ETHISPHERE NAMES GRAINGER AS ONE OF THE 2026 WORLD'S MOST ETHICAL COMPANIES® Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation 20th annual recognition honors organizations committed to business integrity through robust ethics, compliance, and governance programs LAKE FOREST, Ill., March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Grainger(NYSE: GWW), a leading broad line distributor of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions, has been recognized as one of the 2026 World's Most Ethical Compani ...

CLASS ACTION NOTICE: Berger Montague Advises Driven Brands Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: DRVN) Investors to Inquire About a Securities Fraud Class Action Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation PHILADELPHIA, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- National plaintiffs' law firm Berger Montague PCannounces a class action lawsuit against Driven Brands Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: DRVN) ("Driven Brands" or the "Company") on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired Driven Brands shares during the period from May 9, 2023 through F ...

Core Viewpoint - A class action has been filed against Driven Brands Holdings Inc. due to material errors in its previously issued consolidated financial statements, impacting its financial reporting for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 [1][2][3]. Company Overview - Driven Brands Holdings Inc. is the largest automotive services company in North America, operating approximately 4,900 locations across more than 15 countries [1]. Allegations and Financial Reporting Issues - The complaint alleges that Driven Brands failed to disclose several material errors, including: - Errors in lease recording affecting right of use assets and liabilities as of December 28, 2024, and September 27, 2025 [2]. - Overstatements of cash and revenue, and understatement of selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 [2]. - Misclassification of supply and other expenses as company-operated store expenses for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 [2]. - Additional errors related to income tax provision, supply and other revenue, fixed assets, cloud computing, lease cash applications, and revenue recognition in the ATI business for fiscal year 2025 [2]. Stock Price Impact - Following the announcement of the financial reporting errors, Driven Brands' stock price fell nearly 40%, from a close of $16.61 on February 24, 2026, to an opening price of $9.99 on February 25, 2026 [4]. Class Action Participation - Shareholders may be eligible to participate in the class action against Driven Brands, with a deadline to submit papers to the court by May 8, 2026, for those wishing to serve as lead plaintiff [4].

Core Viewpoint - A class action has been filed against Driven Brands Holdings Inc. due to alleged material errors in its financial statements, leading to significant stock price decline and the need for restatement of financial results for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 [1][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - Driven Brands Holdings Inc. is the largest automotive services company in North America, operating approximately 4,900 locations across more than 15 countries [1]. - The company provides various services including maintenance, car wash, collision, and glass services, and operates major brands such as Take 5 Oil Change, Meineke Car Care Centers, Maaco, and Auto Glass Now [1]. Group 2: Allegations and Financial Reporting Issues - The class action alleges that Driven Brands failed to disclose material errors in its consolidated financial statements, particularly regarding lease accounting, cash balances, and revenue recognition [2]. - Specific errors included overstatements of cash and revenue, understatement of selling, general and administrative expenses, and misclassification of balance sheet items [2]. - The Audit Committee concluded that the financial statements for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 contained material errors, necessitating a restatement of approximately two years' worth of financial reporting [3]. Group 3: Stock Market Impact - Following the announcement of the financial reporting issues, Driven Brands' stock price plummeted nearly 40%, dropping from $16.61 on February 24, 2026, to $9.99 on February 25, 2026 [4].

Core Insights - FLINT Corp. reported full-year revenues of $563.8 million for 2025, a decrease of 20.6% from 2024, primarily due to market softness and timing of construction and maintenance work [5][10] - The company achieved an Adjusted EBITDAS of $30.6 million, down 13.8% from the previous year, but improved its Adjusted EBITDAS margin to 5.4% [5][10] - A significant highlight was the completion of a Recapitalization Transaction, which strengthened the balance sheet and reduced debt obligations, enhancing long-term financial flexibility [3][13] Financial Performance - Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025, were $563.8 million, down $146.7 million from 2024 [5] - Gross profit was $65.8 million, a decrease of $9.2 million or 12.2% from 2024, with a gross profit margin of 11.7%, up from 10.5% in 2024 [5][10] - SG&A expenses decreased to $35.4 million, down 13.8% from 2024, but increased as a percentage of revenue to 6.3% [5][10] - Net income surged to $29.8 million, an increase of 2241.8% from 2024, primarily due to a tax recovery related to the Recapitalization Transaction [5][10] Operational Highlights - The company achieved a Total Recordable Injury Frequency (TRIF) of 0.10, marking the best safety performance in its history [3] - New contract awards and renewals totaled approximately $914.4 million for the year, providing a solid foundation for future growth [6][10] - In the fourth quarter of 2025, revenues were $128.9 million, a decrease of 31.1% from the same period in 2024 [10] Liquidity and Capital Resources - As of December 31, 2025, liquidity, including cash and available credit facilities, was $115.2 million, up from $59.7 million at the end of 2024 [5] - The company has an asset-based revolving credit facility with a maximum borrowing capacity of $50 million, maturing on April 14, 2030 [11][12] Corporate Updates - The Recapitalization Transaction completed in September 2025 involved a consolidation of shares and settlement of debt, significantly optimizing the capital structure [13] - Dean Nimmo was appointed as Vice President of Operations for the Wood Buffalo Region, expected to drive operational excellence [14] - The Chief Operations Officer, Neil Wotton, is on medical leave, with senior leaders managing his responsibilities [15]

