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Phibro Animal Health Corporation to participate in Barclays Global Healthcare Conference

TEANECK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Phibro Animal Health Corporation (Nasdaq: PAHC) announced today it will participate in the Barclays Global Healthcare Conference.

Chief Financial Officer, Glenn David along with Chief Operating Officer, Larry Miller will address financial analysts and investors on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 4:35 p.m. ET at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

 

The live audio presentation will be available on the Phibro Animal Health Corporation Investor Relations Website at https://investors.pahc.com. A replay of the session will be available and archived on the company’s website.

 

About Phibro Animal Health Corporation

Phibro Animal Health Corporation is a leading global diversified animal health and mineral nutrition company. We strive to be a trusted partner with livestock producers, farmers, veterinarians, and consumers who raise or care for farm and companion animals by providing solutions to help them maintain and enhance the health of their animals. For further information, please visit www.pahc.com.

 

Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available online at www.sec.gov, www.pahc.com or on request from the company.

 

Contacts

Glenn David

Chief Financial Officer, Phibro Animal Health Corporation

+1-201-329-7300

investor.relations@pahc.com

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Email: GM told Cruise employees that a 3rd party estimates internal share price of its self-driving unit at $11.80, down from $24.27 just one quarter ago

Greg Bensinger / Reuters:

 

 

—  General Motors’ (GM.N) Cruise saw its internal share price cut by more than half from a quarter ago as the fallout from an October accident continues to weigh on the self-driving car company.

Cruise employees were told the share price had been estimated by a third party at $11.80, according to an email viewed by Reuters. That’s down from a prior estimate of $24.27 just one quarter ago.
“We cannot ignore that this estimate is significantly lower than we’ve seen before and that there are real life impacts for each of us,” wrote Craig Glidden, chief administrative officer for Cruise, in the email.

 

Cruise has been working to recover from an October accident in which a woman was dragged by one of its vehicles after being struck by a human driven car. The company’s permit to operate in California was suspended and Cruise has stopped all testing on public roads in the United States.
Glidden said Cruise has a “longer pathway towards scaled commercialization.” The company last year had plans to roll out self-driving taxis in nearly a dozen U.S. cities but has since cut a quarter of jobs and seen its CEO, co-founder and others leave.

 

It has been a difficult few months for the once-promising Cruise. GM last month said it slashed about $1 billion from Cruise’s annual budget and the firm released a withering safety analysis of the October crash in which evidence was shown that executives withheld important data from regulators, the press and the public.
It is being probed by a variety of government agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

Cruise is targeting a limited return to city streets with human drivers later this year, likely in Houston or Dallas, according to people familiar with the matter.
However, Cruise executives told some engineering and operations staff in internal meetings in recent weeks that they should not expect to see its robotaxis on city streets again until the fourth quarter, Reuters reported last month. The sources declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak on Cruise’s behalf. Cruise has denied this characterization.

 

 

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— Techmeme

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Best’s Review’s most popular stories: Top Audit and Actuarial Firms and more

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — In the last 90 days, Best’s Review readers have been most interested in the following stories:

 

 

Best’s Review is AM Best’s monthly insurance magazine, covering emerging issues and trends and evaluating their impact on the marketplace. Access to the complete content of Best’s Review is available here.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Patricia Vowinkel
Executive Editor, Best’s Review®
+1 908 882 1771
patricia.vowinkel@ambest.com

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With booming AI growth, data centers struggle to meet self-imposed sustainability goals due to electricity increases, which strain power grids

—  Artificial intelligence’s booming growth is radically reshaping an already red-hot data center market, raising questions about whether these sites can be operated sustainably

 

 

Patrick Sisson / New York Times:

 

 

West Texas, from the oil rigs of the Permian Basin to the wind turbines twirling above the High Plains, has long been a magnet for companies seeking fortunes in energy.

 

The carbon footprint from the construction of data centers and the racks of expensive computer equipment is substantial, and the sites’ power needs have grown considerably. Credit: Jim Wilson/The New York Times

Now, those arid ranch lands are offering a new moneymaking opportunity: data centers.

 

Lancium, an energy and data center management firm setting up shop in Fort Stockton and Abilene, is one of many companies around the country betting that building data centers close to generating sites will allow them to tap into underused clean power.

 

“It’s a land grab,” said Lancium’s president, Ali Fenn.

 

In the past, companies built data centers close to internet users, to better meet consumer requests, like streaming a show on Netflix or playing a video game hosted in the cloud. But the growth of artificial intelligence requires huge data centers to train the evolving large-language models, making proximity to users less necessary.

 

But as more of these sites start to pop up across the United States, there are new questions on whether they can meet the demand while still operating sustainably. The carbon footprint from the construction of the centers and the racks of expensive computer equipment is substantial in itself, and their power needs have grown considerably.

