Carmen K Sisson/iStock Editorial via Getty Images April 1, 2026, Blue Bird ( BLBD ), 99 years old, has acquired the remaining 50% of shares from Micro Bird. This means Micro Bird has become a subsidiary of Blue Bird. Why now? I believe this is the best timing for Blue Bird to expand its business, absorbing the post-Covid demand of school buses that is now ready to finally exceed the pre-Covid mark...
Carmen K Sisson/iStock Editorial via Getty Images April 1, 2026, Blue Bird ( BLBD ), 99 years old, has acquired the remaining 50% of shares from Micro Bird. This means Micro Bird has become a subsidiary of Blue Bird. Why now? I believe this is the best timing for Blue Bird to expand its business, absorbing the post-Covid demand of school buses that is now ready to finally exceed the pre-Covid market size, ramping up its factory in Plattsburgh. This article focuses on the impacts of current acquisition, as to whether the deal was reasonable and whether the present stock price of Blue Bird is attractive. I believe that it was a wise deal to buy Micro Bird at the price that Blue Bird paid. Blue Bird is nothing like a lottery ticket that can make you rich tomorrow, but I believe it will reward patient investors in a long term. Investment Thesis Warren Buffett once said "It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price." I rate Blue Bird as a strong buy because it is a typical example of buying a wonderful company at a fair price. The parent company paid 10.7x FY2026 forecast EBITDA to acquire its subsidiary. This looks like a premium to Blue Bird, seeing that its own multiple is 8.7x as of May 10, 2026. But this is not extreme as the sector median is 12.34x. Considering the synergies both companies will generate, the purchase price was an excellent discount. The management has raised its FY2026 EBITDA guidance by 8.9%, which is thanks to the consolidation, whereas the organic increase of Blue Bird itself is 2.2%. This is significant because in spite of the relatively small size, Micro Bird has a meaningful contribution to this guidance improvement. The management team has 14 quarters of consecutive beats when it comes to earnings. Hence I believe they are trustworthy. It is highly likely that they will achieve their mid term and long term targets, and this will justify the acquisition in the near future. Acquisition BLB...
Gary Yeowell/DigitalVision via Getty Images Investment Overview I wrote about Smith Douglas Homes Corp. ( SDHC ) previously with a sell rating, as I believed the business was unlikely to see demand improve given the macro conditions. After looking at the recent numbers, I think my view needs to be updated. Orders and backlog did improve, which tells me demand has turned somewhat better than before...
Gary Yeowell/DigitalVision via Getty Images Investment Overview I wrote about Smith Douglas Homes Corp. ( SDHC ) previously with a sell rating, as I believed the business was unlikely to see demand improve given the macro conditions. After looking at the recent numbers, I think my view needs to be updated. Orders and backlog did improve, which tells me demand has turned somewhat better than before. The problem is that this recovery still looks heavily supported by incentives, while margins continue to compress. In my view, a hold rating makes more sense today. Q1 2026 Earnings The reported numbers for Q1 were, again, a weak set of numbers. Home closing revenue fell 8% y/y to $206.4 million, mainly due to fewer closings. Specifically, SDHC closed 624 homes in Q1, down 7% from 671 in Q1 2025. The average sales price on homes closed also moved down to $331,000 from $335,000. That said, not every region was weak. The Southeast was clearly weaker, wherein home closing revenue fell 12% y/y to $121.1 million, with closings down 9% to 358. The average sales price here fell 4% to $338,000. Central did better. Home closing revenue there fell just 1% y/y to $85.4 million, while closings declined 5% to 266. Average sales price in Central, on the contrary, went up 4% to $321,000. The topline weakness flowed naturally down the P&L, where home closing gross profit dropped 24% y/y to $40.5 million, with gross margin down ~420 bps y/y to 19.6%. That, coupled with selling, general, and administrative expenses up 9% y/y to $35.9 million, collectively drove net income to fall to $4.1 million from $18.7 million. Orders Improved, but the Recovery Still Looks Uncertain Perhaps the biggest takeaway vs. my last update is that demand got better. Net new orders were up a staggering 28% y/y to 981, which was a new quarterly record. Sales pace also improved through the quarter and reached 4 homes per community in March. Backlog homes also went up 10% y/y to 869, which should’ve been higher as S...
