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We humans love rankings. We love the top 500 songs unveiled each Memorial Day and seek out the top five restaurants rated by Bon Appetite magazine. In a world of chaos, we like the fictional supposition that life and all of its messy data can be corralled into neat silos.But… Read More

The tightfisted consumer has claimed another victim. Express (NYSE: EXPR) missed first quarter earnings by $.02 and lowered numbers dramatically for the second quarter and the fiscal year. To date the company’s focus on young professionals has enabled it to grow revenue but it was unable to avoid the dramatic… Read More

Here is recent news on four portfolio holdings:Apogee EnterprisesThe Architecture Billings Index, a leading indicator for future non-residential building demand, posted three consecutive months of increasing demand for architecture designs, which bodes well for Apogee, the architectural glass maker. The score for the new design contracts index jumped to 54.3… Read More

Decreased consumer spending and slower online sales are hurting clothing retailers, including Macy’s, Gap and Fossil. But our portfolio pick, Express (EXPR), does not share all the problems of its peers.  Yesterday, Macy’s reported a 6.7% decline in Q1 2016 earnings compared to the same quarter last year. Between Gap’s… Read More

A more confident tone from management and a stable quarterly report pushed Lattice Semiconductor up 9% today.Revenue was a few million less than hoped for; a $6 million payment that had been penciled into the quarter was not received.Product margins were much better than expected, mainly due to higher sales of more… Read More

Here’s a roundup of important news on our portfolio holdings:ExpressU.S. retail sales fell in March by 0.3% after being unchanged in February. Investors sold Express and most other apparel retailers as they feared consumer demand would dry up. Based on Express’s strong fiscal Q4 2015 results we think this is… Read More

Integrated Device Technology (NSDQ: IDTI) is a sweet green beacon in a sea of red today. The purveyor of communications and industrial semiconductor chips reported revenue and earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter that were better than expected.Revenue grew 20% to $189 million, $2 million higher than forecasts. Earnings of $.36 were… Read More

Back the truck up for shares of this commercial vehicle manufacturer. Supreme Industries Inc. is reaping the benefits from investments in production facilities and a spunky new sales team. Quick turn around times for custom designed box trucks and increased exposure to national customers are driving revenue and profits up.Earnings… Read More