 

Just a decade ago, data centers drew 10 megawatts of power, but 100 megawatts is common today. The Uptime Institute, an industry advisory group, has identified 10 supersize cloud computing campuses across North America with an average size of 621 megawatts.

 

This growth in electricity demand comes as manufacturing in the United States is the highest in the past half-century, and the power grid is becoming increasingly strained.

 

The Uptime Institute predicted in a recent report that the sector’s myriad net-zero goals, which are self-imposed benchmarks, would become much harder to meet in the face of this demand and that backtracking could become common.

 

“This is not just about data centers,” said Mark Dyson, a managing director at RMI, a nonprofit organization focused on sustainability. “Data centers are a practice round for a much bigger wave of load growth that we are already seeing and are going to continue seeing in this country coming from electrification of industry, vehicles and buildings.”

 

The data center industry has embraced more sustainable solutions in recent years, becoming a significant investor in renewable power at the corporate level. Sites that leased wind and solar capacity jumped 50 percent year over year as of early 2023, to more than 40 gigawatts, capacity that continues to grow. Still, demand outpaces those investments. And the need for more processing power is backing up the interconnection queue and creating stopgap solutions.

 

Equinix’s data center in San Jose, Calif. The company operates 260 data centers across the globe. Credit: Jim Wilson/The New York Times

Power-hungry data centers in full force further complicate the balance. Data centers in the construction pipeline would, when complete, use as much power annually as the San Francisco metro area, according to a report released on Wednesday by the real estate services company JLL. Most sites coming online this year are already leased; in popular markets, significant space will not open up for at least two years.

“You have to get as many gigawatts live as you possibly can, as fast as you can,” Ms. Fenn of Lancium said. “People are going to cobble that together in whatever way they can.”

 

That has quickly expanded development beyond the established first- and second-tier markets, such as Northern Virginia, Dallas and Silicon Valley.

 

Competition is growing in parts of the country offering cheap land and available power. Amazon, for instance, announced last month that it was planning a $10 billion project in Mississippi, the state’s largest economic development project, which includes data centers and solar generating sites.

 

“Anybody who has any significant source of power has now become a new data center market,” said Jim Kerrigan, managing principal of North American Data Centers, an industry consultancy.

 

A.I. is only a small percentage of the global data center footprint. The Uptime Institute predicts A.I. will skyrocket to 10 percent of the sector’s global power use by 2025, from 2 percent today.

 

“They have been building at a breakneck pace with so many other kinds of drivers for demand,” said Andy Lawrence, executive director of research at the institute. “A.I.’s kind of the froth on top.”

 

Last year, construction of data centers was up 25 percent, according to the real estate firm CBRE. And Nvidia, which supplies most of the high-tech chips powering this technology, last week reported record profit in data center sales, with 2023 revenue hitting $47.5 billion, a 217 percent jump from the year before.

 

The nation’s energy grids cannot handle that kind of demand, said Christopher Wellise, vice president of sustainability at Equinix, a global data center operator. “Technology is moving faster than our infrastructure has evolved,” he said.

 

On top of that, the transition toward electrification and renewable power has created new challenges. Orders for the large transformers needed to deliver power have a three-year backlog, and even the diesel generators that provide backup power can take nearly two years to arrive.

 

Developers are focusing on squeezing additional efficiency out of their operations. Meta has teamed up with a Texas battery storage provider to better use the state’s wind and solar resources. Google signed a deal with Fervo, a company developing utility-scale geothermal resources.

 

 

Read More

 

 

— Techmeme

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Universal Display Corporation announces participation at upcoming conferences

EWING, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $OLED #OLEDUniversal Display Corporation (Nasdaq: OLED) (UDC), enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED® technology and materials, on Wednesday announced its participation in the following industry conferences.

Industry Conferences:

LOPEC 2024

Date: March 5, 2024

Location: Munich, Germany

Presenter: Dr. Mike Hack, Vice President of Business Development

Presentation: UDC’s Groundbreaking Advances for the OLED Industry

2024 OLED Korea Conference

Date: March 28, 2024

Location: Seoul, Korea

Presenter: Dr. Mike Hack, Vice President of Business Development

Presentation: UDC’s Phosphorescent OLED Innovation Roadmap

International Conference on Display Technology (ICDT) 2024

Date: March 31-April 3, 2024

Location: Hefei, China

Plenary Presenter: Dr. Julie Brown, Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer

Plenary Presentation Title: Next Frontiers in OLED Technology

Presenter: Dr. Zhaoqun Zhou, Principal Technologist

Presentation Title: Surface Plasmonic Coupled PHOLED Device Performance: Improving Efficiency, Stability and Angle Dependence

 

About Universal Display Corporation

Universal Display Corporation (Nasdaq: OLED) is a leader in the research, development and commercialization of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies and materials for use in display and solid-state lighting applications. Founded in 1994 and with subsidiaries and offices around the world, the Company currently owns, exclusively licenses or has the sole right to sublicense more than 6,000 patents issued and pending worldwide. Universal Display licenses its proprietary technologies, including its breakthrough high-efficiency UniversalPHOLED® phosphorescent OLED technology that can enable the development of energy-efficient and eco-friendly displays and solid-state lighting. The Company also develops and offers high-quality, state-of-the-art UniversalPHOLED materials that are recognized as key ingredients in the fabrication of OLEDs with peak performance. In addition, Universal Display delivers innovative and customized solutions to its clients and partners through technology transfer, collaborative technology development and on-site training. To learn more about Universal Display Corporation, please visit https://oled.com/.

