Latest news with #DougCampbell
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
America's Car-Mart's Q1 Earnings Call: Our Top 5 Analyst Questions
America's Car-Mart's latest quarter reflected management's focus on operational improvements and credit discipline. CEO Doug Campbell emphasized a return to profitability following a year marked by an operational turnaround, specifically highlighting the transition to a more advanced underwriting and risk-based pricing model. The company also benefited from enhanced collections infrastructure, with Campbell noting, 'We believe these changes will strengthen payment performance, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately deepen the relationship between our brand and the communities we serve.' Inventory management strategies and a proactive approach to procurement ahead of tax season contributed to steady sales volume and improved gross margins. Additionally, the company's leadership transition—with Jonathan Collins joining as CFO and Vickie Judy moving to Chief Accounting Officer—was positioned as a move to further strengthen financial leadership for future growth. Is now the time to buy CRMT? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $370.2 million vs analyst estimates of $343.5 million (1.9% year-on-year growth, 7.8% beat) Adjusted EPS: $1.26 vs analyst estimates of $0.76 (65.8% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $37.67 million vs analyst estimates of $25.12 million (10.2% margin, 50% beat) Operating Margin: 8.1%, up from 5.1% in the same quarter last year Locations: 154 at quarter end, in line with the same quarter last year Same-Store Sales fell 3.9% year on year (-5.3% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $499.8 million While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Vincent Caintic (BTIG) asked about how tariffs and higher used car prices affected consumer behavior. CEO Doug Campbell responded that the impact was minimal during most of the quarter and that the company is confident demand is sustainable. Kyle Joseph (Stephens) inquired about the financial impact of rolling out risk-based pricing. Campbell explained that early results show higher yields from lower-tier customers and greater sales volume among higher-tier customers, with ongoing pilots to test further segmentation. John Murphy (Bank of America) questioned the condition of low-end customers amid broader subprime stress. Campbell said there are 'no cracks in the foundation' of the customer base, and Car-Mart remains competitive on interest rates versus peers. John Murphy (Bank of America) also asked how far upmarket Car-Mart might move with the new credit model. Campbell acknowledged the potential but said it is too early to determine the long-term strategy, noting recent efforts are focused on higher-tier customers. John Murphy (Bank of America) further probed capital markets progress and funding structure. CFO Jonathan Collins explained that improved securitization execution is supporting growth, with plans to broaden funding options and improve the capital structure. In the quarters ahead, the StockStory team will closely monitor (1) the impact of risk-based pricing and advanced underwriting on sales mix and gross margins, (2) execution of technology initiatives, especially the rollout of digital payment solutions and CRM enhancements, and (3) continued progress in capital markets activity and funding diversification. Additional focus will be given to how macroeconomic forces—such as tariffs and used car supply constraints—affect procurement strategies and customer affordability. America's Car-Mart currently trades at $60.49, up from $57.76 just before the earnings. Is there an opportunity in the stock?Find out in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here. Sign in to access your portfolio
BBC News
02-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Frustration' as Leisure Centre's swimming lessons cancelled
Parents are demanding answers after their children's swimming sessions have been cancelled due to a leisure centre's faulty pool at Somerset's Frome Leisure Centre is currently closed for kids after failing to meet temperature Lisa Darby said the situation is "frustrating" and has affected her daughter learning to of Fusion Leisure, the centre's operators, said they are "working hard to resolve the boiler issue" and added that the pool for adults is still in use "but colder than usual". Father-of-two Doug Campbell said he would like the pool's leaders to answer why the pool has been closed twice in the last eight months."You just can't get a slot for kids swimming lessons now and we've had to take my children to other centres," he said."The floor in the gym is in very poor condition and the soft play area upstairs has had a leak in the roof." Anna Sabine, Frome and East Somerset MP (Liberal Democrat) described the "ongoing issues at Fusion are unacceptable". "Members and families rely on this community facility, and they deserve transparency, compensation, and practical solutions. "Fusion must explain how they will update customers, reimburse direct debit payments, and mitigate any impact to children's swimming lessons moving forward," she said. A spokesperson from Fusion said the pool's repair works were "complex", but the new boiler will be operational by mid-July."The pool is still in use, but colder than usual. We adhere to industry guidance on swimming lessons, so our swim school is not currently operating in the pool. "We would like to reassure parents that we will credit their accounts for any missed sessions and will offer catch up sessions in August. "Our senior directors have met with Anna Sabine MP to update her on works and the team would be very happy to meet her again."We thank everyone for their patience while we work as quickly as possible to restore our facilities and equipment as quickly as possible," they added.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why America's Car-Mart Stock Crashed on Thursday
