Articles for author: Ron Finklestien

January 8, 2024

Ron Finklestien

J.Jill Shows Resilience as ICR Conference Looms J.Jill Shows Resilience as ICR Conference Looms

Photo by Jira Pliankharom J.Jill (NYSE:JILL) demonstrated its confidence by reiterating its previous Q4 and full-year guidance on Monday, just before its crucial presentation and investor meetings at the ICR Conference in Orlando, Florida. For Q4, J.Jill (JILL) expects revenue growth to remain approximately level with the prior year, with adjusted EBITDA projected to range between $11.0M and $13.0M. Throughout the full year, J.Jill (JILL) anticipates adjusted EBITDA to decrease by a small margin compared to the prior year. The Q4 and full-year adjusted EBITDA forecast incorporates an approximate $2.0M benefit from the 53rd week in fiscal 2023. Despite a

January 8, 2024

Ron Finklestien

Beyond The Heart: Cardio Diagnostics’ Revolutionary Platform Beyond The Heart: Cardio Diagnostics’ Revolutionary Platform

Groundbreaking Platform Cardio Diagnostics, a leading artificial intelligence-powered precision cardiovascular medicine company, has introduced an unparalleled platform called Actionable Clinical Intelligence (ACI). This groundbreaking initiative provides innovative epigenetic and genetic insights to clinicians prescribing the company’s Epi+Gen CHD and PrecisionCHD tests. Revolutionizing Cardiac Diagnostics Epi+Gen CHD and PrecisionCHD are powerful tests that predict the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events and facilitate the detection of CHD. These AI-powered integrated genetic-epigenetic clinical tests can be conveniently administered through a simple blood draw at home or in provider settings, bypassing the need for prolonged waiting times. Unprecedented Insights The integration of

January 8, 2024

Ron Finklestien

Assessing the Recent Sell-Off and the Future Outlook I Foresaw Last Week’s Selloff, Not The Ferocity. Now, I’m More Bullish

As mentioned in the article from last Sunday, the anticipation for more selling in the recent week was evident. The selling on Friday signaled a continuation of the trend, attributed to tax-motivated profit-taking. Thus, while we braced for the selling, the intensity of the sell-off caught us off guard and has altered the outlook for this quarter. The unexpected fierceness of the sell-off has led to a shift in my stance. Contrary to my sentiment in the previous weeks, I am now more bullish. The market’s failure to break out to an all-time high, where it only reached, but did

January 8, 2024

Ron Finklestien

BlackRock TCP Capital: Merging Into the Big Leagues in the BDC Space

Exploring the Potential Post-Merger For dividend investors, Business Development Companies (BDCs) hold a special place. The aftershocks of the banking crisis in early 2023 are expected to make the sector (BIZD) even more appealing over time. Amid my existing BDC favorites, BlackRock TCP Capital (NASDAQ:TCPC) has captured my attention with its recent merger announcement. This development has spurred a comprehensive analysis to ascertain TCPC’s potential to become a major player in the BDC landscape post-merger. Company Overview BlackRock TCP Capital is a BDC focusing on debt investments in private, middle-market companies with enterprise values typically ranging from $100 million to

January 8, 2024

Ron Finklestien

Five Below backs prior guidance ahead of ICR Conference presentation

Five Below Marches Ahead with Confident Strides A Pivotal Moment jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE) decided to shed light on its financial standing prior to its eagerly anticipated appearance at the ICR Conference in Orlando, Florida this Monday. The bustling retailer unveiled its unyielding confidence in its expectations for the Q4 and full year fiscal 2023 results, assuring stakeholders that the net sales would nestle into the upper echelon of the range and that comparable sales would hover around 3%. Total sales for the holiday period surged upward by an impressive 15.6% to $1.16B, with comparable sales

January 8, 2024

Ron Finklestien

Best Growth Stocks to Buy for January 8th

Here are three stocks with buy ranks and strong growth characteristics for investors to consider today, January 8th: MercadoLibre, Inc. MELI: This e-commerce company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 4.4% over the last 60 days. MercadoLibre, Inc. Price and Consensus MercadoLibre, Inc. price-consensus-chart | MercadoLibre, Inc. Quote MercadoLibre has a PEG ratio of 0.79 compared with 1.25 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score  of A. MercadoLibre, Inc. PEG Ratio (TTM) MercadoLibre, Inc. peg-ratio-ttm | MercadoLibre, Inc. Quote TIM S.A. TIMB: This telecommunications company carries

January 8, 2024

Ron Finklestien

Casey’s General Stores, Inc.: A Success Story of the Heartland

A General Store Giant Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (CASY) has successfully woven itself into the fabric of small-town America with over 2,500 convenience stores across 17 states, primarily in the Midwest. Casey’s offerings range from typical convenience store fare and grocery items to freshly prepared food, notably its renowned donuts, sandwiches, breakfast food, and above all, its pizzas. The company also operates self-service fuel stations at nearly every location. Casey’s has adapted to the retail evolution by launching digital offerings for enhanced convenience and customer loyalty through its mobile app and online ordering. This successful blend of convenience and community

January 8, 2024

Ron Finklestien

Assessing QQQ Potential Amid Interest Rate Talk Assessing QQQ Potential Amid Interest Rate Talk

The Fed and Bubbles As the Financial sector mulls over potential actions from the Fed, it’s worth noting that bubbles do in fact deflate as the Fed aggressively cuts interest rates. Historically, bubbles have expanded during loose monetary policy periods, often rallying around a certain narrative, inflating valuations to unrealistic levels. Following this, the Fed moves to tighten monetary policy by raising interest rates, causing the bubbles to deflate as liquidity dries up and valuations contract. Eventually, hikes in interest rates can invert the yield curve, leading to a recession, further accelerating the burst of the bubbles as corporate earnings

January 8, 2024

Ron Finklestien

Breakthrough Bipartisan Federal Spending Deal Reached by U.S. Congress Leaders Breakthrough Bipartisan Federal Spending Deal Reached by U.S. Congress Leaders

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images News After months of gridlock, top U.S. Congressional leaders have achieved an unprecedented breakthrough by striking a bipartisan federal spending deal for the current fiscal year, significantly minimizing the likelihood of a perilous government shutdown next week. House Speaker Mike Johnson heralded the deal, which is earmarked at a formidable $1.59 trillion and includes $16 billion in additional spending cuts. The colossal fiscal framework comprises $886 billion for defense and $704 billion for non-defense spending. While the deal marks a significant milestone, there appears to be some discord regarding specifics. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer asserted

January 8, 2024

Ron Finklestien

The Most Compelling Stocks to Consider Investing in on January 8th

Discerning investors should earmark the following stocks, which exhibit a buy rank and robust value attributes, for potential investment on January 8th: QuantaSing Group Limited QSG stands as a China-based online learning services enterprise with a stellar Zacks Rank #1. The company has observed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings skyrocket by an impressive 325% over the past 60 days. The Lure of QuantaSing Group Limited Unsponsored ADR’s Price and Consensus QuantaSing Group Limited Unsponsored ADR price-consensus-chart | QuantaSing Group Limited Unsponsored ADR Quote QuantaSing boasts a favorable price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 5.02, in comparison to the