Latest news with #BryanKing
Reuters
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Junior Caminero (6 RBIs), Rays blow out Astros
May 30 - Junior Caminero notched a career-high six RBIs, highlighted by a three-run, opposite-field homer that capped a five-run seventh inning, as the Tampa Bay Rays throttled the host Houston Astros 13-3 on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. A half-inning after the Astros completed a rally from a three-run deficit, the Rays responded when the first six batters in the top of the seventh reached safely against reliever Bryan King (3-1). King entered his 26th appearance third in the majors with a 23.7 hard-hit percentage. The Rays immediately challenged his standing, starting with a leadoff single from Josh Lowe that produced an exit velocity of 99.4 mph. King hit Brandon Lowe and surrendered an RBI single to Yandy Diaz that snapped the 3-3 deadlock. Jonathan Aranda produced an RBI double with a 96.8 mph exit velocity that upped the lead to 5-3. Caminero followed with the decisive blow, a 385-foot blast to right-center at 103.5 mph that scored Diaz and Aranda and built the lead to 8-3. Caminero and Brandon Lowe share the team lead with 11 home runs. King, who recorded only one out, had allowed four earned runs all season before the Rays tagged him with five runs on five hits. Tampa Bay improved to 8-1 over its last nine games while Houston fell to 7-2 over its last nine home games. Caminero added a two-run double in the Rays' five-run eighth, his third hit. Diaz, Aranda and Jose Caballero recorded two hits each for Tampa Bay, which totaled 14 hits. The Rays jumped to a 3-0 lead courtesy of a Diaz sacrifice fly in the first off starter Ryan Gusto, a throwing error by Yainer Diaz that allowed Chandler Simpson to score in the fourth and a Caminero RBI single that plated Aranda with two outs in the fifth. Yainer Diaz led the charge back with a 430-foot blast to center off Rays starter Shane Baz, his sixth home run keying a two-run fifth. Jose Altuve blasted his ninth homer in the sixth off Baz, a leadoff shot that knotted the score at 3-3. Over 5 2/3 innings, Baz yielded three runs on seven with no walks and three strikeouts. Edwin Uceta (4-1) relieved Baz and worked out of a first-and-third situation to end the inning. Gusto gave up two runs on four hits, walked three and struck out four in 3 2/3 innings. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DSGR Q1 Earnings Call: Revenue Miss and Margin Expansion Amid Trade Policy Uncertainty
Industrial and safety product distributor Distribution Solutions (NASDAQ:DSGR) fell short of the market's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales rose 14.9% year on year to $478 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.31 per share was 12.3% below analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy DSGR? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $478 million vs analyst estimates of $497.2 million (14.9% year-on-year growth, 3.8% miss) Adjusted EPS: $0.31 vs analyst expectations of $0.35 (12.3% miss) Adjusted EBITDA: $42.79 million vs analyst estimates of $47.13 million (9% margin, 9.2% miss) Operating Margin: 4.2%, up from 1.1% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow was -$13.27 million, down from $2.94 million in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $1.27 billion Distribution Solutions' first-quarter results were shaped by ongoing trade policy shifts and internal execution on margin improvement initiatives. Management attributed top-line growth to contributions from recent acquisitions and steady organic sales, with CEO Bryan King emphasizing the company's ability to help customers navigate a complex sourcing landscape. King noted, 'Our sourcing capabilities, teamed with our on-the-ground capabilities alongside our customers... offers us an excellent position to improve our engagement and ability to earn, notwithstanding any near-term challenges.' Looking ahead, management's guidance reflects both caution and optimism amid continued marketplace turbulence. King highlighted that further pricing actions and sourcing flexibility are expected to offset most tariff impacts, while investments in salesforce expansion and integration of recent acquisitions are designed to drive improved profitability. He added that the company's diversified end markets and focus on operational discipline should position Distribution Solutions to capitalize on evolving customer needs as trade and manufacturing dynamics settle. Management's remarks focused on how Distribution Solutions is adapting to an environment of shifting global trade policies and ongoing integration of acquisitions. The company identified several operational and market-specific factors impacting Q1 results and its ability to protect margins going forward. Tariff and Trade Policy Effects: The team discussed how recent U.S. administration trade initiatives create short-term uncertainty but may benefit Distribution Solutions in the medium term due to its flexible sourcing model and customer support capabilities. Acquisition Integration Progress: Five acquisitions in the past year contributed to top-line growth but also added integration complexity. Management reported ongoing progress, particularly in Canada with the merger of Source Atlantic and Bolt Supply, and expects structural profitability improvements as synergy efforts continue. Salesforce Transformation at Lawson: Investments in expanding and supporting the salesforce at Lawson Products were highlighted, including new CRM tools and increased headcount. Management noted improvements in sales rep productivity but acknowledged that new hire ramp-up is slower than hoped. Segment Margin Expansion: Each core vertical—Lawson Products, Gexpro Services, and TestEquity—delivered year-over-year EBITDA margin gains. Gexpro Services and TestEquity benefited from strong aerospace, defense, and