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The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Do we hate our children? Why else would we do them this much damage?
There are changes being wrought on children today that are more like mutations in the human soul. This should scare us, shame us. Indeed, what's happening should render vast swathes of the adult population unfit for parenthood. The World Health Organisation felt compelled to issue recommendations that under-fives spend no more than one hour daily online. Pause and consider that. Read more by Neil Mackay When I see children in pushchairs with iPads in their hands, I feel visceral contempt for the adult in charge. Why don't you just blow cigarette smoke in your baby's face? is the thought that enters my mind. Head teachers in Belfast primary schools have issued a joint statement begging parents to delay giving children smartphones. Ofcom has found that nearly 25% of five-to-seven-year-olds have their own device. Five-year-olds with smartphones. Pause and consider that. What's happening is an act of mutilation. The Scottish criminologist Professor David Wilson told me not that long ago that his new intake of 450 first year students had all watched beheading videos. We're creating monsters. Social media is awash with hardcore pornography that's easily accessed without age verification. Brutality and sadism saturate the online world. You don't need to hear this from me, you know it. You've seen it. Even the most innocent can't help but stumble upon this relentless horror and degradation. How can exposing youngsters – wilfully, knowingly – to hardcore pornography and snuff movies be considered anything other than the murder of childhood? Children are being physically changed, and not simply through their sedentary existence. I listened in bewilderment recently to linguists describing the rise of the "TikTok" accent. Currently, the voices of kids in Britain – a land rich in regional dialects – are merging into a digital blur. You can hear it among the young if you listen. The two main traits are "uptalk" – their intonation rising at the end of a sentence – and what's called "vocal fry", which is a soft, creak in the voice. It's a hand-me-down from American influencers. If children sound more like online influencers than their own parents, something has gone very badly wrong. We wonder about the rise in youth violence, we scratch our head over what could have caused the explosion in mental health problems among the young, we're bemused at the inability of children to socialise, at the loneliness which plagues them, at the self-hatred they exude, at the lack of empathy they display, at the increase in childhood obesity, at their fear, their greed, their anger. "What has damaged them?" we ask. We are the damage. That's the truth. We're allowing this to happen. We wail about "safeguarding" children, yet we buy them a bomb to hold in their hand every waking minute of every single day. The screeching moral majority – the modern-day Mary Whitehouse brigade – lose their minds over sex education policies in schools, but never speak out about the destruction of children mentally, physically and emotionally at the hands of tech companies. It's like singing hymns over your child whilst shooting heroin into their veins. There's a snowball effect now unfolding. GenZ parents in their late twenties have turned on reading. We know that reading is an empathy machine, an intelligence multiplier, a path to social and economic success. Fewer than half of GenZ parents, however, like reading to their children. Screen time has replaced story time. When I die, I know that memories of reading to my children will be among the most cherished images to flash through my mind. The sorrow and pity I feel for these parents is matched only by my contempt. Those GenZ mums and dads feel reading to their children just isn't 'fun'. What can you say to that? A third deem reading a 'subject to learn' rather than enjoy. Among their own children, only a third read frequently for pleasure. In 2012, the figure was more than 50%. GenZ was broken and mutilated through exposure to screens – thanks to their own parents, that's us, incidentally – and now they're handing on the damage. Remember Philip Larkin's famous line: "They f*** you up, your mum and dad." Professor David Wilson said recently that his new intake of 450 first year students had all watched beheading videos (Image: Tern TV/BBC Scotland) The online world is a place where kids go to learn how to kill themselves, or kill someone else. Yet what do we do? Elect politicians who suck their thumb for fear of inciting the ire of tech billionaires. A few nations show guts. Australia is to ban social media for under-16s. The hard truth, though, is that unless we adults take responsibility for our own actions, our children will never be saved. Why should your child care what you say about social media when you're glued to your phone or howling on Twitter? Did you care what your parents said about smoking when they had a fag in their mouth? The thought of confronting technology is daunting. It makes you feel tiny, it brings on a case of Cnutism: that trying to stop what's unfolding is as fruitless as a mad Danish king daring to hold back the sea. But unlike the sea, technology is human-made. It's not our god. Yet. What's the point of rescuing the economy, fighting for democracy, or saving the planet, if we fail to rescue our own children, fight for their future and save them from what's being done to them on our watch as adults? Surely even raw self-interest should make us act. Ask yourself what the adults of the future may be like when you're old, needing care. Are today's children – innocents being shorn of empathy and understanding through our carelessness and folly, rendered desocialised, self-centred and morality-free; more influencer than citizen – really the people you want in charge of you? Neil Mackay is The Herald's Writer at Large. He's a multi-award-winning investigative journalist, author of both fiction and non-fiction, and a filmmaker and broadcaster. He specialises in intelligence, security, crime, social affairs, cultural commentary, and foreign and domestic politics.
