Latest news with #Larkin
Irish Independent
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Elaine Feeney delivers a moving meditation on enforced female roles in Irish society past and present
In retracing the trauma of multiple generations of a Galwegian family, the writer delivers a strong story that packs an emotional punch On top of being a playwright and a Booker-longlisted novelist for 2024's beloved How to Build a Boat, Galwegian Elaine Feeney is also a well-respected poet and so is likely familiar with Philip Larkin's 1971 mini masterpiece This Be The Verse. Even those who are a stranger to his work have probably heard Larkin's assertion that your mum and dad mess you up, although the Bard of Hull used an expletive to better get his point across. Don't blame your parents though, said Larkin, because they were 'messed' up by those who came before them. 'Man hands on misery to man' so get out while you can and don't look back. It's advice that Feeney's main character Claire O'Connor would have been wise to heed.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland v Slovenia player ratings as Girls in Green to face play-off
COURTNEY BROSNAN: Pulled off a crucial save at the end of a quiet first-half and a couple more after the break. 7 JESSIE STAPLETON: Excellent first-time cross for the opener, one of many dangerous right-wing deliveries. 7 ANNA PATTEN: Mostly involved in the opposition area, where a handful of opportunities fell her way. 6 CAITLIN HAYES: A confident first start under Ward, but missed a great chance to score. 6 ABBIE LARKIN: A constant threat on the left with her willingness to run at defenders. 7 DENISE O'SULLIVAN: Kept Ireland on the front-foot in possession, and was quick to break up Slovenian play. 7 MEGAN CONNOLLY: Delivered plenty of dangerous crosses and wasn't afraid to have a go herself. 7 EMILY MURPHY: Her best performance to date for Ireland should have been crowned with a goal. 8 KATIE McCABE: The target of some tough tackles. Linked up well with Larkin on the left. 7 KYRA CARUSA: Did a lot of running the channels, but touch let her down at times. 7 SAOIRSE NOONAN: The former Cork Gaelic footballer made a dream return to Páirc Uí Chaoimh. 7 SUBS: Megan Campbell (for Stapleton 62): Produced a handful of trademark long throws. 6 Amber Barrett (for Noonan 62): Added some pace to the Irish attack. 6 Louise Quinn (for Larkin 80): Not on long enough to rate. Marissa Sheva (for Carusa 80): Not on long enough to rate.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Granite COO Jim Radich to retire
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. Granite Construction Chief Operating Officer Jim Radich will retire on July 4 after 45 years at the Watsonville, California-based contractor, the firm announced May 16. Granite said it won't fill Radich's role once he leaves. Instead, it has created an Operations Executive Team where senior vice presidents of its construction and materials divisions will report directly to President and CEO Kyle Larkin. Senior Vice Presidents Brian Dowd, Michael Tatusko and Bradley Williams will run the construction side, while Bradly Estes will oversee the materials business. The new structure will provide more leadership opportunities for the executive team members while enabling them to elevate issues directly to Larkin instead of the COO position, Erin Kuhlman, Grainte's chief marketing and communications officer, told Construction Dive. The move is the latest change at the company which has transformed itself since the pandemic from a geographically oriented builder and supplier of road materials to a vertically integrated construction manager/general contractor focused on smaller, more profitable work packages on larger infrastructure projects. It has also redoubled its focus on its materials business, retooling several of its aggregate and asphalt plants with automation, while using targeted, bolt-on acquisitions to increase market share nationally. The news of Radich stepping down comes one year after the firm's former CFO, Lisa Curtis, announced her own retirement in 2024. She left in September, when current CFO Staci Woolsey stepped into the position. In a news release, Larkin praised Radich's long service to the company. 'Having joined Granite in 1980, Jim's numerous and meaningful contributions to Granite span decades,' Larkin said. Radich served in a number of roles, including project manager on key heavy-civil projects, chief estimator in the vertically integrated business, vice president and regional manager within northern California and senior vice president and California manager. As executive vice president and chief operating officer, Radich oversaw the day-to-day operations of the company and ensured appropriate reporting procedures, people and systems were in place to meet the operating requirements and financial goals of the company, especially during its more recent restructuring. 'Jim's leadership has been instrumental as we transformed the company over the last four years, and we are all grateful for his service to Granite,' Larkin said. 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
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man banned from Asda, Aldi and Co-Op stores jailed for stealing cheese
A prolific shoplifter who was banned from every Asda, Aldi and Co-Op just outside Merseyside was caught stealing cheese before being jailed. Adam Larkin was handed a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) in November 2023, banning him from all Asda, Aldi and Co-Op stores in Lancashire. However, the 37-year-old breached the order handed to him when he committed a theft from Asda Express on Moor Road in Chorley. Officers were called to reports of a theft of large amounts of cooked meats and a block of cheese worth around £80 on May 6. READ MORE: Grandad went back to his old ways to 'protect his family' after shooting READ MORE: Warning issued after man bitten on beach Larkin, of Lyons Lane, Chorley, was arrested shortly after and charged with theft from a shop and breach of a CBO. He appeared before Preston Magistrates Court on May 8 where he pleaded guilty to the offence. Larkin was sentenced to a total of eight months in prison. Sgt Paul Harrison from Chorley's Neighbourhood Policing team said: "Shoplifting has a significant impact on local businesses and the communities they serve. It is not a victimless crime. "Through Operation Vulture, we will continue to work alongside our partners to ensure that shoplifters are brought before the courts and held accountable for their actions." A force spokesperson added: "Operation Vulture is Lancashire Constabulary's response to shoplifting across the county, backed by Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw. The operation sees dedicated officers undertaking hotspot patrolling, increasing their visibility in targeted areas and creating strong partnerships with retailers across the county to better share intelligence, get a deeper understanding of retail crime and identify more offenders." For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Join the Liverpool ECHO Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community to receive the latest news straight to your phone by clicking here. Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here Try the Liverpool Echo Premium app and get the first month free
