Stock Markets
Chewy share maintains at Hold on SEC filing disclosed
On Monday, CFRA reaffirmed their Hold rating on Chewy Inc . (NYSE:) with a steady stock price target of $23.00. The reiteration comes amidst a notable increase in the stock’s volatility after an SEC filing disclosed that Keith Gill, known for his role in the GameStop (NYSE:) trading frenzy, has taken a 6.6% ownership in Chewy through the acquisition of 9 million Class A common shares.
The analyst from CFRA highlighted that while the trading patterns reminiscent of the GameStop episode might reoccur, investors should anticipate continued volatility in Chewy’s stock.
The company, which shares a connection with Ryan Cohen and has a significant short interest, presents a contrast to GameStop in terms of its underlying business dynamics. Chewy has recently achieved a crucial milestone by reaching profitability and generating free cash flow.
Chewy’s short interest stands at approximately 15% of its float, translating to around 5% of the total shares outstanding. This is due to the fact that only about a third of Chewy’s 436 million outstanding shares are freely traded on the market. BC Partners, the largest shareholder of Chewy, holds a majority stake exceeding 50% of the common shares.
In recent developments, Chewy entered into an agreement last week to repurchase 17.6 million shares from BC Partners at a cost of $500 million. The CFRA analyst’s position remains unchanged, advising investors to maintain their Hold status on Chewy’s shares.
In other recent news, Chewy has been the center of significant developments. Keith Gill, also known as “Roaring Kitty,” has disclosed a 6.6% stake in the online pet products retailer, sparking interest in the financial community.
In a strategic move towards capital efficiency, Chewy has also entered into an agreement to repurchase 17,550,000 shares of its Class A common stock at a 5% discount, with the transaction expected to be completed by June 2024. This decision reflects the company’s confidence in its growth strategy and margin expansion.
Several investment banking firms have adjusted their outlooks on Chewy. Jefferies raised its price target citing the company’s ability to scale up and achieve greater profitability, while Barclays maintained its Overweight rating with a steady price target, despite a trend of pet surrenders outpacing adoptions.
Similarly, Mizuho Securities, Evercore ISI, and Piper Sandler have all increased their price targets for Chewy, following the company’s strong first-quarter results and revised EBITDA forecast for the year.
These developments follow Chewy’s first-quarter performance marked by strong Autoship sales, record-high Gross Margin, and a record-high EBITDA Margin. Despite a slight decline in active customers, Chewy’s revenue for the second quarter is expected to align with Wall Street forecasts.
The company has also reiterated its revenue guidance for the full fiscal year 2024 and improved its FY24 EBITDA margin guidance, raising the midpoint from 3.8% to 4.2%. This series of recent developments underscores the dynamic nature of Chewy’s operations and market position.
InvestingPro Insights
As Chewy Inc. navigates through market fluctuations and investor scrutiny, real-time data and analysis from InvestingPro provide a deeper perspective on the company’s financial health and stock performance.
With a market capitalization of $11.29 billion, Chewy’s valuation reflects a high P/E ratio of 134.07, indicating that investors are paying a significant premium for the company’s earnings. Despite this, the company’s balance sheet holds more cash than debt, and net income is expected to grow this year, offering a positive outlook for future profitability.
InvestingPro Tips suggest that Chewy’s stock has seen a strong return over the last month and three months, with an impressive 28.43% and 69.3% price total return, respectively. These metrics underscore the stock’s recent momentum, aligning with the CFRA analyst’s observation of increased volatility.
Moreover, six analysts have revised their earnings estimates upwards for the upcoming period, signaling confidence in Chewy’s earning potential. For investors looking to delve further into Chewy’s financials and stock analysis, InvestingPro offers additional insights and tips, which can be accessed with a special offer using the coupon code PRONEWS24 for up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.