technology market exposure, while Lawson's sequential revenue growth was attributed to unit volume gains and salesforce investments. Canadian Market and Leadership Changes: The acquisition of Source Atlantic led to an expanded Canadian footprint but brought margin compression. New Canadian leadership was installed, with a focus on accelerating integration and facility consolidation to drive future profitability. Management's outlook for the rest of the year is shaped by the company's ability to adapt to trade policy changes, execute on integration plans, and enhance salesforce productivity. The primary themes for future performance include managing tariff impacts, realizing acquisition synergies, and improving working capital efficiency. Tariff Mitigation and Sourcing Flexibility: The company's ability to shift sourcing and pass through price increases is expected to limit negative tariff effects, while customer relationships are expected to deepen as clients seek supply chain stability. Acquisition Synergy Realization: Management is focused on integrating recent acquisitions, particularly in Canada and at Gexpro Services, to achieve targeted profitability and operational efficiencies. Salesforce Productivity and Expansion: Ongoing investments in salesforce expansion and CRM tools aim to increase unit volumes and drive organic growth, though new hire ramp-up remains a risk to near-term margin improvement. Tommy Moll (Stephens): Asked about daily sales trends for April and changes in customer order patterns. CFO Ron Knutson responded that sales trends were relatively flat from Q1 into April, with no major shifts reported. Tommy Moll (Stephens): Requested more detail on Lawson's salesforce rebuild and military sales visibility. Management noted sequential improvement in core accounts and ongoing investments in salesforce productivity, but military sales remained flat. Kevin Steinke (Barrington Research): Inquired about the M&A pipeline and whether current market conditions are creating more acquisition opportunities. CEO Bryan King explained that the environment is increasing opportunities but that the company is taking a measured approach to integration before pursuing new deals. Brad Hathaway (Far View Capital): Sought clarity on the path to achieving the 20% return on invested capital target. Management outlined four levers: acquisition synergy capture, sourcing efficiencies, market normalization, and organic revenue growth. Katie Fleischer (KeyBanc): Asked for more detail on Source Atlantic's margin trajectory. Management expects margin improvement through facility consolidation and cost actions but noted that timeline for reaching double-digit margins is likely extended due to current sales softness. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) the pace and effectiveness of acquisition integration, especially in Canada and Gexpro Services, (2) whether margin gains in Lawson Products and TestEquity are sustained amid ongoing salesforce investments, and (3) the impact of further trade policy shifts and tariff mitigation efforts on both customer demand and sourcing costs. The execution of these initiatives will be central to Distribution Solutions' ability to meet its profitability and growth targets. Distribution Solutions currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 15.8×. Should you double down or take your chips? See for yourself in our free research report. Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas Sen. Bryan King sends letter to governor asking for prison plan changes
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The plan to build a new prison in Franklin County received pushback on Monday from a state legislator. Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forest) sent a letter to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders asking for the reallocation of funds for the Franklin County Prison Project to shift to expanding a different prison facility. Arkansas Sheriff's Association head explains support for proposed prison King is opposed to the proposed Franklin County prison. 'If you're going to build a mega-prison in a community, it's going to change their DNA,' King said about the planned 3,000-bed prison. The letter urged a new approach. During a 2023 legislative session, lawmakers approved $75 million in capital improvement funds for the Department of Corrections. That money is now being used to lay the groundwork for a prison in Franklin County. A bill to provide the additional funding needed for the $825 million facility was withdrawn during the 2025 legislative session after it failed to pass in six successive Senate votes. Arkansas prison appropriation bill for Franklin County fails in Senate King said the $75 million was intended to expand the existing facility at the 700-bed North Central Unit at Calico Rock in Izard County, a plan he believes would be both faster and more cost-effective. 'There are much better solutions out there economically to address the overcrowding issue,' King said. Franklin County local Adam Watson supports Senator King's letter. 'The people don't want the project in its current iteration. It doesn't mean they're against building a prison,' Watson said. 'This iteration of the prison project is shortsighted, is going to cost everybody way too much money, and not going to be a success in its current form.' Arkansas Dept. of Corrections outlines new budget toward Franklin County prison plan Sanders said previously that the state needs more prison capacity and that Franklin County is the best location for a new prison. She said there is widespread support for the prison among legislators and local officials across the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Distribution Solutions (NASDAQ:DSGR) Reports Sales Below Analyst Estimates In Q1 Earnings, Stock Drops