The Sun
5 days ago
- General
- The Sun
From Rose West & Myra Hindley's ‘affair' to child killers at war… why infamous monsters ALWAYS become rivals behind bars
THEIR deadly urges might appear to make them kindred spirits, but behind bars, the world's most despised serial killers have often turned against each other in explosive fashion. From loathsome love affairs to murder plots and gruesome jail attacks, these warped rivalries also expose a dark psychology that drives these infamous monsters, according to a top criminologist. 9 9 This week, it was reported that spree killer Joanna Dennehy threatened to kill Rose West behind bars just minutes after she arrived in the same prison as the House of Horrors murderer. The twisted pair were both caged at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey. West was allegedly taken into solitary confinement before she was transferred to another prison the following day, as prison guards feared the worst. Dennehy is currently serving a life term in prison for stabbing five men, three who died, is known as one of the country's most notorious female killers. Criminologist Professor David Wilson is not at all surprised that Dennehy would want to target West, explaining she is desperate to cement her own self-styled reputation as Britain's most evil woman. 'Quite clearly Rose West is a convicted serial killer, then you have Joanna Dennehy who isn't a serial killer, but is a spree killer,' he explains. 'But Joanna Dennehy has carefully constructed for herself a persona where she wants to be seen as the most dangerous woman that Britain has ever produced. 'And therefore having Rose West in the same prison... she undermines that sense. "A plot for the spree killer to kill the serial killer embellishes and improves her reputation as being that dangerous female murderer. She would be the ultimate top dog. 'These people want to reinvent their brand, sometimes they are polishing that sense of what the public think of them, because these confrontations get reported on. They can enhance and keep their brand in the limelight.' But Dennehy isn't the only notorious prisoner to start a bitter feud behind bars with an infamous rival. And Professor Wilson, also a former prison governor, says there are two key reasons for this - personality and the prison environment. 'Ultimately what characterises them all is narcissism. These people like to be the centre of attention, and as long as they can be the centre of attention that fits their psychological needs," he says. 'Sometimes a friendship or alliance with another prisoner who has a reputation outside or inside can enhance their narcissistic personality trait. "But other times if they feel that they are under threat from that person, they will change their behaviour accordingly and they will fall out. 'Then the key sociological aspect is that they are all incarcerated in a maximum security prison or a secure hospital. And there is a prison hierarchy and they have a reputation that they want to retain. 'Sometimes the fact that there is a hierarchy means that they want to position themselves as higher up than another prisoner. "Or it may be that they see a kindred spirit so that they can combine forces and act jointly to maintain their place in the hierarchy. "Sometimes there are genuine friendships that develop within secure hospitals and maximum security prisons.' But often these friendships can twist into deadly and bitter rivalry... as we reveal here. Rose West and Myra Hindley 9 Mass murderers Rose West and Myra Hindley were as 'thick as thieves' until a sudden split after they quarrelled over who was more famous, a fellow lag claims. Moors Murderer Myra and Cromwell Street killer Rose first met in HMP Durham in the mid 1990s. It was claimed they had a 'short-lived lesbian relationship' before the fallout. West's former solicitor Leo Goatley said: "Rose's first paramour was the Moors murderer, Myra Hindley, who happened to be on the hospital wing at HMP Durham at the same time in 1995 and early 1996." However, Mr Goatley claims their relationship didn't last long with West saying Hindley could be "very manipulative'. He told the Daily Mail: "When I visited a few months later, Rose's opinion of Hindley had changed dramatically. "She was saying, 'You have to watch Hindley, mind. She is very manipulative. "'You don't realise it, but she gets you doing stuff for her. Oh, she's clever, all right. She's flippin' dangerous, that one. She ain't going to take me for a c*** again.' "And so heralded the end of the romance.' Fellow prisoner Linda Calvey, who served 18 years inside, later claimed the