While Chewy’s high valuation multiples, such as the P/E and Price / Book ratios, may raise concerns about its current stock price relative to near-term earnings growth, the company’s profitability over the last twelve months and the lack of dividend payments suggest a reinvestment strategy aimed at fostering growth. With 12 more InvestingPro Tips available, investors have ample resources to make informed decisions on their holdings in Chewy Inc.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.
Stock Markets
OSPN stock soars to 52-week high, hits $17.73 amid robust growth
In a remarkable display of market confidence, shares of OneSpan Inc. (NASDAQ:) surged to a 52-week high, reaching a price level of $17.73. This peak reflects a significant turnaround for the company, which specializes in digital identity and anti-fraud solutions, marking a substantial 91.47% increase over the past year. Investors have rallied behind OneSpan’s strategic initiatives and strong performance, propelling the stock to new heights and signaling a robust growth trajectory for the company’s future.
In other recent news, OneSpan demonstrated a strong financial performance in the third quarter of 2024, with a notable increase in its Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and subscription revenues. Despite a dip in total revenue, primarily attributed to an expected decrease in hardware sales, the company’s adjusted EBITDA hit $17 million, marking 30% of revenue, and a 9% rise in ARR to $164 million.
The company also reported a significant turnaround with a GAAP net income per share of $0.21, a stark contrast to a loss in the previous year. OneSpan’s Digital Agreements segment achieved profitability for the first time, and the Security segment continued its high profitability with an increased gross profit margin.
In terms of earnings, OneSpan’s subscription revenue grew by 29%, making up 60% of total revenue. The company’s operating income rose to $11.3 million, a considerable improvement from a $4.8 million loss year-over-year.
The company’s full-year 2024 revenue guidance was revised to range between $238 million and $242 million, with an increased adjusted EBITDA forecast of $65 million to $67 million. These recent developments indicate OneSpan’s strategic shift towards higher-margin software revenue and a focus on operational efficiency and profitability.
InvestingPro Insights
OneSpan Inc.’s recent surge to a 52-week high is supported by several key financial metrics and analyst observations. According to InvestingPro data, OSPN’s market capitalization stands at $672.06 million, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 23.47. This valuation appears reasonable considering the company’s growth prospects.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that OneSpan is trading near its 52-week high, corroborating the article’s main point. Additionally, the company has shown a strong return over the last month and a large price uptick over the last six months, aligning with the reported 91.47% increase over the past year.
The company’s financial health appears solid, with InvestingPro Tips noting that OneSpan holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet and that its liquid assets exceed short-term obligations. This financial stability may be contributing to investor confidence and the stock’s upward trajectory.
Looking ahead, analysts predict that OneSpan will be profitable this year, and net income is expected to grow. This positive outlook is further supported by the fact that two analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggesting potential for continued stock appreciation.
For investors seeking a deeper dive into OneSpan’s prospects, InvestingPro offers 8 additional tips that could provide valuable insights into the company’s future performance and investment potential.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.
Stock Markets
‘Strong likelihood’ famine imminent in north Gaza, say food security experts
By Lena Masri, Michelle Nichols
LONDON/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -There is a “strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas” of the northern Gaza Strip, a committee of global food security experts warned on Friday, as Israel pursues a military offensive against Palestinian militant group Hamas in the area.
“Immediate action, within days not weeks, is required from all actors who are directly taking part in the conflict, or have influence on its conduct, to avert and alleviate this catastrophic situation,” the independent Famine Review Committee (FRC) said in a rare alert.
The warning comes just days ahead of a U.S. deadline for Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza or face potential restrictions on U.S. military aid.
Israel’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“If no effective action is taken by stakeholders with influence, the scale of this looming catastrophe is likely to dwarf anything we have seen so far in the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023,” the FRC committee said.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that there are between 75,000 and 95,000 people still in northern Gaza.
The Famine Review Committee said that it could be “assumed that starvation, malnutrition, and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease, are rapidly increasing” in north Gaza.
“Famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future,” it said.
Israel began a wide military push in northern Gaza last month. The United States has said it is watching to ensure that its ally’s actions on the ground show it does not have a “policy of starvation” in the north.
