Group 1 - The distribution expansion effective from October 1, 2025, will introduce a variety of plant-based and clean label products, including Novation® functional native starches, plant-based proteins, and stevia sweeteners developed by PureCircle by Ingredion to meet consumer demand for clean label ingredients and sugar reduction [1] - Univar Solutions and Ingredion have a longstanding partnership of over 30 years in manufacturing and distributing functional ingredients, which will now expand to 20 countries across the EMEA region [2][3] - The collaboration aims to enhance customer reach and provide consumer-focused innovations across various sectors, including bakery, snacks, dairy, savory, and beverages, leveraging digital capabilities for better service and order management [2] Group 2 - Univar Solutions is a leading global specialty chemical and ingredient distributor with a strong logistics network and technical sales force, committed to providing tailored solutions and value-added services across multiple markets [4] - Ingredion Incorporated, headquartered in Chicago, serves nearly 120 countries with annual net sales of approximately $7.4 billion in 2024, focusing on turning plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for various industries [5]

Core Insights - Wall Street has rebounded from early April lows and is near record highs, driven by optimism in U.S.-China trade negotiations, easing inflation, and strong corporate earnings, although uncertainty regarding Trump's policies remains [2]. Dividend Investing - Investors are increasingly turning to dividend investing for stable returns, as dividends provide consistent income and can mitigate portfolio volatility during uncertain market conditions [3]. - Stocks with a history of dividend growth are preferred, as they belong to mature companies that are less volatile and offer downside protection through consistent payout increases [5]. Selected Dividend Growth Stocks - Five dividend growth stocks identified as compelling investment options are Intuit Inc. (INTU), Fox Corporation (FOX), Qifu Technology Inc. (QFIN), UGI Corporation (UGI), and Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) [4][10]. - These stocks exhibit consistent dividend growth and strong long-term earnings potential, with positive earnings estimate revisions and solid expected earnings growth for the current fiscal year [10]. Stock Selection Criteria - Criteria for selecting dividend growth stocks include: - 5-Year Historical Dividend Growth greater than zero, indicating a solid dividend growth history [7]. - 5-Year Historical Sales Growth greater than zero, reflecting strong revenue growth [8]. - 5-Year Historical EPS Growth greater than zero, showing solid earnings growth history [8]. - Next 3-5 Year EPS Growth Rate greater than zero, indicating expected earnings growth [8]. - Price/Cash Flow less than M-Industry, suggesting undervaluation [9]. - 52-Week Price Change greater than S&P 500, ensuring better performance than the broader market [9]. Company Profiles - **Intuit Inc. (INTU)**: A business and financial software company with an expected earnings growth rate of 18.4% and a Zacks Rank 1 [11]. - **Fox Corporation (FOX)**: A media company with an expected earnings growth rate of 32.4% and a Zacks Rank 2 [13]. - **Qifu Technology Inc. (QFIN)**: A Credit-Tech platform in China with an expected earnings growth rate of 25.3% and a Zacks Rank 2 [14]. - **UGI Corporation (UGI)**: An energy products distributor with an estimated growth rate of 2.29% and a Zacks Rank 2 [16]. - **Ingredion Incorporated (INGR)**: An ingredients solutions provider with an estimated earnings growth rate of 5.2% and a Zacks Rank 2 [17].

Core Viewpoint - Above Food Ingredients Inc. has achieved full compliance with NASDAQ listing rules, enabling the company to proceed with its strategic merger with Palm Global and accelerate growth plans [1][3][4]. Compliance Achievement - The company regained compliance with NASDAQ listing Rule 5450(b)(3)(C) regarding the minimum market value of publicly held shares on May 27, 2025, and with listing Rules 5450(a)(1) and 5810(c)(3)(A) regarding the minimum bid price on May 23, 2025 [2]. Strategic Merger - The full compliance determination allows the company to expedite the completion of its transformative merger with Palm Global, which is anticipated to finalize in the coming days [3][4]. Leadership Commentary - Lionel Kambeitz, Executive Chairman and CEO of Above Food, emphasized that achieving full compliance is a significant milestone that supports the company's restructuring and growth plans [4]. - Peter Knez, Chairman and CEO of Palm Global Technologies, noted the progress made by Above Food in restructuring and transitioning to profitability, expressing eagerness to finalize the merger [4]. Company Overview - Above Food Ingredients Inc. focuses on delivering nutritious ingredients with transparency and sustainability, leveraging advanced agricultural technologies and proprietary seed development capabilities [5]. - Palm Global operates as an innovator in financial products and AgTech, aiming to drive economic empowerment and financial inclusion through scalable solutions [6][7].

