Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company's Q2 GAAP net investment income and core NII was $6,600,000 or $0.02 per share, down from $6,800,000 or $0.02 per share in Q1, and below the quarterly distribution of $0.03 per share [6][18] - NAV per share at the end of Q2 was $11.82, representing a 2.4% decrease from the prior quarter [6][10] - Total investments decreased by $21,700,000 from the prior quarter to $629,300,000 [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross capital deployments in Q2 were $39,000,000, partially offset by repayments and sales of $36,200,000, resulting in net deployments of $2,800,000 [7] - The weighted average effective yield on income-producing debt investments decreased to 11.9% at the end of Q2 compared to 12.1% in Q1 [10] - Nonaccrual investments totaled 4.9% of the debt portfolio, an improvement from 8.8% in the prior quarter [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - M&A activity remains subdued due to tariff uncertainty, leading to reduced supply of new financing deals [12] - In the upper mid cap and large cap markets, deals are pricing at SOFR $4.25 to SOFR $4.75, while the middle market pricing is 50 basis points higher at SOFR $4.75 to SOFR $5.25 [13] - The non-sponsor market remains less competitive, with the company focusing on sourcing off-the-run sponsor deals and non-sponsor deals [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to focus significant resources on the non-sponsor market, where better risk returns are available [14] - The company has no plans to increase the size of the existing joint venture (JV) at this time, believing it is appropriately sized [37] - The company is actively working on getting deals off nonaccrual, leveraging a dedicated restructuring team [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the portfolio is performing well despite tariff pressures, with less than 10% of the portfolio being heavily or moderately exposed to tariffs [12] - The company expects that a portion of MSI Information Services will likely return to accrual in Q3, subject to successful restructuring [11] - The company anticipates a fully deployed balance sheet this quarter based on current mandates and repayment activity [35] Other Important Information - The company announced a third-quarter distribution of $0.03 per share, consistent with the prior quarter [22] - The company completed a CLO term debt securitization, issuing $174,000,000 in debt, which is expected to result in cost savings of $0.01 to $0.15 per share per quarter [20][21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Was the American Crafts exit a sale or a restructuring? - It was a sale of the remaining piece of the company, yielding very little in terms of proceeds, and there is no further downside on that account [25] Question: What is the term of the CLO reinvestment period? - The reinvestment period is through 05/25/2029 [26] Question: Can you elaborate on the tariff pressure and mitigating actions? - Companies are negotiating with suppliers to absorb tariff costs, and some are moving sourcing from China to Vietnam [32] Question: Should we expect elevated repayment activity given the higher number of mandates? - The company expects a good balance between repayment and new mandates, with the BDC balance sheet expected to be fully deployed this quarter [35] Question: Any plans to upsize the existing JV or pursue additional joint ventures? - There are no plans to increase the JV at this time, as it is believed to be sized appropriately [37] Question: Any updates on working down the spillover through 2025 and into 2026? - The company is considering the undistributed spillover income in combination with other factors when thinking about dividends for 2026 [41]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for Q2 2025 were $9.8 million, a 6% decrease compared to $10.5 million in Q2 2024, attributed to heightened economic uncertainty [4][8] - Gross profit margin was 73.9%, consistent with the previous year [8] - Operating loss for the quarter was $333,000, compared to a loss of $238,000 in Q2 2024 [8] - Net income for Q2 2025 was $15,000, or breakeven per diluted share, down from $173,000, or $0.02 per diluted share in Q2 2024 [8] - Net cash used in operating activities was $5.2 million, compared to $3 million in the same period last year [10] - Total cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities decreased to $34.2 million from $41.9 million at the end of Q1 2025 [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales in Hong Kong, which accounted for 82% of total sales, declined by 5% year-over-year due to economic uncertainty [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company launched its newest market, Colombia, with a successful grand opening event, indicating strong enthusiasm for growth in South America [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning its US-based supply chain to trusted manufacturing partners in Asia to reduce exposure to tariffs and streamline logistics [4][5] - Focus on operational discipline, expense management, and inventory control to mitigate risks associated with economic headwinds [6][11] - Continued investment in brand programs, product innovation, and digital enhancements to drive future growth [7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenging economic environment due to trade tensions affecting consumer sentiment [4] - Despite near-term pressures, long-term fundamentals remain strong, and the company is committed to executing strategic priorities [11] Other Important Information - The Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.20 per share, payable on August 22 to stockholders of record as of August 12 [10] Q&A Session Summary - No specific questions or answers were documented in the provided content.

