Q: What are your current thoughts on Badger from the perspective of initiating a long position (for a growth objective)?
5i Research Answer:
BDGI has seen strong momentum recently, up 70% year-to-date, and 60% over the past year. Forward sales growth is decent, in the high single-digit range, but earnings growth is expected to be low double digits, highlighting solid margin expansion. Its growth rates can be volatile and cyclical, but profit margins have mostly been rising, and it generates decent free cash flows. It trades at a decent valuation of 18X forward earnings. The recent move has been strong, and we think investors will want to see strong earnings to reflect its share price growth. We would not be surprised by some consolidation at some point, but for a long-term hold, we would be fine initiating a position here.