Mexico’s Braskem Idesa SAPI and its creditors are nearing an agreement for a loan of around $250 million as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, according to people familiar with the matter. The company and its advisers are racing to line up so-called debtor-in-possession financing so that Braskem Idesa can get a deal and benefit from an improvement in petrochemical spreads driven by the war in...
Mexico’s Braskem Idesa SAPI and its creditors are nearing an agreement for a loan of around $250 million as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, according to people familiar with the matter. The company and its advisers are racing to line up so-called debtor-in-possession financing so that Braskem Idesa can get a deal and benefit from an improvement in petrochemical spreads driven by the war in the Middle East, the people, said, asking not to be named discussing a private matter. Negotiations are still ongoing and no final decisions have been made, they added. Braskem Idesa — a joint venture between Brazil’s Braskem SA and Mexico’s Grupo Idesa SA — has been in talks with creditors to restructure its debt for months . It has failed to make interest payments on its dollar notes due in 2029 and in 2032 amid persistent cash pressures that have also left it operating at lower capacity, missing out on the boon provided by higher crude prices. Dollar notes due in 2029 have rebounded from lows are now hovering just under 70 cents on the dollar, with a yield of about 19.9%, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Petrobras, Braskem Executives at Brazil’s state-controlled oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA , one of Braskem SA’s key shareholders, recently met with Braskem Idesa executives in Mexico, two of the people said. Conversations revolved around the current structure of the Mexican unit’s balance sheet and its future commercial relationship with Braskem, one of the people added. Braskem Idesa, Petrobras and Braskem declined to comment. Petrobras executives have been traveling to Mexico this year as part of a plan to form partnerships with Petroleos Mexicanos , Chief Executive Officer Magda Chambriard said during a press conference on Tuesday. Braskem has also been grappling with mounting financial and legal challenges stemming from a salt-mining crisis in Maceio and years of failed attempts by shareholder Novonor — the conglomerate formerly known as Odebrecht — to s...
Red Stock Studio/iStock via Getty Images Village Farms ( VFF ) reported strong Q1-2026 financial results on Monday with increasing revenue, increasing gross profit, and improved net income. International sales continue to drive growth. The company has expanded its grow facilities in Canada and the Netherlands. Revenue should continue to increase. The company is looking to expand its international ...
Red Stock Studio/iStock via Getty Images Village Farms ( VFF ) reported strong Q1-2026 financial results on Monday with increasing revenue, increasing gross profit, and improved net income. International sales continue to drive growth. The company has expanded its grow facilities in Canada and the Netherlands. Revenue should continue to increase. The company is looking to expand its international operations. It is also looking for ways to enter US cannabis markets with the rescheduling of medical cannabis. The stock price is up 275% over the last year. It has declined 9% since I covered the company last March on Seeking Alpha . The stock price is undervalued and has pulled back significantly from its 52-week high. Volatility is beginning to subside in the sector and Village Farms is close to returning to a Buy rating. For now, I continue my rating of a Hold. Q1-2026 Results Village Farms reported Q1 revenue of $50.2 million, a 27% increase YoY and a 1.2% increase QoQ. This chart shows revenue by segment. Amount in $US Millions* Q1-2026 Q1-2025 % +/- Cannabis Canadian Branded 23.848 22.761 +4.77% Canadian Non-Branded 5.377 6.279 -14.365 International Exports 14.581 5.388 +170.62% US Cannabis 3.133 3.904 -19.74% Netherlands Branded 2.663 .486 +447.94% Other .142 .409 -65.28% Total Cannabis 49.744 39.227 +26.81% Other Revenue Produce .108 .027 +300% Clean Energy .386 .426 -9.38% Total Revenue 50.238 39.680 +36.60% * Press Release Click to enlarge International sales increased 171% YoY and 60% QoQ due to higher demand in Germany. Sales in the Netherlands also added to the overall increase, as well as Canadian branded sales. Gross profit was $21 million, a 48% increase YoY and a 9.3% increase QoQ. Profit margin was 41.77% versus 35.74% YoY and 38.74% QoQ. Net income was $2.9 million versus a net loss of $6.7 million YoY and a net income of $2.4 million QoQ. Cash flow from operations was negative $16.8 million due to corporate income taxes ($12.1 million) and noncash chan...
One of Wall Street’s top semiconductor analysts just made one of the most aggressive price-target revisions in this AI cycle. Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya nearly doubled its price target on Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU), lifting it from $500 to $950 on Wednesday. The move arrived alongside higher targets on four other AI hardware names and a third upward revision in eleven months to the...
