Press Release dsm-firmenich announces increase in share repurchase program to reduce capital to €1 billion Kaiseraugst (Switzerland), Maastricht (Netherlands), June 27, 2025 dsm-firmenich, innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, announced on February 13, 2025 its intention to repurchase ordinary shares with an aggregate market value of €1 billion and reduce its issued capital. This share repurchase program started for an initial €500 million and will now be increased to €1 billion, following the compl ...

Core Insights - GrowGeneration Corp. is the largest specialty retailer of hydroponic and organic gardening products in the United States [3] Group 1: Company Participation in Events - GrowGeneration's CEO Darren Lampert, President Michael Salaman, CFO Greg Sanders, and VP of Sales Matthew Koch will participate in the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference from June 8-10, 2025, in Chicago [1] - Lampert and Koch will engage in a panel discussion titled "Can the Sun Compete with the Socket? Greenhouse vs Indoor in the Fight for Premium Pricing" on June 10, 2025, at 4:20 p.m. Central Time [2] - The company will host one-on-one meetings during the conference for interested parties [2] Group 2: Company Overview - GrowGeneration offers a wide range of products including nutrients, additives, growing media, lighting, environmental control systems, and proprietary brands such as Charcoir, Drip Hydro, and Power Si [3] - The company operates an online superstore for cultivators at growgeneration.com and has a wholesale business for resellers, as well as a benching, racking, and storage solutions business called Mobile Media or MMI [3]

Company Overview - GrowGeneration Corp. is the nation's largest specialty hydroponic and organic gardening retailer, offering thousands of products including nutrients, additives, growing media, lighting, and environmental control systems [4] - The company operates an online superstore for cultivators at growgeneration.com and has a wholesale business for resellers, as well as a benching, racking, and storage solutions business called Mobile Media or MMI [4] Upcoming Events - Management will participate in Oppenheimer's 25th Annual Consumer Growth and E-Commerce Conference, scheduled for June 9–11, 2025 [1] - Darren Lampert, the CEO and Co-Founder, will engage in a Fireside Chat on June 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with a webcast available on the Investor Relations site [2] - The company will host 1x1 meetings during the conference, with scheduling available through Oppenheimer representatives or via email [3]

Core Insights - GrowGeneration Corp. reported a first quarter net sales of $35.7 million, a decrease from $47.9 million in the same period last year, primarily due to the closure of 19 retail locations in 2024 [4][6] - Proprietary brand sales increased to 32.0% of total Cultivation and Gardening revenue, up from 22.6% year-over-year, reflecting the strength of the company's product portfolio [5][6] - The gross profit margin improved to 27.2%, compared to 25.8% in the first quarter of 2024, indicating operational efficiency [7][9] Financial Performance - The company reported a net loss of $9.4 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to a net loss of $8.8 million in the same quarter of 2024 [9][10] - Adjusted EBITDA loss was $4.0 million, worsening from a loss of $2.9 million in the prior year [10][26] - Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled $52.6 million with no debt, providing financial flexibility for future growth initiatives [6][10] Operational Strategy - The company is transitioning to a regional fulfillment center model and focusing on B2B engagement, moving away from same-store sales as a key performance metric [3][12] - Store and other operating expenses decreased by approximately 17.3% to $8.8 million compared to $10.6 million in the first quarter of 2024 [8][9] - The company has withdrawn its full-year 2025 financial outlook due to macroeconomic uncertainties and is exploring strategies to mitigate risks [12] Future Outlook - For the second quarter of 2025, GrowGeneration expects total consolidated net sales to exceed $40 million [13]

