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Oppenheimer: These 3 Penny Stocks Could Rally Over 100%

Oppenheimer: These 3 Penny Stocks Could Rally Over 100%

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Weighing in on the markets from investment firm Oppenheimer, chief investment strategist John Stoltzfus believes that despite rough conditions, the market has more fuel left in the tank.

Remaining “very bullish on this market,” Stoltzfus’ stance is supported by the fact that trillions of dollars are sitting on the sidelines, as well as the hope that the U.S. will be able to tame the beast that is COVID-19. “You’re going to see money beginning to further move out of the bond market, and it makes all the sense in the world to be positioned in equities,” the strategist noted.

Stoltzfus acknowledges that the debate surrounding a second stimulus package, a spike in COVID-19 cases and the U.S. presidential election reflect potential near-term risks, but implies that his previous year-end target for the S&P 500, which landed at 3,500 but was withdrawn due to uncertainty, could still be attainable.

Taking Stoltzfus’ outlook and turning it into concrete recommendations, the pros at Oppenheimer are giving three penny stocks a thumbs up. The firm’s analysts project triple-digit upside potential for all three of these tickers that trade for less than $5 per share.

Opening up the TipRanks’ database, we’ve pulled the details on these names, to find out what makes them compelling despite their risky nature.

STRATA Skin Sciences (SSKN)

Bringing decades of experience and innovative skin science technology to the table, STRATA Skin Sciences provides professionals in dermatology, plastics and aesthetics with better solutions. Even though COVID-19 has hampered the company, Oppenheimer believes that at $1.22, shares appear undervalued.  

Representing the firm, analyst Suraj Kalia acknowledges the COVID-19-related headwinds pressured SSKN in Q2. During the quarter, revenue declined by 49% year-over-year to $4 million. Additionally, recurring revenues, an important measure of system utilization and company strategy, fell 52% year-over-year to $2.8 million.

Despite this weak showing, Kalia sees reasons to remain optimistic. Gross domestic recurring billings for July were three times higher than in April. He added, “The company noted that results would have been near 2019 levels ex-hotspots (parts of FL, TX, WA)—impressive given lack of advertising and slightly smaller installed base. Further, several key markets above 2019 levels (despite no DTC ad-driven patient inventory) suggests that SSKN is taking share vs. Biologics."

When it comes to SSKN’s installed base, at the end of Q2, the figure came in at 806 systems, down from 838 at the end of Q1. That being said, procedures did ramp up in June and July. Adding to the good news, the company reached a settlement agreement with Ra Medical, ending two years of court battles.

To this end, Kalia rates SSKN an Outperform (i.e. Buy) along with a $6 price target. Should his thesis play out, a potential twelve-month gain of 395% could be in the cards. (To watch Kalia’s track record, click here)

So, that’s Oppenheimer's view, let’s turn our attention now to rest of the Street: SSKN's 2 Buys and 1 Hold coalesce into a Moderate Buy rating. There’s plenty of upside - 303% to be exact – should the $4.88 average price target be met over the next months. (See SSKN stock analysis on TipRanks)

Mustang Bio Inc. (MBIO)

With its primary focus in chimeric antigen receptor T-cell, or CAR-T, therapy, Mustang Bio wants to improve the lives of patients. After its recent cash refill, Oppenheimer thinks that the $3.07 share price presents investors with a unique buying opportunity.

Writing for the firm, 5-star analyst Mark Breidenbach sees MBIO’s recent equity financing, which yielded $37.2 million in gross proceeds, as a major positive. According to the analyst’s estimates, this move could extend the operational runway into early 2022.

In the near-term, MBIO remains committed to kicking off “two trials of MB-107 in X-SCID, and expects the FDA to clear the CMC component of the INDs in Q4.” Breidenbach noted, “Management reiterated guidance to deliver results from both X-SCID studies —in infants and previously-transplanted patients—in 2H22.”

Looking more closely at the trials, the first is a ~10-patient Phase 2 study of MB-107 in newly-diagnosed infants, which is currently on hold pending CMC clearance. “The trial will run in parallel with a ~15-patient academic-sponsored study at St. Jude, and management believes results from both studies could be combined to support a future BLA filing,” Breidenbach said.

As for the second IND filing, it will evaluate the candidate in previously transplanted X-SCID patients. It should be noted that Breidenbach believes assessing efficacy here will be more difficult than in infants.

On top of this, MBIO enrolled the first patients in its Phase 1/2 study of its CD123 CAR-T in AML, MDS and BPDCN. Data, however, isn’t slated for release until 2H21 at the earliest. The dose escalation in the academic-sponsored trial of MB-105, a PSCA-directed CAR T for treating metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), is also progressing right on track. “Impressively, the first patient tested at 100 million cells achieved a 95% PSA reduction with radiographic disease improvement. We could see updated results from the trial in Q1 2021 followed by a company-sponsored IND in Q4 2021,” Breidenbach stated.

With everything that MBIO has going for it, it makes sense why Breidenbach left an Outperform (i.e. Buy) rating and $13 price target on the stock. Should the target be met, a twelve-month gain in the shape of a whopping 333% could be in store. (To watch Breidenbach’s track record, click here

Turning now to the rest of the Street, it has been relatively quiet when it comes to other analyst activity. Only one other analyst has posted a recent review, but it was also bullish, so the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy. In addition, the $10 average price target indicates upside potential of 233%. (See Mustang Bio stock analysis on TipRanks)

VBI Vaccines (VBIV)

Last but not least is VBI Vaccines, which develops cutting-edge vaccines that could potentially address unmet needs in infectious disease and immuno-oncology. As there are multiple potential catalysts on the horizon, Oppenheimer argues that its $3.65 share price reflects an attractive entry point.

After updated results from the Phase 1/2a trial evaluating VBI-1901 in refractory glioblastoma were released, 5-star analyst Leland Gershell is even more confident about VBIV’s prospects.

In the first-recurrent Phase 2a population, there was “improvement from Stable Disease (SD) to a confirmed durable Partial Response (PR) in one patient with this highly aggressive malignancy.” The analyst is now looking forward to six-month OS data at SNO in November, and initial efficacy with GlaxoSmithKline's liposomal AS01B adjuvant, with this arm currently enrolling.

Gershell added, “We have comprehensively revised our financial model to better reflect our view of VBI's prospects as it advances this and other pipeline assets (HepB treatment vaccine, CMV vaccine) as well as SciB-Vac, any/all of which we believe could drive industry partnerships.” He now assigns distinct value contribution to VBI-1901 and VBI-2601, and estimates un-risk-adjusted year 5 sales of $200 million and $475 million, respectively.

Pre-clinical data on its pan-coronavirus vaccine candidate, VBI-2901, in Q3, and its possible clinical entry in Q4 also reflect potential catalysts that could push shares higher, in Gershell’s opinion. It’s also important to mention that its strong showing year-to-date “reflects a growing appreciation for VBIV's prospects,” and April financing should support its operations into 2022.

In line with his optimistic take, Gershell rates VBIV an Outperform (i.e. Buy). Gershell's $8 price target conveys his confidence in VBIV’s ability to climb 128% higher in the next twelve months. (To watch Gershell’s track record, click here

What do other analysts have to say? As the stock has received 4 Buy ratings and zero Holds or Sells in the last three months, the word on the Street is that VBIV is a Strong Buy. At $6.50, the average price target brings the upside potential to 85%. (See VBIV stock analysis on TipRanks)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

The post Oppenheimer: These 3 Penny Stocks Could Rally Over 100% appeared first on TipRanks Financial Blog.

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Illegal Immigrants Leave US Hospitals With Billions In Unpaid Bills

Illegal Immigrants Leave US Hospitals With Billions In Unpaid Bills

By Autumn Spredemann of The Epoch Times

Tens of thousands of illegal…

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Illegal Immigrants Leave US Hospitals With Billions In Unpaid Bills

By Autumn Spredemann of The Epoch Times

Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants are flooding into U.S. hospitals for treatment and leaving billions in uncompensated health care costs in their wake.

The House Committee on Homeland Security recently released a report illustrating that from the estimated $451 billion in annual costs stemming from the U.S. border crisis, a significant portion is going to health care for illegal immigrants.