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Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported non-GAAP earnings per share of $4.43, an increase of over 17% compared to the prior quarter [5][17] - Non-GAAP pre-tax income increased by more than 15% sequentially [5] - Gross profit margin was maintained within the sustainable range of 29% to 31% [4][5] - Operating cash flow for the second quarter was $229 million, supporting investments and shareholder returns [5][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Tons sold in the second quarter decreased by 0.9% compared to the first quarter but increased by 4% year-over-year [10][11] - The average selling price per ton sold increased by 6.1% compared to the first quarter [11] - Shipments in non-residential construction, which represented roughly one-third of sales, increased year-over-year [12] - Aerospace products accounted for approximately 10% of sales, with stable demand in commercial aerospace [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company outperformed the service center industry's year-over-year decline of 3.1% [10] - Demand for carbon steel products peaked in April but declined for the remainder of the second quarter [11] - The semiconductor industry faced pressure due to excess inventories, impacting related shipments [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on smart profitable growth, maintaining gross profit margins while gaining market share [4][39] - Continued investments in advanced processing equipment and organic growth are prioritized [5][6] - The company is actively pursuing acquisition opportunities to expand geographic footprint and processing capabilities [6][42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management anticipates some weakness in the third quarter due to seasonal patterns but remains confident in long-term growth [8][21] - The current trade environment provides a competitive advantage due to the company's domestic sourcing strategy [8] - Management noted that uncertainty around tariffs is affecting customer buying behavior, but they expect a return to normal patterns once resolved [50] Other Important Information - The company returned $143 million to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases during the second quarter [7] - The capital expenditure budget for 2025 is set at $325 million, with over 50% allocated to growth projects [5][6] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance on FIFO gross margin pressure - Management indicated that Q3 typically sees demand weakness due to seasonal patterns, but they expect year-over-year strength [27][28] Question: Customer sentiment regarding tariffs - Management noted continued activity in non-residential construction and confidence in project pipelines despite tariff uncertainties [34][35] Question: Market share gains sustainability - Management expressed confidence in sustaining market share gains through superior customer service and operational efficiency [38][39] Question: Acquisition opportunities in the current market - Management observed an uptick in acquisition activity and noted that seller expectations are aligning more closely with their valuation perspectives [41][42] Question: Aluminum pricing acceptance by customers - Management confirmed that customers are accepting higher aluminum prices, although they may be purchasing less frequently [60][61]

Market Concerns & Tariff Impact - The primary concern revolves around the ultimate impact of tariff uncertainty on economic growth, both domestically and internationally [2][3][4] - Tariffs are projected to be significantly higher than last year's 25%, potentially reaching high single digits or even higher across the economy [3] - International trade may suffer as slower corporate earnings growth occurs due to decreased demand caused by tariffs [4] - The full impact of tariffs is yet to be felt, suggesting potential future headwinds for corporations [5] Economic Outlook & Inflation - The economy is currently holding up well, as evidenced by the labor market and inflation data [6][7] - Inflation numbers are expected to rise in the July and August readings, with acceleration later in the year [7] - The Federal Reserve is likely to remain on hold at the July meeting and potentially the following meeting due to uncertainty about inflation [7] Corporate Earnings - Second-quarter earnings are expected to be favorable, with anticipated growth of only 2% to 3% [8] - Third-quarter reports are expected to reveal more concerns from companies regarding coping with tariffs [8] Cryptocurrency - Crypto and Bitcoin are viewed as a play on inflation and the dollar, functioning as a currency [9] - They can serve as a hedge against inflation and dollar uncertainty, similar to gold, but lack cash flow [10] - Investing in companies like Coinbase is suggested, as they can profit regardless of Bitcoin's price fluctuations [11]

