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Water Tower Research

Research from Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research is a leading equity research firm that provides research on micro, small and mid cap companies.

Water Tower Research was founded by Wall Street veterans after witnessing a fundamental shift in the investment research industry with the result being a declining knowledge base among investors, a lack of awareness and a shrinking pool of fundamental research being conducted on companies across the small-cap and micro-cap spectrum. The same issues are now increasingly occurring in the mid-cap space. This sea change within the investment community is impacting not only the companies themselves but also current shareholders and potential investors. With significantly less active sell-side sponsorship by Wall Street, a substantial information gap has developed between companies and various constituents in the financial community. The net result is fewer channels for insight and information to flow between companies and investors.

Equity Research Firm

Equity Bottom-Up

<div><div><div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p>After the market close on 7/12/2023, Miller Knoll reported Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.41 (as adjusted), beating our estimate and consensus estimate, each at $0.39.</p></li><li><p>Additionally, revenues of $956.7MM (above the mid-point of the $930MM to $970MM guidance) beat our $936MM and consensus $942MM estimates. GAAP EPS was $0.00.</p></li><li><p>Guidance always merits significant investor attention. Management guided historically only to the current quarter.</p></li></ul></div></div></div></div>

After the market close on 7/12/2023, Miller Knoll reported Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.41 (as adjusted), beating our estimate and consensus estimate, each at $0.39.Additionally, revenues of $956.7MM (above the mid-point of the $930MM to $970MM guidance) beat our $936MM and consensus $942MM estimates. GAAP EPS was $0.00.Guidance always merits significant investor attention. Management guided historically only to the current quarter.

MillerKnoll, Inc. - 4Q23 Results Top Expectations

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>Office furniture manufacturers assembled in Chicago this week for an annual trade show.</li><li>NeoCon®, the legacy name of the show, is a registered trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc</li><li>It pertains only to Mart tenants. Several major players moved away from the Mart to Fulton Market and renamed their show Design Days.</li></ul>

Office furniture manufacturers assembled in Chicago this week for an annual trade show.NeoCon®, the legacy name of the show, is a registered trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties, IncIt pertains only to Mart tenants. Several major players moved away from the Mart to Fulton Market and renamed their show Design Days.

NeoCon/Design Days : Office Manufacturers Display Wares Amid Macro Uncertainty

<ul><li>This note addresses the Monthly Market Pulse (MMP) of incoming orders and sales for March 2023 issued by the Business Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA).</li><li>About 50+ BIFMA member companies voluntarily submit monthly sales and orders to a national accounting firm that aggregates and reports composite data.</li><li>Neither BIFMA nor any individual member has access to the raw data. We show the monthly data from 2019 to March 2023 under Industry Statistics.</li></ul>

This note addresses the Monthly Market Pulse (MMP) of incoming orders and sales for March 2023 issued by the Business Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA).About 50+ BIFMA member companies voluntarily submit monthly sales and orders to a national accounting firm that aggregates and reports composite data.Neither BIFMA nor any individual member has access to the raw data. We show the monthly data from 2019 to March 2023 under Industry Statistics.

Commercial/Contract Furniture/Consumer Hardlines : Orders Remain Lower Y/Y, but at Moderating Pace

<ul><li>As sensitive as this may be, we feel an obligation to correct misinformation on social media and put some context on a related news report about an internal MillerKnoll video town hall that leaked.</li><li>MLKN was down ~2.5% on Tuesday, more than its peers and competitors. Misinformation may have contributed to the stock action.</li><li>First, the misinformation: A tweet Tuesday shows CEO Andrea “Andi” Owen rallying employees.</li></ul>

As sensitive as this may be, we feel an obligation to correct misinformation on social media and put some context on a related news report about an internal MillerKnoll video town hall that leaked.MLKN was down ~2.5% on Tuesday, more than its peers and competitors. Misinformation may have contributed to the stock action.First, the misinformation: A tweet Tuesday shows CEO Andrea “Andi” Owen rallying employees.

Setting the Record Straight: Tweet Twists Truth About CEO Compensation

<ul><li>After market close Wednesday, March 22, MillerKnoll reported 3QFY23 adjusted EPS of $0.54, $0.12 higher than our estimate and consensus.</li><li>GAAP EPS of $0.01 missed by $0.31, caused primarily by a $37.2 million charge for closing Fully, a Knoll brand.</li><li>3QFY23 revenues of $985 million missed our estimate by ~$20 million.</li></ul>

After market close Wednesday, March 22, MillerKnoll reported 3QFY23 adjusted EPS of $0.54, $0.12 higher than our estimate and consensus.GAAP EPS of $0.01 missed by $0.31, caused primarily by a $37.2 million charge for closing Fully, a Knoll brand.3QFY23 revenues of $985 million missed our estimate by ~$20 million.

3QFY23 Adjusted EPS Beats but Revenues Miss; 4QFY23 Guidance Disappoints

United States

HNI Corporation manufactures and markets office furniture as well as hearth products. The Company's products are sold primarily through dealers, wholesalers, and retail superstores. HNI has operations in the United States and Canada.

KAR Auction Services Inc. provides wholesale vehicle auction services in North America.  The Company facilitates a marketplace providing auction services for sellers of used and salvage vehicles through physical auction locations and multiple proprietary Internet websites.