Core Viewpoint - A class action lawsuit has been filed against monday.com Ltd. for allegedly misleading investors about its business prospects, particularly regarding revenue growth and customer acquisition [1]. Group 1: Allegations and Company Performance - The lawsuit claims that monday.com Ltd. misrepresented its revenue outlook and growth potential, suggesting strong performance driven by AI investments and enterprise adoption, while in reality, customer growth was slowing and sales cycles were lengthening [1]. - The company set a revenue target of $1.8 billion for 2027, which is now considered increasingly unlikely to be achieved due to the aforementioned issues [1]. - On February 9, 2026, the company reported positive fourth-quarter results but provided a weaker outlook for 2026, leading to a significant stock price drop from $98.00 to $77.63, a decline of approximately 21% [1]. Group 2: Legal Proceedings and Investor Actions - Investors who purchased monday.com Ltd. stock between September 17, 2025, and February 6, 2026, may be eligible to participate in the class action [1]. - Shareholders interested in serving as lead plaintiffs are encouraged to contact Robbins LLP, which is handling the case on a contingency fee basis, meaning no upfront costs for shareholders [1].

Core Insights - W.W. Grainger, Inc. is recognized as one of the Dividend Kings, highlighting its strong dividend performance [1] - Morgan Stanley has raised its price target for Grainger to $1,190 from $1,100, maintaining an Equal Weight rating, reflecting updated estimates based on the company's Q4 results [2][8] Company Developments - During the Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Donald Macpherson announced the company's exit from the U.K. market and investments in new supply chain capacity to enhance service leadership [3] - Grainger has expanded its product assortment by over 85,000 SKUs in 2025, marking the largest increase in nearly a decade for its High-Touch Solutions segment [3] - The company is leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to support its strategic growth engines and improve market share in the High-Touch Solutions segment [3] Future Outlook - Looking ahead to 2026, Grainger plans to utilize AI to generate actionable insights, identify new customer contacts, and enhance coaching opportunities for sales leaders [4]

Company Overview - W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is a leading broad-line industrial distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products and services, with a market cap of $54.3 billion [1] - The company offers a wide range of products, including motors, lighting, safety gear, and material handling equipment [1] Market Position - GWW is classified as a "large-cap stock" due to its market cap exceeding $10 billion, highlighting its size and influence in the industrial distribution industry [2] - The company is actively integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance customer interactions, optimize inventory, and automate threat detection in procurement systems [2] Stock Performance - GWW shares are currently trading 8.7% below their 52-week high of $1,218.63, reached on February 12 [3] - Over the past three months, GWW shares have increased by 14.1%, outperforming the iShares U.S. Industrials ETF (IYJ), which rose by 5.5% [3] - Year-to-date, GWW shares are up 10.3%, compared to IYJ's 4.2% return [4] - In the last 52 weeks, GWW has gained 11.8%, but this is below IYJ's 16.8% increase [4] - GWW has been trading above its 200-day and 50-day moving averages since early December, indicating a bullish trend [4] Financial Performance - On February 3, GWW reported Q4 results showing a 4.5% year-over-year increase in total sales to $4.4 billion, slightly exceeding consensus estimates [6] - Despite revenue growth, GWW's adjusted EPS fell by 2.8% from the previous year to $9.44, although it surpassed analyst expectations by a small margin [6] Competitive Landscape - GWW has underperformed its competitor, Fastenal Company (FAST), which saw a 19.4% increase over the past 52 weeks and a 15.8% gain year-to-date [7] - Analysts maintain a cautious outlook on GWW, with a consensus rating of "Hold" and a mean price target of $1,130.57, suggesting a 1.6% premium to current price levels [7]