Industrial and safety product distributor Distribution Solutions (NASDAQ:DSGR) fell short of the market's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales rose 14.9% year on year to $478 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.31 per share was 12.3% below analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy Distribution Solutions? Find out in our full research report. Revenue: $478 million vs analyst estimates of $497.2 million (14.9% year-on-year growth, 3.8% miss) Adjusted EPS: $0.31 vs analyst expectations of $0.35 (12.3% miss) Adjusted EBITDA: $42.79 million vs analyst estimates of $47.13 million (9% margin, 9.2% miss) Operating Margin: 4.2%, in line with the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow was -$10.41 million, down from $2.94 million in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $1.21 billion Bryan King, CEO and Chairman, said, "Our financial results met expectations for the quarter, despite macro uncertainties that affected all U.S. companies. We are pleased with first quarter sales of $478 million, up 14.9%, comprising inorganic revenue of $51 million and an increase in organic average daily sales of 4.3%. On a constant currency basis our organic ADS was up 4.7%, which includes a full quarter of contribution from Source Atlantic. First quarter's Adjusted EBITDA grew to $42.8 million, up 18.6% and expanded to 9.0% as a percent of sales compared to 8.7% in the year-ago period. Founded in 1952, Distribution Solutions (NASDAQ:DSGR) provides supply chain solutions and distributes industrial, safety, and maintenance products to various industries. A company's long-term sales performance is one signal of its overall quality. Even a bad business can shine for one or two quarters, but a top-tier one grows for years. Over the last three years, Distribution Solutions grew its sales at an incredible 50.3% compounded annual growth rate. Its growth beat the average industrials company and shows its offerings resonate with customers. We at StockStory place the most emphasis on long-term growth, but within industrials, a stretched historical view may miss cycles, industry trends, or a company capitalizing on catalysts such as a new contract win or a successful product line. Distribution Solutions's annualized revenue growth of 17.8% over the last two years is below its three-year trend, but we still think the results suggest healthy demand. This quarter, Distribution Solutions's revenue grew by 14.9% year on year to $478 million but fell short of Wall Street's estimates. Looking ahead, sell-side analysts expect revenue to grow 10.2% over the next 12 months, a deceleration versus the last two years. Despite the slowdown, this projection is healthy and indicates the market is baking in success for its products and services. Today's young investors likely haven't read the timeless lessons in Gorilla Game: Picking Winners In High Technology because it was written more than 20 years ago when Microsoft and Apple were first establishing their supremacy. But if we apply the same principles, then enterprise software stocks leveraging their own generative AI capabilities may well be the Gorillas of the future. So, in that spirit, we are excited to present our Special Free Report on a profitable, fast-growing enterprise software stock that is already riding the automation wave and looking to catch the generative AI next. Distribution Solutions was profitable over the last four years but held back by its large cost base. Its average operating margin of 5.2% was weak for an industrials business. This result is surprising given its high gross margin as a starting point. On the plus side, Distribution Solutions's operating margin rose by 3.2 percentage points over the last four years, as its sales growth gave it operating leverage. In Q1, Distribution Solutions generated an operating profit margin of 4.2%, in line with the same quarter last year. This indicates the company's cost structure has recently been stable. Revenue trends explain a company's historical growth, but the change in earnings per share (EPS) points to the profitability of that growth – for example, a company could inflate its sales through excessive spending on advertising and promotions. Distribution Solutions's EPS grew at an astounding 24.9% compounded annual growth rate over the last two years, higher than its 17.8% annualized revenue growth. However, this alone doesn't tell us much about its business quality because its operating margin didn't expand during this time. In Q1, Distribution Solutions reported EPS at $0.31, up from $0.25 in the same quarter last year. Despite growing year on year, this print missed analysts' estimates, but we care more about long-term EPS growth than short-term movements. Over the next 12 months, Wall Street expects Distribution Solutions's full-year EPS of $1.50 to grow 15.3%. We struggled to find many positives in these results. Its revenue missed significantly and its EBITDA fell short of Wall Street's estimates. Overall, this quarter could have been better. The stock traded down 8.7% to $23.81 immediately following the results. Distribution Solutions's earnings report left more to be desired. Let's look forward to see if this quarter has created an opportunity to buy the stock. If you're making that decision, you should consider the bigger picture of valuation, business qualities, as well as the latest earnings. We cover that in our actionable full research report which you can read here, it's free. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas lawmakers grant most of governor's wishes in 2025 session
Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, speaks against Senate Bill 354, the $750 million Franklin County prison appropriation, on the Senate floor on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate) With one major exception, Arkansas lawmakers gave Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders almost everything she asked for in the 95th General Assembly, and even then it wasn't a total loss. The Legislature's Republican supermajority passed bills addressing Sanders' priorities: maternal health, a higher-education overhaul, concerns about the effects of social media platforms on children and restrictions on the influence of China in Arkansas. The big exception: funding for a planned 3,000-bed prison in rural Franklin County on the western side of the state. Senate Minority Leader Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, told the Advocate Wednesday that he's experienced longer and more challenging sessions since being elected to the state Legislature in 2010, but the 2025 session saw 'quite a lot of conflict.' Much of the controversy arose over efforts by one legislator to dissolve the State Library and its board and another lawmaker's efforts to police the use of public restrooms. Then there was a conflict about funding a new state prison. 'The biggest story is probably the defeat of the appropriation for the prison in Franklin County, especially considering that was one of the governor's top priorities,' Leding said. A $750 million appropriation bill to support the prison's construction died after five failed votes in the Senate this month. Sanders has pushed for the new penitentiary to alleviate overcrowding in county jails. State officials and residents have fought against the project, citing concerns about transparency, infrastructure and staffing. State lawmakers this week also challenged a separate bill that would have added $250 million to a correctional facilities set-aside fund into which the Legislature placed $330 million during the 2023 legislative session. An additional $75 million appropriated in 2022 for prison expansion has already been allocated to the Arkansas Department of Corrections, which can use the funding to move the project forward. Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, said Wednesday that money will support the hiring of architects and engineers who can help officials get a better understanding of the project's overall cost. Initial estimates set the prison's price tag at $825 million. The state Board of Corrections has already sought proposals from architects and general contractors. 'I would have liked to have funded the entire prison, but the members saw fit to just fund a portion of it, and that's great,' Hester said. 'We're moving in the direction we want to go, just not as fast as we wanted to go.' Putting a more positive spin on the rejection of the $750 million appropriation bill, its primary sponsor, Searcy Republican Sen. Jonathan Dismang, told the Joint Budget Committee Monday that the corrections department isn't likely to use all $75 million allocated to the agency before next year's fiscal session — when lawmakers can again explore options for funding prison expansion in April. If officials need more money before then, they can request lawmakers' approval for a temporary appropriation increase, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Sanders' effort to address the state's poor maternal health outcomes found bipartisan support this session and culminated with her signing Act 124 into law just two weeks after announcing the policy. The Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act changes the state's Medicaid program by establishing presumptive Medicaid eligibility for pregnant Arkansans, offering reimbursements for doulas and community health workers and establishing pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage for specific treatments. Arkansas has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation, and the third-highest infant mortality rate, according to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. Sanders last year convened a Strategic Committee for Maternal Health to develop recommendations for addressing the state's maternal health crisis. Sanders' efforts have not included support for expanding Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers from 60 days to 12 months after birth because she said it would be 'duplicative.' Arkansas is the only state that has not taken advantage of this federal option. Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, and Sen. Breanne Davis, R-Russellville, presented legislation this session that would have provided the extended coverage to qualifying pregnant Arkansans. House Bill 1004 advanced through the House before failing in a Senate committee earlier this month. Arkansas' Medicaid expansion program, called ARHOME, covers people up to 138% of the federal poverty level. ARHOME covered 237,327 Arkansans as of the end of February, the latest figures available from the Department of Human Services. Regular Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program covered another 230,058 adults and 421,192 children, for a total 888,577 Medicaid beneficiaries. Since Jan. 1, 2023, Medicaid covers pregnant Arkansans with incomes of up to 214% of the federal poverty level, or about $45,200 for a family of two or $68,700 for a family of four. This coverage expires two months after birth, leaving many postpartum Arkansans to 'fall through the cracks,' Davis told the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on April 9. 