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Some investors prefer short-term trading, focusing more on the next quarter vs a typical 12–18-month investment horizon which allows more time for the investment thesis to unfold. Such investors often focus on exogenous events which may positively or negatively impact company financials in the short-term.
Some companies may benefit while others may suffer negatively from the same event. Short-term traders try to speculate as to how much these events are factored into the current share price as well as estimating the possible duration of the event.
Here we highlight three current events with potential material impacts on 3 microcaps in the Zacks coverage universe. The first event is the raging wildfire in California which has become the 5th largest in state history covering an estimated 383,619 acres.
The second event involves shipping canals, the Panama and Suez. While drought conditions are expected to improve and shipping has begun to rebound, the effect on lead times and shipping costs from the drought in Panama may linger in the short-term. Additionally, attacks on Red Sea vessels may continue to have a similar effect on goods traveling through the Suez Canal, which are typically being diverted to the longer Cape of Good Hope route.
Lastly, we note the meteoric rise in cocoa prices, which have been abating somewhat lately but still remain highly elevated, as the graph below depicts. The price volatility has been caused by a drought in West Africa which is the primary supplier of cocoa beans.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The following three microcaps under Zacks coverage have some exposure to these events.
Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (BAER - Free Report) provides various aerial wildfire services to both Federal and local agencies via a fleet of 18 planes. Operating performance can be choppy based on the severity of wildfire season but Bridger Aerospace is guiding for 2024 adj. EBITDA of $35m-$51M on revenue of $70-$86 m. Please note that BAER has about $200 m of debt. Zacks currently has a Neutral rating.
The Cato Corporation (CATO - Free Report) is a specialty fashion apparel and accessories retailer with a geographic focus on the Southeastern US. The majority of its merchandise is imported from SE Asia and flows through either the Panama Canal or Suez Canal. The Cato Corporations employs the weighted-average cost method for valuing inventory. Zacks currently has a Neutral rating for CATO.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. (RMCF - Free Report) produces and sells chocolate candies and other confectionary products using a store franchise and licensing model. The company reported a negative Gross profit in the last quarter due to higher raw material costs, including cocoa, as well as higher labor costs. However, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory expects to be near adj. EBITDA break-even by the end of FY25. Zacks currently has an Underperform rating for RMCF.
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3 Microcaps Impacted by 3 Unique Events
Some investors prefer short-term trading, focusing more on the next quarter vs a typical 12–18-month investment horizon which allows more time for the investment thesis to unfold. Such investors often focus on exogenous events which may positively or negatively impact company financials in the short-term.
Some companies may benefit while others may suffer negatively from the same event. Short-term traders try to speculate as to how much these events are factored into the current share price as well as estimating the possible duration of the event.
Here we highlight three current events with potential material impacts on 3 microcaps in the Zacks coverage universe. The first event is the raging wildfire in California which has become the 5th largest in state history covering an estimated 383,619 acres.
The second event involves shipping canals, the Panama and Suez. While drought conditions are expected to improve and shipping has begun to rebound, the effect on lead times and shipping costs from the drought in Panama may linger in the short-term. Additionally, attacks on Red Sea vessels may continue to have a similar effect on goods traveling through the Suez Canal, which are typically being diverted to the longer Cape of Good Hope route.
Lastly, we note the meteoric rise in cocoa prices, which have been abating somewhat lately but still remain highly elevated, as the graph below depicts. The price volatility has been caused by a drought in West Africa which is the primary supplier of cocoa beans.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The following three microcaps under Zacks coverage have some exposure to these events.
Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (BAER - Free Report) provides various aerial wildfire services to both Federal and local agencies via a fleet of 18 planes. Operating performance can be choppy based on the severity of wildfire season but Bridger Aerospace is guiding for 2024 adj. EBITDA of $35m-$51M on revenue of $70-$86 m. Please note that BAER has about $200 m of debt. Zacks currently has a Neutral rating.
The Cato Corporation (CATO - Free Report) is a specialty fashion apparel and accessories retailer with a geographic focus on the Southeastern US. The majority of its merchandise is imported from SE Asia and flows through either the Panama Canal or Suez Canal. The Cato Corporations employs the weighted-average cost method for valuing inventory. Zacks currently has a Neutral rating for CATO.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. (RMCF - Free Report) produces and sells chocolate candies and other confectionary products using a store franchise and licensing model. The company reported a negative Gross profit in the last quarter due to higher raw material costs, including cocoa, as well as higher labor costs. However, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory expects to be near adj. EBITDA break-even by the end of FY25. Zacks currently has an Underperform rating for RMCF.