SHOEMAKERSVILLE, Pa., May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (“Hydrofarm” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: HYFM), a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of branded hydroponics equipment and supplies for controlled environment agriculture (“CEA”), today announced that it will host a conference call to review first quarter 2025 results on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 8:30 AM ET. A press release containing first quarter 2025 results will be issued before market open that same day. Th ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales for the first quarter of 2025 were $378 million, representing a 12% increase year-over-year [11] - Sales volume increased by approximately 7%, driven by improved operational performance and higher granular ammonium sulfate sales [11] - Adjusted EBITDA was $52 million with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 13.7% [12] - Adjusted earnings per share increased to $0.93, up $1.49 compared to the prior year [12] - Free cash flow was negative $23 million, an improvement of $49 million year-over-year [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Plant Nutrients segment, ammonium sulfate prices increased by 34% year-over-year, supported by higher energy costs and tighter supply-demand conditions [18] - The nylon business experienced a slow start but saw orders and pricing pick up, with stable domestic demand amid macroeconomic factors [21] - In Chemical Intermediates, acetone prices declined sequentially and year-over-year, but remained above cycle averages [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The North American corn planting season is expected to reach 95 million acres, supporting strong nutrient demand [19] - Domestic nylon demand remained stable, but global oversupply conditions continued to pressure pricing [22] - Acetone demand is expected to improve in the second quarter following downstream turnarounds and seasonal improvements [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on operational excellence and maintaining high utilization rates to capture competitive cost advantages [6] - Continued investment in growth and enterprise initiatives is aimed at sustainably improving through-cycle profitability [9] - The company is well-positioned as a U.S.-based manufacturer aligned with domestic supply chains and energy markets [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the underlying industry fundamentals supporting nutrient demand despite higher raw material prices [19] - The company is navigating a dynamic environment while focusing on cash flow management and disciplined investments [30] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy balance sheet to enable strategic capital allocation [30] Other Important Information - The company received approximately $39 million in aggregated insurance proceeds related to the 2019 PES cumene supplier shutdown [9] - Capital expenditures for 2025 are forecasted to be between $145 million and $155 million, with a focus on maintaining operational safety and sustainability [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Tactical moves in response to uncertainty - Management indicated that they are focused on delivering for customers and right-sizing inventory buffers without increasing inventory levels [38][39] Question: Assurance of sulfur supply - Management stated that they have a broad supply mix for sulfur and anticipate that supply will be ample for their needs [42] Question: Outlook for ammonium sulfate post-spring demand - Management confirmed a robust order book and expects record volume for the fertilizer year, with a focus on domestic demand growth [66] Question: Nylon market share and tariffs - Management noted that while tariffs could lead to higher costs, they are monitoring the engineering plastic demand closely and focusing on execution [61][62] Question: CapEx and acquisition opportunities - Management expressed interest in evaluating inorganic opportunities as they expect to bring base CapEx back in line after completing larger projects [69]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales for the first quarter of 2025 were $378 million, representing a 12% increase year-over-year, with sales volume up approximately 7% driven by improved operational performance and higher granular ammonium sulfate sales [9][10] - Adjusted EBITDA was $52 million with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 13.7%, while adjusted earnings per share increased to $0.93, up $1.49 from the prior year [10][11] - Free cash flow was negative $23 million, an improvement of $49 million compared to the prior year, with cash flow from operations increasing by $48 million [11][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Plant Nutrients segment, nitrogen fertilizer pricing increased amid higher energy costs, with ammonium sulfate prices up 34% year-over-year [16][17] - The nylon business experienced a slow start but saw orders and pricing pick up, supported by lower benzene costs [20][21] - Chemical Intermediates faced declining acetone prices due to higher input costs, but demand is expected to improve as downstream turnarounds complete [23][24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The North American corn planting season is expected to reach 95 million acres, supporting strong demand for ammonium sulfate [18][19] - Domestic nylon demand remained stable, but global oversupply conditions continue to pressure pricing [22][23] - The chemical intermediates market is mixed, with demand across ag chemicals, electronics, and European paints and coatings remaining varied [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on operational excellence and maintaining high utilization rates to capture competitive cost advantages [6][7] - Continued investment in growth and enterprise initiatives is aimed at sustainably improving through-cycle profitability [7][14] - The company is well-positioned as a U.S.-based manufacturer aligned with domestic supply chains and energy markets [8][25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating the current dynamic environment and emphasized the importance of cash flow management [28] - The company is monitoring potential impacts on demand across end markets and is focused on delivering on controllable factors [28] - There is optimism regarding the growth prospects in the Plant Nutrients business, particularly with the anticipated increase in corn acreage [19][20] Other Important Information - The company received approximately $39 million in insurance proceeds related to the 2019 PES cumene supplier shutdown, with a final settlement of $26 million in Q1 2025 [7][10] - The company is maintaining a healthy balance sheet and ample liquidity to support reinvestment and growth [13][14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Tactical moves in response to uncertainty - Management indicated that they are focused on delivering for customers and managing inventory levels without significantly increasing them [35][36] Question: Concerns about sulfur supply - Management stated that supply-demand conditions for sulfur are balanced, and they have a broad vendor mix to ensure supply [39] Question: Outlook for ammonium sulfate post-spring demand - Management confirmed that they are focused on maximizing granular sales during the current season and will evaluate fundamentals as the season progresses [41][42] Question: Adjusting marketing emphasis for nylon amid demand weakness - Management clarified that they are focused on serving domestic demand and optimizing their product mix to navigate the current oversupply environment [44][45] Question: Patent infringement proceedings regarding EZ Block additives - Management provided an overview of the patent protection for their EZ Block product and the ongoing legal proceedings [49][50] Question: Market share opportunities due to tariffs on nylon - Management noted that while tariffs could impact costs, they are monitoring the situation closely and focusing on execution for the remainder of the year [58][60] Question: Ammonium sulfate volume expectations - Management anticipates a record volume for the fertilizer year, driven by robust planting and application rates [63][64] Question: CapEx and acquisition opportunities - Management indicated that they are looking to align CapEx with organic opportunities while evaluating potential inorganic opportunities as well [66]

Company Performance - Darling Ingredients reported a quarterly loss of $0.16 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.20, compared to earnings of $0.50 per share a year ago [1] - The earnings surprise for this quarter was -180%, while the previous quarter saw an earnings surprise of 80% with actual earnings of $0.63 per share against an expectation of $0.35 [2] - Revenues for the quarter ended March 2025 were $1.38 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.36%, and down from $1.42 billion year-over-year [3] Stock Performance - Darling shares have declined approximately 9.9% since the beginning of the year, compared to a decline of -8.6% for the S&P 500 [4] - The current Zacks Rank for Darling is 5 (Strong Sell), indicating expectations of underperformance in the near future [7] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.58 on revenues of $1.53 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.98 on revenues of $6.1 billion [8] - The trend for estimate revisions ahead of the earnings release was unfavorable, which may impact future stock performance [7] Industry Context - The Food - Miscellaneous industry, to which Darling belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 41% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges for stock performance [9]

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates a year-over-year decline in Darling Ingredients' earnings despite an increase in revenues for the quarter ending March 2025, with actual results being crucial for stock price movement [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - Darling Ingredients is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.36 per share, reflecting a 28% decrease year-over-year, while revenues are projected to reach $1.51 billion, marking a 6.1% increase from the previous year [3]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised down by 4.55% over the last 30 days, indicating a collective reassessment by analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [4]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model suggests that the Most Accurate Estimate for Darling is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -60.89%, which indicates a bearish outlook from analysts [10][11]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Darling exceeded the expected earnings of $0.35 per share by delivering $0.63, resulting in a surprise of +80%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times [12][13]. Investment Considerations - Despite the potential for an earnings beat, Darling does not currently appear to be a compelling candidate for such an outcome, and investors should consider other factors before making investment decisions [16].