Asia Pacific Equity Research 20 June 2025 J P M O R G A N Mid-Year Prospects Healthcare This report forms part of the J.P. Morgan Australia Mid-Year Prospects series as we take stock at the mid-point of 2025 and set out our Top Picks and Least Preferred stocks for the remainder of the year. Top Pick – ResMed (RMD AU, OW) Earnings upside as sectoral trends pull forward demand Demand and diagnosis supported by industry tailwinds. Awareness of obstructive sleep apnoea is on the rise, supported by consumer mark ...

Core Insights - Kroger reported a 3.2% growth in identical sales excluding fuel and an adjusted EPS of $1.49, up 4% for Q1 FY2025, while raising guidance for identical sales to 2.25%-3.25% for the fiscal year [1][9] Store Network Optimization - The company plans to close approximately 60 underperforming stores over the next 18 months, following a pause on annual real estate reviews during the failed merger with Albertsons [2] - This strategy aligns with the completion of 30 major store projects and anticipates an acceleration in new store openings targeting high-growth areas starting in FY2026 [2][3] E-Commerce Performance - E-commerce sales increased by 15% year over year, but the segment remains unprofitable despite improvements in operational efficiency [4][5] - The company acknowledges the need for further optimization or strategic partnerships to achieve sustainable profitability in e-commerce [5] Gross Margin and Pricing Strategy - FIFO gross margin rate, excluding fuel, increased by 79 basis points, aided by lower shrink and supply chain costs, despite challenges from lower-margin pharmacy sales [6] - The company implemented price reductions on over 2,000 items, which contributed to better sales and gross margin, demonstrating operational leverage [7] Future Outlook - Full-year guidance for identical sales excluding fuel has been raised to 2.25%-3.25%, with the second quarter expected to be at the midpoint of this range [9] - The completion of a $5 billion accelerated share repurchase program is targeted for Q3 FY2025, with plans to resume open market buybacks under a remaining $2.5 billion authorization [9]

Sales growth is vital for a company's shares to outperform, as it's the foundation of generating profits. Strong revenue generation allows companies to achieve scaling efficiencies, generate continuous shareholder value, and many other clear benefits. A clear-cut example of this has been Palantir (PLTR) over the last year, whose shares have climbed more than 750%. The company's sales growth has been driven by the AI frenzy, posting double-digit percentage revenue growth rates in ten consecutive periods. Bel ...

director of U.S. Equity strategy at Citigroup. Drew, thank you very much for being here right now. What do you make of the market action so far today.I mean, it's not going to get close to getting back what we lost on Friday, but it seems interesting that we do have a bid given escalations in the Middle East. >> Yeah. Look, sometimes markets feel a little bit inhuman at these points, right.Like conflict really isn't good. We all would like to see, you know, relatively peaceful resolutions here. But you know ...

Shake Shack (SHAK) FY Conference June 11, 2025 02:15 PM ET Speaker0 Hi, everyone. Thanks for participating in Oppenheimer's twenty fifth Annual Consumer Conference. I'm Mike Tamas, and I cover Shake Shack here at Oppenheimer. Know, Shake Shack's been one of our top picks in 2025, and we remain excited about management's new strategies to stimulate same store sales, enhance margins, and accelerate unit growth. We're gonna dig into all those topics and much more with Katie Fogarty, Shake Shack's CFO. She join ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has increased its revenue from over $1.2 billion to over $2.1 billion, with EBITDA margins improving from 14% to closer to 18% [3][4] - The company aims for consistent growth of 7% plus, with a strong start in Q1 showing high single-digit growth [54][55] - The company expects to see a structural mix benefit in gross margins over time, projecting an annual improvement of 50 basis points [59] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The reconstructive business has grown from approximately $300 million to over $1 billion, with significant acquisitions enhancing its market position [8][10] - The Prevention and Recovery (P&R) segment is generating reliable growth, with a focus on mid-single-digit growth and strong cash generation capabilities [41][43] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has a market share of high single to low double digits in the foot and ankle business, and is ranked number three in shoulder globally [10][12] - The company is seeing a shift towards outpatient settings, which may come with price pressure but is expected to be offset by positive price momentum in revisions and enabling technologies [36][37] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning from a build mode to an enhanced mode, focusing on integrating recent acquisitions and driving down debt leverage [12][16] - The strategy includes diversifying growth across different geographies and anatomical areas, with a strong emphasis on innovation and product differentiation [28][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management is cautiously optimistic about the future, noting a solid start to the year and a focus on building a portfolio capable of consistent growth [54][55] - The company is addressing tariff impacts and expects improvements in the current environment, with a focus on maintaining strong cash flow and margin expansion [56][58] Other Important Information - The company has made significant investments in software integration for P&R, enhancing clinic efficiency and patient management [45][46] - The integration of Lima is expected to yield $40 million in synergies over three years, with $15 million already realized in the first year [16][17] Q&A Session Summary Question: How do you see the shoulder replacement market unfolding with robotics? - The company believes that robotics will evolve over time, focusing on planning and navigation to enhance precision in shoulder procedures [49][50] Question: Can you provide an update on financial guidance and tariff impacts? - The company has seen improvements in tariff impacts and expects less than $20 million of impact as they move into 2026, with a focus on maintaining a conservative outlook [56][58] Question: What is the strategy for growth in the ASC setting? - The company aims to win in the ASC setting by offering modernized implant systems and efficient solutions tailored for outpatient procedures [39][40]