 

Universal Display Corporation and the Universal Display Corporation logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Universal Display Corporation. All other Company, brand or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks.

 

All statements in this document that are not historical, such as those relating to the projected adoption, development and advancement of the Company’s technologies, and the Company’s expected results and future declaration of dividends, as well as the growth of the OLED market and the Company’s opportunities in that market, are forward-looking financial statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements in this document, as they reflect Universal Display Corporation’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in Universal Display Corporation’s periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, in particular, the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Universal Display Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Universal Display Corporation disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this document.

 

Follow Universal Display Corporation

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(OLED-C)

Contacts

Universal Display:

Darice Liu

investor@oled.com
media@oled.com
+1 609-964-5123

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Mittul Mehta, head of Tevogen’s Artificial Intelligence Initiative, Tevogen.ai, emphasizes importance of proactive talent development for biopharmaceutical sector to allow rapid adoption of AI

WARREN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Tevogen Bio Holdings – Tevogen (Nasdaq: TVGN) Chief Information Officer and Head of company’s Artificial Intelligence Initiative, Tevogen.ai, Mittul Mehta, has taken strides to emphasize the importance of proactive talent development for biopharmaceutical sector to allow rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).

 

In his recent seminar at the Yale School of Public Health, “Artificial Intelligence Opportunities in Healthcare,” he underscored the potential of AI in medical innovation and the criticality of talent development.

 

“AI represents a unique opportunity to help reduce healthcare costs through many possibilities, including speeding up drug development and aiding in clinical trial design,” said Mr. Mehta. “Experimentation in AI is no longer an option, but a requirement and it is vital that we reach out to academic institutions to develop a talent pipeline for this emerging field.”

 

Dr. Shuangge (Steven) Ma, Chair of Biostatistics at Yale School of Public Health, said, “Tevogen’s prioritization of developing current students demonstrates their commitment to providing significant pathways for graduates in their future employment endeavors. Companies that emphasize talent development clearly and strategically focus on their talent acquisition efforts.”

 

Tevogen recently announced the establishment of Tevogen.ai to bring together a dedicated team of research scientists, physicians, data scientists, and AI engineers committed to the ethical development and commercialization of AI-driven and AI-enhanced tools designed to streamline processes and improve health outcomes. On December 19th, 2023, Tevogen Bio announced the filing of two provisional patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, (1) AI algorithms designed to predict immunologically active HLA+ peptide complexes, and (2) AI algorithms aimed at predicting T cell receptor (TCR) engagement with specific HLA+ peptide complexes.

 

About Tevogen Bio

Tevogen Bio is a clinical-stage specialty immunotherapy company harnessing one of nature’s most powerful immunological weapons, CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, to develop off-the-shelf, genetically unmodified precision T cell therapies for the treatment of infectious diseases, cancers, and neurological disorders, aiming to address the significant unmet needs of large patient populations. Tevogen Leadership believes that sustainability and commercial success in the current era of healthcare rely on ensuring patient accessibility through advanced science and innovative business models. Tevogen has reported positive safety data from its proof-of-concept clinical trial, and its key intellectual property assets are wholly owned by the company, not subject to any third-party licensing agreements. These assets include three granted patents and twelve pending patents, two of which are related to artificial intelligence.

 

Tevogen Bio is driven by a team of highly experienced industry leaders and distinguished scientists with drug development and global product launch experience. Tevogen Bio’s leadership believes that accessible personalized therapeutics are the next frontier of medicine, and that disruptive business models are required to sustain medical innovation.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements with respect to the product candidates, products, markets, and expected future performance and market opportunities of Tevogen Bio. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “think,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “potential,” “plan,” “seeks,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties.

