In today’s briefing:
- Nongshim’s Thriving Collaboration with K-Pop Demon Hunters
- The Beat Ideas: Vadilal Industries – Will Professional Management Improve Operational Excellence?
- Tesla’s New Megablock Could Kill The Power Grid As We Know It!
- Special Situations: Forian’s Potential Higher Offer, Lifeway Foods Resolution, and Currency Exchange’s Q3 Results
- Gildan Activewear: An Insight Into Its Market Share, Competitive Landscape & Key Growth Levers!
- Unilever PLC: How Are They Executing Portfolio Transformation Through M&A and Divestments!
- Black Rock Coffee (BRCB): IPO Brews Strong Open, Steams Higher in Aftermarket
- Procter & Gamble: Inside the Innovation Engine Driving Pampers & SK-II!
- British American Tobacco’s Velo Plus Shakes Up the U.S. – Inside the Battle for Oral Nicotine Dominance!
Nongshim’s Thriving Collaboration with K-Pop Demon Hunters
- K-Pop Demon Hunters (KDH) started streaming on Netflix on 20 June 2025. KDH has become the most watched film on Netflix history, achieving 291.5 million views as of 11 September.
- Nongshim has a collaboration with Netflix, releasing ramyun and snacks featuring characters from K-Pop Demon Hunters. The sale of these products (especially overseas) are likely to result in higher sales.
- Nongshim has hit a big home run in this collaboration with Netflix and the K-Pop Demon Hunters film. Additional series related to KDH are highly likely.
The Beat Ideas: Vadilal Industries – Will Professional Management Improve Operational Excellence?
- Appointment of a digital-savvy CEO and professionalized board strengthens management, positioning Vadilal for sustained growth and corporate transformation.
- Robust distribution, innovative production, and premium parlours drive competitive edge and market leadership.
- Resolution of internal family disputes and promoter group merger streamlines operations, though potential dilution could affect minority shareholders.
Tesla’s New Megablock Could Kill The Power Grid As We Know It!
- Tesla’s recent unveiling of its Megapack 3 and the all-new Megablock could mark a pivotal moment in its shift from being seen purely as a carmaker to a vertically integrated energy company.
- While Tesla’s robotaxi launch and AI developments have dominated headlines, the energy division—specifically industrial battery storage—is quietly becoming a major pillar.
- The Megablock is a fully integrated, utility-scale energy solution, reducing construction costs by 40% and installation times by 23%.
Special Situations: Forian’s Potential Higher Offer, Lifeway Foods Resolution, and Currency Exchange’s Q3 Results
- Forian (FORA) received a $2.10/share go-private proposal from a founder-led consortium controlling 63% of the company.
- Lifeway Foods (LWAY) trades 20% above Danone’s previous offer, with NDA agreement expiry on September 15.
- Currency Exchange International (CURN) Q3 results show 4% EBITDA growth, with management considering distributing $12.8m cash to shareholders.
Gildan Activewear: An Insight Into Its Market Share, Competitive Landscape & Key Growth Levers!
- Gildan Activewear, in its latest earnings report, presented notable financial performance during the second quarter of 2025.
- The company achieved record quarterly sales of $919 million, marking a 6.5% increase from the previous year, primarily driven by a 12% growth in Activewear sales.
- This segment’s robust performance came from increased sales volumes and favorable pricing dynamics, along with strong demand from existing and new brand offerings, including the launch of the AllPro brand and Champion.
Unilever PLC: How Are They Executing Portfolio Transformation Through M&A and Divestments!
- Unilever has reported its financial results for the first half of 2025, showcasing several strategic advancements and challenges across various business sectors and geographic regions.
- These results are marked by an underlying sales growth of 3.4% for the half-year, a commendable balance between volume and price increases.
- The company has successfully achieved volume improvements, indicating a strategic focus on maintaining competitive edge and operational efficiency despite prevailing subdued market conditions.
Black Rock Coffee (BRCB): IPO Brews Strong Open, Steams Higher in Aftermarket
- The Oregon-based coffee chain priced its IPO at $20.00 per share, above the marketed range of $16–$18, raising $294 million through the sale of 14.7 million shares.
- The stock opened at $26.50, a 32.5% premium to issue and closed at $27.53, up 37.6% from the IPO price.
- Black Rock commands a market cap near $1.1 billion, implying much of its near-term growth story may already be baked in.
Procter & Gamble: Inside the Innovation Engine Driving Pampers & SK-II!
- Procter & Gamble’s latest financial results present a mixed picture in a complex operating environment, underscoring both promising strategies and challenging headwinds impacting their performance.
- The company’s organic sales saw a modest increase of 2% for the fiscal year, driven equally by volume growth and price/mix enhancements.
- Nine out of ten product categories registered growth, with the exception of Baby Care, which experienced a slight decline.
British American Tobacco’s Velo Plus Shakes Up the U.S. – Inside the Battle for Oral Nicotine Dominance!
- British American Tobacco (BAT) presented their 2025 interim results, showing a blend of achievements and challenges that influence the company’s future trajectory.
- BAT’s revenue rose by 1.8%, and profits from operations increased by 1.9% on a constant currency basis.
- Adjusted earnings per share grew by 1.7%, despite being offset by reductions in ITC profits and higher finance costs.
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