The Famine Review Committee reviews findings by the global hunger monitor – an internationally recognised standard known as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification ().
The IPC defines famine as when at least 20% of people in an area are suffering extreme food shortages, with at least 30% of children acutely malnourished and two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or malnutrition and disease.
The IPC is an initiative involving U.N. agencies, national governments and aid groups that sets the global standard on measuring food crises.
The IPC warned last month that the entire Gaza Strip was at risk of famine, while top U.N. officials last week described the northern Gaza Strip as “apocalyptic” and everyone there was “at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence.”
The amount of aid entering Gaza has plummeted to its lowest level in a year, according to U.N. data, and the U.N. has repeatedly accused Israel of hindering and blocking attempts to deliver aid, particularly to Gaza’s north.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon last month told the Security Council that the issue in Gaza was not a lack of aid, saying more than a million tons had been delivered during the past year. He accused Hamas of hijacking the assistance.
Hamas has repeatedly denied Israeli allegations that it was stealing aid and says Israel is to blame for shortages.
“The daily average number of trucks entering Gaza in late October was about 58 per day,” Jean-Martin Bauer, the U.N. World Food Programme’s director of food security and nutrition analysis, told Reuters on Friday.
“We were getting about 200 a day in September and August, so that’s really a big, big decline,” he said.
Stock Markets
West Chester Capital Advisors, Inc. Announces Rebrand, Name Change to AmeriServ Wealth Advisors, Inc.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa., Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — (NASDAQ: ASRV) “ West Chester Capital Advisors, Inc., the registered investment advisor of AmeriServ Financial Bank, announced today that it has changed its name to AmeriServ Wealth Advisors, Inc. The name change and rebranding, which includes a new visual identity, web presence and enhanced positioning, is intended to better reflect the company’s business and its strong partnership with AmeriServ Bank.
“We are excited to now be more closely aligned with our parent company. This name change enables us to capitalize on the brand equity associated with the AmeriServ name while continuing to provide investment advisory services to our clients,” Frank Lapinsky, president, and CEO of AmeriServ Wealth Advisors, said.
He described the firm’s performance as “our team of investment and wealth professionals brings over 100 years of assisting clients to plan for their present and future financial needs. We have a deep understanding of clients’ needs, a history enabling them to identify and chart their investments goals and a strong commitment to providing an exceptional level of personal and professional service. This expertise coupled with the bank’s almost 125-year history provides our clients with the reassurance and recognizability that we are committed to working with them through every stage of their financial life.”
AmeriServ Wealth Advisors’ investment management and advisory services range from individual portfolio management to pension and profit-sharing plans for individuals and institutions, including bank and trust companies, charitable organizations, and government entities. The firm’s proactive, disciplined approach is also applied to the signature Pathroad Account ® portfolios which are sponsored by AmeriServ Financial Bank and designed to produce solid long-term investment results for both equity and fixed income clients. The combined years of experience of the advisors allows for delivery of personalized services through one-on-one consultations with a local investment firm.
About AmeriServ Wealth Advisors, Inc.
AmeriServ Wealth Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment advisor with its principal place of business located in Johnstown, PA. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of AmeriServ Financial Bank ®. AmeriServ Financial Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of AmeriServ Financial, Inc., a publicly held bank holding company trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol ASRV.
- Forex2 years ago
Forex Today: the dollar is gaining strength amid gloomy sentiment at the start of the Fed’s week
- Forex2 years ago
How is the Australian dollar doing today?
- Forex2 years ago
Dollar to pound sterling exchange rate today: Pound plummeted to its lowest since 1985
- Forex2 years ago
Unbiased review of Pocket Option broker
- Cryptocurrency2 years ago
What happened in the crypto market – current events today
- World2 years ago
Why are modern video games an art form?
- Commodities2 years ago
Copper continues to fall in price on expectations of lower demand in China
- Forex2 years ago
The dollar is down again against major world currencies