With the majority of the illegal immigrant population lacking any kind of medical insurance, hospitals and government welfare programs such as Medicaid are feeling the weight of these unanticipated costs.

Apprehensions of illegal immigrants at the U.S. border have jumped 48 percent since the record in fiscal year 2021 and nearly tripled since fiscal year 2019, according to Customs and Border Protection data.

Last year broke a new record high for illegal border crossings, surpassing more than 3.2 million apprehensions.

And with that sea of humanity comes the need for health care and, in most cases, the inability to pay for it.

In January, CEO of Denver Health Donna Lynne told reporters that 8,000 illegal immigrants made roughly 20,000 visits to the city’s health system in 2023.

The total bill for uncompensated care costs last year to the system totaled $140 million, said Dane Roper, public information officer for Denver Health. More than $10 million of it was attributed to “care for new immigrants,” he told The Epoch Times.

Though the amount of debt assigned to illegal immigrants is a fraction of the total, uncompensated care costs in the Denver Health system have risen dramatically over the past few years.

The total uncompensated costs in 2020 came to $60 million, Mr. Roper said. In 2022, the number doubled, hitting $120 million.

He also said their city hospitals are treating issues such as “respiratory illnesses, GI [gastro-intenstinal] illnesses, dental disease, and some common chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes.”

“The perspective we’ve been trying to emphasize all along is that providing healthcare services for an influx of new immigrants who are unable to pay for their care is adding additional strain to an already significant uncompensated care burden,” Mr. Roper said.

He added this is why a local, state, and federal response to the needs of the new illegal immigrant population is “so important.”

Colorado is far from the only state struggling with a trail of unpaid hospital bills.

EMS medics with the Houston Fire Department transport a Mexican woman the hospital in Houston on Aug. 12, 2020. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Dr. Robert Trenschel, CEO of the Yuma Regional Medical Center situated on the Arizona–Mexico border, said on average, illegal immigrants cost up to three times more in human resources to resolve their cases and provide a safe discharge.

“Some [illegal] migrants come with minor ailments, but many of them come in with significant disease,” Dr. Trenschel said during a congressional hearing last year.

“We’ve had migrant patients on dialysis, cardiac catheterization, and in need of heart surgery. Many are very sick.”

He said many illegal immigrants who enter the country and need medical assistance end up staying in the ICU ward for 60 days or more.

A large portion of the patients are pregnant women who’ve had little to no prenatal treatment. This has resulted in an increase in babies being born that require neonatal care for 30 days or longer.

Dr. Trenschel told The Epoch Times last year that illegal immigrants were overrunning healthcare services in his town, leaving the hospital with $26 million in unpaid medical bills in just 12 months.

ER Duty to Care

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of 1986 requires that public hospitals participating in Medicare “must medically screen all persons seeking emergency care … regardless of payment method or insurance status.”

The numbers are difficult to gauge as the policy position of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is that it “will not require hospital staff to ask patients directly about their citizenship or immigration status.”

In southern California, again close to the border with Mexico, some hospitals are struggling with an influx of illegal immigrants.

American patients are enduring longer wait times for doctor appointments due to a nursing shortage in the state, two health care professionals told The Epoch Times in January.

A health care worker at a hospital in Southern California, who asked not to be named for fear of losing her job, told The Epoch Times that “the entire health care system is just being bombarded” by a steady stream of illegal immigrants.

“Our healthcare system is so overwhelmed, and then add on top of that tuberculosis, COVID-19, and other diseases from all over the world,” she said.

A Salvadorian man is aided by medical workers after cutting his leg while trying to jump on a truck in Matias Romero, Mexico, on Nov. 2, 2018. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

A newly-enacted law in California provides free healthcare for all illegal immigrants residing in the state. The law could cost taxpayers between $3 billion and $6 billion per year, according to recent estimates by state and federal lawmakers.

In New York, where the illegal immigration crisis has manifested most notably beyond the southern border, city and state officials have long been accommodating of illegal immigrants’ healthcare costs.