Summary of Lifetime Brands (LCUT) FY Conference - June 10, 2025 Company Overview - **Company Name**: Lifetime Brands - **Industry**: Consumer Durables - **Founded**: 1945 as a cutlery company - **Market Share**: Over 20% in the cutlery category, primarily through Farberware brands [3][4] - **Average Ticket Price**: $10 and under [2] Core Business Insights - **Product Offering**: Good, better, best strategy across various channels [2] - **Recent Growth**: Merged with Filament Brands in 2018, focusing on growth and profitability [4] - **Key Categories**: Tabletop tools and kitchen tools [4] Consumer Market Analysis - **Current Consumer Health**: Visibility is dim; consumer spending has slowed down due to trade wars and economic uncertainty [8][9] - **Online Shopping Trend**: Increased online purchases driven by consumer wariness [9] - **Retail Environment**: Competitive landscape shows bifurcation; smaller companies are struggling, presenting M&A opportunities [10] Competitive Landscape - **Operational Challenges**: Competitors are facing issues with manufacturing and supply chain adjustments, particularly moving out of China [10] - **Channel Performance**: Strong performance in club channels (e.g., Costco) and mass channels (e.g., Walmart) [11] Inventory and Tariff Management - **Inventory Destocking**: Retailers are adjusting inventory levels due to economic conditions and tariffs [13][15] - **Tariff Impact**: Company has shifted manufacturing out of China to mitigate tariff impacts, with plans to have most products manufactured outside China by the end of the year [19][20] Pricing Strategy - **Price Increases**: Implemented across the customer base; focus on maintaining margin dollars rather than margin percentage [21][22] - **Elasticity of Demand**: Historical data suggests that certain products remain in demand even during economic downturns [23][24] Financial Performance - **Q1 Results**: Softness in sales due to customer and product mix affecting margins; not significantly impacted by tariffs [25][26] International Business and Project Concord - **International Challenges**: UK operations were losing money; restructuring efforts are underway to achieve breakeven by 2025 [27][30] - **Project Concord**: Aimed at integrating UK operations with US business to streamline costs [30][34] Growth Initiatives - **Defensive Posture**: Current focus is on defensive strategies due to macroeconomic uncertainties, but growth initiatives are still in place [31] - **New Product Launches**: Successful launch of the Dolly product line, with plans for expansion [31][32] Distribution Center Relocation - **New Distribution Center**: Moving from New Jersey to Maryland to avoid cost increases; receiving $13 million in subsidies [36][38] Future Guidance and M&A Strategy - **Guidance for FY '25**: Will be provided once there is clarity in trade and tariff situations [39] - **M&A Criteria**: Focus on margin expansion and new product categories; looking for transformative opportunities [40][41]

