Research from Water Tower Research, Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research

Research from Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research is a leading equity research firm that provides research on micro, small and mid cap companies.

Water Tower Research was founded by Wall Street veterans after witnessing a fundamental shift in the investment research industry with the result being a declining knowledge base among investors, a lack of awareness and a shrinking pool of fundamental research being conducted on companies across the small-cap and micro-cap spectrum. The same issues are now increasingly occurring in the mid-cap space. This sea change within the investment community is impacting not only the companies themselves but also current shareholders and potential investors. With significantly less active sell-side sponsorship by Wall Street, a substantial information gap has developed between companies and various constituents in the financial community. The net result is fewer channels for insight and information to flow between companies and investors.

Equity Research Firm

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>Furniture and furnishings stocks moved sharply higher, as a small-cap rotation on top of generally positive sentiments dominated trading, in what is likely an anticipation of economic gains from the new administration’s policies.</li><li>The Water Tower Research Commercial/Contract Furniture Index was up 5.2%, the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index was up 7.2%, and the Home Goods Retailers Index was up 4.0%, while the large- cap indexes gained 2.7% and the R2K was up 3.8%.</li><li><span style="font-size: var(--content-font-size);">ARHS noted (1) its 4Q24 comps sales were up 6%, </span>reversing the “low single-digit declines” seen in October.</li></ul>

Furniture and furnishings stocks moved sharply higher, as a small-cap rotation on top of generally positive sentiments dominated trading, in what is likely an anticipation of economic gains from the new administration’s policies.The Water Tower Research Commercial/Contract Furniture Index was up 5.2%, the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index was up 7.2%, and the Home Goods Retailers Index was up 4.0%, while the large- cap indexes gained 2.7% and the R2K was up 3.8%.ARHS noted (1) its 4Q24 comps sales were up 6%, reversing the “low single-digit declines” seen in October.

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - ARHS 4Q Comps Up, Time at Home Up

<ul><li>Stocks were down as the Financial Conditions Index (FCI) tightened, indicating tougher financing conditions for both firms and individuals, on elevated inflation concerns and anticipation of a more hawkish Fed.</li><li>The Water Tower Research Commercial/Contract Furniture Index declined 5.0% and the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index fell 2.5%, while the Home Goods Retailers Index improved 0.3%.</li><li>The large- cap indexes fell 1.9%, while the R2K fell 3.4%.</li></ul>

Stocks were down as the Financial Conditions Index (FCI) tightened, indicating tougher financing conditions for both firms and individuals, on elevated inflation concerns and anticipation of a more hawkish Fed.The Water Tower Research Commercial/Contract Furniture Index declined 5.0% and the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index fell 2.5%, while the Home Goods Retailers Index improved 0.3%.The large- cap indexes fell 1.9%, while the R2K fell 3.4%.

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - Climate Change; Lower Household Formation Rates, Globally

<ul><li>It was a relatively quiet holiday-shortened trading week.</li><li>The Water Tower Research Commercial/Contract Furniture Index was down (-2.5%) and the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index was down (-0.3%), while the Home Goods Retailers Index was up 2.0% in a week where the large-cap indexes modestly declined (-0.5%) and the R2K was up 0.9%.</li><li>SCS posted solid 3QFY25 results (on December 18), noting that while FY25 demand has been a bit weaker than expected at the beginning of the year, recent activity suggests demand (finally) may be inflecting, especially in the Americas segment (~3/4 of revenue).</li></ul>

It was a relatively quiet holiday-shortened trading week.The Water Tower Research Commercial/Contract Furniture Index was down (-2.5%) and the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index was down (-0.3%), while the Home Goods Retailers Index was up 2.0% in a week where the large-cap indexes modestly declined (-0.5%) and the R2K was up 0.9%.SCS posted solid 3QFY25 results (on December 18), noting that while FY25 demand has been a bit weaker than expected at the beginning of the year, recent activity suggests demand (finally) may be inflecting, especially in the Americas segment (~3/4 of revenue).

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly SCS 3QFY25 Earnings; Winner Takes Most in US Retail

<ul><li>It was a mixed week for furniture and furnishings stocks, as earnings results and company-specific factors seemed to dominate trading for several issuers (LOVE, RH, BYON) while the market waits for the Fed’s next move.</li><li>The WTR Commercial/Contract Furniture Index was down 3.7%, the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index was down 4.8%, the Home Goods Retailers Index was up 1.3%, and the Mass Retailers Index was down 0.1% for the week, while the large-cap indexes were flat and the R2K was down 2.0%.</li><li>RH up big after demonstrating market share gains in its latest quarter and accelerating demand trends in the core business. </li></ul>

It was a mixed week for furniture and furnishings stocks, as earnings results and company-specific factors seemed to dominate trading for several issuers (LOVE, RH, BYON) while the market waits for the Fed’s next move.The WTR Commercial/Contract Furniture Index was down 3.7%, the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index was down 4.8%, the Home Goods Retailers Index was up 1.3%, and the Mass Retailers Index was down 0.1% for the week, while the large-cap indexes were flat and the R2K was down 2.0%.RH up big after demonstrating market share gains in its latest quarter and accelerating demand trends in the core business. 

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - December 16, 2024

<ul><li>The market was of two minds the past week, with big caps outperforming small caps and furniture and furnishings retailers outperforming manufacturers.</li><li>The WTR Commercial/Contract Furniture Index was down 2.6% and the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index was down 0.2%, while the Home Goods Retailers Index was up 2.9% and the Mass Retailers Index was up 5.4%.</li><li>The S&amp;P 500 and DJ30 were both up 0.7%, while the R2K fell 1.2%.</li></ul>

The market was of two minds the past week, with big caps outperforming small caps and furniture and furnishings retailers outperforming manufacturers.The WTR Commercial/Contract Furniture Index was down 2.6% and the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index was down 0.2%, while the Home Goods Retailers Index was up 2.9% and the Mass Retailers Index was up 5.4%.The S&amp;P 500 and DJ30 were both up 0.7%, while the R2K fell 1.2%.

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly Black Friday; Furniture Demand Still Weak

United States

Flexsteel Industries, Inc. manufactures and sells wooden and upholstered furniture for the retail, contract, and recreational vehicle (RV) furniture markets. The Company's products are sold to furniture dealers, department stores, and RV manufacturers throughout the United States. Flexsteel also sells its products to several national chains that sell on a private label basis.

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Flexsteel Inds (FLXS US)

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - ARHS 4Q Comps Up, Time at Home Up

Furniture and furnishings stocks moved sharply higher, as a small-cap rotation on top of generally positive sentiments dominated trading

Water Tower Research

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - Climate Change; Lower Household Formation Rates, Globally

Stocks were down as the Financial Conditions Index (FCI) tightened, indicating tougher financing conditions for both firms and individuals

Water Tower Research

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly SCS 3QFY25 Earnings; Winner Takes Most in US Retail

The Water Tower Research Commercial/Contract Furniture Index was down (-2.5%) and the Residential Manufacturers & Suppliers Index was down (-0.3%)

Water Tower Research

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - December 16, 2024

It was a mixed week for furniture and furnishings stocks, as earnings results and company-specific factors seemed to dominate trading for several...

Water Tower Research

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly Black Friday; Furniture Demand Still Weak

The market was of two minds the past week, with big caps outperforming small caps and furniture and furnishings retailers outperforming manufacturers.

Water Tower Research

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