Since June 2014, when then-mayor Bill de Blasio set up The Task Force on Immigrant Health Care Access, New York City has worked to expand avenues for illegal immigrants to get free health care.

“New York City has a moral duty to ensure that all its residents have meaningful access to needed health care, regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay,” Mr. de Blasio stated in a 2015 report.

The report notes that in 2013, nearly 64 percent of illegal immigrants were uninsured. Since then, tens of thousands of illegal immigrants have settled in the city.

“The uninsured rate for undocumented immigrants is more than three times that of other noncitizens in New York City (20 percent) and more than six times greater than the uninsured rate for the rest of the city (10 percent),” the report states.

The report states that because healthcare providers don’t ask patients about documentation status, the task force lacks “data specific to undocumented patients.”

Some health care providers say a big part of the issue is that without a clear path to insurance or payment for non-emergency services, illegal immigrants are going to the hospital due to a lack of options.

“It’s insane, and it has been for years at this point,” Dana, a Texas emergency room nurse who asked to have her full name omitted, told The Epoch Times.

Working for a major hospital system in the greater Houston area, Dana has seen “a zillion” migrants pass through under her watch with “no end in sight.” She said many who are illegal immigrants arrive with treatable illnesses that require simple antibiotics. “Not a lot of GPs [general practitioners] will see you if you can’t pay and don’t have insurance.”

She said the “undocumented crowd” tends to arrive with a lot of the same conditions. Many find their way to Houston not long after crossing the southern border. Some of the common health issues Dana encounters include dehydration, unhealed fractures, respiratory illnesses, stomach ailments, and pregnancy-related concerns.

“This isn’t a new problem, it’s just worse now,” Dana said.

Emergency room nurses and EMTs tend to patients in hallways at the Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital in Houston on Aug. 18, 2021. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Medicaid Factor

One of the main government healthcare resources illegal immigrants use is Medicaid.

All those who don’t qualify for regular Medicaid are eligible for Emergency Medicaid, regardless of immigration status. By doing this, the program helps pay for the cost of uncompensated care bills at qualifying hospitals.

However, some loopholes allow access to the regular Medicaid benefits. “Qualified noncitizens” who haven’t been granted legal status within five years still qualify if they’re listed as a refugee, an asylum seeker, or a Cuban or Haitian national.

Yet the lion’s share of Medicaid usage by illegal immigrants still comes through state-level benefits and emergency medical treatment.

A Congressional report highlighted data from the CMS, which showed total Medicaid costs for “emergency services for undocumented aliens” in fiscal year 2021 surpassed $7 billion, and totaled more than $5 billion in fiscal 2022.

Both years represent a significant spike from the $3 billion in fiscal 2020.

An employee working with Medicaid who asked to be referred to only as Jennifer out of concern for her job, told The Epoch Times that at a state level, it’s easy for an illegal immigrant to access the program benefits.

Jennifer said that when exceptions are sent from states to CMS for approval, “denial is actually super rare. It’s usually always approved.”

She also said it comes as no surprise that many of the states with the highest amount of Medicaid spending are sanctuary states, which tend to have policies and laws that shield illegal immigrants from federal immigration authorities.

Moreover, Jennifer said there are ways for states to get around CMS guidelines. “It’s not easy, but it can and has been done.”

The first generation of illegal immigrants who arrive to the United States tend to be healthy enough to pass any pre-screenings, but Jennifer has observed that the subsequent generations tend to be sicker and require more access to care. If a family is illegally present, they tend to use Emergency Medicaid or nothing at all.

The Epoch Times asked Medicaid Services to provide the most recent data for the total uncompensated care that hospitals have reported. The agency didn’t respond.

Continue reading over at The Epoch Times

Tyler Durden Fri, 03/15/2024 - 09:45

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Fast-food chain closes restaurants after Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Several major fast-food chains recently have struggled to keep restaurants open.

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Competition in the fast-food space has been brutal as operators deal with inflation, consumers who are worried about the economy and their jobs and, in recent months, the falling cost of eating at home. 

Add in that many fast-food chains took on more debt during the covid pandemic and that labor costs are rising, and you have a perfect storm of problems. 

It's a situation where Restaurant Brands International (QSR) has suffered as much as any company.  