 

These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not limited to: (i) the effect of the recent business combination with Semper Paratus Acquisition Corporation (the “Business Combination”) on Tevogen’s business relationships, operating results, and business generally; (ii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Tevogen related to the Business Combination; (iii) changes in the markets in which Tevogen competes, including with respect to its competitive landscape, technology evolution, or regulatory changes; (iv) changes in domestic and global general economic conditions; (v) the risk that Tevogen may not be able to execute its growth strategies or may experience difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; (vi) the risk that Tevogen may not be able to develop and maintain effective internal controls; (vii) costs related to the Business Combination and the failure to realize anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; (viii) the failure to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination and to achieve Tevogen’s commercialization and development plans, and identify and realize additional opportunities, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of Tevogen to grow and manage growth economically and hire and retain key employees; (ix) the risk that Tevogen may fail to keep pace with rapid technological developments to provide new and innovative products and services or make substantial investments in unsuccessful new products and services; (x) the ability to develop, license or acquire new therapeutics; (xi) that Tevogen will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; (xii) the risk of product liability or regulatory lawsuits or proceedings relating to Tevogen’s business; (xiii) uncertainties inherent in the execution, cost, and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials; risks related to regulatory review, and approval and commercial development; (xiv) risks associated with intellectual property protection; (xv) Tevogen’s limited operating history; and (xvi) those factors discussed in Tevogen’s filings with the SEC and that are contained in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to the Business Combination.

 

The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents to be filed by Tevogen Bio from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and while Tevogen Bio may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Tevogen Bio’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

 

Contacts

Tevogen Communications

T: 1 877 TEVOGEN, Ext 701

communications@Tevogen.com

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FGI launches the First Flush Guard™ Anti-Overflow Toilets at KBIS

The Flush Guard Patented Anti-Overflow Drain System Is the Cure for “Overflowbia”

 

EAST HANOVER, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #AntiOverflow — FGI Industries, Ltd. (Nasdaq: FGI), a leading global supplier of kitchen and bath products, today announced the launch of Flush Guard at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas, NV. Leveraging an incredibly effective, patented anti-overflow drain system, Flush Guard Anti-Overflow Toilets effectively remove the fear of overflow, a feeling known as “Overflowbia.”

 

“Our research shows that ‘Overflowbia,’ or the fear of a toilet overflow, is very real – particularly among those who have experienced it firsthand,” explains Barry Jacobs, SVP of Product Development at FGI Industries. “Flush Guard’s anti-overflow drain system represents the next major innovation in toilets…one that brings with it a sense of emotional relief. With Flush Guard, consumers can literally ‘go in peace.’”

 

Flush Guard Anti-Overflow Toilets feature one of the most powerful flushes on the market, making them difficult to clog in the first place. But in the unlikely event that the main drain becomes clogged, the three anti-overflow holes in the bowl allow water to escape through a secondary drain. And that anti-overflow drain is self-cleaning with every flush.

 

Continuing the theme of stress reduction, Flush Guard Toilets are stylish, high-quality, and easy to keep clean. Both the primary and secondary drains empty into a standard waste pipe and utilize standard fittings, so there’s no special installation or plumbing required, making them excellent as new construction and replacement toilets alike. When used as a replacement, a Flush Guard Toilet completely covers the area of the old toilet thanks to the industry’s largest footprint. Any marks or tile discolorations are thereby hidden, eliminating the need for costly surface repairs.

 

“As North America’s largest and most comprehensive tradeshow dedicated to the kitchen and bath industry, we couldn’t imagine launching such a momentous leap forward in toilet technology in any other venue,” says Glen Paporello, VP of Marketing. “Attendees who stop by our KBIS booth #N1212 can see Flush Guard Anti-Overflow Toilets in action – along with our new ‘Overflowbia’ launch campaign.”

 

Flush Guard technology will initially be available to consumers on Craft + Main® brand toilets online and in-store through authorized distributors as of April 2024. To learn more about this revolutionary new toilet technology – or to become a distributor so you can help your customers go in peace – visit FlushGuardToilets.com.

 

About FGI Industries, Ltd.

FGI Industries, Ltd. (Nasdaq: FGI) is a leading global supplier of kitchen and bath products. For over 37 years, we have built an industry-wide reputation for product innovation, quality, and excellent customer service. We are currently focused on the following product categories: sanitaryware (primarily toilets, sinks, pedestals and toilet seats), bath furniture (vanities, mirrors and cabinets), shower systems, customer kitchen cabinetry and other accessory items. These products are sold primarily for repair and remodel activity and, to a lesser extent, new home or commercial construction. We sell our products through numerous partners, including mass retail centers, wholesale and commercial distributors, online retailers and specialty stores.

Contacts

Glen Paporello

FGI Industries, Ltd.

Glen.Paporello@FGI-Industries.com

Stefanie Fernandez

The S3 Agency

sfernandez@theS3agency.com

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Art & Life Business Culture Economics Foodies/Tastylicious Lifestyle

B&G Foods reports financial results for fourth quarter and full year 2023

— Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities Increased by $241.8 Million for Full Year 2023 —

— Principal Amount of Long-Term Debt Decreased by $340.1 Million During Full Year 2023 —

 

 

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — B&G Foods, Inc. (NYSE: BGS) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023.

