Small cap restaurant stock Noodles & Co (NASDAQ: NDLS) reportedQ1 2017 earnings after yesterdays market close. In February,Noodles & Co hadannouncedthe completion of an $18.5 million private placement sale of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock to an existing shareholder to strengthen the Company’s balance sheet and fund strategic initiatives. The Company also announced plans to close approximately 55 underperforming company-owned restaurants, to eliminate the negative cash flow of these restaurants and improve overall performance.
Q1 total revenue increased 2.4% to$2.7 million as aresult of new restaurants opened system-wide since the beginning of the first quarter of 2016, partially offset by the closure of 39 company-owned restaurants on February 28, 2017. An additional 16 restaurants were closed at the end of the quarter, and accordingly, their closure did not impact the first quarter revenue results. Additionally, average unit volumes (“AUVs”) for the quarter overall decreased $34,000 compared to the first quarter of 2016. AUV’s for the trailing twelve months were $1,067,000 andexcluding restaurants that were closed during the first quarter, AUV’s were $1,116,000. Noodles & Co reported a net loss of $26.8 million versus a net loss of $2.4 million as the Company recorded $19.9 million of charges related to the closure of 55 restaurants and $1.9 million of charges related to impairment of four restaurants.
Top Performing Stocks To Own For 2018: PetMed Express, Inc.(PETS)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows Blue Buffalo Pet Products roughly back up to its IPO close for retail investors while fresh pet food peer Freshpet Inc (NASDAQ: FRPT) isstill below IPO levels and pet stocksCentral Garden & Pet Co (NASDAQ: CENT) andPetmed Express (NASDAQ: PETS) have been much stronger performers in the pet sector after PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM) was acquired by a private equity group:
- [By Lisa Levin] Gainers
Aimmune Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: AIMT) shares jumped 35 percent to $34.64 in response to failed DBVT peanut allergy trial.
Exactech, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXAC) shares surged 30.9 percent to $41.88 after the company agreed to be acquired by TPG Capital for $42 per share in cash.
Dextera Surgical Inc (NASDAQ: DXTR) shares climbed 27.6 percent to $0.238 after surging 40.48 percent on Friday.
Petmed Express Inc (NASDAQ: PETS) jumped 21.8 percent to $44.73 as the company reported better-than-expected Q2 results.
SenesTech Inc (NASDAQ: SNES) shares surged 21.7 percent to $1.95 after the company disclosed that Univar will be marketing and selling ContraPest.
Yulong Eco-Materials Ltd (NASDAQ: YECO) shares gained 18.3 percent to $0.560.
One Horizon Group Inc (NASDAQ: OHGI) shares rose 18 percent to $1.18.
Atossa Genetics Inc (NASDAQ: ATOS) shares climbed 18 percent to $0.566. Atossa Genetics is schedule to host a conference call to announce preliminary results from Phase 1 study of oral Endoxifen on October 25, 2017.
ReneSola Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE: SOL) shares rose 15.3 percent to $2.72
Renren Inc (NYSE: RENN) shares gained 11.9 percent to $10.71 after gaining 2.68 percent on Friday.
Kalvista Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: KALV) shares rose 11.8 percent to $12.59. KalVista Pharma 13D filing from Longwood Fund showed registration for an 8.7 percent stake.
Xunlei Ltd (NASDAQ: XNET) shares gained 9.4 percent to $7.20 after surging 25.33 percent on Friday.
VF Corp (NYSE: VFC) shares surged 7.1 percent to $71.09 after the company reported upbeat earnings for its third quarter and raised its FY2017 guidance.
CAI International Inc (NYSE: CAI) rose 6.6 percent to $39.70. Cowen & Co. upgraded CAI from Market Perform to Outperform.
Agenus Inc (NASDAQ: AGEN) shares gained 5.7 percent to $4.58 as the company disclosed that GSK's shingle vaccine received FDA approval.
