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Forbes
an hour ago
- Business
- Forbes
RCAT Stock To $25?
CHONGQING, CHINA - MAY 11: In this photo illustration, the logo of Red Cat Holdings, Inc. is ... More displayed on a smartphone screen, with the company's red branding and stylized cat face emblem visible in the background, on May 11, 2025, in Chongqing, China. (Photo illustration by) Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ:RCAT) has experienced a remarkable increase in its stock by 500% over the past year, mainly due to its strategic emphasis on the rapidly expanding drone defense sector. This exceptional growth is fueled by notable military contract achievements, even as the company continues to incur losses. A significant contributor to this success is the U.S. Army's Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) program, which may enable Red Cat's Black Widow drones to provide up to 5,880 units over five years. Additionally, the company has secured fresh orders for its Edge 130 drones from various U.S. government entities. This increase in demand is further bolstered by a global rise in defense expenditures on drone technology, partly influenced by the conflict in Ukraine. Red Cat's dedication to 'Made in America' drone solutions is proving essential, aligning with national security objectives. The company's strategic alliance with Palantirfor AI navigation and manufacturing optimization, together with its innovative Edge 130 and Black Widow products, is expected to result in a notable growth in anticipated revenues this year, with the Black Widow drone expected to guide the company towards profitability. However, for those seeking upside with a less volatile option than an individual stock, consider the High Quality portfolio, which has outperformed the S&P, achieving over 91% returns since its inception. Separately, check out – D-Wave Quantum: Can QBTS Stock Deliver Another 1,000% Gain? Financial Performance Analysis Red Cat presents a complicated financial scenario with contrasting short-term and long-term trends: Red Cat's current profitability measures are severely unfavorable across all key metrics: These metrics indicate the company's ongoing investment stage as it scales up production capabilities and meets military contract demands. Despite operational losses, Red Cat preserves a robust financial basis: The low debt load affords financial flexibility for growth investments and fulfilling contracts. Valuation Metrics Red Cat's valuation appears high based on traditional metrics, with a price-to-sales ratio of 80x compared to the S&P 500's 3.1x. However, this superficial analysis fails to account for the company's transformation narrative. The valuation becomes increasingly attractive when projected growth is taken into account: Risk Assessment Red Cat Holdings faces significant risks, including operational difficulties in scaling manufacturing to fulfill large military contracts, maintaining rigorous quality control, and managing supply chain vulnerabilities. Market-wise, the company contends with fierce competition, possible changes in defense spending, and substantial customer concentration due to its reliance on government contracts. Moreover, RCAT stock carries considerable market risk, having underperformed significantly compared to the S&P 500 during prior downturns. Financially, ongoing negative cash flow requires continuous access to capital, and timelines for profitability could be impacted by legal challenges, such as class action lawsuits alleging false claims about production capacity and the true value of the SRR contract. Geopolitical elements like defense budget reductions, export limitations, and decreased global tensions also present risks to future growth and market development. Additionally, check out – What's Happening With SBET Stock? The Verdict Red Cat Holdings showcases an intriguing growth narrative within the defense technology arena, with the 500% appreciation in stock price representing both the company's strategic positioning and the larger drone market opportunity. While current financials indicate substantial losses, the strong balance sheet and significant military contracts lay a foundation for anticipated revenue growth. The forward-looking valuation seems reasonable given the potential for growth, though execution risks and market competition are crucial factors for investors to watch closely. Now, we utilize a risk assessment framework while constructing Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio which, with a collection of 30 stocks, has consistently shown strong performance against the S&P 500 over the past four years. Why is that? As a collective, HQ Portfolio stocks have offered superior returns with reduced risk in comparison to the benchmark index; a smoother investment experience, as evidenced in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Army veteran and US citizen arrested in California immigration raid warns it could happen to anyone
A U.S. Army veteran who was arrested during an immigration raid at a Southern California marijuana farm last week said Wednesday he was sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray before being dragged from his vehicle and pinned down by federal agents who arrested him.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Meet Preston Cook, the man who fought for the bald eagle and ensured America got its national bird
After nearly 250 years, the bald eagle has been officially declared the national bird of the United States through bipartisan legislation signed by former President Joe Biden. This corrects a historical oversight, thanks to the decade-long efforts of Preston Cook, an Army veteran and eagle enthusiast, who transformed his passion into a national legislative triumph by lobbying and building coalitions. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Journey of Preston Cook Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Bald eagle: The icon of America It took nearly 250 years, but the bald eagle , the white-crowned raptor long seen as a symbol of American freedom, has officially been declared the national bird of the United States . While in popular notion the bald eagle was embossed as America's national bird, in reality and on paper, it was not. Now, many knew about it, and for nearly two-and-a-half centuries, the bald eagle was projected as the US national President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan legislation into law on December 24, 2024, correcting what many considered a strange oversight in US history. While the bald eagle has adorned seals, currency, passports, and military insignia since 1782, it was never formally recognized in federal law. Preston Cook stands at the centre of this long overdue recognition as the man who gave America its national bird. An 82-year-old Army veteran and self-taught eagle historian, Cook transformed a lifelong obsession into a national legislative passion began in 1966, during his service in the US Army. His brass uniform buttons bore the eagle emblem. 