Um, let me pivot to the economy, which is the topic in debate that's happening here, which is really just how strong it is or is not. Uh, you saw the jobs numbers on Friday. Uh, but there's a lot of folks here who have sort of varying views of what's really going on.You actually have the data. So, I'm curious what you're actually seeing. So, look, our economists believe there'll be no recession.They believe the econ the economy in the US will go about 1 one and a half% this year. They believe that the Fed w ...

College shopping season is here and more than 2/3 of Americans got a head start in early July. That's the highest share since the National Retail Federation started tracking early shopping back in 2018. Why.They think consumers are worried about tariffs and inflation. And they're right to be worried. According to an analysis of Census Bureau import data for April and May, many dorm room essentials are among the goods hit hardest by tariffs.That just so happens to be when tariffs were at their highest with a ...

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Market Trends - Home prices rose 3%, barely keeping up with inflation [1] - Bitcoin rose 75% [1] Company Positioning - Horizon positions Bitcoin as a store of value, unlike homes [1] - Horizon aims to help users transform their homes into a store of value (presumably through Bitcoin-related services) [1]

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Market Risk - The politicization of the Bureau of Labor Statistics could potentially destabilize the $2 trillion market for securities linked to US inflation data [1]

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For more, let's bring in Jeffrey's chief market strategist, David Zervos. David is also a CNBC contributor. Uh, David, what did you make of the president's comments this morning as it pertains to the Fed and uh his process for appointing the next Fed chair? >> Well, I don't think there was a lot new, at least from my perspective there. The markets seem to be talking a lot about Scott and um I think Scott said in many interviews here uh he loves his job and he's doing a great job. The president likes the job ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated net sales increased by 6.6% to $380.3 million, setting a new quarterly record [17] - Gross margin improved to 38.3%, reflecting a 150 basis point increase year over year [18] - Adjusted EBITDA reached a record $86.4 million, up 1.4% compared to the prior year [21] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $56 million after $12 million in capital expenditures [9] - Adjusted net income per diluted share increased by 6.3% year over year to $0.34 [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Water Supply Solutions (WSS) net sales increased by 4.1% to $216.6 million, driven by volume growth in iron gate and specialty valves [22] - Water Management Solutions (WMS) net sales rose by 10.2% to $163.7 million, led by strong volume growth in repair products and hydrants [24] - Adjusted operating income for WSS increased by 4.7% to $60.5 million, while WMS saw a 12.6% increase to $30.3 million [23][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The residential construction market is experiencing a slowdown, particularly in single-family housing starts, which may impact future sales [35] - The municipal repair and replacement market remains strong, driven by the need to repair aging infrastructure [37] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to enhance operational efficiencies and customer service while navigating external challenges such as tariffs [9][16] - Focus on sustainability and innovative solutions is emphasized, with ongoing investments in facilities and employees [10][30] - The closure of the legacy brass foundry is expected to yield benefits in the upcoming quarters [14][40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges heightened macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty but remains optimistic about achieving record results for the second consecutive year [7][9] - The anticipated impact of tariffs has been lower than initially expected, with ongoing efforts to mitigate costs through pricing actions and supply chain initiatives [14][15] - The company is excited about the long-term growth potential in water infrastructure solutions, despite current challenges [30][72] Other Important Information - The company has updated its annual guidance for 2025, increasing net sales expectations by $15 million and adjusted EBITDA by $7.5 million [27][28] - Total debt stands at $451 million, with a strong balance sheet and no debt maturities until June 2029 [26][27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on end markets and stability - Management noted a slowdown in the residential construction market, particularly in single-family housing starts, while the municipal market remains strong [35][37] Question: Margin outlook and FX impact - Management indicated that the FX headwind was a one-time event and that margins are expected to improve moving forward [38][46] Question: Legacy brass foundry impact on margins - The legacy brass foundry closure is expected to improve margins, with the tariff impact being significant in the specialty valve business [44][45] Question: Infrastructure funding and market conditions - Management expressed that infrastructure funding has been slow, but the need for investment in water infrastructure remains critical [70][72] Question: Pricing actions and demand pull forward - No significant pre-buy demand was observed, and pricing adjustments have been made in response to tariffs [62][64]