Latest news with #FMI
The Wire
an hour ago
- Business
- The Wire
IIM Udaipur and PRICE Launch Joint Survey to Measure Financial Maturity Across Gujarat and Rajasthan
UDAIPUR, India, July 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Indian Institute of Management Udaipur (IIMU), in collaboration with People Research on India's Consumer Economy (PRICE), has launched a major field-based research initiative to assess the financial maturity of individuals across urban and rural areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan. This large-scale survey forms part of a joint effort to create a comprehensive Financial Maturity Index (FMI) that will support data-driven financial inclusion policies and programs. The primary objective of the study is to develop a Financial Maturity Index that reflects how individuals understand, manage, and utilise financial resources. The index will assess key dimensions including financial literacy, saving and planning behaviours, product usage, risk preparedness, and digital financial adoption. The study aims to generate actionable insights that can inform public policy, financial education, and inclusive development. A total of 4,000 individuals—1,900 from rural and 2,100 from urban areas—will be surveyed using a robust sampling methodology to ensure the inclusion of a wide range of age groups, genders, occupations, education levels, and income segments. In Rajasthan, the survey will be conducted in the districts of Ajmer, Banswara, Churu, Ganganagar, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jhalawar, Karauli, and Udaipur. In Gujarat, the selected districts include Ahmadabad, Banas Kantha, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara, and Valsad. To facilitate smooth implementation, official letters regarding the study have been sent to the Chief Secretaries of the Governments of Rajasthan and Gujarat, as well as to the District Magistrates and Collectors of all selected districts. Their cooperation is being sought to enable smooth field operations and local engagement. Fieldwork will be conducted by trained investigators from PRICE, who will carry official identification and follow strict ethical protocols. The survey teams will begin household visits in August 2025, and the study is expected to run for six months. All information collected during the survey will be treated as strictly confidential and used only for academic research and public policy development. No personal data will be used for commercial purposes. According to the representatives from IIMU and PRICE, this study is a critical step toward understanding the financial behaviour of Indian households. The representatives urge citizens across the selected districts to participate and support the initiative. Their input will directly contribute to shaping more inclusive and effective financial systems. About IIM Udaipur IIM Udaipur is well on its way to becoming a globally recognised B-School. It has broken new ground by focusing on world-class research and transforming students into tomorrow's managers and leaders. The Institute arrived on the global education stage by securing accreditation from the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in merely eight years of its establishment. IIMU has been listed on the Financial Times (FT) Global MIM Ranking 2024 for the 6th consecutive year, making it the only IIM to have achieved this feat. In the QS Global MIM Ranking 2025, IIM Udaipur stands as the 6th highest-ranked IIM and continues to maintain its listing for the 6th year in a row, reinforcing its global standing. Notably, it is also the youngest B-School in the world to be featured in both rankings. Additionally, IIM Udaipur ranks 4th in India for research in management, according to the UT Dallas methodology, which tracks publications in leading global journals, showcasing its excellence in academic research. Photo: Logo: (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI This is an auto-published feed from PTI with no editorial input from The Wire.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Josh Brown Highlights His New Best Industrial Stock Pick in 2025
Fastenal Co (NASDAQ:FAST) is one of the . Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, recently highlighted Fastenal Co (NASDAQ:FAST) as one of his best stock picks in the market. Here is how Brown explained his thesis about the stock: 'When you look at a long-term chart of this, it's just up and to the right. The buyers come in pretty much on every dip, and the trend line has been pristine dating back to early 2023. Basically, what they've done is they've Amazon-ed the construction business. They have something called Fastenal Managed Inventory. It's a digital tech platform so that you don't even have to reorder the things that you're running out of as an industrial company building things. Fastenal already knows, and they will deliver what you need right to the site. And this has been incredible for the business.44% of total sales last quarter, which they announced on Monday, came in as a result of this FMI technology—this platform that I'm talking about. The important thing to understand here is it's an industrial company. It's not a tech company, doesn't grow revenue at 40% a year or anything like that, but it's incredibly well-managed.' Photo by Ruben Sukatendel on Unsplash While we acknowledge the potential of FAST as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. 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
Business Wire
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
FMI Report: Amid Uncertainty, Food Industry Succeeds in Offering Shoppers Value
