Stock Markets

KeyBanc maintains Sector Weight on BrightSpring Health shares

Published

2 months ago

November 5, 2024

On Monday, KeyBanc Capital Markets maintained its Sector Weight rating on shares of BrightSpring Health (NASDAQ: BTSG). The decision followed the company’s third-quarter results, which showed a solid performance, underpinned by increased prescription volumes in its Pharmacy Solutions business and improved margins in Provider Services.

BrightSpring Health’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) saw a year-over-year increase of 16%, and the analyst noted that the figure would have risen by more than 20% if not for certain one-time expenses, including startup costs and a payor settlement.

Looking ahead, the analyst’s outlook for BrightSpring Health is positive, particularly for the year 2025. The anticipated EBITDA growth is expected to benefit from several factors, including recent mergers and acquisitions, as well as investments into the company’s Infusion services during 2024. The analyst also mentioned that BrightSpring Health appears to be well-protected from the dynamics of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Despite the positive indicators and the potential for long-term growth, KeyBanc has chosen to maintain its current rating. The firm expressed interest in seeing further progress in certain areas before considering a rating change. Specifically, KeyBanc is looking for BrightSpring Health to make headway in capturing cross-sell opportunities, improving value-based care (VBC) economics, and reducing its debt leverage.

In other recent news, BrightSpring Health Services announced the retirement of its Chief Legal Officer, Steven S. Reed, who will transition to a senior legal counsel role until 2025. Concurrently, the company is in search of a successor. BrightSpring’s earnings and revenue have seen a positive impact from a series of acquisitions, including a $60 million acquisition of Haven Hospice assets in Florida.

Analyst firms KeyBanc and BTIG have provided coverage on BrightSpring, with KeyBanc assigning a Sector Weight rating and BTIG upgrading its outlook for the company, raising the price target from $15.00 to $20.00. Investment firm KKR & Co. Inc. has agreed to purchase 11,619,998 of BrightSpring’s common stock shares from Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:).

InvestingPro Insights

BrightSpring Health’s recent performance aligns with several InvestingPro data points and tips. The company’s revenue growth of 25.72% over the last twelve months and 28.82% in Q3 2024 supports KeyBanc’s observation of solid performance, particularly in the Pharmacy Solutions business. This growth is reflected in the InvestingPro Tip highlighting BrightSpring as a “Prominent player in the Healthcare Providers & Services industry.”

The 16% year-over-year EBITDA increase mentioned by KeyBanc is corroborated by InvestingPro data showing an 18.14% EBITDA growth over the last twelve months. This positive trend is further emphasized by the InvestingPro Tip indicating that “Net income is expected to grow this year.”

Despite these positive indicators, BrightSpring’s profitability remains a concern, as noted in the InvestingPro Tip stating the company is “Not profitable over the last twelve months.” This aligns with KeyBanc’s interest in seeing improved value-based care economics before considering a rating change.

Investors should note that BrightSpring is currently trading near its 52-week high, with a strong return of 56.82% over the last year. This performance, combined with analysts’ predictions of profitability this year, suggests potential for the improvements KeyBanc is looking for.

For a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 13 additional tips for BrightSpring Health, providing deeper insights into the company’s financial health and market position.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Stock Markets

BioAge Labs (BIOA) Azelaprag Trial Halt Raises Questions About Pre-IPO Disclosures – Hagens Berman

Published

10 hours ago

December 26, 2024

San Francisco, California–(Newsfile Corp. – December 25, 2024) – On December 9, 2024, just months after conducting an initial public offering in September 2024, BioAge Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOA) made the startling announcement that it was discontinuing a Phase 2 study for its lead product, azelaprag, intended to treat metabolic diseases such as obesity.

Hagens Berman has opened an investigation and urges investors in BioAge who purchased shares in the company’s IPO or on the open market and suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/bioa
Contact the Firm Now: BIOA@hbsslaw.com
844-916-0895

BioAge Labs, Inc. (BIOA) Investigation:

The investigation is focused on the propriety of BioAge’s disclosures about the safety data and other matters related to azelaprag, which the company said in its IPO documents has been “well-tolerated in 265 individuals across eight Phase 1 clinical trials.”

BioAge’s disclosures came into question after the market closed on December 6, 2024, when the company announced the discontinuation of the STRIDES Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating azelaprag in combination with tirzepatide for the treatment of obesity. BioAge said that liver transaminitis was observed in patients receiving azelaprag.

