Tiny Grocery Retail Stock Surging 100%+

Author

Adam Garcia
September 24, 2024

Good morning. It’s September 24th, and today, we’ll take a look at Autozone’s below-par results, Thor Industries’ poor performance and what it means for the RV industry, and a tiny grocery retail stock that is surging by more than 100% in premarket trading.

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Previous Close 📈

Stocks closed modestly higher on Monday, continuing the momentum from last week’s rally following the Federal Reserve’s half-percentage-point rate cut, which has driven up rate-sensitive sectors like utilities and financials.

Futures

U.S. stock futures are rising slightly on Tuesday. Dow futures are up 61 points, or 0.1%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures have each advanced 0.2%. Traders remain optimistic but are preparing for potential volatility, with key economic data on Consumer Confidence and the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index due for release later today.

Technology

Imagine a phone that not only connects you but pays you. Mode's "EarnPhone" has already turned this vision into reality, driving 32,481% growth and securing its spot as the fastest-growing software company on the Deloitte 500. With $325M+ earned for users, this pre-IPO stock is positioned for major gains.

What to Watch

AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) and Thor Industries (NYSE: THO) will announce their quarterly earnings before the market opens today.

The Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman will speak at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, coinciding with the release of the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index for July. The Consumer Confidence report for September will be published at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, providing insights into consumer sentiment.

After the market closes, KB Home (NYSE: KBH), Progress Software (NASDAQ: PRGS), Worthington Industries (NYSE: WOR), and Stitch Fix (NASDAQ: SFIX) will report their results.

Automobiles

AutoZone Shares Dip After Earnings, Sales Fall Short of Projections

AutoZone Inc.'s stock is falling by 2.3% in premarket trading. The auto parts retailer's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings and sales are below expectations.

Net income for the quarter ending August 31 rose to $902.2 million, or $51.58 per share, up from $864.8 million, or $46.46 per share, a year ago. However, this missed the Wall Street estimate of $53.60 per share.

Net sales increased by 9% to $6.205 billion but fell short of the expected $6.228 billion. Same-store sales rose just 0.7%, below the anticipated 1.2%.

Domestic same-store sales edged up only 0.2%, missing estimates of 1.3%, while international sales growth of 4.9% also lagged behind the expected 9.3% increase.

Year to date, AutoZone shares have risen 17.9%, compared to the S&P 500's 19.9% advance.

Recreational Vehicles

RV Major Thor Industries’ Stock Plunges After Sales Decline, Warning of Industry Headwinds

Thor Industries (THO) announced a 7.4% year-over-year decline in sales to $2.53 billion in its fiscal fourth quarter, signaling ongoing challenges in the RV industry. Management highlighted that macroeconomic factors continue to hinder both independent dealers and end consumers.

In its North American Towable RVs segment, unit shipments rose 16.3%, but net sales were flat at $932K, primarily due to a 16.2% drop in net price per unit, driven by a shift towards lower-cost products and price reductions. The North American Motorized RVs segment saw unit shipments decline by 25.1% and net sales drop 21.2%.

Despite these challenges, Thor's consolidated gross profit margin improved to 15.8%, partly due to inventory reductions and lower warranty costs. Earnings per share (EPS) matched last year's result at $1.68, surpassing the $1.31 consensus.

Looking ahead, Thor expects full-year revenue between $9.0 billion and $9.8 billion, lower than the $10.1 billion consensus, and full-year EPS of $4.00 to $5.00, below the $5.85 consensus.

Thor shares are falling by nearly 7% in premarket trading, putting the broader RV sector, including Winnebago, Camping World, and LCI Industries, on watch.

Real Estate

FrontView REIT Targets $277 Million in US Stock Market Debut

FrontView REIT is aiming to raise up to $277.2 million in its U.S. initial public offering, the company announced on Tuesday. The Dallas-based real estate investment trust (REIT) plans to offer 13.2 million shares, priced between $17 and $21 per share.

The firm, which focuses on investing in properties along high-traffic roads, is set to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "FVR."

With the Federal Reserve expected to ease monetary policy, REITs like FrontView could benefit from improving market conditions.

Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo Securities, and BofA Securities are acting as lead underwriters for the IPO.

Gold

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Movers and Shakers

Maison Solutions Inc. [MSS] - Last Close: $0.71

Maison Solutions, a grocery retailer that offers traditional Asian food and merchandise, is surging by more than 100% in premarket trading.

The firm released a strong first-quarter financial result for fiscal year 2025. Its revenue increased by 115.6% to $29.6 million, largely due to its acquisition of Lee Lee Oriental Supermart, which added $18.2 million in revenue.

Gross margins also improved significantly, rising from 22.6% to 27.9%, thanks to operational efficiencies. Net income reached $700,000, a substantial turnaround from the previous year's $105,000 loss.

Investors are reacting positively to the company's robust performance and the expectation of continued growth, as Maison Solutions reiterated its fiscal year 2025 revenue guidance of $120–$125 million and its goal of maintaining profitability.

My Take: Though the financial year results are promising, the firm is not out of the woods yet. It has consistently struggled with profitability, and it would be best to adopt a wait-and-watch policy for now.

Heart Test Laboratories, Inc. [HSCS] - Last Close: $2.94

Heart Test Laboratories’ stock is rallying by more than 50% before the market opens today following the release of its first-quarter fiscal 2025 financial results and a positive business update.

The company, which focuses on AI-powered medical technology for early heart disease detection, reported significant progress with its MyoVista wavECG™ device and its cloud-based AI-ECG platform.

The MyoVista Insights platform, which aims to detect low ejection fraction heart conditions, is set to complete Phase 1 by the end of 2024, with FDA submission expected in 2025.

This strong business update and its expanded intellectual property portfolio have bolstered investor confidence, contributing to the sharp rise.

My Take: While the news is positive, the firm’s success is contingent on FDA approval, which is still quite far away. For now, keep this stock on your radar and await future developments.

Generations Bancorp NY, Inc. [GBNY] - Last Close: $11.00

Generations Bancorp shares are up by 43% following the company’s announcement that ESL Federal Credit Union will acquire all its assets and liabilities in an all-cash transaction valued at $26.2 million.

As part of the deal, Generations Bank will retain its equity, with adjustments for certain reductions and additions. The acquisition is expected to close by late Q2 or Q3 of 2025.

Generations Bancorp also announced its intention to voluntarily delist from Nasdaq, with the last trading day expected on October 4, 2024.

My Take: Typically after a delisting, the shareholders are offered cash in lieu of their holdings, and the rally indicates this payout might be higher than the current stock price. However, it would be prudent to adopt a cautious stance on this one.

Pre-IPO Alert

Mode Mobile is rewriting the rules with their "EarnPhone," a device that turns phone usage into profit. With 32,481% growth and $325M+ saved for users, now is your chance to join early.

Everything Else

  • China’s CSI 300 has surged over 4% after the central bank announced significant easing measures.

  • China is scrutinizing U.S. firm PVH for possible discriminatory actions against Xinjiang-related products.

  • Jamie Dimon highlighted geopolitical dangers as more critical than Japan and U.S. interest rates.

  • Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group hit their lowest point after the lockup expiration.

  • The workers’ union rejected Boeing’s latest offer, so the strike continues.

  • Northvolt has cut 1,600 jobs as its financial struggles mount.

That’s all for today. Thank you for reading. If you have any feedback, please reply to this email.

Best Regards,

— Adam Garcia
Elite Trade Club

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