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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 &amp; furnishings equity issues slumped in the final two weeks of 2023 and into the first week of 2024. The group had a positive year.</li><li>The commercial/contract furniture stocks gained 46%, beating all major broad market indices.</li><li>Steelcase led the sector with a ~91% gain for the year.</li></ul>

Furniture &amp; furnishings equity issues slumped in the final two weeks of 2023 and into the first week of 2024. The group had a positive year.The commercial/contract furniture stocks gained 46%, beating all major broad market indices.Steelcase led the sector with a ~91% gain for the year.

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - WTR Furniture/Furnishings Conference Approaching

<ul><li>Stocks have had a few good weeks and last week was another. The furniture/furnishings group has focused on restoring and defending margins.</li><li>The “rolling recession” rolled over the sector this year. Despite sales pressure, earnings improved for the best in the group, notably the commercial/contract names, residential manufacturers, and select retailers.</li><li>Costco, which includes furniture in its broad merchandise mix, reported 1QFY24 revenue of $57.8 billion, matching estimates. </li></ul>

Stocks have had a few good weeks and last week was another. The furniture/furnishings group has focused on restoring and defending margins.The “rolling recession” rolled over the sector this year. Despite sales pressure, earnings improved for the best in the group, notably the commercial/contract names, residential manufacturers, and select retailers.Costco, which includes furniture in its broad merchandise mix, reported 1QFY24 revenue of $57.8 billion, matching estimates. 

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - Costco Shows Why It's Best in Class

<ul><li>Hooker Furniture results highlighted the past week in the furniture/furnishings space.</li><li>Hooker reported EPS of $0.65 on sales of $116.8 million, both ahead of FactSet consensus estimates of $0.28 and $116.3 million, respectively.</li><li>A year ago, Hooker reported EPS of $0.42.</li></ul>

Hooker Furniture results highlighted the past week in the furniture/furnishings space.Hooker reported EPS of $0.65 on sales of $116.8 million, both ahead of FactSet consensus estimates of $0.28 and $116.3 million, respectively.A year ago, Hooker reported EPS of $0.42.

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - Hooker Furniture Beats on Improved Margins

<ul><li>During the past two weeks, key big-box retailers reported the quarter ended in October, providing near real-time views into the state of the consumer and retailing.</li><li>Top-line results were mixed.</li><li>Our Read: Consumer spending continues to retreat from the pandemic bubble, with consumers moving down market to low-price and bargain retailers.</li></ul>

During the past two weeks, key big-box retailers reported the quarter ended in October, providing near real-time views into the state of the consumer and retailing.Top-line results were mixed.Our Read: Consumer spending continues to retreat from the pandemic bubble, with consumers moving down market to low-price and bargain retailers.

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - A Glance at Big-Box Retailers Shows Mixed Top Line

<ul><li>Last week, we considered our outlook for furniture and furnishings. Today, we look at current indicators.</li><li>Economic fundamentals largely deteriorated over the past two weeks, but the stocks surged as interest rates eased.</li><li>Existing home sales dipped to a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.96 million in September, the first reading below 4 million since 2010, shortly after the Great Recession. </li></ul>

Last week, we considered our outlook for furniture and furnishings. Today, we look at current indicators.Economic fundamentals largely deteriorated over the past two weeks, but the stocks surged as interest rates eased.Existing home sales dipped to a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.96 million in September, the first reading below 4 million since 2010, shortly after the Great Recession. 

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - Falling Rates Lift All Stocks

United States

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated manufactures a wide range of engineered products. The Company's products include components for bedding, furniture, and other residential furnishings, as well as office and institutional furnishings components, retail store fixtures, and displays, specialty wire products, and automotive seating suspension and lumbar systems.

Leggett & Platt (LEG US)

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - WTR Furniture/Furnishings Conference Approaching

Furniture & furnishings equity issues slumped in the final two weeks of 2023 and into the first week of 2024. The group had a positive year.

Water Tower Research

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - Costco Shows Why It's Best in Class

Stocks have had a few good weeks and last week was another. The furniture/furnishings group has focused on restoring and defending margins.

Water Tower Research

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - Hooker Furniture Beats on Improved Margins

Hooker reported EPS of $0.65 on sales of $116.8 million, both ahead of FactSet consensus estimates of $0.28 and $116.3 million, respectively.

Water Tower Research

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - A Glance at Big-Box Retailers Shows Mixed Top Line

During the past two weeks, key big-box retailers reported the quarter ended in October, providing near real-time views into the state of the...

Water Tower Research

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - Falling Rates Lift All Stocks

Existing home sales dipped to a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.96 million in September, the first reading below 4 million since 2010, shortly after...

Water Tower Research