One of Wall Street’s top semiconductor analysts just made one of the most aggressive price-target revisions in this AI cycle. Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya nearly doubled its price target on Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU), lifting it from $500 to $950 on Wednesday. The move arrived alongside higher targets on four other AI hardware names and a third upward revision in eleven months to the firm’s 2030 forecast for artificial intelligence infrastructure spending. Bank of America now sees
narvo vexar/iStock via Getty Images Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ( CPRX ) is a biopharmaceutical company with a specialized commercialization platform. Their IP mostly supports diagnosis and patient access for rare diseases, and their portfolio includes Firdapse, Agamree, and Fycompa. CPRX’s Firdapse helps with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), Agamree targets Duchenne muscular dystrophy...
narvo vexar/iStock via Getty Images Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ( CPRX ) is a biopharmaceutical company with a specialized commercialization platform. Their IP mostly supports diagnosis and patient access for rare diseases, and their portfolio includes Firdapse, Agamree, and Fycompa. CPRX’s Firdapse helps with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), Agamree targets Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and Fycompa is intended for seizure disorders. Currently, Firdapse and Agamree are the main revenue drivers, while Fycompa is declining after the loss of exclusivity and generic perampanel competition. However, at this point, CPRX is mostly dependent on the pending Angelini Pharma offer, which valued CPRX at $4.1 billion. The deal is now expected to be completed in Q3 2026, and as such, I think that’s why my neutral stance remains valid at this point. Deal For Rare-Disease Platform Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company that commercializes therapies for rare and difficult-to-treat diseases. CPRX was founded back in 2002 and is headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida. I’ve previously covered the company in March 2025, and at the time, I felt their prospects didn’t quite justify a bullish rating. Fortunately, the recent acquisition offer from Angelini has rapidly rerated the stock higher, which is why I felt it was worthwhile giving this name another look before the deal closes by Q3. Source: Corporate Presentation. March 2026. As a quick recap, CPRX’s portfolio currently includes Firdapse , which is indicated for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). This condition is a rare neuromuscular disease. Similarly, CPRX’s Agamree targets Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and Fycompa is indicated for treating epilepsy and seizures. Having said that, note that Firdapse is easily CPRX’s main product. Management mentioned that their TAM for this medication is probably above $1 billion . You see, LEMS is a rare disorder that affects co...
Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:HIMS) absorbed another analyst downgrade. Bank of America cut its price objective on Hims & Hers stock to $30 from $32, while keeping a Neutral rating. The firm called the recent results “a mixed quarter” and argued that the bar needs to come down before HIMS stock can work again. The ... BofA Cuts Hims & Hers Price Target as Mixed Quarter Resets Street Expectations
Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:HIMS) absorbed another analyst downgrade. Bank of America cut its price objective on Hims & Hers stock to $30 from $32, while keeping a Neutral rating. The firm called the recent results “a mixed quarter” and argued that the bar needs to come down before HIMS stock can work again. The ... BofA Cuts Hims & Hers Price Target as Mixed Quarter Resets Street Expectations
U.S. Wheat Crop Forecast To Hit Half-Century Low As Drought Hits Breadbasket Chicago wheat futures surged on Tuesday, hitting two-year highs after the USDA's latest WASDE report signaled a much tighter U.S. supply outlook than traders had anticipated. Production stress across America's breadbasket is now converging with a megadrought and mounting fertilizer constraints, adding upward pressure on p...
U.S. Wheat Crop Forecast To Hit Half-Century Low As Drought Hits Breadbasket Chicago wheat futures surged on Tuesday, hitting two-year highs after the USDA's latest WASDE report signaled a much tighter U.S. supply outlook than traders had anticipated. Production stress across America's breadbasket is now converging with a megadrought and mounting fertilizer constraints, adding upward pressure on prices at a time when global food prices are rising. 🌾Due to poor crop health and a record-low planted area, the United States will produce the smallest wheat volume since 1972. 2026 winter wheat output (67% of total output) by class is seen at the lowest levels since: All winter: 1965 Hard red winter: 1957 Soft red winter: 2020 pic.twitter.com/OcIP3DA0VS — Karen Braun (@kannbwx) May 12, 2026 The USDA forecast 2026/27 U.S. all-wheat production at 1.56 billion bushels, sharply below Wall Street expectations of around 1.74 billion, marking the smallest harvest since 1972. 🇺🇸The U.S. in 2026 is set to harvest the smallest wheat crop in 54 years. Weather has challenged winter wheat this year and condition ratings have plunged. Pairing low yield with low planted area, USDA projects the smallest U.S. winter wheat harvest since 1965. pic.twitter.com/xe2alJOPyr — Karen Braun (@kannbwx) May 12, 2026 After the report on Tuesday, Chicago wheat futures jumped to their highest level since May 2024. The latest WASDE report should come as no surprise to readers, as we have been closely tracking the intensifying drought stress plaguing the U.S. agricultural market: Drought Engulfs 60% Of U.S. As Farmers Begin Spring Planting UBS Warns Drought Shock Unfolding Across Breadbasket Of America Wheat Spread Blows Out As Drought Chaos Plagues America's Breadbasket Saxo commodities head Ole Hansen penned a note on Wednesday, highlighting just how dire the report is for wheat production: USDA projected the smallest U.S. wheat harvest since 1972, triggering sharp gains in both Chicago and Kansas wheat...
