Summary of Superior Group of Companies Conference Call Company Overview - **Company Name**: Superior Group of Companies (NasdaqGM: SGC) - **Date of Conference**: September 18, 2025 - **Key Speakers**: Mike Koempel (CFO), Michael Benstock (Chairman and CEO) - **Company History**: Founded over 100 years ago, with a focus on three diversified segments [2][3] Industry Segments 1. **Healthcare Apparel** - Largest provider of healthcare apparel in the U.S., serving over 12 million healthcare professionals [5][6] - Total Addressable Market (TAM) estimated at over $4 billion, with significant growth opportunities [9] - Key brands include Wink and Fashion Seal Healthcare, with a strong omnichannel distribution strategy [8][10] 2. **Branded Products** - This segment is the largest, providing promotional products and logoed uniforms to major U.S. companies [11] - The branded products industry is approximately $26 billion, with SGC ranking among the top 10 largest branded distributors [14] - Notable clients include Taco Bell, Dunkin', Tesla, Walmart, and CVS, focusing on high-quality merchandise rather than low-value items [12][13] 3. **Contact Centers (The Office Gurus)** - Operates nearshore contact centers in El Salvador, Belize, the Dominican Republic, and Florida [19][20] - Fastest growing segment with a cumulative adjusted growth of 22% through 2024 and an EBITDA margin of 12.6% [22] - Market share is minimal, focusing on small to medium-sized businesses, with a total market exceeding $100 billion in the U.S. [22] Financial Highlights - **Revenue**: Consolidated revenues were $566 million, with a CAGR of 8% since 2019 [4] - **2025 Guidance**: Projected sales range of $550 to $575 million, indicating continued growth across all segments [24] - **Balance Sheet**: Net leverage ratio improved to about 1.7 times EBITDA, with a target range of 2 to 2.5 times [37][38] - **Dividends**: Uninterrupted dividend payments since 1977, with a yield of 4% to 5% [41][42] Strategic Initiatives - **Cost-Savings Plan**: Announced a $13 million reduction in annualized budgeted expenses, with expected benefits to be fully realized by 2026 [45][46] - **AI Integration**: Implementing AI across contact center services to enhance efficiency and customer loyalty, with 35 customers already utilizing the AI stack [34][35] - **Share Repurchase Program**: Initiated in August 2024, with $15 million of stock repurchased, balancing investments and share buybacks [38] Market Dynamics - **Customer Sentiment**: Improvement noted in the second quarter of 2025, with a 14% increase in branded products sales compared to the first quarter [42] - **Tariff Impact**: Initial concerns over tariffs have subsided, leading to increased willingness among customers to proceed with purchasing decisions [42][43] - **Sales Team Expansion**: Plans to expand and upskill sales teams across all business segments in 2026 [47][48] Conclusion - Superior Group of Companies is positioned for growth across its diversified segments, with a strong focus on customer retention, strategic investments, and leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency. The company maintains a solid financial foundation and is committed to returning value to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

Group 1 - Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) is recognized as a long-term growth opportunity, endorsed by Jim Cramer, ahead of its Q1 fiscal year 2026 results announcement [1][2][3] - In Q4 2025, Cintas reported revenue of $2.67 billion, reflecting an 8% increase, and a total revenue of $10.34 billion for the full year 2025, marking a 7.7% increase with organic growth at 8% [2][3] - The company has been included in the Fortune 500 for the ninth consecutive year, indicating its strong market position [2] Group 2 - Cintas Corporation specializes in uniform rental and facility services, providing products such as uniforms, mats, mops, and first aid supplies to businesses across North America [4] - The company is headquartered in Ohio and has been operational since 1968, serving a diverse range of clients [4] - Institutional confidence is strong, with 57 hedge funds currently invested in Cintas stock, suggesting robust investor interest [3]

Core Insights - Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) is experiencing a decline of approximately 10% this month despite its strong multi-year growth and high earnings, which has raised concerns about a potential economic slowdown [1][2] - Jim Cramer suggests that the current dip in Cintas stock presents a buying opportunity, particularly if the upcoming quarterly results are disappointing, as he views the company as a strong long-term investment [1] Company Overview - Cintas Corporation provides uniforms, facility services, and related business solutions, including first aid, safety, and fire protection products [2] - The company typically operates on a five-year standard contract for its services, indicating a stable revenue model [2] Market Context - Cramer notes that Cintas's stock performance is closely tied to blue-collar hiring trends; a slowdown in hiring negatively impacts the stock, but its current valuation suggests resilience in the broader economy [2]