'We have got to address this holistically, and I think there's been a lot of really good work done, but it has not included this group of women,' who do not qualify for Medicaid expansion, she said. The proposal to expand coverage had supporters from both political parties. House Minority Leader Rep. Andrew Collins, D-Little Rock, proposed a similar bill that was never heard in committee. Sanders signed two bills Wednesday that she said in January's State of the State address she hoped would reach her desk during the session. The two bills cleared the Legislature on the last two days of business. One new law allows parents to file civil lawsuits against social media platforms if content on those platforms harms their children, and the other amends the state's blocked social media age verification law. The Social Media Safety Act of 2023 was the first of its kind in the nation and required social media platforms to verify the age of new account holders in Arkansas. Those under 18 could only access sites with parental permission. A federal judge temporarily blocked the law before it went into effect and permanently blocked it in March. The amendments to the Social Media Safety Act will go into effect in August. They more clearly define social media and apply the definition to more platforms, lower the age of minor users from under 18 to under 16 years old, prohibit social media algorithms from targeting minors, and add a penalty for noncompliance. The other bill Sanders signed would hold social media companies accountable for showing and promoting content to a child without that child's consent if viewing the content leads to 'significant bodily or cognitive harm.' Sanders has yet to take action on a third social media regulation bill on her desk, the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act. That bill would ban technology companies from collecting data from Arkansas minors except under specific circumstances, such as for financial transactions. Companies would also be barred from retaining that data and disclosing it to third parties that use the information in advertising targeted to children, and they would be required to provide notice and obtain consent if they are collecting data under permissible circumstances. Sanders signed a slew of bills that place new restrictions on direct democracy, the process by which Arkansans can propose new laws or constitutional amendments and put them to a statewide vote. Many were sponsored by Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, who in 2026 will run for Secretary of State, the office that oversees elections. Hammer and other Republican lawmakers said adding regulations to the process of soliciting and gathering signatures on petitions will protect the integrity of direct democracy and discourage fraudulent behavior. New requirements include but are not limited to: Signature gatherers, known as canvassers, must inform potential signers that petition fraud is a criminal offense Canvassers must request a photo ID from potential signers Potential signers must read a petition's ballot title or have it read to them Ballot titles must be at an eighth-grade reading level or lower Petition sponsors cannot submit more than one conflicting petition at the same time Democratic lawmakers and members of the public said the restrictions will have a chilling effect on the people's right to initiate new laws and constitutional amendments. In February, a committee rejected a proposed enforcement agency within the Secretary of State's office to investigate the validity of submitted ballot initiative documents. On Wednesday, the final day of the session, the House voted down a bill that would have given the Legislature the authority to overturn voter-approved constitutional amendments. The Legislature also took up multiple 'foreign adversary' bills. While the bills technically targeted several nations — such as Iran, Russia and North Korea — China has been repeatedly mentioned by lawmakers intent on rooting out the Communist country's perceived influence within Arkansas. Sanders promoted the legislation, saying in press conferences and on social media that Arkansas is the first state to 'kick China off of our farmland and out of our state.' The session's efforts built off of legislation passed in 2023 and 2024 that limited Chinese businesses from owning land in Arkansas and prohibited them from operating cryptocurrency mining facilities. Many of the bills passed in the last days of the session, such as House Bill 1680, which built on Act 636 of 2023's prohibition against land ownership by foreign adversary-controlled businesses. HB1680 added more prohibitions on such businesses, banning them from holding leases on land or having an interest in agricultural land within 10 miles of 'critical infrastructure' such as dams or power generation facilities. Other foreign adversary bills targeted higher education. Act 473 of 2025 requires extensive screening of individuals being considered for employment by a university or college if the person is from a covered foreign adversary such as China, depending on the role they are being considered for. It also creates a high bar for higher education institutions to enter into research agreements or cultural exchanges with groups from foreign adversary nations, requiring they be rejected unless a strong state interest is identified. Another bill, House Bill 1352, prohibits funding for institutions of higher education that have a Chinese cultural center or a Confucius Institute. A federal government report in October 2023 noted there are fewer than five Confucius Institutes left in the U.S. since Congress restricted federal funding to schools with institutes. Under House Bill 1604, government agencies would be prohibited from buying promotional items such as stickers and mugs from Chinese businesses, while House Bill 1683 would bar government agencies from buying electric vehicles or their components if the vendor could not certify that it was not made using forced labor. HB1683 took particular aim at alleged forced-labor practices in China — specifically mentioning alleged human rights abuses committed against the Uyghur people — although the importation of goods made with forced labor has been illegal in the U.S. since 1930 with the passage of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act of 2021 established that there is a presumption that all goods imported from China's Xinjiang region, where allegations of forced labor are concentrated, are produced using forced labor. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