'That symbol was powerful. It stuck with me,' Cook told CNN, seated amid the artifacts of his vast eagle collection at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, spent years collecting everything bearing the eagle's image, military patches, government documents, flags, coins, stamps, even corporate logos. What began as a hobby evolved into a historical archive of over 40,000 items, now considered one of the world's largest eagle-themed even sold his real estate holdings and downsized his life to fund his quest. 'It wasn't just about collecting,' he said. 'It was about documenting how Americans saw themselves through this bird.'Now a retired real estate investor, he lives with his wife in Wabasha, Minnesota, along the banks of the Mississippi River. It is also the home to the National Eagle Centre, where his life's work is now cataloguing eagle references in US law in 2010, Cook made a startling discovery that although the bald eagle was symbolically revered, no statute had ever made it the official national bird.'I couldn't believe it,' he said. 'It was on our passports, our seals, our military uniforms, and yet, not in our laws.'Cook launched the National Bird Initiative, self-financing a modest but persistent lobbying campaign. Over the next decade, he knocked on congressional doors, built coalitions with tribal leaders, veterans' groups, zoos, and conservationists, and drafted the very language that would become across the aisle took notice, and in July 2024, the US Senate unanimously passed the bill. The House approved it by voice vote in December.'He did what the federal government never thought to do,' said Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN), one of the bill's sponsors. 'He gave the bald eagle its rightful place in history.'Many tribes regard the eagle as sacred, and its feathers are used in religious ceremonies and cultural Thunder Hawk, a Dakota elder from the Prairie Island Indian Community, praised the legislation: 'It gives honor to what we've always known. The eagle watches over us. Maybe when the nation sees it that way, we'll see each other differently, too.'Cook made sure the bill included recognition of the eagle's cultural significance to Native communities. 'This had to be more than a patriotic stamp,' he said. 'It had to represent everyone.'Once nearing extinction due to hunting and pesticides like DDT, the bald eagle has made a stunning comeback. There were just 417 nesting pairs in the Lower 48 in 1963. Today, there are more than 300,000 eagles nationwide, according to US Fish and Wildlife.'This legal recognition is more than symbolic,' said Audubon biologist Dr. Maria Delgado. 'It's a chance to recommit to protecting the ecosystems the eagle depends on.'Cook's contributions are immortalized in the National Eagle Center's $27 million expansion, where veterans, schoolchildren, and tourists view his collection. Now in his 80s, he has no plans to slow down and is hoping for a White House ceremony.'I never did this for attention,' he said. 'I did it because the eagle deserved it. And because America needs a unifying symbol, now more than ever.'
CBS News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Immigration agents release Army veteran detained during Camarillo farm raid
A U.S. Army veteran detained during the immigration raid at a Ventura County marijuana farm last week said he plans to file a lawsuit against the federal government after agents held him in custody for three days. George Retes, 25, served in the Army for four years and deployed to Iraq. He was driving to work his security guard shift at Glass House Farms in Camarillo on July 10 when he encountered federal agents conducting an immigration operation. He was next to the marijuana facility when protesters clashed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. The Department of Homeland Security said the U.S. Customs and Border Protection was serving a search warrant at the farm. Retes tried to speak with the agents but said they ignored him. "They ignored me," Retes said. "They didn't care what I had to say. They automatically accused me of just, I guess, doing something wrong. They escalated it from there." Video from a CBS News Los Angeles photographer at the scene showed a line of agents telling the crowd to move back and disperse before they began deploying what appeared to be less-than-lethal rounds and tear gas canisters. Retes said agents shouted conflicting commands and smashed his window before he could understand what was happening. The veteran said they sprayed him with pepper spray and deployed gas before dragging him out of his car at gunpoint. "They took two officers to kneel on my back and then one on my neck to arrest me, even though my hands were already behind my back and I was covered in [pepper spray,]" Retes said. Retes said they held him in federal custody for three days without charges. At the facility, agents did not provide him with medical care, nor did they allow him to contact his family or an attorney, according to Retes. He said he missed his daughter's third birthday. "They didn't allow me to shower, didn't give me a phone call, didn't let me speak to an attorney," Retes said. "My hands burned the entire night. I wasn't able to sleep. Even after I got home and showered, I still had [pepper spray] residue." Retes said agents never explained why he was arrested and ignored him when he said he was a U.S. citizen heading to work. DHS officials said more than 300 immigrants were arrested during the raid on the Camarillo farm and another facility in Carpinteria. Agents said there were at least 10 undocumented children at the facilities. They launched an investigation into possible child labor, exploitation and human trafficking charges. "The way they're going about this entire deportation process is completely wrong," Retes said. "It doesn't matter if you're an immigrant. It doesn't matter the color of your skin. It doesn't matter if you voted left. It doesn't matter if you voted right. It doesn't matter if you're black, brown, yellow, green. No one deserves to be treated this way. That shouldn't have happened. And I hope this never happens to anyone ever again." RELATED: Federal judge orders ICE to halt immigration raids in Southern California
Washington Post
15 hours ago
- Washington Post
Army veteran and US citizen arrested in California immigration raid warns it could happen to anyone
A U.S. Army veteran who was arrested during an immigration raid at a Southern California marijuana farm last week said Wednesday he was sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray before being dragged from his vehicle and pinned down by federal agents who arrested him. George Retes, 25, who works as a security guard at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, said he was arriving to work on July 10 when several federal agents surrounded his car and despite identifying himself as a U.S. citizen, broke his window, peppered sprayed him and dragged him out.
