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FRG – FRG SPECIAL ALERT: Franchise Group Shareholders Interested in Pursuing Claims for Additional Consideration Should Contact Julie & Holleman Regarding Pending Sale

NEW YORK, May 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Shareholder rights law firm Julie & Holleman LLP is investigating the proposed $30 per share acquisition of Franchise Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRG) by the company’s senior management team. The firm is concerned about the price being offered as well as potential conflicts of interest.

For a free consultation and to learn more about our investigation, click here or visit:

https://julieholleman.com/?p=3012

Franchise Group owns and manages several retail outlets, including Pet Supplies Plus, Wag N’ Wash, American Freight, The Vitamin Shoppe, Badcock Home Furniture & More, Buddy’s Home Furnishings and Sylvan Learning. The company’s largest shareholders include Brian R. Kahn and his private equity firm, Vintage Capital Management, LLC, who oversaw the acquisition of Franchise Group’s various portfolio companies.

On May 10, 2023, Franchise Group announced that Kahn and other members of his management team reached a deal to buy out the company’s other shareholders for just $30 per share, which values the company at approximately $2.6 billion. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2023.

Julie & Holleman, whose attorneys have helped secure hundreds of millions of dollars for shareholders, is concerned about the inadequate deal price. The per share deal price is less than the 52-week high trading price of $44.25 per share, and it’s also less than a $35 per share price target established by financial analysts. Julie & Holleman is also concerned about conflicts of interest. Franchise Group insiders are cashing out public shareholders while retaining an interest in the company’s substantial upside potential.

If you would like more information about Julie & Holleman’s investigation, please contact W. Scott Holleman at [email protected] or (929) 415-1020, or submit your contact information by clicking here.

Julie & Holleman is a boutique law firm that focuses on shareholder litigation, including derivative actions, mergers and acquisitions cases, securities fraud class actions, and corporate investigations. The firm’s attorneys litigate in state and federal courts across the nation and have helped secure hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved companies and their shareholders. For more information about the firm, please visit https://www.julieholleman.com/. This notice may constitute attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

SOURCE Julie & Holleman LLP

BLFS – EVP & Chief Scientific Officer Aby Mathew Sells 20,000 Shares of BioLife Solutions Inc (BLFS)

On May 25, 2023, Aby Mathew, the Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of BioLife Solutions Inc (

BLFS, Financial), sold 20,000 shares of the company’s stock. This recent transaction is part of a series of insider sales by Mathew over the past year, totaling 111,135 shares sold and no shares purchased.

Who is Aby Mathew of BioLife Solutions Inc?

Aby Mathew is the Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at BioLife Solutions Inc. He has been with the company since 2007 and has played a crucial role in the development and commercialization of the company’s proprietary biopreservation media products. Mathew holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India, and has extensive experience in the field of biopreservation and cell therapy.

BioLife Solutions Inc’s Business Description

BioLife Solutions Inc is a leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of proprietary clinical-grade biopreservation media products for cells, tissues, and organs. The company’s product portfolio includes HypoThermosol® FRS, CryoStor®, and Tissue-Tek®. These products are designed to improve the quality and functionality of biologic materials during freezing, thawing, and hypothermic storage. BioLife Solutions serves a wide range of customers, including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and regenerative medicine companies, as well as research institutions and hospitals.

Analysis of Insider Buy/Sell and Relationship with Stock Price

Over the past year, there have been 2 insider buys and 117 insider sells for BioLife Solutions Inc. This trend indicates that insiders are more inclined to sell their shares rather than buy. This could be a sign that insiders believe the stock is overvalued or that they are taking advantage of a high stock price to cash in on their investments.

On the day of Aby Mathew’s recent sale, shares of BioLife Solutions Inc were trading at $22.24, giving the stock a market cap of $977.766 million. With a GuruFocus Value of $48.14 and a price-to-GF-Value ratio of 0.46, the stock is considered a possible value trap, and investors should think twice before investing.

The GF Value is an intrinsic value estimate developed by GuruFocus, which is calculated based on the following three factors:

  • Historical multiples (price-earnings ratio, price-sales ratio, price-book ratio, and price-to-free cash flow) that the stock has traded at.
  • A GuruFocus adjustment factor based on the company’s past returns and growth.
  • Future estimates of business performance from Morningstar analysts.

While the stock may appear undervalued based on its GF Value, the high number of insider sells over the past year could be a warning sign for potential investors. It is essential to consider both the valuation metrics and insider trading activity when making investment decisions.

In conclusion, Aby Mathew’s recent sale of 20,000 shares of BioLife Solutions Inc is part of a broader trend of insider selling for the company. With a price-to-GF-Value ratio of 0.46, the stock may appear undervalued, but investors should exercise caution and consider the high number of insider sells before making any investment decisions.

NFLX – Netflix’s Password-Sharing Crackdown May Bolster Stock Performance

Netflix’s Password-Sharing Crackdown May Bolster Stock Performance

Netflix’s strategic crackdown on password sharing, converting freeloaders into paying subscribers, is expected to boost its revenue and positively impact its stock performance.

