower ramp in revenue from the new facility under construction in Washington, Missouri.


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Steelcase (SCS) – A New 10b5-1 Plan


Friday, October 11, 2024

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

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

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

A New Plan. Yesterday, after the market closed, Steelcase filed an 8-k with the Securities & Exchange Commission reporting the Company has entered into a stock repurchase agreement with an independent third party broker. The agreement was established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We believe share repurchases are a good use of excess cash on the balance sheet at current prices.

Details. The broker is authorized to repurchase up to 1.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock on behalf of the Company during the period from October 11, 2024 through December 20, 2024, subject to certain price, market and volume constraints specified in the agreement. At yesterday’s closing price, acquiring the shares would cost approximately $19 million and the 1.5 million shares represent approximately 1.6% of the outstanding Class A shares. The Company has $79.9 million remaining under its $100 million share repurchase plan authorization.


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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. 

SKYX Platforms (SKYX) – Raises Capital at Favorable Price


Thursday, October 10, 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.

Scores additional funding. This week, the company announced that it secured $11 million in additional funding through the issuance of convertible preferred shares. At $2 per share, the company raised the funds at a premium to the current share price, which has fluctuated around $1 per share in recent months. The shares will pay an 8% annualized dividend (quarterly installments) and are convertible to common shares at $2 per share.   

Strategic relationship. Lance Shaner is the leading investor in the preferred share offering, which includes several other company insiders. Notably, Mr. Shaner, who chairs SKYX’s Hotel Advisory Board, is the CEO of Shaner Hotel Group, a leading developer of Marriot hotels. In our view, the vote of confidence given by Mr. Shaner could signal potential hotel partnerships for the company in the future and serves as continued validation of the company’s technology by industry insiders.


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AZZ Inc. (AZZ) – Second Quarter Financial Results Exceed Expectations


Thursday, October 10, 2024

Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

Second quarter financial results. For the fiscal year (FY) 2025, AZZ reported second quarter adjusted net income of $41.3 million or $1.37 per share compared to $37.2 million or $1.27 per share during the prior year period and our estimate of $40.8 million or $1.35 per share. Adjusted EBITDA increased 4.4% to $91.9 million, roughly in line with our estimate, representing 22.5% of sales versus 22.1% of sales during the second quarter of FY 2024. While sales of $409.0 million were modestly below our $410.5 million estimate, AZZ generated a 25.3% gross margin as a percentage of sales compared to 24.4% during the prior year period and our estimate of 24.4%. AZZ maintained its FY 2025 sales guidance range of $1.525 billion to $1.625 billion, lifted the lower end of adjusted EBITDA to a range of $320 million (from $310 million) to $360 million, and increased adjusted diluted EPS expectations to a range of $4.70 to $5.10 from $4.50 to $5.00.

Debt reduction. During the first half of FY25, AZZ generated operating cash flow of $119.4 million and reduced debt by $45 million. Management expects to reduce debt by at least $100 million during the fiscal year compared to prior expectations of $60 million to $90 million. At quarter end, the company’s net leverage was 2.7x trailing twelve months EBITDA and cash and cash equivalents amounted to $2.2 million.


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Steelcase (SCS) – A Global Leader with Room to Grow


Wednesday, October 09, 2024

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

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

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

Initiating Research Coverage. We are initiating research coverage of Steelcase Inc. with an Outperform rating and a $16 price target. Already the global leader in the office furniture marketplace, we believe there is a substantial opportunity to capture additional wallet share. The Company’s research driven approach is a competitive differentiator, in our view.

Largest, But Room to Grow. Despite being the market leader, we believe Steelcase can benefit from a rising market share in a growing market. Steelcase’s overall market share is relatively modest, providing opportunity for Steelcase to capture additional market share, while secular trends are driving overall growth in the market, with the worldwide Office Furniture space projected to grow at a 7.1% CAGR through 2032.


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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.