Related: Wendy's menu drops a fan favorite item, adds something new

Three major Burger King franchise operators filed for bankruptcy in 2023, and the chain saw hundreds of stores close. It also saw multiple Popeyes franchisees move into bankruptcy, with dozens of locations closing.

RBI also stepped in and purchased one of its key franchisees.

"Carrols is the largest Burger King franchisee in the United States today, operating 1,022 Burger King restaurants in 23 states that generated approximately $1.8 billion of system sales during the 12 months ended Sept. 30, 2023," RBI said in a news release. Carrols also owns and operates 60 Popeyes restaurants in six states." 

The multichain company made the move after two of its large franchisees, Premier Kings and Meridian, saw multiple locations not purchased when they reached auction after Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings. In that case, RBI bought select locations but allowed others to close.

Burger King lost hundreds of restaurants in 2023.

Image source: Chen Jianli/Xinhua via Getty

Another fast-food chain faces bankruptcy problems

Bojangles may not be as big a name as Burger King or Popeye's, but it's a popular chain with more than 800 restaurants in eight states.

"Bojangles is a Carolina-born restaurant chain specializing in craveable Southern chicken, biscuits and tea made fresh daily from real recipes, and with a friendly smile," the chain says on its website. "Founded in 1977 as a single location in Charlotte, our beloved brand continues to grow nationwide."

Like RBI, Bojangles uses a franchise model, which makes it dependent on the financial health of its operators. The company ultimately saw all its Maryland locations close due to the financial situation of one of its franchisees.

Unlike. RBI, Bojangles is not public — it was taken private by Durational Capital Management LP and Jordan Co. in 2018 — which means the company does not disclose its financial information to the public. 

That makes it hard to know whether overall softness for the brand contributed to the chain seeing its five Maryland locations after a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

Bojangles has a messy bankruptcy situation

Even though the locations still appear on the Bojangles website, they have been shuttered since late 2023. The locations were operated by Salim Kakakhail and Yavir Akbar Durranni. The partners operated under a variety of LLCs, including ABS Network, according to local news channel WUSA9

The station reported that the owners face a state investigation over complaints of wage theft and fraudulent W2s. In November Durranni and ABS Network filed for bankruptcy in New Jersey, WUSA9 reported.

"Not only do former employees say these men owe them money, WUSA9 learned the former owners owe the state, too, and have over $69,000 in back property taxes."

Former employees also say that the restaurant would regularly purchase fried chicken from Popeyes and Safeway when it ran out in their stores, the station reported. 

Bojangles sent the station a comment on the situation.

"The franchisee is no longer in the Bojangles system," the company said. "However, it is important to note in your coverage that franchisees are independent business owners who are licensed to operate a brand but have autonomy over many aspects of their business, including hiring employees and payroll responsibilities."

Kakakhail and Durranni did not respond to multiple requests for comment from WUSA9.

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Industrial Production Increased 0.1% in February

From the Fed: Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization
Industrial production edged up 0.1 percent in February after declining 0.5 percent in January. In February, the output of manufacturing rose 0.8 percent and the index for mining climbed 2.2 p…

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From the Fed: Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization
Industrial production edged up 0.1 percent in February after declining 0.5 percent in January. In February, the output of manufacturing rose 0.8 percent and the index for mining climbed 2.2 percent. Both gains partly reflected recoveries from weather-related declines in January. The index for utilities fell 7.5 percent in February because of warmer-than-typical temperatures. At 102.3 percent of its 2017 average, total industrial production in February was 0.2 percent below its year-earlier level. Capacity utilization for the industrial sector remained at 78.3 percent in February, a rate that is 1.3 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2023) average.
emphasis added
Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows Capacity Utilization. This series is up from the record low set in April 2020, and above the level in February 2020 (pre-pandemic).

Capacity utilization at 78.3% is 1.3% below the average from 1972 to 2022.  This was below consensus expectations.

Note: y-axis doesn't start at zero to better show the change.


Industrial Production The second graph shows industrial production since 1967.

Industrial production increased to 102.3. This is above the pre-pandemic level.

Industrial production was above consensus expectations.

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