fish with high mercury content
Twins sign Alex Speas to a minor league contract
By Lawrence Delevingne (Reuters) -Stocks in the U.S. and Europe were mixed on Monday, while the dollar gained versus the euro, amid political turmoil in France and positive signals for the U.S. economy. French equities finished little changed in choppy trading after politicians there planned a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Michel Barnier, a move likely to cause the French government to collapse this week. Broader European shares pulled back on the news but still finished the day up 0.66% on the day. In the U.S., data showed manufacturing contracted at a moderate pace in November, with orders growing for the first time in eight months and factories facing significantly lower prices for inputs. More economic data is expected this week, including the key monthly jobs report on Friday. Wall Street stocks were mixed, with a boost from technology shares such as Facebook parent Meta Platforms and Amazon.com Inc, which gained 3.2% and 1.4%, respectively, although Intel fell 0.5% after the faltering American chipmaker announced CEO Pat Gelsinger’s retirement. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.29% to 44,782, the S&P 500 rose 0.24% to 6,047 and the Nasdaq Composite rose about 1% to 19,403. “We are seeing a bit of a reversal of the last few weeks with tech leadership returning and rallies in financials and cyclicals pausing,” John Belton, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds in New York, said in an email. Belton added that data points released over the weekend suggested Black Friday spending was above expectations, with particular strength seen in e-commerce sales. The euro sank around 0.75% to $1.0498, as the dollar got a boost over the weekend as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump warned BRICS emerging nations against trying to replace the greenback with any other currency. The euro has lost 14% over three months, partly on concern the euro zone economy might need deeper interest rate cuts than expected from the European Central Bank. [EMRG/FRX] Amid the political drama in France, the risk premium that investors demand to hold French government debt jumped. The gap between France and Germany’s 10-year bond yields – a measure of French borrowing costs compared with the euro zone benchmark – rose about 7 basis points to 87 bps, although it remained below last week’s 12-year high of 90 bps . “Heightened political uncertainty could also play a role at the margin in keeping alive market expectations for larger 50 bps ECB rate cut this month although the hard economic data is not fully supportive,” MUFG currency strategist Lee Hardman said. Global stocks edged higher, leaving the MSCI All-World index up about 0.3%. DOLLAR, U.S. BOND YIELDS FIRM The Federal Reserve is in focus and Friday’s monthly payrolls report could be the deciding factor when policymakers consider whether to cut rates again on Dec. 18. A number of Fed officials are due to speak this week, including Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday. Traders put the odds of a quarter-point reduction at about 60%. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said on Monday he was inclined to cut the benchmark interest rate as monetary policy remained restrictive enough to keep putting downward pressure on inflation, while the labor market was roughly in balance, something the Fed wants to maintain. In Treasury markets, the yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes was flat on the day at 4.194%. That has left the dollar index, which measures the currency against six others, up 0.33% at 106.39, having gained 1.8% in November. In Asia, mainland Chinese shares closed up 0.8%, following a robust reading in a private manufacturing survey on Monday. The yen, meanwhile, was steady near Friday’s six-week high of 149.47. Gold slipped 0.6% to $2,637 an ounce, under pressure from the strong dollar, after sliding more than 3% in November, its worst monthly performance since September 2023. [GOL/] Oil prices were steady, as optimism around strong factory activity in China was largely offset by concerns the Fed will not cut U.S. rates again at its December meeting. [O/R] In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin fell 1.88% to $95,619.00. (Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne in Boston and Amanda Cooper in London. Additional reporting by Kevin Buckland in Tokyo and Ankur Banerjee in Singapore; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, Ed Osmond, Jan Harvey, Alexander Smith, Gareth Jones, Jonathan Oatis and David Gregorio) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibilty for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Unai Emery knows Champions League top-eight spot is possible for Aston Villa
First Quarter Highlights "Growing customer engagements and strong sales execution drove a solid Q1 with all metrics exceeding our guidance. The combination of Zero Trust and AI is creating exciting new opportunities, which we are well positioned to capture with our large and expanding platform,” said Jay Chaudhry, Chairman and CEO of Zscaler. "With our customer obsession, the world's largest cybersecurity cloud, and an upleveled go-to-market machine, we are driving strong growth.” First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights Effective August 1, 2024, the beginning of our fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, we are using a long-term projected non-GAAP tax rate of 23% for the purpose of determining our non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share to provide better consistency across interim reporting periods in fiscal 2025 and beyond. Given the significant growth of our business and non-GAAP operating income, we believe this change is necessary to better reflect the performance of our business. We will continue to assess the appropriate non-GAAP tax rate on a regular basis, which could be subject to changes for a variety of reasons, including the rapidly evolving global tax environment, significant changes in our geographic earnings mix, or other changes to our strategy or business operations. Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect this change. Financial Outlook For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, we expect: Guidance for non-GAAP income from operations excludes stock-based compensation expense and related employer payroll taxes, amortization of debt issuance costs, and amortization expense of acquired intangible assets. We have not reconciled our expectations of non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP net income per share to their most directly comparable GAAP measures because certain items are out of our control or cannot be reasonably predicted. For those reasons, we are also unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, the variability of which may have a significant impact on future results. Accordingly, a reconciliation for the guidance for non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP net income per share is not available without unreasonable effort. For further information regarding why we believe that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors, the specific manner in which management uses these measures, and some of the limitations associated with the use of these measures, please refer to the "Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section of this press release. Conference Call and Webcast Information Zscaler will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss its first quarter of fiscal 2025 and outlook for its second quarter of fiscal 2025 and full year fiscal 2025 today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time (4:30 p.m. Eastern time). Second quarter of fiscal 2025 investor conference participation schedule: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 Monday, December 9, 2024 Tuesday, December 10, 2024 Wednesday, December 11, 2024 Thursday, January 9, 2025 and Friday, January 10, 2025 Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our future financial and operating performance, including our financial outlook for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 and full year fiscal 2025. There are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release, including but not limited to: macroeconomic influences and instability, geopolitical events, operations and financial results and the economy in general; risks related to the use of AI in our platform; our limited operating history; our ability to identify and effectively implement the necessary changes to address execution challenges; risks associated with managing our rapid growth, including fluctuations from period to period; our limited experience with new products and subscriptions and support introductions and the risks associated with new products and subscription and support offerings, including the discovery of software bugs; our ability to attract and retain new customers; the failure to timely develop and achieve market acceptance of new products and subscriptions as well as existing products and subscription and support; rapidly evolving technological developments in the market for network security products and subscription and support offerings and our ability to remain competitive; length of sales cycles; useful lives of our assets and other estimates; and general market, political, economic and business conditions. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect our financial results are included under the captions "Risk Factors” and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” set forth from time to time in our filings and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, filed on September 12, 2024, as well as future filings and reports by us, copies of which are available on our website at ir.zscaler.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. You should not rely on these forward-looking statements, as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties. Additional information will also be set forth in other filings that we make with the SEC from time to time. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information We believe that the presentation of non-GAAP financial information provides important supplemental information to management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. For further information regarding why we believe that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors, the specific manner in which management uses these measures, and some of the limitations associated with the use of these measures, please refer to the "Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this press release. About Zscaler Zscaler (Nasdaq: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust ExchangeTM platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across more than 160 data centers globally, the SSE-based Zero Trust Exchange is the world's largest in-line cloud security platform. ZscalerTM and the other trademarks listed at https://www.zscaler.com/legal/trademarks are either (i) registered trademarks or service marks or (ii) trademarks or service marks of Zscaler, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Any other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Investor Relations Contacts Ashwin Kesireddy VP, Investor Relations and Strategic Finance (415) 798-1475 [email protected] Natalia Wodecki Media Relations Contact [email protected]
First downs and second guesses: Tony White leaving is no shocker. He could have left last year with the right offer. He made a difference. He helped build a good defensive culture. White is making a chess move to a future head coaching job, but it’s got a risk. He’s going to work for a Florida State head coach on the hot seat. Mike Norvell is hiring White and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn to help save his job. FSU was a mess this season. I’m guessing the portal this off-season will make a bigger difference than the coordinators. Who should NU go after? I’d start with Syracuse defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson, who has connections with Rhule. You can hang out on my lawn (no flags please) if you want. But Old Man Football has some things to get off his chest. People are also reading... ‘I don’t care who’s played': Nebraska’s Dana Holgorsen on personnel changes at tight end Search warrants lead to arrest of man in narcotics investigation Blue Springs family to host 2025 Cattleman's Ball They fell in love with Beatrice. So they opened a store in downtown. At the courthouse, Nov. 30, 2024 La Segoviana finds new home in Court Street Plaza Hospice foundation helps with extra support At the courthouse, Nov. 23, 2024 Board of Supervisors denies permit for Filley telecom tower Fall Farmers Market and Brunch planned for Saturday Shoplifting investigation leads to arrest for possession of controlled substance 'The Message' religious sect sprouts destructive groups across globe Dale G. Lunsford Shatel: Emotions are still simmering, but Nebraska delivered the bottom line for 2024 — a bowl game Spreading kindness one butterfly at a time College football needs some adults to step up. The sport had a rough weekend. Great games were overshadowed by the images of fights and torn flags. It was ridiculous. When did planting a flag become an important thing? What does that even mean? That you conquered the