Deltic Timber Corp (NYSE: DEL) shares climbed 5.6 percent to $94.11 - [By Peter Graham]
Small cap pet stockPetmed Express Inc (NASDAQ: PETS) reportedQ2 earnings before the market opened this morning with shares soaring this morning as earnings were well beyond expectations. Net sales increased 10% to $66.7 million as new order sales increased 9% to $11.6 million while the Company’s online sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 were approximately 84% of all sales compared to 82% for the same quarter the prior year (with online sales increasing 12%). Net income was $8.8 million versusnet income of $4.9 million. The CEO commented:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows Blue Buffalo Pet Products now roughly back up to its IPO close for retail investors while fresh pet food peer Freshpet Inc (NASDAQ: FRPT) is well below IPO levels and pet stocksCentral Garden & Pet Co (NASDAQ: CENT) andPetmed Express (NASDAQ: PETS) have been the best performers in the pet sector after PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM) was acquired by a private equity group:
- [By Lisa Levin]
Monday afternoon, the non-cyclical consumer goods & services shares surged 0.22 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Petmed Express Inc (NASDAQ: PETS), up 20 percent, and Kroger Co (NYSE: KR), up 3 percent.
Top Performing Stocks To Own For 2018: Electronics for Imaging Inc.(EFII)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin]
Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (NASDAQ: EFII) shares dropped 43 percent to $26.96. Electronics For Imaging disclosed that it has postponed Q2 release due to accounting issues related to revenue recognition. Morgan Stanley downgraded Electronics for Imaging from Equal-Weight to Underweight.
Top Performing Stocks To Own For 2018: International Game Technology(IGT)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Dan Caplinger]
Thursday was another strong day on Wall Street, with major benchmarks posting gains across the board. The S&P 500 reached another all-time high on strength from an upbeat view of the economy and good earnings results from major companies in the retail sector. Although energy prices sagged, investors seemed to focus on the cost savings that consumers would enjoy from cheaper gasoline rather than the profit hit that major oil and natural gas companies might suffer. Still, not every stock participated in the rally, and International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT), Genesco (NYSE:GCO), and Ensco (NYSE:ESV) were among the worst performers on the day. Below, we’ll look more closely at these stocks to tell you why they did so poorly.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
Yet even though the overall market remained resilient in the face of some threats to positive sentiment among investors, some stocks posted substantial losses. Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS), International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT), and Momo (NASDAQ:MOMO) were among the worst performers on the day. Below, we’ll look more closely at these stocks to tell you why they did so poorly.
- [By Michael Flannelly]
Analysts at Sterne Agee noted on Monday that International Game Technology’s (IGT) fiscal 2014 growth is stronger than it appears. As such, the analysts raised the price target on the casino gaming equipment manufacturer.
The analysts maintain a “Buy” rating on IGT and now see shares reaching $25, up from the previous target of $23. This new price target suggests a 23% upside to the stock’s Friday closing price of $20.32.
“Excluding FY13 Canadian VLT sales, which do not recur in FY14, consensus FY14 EPS growth is ~14% versus ‘in-print’ consensus EPS growth of ~4%,” Sterne Agee analyst David Bain said. “We believe IGT’s peer-low stock valuation is partly driven by a misinterpretation of forward growth using ‘in-print’ FY14 EPS projections.”
Futhermore, the firm raised IGT’s fourth quarter EPS estimates from 33 cents to 34 cents.
IGT shares were inactive during pre-market trading on Monday. The stock is up 43.4% year-to-date.
Top Performing Stocks To Own For 2018: Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc.(PGNX)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin]
Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: PGNX) shares shot up 29 percent to $6.37 after announcing the FDA approval of RELISTOR tablets for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in adults with chronic non-cancer pain.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
After meeting with the senior management team of Progenics (PGNX) , Valeant’s partner for oral Relistor, we continue to think that this drug would be a good addition to Valeant’s GI (gastrointestinal) franchise. The PDUFA date for oral Relistor is 7/19/16. AlthoughValeant is leading interactions with the FDA, Progenics is highly confident regarding an approval in July based on its discussions with Valeant. Progenics believes that oral Relistor could be a $1B+ opportunity for Valeant, even with the recent decrease in opioid usage. For context, we estimate ’16 sales of $9.9B for Valeant. An approval for oral Relistor would also help remind the Street that Valeant’s brand drug pipeline is underappreciated, in our view. We think pipeline advancements for brand drugs could drive multiple expansion forValeant shares (on P/E).