America's Cart-Mart just crashed after its Q4 earnings report. After losing money last year, the company reported a huge $2.33 annual profit today. 10 stocks we like better than America's Car-Mart › America's Car-Mart (NASDAQ: CRMT) stock tumbled 11.3% through 12:40 p.m. ET Thursday afternoon despite reporting positive fiscal Q4 profits of $1.26 per share on $370.2 million in quarterly sales. Analysts had only expected the used car service to earn $0.86 per share for the quarter, so you'd think this would be taken as good news -- but investors seem to disagree. Why is that? Well, quarterly sales were kind of flat, up only 1.5% year over year, despite the volume of cars sold growing 2.6% (so average car prices are coming down). Still, gross profit margins expanded by nearly a full percentage point to 36.4%. And bottom-line profits were $1.26 per share -- versus a $0.06 loss a year ago. For the full year fiscal 2025, sales declined 0.2% to $1.4 billion on a 1.7% decline in cars sold. Gross margins improved two full percentage points to 36.7%. And earnings were much improved from fiscal 2024 -- $2.33 per share in profit, versus a $4.92 per share loss. All things considered, I'd have to say the business improved a lot in fiscal 2025, and CEO Doug Campbell agrees: "Fiscal year 2025 marked a pivotal period of transformation for our business as we successfully laid much of the groundwork for growth." Priced at 22 times trailing earnings, and with analysts forecasting fiscal 2026 earnings to be even stronger than what America's Car-Mart just reported, I'm honestly confused why investors are selling off this stock on such good news. America's Car-Mart is not the "lemon" investors are treating it like today. To me, this small-cap automotive stock looks like a buy. Before you buy stock in America's Car-Mart, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and America's Car-Mart wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $657,871!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $875,479!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 998% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 174% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why America's Car-Mart Stock Crashed on Thursday was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Axios
06-03-2025
- Health
- Axios
States push fight against mRNA vaccines
The mRNA vaccines that helped to end the COVID pandemic — and stoked a considerable amount of vaccine skepticism and misinformation — are now a target of legislators in some conservative-led states. Why it matters: The efforts risk further politicizing science and illustrate how the pandemic experience we all want to put in the rearview continues to drive policymaking. Driving the news: No state has enacted a ban on mRNA so far. But Iowa, Montana and Idaho have all introduced legislation this year aimed at cutting the use of mRNA vaccine technology. In Iowa this week, a bill advanced out of a legislative subcommittee that would penalize providers with fines of as much as $500 for each shot of mRNA-based vaccine they provide. After pushback, state Sen. Doug Campbell, who introduced the bill, backtracked and reworked it to instead require mRNA vaccine makers to waive federal liability protections in order to distribute within the state. The move would allow patients who believe they were harmed by the vaccine to file a lawsuit. "If I was a manufacturer of car tires and they delammed at 1,000 miles, I should be liable for that," he told the TV station KEYC. Meanwhile, an Idaho bill that would outright ban the use of mRNA-based vaccines for 10 years is being considered in a state Senate committee but hasn't advanced. A regional public health department in the state has already been blocked from administering COVID shots in six Idaho counties. Montana's measure would have criminalized the administration of mRNA shots but was ultimately defeated in February after two dozen Republicans voted against it. One lawmaker said she agreed with the bill's premise but ultimately "defaulted to the side of personal freedom" with her vote, Daily Inter Lake reported. The big picture: President Trump's "Make America Healthy Again" commission is preparing to review certain vaccines for links to chronic illness. Health and Human Services is also reviewing federal funding of mRNA vaccines for pandemic influenza. The commission and the state efforts are unfolding against a backdrop of ongoing suspicion of public health officials and the tools they used to fight the pandemic. In Florida on Wednesday, Governor Ron DeSantis called for lawmakers to permanently ban vaccine mandates of mRNA shots. States like Louisiana and Texas ended mass vaccinations and any other activities to promote the vaccines. What they're saying: "I'm extremely disappointed, indeed distressed, at that sort of activity," William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University, told Axios about the efforts to block the use of vaccines made with mRNA. "It's as though state legislatures wish to take over a function of the Food and Drug Administration, and they're simply not in a position to do that. They don't have sufficient knowledge and background to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of vaccines," he said. Meanwhile, national health agencies around the world have probed the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and come to the same conclusion: Their benefits outweigh their risks. Beyond that, "data from real world studies provide additional evidence that the vaccines continue to help protect against COVID-19 disease, including severe outcomes like COVID-19 associated hospitalization and death," Pfizer, one manufacturer of COVID mRNA vaccine, said in an emailed statement to Axios. State lawmakers who sponsored the new bills didn't respond to a request for comment for this story. Zoom in: The state measures have incorrectly described the vaccines as gene-based or referred to them as "gene-therapy" products. "They don't get anywhere near your DNA. They simply do not do that," Schaffner said. The technology uses messenger RNA to instruct the body to create a protein from the coronavirus to stimulate an immune response. It doesn't alter a person's genes. What to watch: Vaccine makers say the technology is beginning to be applied in other areas of research, such as advancements in rare diseases, cystic fibrosis, and cytomegalovirus (CMV), as well as oncology. If enacted, the state laws "could hinder important research and limit patient access to innovative treatments, potentially delaying life-changing medical advancements," Moderna, another mRNA vaccine manufacturer, said in a statement to Axios.