field? It means winning isn’t enough. You have to rub your opponents’ nose in defeat. Hey Michigan: wasn’t that your fourth straight win over Ohio State? That means you won at Ohio Stadium two years ago, right? So why are you acting like it was Michigan’s first-ever win over Ohio State? Meanwhile, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day is watching the chaos much like Kevin Bacon in “Animal House.” Remain calm. All is well. On the flip side of this, when did the midfield logo become the sacred ground of college football? Teams stomp on the logo all game, bodies are slammed, blood spilled on it. But before and after it needs security detail? It’s part of the football field. Don’t plant a flag on it. Don’t worry if somebody steps on it. The best midfield logo I ever saw was the diamond-shaped “Big 8” logo at Memorial Stadium. Let’s go back to that. Let’s go back to respecting the game, and the opponent, too. Nebraska needs a lesson in that after the no-hand shake event on Friday. This is a generational debate. I’ve heard from both sides of Nebraska fans on this. My take: if you don’t respect your opponent, you don’t respect the game, either. Both are a problem. The handshake should be part of the Nebraska football identity. Attention to detail. Not creating needless distractions. Play the right way. All are important to the ultimate goal: winning. Is the pre-game drama the reason Iowa won? No. But it makes you wonder what are the priorities at Nebraska. Like the 2020 game when the Huskers complained about clapping while the quarterback called the signals. What’s the focus on? Lack of respect was a two-way street in Iowa City on Friday. Hawkeye linebacker Jay Higgins went up to Nebraska coach Matt Rhule and said that not shaking hands was a bad idea. I’ve never heard of a Nebraska player ever getting in the face of an opposing coach. Not Barry Switzer. Not Bill McCartney. Not any of them. I’m guessing if someone had done that to Kirk Ferentz, we’d never hear the end of it. Player entitlement is the rage in college football. They’re getting paid. That’s a good thing. But they’re also becoming bolder with their actions. Not all of it is good. Rivalries are fun. Rivalries are emotional. That’s what makes them great. It’s the extra rubbing the opponent’s face in it that crosses the line for me. Take the W, and the L, and head back to the locker room and wait until next time. The Nebraska-Iowa rivalry has never been hotter. I’d like to see coaches Ferentz and Rhule get control of it. We don’t need a flag plant or a brawl after next season’s game. I feel like we're headed that way. You know, a cool tradition to start in this rivalry would be a pre-game handshake from the teams at midfield. Oh, wait. That’s the Captains’ coin toss. There’s been a moment of civility and respect in the Iowa-Nebraska series. I saw it last January at the Outland Trophy Dinner in Omaha. The Outland honored Dan Young and Reese Morgan with the Tom Osborne Legacy Award. Both were high school coaches in Nebraska and Iowa and assistant coaches at NU and Iowa. There was a lot of love and respect in that room that night, including Ferentz and a group from Iowa City to represent Morgan. Iowa-Nebraska can be intense, nasty and emotional — and still about respect. Nebraskans and Iowans are actually a lot more alike than either side will ever admit. That’s what makes it such a good rivalry. There’s not much Creighton volleyball can do about being a No. 6 overall seed, other than winning at Nebraska or Louisville. Then again, that’s what CU is going to have to do — at Penn State — to get to the Final Four. Until the Big East gets built up in volleyball, that’s the bottom line. If Nebraska and Creighton both make the Final Four, guess who would meet in the national semifinals on Dec. 19? Get local news delivered to your inbox!Reports Record Sales and Earnings Increases Quarterly Cash Dividend by 20% to $0.12 per Common Share LAKEWOOD, Colo. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. NGVC today announced results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 and provided its outlook for fiscal 2025. Highlights for Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023 Net sales increased 9.3% to $322.7 million ; Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.1%, and increased 14.0% on a two-year basis; Net income increased 53.2% to $9.0 million , with diluted earnings per share of $0.39 ; and Adjusted EBITDA was $22.6 million . Highlights for Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fiscal 2023 Net sales increased 8.9% to $1.24 billion ; Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.0%, and increased 10.6% on a two-year basis; 21 st consecutive year of positive comparable store sales growth; Net income increased 46.0% to $33.9 million , with diluted earnings per share of $1.47 ; Adjusted EBITDA was $83.3 million ; and Opened four new stores and relocated/remodeled four stores. "Our outstanding fourth quarter and fiscal year results underscore our customers' appreciation for our commitment to the exceptional quality, value and convenience provided by our innovative business model along with consumers' increasing prioritization of products that support health and sustainability," said Kemper Isely , Co-President. "Our commitment to offering the highest quality products at Always Affordable SM prices is distinctive in the market and has been pivotal to our success. Fourth quarter results were broadly positive with daily average comparable store sales growth of 7.1% and 14.0% on a two-year basis, as well as a 53% increase in net income. We are particularly pleased with the balanced nature of our sales growth in fiscal 2024, including increases in transaction counts and items per transaction, modest price inflation and sales contribution from new stores." Mr. Isely continued, "The combination of consumer trends and our focus on customer engagement and operational initiatives have driven our sustained growth. Over the previous five years we have grown net sales by 37%, and diluted earnings per share have more than tripled. Furthermore, during this period we returned $108 million in capital to our stockholders through $4.76 of cumulative cash dividends per common share. As we look forward to fiscal 2025, we expect to build upon our momentum by continuing to execute to our founding principles, leveraging our differentiated model and emphasizing operational excellence to drive profitable growth." In addition to presenting the financial results of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company is also presenting EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures. The reconciliation from GAAP to these non-GAAP financial measures is provided at the end of this earnings release. Operating Results — Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023 Net sales during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $27.6 million , or 9.3%, to $322.7 million , compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, due to a $21.0 million increase in comparable store sales and a $6.6 million increase in new store sales. Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.1% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, comprised of a 3.6% increase in daily average transaction count and a 3.4% increase in daily average transaction size. The increase in net sales was driven by increases in transaction counts, items per transaction, retail prices and new store sales. Sales growth was driven by enhanced customer engagement with our {N}power ® rewards program, compelling offers, marketing initiatives, and increased sales of Natural Grocers® brand products. Gross profit during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $11.0 million , or 13.1%, to $95.4 million , compared to $84.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Gross profit reflects earnings after product and store occupancy costs. Gross margin increased 100 basis points to 29.6% during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to 28.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase in gross margin was driven by store occupancy cost leverage and higher product margin. Store expenses during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 10.2% to $72.6 million , primarily driven by higher compensation expenses and long-lived asset impairment charges related to a planned store closure. Store expenses as a percentage of net sales were 22.5% during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, up from 22.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase in store expenses as a percentage of net sales was primarily driven by higher long-lived asset impairment charges partially offset by expense leverage. Administrative expenses during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 4.4% to $10.2 million . Administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 3.2% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, down from 3.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 56.0% to $12.1 million . Operating margin during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was 3.7%, up from 2.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $9.0 million , or $0.39 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $5.9 million , or $0.26 diluted earnings per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $22.6 million , compared to $16.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating Results — Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fiscal 2023 Net sales during fiscal 2024 increased $101.0 million , or 8.9%, to $1,241.6 million , compared to fiscal 2023, due to an $83.0 million increase in comparable store sales and a $22.6 million increase in new store sales, partially offset by a $4.6 million decrease in sales related to closed stores. Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.0% in fiscal 2024, comprised of a 3.8% increase in daily average transaction count and a 3.1% increase in daily average transaction size. The increase in net sales was driven by increases in transaction counts, retail prices, items per transaction and new store sales. Sales growth was driven by enhanced customer engagement with our {N}power rewards program, compelling offers, marketing initiatives including market-specific campaigns, and increased sales of Natural Grocers brand products. Gross profit during fiscal 2024 increased $37.9 million , or 11.6%, to $364.8 million . Gross profit reflects earnings after product and store occupancy costs. Gross margin increased 70 basis points to 29.4% during fiscal 2024, compared to 28.7% in 2023. The increase in gross margin was primarily driven by store occupancy cost leverage and higher product margin attributed to effective pricing and promotions. Store expenses during fiscal 2024 increased 7.8% to $277.4 million , primarily driven by higher compensation expenses, depreciation expenses and long-lived asset impairment charges. Store expenses as a percentage of net sales were 22.3% during fiscal 2024, down from 22.6% in fiscal 2023. The decrease in store expenses as a percentage of net sales primarily reflects expense leverage. Administrative expenses during fiscal 2024 increased 7.6% to $38.7 million , driven by higher compensation expenses. Administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 3.1% for fiscal 2024, down from 3.2% in fiscal 2023. Operating income for fiscal 2024 increased 48.3% to $47.0 million . Operating margin during fiscal 2024 was 3.8%, up from 2.8% in fiscal 2023. Net income for fiscal 2024 was $33.9 million , or $1.47 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $23.2 million , or $1.02 diluted earnings per share, for fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2024 was $83.3 million , compared to $63.4 million in fiscal 2023. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow As of September 30, 2024 , the Company had $8.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, and no amounts outstanding on its $75.0 million revolving credit facility. During fiscal 2024, the Company generated $73.8 million in cash from operations and invested $38.6 million in net capital expenditures, primarily for new and relocated/remodeled stores. Dividend Announcement Today, the Company announced the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per common share, a 20% increase over the Company's previous quarterly dividend. The dividend will be paid on December 18, 2024 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 2, 2024 . Growth and Development During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 the Company opened one new store, ending the fourth quarter with 169 stores in 21 states. A total of four new stores were opened during fiscal 2024. Fiscal 2025 Outlook The Company is introducing its fiscal 2025 outlook. The Company expects: Fiscal 2025 Outlook Number of new stores 4 to 6 Number of relocations/remodels 2 to 4 Daily average comparable store sales growth 4.0% to 6.0% Diluted earnings per share $1.52 to $1.60 Capital expenditures (in millions) $36 to $44 Earnings Conference Call The Company will host a conference call today at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time ( 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time ) to discuss this earnings release. The dial-in number is 1-888-347-6606 (US) or 1-412-902-4289 (International). The conference ID is "Natural Grocers Q4 FY 2024 Earnings Call." A simultaneous