Core Insights - Bilfinger achieved all financial targets for 2025, with significant improvements in orders, revenue, and free cash flow despite a volatile market environment [4][6] - The company reported a group EBITDA margin increase to 5.5%, up 30 basis points from the previous year, with a notable sequential quarterly progression [1][6] - Free cash flow surged to EUR 330 million, a 75% increase from EUR 189 million, enabling a higher dividend proposal of EUR 2.80 per share [3][6] Financial Performance - Orders received increased by 6%, while revenue rose by 8%, with 4% attributed to organic growth [3][6] - Gross profit margin improved to 11.3% from 10.9%, driven by product mix enhancements and standardization efforts [2] - Net profit for 2025 was reported at EUR 176 million, with earnings per share down 1% due to share buybacks affecting financial results [6] Strategic Initiatives - A new segment structure will be implemented starting January 1, 2026, with higher margin targets set for Western Europe, Central Europe, and International segments [5][13] - The company plans to accelerate M&A activities, having signed a deal with Technikon in Turkey, expected to close in 2026 [5][13] - Management emphasized the importance of cross-selling and improving customer focus under the new structure [13] 2026 Guidance - For 2026, Bilfinger provided revenue guidance of EUR 5.4 billion to EUR 5.9 billion, with an EBITDA margin forecast of 5.8% to 6.2% [12] - Free cash flow is expected to be between EUR 250 million and EUR 300 million, with no anticipated one-off cash inflows similar to the previous year [12] - The tax rate is projected to be between 24% and 25% for 2026 [12] Market Position and Risks - The company reported a full-year order backlog increase to EUR 4.3 billion, despite a "softish" order intake in Q4 due to market volatility [7] - Bilfinger's exposure to currency risks is limited as contracts are primarily executed in local currencies [15] - Management noted challenges with U.S. government-related delays impacting contract approvals [14]

Grainger Conference Call Summary Company Overview - Grainger is the largest distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products in North America, founded in 1927 with nearly 25,000 employees serving over 4.6 million customers [2][3] - The company operates two primary go-to-market models: High-Touch for larger customers and Endless Assortment for small to mid-sized businesses [4][5] Key Business Models - **High-Touch Model**: - Accounts for 80% of total revenue - Focuses on larger, complex customers with deep product knowledge and strong relationships [4] - **Endless Assortment Model**: - Accounts for 20% of total revenue - Targets small and mid-sized businesses with a simpler purchasing process [4][5] Market Position and Growth - Grainger holds a 7% market share in the High-Touch segment, indicating significant growth potential [5] - The Endless Assortment segment has doubled its revenue over the past five years, nearing $4 billion annually [11] - The company expects total revenue for 2026 to be between $18.7 billion and $19.1 billion, with organic sales growth of 6.5%-9% [12] Financial Performance - High-Touch has outgrown the broader MRO market by over 500 basis points in the last decade [11] - Expected EPS for 2026 is between $42.25 and $44.75, reflecting a 10% increase at the midpoint [13] - Operating margin is projected to improve by 40 to 90 basis points due to exiting the U.K. market and recovering gross margins [12][13] Strategic Initiatives - Investment in data and technology capabilities to enhance customer service and operational efficiency [6] - Development of AI and machine learning models to improve product offerings and marketing effectiveness [7][8] - Focus on supply chain optimization to ensure timely product delivery and high order accuracy [8][9] Competitive Advantages - Grainger's extensive product selection and supply chain capabilities position it well against competitors, even with the rise of AI-driven purchasing agents [30] - The company emphasizes a purpose-driven culture, known as the Grainger Edge, which fosters strong relationships with customers and suppliers [10][16] Challenges and Considerations - The company is monitoring tariff impacts on pricing and product costs, particularly concerning private label products [24][25] - Grainger's growth strategy includes selective M&A opportunities, focusing on enhancing its High-Touch and Endless Assortment businesses [32] Conclusion - Grainger is well-positioned for future growth, leveraging its strong market presence, innovative technology, and commitment to customer service to drive shareholder value [15][16]