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GVA Q1 Earnings Call: Margin Gains and Portfolio Shifts Offset Revenue Miss
Construction and construction materials company Granite Construction (NYSE:GVA) missed Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025 as sales rose 4.1% year on year to $699.5 million. On the other hand, the company's outlook for the full year was close to analysts' estimates with revenue guided to $4.3 billion at the midpoint. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.01 per share was significantly above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy GVA? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $699.5 million vs analyst estimates of $705.9 million (4.1% year-on-year growth, 0.9% miss) Adjusted EPS: $0.01 vs analyst estimates of -$0.46 (significant beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $28.07 million vs analyst estimates of $12.05 million (4% margin, significant beat) The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $4.3 billion at the midpoint Operating Margin: -5.7%, in line with the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow was -$28.56 million compared to -$3.8 million in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $3.76 billion Granite Construction's first quarter results reflected a blend of margin improvement and continued project portfolio transformation, with management attributing the quarter's performance to improved project execution and a focus on higher-quality work. CEO Kyle Larkin noted that adverse weather slowed some activity in March, yet the company achieved higher construction segment margins and grew its backlog (CAP), supported by federal infrastructure funding and strong bidding momentum. Management also highlighted progress in its Materials segment, emphasizing investments in automation and plant upgrades as key contributors to profit gains and operational resilience. Looking forward, management reaffirmed its full-year outlook, underpinned by expectations for a robust public sector pipeline and a healthy mix of upcoming projects. Larkin pointed to ongoing support from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), suggesting that 'opportunities funded by the bill continue to increase because of the timing delay between allocations to states and funding for specific projects.' While management acknowledged uncertainties around tariffs and equipment costs, they expressed confidence in their ability to mitigate these headwinds and sustain growth through a disciplined approach to bidding, risk management, and targeted M&A. Granite Construction's management focused on strategic execution improvements and investments in core capabilities as key drivers of the quarter's performance and margin gains. Construction margin execution: Improved project execution and a higher-quality backlog drove margin expansion in the Construction segment, despite weather-related disruptions in Western markets. Management cited better bidding discipline and a deliberate shift away from long-term, high-risk projects. Materials segment transformation: Significant investments in Materials, including automation and new plant additions, led to higher aggregate prices and improved cash gross profit margins. Management realigned operational leadership and centralized functions to enhance efficiency and profitability. Federal infrastructure funding impact: The company's backlog benefited from public sector demand, particularly from the IIJA. Management expects these funding sources to support project opportunities and backlog growth beyond 2026, due to delays between allocations and project starts. M&A and vertical integration: Granite is prioritizing acquisitions of materials-focused, vertically integrated companies to reinforce its home markets. Management stated the target of completing two to three deals in 2025 remains unchanged, with integration of recent Southeast acquisitions progressing well. Tariff and cost management: While tariffs and equipment cost inflation remain risks, management reported limited direct impact so far. The company is taking proactive measures, such as early capital expenditure approvals and commodity price hedging, to mitigate potential cost increases. Management's outlook for the remainder of the year is anchored by anticipated public infrastructure investment, targeted Materials segment growth, and ongoing margin improvement initiatives. Public infrastructure project pipeline: Continued federal and state infrastructure funding is expected to drive demand for both Construction and Materials segments, with management citing bipartisan support for future legislation beyond current bills. Margin expansion through execution: The company aims to further improve construction margins through disciplined project selection and operational enhancements. Materials segment profit growth is expected from price increases and process automation. M&A as a growth lever: Accretive acquisitions, especially in materials and vertically integrated businesses, are viewed as key to expanding market presence and supporting long-term revenue and margin growth. Brent Thielman (D.A. Davidson): Asked about the active bidding environment and the sustainability of backlog growth; management highlighted strong public sector demand and ongoing success in capturing higher-margin work. Brent Thielman (D.A. Davidson): Inquired about drivers of improved construction margins despite limited segment growth; CEO Larkin attributed gains to project execution and a shift toward less risky projects. Steven Ramsey (Thompson Research Group): Questioned the mix of project types in the backlog and the implications for business risk; management explained the benefits of a healthy mix between short-cycle and multi-year projects. Steven Ramsey (Thompson Research Group): Asked about Materials segment revenue as a percentage of total sales and expectations for future growth; management expects the Materials business to comprise a growing share of overall revenue due to ongoing investment. Jerry Revich (Goldman Sachs): Sought clarity on cash gross profit margin improvement in Materials and peer comparisons; management pointed to geography, product mix, and pricing discipline as key factors, with further margin expansion targeted in 2025. In upcoming quarters, the StockStory team will focus on (1) tracking margin trends in both Construction and Materials segments as project execution and price initiatives take hold, (2) monitoring progress on targeted M&A, particularly any materials-focused acquisitions that could reshape the business mix, and (3) assessing the impact of public infrastructure funding, including the timing and flow of IIJA-related projects. Any changes in tariff exposure or significant weather disruptions will also be key factors influencing Granite Construction's operational and financial trajectory. Granite Construction currently trades at a forward EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 8×. Is the company at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? Find out 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 5 Growth Stocks for this month. 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-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. 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