This news drove the price of BioAge shares down almost 80% on December 9, 2024.

“We’re focused on whether BioAge was transparent to investors about the azelaprag safety profile before the December 6 announcement,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in BioAge and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm’s investigation, submit your losses now »

If you’d like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the BioAge investigation, read more »

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding BioAge should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email BIOA@hbsslaw.com.

# # #

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/235182

Stock Markets

Celsius Holdings (CELH) Hit with Investor Class Action Amid Accusations of Oversold Inventory to Pepsi- Hagens Berman

Published

10 hours ago

December 26, 2024

CELH Investors with Losses Encouraged to Contact the Firm

San Francisco, California–(Newsfile Corp. – December 25, 2024) – Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ:), Inc. (NASDAQ: CELH) and certain of its C-Suite officers are embroiled in a securities class action lawsuit, claiming they misrepresented and concealed crucial information about the company’s financial performance, especially concerning its key customer, PepsiCo (NASDAQ:).

Hagens Berman is investigating the allegations and urges investors in Celsius who purchased shares and suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.

Class Period: Feb. 29, 2024 – Sept. 4, 2024
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Jan. 21, 2025
Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/celh
Contact the Firm Now: CELH@hbsslaw.com
844-916-0895

Celsius Holdings, Inc. (CELH) Securities Class Action (WA:):

The lawsuit alleges that during the Class Period, Celsius failed to disclose to investors several critical points:

Oversold Inventory: Celsius significantly oversold inventory to Pepsi beyond demand, leading to a potential drastic reduction in future purchases.
Declining Sales: As Pepsi depleted its overstock, Celsius’ sales were projected to decline, impacting its financial health and outlook.
Unsustainable Sales Rates: The sales rates to Pepsi were unsustainable and created a misleading impression of the company’s performance.
Misleading Metrics: Consequently, Celsius’ business metrics and financial prospects were overstated

The situation came to light on May 28, 2024, when Celsius’ stock price plummeted nearly 13% following reports from Nielsen indicating slowed sales growth. Analysts highlighted the possibility of significantly reduced sales as Pepsi cut back its inventory.

The stock took another hit on September 4, 2024, dropping over 11% after a company presentation revealed a shortfall of $100 million to $120 million in Pepsi orders compared to the previous year. It was also disclosed that Pepsi had held several million excess cases over the last 18 months.

These revelations have led shareholder rights firm Hagens Berman to investigate the allegations.

“We’re investigating whether Celsius deliberately painted an overly optimistic picture of its relationship with Pepsi, misleading investors about the true state of its financial health and sales sustainability,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Celsius and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm’s investigation, submit your losses now »

If you’d like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Celsius case and our investigation, read more »

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Celsius Holdings should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email CELH@hbsslaw.com.

# # #

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/235180

Stock Markets

Suriname fugitive ex-President Desi Bouterse dead at 79

Published

10 hours ago

December 26, 2024

By Ank Kuipers

PARAMARIBO (Reuters) -Suriname’s fugitive former President Desi Bouterse has died aged 79, the country’s government said on Wednesday, almost a year after he fled authorities to avoid jail following his conviction over the murder of 15 political activists in 1982.

“The government has been informed through the family and its own investigations of the passing of Mr. D. Bouterse, ex-President of the Republic of Suriname,” Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin told Reuters.

The former leader died on Tuesday, the government said, without confirming where, or even in which country. Last week Surinamese authorities raided his home – where supporters gathered to pay their respects on Wednesday morning – but did not find him.

Surinamese President Chan Santokhi, who investigated the case as a police commissioner and later as justice minister, expressed condolences to Bouterse’s family and urged calm in a statement.

“In the spirit of the holiday season and year-end, the president calls on all to remain dignified and calm, maintain peace and order and engage in prayer in the spirit of these special days,” the statement said.

Bouterse dominated politics in the tiny South American country for decades, leading a coup in 1980 and finally leaving office in 2020.

In 2019 he and six others were convicted for their role in the 1982 murders of 15 leading government critics – including lawyers, journalists, union leaders, soldiers and university professors – for which Bouterse received a 20-year prison sentence.

Bouterse had claimed the murdered men were connected to a planned invasion of the former Dutch colony.

Following years of legal back and forth, Bouterse was ordered to report to prison in January but he did not show up on the appointed date.

Though Bouterse avoided prison by going on the run, Reed Brody, a U.S. war crimes prosecutor who monitored the case for the International Commission of Jurists, said justice had caught up with the convicted former president before he died.