Core Insights - Enzymatic hydrolyzed vegetable protein (E-HVP) is a flavor enhancer made by enzymatically breaking down plant proteins, offering a milder and more natural taste compared to acid hydrolyzed proteins, with lower levels of harmful byproducts like 3-MCPD [1] - The market for E-HVP is growing steadily due to increasing demand for clean label plant-based food ingredients, with a projected market size of $400 million by 2031 and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% [2] Market Overview - North America currently leads the market share for E-HVP, while the Asia-Pacific region is expected to experience the highest growth driven by urbanization and dietary changes [2] - The main application areas for E-HVP include soups, sauces, seasonings, meat alternatives, and nutritional supplements [1] Key Players - Major global producers of E-HVP include Hamlet Protein, Cargill, and Jiangsu Fuhai Biotechnology Co., Ltd., with the top three companies holding approximately 69.0% of the market share in 2024 [6] Product and Application Segmentation - The market for E-HVP is segmented by product type, with Type 1 being the dominant category, and by application, with Application 1 being the largest downstream market [7][9]

Core Points - Above Food Ingredients Inc. has received formal notification from NASDAQ regarding non-compliance with Listing Rule 5450(b)(3)(C) but has since met the condition as of May 27, 2025 [1] - The company has also met Listing Rules 5810(c)(3)(A) and 5450(a)(1) requirements and is awaiting confirmation from NASDAQ for compliance determination [2] - The company has made significant progress in restructuring operations and maximizing shareholder value, with compliance with NASDAQ listing requirements being a key milestone [3] Company Overview - Above Food Ingredients Inc. is an ingredient company focused on delivering nutritious and flavorful products with transparency [4] - The company's vision is to create a healthier world through sustainable practices, leveraging a robust chain of custody for plant proteins and advanced technologies in agriculture and processing [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2024, the company achieved a year-over-year increase of 5% in adjusted operating income and an 8% increase when accounting for the sale of the South Korea business in early 2024 [4][5] - Reported earnings per share grew to $9.71, while adjusted earnings per share increased to $10.65 [5] - Cash from operations exceeded $1.4 billion, with $426 million returned to stockholders through dividends and share repurchases [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reorganized into three segments: Texture and Healthful Solutions, Food and Industrial Ingredients LATAM, and Food and Industrial Ingredients USCanada, enhancing customer service and engagement [3][4] - Strong sales volume growth from Texture and Healthful Solutions offset reductions in pricing due to lower raw material costs [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The reorganization aimed to improve focus on growing market opportunities and customer service, which has shown initial benefits in 2024 [4][5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The new structure is designed to align with strategic value drivers, enhancing transparency for stockholders and focusing on market growth opportunities [4][5] - The company aims to extend its gains further in 2025 following a record performance in 2024 [6] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the clarity of the company's strategy and the impact of its execution, looking forward to continued growth [6] Other Important Information - The annual meeting was held in a virtual format to facilitate stockholder access [2] - A quorum was established with 89.6% of voting power present [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: General inquiries from stockholders - Stockholders were invited to submit questions via the virtual meeting platform, with a general Q&A session planned at the end of the meeting [11][23]