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, FMI – The Food Industry Association, releases its signature research, The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2025, which reveals how the industry is evolving into a modern grocery experience while navigating a complex operating environment. The analysis highlights successful strategies across the sector and offers a deeper exploration of how food retailers and suppliers are adapting their businesses. Our industry, long accustomed to operating on narrow margins, is once again feeling economically squeezed, with food retail profit margins settling at 1.7%, while food product suppliers reported a net income of 7.7%, consistent with 2023 figures. Share The food industry continues to face a challenging macroeconomic situation. Approximately 80% of both retailers and suppliers anticipate that trade policies and tariffs will continue to impact pricing and disrupt supply chains. Additionally, most expect operating costs to remain elevated. FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin reflected on the annual report, saying, 'Our industry, long accustomed to operating on narrow margins, is once again feeling economically squeezed, with food retail profit margins settling at 1.7%, while food product suppliers reported a net income of 7.7%, consistent with 2023 figures. 'These performance pressures remain persistent, and the outlook presented in our recent analysis highlights a broader trend – a sharp rise in costs associated with regulatory actions at the federal and state levels and their impact on the food industry in recent years. As regulatory burdens and complexity continue to grow, our industry braces for even greater costs ahead. With more than half of suppliers and over one-third of retailers expecting increased compliance expenses in 2025, we are focused on advocating for changes to these policies and on providing tools to our members to help reduce the compliance burden.' Despite these hurdles, retailers and suppliers reported significant progress in workforce stability last year due to continued efforts to boost employment incentive offerings. The share of retailers citing recruitment and retention challenges dropped dramatically from 85% in 2022 to just 52% in 2024. Suppliers witnessed an even steeper decline in recruitment and retention challenges, falling from 65% to 28% over the same period. This positive shift reflects substantial investments in talent development across the food industry, specific to enhanced wages, expanded benefits, performance bonuses, and robust training programs that have contributed to a notable reduction in employee turnover – falling to 48% in 2024 from a historic high of 65% in 2022. It is unclear how the current immigration and deportation policy changes will impact these numbers in 2025. Nearly 50% of food retailers and suppliers note the positive impact of consumers leveraging food to manage or avoid health issues, and most are offering products with beneficial nutrition attributes for health and well-being. While shoppers remain concerned about food prices, FMI's recent consumer trends research found customers are willing to invest in key needs related to 'eating well,' including health, entertainment, exploration and convenience. 'While being sensitive to the budgets of consumers, our members are reimagining the grocery store as a destination and one that reflects how today's shoppers want to live and eat,' Sarasin said. 'From expanded fresh offerings and wellness hubs to foodservice solutions and seamless omnichannel experiences, they are focused on delivering quality, personalization and loyalty-driven value at every touchpoint.' For Media: Members of the media may contact FMI for a gratis copy of The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2025 report. To access online charts, visit About FMI As The Food Industry Association, FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier, and more efficient consumer food supply chain. FMI brings together a wide range of members across the value chain — from retailers to producers to companies supplying critical services — to amplify the collective work of the industry.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fastenal Co (FAST) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Revenue and Strong Digital Growth
Revenue: Exceeded $2 billion for the first time, with an 8.6% increase in Q2 2025. Daily Sales Growth: Highest since early 2023, with a growth rate of 8.6%. Contract Customer Sales: Increased by 11%, representing 73.2% of total revenues. Operating Margin: Achieved 21%, up 80 basis points year-over-year. Gross Margin: 45.3%, up 20 basis points from the previous year. Earnings Per Share (EPS): $0.29, a 12.7% increase from the previous year. Operating Cash Flow: $279 million, representing 84.4% of net income. Inventory Growth: Increased by 14.7% to improve product availability and efficiency. Accounts Receivable: Up 9.9%, reflecting sales growth and deferred payments. FMI Technology Sales: Represented 44.1% of sales, with an 11% increase in installed devices. E-business Sales: Grew by 13.5%, surpassing 30% of total sales for the first time. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Signs with BOM:540595. Release Date: July 14, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Fastenal Co (NASDAQ:FAST) achieved over $2 billion in revenue for the first time in its history, marking a significant milestone. Sales in the second quarter increased by 8.6%, with the highest daily growth since early 2023. Contract customer sales increased by 11%, now representing 73.2% of revenues, up from 71.2% the previous year. The company saw a 30% year-over-year revenue increase in non-manufacturing sites generating $50,000 or more per month. E-business sales grew by 13.5%, surpassing 30% of total sales for the first time, indicating strong digital growth. Market conditions remain sluggish, with trade policy creating caution and uncertainty among customers. There was a decline in the number of accounts generating under $5,000, particularly those under $500, which could impact smaller customer segments. The FMI Technology adoption was softer than expected, with a slight decrease in new customer signings compared to previous years. Higher import duty fees and transportation costs negatively impacted gross margins. The company faces challenges in managing price costs due to ongoing tariff uncertainties, which could affect future profitability. Q: Could you discuss the evolution of profitability as relationships with customers generating $10,000 or more per month mature and grow? A: Daniel Florness, CEO: The contribution margins for customers generating $10,000 or more per month align closely with the historical company average. While gross margins can challenge the company number slightly, the SG&A leverage is much better due to the rationalization of our branch network and the shift to on-site and large customer services. This has led to a leaner operating expense structure, particularly in people and occupancy costs. Q: Does the inventory investment imply a higher mix of fasteners, and how does it impact margins? A: Daniel Florness, CEO: The inventory investment has been paying off in the first half of the year, providing an attractive return. The deeper inventory allows for better customer engagement and more efficient operations. As we move into the latter half of 2025 and into 2026, we plan to rationalize some of this inventory, which should improve returns further. Q: Should we expect flattish gross margins year over year in the second half, and how is deeper inventory of fasteners helping margins? A: Sheryl Lisowski, CFO: We expect our margin for 2025 to remain essentially flat with 2024. Daniel Florness, CEO: The deeper inventory of fasteners helps margins by allowing us to capture more MRO fastener business, which carries a better gross margin profile due to its spot buy nature. This also frees up labor, allowing us to leverage sales and improve mix. Q: What's your confidence level in achieving double-digit sales growth in the second half of 2025? A: Daniel Florness, CEO: We are confident in achieving double-digit sales growth for the rest of the year. The pipeline is strong across all categories, and the momentum from contract signings supports this outlook. Q: Can you provide more insight into the enhancements for and the opportunity to capture more spot buy needs? A: Daniel Florness, CEO: Enhancements to aim to improve the capture of spot buy needs, particularly from existing customers. We believe there's a significant opportunity to capture additional business from our 10,000-plus customers, as well as stabilize and grow our under 5,000 customer base. Enhancements include improved checkout processes, search functionality, and a clear strategy for e-commerce offerings. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
The Star
14-07-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Heatwave hits Finland, Sweden, triggers health warnings
HELSINKI, July 14 (Xinhua) -- A heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius in Finland and Sweden, with some areas exceeding 30 degrees, prompting health and safety warnings. As of early Monday evening, the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) issued yellow-level alerts for "potentially dangerous temperatures" across most of Finland. Sweden issued similar warnings, particularly in the north. Heat alert thresholds differ by country. In Finland, warnings are triggered when highs reach 27 degrees or daily averages exceed 20 degrees. In Sweden, yellow alerts are issued if temperatures are forecast to exceed 30 degrees for four consecutive days. On Monday, Finland experienced widespread hot and sunny weather, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees in many areas including the capital region, according to the FMI. The heat follows a cooler, wetter start to summer. A national high of 31.5 degrees this summer, recorded Sunday in southwestern Finland's Kaskinen, was surpassed on Monday, when the FMI reported 31.6 degrees -- again in the city. "This week is shaping up to be the hottest of the summer so far," FMI meteorologist Jani Sorsa told Finnish News Agency STT on Monday. In response to the heat, Finland's Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) issued health warnings urging people -- especially those over 75 -- to stay hydrated, avoid direct sunlight, and reduce physical exertion. Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) forecast highs of 26-33 degrees in parts of the country, warning residents to watch for signs of overheating and dehydration in themselves and others. Swedish Television meteorologist Nils Holmqvist warned that up to 600 heat-related deaths could occur under the current conditions. In Finland, THL specialist Virpi Kollanus said heat-related deaths have risen since 2000, reversing a downward trend seen since the 1970s. "The earlier decline likely resulted from better living standards and improved public health," she told broadcaster Yle. "Now, heatwaves are more frequent and the population is aging." The FMI noted that prolonged heat remains rare in Finland. Two-week heatwaves occur roughly once a decade. Since 1961, six three-week periods have been recorded, most recently in 2021.
