Key Takeaways Palantir stands out as a momentum pick under the Driehaus "buy high, sell higher" strategy.PLTR holds a Zacks Rank #2 and a Momentum Score of B, with an 11.6% average earnings surprise. The screen blends EPS growth, positive 50-day average, and relative strength to spot uptrends.Investors aiming for outsized returns should concentrate on Wall Street’s strongest momentum names. To identify stocks with further upside, they can apply Richard Driehaus’s celebrated “buy high and sell higher” strate ...

Company Overview - MSC Income Fund, Inc. has appointed Nataly M. Marks as a new independent member of its Board of Directors, who will also serve on the Audit Committee [1] - The Fund primarily provides debt capital to private companies, focusing on leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, growth financings, refinancings, and acquisitions across diverse industry sectors [5] Leadership Background - Ms. Marks has been the President of Triple-S Steel Holdings, Inc. since 2022, overseeing finance, human resources, operations, information technology, and commercial teams [2] - She has 20 years of experience in the banking industry, having held various leadership roles at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from 2009 to 2022, including Head of Middle Market Banking for Houston and Central Texas [2][3] Board Contributions - The CEO of MSC Income Fund believes Ms. Marks will bring valuable insights to the Fund's investment activities due to her extensive experience in middle market, corporate, and investment banking [4] - Ms. Marks' leadership experience in a private company aligns with the profile of the Fund's typical private loan and lower middle market portfolio companies [4] Fund's Investment Strategy - The Fund's portfolio investments typically support companies with annual revenues between $25 million and $500 million for private loans, and between $10 million and $150 million for lower middle market investments [5]

Core Insights - Materion Corporation has seen increased interest from investors, particularly with Harvey Partners acquiring a new stake valued at approximately $38.4 million, indicating confidence in the company's growth potential [1][2][11] Company Overview - Materion Corporation is a leading supplier of advanced engineered materials, serving high-growth industries such as semiconductors, aerospace, and defense [6][9] - The company operates a vertically integrated model, controlling multiple stages of its supply chain, which enhances its ability to deliver specialized products [9] Financial Performance - For the third quarter, Materion reported net sales of $444.8 million, with value-added sales at $263.9 million [12] - Net income increased to $25.4 million from $22.3 million year-over-year, and operating profit improved to $34.9 million [12] - The company achieved record EBITDA margins of 27.1% in electronic materials, with precision optics showing significant margin expansion [12] Market Position - As of the latest filing, Materion's shares were priced at $125.25, reflecting a 12.5% increase over the past year, aligning closely with the S&P 500's gain of approximately 13% [3] - The new stake by Harvey Partners represents 3.4% of their reportable assets under management, indicating a strategic investment in a company with strengthening fundamentals [2][11] Strategic Outlook - Materion is positioned as a compelling industrial compounder, with ongoing strategic initiatives in optics and semiconductors expected to drive sustained earnings power [10][13]

Group 1 - Carpenter Technology Corporation (NYSE: CRS) specializes in certain specialty metals primarily used in the aerospace markets, which account for 60% of its annual revenue [1] - The company is recognized for its expertise in the production of these specialty metals, indicating a strong position within the aerospace sector [1]

Company Overview - Metallus Inc reported net sales of $1.1 billion in 2024[9] - The company has an annual melt capacity of approximately 1.2 million tons and a ship capacity of approximately 0.9 million tons[9] - In 2024, Automotive accounted for 45% of the company's shipment mix and 42% of net sales, while Industrial accounted for 40% of the shipment mix and 36% of net sales[18] Financial Performance and Outlook - In Q2 2025, Metallus had net sales of $304.6 million, a 9% increase compared to Q1 2025[23] - The company's adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $26.5 million[23] - Metallus expects capital expenditures of approximately $125 million in 2025, including approximately $90 million funded by the U S government[23] Strategic Initiatives and Targets - Metallus aims to grow A&D product sales to over $250 million in 2026, more than doubling the 2023 sales level[68] - The company is targeting a through-cycle long-term adjusted EBITDA margin of greater than 12%[69] - Metallus has a long-term target net leverage ratio of less than 1 0x[69]