Financial Performance - Revenue for Fiscal Q3 2025 was $673.8 million, a decrease of 3.5% compared to $698.2 million in Fiscal Q3 2024[15] - Gross profit decreased by 10.1% year-over-year, from $202.5 million in Fiscal Q3 2024 to $182.1 million in Fiscal Q3 2025[15] - Gross margin decreased by 197 basis points year-over-year, from 29.0% in Fiscal Q3 2024 to 27.0% in Fiscal Q3 2025[15] - Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 26.3% year-over-year, from $86.9 million in Fiscal Q3 2024 to $64.0 million in Fiscal Q3 2025[15] - Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased by 295 basis points year-over-year, from 12.4% in Fiscal Q3 2024 to 9.5% in Fiscal Q3 2025[15] - Free cash flow decreased by 71.1% year-over-year, from $27.7 million in Fiscal Q3 2024 to $8.0 million in Fiscal Q3 2025[15] Revenue Disaggregation - Consolidated uniforms revenue decreased by 6.7%, from $279.004 million in Fiscal Q3 2024 to $260.427 million in Fiscal Q3 2025[48] - Consolidated workplace supplies revenue decreased by 1.4%, from $419.244 million in Fiscal Q3 2024 to $413.372 million in Fiscal Q3 2025[48] - Rental revenue decreased by 2.7%, and direct sales revenue decreased by 14.2%[13] Liquidity and Debt - Total available liquidity was $290 million, including $24 million cash on hand[14] - Net debt was $1.3 billion[38] - Net leverage ratio was 4.50x[14, 38]

Core Viewpoint - Superior Group (SGC) reported quarterly earnings of $0.1 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.05 per share, marking a 100% earnings surprise compared to $0.04 per share a year ago [1] - The company generated revenues of $144.05 million for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.34% and showing an increase from $131.74 million year-over-year [2] Financial Performance - Superior Group has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times over the last four quarters [2] - The company experienced a significant earnings surprise of -145.45% in the previous quarter, where it was expected to post earnings of $0.11 per share but instead reported a loss of $0.05 [1][2] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.22 on revenues of $143.34 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.41 on revenues of $559.79 million [7] Stock Performance - Superior Group shares have declined approximately 40.8% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 7.6% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating it is expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6] Industry Outlook - The Textile - Apparel industry, to which Superior Group belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 19% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact investor sentiment [5]

I want to ask you to explain what's happening with Coles, but I want to talk about some of the brands that you have under your management, because tariffs are the talk of the town and you think about retailers getting hit really on both sides. Here you have consumer demand and you also have raw input costs. So what are you seeing when you look at some of your portfolio companies.Yeah, it's interesting. So as we're looking at the environment right now, as you mentioned, there's certainly, you know, there is ...