Core Viewpoint - Target is facing significant challenges, with sales declining and stock prices dropping over 60% from their peak, marking the worst performance since the 1990s, but the company is not considered to be dying and has a fundamentally sound financial foundation [1][4][7]. Group 1: Sales and Market Conditions - Target's sales have plateaued and started to decline due to various factors, including increased financial strain on consumers primarily caused by rampant inflation [4]. - Groceries and household essentials accounted for only 40.5% of total merchandise sales last year, meaning that when consumers cut back on discretionary spending, Target is significantly impacted [5]. - Consumer sentiment has dropped to its lowest level since July 2022, exacerbated by tariff uncertainties [5]. Group 2: Company Policies and Backlash - Target faced backlash from shoppers due to its decision to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, leading to a 40-day boycott that began in early March [6]. - Merchandise sales dropped 3.1% year over year in Q1 2025, following a 3.2% decline in Q1 2024, indicating ongoing struggles [6]. Group 3: Financial Stability - Despite challenges, Target maintains a solid financial foundation, with a dividend yield of 4.4% and annual dividend spending of $2 billion, while generating over $3.5 billion in free cash flow over the past year [7][8]. - Target has nearly $2.9 billion in cash, sufficient to fund dividends for a year, and holds an investment-grade credit rating, allowing time to rethink business strategies [8]. Group 4: Growth Plans - Target plans to open 300 new stores over the next decade, increasing its footprint by approximately 15%, indicating a commitment to growth despite current challenges [10]. - The company has less than half the number of stores as Walmart, suggesting that the U.S. market can support further expansion [10]. Group 5: Valuation and Investment Potential - Target's stock is currently priced at a price-to-earnings ratio of 11, significantly lower than Walmart's 41, reflecting pessimistic market expectations [11]. - If Target maintains its 4.4% dividend and achieves mid-single-digit earnings growth, it could generate double-digit annualized investment returns, improving sentiment towards the stock [12]. Group 6: Conclusion - The stock is positioned for potential improvement, as it would require a complete failure for the stock not to recover somewhat from current levels, making it an attractive option for investors seeking dividends while waiting for recovery [13].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved record net sales of $46.7 million, representing a 29% year-over-year increase driven by a 100% increase in fire services products [4][14] - Consolidated gross margin decreased to 33.5% from 44.6% for the comparable period [15][18] - Net loss was $3.9 million or $0.41 per share compared to net income of $1.7 million or $0.22 per share for the same period last year [16][20] - Adjusted EBITDA excluding FX was $600,000, a decrease of $3.2 million or 84% compared to the prior year [20][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fire services segment grew by 100% year-over-year, contributing $10.5 million to the revenue increase [16][26] - Organic revenue increased by $600,000 or 2% to $36.9 million, with strong growth in the U.S. and Europe, partially offset by declines in Latin America and Canada [17][26] - U.S. net sales increased 42% year-over-year to $22.5 million, while European sales increased 102% to $12.1 million [5][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic fire services business in the U.S. grew by $1 million or 32% year-over-year, while the U.S. industrial organic business grew by $1.1 million or 9.7% [17] - Latin American operations saw a 12% decrease in sales year-over-year, while sales in Asia increased by 15% [25][68] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on accelerating growth within the fragmented $2 billion fire protection sector and enhancing operational efficiencies [4][12] - A new company-wide SAP ERP system is being implemented to modernize and consolidate systems [7] - The company maintains a robust M&A pipeline and is engaged in active discussions to explore new opportunities for further consolidating the fire market [12][33] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating tariff uncertainties and expects sequential growth in gross margins and adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter [12][30] - The company anticipates revenue between $210 million to $220 million for the fiscal year, trending towards the lower end of previously issued adjusted EBITDA guidance [30][33] - Management highlighted the importance of customer relationships and operational efficiency as key focus areas [8][32] Other Important Information - Capital expenditures for the quarter were $1.2 million, primarily related to the new ERP system [6][28] - Inventory increased to $85.8 million due to tariff mitigation strategies and preparation for forecasted sales increases [8][29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more details on the impact of purchase variance and amortization on gross margins? - The total increase to manufacturing costs was close to $3 million impacting adjusted EBITDA, with purchase variance estimated to have a 2-3 margin point impact [40][41] Question: What are the expectations for operating expenses moving forward? - Travel expenses were up significantly in Q1 but are expected to taper off, with additional measures in place to identify $4 million in cost savings [46][52] Question: How is the head-to-toe strategy progressing? - The company is seeing greater engagement and opportunities, particularly with larger clients, and is focused on bundling products for comprehensive offerings [55][60]

The Apple store on 5th Avenue is seen in New York on April 8, 2025. Forecasts for Apple and Samsung shipment growth this year were sharply slashed by Counterpoint Research on Wednesday amid uncertainty over U.S. tariff policy. The research outfit said it had revised down its 2025 global smartphone shipment growth forecast to 1.9% year- on-year from 4.2% previously, citing "renewed uncertainties surrounding U.S. tariffs." Apple's downgraded shipment growth will be driven by the iPhone 16 series of devices, a ...

V i e w p o i n t | Brian Levine +1-212-816-6896 brian.levine@citi.com Osamu Takashima +81-3-6776-3251 osamu.takashima@citi.com 29 May 2025 13:15:24 ET │ 10 pages Global FX Strategy Uncertainty is the only certainty CITI'S TAKE FX markets have been quick to fade the overnight USD rally after President Trump's IEEPA tariffs were struck down in court; we see this as a market recognition that this ruling will be appealed and that there are other tools available for the Trump administration (such as Section 122 ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $56.5 million for Q1 2025, marking a 4% sequential increase and a 6% year-over-year increase, driven by record volumes in produced water handling and water solutions [12] - Adjusted operating margin was $0.44 per barrel, reflecting the durability of operating improvements over the last 24 months [12] - Capital expenditures (CapEx) for the quarter were $21 million, down 44% compared to Q1 2024 [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Produced water volumes and water solution volumes grew by 7% sequentially compared to Q4 2024 [8] - The integration of McNeil Ranch into operations is ongoing, with several inbound opportunities being evaluated for additional revenue streams [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expects produced water volumes for Q2 2025 to be between 1.2 million and 1.25 million barrels per day, with water solutions volumes expected to be around 1 million barrels per day [13] - Adjusted operating margin for Q2 is projected to be between $0.41 and $0.43 per barrel, slightly down from Q1 due to well maintenance expenses and lower skim oil price realizations [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on managing capital investments to align with customer activity levels and has a strong position due to long-term contracts in the Northern Delaware Basin [6][7] - Strategic efforts include beneficial reuse of water, industrial water treatment, and mineral extraction, with plans for a new iodine facility expected to be operational by early 2026 [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate volatility and uncertainty, citing strong customer relationships and a robust balance sheet [16] - There is ongoing dialogue with customers regarding the potential impact of commodity prices on their operations, but no immediate changes to the outlook have been observed [11] Other Important Information - The company successfully refinanced its senior notes, upsizing the offering to $500 million, and ended the quarter with net debt of $480 million and a liquidity of $372 million [15] - A quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share was declared, to be paid on June 18 to shareholders of record on June 5 [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations for water cuts and volumes if producers move to maintenance mode - Management indicated that they can flex capital expenditures down by 25% to 30% if customer volumes decrease, and water cuts will remain the same, impacting only volume [20][21][22] Question: Update on M&A activity - Management noted that while there is some discomfort in the market due to volatility, the bid-ask spread remains wide, and they are well-positioned to take advantage of opportunities [23][24][25] Question: Volume growth cadence and one-time impacts - Management confirmed that Q1 volumes were strong due to better-than-expected well performance and increased interruptible volumes, but future growth will depend on customer activity [28][29][30] Question: Capital allocation in a downside environment - The company remains committed to maintaining balance sheet strength and plans to continue dividend growth while having the flexibility to reduce capital expenditures if necessary [32][34] Question: Commercialization of McNeil Ranch - Management reported that McNeil Ranch is exceeding expectations with multiple inbound opportunities for monetization, including solar and battery projects [37][38][39] Question: Competitive landscape and impact of new pipelines - Management believes that their long-term contracts and large acreage dedication provide a competitive advantage, despite new pipeline announcements from competitors [50][51][52] Question: Update on beneficial reuse and industrial water treatment - Management confirmed ongoing progress in reducing costs for desalination and expanding applications for treated water, including potential data center uses [52][53][54] Question: Cost recovery for desalination - Management indicated that operational costs could potentially be below $1 per barrel, depending on the scale of operations [83] Question: Future M&A preferences - The company remains focused on core acquisitions but is also exploring smaller bolt-on opportunities, emphasizing discipline in evaluating potential targets [76][77][78]