The bodies of three women have been recovered from the sea off Brighton. Sussex Police said emergency services were called after concerns were raised for the women’s welfare at around 5.45am on Wednesday, and their bodies were pulled from the water near Madeira Drive. Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said the coastguard is completing an “extensive search of the water”, but the force is not searching...
The bodies of three women have been recovered from the sea off Brighton. Sussex Police said emergency services were called after concerns were raised for the women’s welfare at around 5.45am on Wednesday, and their bodies were pulled from the water near Madeira Drive. Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said the coastguard is completing an “extensive search of the water”, but the force is not searching for anyone else. The officer said CCTV inquiries are being carried out. Following the incident,...
onurdongel/E+ via Getty Images Nebius Group N.V. ( NBIS ) managed to surpass analyst expectations for the first fiscal quarter by a large margin on new contract deals for the supply of GPU compute and a ramping Data Center footprint. The market responded very favorably to Nebius' Q1 '26 results , sending shares 15% higher in pre-market trading. With recent projections by Japanese investment bank M...
onurdongel/E+ via Getty Images Nebius Group N.V. ( NBIS ) managed to surpass analyst expectations for the first fiscal quarter by a large margin on new contract deals for the supply of GPU compute and a ramping Data Center footprint. The market responded very favorably to Nebius' Q1 '26 results , sending shares 15% higher in pre-market trading. With recent projections by Japanese investment bank Mitsubishi calling for a ~ 36% year-over-year increase in hyperscaler-driven CapEx spending for the current year, I believe the investment proposition for Nebius is fully intact following the Q1 report. Despite a significantly higher valuation since my last coverage, I maintain a Strong Buy rating on Nebius, mainly because of a massive ramp of the neocloud's revenue volume and power base. Seeking Alpha Previous rating I recommended Nebius as well as CoreWeave ( CRWV ) as Strong Buys for investors that want to get exposure to the soaring demand for GPUs and Cloud compute in the Data Center market. Specifically, Nebius' massive $27B deal with Meta Platforms ( META ) was a game-changing event for the enterprise that positioned it at the top of the GPU-as-a-Service market. In the first-quarter, Nebius managed to boost its revenue volume by almost 700% year-over-year, reflecting a material growth acceleration, which highlights a business model that has considerable potential for scale and operating leverage. Massive power base expansion set to yield more upside The neocloud reported better-than-expected results for its first fiscal quarter on both the bottom and the top lines, driven by persistent demand for GPU compute in the Data Center sector: Nebius reported GAAP earnings of $2.11 per-share, beating the consensus estimate by $2.82 per-share (the market expected a loss of $0.78 per-share). The neocloud also excelled in terms of its top line, reporting $399M in total revenues for the first-quarter, surpassing the average estimate by $10M. Nebius’ core business, the leasing of g...
Reform UK leader insists the sum did not have to be declared but there are also other aspects of his finances to be addressed Farage faces inquiry over £5m gift Nigel Farage has been dogged by questions about his finances since the Guardian revealed he received a £5m gift from a donor in 2024. Although he insists the gift did not have to be declared, several important questions remain unanswered. ...
Reform UK leader insists the sum did not have to be declared but there are also other aspects of his finances to be addressed Farage faces inquiry over £5m gift Nigel Farage has been dogged by questions about his finances since the Guardian revealed he received a £5m gift from a donor in 2024. Although he insists the gift did not have to be declared, several important questions remain unanswered. Continue reading...