Core Insights - UniFirst Corporation has been recognized for 22 consecutive years on Selling Power's list of the "60 Best Companies to Sell For in 2025," highlighting its strong sales culture and commitment to customer service [1][4]. Company Overview - UniFirst is a North American leader in providing customized business uniform programs, facility service products, and first aid and safety services [1][6]. - The company serves over two million uniform wearers across North America, including more than half of the Fortune 500 companies [4]. Sales Culture - The company's sales culture is built on its Founding Core Values: Customer Focus, Commitment to Quality, and Respect for Others [3]. - UniFirst empowers its sales teams to understand customers' businesses deeply, enabling them to develop innovative strategies that address unique challenges [3][4]. Recognition and Evaluation - Selling Power evaluates companies based on their supportive and collaborative sales culture, with a focus on professionalism, trust, and empowerment [4]. - The recognition reflects UniFirst's long-term success in sales and customer engagement [4]. Recruitment and Growth - UniFirst is actively recruiting talented individuals to join its award-winning sales team, indicating ongoing growth and expansion [5].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenues for Q3 fiscal 2025 were $610.8 million, an increase of 1.2% from $603.3 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2024 [6][12] - Consolidated operating income decreased to $48.2 million from $48.5 million, a decline of 0.6% [12] - Net income increased to $39.7 million or $2.13 per diluted share, up from $38.1 million or $2.03 per diluted share [12] - Consolidated adjusted EBITDA increased to $85.8 million from $84.8 million, reflecting a 1.2% increase [12] - Effective tax rate increased to 25.7% compared to 22.9% in the prior year [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core Laundry operations revenues were $533.2 million, an increase of 0.9% from the previous year [13] - Core Laundry organic growth was 1.1%, adjusting for acquisitions and currency fluctuations [14] - Specialty Garments segment revenues increased to $47.8 million, a 0.5% rise from the prior year [16] - First Aid segment revenues increased to $29.8 million, a 9% increase driven by growth in van operations [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Customer retention improved compared to Q3 fiscal 2024, but there was softness in customer wearer levels [9] - Direct sales revenues were lower compared to the same quarter last year, impacting overall growth [10][62] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on investing in people, technology, and infrastructure to enhance growth and profitability [6][10] - The strategy includes improving operational execution, strategic pricing, procurement sourcing, and inventory management [11] - The company is implementing a new ERP system to enable better operational efficiencies [11][41] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a cautious mood among existing customers regarding investments and employment levels, particularly in manufacturing sectors [21] - The pricing environment remains challenging, with potential impacts from tariffs and vendor cost increases [24][25] - The company maintains its annual revenue guidance between $2.422 billion and $2.432 billion, while increasing diluted earnings per share guidance to $7.60 to $8.00 [18] Other Important Information - The company incurred approximately $5.7 million in advisory and legal costs during the quarter, with some related to prior strategic discussions [15][56] - Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $211.9 million, with no long-term debt [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you unpack organic growth further? - Management noted improvements in new business and customer retention but highlighted softness in wearer levels impacting overall growth [20][21] Question: What insights can you provide on pricing dynamics? - Management indicated a fluid situation with pricing, impacted by inflation recovery and potential tariff effects [24][25] Question: How is the environment for new sales? - Management observed incremental positive momentum in new sales compared to six months ago, but not dramatically different [30] Question: What is the status of key initiatives and cost reductions? - Key initiative costs are primarily related to the ongoing ERP implementation, with costs currently being capitalized [38][41] Question: How are labor costs trending? - Labor costs are stable, with improvements in execution and efficiency noted [52][53] Question: What is the impact of strategic advisory and legal expenses? - The costs were related to prior strategic discussions and ongoing legal matters, with an accrual built for the latter [56]

Core Insights - Target Corporation (TGT) is launching Target Circle Week from July 6 to 12, offering discounts up to 50% on various items to attract early back-to-school shoppers [1][8] - The event is strategically timed to address consumer affordability concerns and aims to drive traffic and conversion through time-sensitive promotions [2][4] Promotions and Strategies - The "Deal of the Day" feature has returned, now with three daily offers to encourage repeat visits [2][3] - Target Circle 360 members receive early access and a $50 discount on their first same-day delivery order, enhancing customer engagement [2][3] - Target is also providing targeted discounts for students and teachers, including a one-time 20% storewide discount, to deepen loyalty program engagement [3] Competitive Landscape - Walmart's summer savings event runs from July 8 to 13, featuring a wide range of deals and enhanced shopping options [5] - Amazon is expanding its back-to-school strategy with a four-day Prime Day event from July 8 to 11, focusing on deep discounts [6] Financial Performance - Target's stock has decreased by 6.7% over the past three months, contrasting with the industry's growth of 1.6% [7] - The forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio for Target is 12.75, significantly lower than the industry average of 32.30 [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year decline in sales and earnings per share of 1.9% and 15.2%, respectively [10]

Company Performance - Superior Group (SGC) shares decreased by 2.5% to $9.74, underperforming the S&P 500's loss of 0.22% on the same day [1] - Over the past month, SGC shares appreciated by 1.32%, outperforming the Consumer Discretionary sector's loss of 0.1% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.45% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Analysts expect Superior Group to report earnings of $0.07 per share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 75% [2] - The consensus estimate for quarterly revenue is $135.03 million, reflecting a 2.5% increase from the previous year [2] Full-Year Estimates - Zacks Consensus Estimates project full-year earnings of $0.49 per share and revenue of $559.79 million, representing year-over-year declines of 32.88% and 1.04%, respectively [3] Analyst Forecast Revisions - Recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Superior Group are important as they reflect short-term business trends [4] - Positive estimate revisions are viewed as a sign of optimism regarding the business outlook [4] Zacks Rank and Performance - The Zacks Rank system currently rates Superior Group as 4 (Sell), with the consensus EPS estimate decreasing by 13.6% over the past month [6] - Historically, 1 ranked stocks in the Zacks Rank system have yielded an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [6] Valuation Metrics - Superior Group has a Forward P/E ratio of 20.28, which is higher than the industry average Forward P/E of 13.65 [7] - The company's PEG ratio stands at 2.03, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 1.98 [8] Industry Context - The Textile - Apparel industry, part of the Consumer Discretionary sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 208, placing it in the bottom 16% of over 250 industries [9] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [9]