audio webcast will be available at http://Investors.NaturalGrocers.com and archived for a minimum of 20 days. About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. NGVC is an expanding specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries, body care products and dietary supplements. The products sold by Natural Grocers must meet strict quality guidelines and may not contain artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners, or partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils. The Company sells only USDA certified organic produce and exclusively pasture-raised, non-confinement dairy products, and free-range eggs. Natural Grocers' flexible smaller-store format allows it to offer affordable prices in a shopper-friendly, clean and convenient retail environment. The Company also provides extensive free science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. The Company, founded in 1955, has 168 stores in 21 states. Visit www.NaturalGrocers.com for more information and store locations. Forward-Looking Statements The following constitutes a "safe harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except for the historical information contained herein, statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" and are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global, national, regional or local political, economic, inflationary, deflationary, recessionary, business, interest rate, labor market, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors, and other risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, except as may be required by the securities laws. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Form 10-K and the Company's subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by contacting Investor Relations at 303-986-4600 or by visiting the Company's website at http://Investors.NaturalGrocers.com . Investor Contact: Reed Anderson , ICR, 646-277-1260, reed.anderson@icrinc.com NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE, INC. Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Three months ended September 30, Year ended September 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net sales $ 322,661 295,075 1,241,585 1,140,568 Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs 227,299 210,730 876,775 813,637 Gross profit 95,362 84,345 364,810 326,931 Store expenses 72,605 65,863 277,396 257,282 Administrative expenses 10,241 9,807 38,715 35,973 Pre-opening expenses 450 938 1,722 2,007 Operating income 12,066 7,737 46,977 31,669 Interest expense, net (1,053) (821) (4,176) (3,299) Income before income taxes 11,013 6,916 42,801 28,370 Provision for income taxes (2,003) (1,036) (8,866) (5,127) Net income $ 9,010 5,880 33,935 23,243 Net income per share of common stock: Basic $ 0.40 0.26 1.49 1.02 Diluted $ 0.39 0.26 1.47 1.02 Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding: Basic 22,799,571 22,738,284 22,774,825 22,725,088 Diluted 23,175,214 22,945,750 23,083,903 22,834,316 NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) September 30, 2024 2023 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 8,871 18,342 Accounts receivable, net 12,610 10,797 Merchandise inventory 120,672 119,260 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 4,905 4,151 Total current assets 147,058 152,550 Property and equipment, net 178,609 169,060 Other assets: Operating lease assets, net 275,111 287,941 Finance lease assets, net 40,752 45,110 Other assets 458 395 Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 13,488 14,129 Total other assets 329,809 347,575 Total assets $ 655,476 669,185 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 88,397 80,675 Accrued expenses 35,847 33,064 Term loan, current portion — 1,750 Operating lease obligations, current portion 35,926 34,850 Finance lease obligations, current portion 3,960 3,690 Total current liabilities 164,130 154,029 Long-term liabilities: Term loan, net of current portion — 5,938 Operating lease obligations, net of current portion 263,404 276,808 Finance lease obligations, net of current portion 43,217 47,142 Deferred income tax liabilities, net 10,471 14,427 Total long-term liabilities 317,092 344,315 Total liabilities 481,222 498,344 Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $0.001 par value. 50,000,000 shares authorized, 22,888,540 and 22,745,412 shares issued at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and 22,888,540 and 22,738,915 shares outstanding at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively 23 23 Additional paid-in capital 60,327 59,013 Retained earnings 113,904 111,871 Common stock in treasury at cost, 6,497 shares at September 30, 2023 — (66) Total stockholders' equity 174,254 170,841 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 655,476 669,185 NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE, INC. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands) Year ended September 30, 2024 2023 Operating activities: Net income $ 33,935 23,243 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 30,930 28,906 Loss on impairment of long-lived assets and store closing costs 2,102 1,268 Loss on disposal of property and equipment 10 379 Share-based compensation 2,829 1,360 Deferred income tax benefit (3,955) (1,475) Non-cash interest expense 17 19 Other (160) — Changes in operating assets and liabilities: (Increase) decrease in: Accounts receivable, net (1,790) 315 Income tax receivable 252 378 Merchandise inventory (1,412) (5,504) Prepaid expenses and other assets (1,069) (128) Operating lease assets 33,446 33,067 (Decrease) increase in: Operating lease liabilities (34,197) (33,899) Accounts payable 10,039 10,350 Accrued expenses 2,783 6,327 Net cash provided by operating activities 73,760 64,606 Investing activities: Acquisition of property and equipment (37,541) (36,568) Acquisition of other intangibles (1,139) (1,525) Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 37 107 Proceeds from property insurance settlements 43 36 Net cash used in investing activities (38,600) (37,950) Financing activities: Borrowings under revolving loans 604,200 531,100 Repayments under revolving loans (604,200) (531,100) Repayments under term loan (7,688) (8,000) Finance lease obligation payments (3,610) (2,779) Dividends to shareholders (31,866) (9,089) Repurchase of common stock — (181) Payments of deferred financing costs (18) — Payments on withholding tax for restricted stock unit vesting (1,449) (304) Net cash used in financing activities (44,631) (20,353) Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (9,471) 6,303 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 18,342 12,039 Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $ 8,871 18,342 Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Cash paid for interest $ 2,216 1,305 Cash paid for interest on financing lease obligations, net of capitalized interest of $338 and $318, respectively 1,939 2,002 Income taxes paid 13,581 5,048 Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities: Acquisition of property and equipment not yet paid $ 3,679 6,016 Acquisition of other intangibles not yet paid 22 3 Property acquired through operating lease obligations 22,317 15,274 Property acquired through finance lease obligations (45) 5,724 NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE, INC. Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of financial performance under GAAP. We define EBITDA as net income before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA as adjusted to exclude the effects of certain income and expense items that management believes make it more difficult to assess the Company's actual operating performance, including certain items such as impairment charges, store closing costs, share-based compensation and non-recurring items. The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, dollars in thousands: Three months ended September 30, Year ended September 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net income $ 9,010 5,880 33,935 23,243 Interest expense, net 1,053 821 4,176 3,299 Provision for income taxes 2,003 1,036 8,866 5,127 Depreciation and amortization 7,932 7,480 30,930 28,906 EBITDA 19,998 15,217 77,907 60,575 Impairment of long-lived assets and store closing costs 1,721 534 2,547 1,464 Share-based compensation 929 314 2,829 1,360 Adjusted EBITDA $ 22,648 16,065 83,283 63,399 EBITDA increased 31.4% to $20.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $15.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. EBITDA increased 28.6% to $77.9 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 compared to $60.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2023 . EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 6.2% and 5.2% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively. EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 6.3% and 5.3% for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA increased 41.0% to $22.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $16.1 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA increased 31.4% to $83.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 compared to $63.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2023 . Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 7.0% and 5.4% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 6.7% and 5.6% for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Management believes some investors' understanding of our performance is enhanced by including EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide additional information about: (i) our operating performance, because they assist us in comparing the operating performance of our stores on a consistent basis, as they remove the impact of non-cash depreciation and amortization expense as well as items not directly resulting from our core operations, such as interest expense and income taxes and (ii) our performance and the effectiveness of our operational strategies. Additionally, EBITDA is a component of a measure in our financial covenants under our credit facility. Furthermore, management believes some investors use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental measures to evaluate the overall operating performance of companies in our industry. Management believes that some investors' understanding of our performance is enhanced by including these non-GAAP financial measures as a reasonable basis for comparing our ongoing results of operations. By providing these non-GAAP financial measures, together with a reconciliation from net income, we believe we are enhancing investors' understanding of our business and our results of operations, as well as assisting investors in evaluating how well we are executing our strategic initiatives. Our competitors may define EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently, and as a result, our measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be directly comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA of other companies. Items excluded from EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of operating performance that do not represent and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of the limitations are: EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any depreciation or interest expense for leases classified as finance leases; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt; Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect share-based compensation, impairment charges, and store closing costs; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our tax expense or the cash requirements to pay our taxes; and although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements. Due to these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental information. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/natural-grocers-by-vitamin-cottage-announces-fiscal-2024-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-results-302313348.html SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Fishburn leads at Sea Island as Dahmen keeps hope alive to keep jobWatching the meter tick Second guessing every flick Of the light switch It’s no way to live The pressure to count every penny just right Scraping by no end in sight Never truly in control of your life What do you do? When the doors you find Were built to keep you out When the signs you see All point to roundabouts When you have cut every cost you can Grabbed on to every helping hand When you’ve worked And scrapped And saved And planned But the meter still ticks There is no simple fix And it takes time to change The way the system is But we will work Each and every day To help you navigate Your way to a place Where peace can exist Where the ticking of the meter Isn’t all there is WE heard a lot this week about financial pressures and difficult decisions during the Scottish Budget. Let’s be clear though, those experiencing the toughest financial pressures and most difficult decisions every day are people like those the Citizens Advice network supports across Scotland. With Christmas just a few weeks away, some people might be thinking about last minute stocking fillers. But for thousands of others, they’re thinking about meeting the most basic and essential needs. They are worried about keeping their homes warm and how to put food on the table. That’s why we want anyone worried about energy bills and how they’ll afford the essentials to