Core Viewpoint - IDT Corporation reported strong financial performance for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, with significant increases in revenues, gross profit, and earnings per share, outperforming the S&P 500 index during the same period [1][2][3]. Financial Performance Summary - Consolidated revenues increased by 0.8% year over year to $301.9 million from $299.6 million [2] - Gross profit rose by 15.4% to $111.9 million from $97 million, resulting in a gross margin increase of 470 basis points to a record 37.1% [2] - Income from operations surged by 132.6% to $26.6 million from $11.4 million, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 57% to $32.2 million from $20.6 million [2] Earnings Per Share - GAAP earnings per share (EPS) climbed by 290.9% to $0.86 from $0.22, and adjusted EPS surged by 136.8% to $0.90 from $0.38 [3] Segment Performance - National Retail Solutions (NRS) revenues increased by 21.1% to $31.1 million from $25.7 million [3] - Fintech revenues advanced by 22.5% to $38.6 million from $31.5 million [3] - net2phone revenues grew by 6.4% to $21.9 million from $20.7 million [3] - Traditional Communications segment saw a revenue decline of 5.2% to $210.2 million from $221.7 million [3] NRS Segment Insights - Recurring revenue at NRS rose by 22.9% to $29.4 million from $24 million, driven by a 37.3% increase in Merchant Services and a 32.8% gain in SaaS fees [4] - Advertising and Data revenue declined by 12.3% due to risk-mitigation steps related to a large programmatic partner [4] - NRS ended the quarter with 35,600 active POS terminals, up 17.6% from the previous year [4] Fintech Segment Insights - In the Fintech segment, transactions rose by 27% to $6 million from $4.7 million, with revenues growing by 24.7% to $34.4 million from $27.6 million [5] - Digital channel growth outpaced retail, with a 32% increase in transactions and a 40% surge in digital send volume [5] net2phone Performance - Subscription revenue for net2phone increased by 7.4% to $21.5 million from $20 million [6] - Income from operations rose by 188% to $1.4 million from $0.5 million [6] Traditional Communications Insights - Despite a revenue decline, gross profit increased by 5.3% to $43.4 million from $41.2 million [7] - Income from operations grew by 39.2% to $17.3 million from $12.5 million [7] Key Business Metrics - The gross margin of 37.1% was a record high, reflecting strong product mix and operational efficiencies [8] - Operating cash flow for the quarter was $75.7 million compared to $9.5 million in the year-ago period [8] Management Commentary - CEO Shmuel Jonas characterized the quarter as "solid," emphasizing broad-based bottom-line growth [9] - Management highlighted product innovation efforts at NRS and the potential of new AI-powered offerings in net2phone [10][11] Factors Influencing Performance - Growth in recurring revenue streams and expanding customer bases drove strong top-line and profitability gains [12] - Cost discipline was a key theme in net2phone and Traditional Communications, contributing to significant margin expansion [13] Guidance and Developments - Management reiterated its full-year fiscal 2025 guidance, aiming to double first-half adjusted EBITDA to reach $126 million [14] - IDT executed share repurchases and acquired a small technology company named Lucci [15] - A quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share was declared, payable on June 18, 2025 [16]

Dayforce (DAY) 2025 Conference June 10, 2025 09:05 AM ET Speaker0 And I'm Siti Panigrai, software analyst here at Visio. Welcome you all to Visio Technology Conference twenty twenty five, and it's my great pleasure to welcome Jeremy Johnson, CFO of Dayforce. Jeremy, welcome to the conference. Speaker1 Thank you, Siddi. Thanks for having me. Speaker0 And it's been like you joined, Dayforce, I remember, 2012. You played a key role during IPO in 2018 and back in CFO role last eighteen months. Hope you're enjoy ...

Graham (GHM) Q4 2025 Earnings Call June 09, 2025 11:00 AM ET Company Participants Tom Cook - Managing DirectorDaniel Thoren - President & CEOMatthew Malone - President & COOChristopher Thome - Chief Accounting Officer, VP of Finance, CFO & Corporate SecretaryRussell Stanley - Managing Director - Equity ResearchTony Bancroft - Portfolio Manager Conference Call Participants Richard Ryan - Vice President, Senior Research AnalystJoe Gomes - Senior Generalist AnalystChristopher Glynn - Managing Director and Seni ...