Core Viewpoint - Above Food Ingredients Inc. is taking significant steps to comply with Nasdaq listing requirements and is undergoing a strategic transformation towards higher-margin sectors, including Agri-Tech and Fin-Tech, following recent acquisitions that enhance profitability and market reach [1][2][4][5]. Financial Compliance and Reporting - The company will file its interim balance sheet and income statement for the period ended July 31, 2024, on April 28, 2025, to comply with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(2) [1][6]. - The only remaining compliance issue is the closing bid price of the company's securities, which is below $1 per share [6]. Strategic Acquisitions - Above Food acquired The Redwood Group LLC in August 2024, which has positively impacted the company's profitability [3]. - The acquisition of Palm Global Technologies Inc. is expected to significantly enhance the company's revenue run-rate, currently at approximately $200 million CAD, and improve profitability [5]. Corporate Transformation - The company has undergone substantial restructuring, eliminating most of its corporate debt and transitioning its operations into profitability [4]. - The strategic focus on Agri-Tech, Fin-Tech, Ed-Tech, and Asset Tokenization is aimed at expanding the company's market presence in regions such as Latin America, Africa, and Asia [5][8]. Company Overview - Above Food Ingredients Inc. is dedicated to producing nutritious food products with a focus on transparency and sustainability, leveraging advanced technologies in agriculture and processing [7]. - Palm Global is recognized for its innovative solutions in financial inclusion and agri-tech, utilizing AI and blockchain technologies to empower farmers and enhance food security [8].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 4% local currency revenue growth, 10% local currency adjusted EBITDA growth, and 11% local currency adjusted EPS growth for Q1 2025 compared to the previous year [9][21] - Revenue for Q1 2025 was $392.3 million, up from $384.7 million in Q1 2024, with operating income increasing to $53.5 million from $49.4 million [36] - Adjusted operating income for Q1 2025 was $56.4 million, a 10.3% increase in local currency compared to the prior year [36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Color Group achieved 8.2% local currency revenue growth and 13.5% local currency operating profit growth, with an adjusted EBITDA margin improvement to 24.4% from 23.2% [15][16] - The Flavors & Extracts Group reported 1.7% local currency revenue growth and 6.2% local currency operating profit growth, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.9% [17][18] - The Asia Pacific Group delivered 4.8% local currency revenue growth and 7% local currency operating profit growth, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 23.9% [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. food market is experiencing flat volume growth, with Europe showing slightly better performance at around 50 basis points growth [98][99] - Asia continues to see positive customer volume growth, particularly in the personal care sector [100] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on the conversion from synthetic to natural colors, which is seen as a significant revenue opportunity, with an estimated $110 million in synthetic colors revenue at stake [10][27] - Capital expenditures are expected to increase to between $80 million and $90 million for 2025 to support growth in natural color capabilities [23][109] - The company is committed to optimizing its cost structure and supply chain to minimize disruptions and capitalize on market trends [12][14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the growth opportunities in 2025, driven by strong sales execution and customer service [9][34] - The impact of tariffs is anticipated to be around $10 million annually, which the company plans to address through pricing strategies [11][80] - The company maintains its guidance for mid-single-digit revenue growth and high single-digit to double-digit adjusted EPS growth for the year [21][41] Other Important Information - The portfolio optimization plan is on track to be completed by the end of the year, with expected annual cost savings of approximately $8 million to $10 million [15] - The company is investing in natural color innovations, including new products like Marine Blue Capri and Sienna Fortis, to meet market demands [30][32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the growth opportunity related to natural colors and your competitive advantages? - Management highlighted the significant revenue opportunity from converting synthetic colors to natural colors, estimating a conversion factor of about 10:1 [51][52] - The company differentiates itself through its ability to formulate natural colors across various applications and manage complex supply chains [56][60] Question: How do you plan to address the $10 million tariff impact? - The company plans to mitigate the tariff impact through pricing adjustments, with approximately two-thirds of the impact affecting the Color segment [80][84] Question: What are the volume trends across key geographies? - The U.S. market is flat, while Europe shows slight growth, and Asia continues to experience positive volume growth, particularly in personal care [98][100] Question: What will the increased capital expenditures focus on? - Capital expenditures will primarily focus on increasing capacity and optimizing the supply chain, with most investments directed towards U.S. operations [106][109]

Core Viewpoint - Above Food Ingredients Inc. is actively addressing compliance issues with Nasdaq and is optimistic about regaining compliance ahead of the scheduled hearing on May 22, 2025 [1][2]. Group 1: Compliance Issues - The company received a notice on October 10, 2024, indicating non-compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement, as its closing bid price was below $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days [2]. - The company has requested a hearing and an extended stay in response to a staff determination notice received on April 14, 2025, and is confident in meeting compliance requirements before the hearing [1][2]. Group 2: Financial Restructuring - A significant restructuring announced on March 20, 2025, has improved the company's financial position by eliminating most corporate debt and advancing towards operational profitability [2]. - The successful closing of the Palm transaction, first announced on February 6, 2025, is expected to materially enhance shareholder value [2]. Group 3: Reporting Compliance - Due to the restructuring, the company has not yet filed its interim balance sheet and income statement for the period ended July 31, 2024, which is a violation of Listing Rule 5250(c)(2) [3]. - The company plans to remedy this deficiency by filing the required Form 6-K before April 30, 2025, ahead of the hearing date [3]. Group 4: Company Overview - Above Food Ingredients Inc. is an ingredient company focused on delivering nutritious products made with real ingredients, emphasizing transparency and sustainability [4]. - The company aims to create a healthier world through its operations in primary agriculture and processing, leveraging artificial intelligence-driven genomics and agronomy [4].

Core Viewpoint - Above Food Ingredients Inc. is strategically pivoting towards Agri-Tech and Fin-Tech sectors, leading to the receivership of its subsidiary Purely Canada Food Corp. to refocus resources on higher-margin specialty ingredient businesses and global market opportunities [1][3]. Group 1: Strategic Developments - The company has targeted new areas within the agricultural sector since summer 2024, enhancing margins through the acquisition of Stricks Ag in August 2024, which is exceeding expectations [2]. - An LOI to acquire Palm Global Technologies Inc. is expected to significantly boost the company's revenue run-rate of approximately $200 million CAD by integrating higher-margin revenue streams [2][5]. Group 2: Financial Impact - The receivership of Purely Canada Food Corp. will eliminate over $25 million CAD in annual net losses from the company's consolidated financial statements, contributing to immediate pre-tax profitability [4]. - The corporate restructuring measures are anticipated to enhance the company's financial health and operational efficiency [4]. Group 3: Future Opportunities - The intended acquisition of Palm Global will position the combined company to support regenerative agricultural initiatives and tailored food solutions, benefiting millions of farmers through financial inclusion platforms [5]. - The merger of expertise in specialty crop processing, AI genomics, and AI agronomy with Palm Global's FinTech and DeFi technologies is expected to create a powerful tech platform for the company [3].