know that we’re here to help. To raise awareness of the free, impartial support that’s available and break down the stigma of asking for help, we’ve launched our new campaign, Worried this winter? Let’s chat. Running from now until February 2025, we want to reflect the real experiences of people impacted by rising energy costs. To do this, we’ve been working closely with five CABs across Scotland to run local focus groups and learn first-hand about people’s experiences. From feelings of embarrassment and anxiety to dread and misery, the picture was clear: more needs to be done to support communities worried about the cost of energy this winter. Across our network, support on energy debt is one of the most common reasons people walk through their local CAB doors. But taking that first step can be daunting. We want people to know there’s no need to feel embarrassed and that our advisors are here to help, not judge. To get our message across, we worked with Scottish poet Kevin McLean to create a poem on the experiences of households with energy debt. With a focus on the emotions and feelings experienced, the poem will be used to encourage more people to get advice whether they are currently in debt or struggling to keep up with payments. While this campaign is just a small step towards breaking down the barriers to support, we need to highlight the stark reality many people face this winter. If this is you or someone you know, please know the Citizens Advice network is here to help. We are known for the advice we give to hundreds of thousands of people every year but we also have a responsibility to raise awareness and advocate for structural change. And we’ll continue to do all we can to ensure systematic change so we can continue to deliver life-changing outcomes for people across Scotland. While we’re proud of our new campaign, don’t just take our word for it, listen here now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2GlTeGEToU&feature=youtu.be Derek Mitchell is Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Scotland
FOR Heart Evangelista, eyeliners are serious business. As a chinita, her eye shape changes. “If you know, you know the difference of brown, light brown, and black liquid liners. That’s my obsession. I am very particular with my eyeliner and how the liquid liner blends with a pencil liner,” said the actress, host and global fashion influencer during a press conference to announce her as GRWM Cosmetics’ new endorser. In particular, Heart singles out GRWM’s Super Fine Liner Duo as one of her favorite products from the brand. The #HeartMadeMeBuyIt is very popular on social media and this is naturally one of the reasons why GRWM Cosmetics reached out to the actress. “The first time we saw that she [Heart] used our Brow Lift, talagang nagbunyi kami sa buong company [we all celebrated]. She is really perfect for our eye collection. When you say eye makeup, eyeliner, talagang [it is Heart] ’yung naiisip,” said GRWM Cosmetics founder, chief product officer, chief marketing officer and CEO Mae Layug Madriñan. Her fans like to say that Heart’s face card never declines and it is true. From her teenage years up to today, Heart is considered one of the most beautiful faces of Philippine entertainment, and in the fashion, and beauty industries. More than beauty, Madriñan said she is happy that GRWM Cosmetics and Heart Evangelista share the same values when it comes to animal welfare. The GRWM CEO is an advocate for animal welfare and sustainable practices, and has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives to promote animal welfare. “Our shared passion for animal welfare creates a powerful alliance, driving change and inspiring everyone to make a difference,” said Madriñan. Heart is an animal rights advocate who uses her platform to raise awareness about the need to support aspins. “It is a pleasure to be part of GRWM. I was genuinely moved by their innovative approach to beauty, inclusivity, especially their commitment to animal welfare, and our shared goal of empowering Filipina beauty,” said Heart. The press conference was held at the sidelines of the GRWM Ball 2024 during which GRWM Cosmetics introduced their mega collection, called “Face Card.” I will be talking about this collection in the future. The Face Card Collection will launch this November 29 on GRWM Cosmetics’ e-commerce platforms. The products will also launch in Watsons stores. REVLONISSIMO COLOR SUBLIME IS HIGH-PERFORMANCE HAIR COLOR Revlonissimo Color Sublime stands at the forefront of innovation with its ammonia-free color system, designed to reflect not only your style but also your commitment to natural, clean beauty. Revlonissimo Color Sublime showcases two categories of shades. The Natural Shades—6 Dark Blonde, 5 Light Brown, 4 Medium Brown, and 3 Dark Brown—are designed to complement Asian hair, offering rich, natural-looking results that enhance the beauty of darker tones. Meanwhile, the Cool Shades are in 7.1 Medium Ash Blonde, 6.1 Dark Ash Blonde, and 5.1 Light Ash Brown. Revlonissimo Color Sublime goes beyond just color, offering up to 100 percent gray coverage and long-lasting color. The formula ensures even color results with every application and is composed of up to 87 percent naturally derived ingredients and 96 percent biodegradable ingredients. This advanced system also delivers optimal scalp comfort and nourishment. The Dual-Action Vegan Color System is infused with natural cold-pressed oils like sunflower and coconut, so it nourishes the hair fiber while locking in moisture and strengthening the hair for luminous, natural-looking color with light reflection properties. Treat yourself to a stunning new look with Revlonissimo Color Sublime at top salons in the Philippines like Studio Fix by Alex Carbonell and Bench Fix Salon. Professional stylists at these salons use the full potential of the Revlonissimo Color Sublime range to make sure your hair is healthy and gorgeous. For salons looking to offer this exceptional color line, Revlonissimo Color Sublime is exclusively distributed by New Summit Colors Distribution Inc. For inquiries, contact sales@newsummitcolors.com. Image credits: Sparkle GMA Artist Center Dinna Chan Vasquez is a columnist, writer, mother, wife, HIV awareness advocate and protector of animals.