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Staff or Guest writer for The Dog of Wall Street.

2023-05-27 11:30


In a bold move aimed at curbing the long-standing practice of account sharing, Netflix ($378.88|5.54%) is officially implementing measures against password sharing. The decision, which has garnered significant attention from investors and analysts alike, is expected to propel the company’s stock performance.
Netflix's Password-Sharing Crackdown May Bolster Stock Performance
With its massive global footprint, Netflix estimated that approximately 100 million people worldwide have been freeloading – using accounts paid for by others. The ubiquitous streaming giant sent a reminder to customers, emphasizing that a Netflix account is for use by one household, albeit usable from multiple locations and devices.

Under the new guidelines, Netflix is set to scrutinize users’ IP addresses to deduce their location at any given moment. This is not intended to gather geographical data for extraneous purposes, but rather to ensure account usage aligns with their household-focused policy. Profiles of those living outside the account holder’s household can be converted into new paid memberships, or users can opt to pay an additional $7.99 per month to maintain them on their account.

Industry analysts have suggested that Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing could set a fresh industry benchmark, with other streaming platforms likely to emulate the approach. Despite some customer backlash, this step could translate into substantial financial gains for the company, as freeloading viewers transition into paying subscribers.

Although customer reactions have been mixed, with some bemoaning the move as “annoying” and “horrible,” others have expressed readiness to pay for individual subscriptions. As one user noted, “some people are just going to be like whatever, I just need to watch Netflix,” indicating the likelihood of a swell in new memberships.

Netflix had previously disclosed to shareholders that similar crackdowns had been triumphant in other markets. For instance, in Canada, the membership base escalated post-crackdown as users established their accounts or added members. This trend further underscores the potential for a hike in Netflix’s revenues and, subsequently, its stock price.

While the overall impact on Netflix’s stock remains to be seen, the move signifies a strategic shift in the company’s approach to managing its extensive user base. If successful, this could provide a model for other subscription-based platforms to follow, potentially reshaping the streaming industry’s monetization strategies.

By implementing such measures, Netflix is not only projecting a firm stance against account sharing but is also illustrating a keen sense of financial prudence. With this, the streaming behemoth shows signs of strengthening its investment allure, likely improving its stock performance in the coming quarters. As the crackdown unfolds, all eyes are on Netflix as it navigates the changing landscape of the digital streaming sector.

Disclaimer: I have no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. All information should be independently verified and should not be relied upon for purposes of transacting securities or other investments. See terms for more info.

NVDA – What the heck do we do with NVIDIA (NVDA) now?

What the heck do we do with NVIDIA (NVDA) now?

NVIDIA could continue higher well into the $400s and I wouldn’t be surprised at all. 

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Mike Sakuraba graduated with double major of English and Economics. Part time writer, part time investor, full time dad. Mike loves writing about technology, sports, and investing.

2023-05-27 11:29


What the Heck do we do with NVIDIA Stock Now?
After record-breaking earnings and adding nearly $250 billion to its market cap, NVIDIA ($389.46|2.54%) was the talk of Wall Street this week. But after gaining 172% through the first five months of the year, what the heck are we doing with NVIIDA stock? Last week I wrote about taking some profits before earnings given their unpredictable nature. For the sake of your portfolio, I hope you didn’t listen.
What the heck do we do with NVIDIA (NVDA) now?
NVIDIA surged higher by more than 25% after topping Wall Street estimates and raising guidance for the next quarter by more than 50%. This report from NVIDIA could be one of the best earnings calls in history. But now you are sitting on a mountain of profits and wondering how much higher this stock can go.

The answer is probably lower but nobody knows for sure. It is an unprecedented move for a company with a market cap that is an inch below $1 trillion now. NVIDIA added the market cap of a Walmart ($146.42|0.18%) or Costco ($507.26|4.26%) this week. The truth is, the market doesn’t always care about narratives or bubbles. NVIDIA could continue higher well into the $400s and I wouldn’t be surprised at all.

Is AI Tranformative or a Bubble?
All of NVIDIA’s success this year revolves around the hype of Artificial Intelligence or AI. NVIDIA is preparing to be the picks and shovels provider for nearly every company in the industry. Its GPUs are in ultra-high demand for powering AI in computers, and there really isn’t a second place either. Not that NVIDIA is a monopoly, but at this point it is certainly the leader in the field.

The real question on everyone’s minds is if AI is the real deal or if it’s just the next tech bubble. Remember when everyone thought the Metaverse or electric vehicles were the next big thing? Electric vehicles are still changing the world thanks to Tesla ($193.17|4.72%) but most investors thought that the other EV makers would make for better investments. Only Tesla has really provided investors with any sort of meaningful returns.

Meta Platforms ($262.04|3.70%) has seen its stock rebound with a strong year but most of that has come since the company has taken a step back from the Metaverse. Every new trend is a popular investment until the real thing fizzles out and disappoints.