relationship didn't last long, saying: "As fast as it happened, it ended. "There was talk that because Rose was more famous than Myra it had put her nose out of joint.' Yorkshire Ripper and Ronnie Kray 9 Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and gangland killer Ronnie Kray were both banged up in maximum security psychiatric hospital Broadmoor in the early 90s. Serial killer Sutcliffe and mobster Kray were once on friendly terms inside, with Sutcliffe being trusted to cut Kray's hair. But Sutcliffe told a pal just months before his death that he threatened to kill Kray after the gangster made advances towards him. In one letter, he wrote: 'I did not give Ronnie a beating although I did threaten him when he tried to make advances on me.' Ronnie Kray died, aged 61, in 1995, while Sutcliffe, who murdered 13 women, died at HMP Frankland from a combination of Covid-19 and heart disease in November 2020, aged 74. Ian Brady and Raymond Morris The country's most notorious child killers, Raymond Morris and Ian Brady, were embroiled in a savage, behind-bars rivalry. While serving their life sentences the pair often had violent clashes as they argued about who had the greater notoriety. The Cannock Chase Killer and the Moors Murderer attacked each other in Durham Prison, throwing hot water over each other – and both received treatment for scalds following the violence. Historian Richard Pursehouse said of one of the attacks: 'Assuming the phrase was around then, apparently Brady, who had chosen 'tea, no milk, plenty of sugar', had 'napalmed' Morris. 'The lack of milk means it would be hot, while lots of sugar means the tea would stick to Morris's face.' Walsall monster Morris, who died in 2014, was only ever convicted of the murder of seven-year-old Christine Darby but remains chief suspect in the killings of Margaret and Diana Tift. Brady, along with his girlfriend Myra Hindley, was convicted of the murders of five children. He died in prison in 2017. Charles Bronson and Robert Maudsley 9 One of Britain's most feared killers is reportedly embroiled in a bitter feud with infamous prisoner Charles Bronson. Robert Maudsley, who earned the nickname 'Hannibal the Cannibal' after allegations he ate one of his victims' brains, has been locked up for more than 40 years. His dangerous reputation has led to him being kept in isolation inside a glass box underground. The pair reportedly "hated" each other inside HMP Wakefield, also known as "Monster Mansion". In the book, Inside Wakefield Prison, authors Jonathan Levi and Emma French recount how one prison guard, named Jo, described how the pair would torment one another. "Robert Maudsley, Bob as he is known, hates Bronson. They simply do not get on," they explained. "When I was on the unit, Maudsley would play rock music loud to annoy Bronson.' The music would echo through the cell walls and provoke Bronson to "shout" at the killer who refused to respond. In a particularly twisted form of revenge, Bronson was allegedly known to whistle outside Maudsley's cell, supposedly because the latter's mother would lock him in a cupboard and whistle outside the door. Bronson has claimed he and Maudsley fell out over a rejected gift - and he wants revenge. He revealed that he sent Maudsley a watch as a gift, only for it to be rejected by the killer, who instructed the prison guard trying to deliver it to throw the watch in a bin. After the incident he called Maudsley 'an ungrateful b*****d and threatened: 'I pray to one day bump into him at 300mph and, unlike him, I don't need a blade." Levi Bellfield and John Warboys Black cab rapist John Worboys bonded with killer Levi Bellfield over their love of football and food - before falling out when Bellfield found out Worboys admitted he was guilty. Bellfield became 'best friends' with rapist Warboys and even offered legal advice, said insiders. When Worboys was moved to a different prison he kept in touch with Bellfield, one of the UK's most notorious child killers, by letter. Despite their friendship Bellfield later wrote to a pen pal claiming they were only pals because he believed Warboys was innocent. He wrote: "He told me he was innocent when I was there. And if he's admitted his guilt now I'm a little bit disappointed because I looked to him as being innocent. "Like a mug I was, but that's what he told me. That's what he told everyone.' Bellfield was jailed for life in 2008 for the hammer murders of Amelie Delagrange, 22, and 19-year-old Marsha McDonnell and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, 18. Three years later he was convicted of killing schoolgirl Milly Dowler, 13, who