MONTRÉAL, Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier Inc. (“Bombardier”) today confirmed that it has reached an agreement to settle its lawsuit against Honeywell International Inc. (“Honeywell”) that it initially filed in 2016 before the Superior Court of Québec . The settlement resolves the lawsuit and the pending request for appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada. The terms of the settlement agreement are confidential to both parties. About Bombardier At Bombardier (BBD-B.TO), we design, build, modify and maintain the world’s best-performing aircraft for the world’s most discerning people and businesses, governments and militaries. That means not simply exceeding standards, but understanding customers well enough to anticipate their unspoken needs. For them, we are committed to pioneering the future of aviation—innovating to make flying more reliable, efficient and sustainable. And we are passionate about delivering unrivaled craftsmanship and care, giving our customers greater confidence and the elevated experience they deserve and expect. Because people who shape the world will always need the most productive and responsible ways to move through it. Bombardier customers operate a fleet of approximately 5,000 aircraft, supported by a vast network of Bombardier team members worldwide and 10 service facilities across six countries. Bombardier’s performance-leading jets are proudly manufactured in aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. In 2024, Bombardier was honoured with the prestigious “Red Dot: Best of the Best” award for Brands and Communication Design. For Information For corporate news and information, including Bombardier’s Environmental, Social and Governance report, as well as the company’s plans to cover all its flight operations with a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend utilizing the Book and Claim system visit bombardier.com . Learn more about Bombardier’s industry-leading products and customer service network at businessaircraft.bombardier.com . Follow us on X (Twitter) @Bombardier. Media Contacts Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements based on current expectations, which may involve, but are not limited to: the coming into effect of the settlement agreement and the satisfaction and timing of conditions in connection therewith; and the effect of the settlement on the parties to the lawsuit and their business relationship. By their nature, forward-looking statements require the Company to make assumptions and are subject to important known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the actual effects or results in future periods to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Please also refer to the note on “Forward-Looking Statements” and the section titled “Risks and Uncertainties” contained in Bombardier’s published quarterly financial report for the period ended September 30, 2024 and annual financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.LAS VEGAS — With a restructuring at Andretti Global that pushed Michael Andretti into a smaller role, the chances of his organization landing a Formula 1 team have substantially increased. So much so that F1 and Formula One Management could have a decision to grant the General Motors-backed entry a spot as the 11th team on the grid in the coming weeks. Dan Towriss, now the majority owner of the Andretti organization, was at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Thursday scoping his chances of entering the top motorsports series in the world. So was the FBI, allegedly, as part of a Department of Justice investigation into why F1 denied the Andretti organization expansion into the series. F1 currently has 10 teams that field 20 cars and only one — the organization owned by California businessman Gene Haas — is an American team. Las Vegas marks the third race this season in the United States, more than any other country, as F1 has exploded in American popularity over the last five years. Even so, Andretti could not get approval from F1 to enter the series. But, the situation changed in September when Andretti scaled back his role with his namesake organization. Now with Towriss in charge, talks have amplified, even though it is not clear what the name of an Andretti-less F1 team would even be. Cadillac would do the engines — but says it won't be ready until 2028 — which means a 2026 Towriss-led F1 team would be GM branded but with a partner engine supplier. Most of the existing teams have been largely opposed to an 11th team entering F1, citing a dilution in prize money and the massive expenses they've already committed to the series. But, Andretti among others believed the teams' position was personal in that they simply didn't like Andretti, who ran 13 races in the 1993 season. His father, Mario, is the 1978 F1 world champion. The Andretti application had already been approved by the FIA, which is F1's ruling body, but later denied by F1 itself. F1 promised to revisit the issue once General Motors had an engine ready to compete. The existing 10 F1 teams have no actual vote or say in if the grid is expanded, which Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reiterated Thursday when The Associated Press asked why the sudden chance of acceptance in a potential 11th team. "We have an obligation, a statutory obligation as directors, to present the standpoint that is the best for our company and for our employees, and we've done that," Wolff said. "I think if a team can add to the championship, particularly if GM decides to come in as a team owner, that is a different story. "And as long as it is creative, that means we're growing the popularity of the sport, we're growing the revenue of the sport, then no team will be ever against it. So I'm putting my hope in there." Wolff has been eager to hear from Towriss directly on what the plans for the organization are now that Andretti has a smaller role. "No one from Andretti or Andretti Global or whatever the name will be has ever spoken to me a single sentence in presentation of what the creative part is," he said. "But they don't need to because the teams don't decide. It is the commercial rights holder, with the FIA, we have no say. If I want to be invited to a party and go to the party, I'm sitting down at the table and telling who I am and why I'm really good fun and sitting here and everybody will enjoy my presence. "That hasn't happened, but you know, that's now my personal point of view, not a professional, because there's nothing we can do, nothing we can say," Wolff continued. "And I don't know the people. I've obviously spoken to Mario. I didn't speak to his son. I didn't speak to any other people that are behind that. I don't know who they are. So I know GM, GM is great." Fred Vasseur, team principal at Ferrari, said he's not opposed to another team if it adds value to F1. "The discussion is between FIA, the team, and FOM. It's not our choice," he said. "For sure, as Toto said, that if it's good for the sport, good for the show, good for the business, and adds value on the sporting side, that we are all OK." Get local news delivered to your inbox!