So the question again is what the heck do we do with NVIDIA stock? Is it worth shorting? Many traders will tell you there is a strong possibility that the stock is going to pull back to some moving average in the short term. Of course, NVIDIA’s rally has ignored all market logic. If I wanted to go against NVIDIA I’d probably look into buying put options more than shorting the stock. This thing is liable to jump by 10% on any given day. Long-dated puts might be a better option or you might risk getting a margin call. But in all honesty, for the second week in a row just stay away until an opportunity presents itself.

Disclaimer: I have no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. All information should be independently verified and should not be relied upon for purposes of transacting securities or other investments. See terms for more info.

SHAK – Here’s why Shake Shack’s recent deal with Engaged Capital may have fallen short for shareholders

Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Company: Shake Shack (SHAK)

Business: Shake Shack owns, operates and licenses Shake Shack restaurants, which offer hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs, crinkle-cut fries, shakes, frozen custard, beer, wine and other products. The company was originally founded in 2001 by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. The company has owned restaurants in every region of the U.S. and licensed locations across the Middle East, Asia and the United Kingdom.

Stock Market Value: $2.76B ($65.40 per share)

Activist: Engaged Capital

Percentage Ownership: 6.6%

Average Cost: n/a

Activist Commentary: Engaged Capital was founded by Glenn W. Welling, a former principal and managing director at Relational Investors. Engaged is an experienced and successful small cap investor and makes investments with a two-to-five-year investment horizon. Its style is holding management and boards accountable behind closed doors.

What’s happening?

Shake Shack entered a cooperation agreement with Engaged. As part of that agreement, the restaurant chain appointed Jeffrey D. Lawrence, former CFO of Domino’s Pizza, to its board and agreed to work with Engaged to identify an additional mutually agreed upon independent director to appoint to the Shake Shack board with restaurant operations experience.

Behind the scenes

Shake Shack is an iconic fast-casual restaurant founded by a culinary visionary, Danny Meyer. Through Union Square Hospitality Group, Meyer founded and operated some of the most critically acclaimed gourmet restaurants in the world for many years. Over the past 20 years, he and his team have developed one of the greatest casual hamburger chain restaurants in the country, Shake Shack. They took Shake Shack public in 2015 with 63 restaurants and have expanded to 436 restaurants in eight years.

Much of the senior management team came from Union Square Hospitality Group and the fine dining industry. Perhaps most notably the CEO, Randy Garutti, has a long history working with Meyer and was the general manager at Union Square Café and Tabla in New York City. The problem is that the same skillset required to create a brand and run upscale, gourmet restaurants is not the same skillset needed to operate and scale a quick-service restaurant. In fact, some might say it is a completely opposite skillset. Accordingly, restaurant margins at Shake Shack have declined by 790 basis points since 2018 and corporate return on capital has gone from greater than 30% to less than zero today. As a public company, Shake Shack has significantly underperformed both the market and its peers.

The good news is that the hard part – creating an iconic brand – has already been done. Not many people can do that. The easy part – scaling an already strong and growing brand – has been done by innumerable people, many of whom are available to do it again. This means getting a board that is focused on putting together a management team with experience operating and expanding quick-service or fast-casual restaurants and holding that team accountable if they do not succeed.

To that end, Engaged announced that it had identified three new director candidates and was pushing for the company to retain an operational consulting firm. One of these candidates, Kevin Reddy, has extensive experience operating and growing restaurant chains like Chipotle. Another candidate is a co-founder of Engaged, and the other is an experienced advisor and consultant. Because the board is staggered, only four of 11 directors are up for election this year. That is only the tip of the iceberg of the challenges Engaged faces in this campaign as this is as bad of a corporate governance structure as we have seen in a public company.

Meyer controls just under 9% of the company’s shares, but he holds special rights over corporate actions that far exceed his economic ownership, including (i) the ability to appoint five directors; (ii) the ability to designate 50% of the members of each committee of the board; (iii) hiring or firing the CEO; and (iv) increasing or decreasing the size of the board. In other words, this is Meyer’s company and only he can make significant changes.

As a result, this is a crusade of persuasion for Engaged. Engaged had an opportunity to go to a proxy fight and have the shareholders replace three incumbent directors, including the CEO, with new directors. While this would not have given Engaged or the new board the power to overrule anything Meyer and his incumbent directors wanted, it would have sent a strong message to them that the shareholders expected change. Instead, Engaged settled for one director who was not even one of the three they proposed and a second to be agreed upon, which also will not likely be one of the three the firm proposed.

This is a definite victory for the company as there is very little one director could do on a board like this. It allows Engaged to claim a win, but the firm is still reliant on Meyer’s decisions, and it lost a valuable opportunity to send a message to management. This effectively changes nothing and gives Engaged no more power to institute the changes it so astutely identified to create shareholder value. Identifying the problems is one thing and having a path to fix them is entirely different. The path here is completely controlled by management.

Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments.