Well, we haven't we don't have direct, you know, bomb damage assessments. There's lots of film footage coming out that shows some fairly extensive hits. And of course, as noted, the the attacks are continuing.I think it is interesting to see that we have yet to see a significant response from Iran that could indicate that they're at least their ballistic missile capabilities have taken a hit. But again, it's too soon to know. Iran could just be biding its time and waiting.But I think some sort of Iranian re ...

I want to bring in now former Secretary of Defense and former director of the CIA, Leon Panetta. Secretary, back in 2018, you told our sister network CNBC that if Iran restored its nuclear program, a military response could be the only option. So, Israel's just taken that step.So, what now. Militarily and for future negotiations. Well, the fundamental issue here is uh whether or not ultimately uh Israel can be successful at destroying their uh nuclear capability and their nuclear enrichment capability.And t ...

Summary of Custom Truck OneSource (CTOS) FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Custom Truck OneSource (CTOS) - **Industry**: Specialty equipment rental and sales, focusing on electric, utility transmission and distribution, communications, and rail markets in North America - **Business Model**: One-stop shop offering rental, sales, and aftermarket parts and services [1][2] Key Points and Arguments Rental Fleet Characteristics - **Fleet Size**: Over 10,000 units, with 70% focused on utility markets, 10% on rail and telecom, and the remainder on specialty vocational trucks [5][6] - **Asset Life**: Equipment has a useful life of 10 to 20 years, with an average rental duration of just over one year [7][8] - **Fleet Age**: The average age of the fleet is just over three years, which is considered a competitive advantage [9] Integrated Production Capabilities - **Production Model**: Custom Truck sources attachments and chassis directly from major suppliers, allowing for economies of scale and cost advantages [11][12] - **Customer Flexibility**: The company caters to customer needs through rentals, sales, and aftermarket services, enhancing customer retention [13][14] End Markets and Demand Trends - **Revenue Breakdown**: 55% from utility, just under 30% from infrastructure, and each rail and telecom contributing just under 5% [15][16] - **Market Drivers**: Strong demand for utility grid upgrades, infrastructure projects, and ongoing investments in rail and telecom, with a noted softness in telecom [17][19] Growth Opportunities - **Future Drivers**: Anticipated growth from utility grid upgrades, electrification, manufacturing onshoring, and data center investments [20][21] - **Q1 Performance**: Reported a 13% growth in the ERS segment, with improved rental fleet utilization at 78% [25] Tariff Impact and Procurement Strategy - **Tariff Resilience**: The company is well-positioned with a young rental fleet and significant pre-tariff inventory, minimizing the impact of potential tariffs [26][27] - **Supplier Relationships**: Strong relationships with suppliers have allowed for proactive procurement strategies to mitigate cost increases [28][30] Capital Allocation and Free Cash Flow - **Free Cash Flow Target**: Aiming for $50 million in levered free cash flow, with significant investments in the rental fleet projected between $375 million and $400 million [52][53] - **Debt Reduction Priority**: Focus on reducing net leverage to below three times by the end of 2026 [54][56] Backlog and Long-Term Growth - **Backlog Status**: Increased backlog by over $51 million in Q1, with a healthy range of four to six months on hand [60][62] - **Growth Projections**: Expected long-term growth rates in the high single digits to low double digits, with targeted gross profit margins of 15% to 18% for new sales [66][68] Customer Dynamics - **Demand from Customers**: Both larger and smaller customers are showing good demand, with smaller customers leaning towards rentals due to capital expense hesitancy [70][72] Additional Important Insights - **Greenfield Strategy**: The company is expanding its footprint with new locations and acquisitions, targeting areas with customer demand [45][49] - **Pricing Strategy**: Adjusted gross profit margins targeted at low to mid-seventy percent for rentals and mid-twenty percent for asset sales, with recent price increases reflecting market conditions [41][42][43] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during the Custom Truck OneSource FY Conference Call, highlighting the company's operational strengths, market dynamics, and future growth potential.

Rocket Lab's a winner, but perhaps not quite as big a winner as this news makes you think.It's been two weeks now since Rocket Lab (RKLB 3.89%) announced the big news that it was included in a $46 billion (headline value) contract "to provide hypersonic test launch capability with its HASTE launch vehicle ... for the United States and the United Kingdom." For a tiny space company that did just $436 million in business over the last 12 months, you would expect that kinda news to have a big effect on the stoc ...

Offering addresses growing insurance challenges for large companies amid claims escalation; provides up to $100 million in claims-made excess casualty coverage.NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb, Zurich North America and National Indemnity have announced a new excess casualty facility that can offer up to $100 million in lead excess casualty insurance capacity on a claims-made basis for large national and multinational companies. The facility is unique in the industry and will deliver excess umbrel ...

Core Points - Espey Mfg. & Electronics Corp. has been awarded $3.4 million for capital improvements to enhance domestic industrial capabilities [2] - This funding is part of the U.S. Navy's initiative to strengthen the domestic U.S. Surface Combatant Industrial Base [2] - The investment will allow Espey to expand its design, manufacturing, testing, and delivery capabilities for electrical power products [2] - This funding is in addition to a previous $7.4 million received in February 2023 for a new manufacturing facility and power infrastructure enhancements [3] - The ongoing investments reflect the U.S. Government's commitment to bolstering critical domestic manufacturing capabilities [3] - The projects will be executed at Espey's facility in Saratoga Springs, NY, with completion expected in 2026 [3] - Espey's primary business focuses on the development, design, and production of specialized military and industrial power supplies, power systems, and transformers [4]