 

Financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023 reflect the impact of the Back to Nature divestiture on the first day of fiscal 2023 and the Green Giant U.S. shelf‑stable divestiture during the fourth quarter of 2023.

 

Summary

Fourth Quarter of 2023

Fiscal Year 2023

(In millions, except per share data)

Change vs.

Change vs.

Amount

Q4 2022

Amount

FY 2022

Net Sales

$

578.1

(7.2

)

%

$

2,062.3

(4.7

)

%

Base Business Net Sales (1)

$

562.3

(2.3

)

%

$

1,997.2

(1.5

)

%

Diluted EPS

$

0.03

(91.2

)

%

$

(0.89

)

nm

%

Adj. Diluted EPS (1)

$

0.30

(25.0

)

%

$

0.99

(8.3

)

%

Net Income (Loss)

$

2.6

(89.4

)

%

$

(66.2

)

nm

%

Adj. Net Income (1)

$

23.5

(18.7

)

%

$

73.9

(3.1

)

%

Adj. EBITDA (1)

$

86.8

(7.3

)

%

$

318.0

5.7

%

 

 

Guidance for Full Year Fiscal 2024

  • Net sales range of $1.975 billion to $2.020 billion.
  • Adjusted EBITDA range of $305 million to $325 million.
  • Adjusted diluted earnings per share range of $0.80 to $1.00.

 

 

Commenting on the results, Casey Keller, President and Chief Executive Officer of B&G Foods, stated, “B&G Foods’ fourth quarter and fiscal 2023 results demonstrated strong progress, with improved margins, stabilizing volumes, stronger cash flows, and a reduction in leverage. We further completed the divestiture of Green Giant U.S. canned vegetables to focus and strengthen the future portfolio.”

 

Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2023

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased $45.1 million, or 7.2%, to $578.1 million from $623.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in unit volume due to the divestitures of the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable product line and Back to Nature, a decrease in net pricing and the negative impact of foreign currency. Net sales of Back to Nature, which the Company divested on January 3, 2023, and therefore not part of the Company’s fiscal 2023 results, were $11.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2022(2). Net sales of the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable product line, which the Company divested on November 8, 2023, were $19.9 million lower in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily as a result of the divestiture.

 

Base business net sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased $13.3 million, or 2.3%, to $562.3 million from $575.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease in base business net sales was driven by a decrease in net pricing and the impact of product mix of $15.9 million, or 2.8% of base business net sales (largely driven by a decrease in the Company’s Crisco pricing consistent with the Company’s Crisco pricing model as the Company’s costs for oil declined), and the negative impact of foreign currency of $0.3 million, partially offset by an increase in unit volume of $2.9 million.

 

Net sales of Clabber Girl increased $8.2 million, or 26.3%; net sales of Maple Grove Farms increased $0.7 million, or 3.4%; and net sales of the Company’s spices & seasonings(3) increased $0.7 million, or 0.8%. Net sales of Crisco decreased $10.6 million, or 8.7%; net sales of Green Giant (including Le Sueur but excluding net sales of the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable product line) decreased $5.2 million, or 4.4%; net sales of Cream of Wheat decreased $2.2 million, or 9.0%; and net sales of Ortega decreased $0.3 million, or 1.0%, for the fourth quarter of 2023, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. Base business net sales of all other brands in the aggregate decreased $4.6 million, or 3.5%, for the fourth quarter of 2023, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.

 

Gross profit was $125.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, or 21.7% of net sales. Adjusted gross profit(1), which excludes the negative impact of $1.6 million of acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold during the fourth quarter of 2023, was $126.8 million, or 21.9% of net sales. Gross profit was $126.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, or 20.2% of net sales. Adjusted gross profit, which excludes the negative impact of $2.5 million of acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold during the fourth quarter of 2022, was $128.6 million, or 20.6% of net sales.

 

The improvement in gross profit as a percentage of net sales was driven by an increase in net pricing relative to input costs as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, the moderation of input cost inflation, lower transportation and warehousing costs, and lower depreciation expense. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company has realized the benefits of previously announced list price increases, which, together with additional list price increases in 2023, partially offset by certain list price decreases, contributed to the Company’s recovery in gross profit as a percentage of net sales during the fourth quarter of 2023.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.3 million, or 2.7%, to $53.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 from $51.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The increase was composed of increases in general and administrative expenses of $5.8 million and consumer marketing expenses of $0.9 million, partially offset by decreases in warehousing expenses of $2.6 million, selling expenses of $2.3 million and acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses of $0.5 million. Expressed as a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 0.9 percentage points to 9.2% for the fourth quarter of 2023, as compared to 8.3% for the fourth quarter of 2022.

 

In connection with the Company’s sale of assets relating to the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable product line, which was completed during the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recorded a loss on sale of assets of $137.7 million during fiscal 2023, of which $132.9 million was recorded during the third quarter and $4.8 million was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2023.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recorded pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $20.5 million related to intangible trademark assets for the Baker’s Joy, Molly McButter, Sugar Twin, and New York Flatbreads brands. The Company partially impaired the Baker’s Joy and Sugar Twin brands, and the Company fully impaired the Molly McButter and New York Flatbreads brands.

 

Net interest expense increased $3.9 million, or 10.8%, to $40.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 from $36.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to higher interest rates on the Company’s long-term debt and a $0.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt, partially offset by a reduction in average long‑term debt outstanding as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.

 

The Company’s net income was $2.6 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to net income of $24.3 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease in net income and diluted earnings per share were primarily attributable to the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable and Back to Nature divestitures, pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $20.5 million related to intangible trademark assets and an increase in interest expense. Diluted earnings per share was also negatively impacted by an increase in diluted weighted average shares outstanding. The Company’s adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $23.5 million, or $0.30 per adjusted diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $28.9 million, or $0.40 per adjusted diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease in adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share were primarily attributable to the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable and Back to Nature divestitures and an increase in interest expense. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was also negatively impacted by an increase in diluted weighted average shares outstanding.

 

For the fourth quarter of 2023, adjusted EBITDA was $86.8 million, a decrease of $6.8 million, or 7.3%, compared to $93.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease in adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributable to the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable and Back to Nature divestitures. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 15.0% for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to 15.0% for the fourth quarter of 2022.

 

Financial Results for Full Year Fiscal 2023

Net sales for fiscal 2023 decreased $100.7 million, or 4.7%, to $2,062.3 million from $2,163.0 million for fiscal 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to the Back to Nature divestiture, the Green Giant U.S. shelf‑stable divestiture, and a decrease in unit volume and the negative impact of foreign currency, which were partially offset by an increase in net pricing and the impact of product mix. Net sales of Back to Nature, which the Company divested on January 3, 2023, and therefore not part of the Company’s fiscal 2023 results, were $46.3 million during fiscal 2022(2). Net sales of the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable product line, which the Company divested on November 8, 2023, were $24.6 million lower in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022, primarily due to the divestiture.

 

Base business net sales for fiscal 2023 decreased $30.0 million, or 1.5%, to $1,997.2 million from $2,027.2 million for fiscal 2022. The decrease in base business net sales was driven by a decrease in unit volume of $118.2 million and the negative impact of foreign currency of $5.1 million, partially offset by an increase in net pricing and the impact of product mix of $93.3 million, or 4.6% of base business net sales.

 

Net sales of Clabber Girl increased $31.1 million, or 32.1%; net sales of the Company’s spices & seasonings(3) increased $8.1 million, or 2.2%; and net sales of Maple Grove Farms increased $2.4 million, or 2.9%, in fiscal 2023 as compared to fiscal 2022. Net sales of Crisco decreased $38.2 million, or 10.3%; net sales of Green Giant (including Le Sueur and excluding net sales of the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable product line) decreased $28.7 million, or 6.6%; net sales of Ortega decreased $6.4 million, or 4.1%; and net sales of Cream of Wheat decreased $2.9 million, or 3.6%, in fiscal 2023, as compared to fiscal 2022. Base business net sales of all other brands in the aggregate increased $4.6 million, or 1.0%, for fiscal 2023, as compared to fiscal 2022.

 

Gross profit was $455.5 million for fiscal 2023, or 22.1% of net sales. Adjusted gross profit(1), which excludes the negative impact of $2.9 million of acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold during fiscal 2023, was $458.4 million, or 22.2% of net sales. Gross profit was $409.6 million for fiscal 2022, or 18.9% of net sales. Adjusted gross profit, which excludes the negative impact of $9.1 million of acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold during fiscal 2022, was $418.7 million, or 19.4% of net sales.

 

The improvements in gross profit and gross profit as a percentage of net sales were driven by an increase in net pricing relative to input costs as compared to fiscal 2022, the moderation of input cost inflation, lower transportation and warehousing costs, and lower depreciation expense. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company has realized the benefits of previously announced list price increases, which, together with additional list price increases in 2023, partially offset by certain list price decreases, contributed to the Company’s recovery in gross profit and gross profit as a percentage of net sales during fiscal 2023.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $5.6 million, or 3.0%, to $196.0 million for fiscal 2023 from $190.4 million for fiscal 2022. The increase was composed of increases in general and administrative expenses of $14.1 million and consumer marketing expenses of $3.1 million, partially offset by decreases in warehousing expenses of $5.3 million, selling expenses of $3.2 million and acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses of $3.1 million. Expressed as a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 0.7 percentage points to 9.5% for fiscal 2023, as compared to 8.8% for fiscal 2022.

 

In connection with the Company’s sale of assets relating to the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable product line, which was completed during the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recorded a loss on sale of assets of $137.7 million during fiscal 2023, of which $132.9 million was recorded during the third quarter and $4.8 million was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2023.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recorded pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $20.5 million related to intangible trademark assets for the Baker’s Joy, Molly McButter, Sugar Twin, and New York Flatbreads brands. The Company partially impaired the Baker’s Joy and Sugar Twin brands, and the Company fully impaired the Molly McButter and New York Flatbreads brands.

 

Net interest expense increased $26.4 million, or 21.1%, to $151.3 million for fiscal 2023 from $124.9 million for fiscal 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to higher interest rates on the Company’s long-term debt, the accelerated amortization of deferred debt financing costs relating to long-term debt prepayments and a $0.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt during the fourth quarter of 2023, partially offset by a reduction in average long-term debt outstanding, a $0.8 million gain on extinguishment of debt during the second quarter of 2023 and a $0.6 million gain on extinguishment of debt during the third quarter of 2023.

 

The Company had a net loss of $66.2 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, for fiscal 2023, compared to a net loss of $11.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for fiscal 2022. The Company’s net loss for fiscal 2023 was primarily attributable to the pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges during the third quarter of 2023, the loss on sale during the fourth quarter of 2023 in connection with the sale of assets relating to the Company’s Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable product line, the pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges recorded during the fourth quarter of 2023 related to intangible trademark assets, and the net negative impact on income taxes resulting from the Back to Nature divestiture. The Company’s net loss for fiscal 2022 was primarily attributable to non‑cash charges for the impairment of assets held for sale in connection with the Back to Nature divestiture. The Company’s adjusted net income for fiscal 2023 was $73.9 million, or $0.99 per adjusted diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $76.2 million, or $1.08 per adjusted diluted share, for fiscal 2022.

 

For fiscal 2023, adjusted EBITDA was $318.0 million, an increase of $17.0 million, or 5.7%, compared to $301.0 million for fiscal 2022. The increase in adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributable to the improvement in gross profit described above, partially offset by the impact of the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable and Back to Nature divestitures. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 15.4% for fiscal 2023, compared to 13.9% for fiscal 2022.

 

Full Year Fiscal 2024 Guidance

For fiscal 2024, net sales are expected to be $1.975 billion to $2.020 billion, adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $305 million to $325 million, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are expected to be $0.80 to $1.00.

 

B&G Foods provides earnings guidance only on a non-GAAP basis and does not provide a reconciliation of the Company’s forward-looking adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures because of the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations, including adjustments that could be made for deferred taxes; acquisition/divestiture-related expenses, gains and losses (which may include third-party fees and expenses, integration, restructuring and consolidation expenses, amortization of acquired inventory fair value step-up and gains and losses on the sale of certain assets); gains and losses on extinguishment of debt; impairment of assets held for sale; impairment of intangible assets; non-recurring expenses, gains and losses; and other charges reflected in the Company’s reconciliation of historic non-GAAP financial measures, the amounts of which, based on past experience, could be material. For additional information regarding B&G Foods’ non-GAAP financial measures, see “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Items Affecting Comparability” below.

 

Conference Call

B&G Foods will hold a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET today, February 27, 2024 to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial results. The live audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed at www.bgfoods.com/investor-relations. A replay of the webcast will be available following the conference call through the same link.

 

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Items Affecting Comparability

“Adjusted net income” (net income (loss) adjusted for certain items that affect comparability), “adjusted diluted earnings per share” (diluted earnings (loss) per share adjusted for certain items that affect comparability), “base business net sales” (net sales without the impact of acquisitions until the acquisitions are included in both comparable periods and without the impact of discontinued or divested brands), “EBITDA” (net income (loss) before net interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization), “adjusted EBITDA” (EBITDA as adjusted for cash and non-cash acquisition/divestiture-related expenses, gains and losses (which may include third-party fees and expenses, integration, restructuring and consolidation expenses, amortization of acquired inventory fair value step-up and gains and losses on the sale of certain assets), gains and losses on extinguishment of debt, impairment of assets held for sale, and non-recurring expenses, gains and losses), “adjusted gross profit” (gross profit adjusted for acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold) and “adjusted gross profit percentage” (gross profit as a percentage of net sales adjusted for acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold) are “non-GAAP financial measures.” A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of financial performance that excludes or includes amounts so as to be different than the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) in B&G Foods’ consolidated balance sheets and related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most directly comparable GAAP measures. The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

 

The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures to adjust for certain items that affect comparability. This information is provided in order to allow investors to make meaningful comparisons of the Company’s operating performance between periods and to view the Company’s business from the same perspective as the Company’s management. Because the Company cannot predict the timing and amount of these items that affect comparability, management does not consider these items when evaluating the Company’s performance or when making decisions regarding allocation of resources.