Company Overview - Metallus Inc reported net sales of $1.1 billion in 2024 [9] - The company has an annual melt capacity of approximately 1.2 million tons and a ship capacity of approximately 0.9 million tons [9] - In 2024, Automotive accounted for 45% of the company's shipment mix and 42% of net sales [23] - In 2024, Industrial accounted for 40% of the company's shipment mix and 36% of net sales [23] - In 2024, Aerospace & Defense accounted for 8% of the company's shipment mix and 12% of net sales [23] - In 2024, Energy accounted for 7% of the company's shipment mix and 8% of net sales [23] Financial Performance and Outlook - In Q1 2025, Metallus' net sales were $280.5 million, a 17% increase compared to Q4 2024 [29] - The company's cash and cash equivalents balance was $180.3 million, with total liquidity of $432 million as of March 31, 2025 [29] - The company expects Q2 2025 adjusted EBITDA to be higher than Q1 2025 [29] Capital Allocation and Investment - Planned capital expenditures are approximately $125 million for the full year 2025, inclusive of approximately $90 million of capital expenditures funded by the U S government [29] - From 2022 through Q1 2025, the company repurchased 7.1 million shares for $127.8 million [85]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported first quarter sales of $493 million with net income of $2.5 million, a decrease from $8.7 million in the same period last year [6][18] - EBITDA for the first quarter was $16.1 million compared to $23.3 million in the prior year [18] - Consolidated operating expenses increased to $110.6 million from $103.2 million year-over-year, influenced by the acquisition of Metalworks [19][21] - The effective tax rate for the first quarter was 30.1%, up from 27% in the same period last year [21] Business Segment Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Carbon segment reported EBITDA of $10.9 million, driven by increased shipping volumes and growth in coated carbon steel products [13] - The Pipe and Tube segment delivered EBITDA of $6.4 million, although it experienced slower OEM orders [14] - The Specialty Metals segment reported EBITDA of $3.6 million, with ongoing investments in growth and expansion [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hot roll pricing increased by more than 30% during the quarter due to the announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum [12] - The company noted that over 90% of its metal supply and nearly all sales are domestically based, positioning it well in the current tariff environment [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on building a stronger, more resilient Olympic Steel, emphasizing profitable growth through diversification into metal-intensive end markets and expanding fabrication capabilities [6][7] - The commitment to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) remains a key growth strategy, with the recent acquisition of Metalworks proving immediately accretive [7][8] - Ongoing capital investments are planned to enhance throughput and safety, with several new facilities and equipment upgrades expected to come online in the near future [15][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to drive profitable growth regardless of market conditions, citing strong operational discipline and effective working capital management [10][11] - The management team highlighted the importance of onshoring opportunities and the potential for growth in the pipe and tube market, particularly in data centers [40] Other Important Information - The company announced a five-year extension of its $625 million asset-based revolving credit facility, providing flexible capital for growth initiatives [10][20] - A quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share was declared, continuing a history of regular dividends since February 2006 [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: How much of the first quarter volume boost is due to pull forward demand? - Management indicated that a significant portion of the volume increase was due to stronger spot sales, with traditional sales being 65% contract and 35% spot [26][28] Question: Expectations for the Pipe and Tube segment's performance? - The Pipe and Tube segment did not see the same sales increase as the Carbon segment, primarily due to its more contractual nature [29][30] Question: Current appetite for M&A and marketplace conditions? - Management confirmed that M&A remains a key growth strategy, with a return of potential sellers observed in April [31][32] Question: Outlook for the Pipe and Tube segment beyond Q2? - Management expects a more traditional year for the Pipe and Tube segment, with growth opportunities in onshoring [40] Question: Thoughts on working capital and inventory management? - The company successfully reduced debt by $37 million in Q1 and expects modest decreases in the following quarters [43][45] Question: Impact of tariffs on M&A strategy? - Management stated that tariffs have not directly impacted M&A strategy, as all acquisitions have been domestic [53][56]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total sales for 2024 were $1.9 billion, with net income at $23 million and adjusted EBITDA of $72.5 million, reflecting the company's ability to deliver profitable results despite a challenging environment [11][12][13] - For Q4 2024, net income totaled $3.9 million compared to $7.4 million in Q4 2023, with adjusted EBITDA at $14.5 million, down from $16.7 million year-over-year but up from $13 million in Q3 2024 [32][33] Business Segment Data and Key Metrics Changes - The carbon segment maintained shipping volumes despite lower OEM demand, achieving $7.2 million in EBITDA for Q4 2024, supported by a 17% growth in galvanized participation [25] - The pipe and tube segment delivered adjusted EBITDA of $7.2 million, focusing on fabricated product growth [26] - The Specialty Metals segment contributed $4 million of EBITDA, with strong market share gains in stainless and aluminum [27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company successfully navigated a difficult year for the metals industry, maintaining shipping volumes within 1% of 2023 levels, outperforming industry shipment levels [10] - The Purchasing Managers' Index for manufacturing was below 50 for eleven of the twelve months in 2024, indicating a challenging demand environment [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on diversification and growth through strategic investments in automation and capacity expansion, with significant projects expected to become operational in 2025 or early 2026 [14][29] - The acquisition of Metalworks is part of the company's strategy to enhance its position in manufactured metal products and is expected to be accretive [15][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the long-term outlook for the metals industry, emphasizing the importance of remaining nimble and adaptive to market dynamics [21][22] - The company plans to continue investing in automation, product diversity, and quality solutions for customers [22] Other Important Information - The board approved a 7% increase in the quarterly dividend, raising it from $0.15 to $0.16 per share, marking the fourth dividend increase since 2022 [20][37] - The company ended Q4 2024 with total debt of approximately $272 million, an increase due to the Metalworks acquisition [35] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drove the increase in gross profit per ton in the carbon flat segment? - Management attributed the increase to the expansion of end-use metal products and a concerted effort in growing the fabrication business, which contributed positively to margins [44][47][48] Question: What are the expectations for the pipe and tube segment moving into Q1? - Management indicated that the first quarter is expected to be traditional, with opportunities for recovery due to new customers acquired at the end of 2024 [50] Question: How will the tariffs affect profitability and M&A valuations? - Management noted that the tariffs could impact profitability in Q1 and that they anticipate more activity in the M&A market as conditions improve in the back half of 2025 [84][86] Question: What is the outlook for capital expenditures and margins? - Management expects capital expenditures to increase in 2025, with a positive impact on margins anticipated in 2026 as new projects come online [90] Question: What contributed to the decrease in selling and general expenses? - The decrease was primarily due to $1.8 million less in variable incentive expenses tied to profitability, reflecting the lower performance in Q4 2024 compared to the previous year [92]