CoreCivic, Inc. provides detention and corrections services to governmental agencies. The Company designs, constructs, owns, manages, and renovates jails, prisons, government agencies, and inmate transportation companies. CoreCivic operates throughout the United States.

VSE Corporation provides diversified services and products to the engineering, energy, environment, health care, information technology, and defense services markets.  The Company's principal customers include agencies of the United States government and other prime contractors.  VSE provides services and products from locations across the United States and around the world.

Steelcase Inc. designs and manufactures products used to create high performance work environments.  The Company's products include office furniture, furniture systems, interior architectural products, technology products, seating, and related products and services.  Steelcase has operations in various countries.

Pitney Bowes Inc. sells and finances, rents, and services integrated mail and document management systems.  The Company offers a full suite of equipment, supplies, software and services for end-to-end mailstream solutions.

McGrath RentCorp rents and sells relocatable modular offices, as well as electronic test and measurement instruments.  The Company's offices are used as temporary offices adjacent to existing facilities, and as sales offices, construction field offices, classrooms, and for a variety of other purposes. McGrath serves customers primarily in California and Texas.

SP Plus Corporation provides parking facility management services in the United States and Canada. The Company provides on-site management services at multi-level and surface parking facilities in the urban parking and airport parking markets. SP's clients include owners of office building complexes, shopping centers, sports complexes, hotels, hospitals, and various airports.

Interface, Inc. manufactures, markets, installs, and services products for the commercial and institutional interiors market.  The Company provides modular carpet, panel fabrics for use in open plan office furniture systems, and complementary products, as well as carpet replacement, installation, and maintenance services.  Interface markets its products around the world.

Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. operates as an environmental company. The Company offers air quality and environmental laboratory services. Montrose Environmental Group serves to the landfills, electric utilities, water treatment facilities, municipalities, and corporations worldwide.

Taiwan Secom Co Ltd provides diversified technology-based integrated security solutions for commercial enterprises and residences.  The Company monitors and maintains security systems devices, such as burglar and fire alarms for offices, shops, parking lots, and residences.  Taiwan Secom also provides security system consulting, designing, engineering, and integration services.

Park24 Co., Ltd. operates 24-hour automated parking garages, monthly parking lots, and parking lot administration.  The Company also sells parking lot equipment of gate-type and multistory-type such as park lock.

Downer EDI Limited provides engineering and infrastructure management services to the public and private rail, road, power, telecommunications, mining and resources sectors in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific.  Downer provides rolling stock services, drilling services for the exploration industry, mine planning and management services and highway maintenance.

KOKUYO CO., LTD. manages Kokuyo group companies that produces and sells a vast line of stationery goods and office furniture through a domestic sales network as a holding company.  The group's products include magazine files, box binders, drawing tubes, desk chairs, lockers, and wall storage units.  Kokuyo also manufactures office automation equipment and computer supplies.

Cimpress Public Limited Company provides printing services. The Company serves customers in Ireland.

Beijing Originwater Technology Co., Ltd. provides sewage treatment and sewage facility development services.  The Company's services include sewage treatment plant construction and design, equipment integration solution, and technical support services.

Beijing Originwater Technology Co,Ltd. (300070 CH)

L&K Engineering Co., Ltd. designs, builds, and manages clean rooms for semiconductor, biochemical, and electronic industries.  The Company also provides wire engineering service.

Bilfinger SE provides industrial services, power services, building and facility services, construction, and concessions.  The Company's industrial services include repairs, maintenance, and modernization.  Bilfinger also provides power services which include maintenance, service, and efficiency enhancements as well as building and facility services for real estate.

Mitie Group plc provides a variety of services to both owners and occupiers of commercial and industrial properties.  The Group divides its business into two areas, building services and support services.  Their building operations encompass air conditioning, industrial painting, and engineering services, while their support services include catering, cleaning, security, and waste services.

Bravida Holding AB provides technical installation and service solutions for buildings and plants. The Company offers integrated solutions in electrical installations, heating and plumbing, and HVAC. Bravida Holding serves customers in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

MillerKnoll, Inc. researches, designs, manufactures, and distributes interior office furnishings, furniture systems, products, and services. The Company markets its products to companies, organizations, and individuals worldwide.

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MillerKnoll (MLKN US)

MillerKnoll, Inc. - 4Q23 Results Top Expectations

After the market close on 7/12/2023, Miller Knoll reported Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.41 (as adjusted), beating our estimate and consensus estimate,...

Water Tower Research

NeoCon/Design Days : Office Manufacturers Display Wares Amid Macro Uncertainty

Office furniture manufacturers assembled in Chicago this week for an annual trade show. NeoCon®, the legacy name of the show, is a registered...

Water Tower Research

Commercial/Contract Furniture/Consumer Hardlines : Orders Remain Lower Y/Y, but at Moderating Pace

This note addresses the Monthly Market Pulse (MMP) of incoming orders and sales for March 2023 issued by the Business Institutional Furniture...

Water Tower Research

Setting the Record Straight: Tweet Twists Truth About CEO Compensation

MLKN was down ~2.5% on Tuesday, more than its peers and competitors. Misinformation may have contributed to the stock action.

Water Tower Research

3QFY23 Adjusted EPS Beats but Revenues Miss; 4QFY23 Guidance Disappoints

After market close Wednesday, March 22, MillerKnoll reported 3QFY23 adjusted EPS of $0.54, $0.12 higher than our estimate and consensus.

Water Tower Research

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