was abducted on her way home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey in 2002. Roy Whiting and Gary Vinter Double killer Gary Vinter set his sights on Roy Whiting because of his notoriety. Convicted sex offender Whiting had been jailed for life 2001 for the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne, who disappeared while playing near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, West Sussex, in July 2000. Vinter stabbed Whiting in the eyes with a sharpened toilet brush handle in 2011. He attacked Whiting in an attempt to get his own jail conditions changed, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Vinter told the court: "He [Whiting] was a dirty little nonce. That's why I did it." Vinter admitted the attack and was given an indefinite sentence with a notional five-year minimum jail term. But that wasn't the end of his prison violence and Vinter has since become known as one of the most feared prisoners in the British justice system. In 2016 he was handed another life sentence for trying to kill double killer Lee Newell, a fellow lifer at HMP Woodhill. Newell was kicked repeatedly in the head. A prison officer said they were the worst injuries he had seen. Passing sentence, Judge Richard Foster told Vinter: "You must be one of the most dangerous individuals within the prison system today. Your record is truly shocking." Edmund Kemper and Herbert Mullin 9 In 1970s California, there was not one but two serial killers on the loose at the same time. Eventually cops arrested Herbert Mullin and Edmund Kemper after the deaths of 21 people, and the pair ended up in adjoining cells in prison. But that despite their grisly common ground, the men did not get along, with Kemper trying to torment Mullin. Kemper recalled: "Well, [Mullin] had a habit of singing and bothering people when somebody tried to watch TV. "So I threw water on him to shut him up. Then, when he was a good boy, I'd give him some peanuts. Herbie liked peanuts. "That was effective because pretty soon he asked permission to sing. That's called behaviour modification treatment.' Who are the UK's worst serial killers? THE UK's most prolific serial killer was actually a doctor. Here's a rundown of the worst offenders in the UK. British GP Harold Shipman is one of the most prolific serial killers in recorded history. He was found guilty of murdering 15 patients in 2000, but the Shipman Inquiry examined his crimes and identified 218 victims, 80 per cent of whom were elderly women. After his death Jonathan Balls was accused of poisoning at least 22 people between 1824 and 1845. Mary Ann Cotton is suspected of murdering up to 21 people, including husbands, lovers and children. She is Britain's most prolific female serial killer. Her crimes were committed between 1852 and 1872, and she was hanged in March 1873. Amelia Sach and Annie Walters became known as the Finchley Baby Farmers after killing at least 20 babies between 1900 and 1902. The pair became the first women to be hanged at Holloway Prison on February 3, 1903. William Burke and William Hare killed 16 people and sold their bodies. Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe was found guilty in 1981 of murdering 13 women and attempting to kill seven others between 1975 and 1980. Dennis Nilsen was caged for life in 1983 after murdering up to 15 men when he picked them up from the streets. He was found guilty of six counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder and was sentenced to life in jail. Fred West was found guilty of killing 12 but it's believed he was responsible for many more deaths.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Wilson departs Dragons to return to Australia
Dragons centre Harry Wilson has left Rodney Parade to return to who is the son of ex-Australia captain and World Cup-winner David Wilson, joined Dragons last season from Super Rugby side NSW Waratahs. The 24-year-old made 12 appearances and scored one try and will now return to his homeland by mutual consent."A massive thank you to all the staff for your support this season. I appreciate the time and effort you all put into me," said Wilson. "To the players, this is a special group, and I am definitely going to miss turning up to training each day with you all. "I've made mates for life and that's what I'll always remember about my time here with Dragons." Head coach Filo Tiatia said: "He's a young man who has come out of Super Rugby and embraced the challenge in a new country with us and been a pleasure to work with."We now wish him every success for the future and look forward to seeing how his career progresses."
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CMCO Q1 Earnings Call: Tariff Pressures, Backlog Growth, and Pending Acquisition Shape Outlook
Material handling equipment manufacturer Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ:CMCO) fell short of the market's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales falling 7% year on year to $246.9 million. Its non-GAAP EPS of $0.60 per share was 3.4% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy CMCO? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $246.9 million (7% year-on-year decline) Adjusted EPS: $0.60 vs analyst estimates of $0.58 (3.4% beat) Adjusted EBITDA Margin: 14.6% Backlog: $322.5 million at quarter end Market Capitalization: $448.6 million Columbus McKinnon's first quarter results reflected the effects of shifting demand patterns and operational changes across its business. Management attributed the year-over-year sales decline to softer short-cycle order activity, which CEO David Wilson linked to 'near-term policy uncertainty and channel consolidation that has led to channel inventory reductions.' The company also saw a higher mix of longer-cycle project-related business, particularly in its precision conveyance segment, which contributed to a 15% increase in backlog but limited near-term revenue conversion. Operational execution improvements, such as ramping up the Monterrey, Mexico facility and consolidating North American production, also played a role in shaping the quarter's margin profile. Looking forward, Columbus McKinnon's guidance is shaped by ongoing macroeconomic and policy uncertainty, especially regarding tariff impacts and demand volatility. Management's outlook includes the expectation that tariff-related costs will weigh on margins and adjusted earnings in the first half of the year, with mitigation efforts such as pricing actions, supply chain adjustments, and surcharges planned to offset these headwinds over time. CEO David Wilson emphasized that 'we expect tariffs to be a headwind to margin and adjusted EPS in the first half of the year and are targeting the achievement of tariff cost neutrality by the second half.' Additionally, the company's pending acquisition of Kito Crosby, expected to close by year-end, is seen as a key lever for scaling operations and accelerating strategic priorities, though its financial impact is not yet included in guidance. Management attributed the quarter's results to weaker short-cycle sales, a shift toward longer-cycle project orders, and continued cost management efforts amid tariff uncertainty. Short-cycle demand softness: Orders for short-cycle products remained flat year-over-year, with continued pressure from policy and macroeconomic uncertainty. This led to reduced sales volume, as inventory reductions continued across distribution channels. Project-related order growth: Orders for project-related and precision conveyance solutions saw notable strength. Management highlighted robust demand in end markets such as battery production, life sciences, e-commerce, and aerospace, helping drive a 15% increase in backlog. Operational changes in manufacturing: The transition of production to the Monterrey, Mexico facility and the closure of two smaller North American plants impacted gross margins. Management noted underutilization during the ramp-up period but expects improved efficiency as volumes increase. Tariff headwinds and mitigation efforts: Tariffs on imports from China and the EU contributed to margin compression. Management outlined a mitigation plan involving price increases, surcharges, and supply chain adjustments, acknowledging a lag before these actions fully offset higher input costs. Pending Kito Crosby acquisition: The company continued to advance integration planning for the Kito Crosby deal, with most regulatory approvals received. Management expects the combination to enable cost synergies, expand geographic reach, and strengthen its position in key industrial segments. Management expects ongoing tariff impacts and the mix of project versus short-cycle orders to be the main themes shaping results through the rest of the year. Tariff mitigation and pricing actions: Columbus McKinnon plans to address tariff-related cost pressures through a combination of surcharges, selective price increases, and supply chain shifts. Management warned that while these measures are underway, there will be a timing gap before cost neutrality is achieved, potentially affecting volume if higher prices impact competitiveness. Backlog conversion and project execution: A strong backlog, driven by precision conveyance and long-cycle project orders, is expected to support revenue as these orders convert over the coming quarters. Management anticipates some lumpiness in project delivery timing but believes ongoing demand in targeted end markets like automation and defense will provide additional support. Integration of Kito Crosby: The pending acquisition is expected to generate operational synergies, expand the product portfolio, and accelerate the company's intelligent motion strategy. However, management emphasized that financial benefits from the acquisition will not be realized until after closing, which is anticipated by year-end. In the next few quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) the pace and effectiveness of tariff mitigation strategies, (2) the conversion of backlog—especially in precision conveyance and project-related segments—into revenue, and (3) progress toward closing and integrating the Kito Crosby acquisition. We will also monitor how adjustments in pricing and supply chain management influence both volume and profitability as macro conditions evolve. Columbus McKinnon currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 5.8×. Should you double down or take your chips? The answer lies in our full research report (it's free). 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 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). 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-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ:CMCO) Reports Sales Below Analyst Estimates In Q1 Earnings
Material handling equipment manufacturer Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ:CMCO) missed Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales falling 7% year on year to $246.9 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.60 per share was 3.4% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy Columbus McKinnon? Find out in our full research report. Revenue: $246.9 million vs analyst estimates of $250.1 million (7% year-on-year decline, 1.3% miss) Adjusted EPS: $0.60 vs analyst estimates of $0.58 (3.4% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $36.07 million vs analyst estimates of $35.04 million (14.6% margin, 3% beat) Operating Margin: 2%, down from 10.1% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 11.9%, similar to the same quarter last year Backlog: $322.5 million at quarter end Market Capitalization: $508.7 million "We enter fiscal 2026 with a strong backlog and continued order growth as our commercial initiatives gain traction. Our conviction in Columbus McKinnon's strategy and business model remains strong as we continue to anticipate tailwinds from industry megatrends like on-shoring, scarcity of labor and global infrastructure investments over time," said David Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer. With 19 different brands across the globe, Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ:CMCO) offers material handling equipment for the construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries. Reviewing a company's long-term sales performance reveals insights into its quality. Any business can experience short-term success, but top-performing ones enjoy sustained growth for years. Regrettably, Columbus McKinnon's sales grew at a sluggish 3.5% compounded annual growth rate over the last five years. This was below our standard for the industrials sector and is a tough starting point for our analysis. We at StockStory place the most emphasis on long-term growth, but within industrials, a half-decade historical view may miss cycles, industry trends, or a company capitalizing on catalysts such as a new contract win or a successful product line. Columbus McKinnon's recent performance shows its demand has slowed as its annualized revenue growth of 1.4% over the last two years was below its five-year trend. This quarter, Columbus McKinnon missed Wall Street's estimates and reported a rather uninspiring 7% year-on-year revenue decline, generating $246.9 million of revenue. Looking ahead, sell-side analysts expect revenue to grow 3.1% over the next 12 months. Although this projection indicates its newer products and services will spur better top-line performance, it is still below the sector average. Here at StockStory, we certainly understand the potential of thematic investing. Diverse winners from Microsoft (MSFT) to Alphabet (GOOG), Coca-Cola (KO) to Monster Beverage (MNST) could all have been identified as promising growth stories with a megatrend driving the growth. So, in that spirit, we've identified a relatively under-the-radar profitable growth stock benefiting from the rise of AI, available to you FREE via this link. Columbus McKinnon has done a decent job managing its cost base over the last five years. The company has produced an average operating margin of 8.4%, higher than the broader industrials sector. Analyzing the trend in its profitability, Columbus McKinnon's operating margin decreased by 3.2 percentage points over the last five years. This raises questions about the company's expense base because its revenue growth should have given it leverage on its fixed costs, resulting in better economies of scale and profitability. In Q1, Columbus McKinnon generated an operating profit margin of 2%, down 8.1 percentage points year on year. Since Columbus McKinnon's operating margin decreased more than its gross margin, we can assume it was less efficient because expenses such as marketing, R&D, and administrative overhead increased. We track the long-term change in earnings per share (EPS) for the same reason as long-term revenue growth. Compared to revenue, however, EPS highlights whether a company's growth is profitable. Sadly for Columbus McKinnon, its EPS declined by 2.2% annually over the last five years while its revenue grew by 3.5%. This tells us the company became less profitable on a per-share basis as it expanded. We can take a deeper look into Columbus McKinnon's earnings to better understand the drivers of its performance. As we mentioned earlier, Columbus McKinnon's operating margin declined by 3.2 percentage points over the last five years. Its share count also grew by 19.5%, meaning the company not only became less efficient with its operating expenses but also diluted its shareholders. Like with revenue, we analyze EPS over a more recent period because it can provide insight into an emerging theme or development for the business. For Columbus McKinnon, its two-year annual EPS declines of 8.2% show it's continued to underperform. These results were bad no matter how you slice the data. In Q1, Columbus McKinnon reported EPS at $0.60, down from $0.75 in the same quarter last year. Despite falling year on year, this print beat analysts' estimates by 3.4%. Over the next 12 months, Wall Street expects Columbus McKinnon's full-year EPS of $2.48 to grow 8.3%. It was encouraging to see Columbus McKinnon beat analysts' EBITDA expectations this quarter. We were also happy its EPS outperformed Wall Street's estimates. On the other hand, its revenue slightly missed. Overall, this was a softer quarter. The stock traded down 1.1% to $17.55 immediately following the results. Big picture, is Columbus McKinnon a buy here and now? The latest quarter does matter, but not nearly as much as longer-term fundamentals and valuation, when deciding if the stock is a buy. We cover that in our actionable full research report which you can read here, it's free. 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
