Day: October 16, 2024

WD-40 WDFC will release its quarterly earnings report on Thursday, 2024-10-17. Here’s a brief overview for investors ahead of the announcement.

Analysts anticipate WD-40 to report an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34.

The announcement from WD-40 is eagerly anticipated, with investors seeking news of surpassing estimates and favorable guidance for the next quarter.

It’s worth noting for new investors that guidance can be a key determinant of stock price movements.

Earnings History Snapshot

In the previous earnings release, the company beat EPS by $0.08, leading to a 4.04% increase in the share price the following trading session.

Here’s a look at WD-40’s past performance and the resulting price change:

Market Performance of WD-40’s Stock

Shares of WD-40 were trading at $260.85 as of October 15. Over the last 52-week period, shares are up 29.56%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are likely bullish going into this earnings release.

To track all earnings releases for WD-40 visit their earnings calendar on our site.

This article was generated by Benzinga’s automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

It was reported on October 15, that ITEM SECOND IRR TRUST FBO ANNE MARIE WESTPHAL ua of JEFFREY R WESTPHAL dated October , 10% Owner at Vertex VERX executed a significant insider sell, according to an SEC filing.

What Happened: According to a Form 4 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, sold 75,175 shares of Vertex. The total transaction value is $3,018,885.

As of Wednesday morning, Vertex shares are up by 0.41%, currently priced at $41.43.

All You Need to Know About Vertex

Vertex Inc is a provider of tax technology and services. Its software, content, and services help customers stay in compliance with indirect taxes that occur in taxing jurisdictions all over the world. Vertex provides cloud-based and on-premise solutions to specific industries for every line of tax, including income, sales, consumer use, value-added, and payroll. The company offers solutions such as tax determination, Tax Data Management, document management, and compliance and reporting among others. The company derives revenue from software subscriptions.

Financial Insights: Vertex

Revenue Growth: Vertex’s revenue growth over a period of 3 months has been noteworthy. As of 30 June, 2024, the company achieved a revenue growth rate of approximately 15.33%. This indicates a substantial increase in the company’s top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Information Technology sector.

Evaluating Earnings Performance:

• Gross Margin: Achieving a high gross margin of 63.74%, the company performs well in terms of cost management and profitability within its sector.

• Earnings per Share (EPS): Vertex’s EPS reflects a decline, falling below the industry average with a current EPS of 0.03.

Debt Management: Vertex’s debt-to-equity ratio stands notably higher than the industry average, reaching 1.51. This indicates a heavier reliance on borrowed funds, raising concerns about financial leverage.

Financial Valuation:

• Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: Vertex’s stock is currently priced at a premium level, as reflected in the higher-than-average P/E ratio of 317.23.

• Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: The current P/S ratio of 10.47 is above industry norms, reflecting an elevated valuation for Vertex’s stock and potential overvaluation based on sales performance.

• EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization): Vertex’s EV/EBITDA ratio, surpassing industry averages at 76.18, positions it with an above-average valuation in the market.

Market Capitalization Analysis: The company’s market capitalization surpasses industry averages, showcasing a dominant size relative to peers and suggesting a strong market position.

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Navigating the Impact of Insider Transactions on Investments

Insider transactions shouldn’t be used primarily to make an investing decision, however, they can be an important factor for an investor to consider.

When discussing legal matters, the term “insider” refers to any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company’s equity securities, as stipulated in Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This includes executives in the c-suite and significant hedge funds. Such insiders are required to report their transactions through a Form 4 filing, which must be completed within two business days of the transaction.

A new purchase by a company insider is a indication that they anticipate the stock will rise.

On the other hand, insider sells may not necessarily indicate a bearish view and can be motivated by various factors.

Unlocking the Meaning of Transaction Codes

For investors, a primary focus lies on transactions occurring in the open market, as indicated in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C signals the conversion of an option, and transaction code A denotes a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.

Check Out The Full List Of Vertex’s Insider Trades.

Insider Buying Alert: Profit from C-Suite Moves

Benzinga Edge reveals every insider trade in real-time. Don’t miss the next big stock move driven by insider confidence. Unlock this ultimate sentiment indicator now. Click here for access.

This article was generated by Benzinga’s automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on CRH CRH.

And retail traders should know.

We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.

Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don’t know. But when something this big happens with CRH, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.

So how do we know what these investors just did?

Today, Benzinga‘s options scanner spotted 9 uncommon options trades for CRH.

This isn’t normal.

The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 22% bullish and 55%, bearish.

Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $433,208, and 4 are calls, for a total amount of $172,755.

What’s The Price Target?

Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $90.0 to $90.0 for CRH during the past quarter.

Volume & Open Interest Development

In today’s trading context, the average open interest for options of CRH stands at 170.0, with a total volume reaching 3,259.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in CRH, situated within the strike price corridor from $90.0 to $90.0, throughout the last 30 days.

CRH 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot

Largest Options Trades Observed:

About CRH

CRH is a global manufacturer of a range of building products used in construction projects, operating via a vertically integrated business model. The past decade has seen CRH transform into a leading building materials business, with increasing exposure to upstream building activities such as aggregates and cement. CRH’s geographic footprint is mostly across developed markets. North America is CRH’s largest market and accounts for 75% of EBITDA. The company is the largest producer of aggregates and asphalt in the US.

In light of the recent options history for CRH, it’s now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.

Where Is CRH Standing Right Now?

• Trading volume stands at 1,378,517, with CRH’s price down by -0.18%, positioned at $92.8.
• RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.
• Earnings announcement expected in 22 days.

Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move

Benzinga Edge’s Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access.

Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest CRH options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.

A substantial insider activity was disclosed on October 15, as TOGHRAIE, Chairman at AXIL Brands AXIL, reported the exercise of a large sell of company stock options.

What Happened: A notable Form 4 filing on Tuesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that TOGHRAIE, Chairman at AXIL Brands, exercised stock options for 0 shares of AXIL, resulting in a transaction value of $0.

The Wednesday morning update indicates AXIL Brands shares up by 0.52%, currently priced at $3.87. At this value, TOGHRAIE’s 0 shares are worth $0.

Unveiling the Story Behind AXIL Brands

AXIL Brands Inc is a company which is is a manufacturer and marketer of premium hearing enhancement and protection products, including ear plugs, earmuffs, and ear buds, under the AXIL brand. AXIL delivers top hearing enhancement, protection, & audio devices. From ultra comfortable fitting processes, to stereo quality sound performance, to reliable & durable engineering.

Financial Insights: AXIL Brands

Revenue Growth: AXIL Brands’s revenue growth over a period of 3 months has faced challenges. As of 31 August, 2024, the company experienced a revenue decline of approximately -4.18%. This indicates a decrease in the company’s top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Consumer Staples sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers.

Insights into Profitability:

• Gross Margin: With a high gross margin of 70.99%, the company demonstrates effective cost control and strong profitability relative to its peers.

• Earnings per Share (EPS): AXIL Brands’s EPS is below the industry average, signaling challenges in bottom-line performance with a current EPS of -0.02.

Debt Management: AXIL Brands’s debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 0.02, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.

Understanding Financial Valuation:

• Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The Price to Earnings ratio of 21.39 is lower than the industry average, indicating potential undervaluation for the stock.

• Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: The current P/S ratio of 1.84 is above industry norms, reflecting an elevated valuation for AXIL Brands’s stock and potential overvaluation based on sales performance.

• EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization): AXIL Brands’s EV/EBITDA ratio of 13.31 exceeds industry averages, indicating a premium valuation in the market

Market Capitalization Analysis: Falling below industry benchmarks, the company’s market capitalization reflects a reduced size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.

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The Relevance of Insider Transactions

Insider transactions should be considered alongside other factors when making investment decisions, as they can offer important insights.

In legal terms, an “insider” refers to any officer, director, or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of a company’s equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This can include executives in the c-suite and large hedge funds. These insiders are required to let the public know of their transactions via a Form 4 filing, which must be filed within two business days of the transaction.

When a company insider makes a new purchase, that is an indication that they expect the stock to rise.

Insider sells, on the other hand, can be made for a variety of reasons, and may not necessarily mean that the seller thinks the stock will go down.

Deciphering Transaction Codes in Insider Filings

In the domain of transactions, investors frequently turn their focus to those taking place in the open market, as meticulously outlined in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 indicates a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C signals the conversion of an option, and transaction code A denotes a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.

Check Out The Full List Of AXIL Brands’s Insider Trades.

Insider Buying Alert: Profit from C-Suite Moves

Benzinga Edge reveals every insider trade in real-time. Don’t miss the next big stock move driven by insider confidence. Unlock this ultimate sentiment indicator now. Click here for access.

This article was generated by Benzinga’s automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

New Hampshire lawmakers voted decisively against House Bill 1693, a proposed measure aimed at establishing a state-regulated therapeutic psychedelic program. The bill, which sought to allow the use of psilocybin, mescaline and LSD to treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance use disorders, was rejected by the House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee with a 14-1 vote.

Broad Scope And Legal Challenges Sink Psychedelics Bill

As reMind reported, according to the committee the legislation was “far too broad,” raising concerns about its potential implementation. While many advocates have pointed to the growing body of research supporting the therapeutic use of psychedelics, lawmakers expressed unease about legalizing substances that remain federally illegal and tightly regulated under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

One of the bill’s most vocal critics, Republican Rep. Erica Layon, emphasized the challenges posed by these legal conflicts. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard something about a [Journal of the American Medical Association] article comparing psychedelics to existing antidepressants,” she said, as reported by Marijuana Moment. “But right now, New Hampshire law prohibits a clinical trial from happening in the state with psychedelics because of its status as a controlled substance.”

Vague Language In Bill Raises Red Flags

In its rejection, the committee also highlighted the bill’s unclear provisions, particularly its borrowing of terms from the state’s medical marijuana laws. This included a provision allowing adult possession of up to two ounces of psychedelics — a volume critics argued was unreasonably large, particularly for substances like LSD. “The concerns we had with the bill as presented was it was far too broad,” Democratic Rep. Lucy Weber said.

Lawmakers Urge Further Psychedelic Research

While rejecting the proposal, lawmakers did express a willingness to explore future legislation that could better align with ongoing clinical research. “The Veterans Administration and Massachusetts General Hospital are currently conducting research for a number of disorders using these drugs,” the committee said. It also noted that the FDA has granted breakthrough therapy designation for several psychedelic substances. The panel recommended that New Hampshire expand research into psychedelics, with a focus on clinical trials that would allow patients access to experimental treatments without needing to travel out of state.

Massachusetts Set To Vote On Psychedelics Legalization

As New Hampshire steps back from advancing psychedelics legislation, neighboring Massachusetts is poised for a potential breakthrough. Voters there will decide in three weeks whether to approve Question 4, a measure that would legalize five psychedelics, including psilocybin, psilocin, DMT, ibogaine and mescaline for therapeutic use. If passed, the state could implement a regulated access model by 2028, beginning with the legalization of one substance in 2026.

Cover image made with AI