 

Additional information regarding EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) and to net cash provided by operating activities, is included below for the fourth quarter and full year 2023 and 2022, along with the components of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. Also included below are reconciliations of the non-GAAP terms adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and base business net sales to the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows.

 

End Notes

(1)

Please see “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Items Affecting Comparability” below for the definition of the non-GAAP financial measures “base business net sales,” “adjusted diluted earnings per share,” “adjusted net income ,” “EBITDA,” “adjusted EBITDA,” “adjusted gross profit” and “adjusted gross profit percentage,” as well as information concerning certain items affecting comparability and reconciliations of the non-GAAP terms to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

(2)

Excludes net sales of certain Back to Nature products not part of the divestiture that the Company will soon transition to another brand name.

(3)

Includes the spices & seasoning brands acquired in the fourth quarter of 2016, as well as the Company’s legacy spices & seasonings brands, such as Dash and Ac’cent, and spices & seasonings products launched by the Company and sold under license.

nm

Not meaningful.

 

About B&G Foods, Inc.

Based in Parsippany, New Jersey, B&G Foods and its subsidiaries manufacture, sell and distribute high-quality, branded shelf-stable and frozen foods across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. With B&G Foods’ diverse portfolio of more than 50 brands you know and love, including B&G, B&M, Bear Creek, Cream of Wheat, Crisco, Dash, Green Giant, Las Palmas, Le Sueur, Mama Mary’s, Maple Grove Farms, New York Style, Ortega, Polaner, Spice Islands and Victoria, there’s a little something for everyone. For more information about B&G Foods and its brands, please visit www.bgfoods.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute “forward-looking statements.” The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements related to B&G Foods’ expectations regarding net sales, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted earnings per share, and the Company’s overall expectations for fiscal 2024 and beyond. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors that could cause the actual results of B&G Foods to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements that explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the terms “believes,” “belief,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “assumes,” “could,” “should,” “estimates,” “potential,” “seek,” “predict,” “may,” “will” or “plans” and similar references to future periods to be uncertain and forward-looking.

Contacts

Investor Relations:

ICR, Inc.

Dara Dierks

866.211.8151

Media Relations:

ICR, Inc.

Matt Lindberg

203.682.8214

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The AACCNJ calls for an immediate moratorium on all public non-emergency public procurement contracts for up to $5M 

TRENTON, N.J. —  The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) seeks the support of the Murphy Administration, NJ State Senate President Nicholas P. Scutari, Assemblyman and Speaker, Craig J. Coughlin, and NJ State Representative, and NJ Legislative Black Caucus Chair, Shavonda E. Sumter, in its request for a moratorium and on all non-emergency public procurement contracts up to five million effective immediately.

 

The AACCNJ formed a task force to spearhead the next steps with the Murphy Administration as a result of the findings of the State’s commissioned study, conducted by Mason Tillman Associates, LTD, which documented the institutional discrimination to African American businesses in NJ. The body of the Task Force believes that the moratorium is important because there are still opportunities that will be presented by the Murphy administration to consider but without an immediate moratorium, the same outcome will occur for those that have benefitted in the past.

 

“The moratorium will be a precursor to finding a remedy to the gross harm done to Black businesses in the state procurement process,” said John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, Founder, President & CEO, AACCNJ.

 

“We believe this can be done without legislative approval. Contracts are still being doled out as we wait for the next steps. It is business as usual; this step is necessary; and past practices may be accelerated in anticipation of new standards to level the playing field,” said Harmon.

 

The task force is co-chaired by Dr. Denise Anderson, Denise Anderson and Associates and Ferlanda Nixon, Esq., Chief of Public Policy & External Affairs, AACCNJ. Committee Members include John E. Harmon, Sr., President CEO, AACCNJ, Gary Mann, Chairman of the Board, AACCNJ, Tammeisha Smith, Vice Chair of the Board, Stan Prater, Senior Advisor to AACCNJ President & CEO, Tanya Freeman, Esq, Chair of the Board, NY State Black Business Alliance (NYSBBA), Robert Johnson, Esq., Secretary, AACCNJ, Board of Directors, Marcus Dyer, CPA, Treasurer, AACCNJ, Board of Directors, Robert Warrington, Esq., AACCNJ Board of Directors, and Monique Nelson, Executive Chair, UWG.

 

“We anticipate more recommended best practices to ensure a more equitable participation for Black businesses in public procurement as we go forward to codify definitive goals that incentivize inclusion and cement our mutual commitment to have a stronger and more equitable economy with the Murphy administration, and public stakeholders,” said Harmon.

 

“We see the acceptance of this requested moratorium as a good faith effort to advance the state’s procurement efforts more equitably.”

 

AACCNJ Press Release:  The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) hosted a Town Hall Meeting with over three hundred in attendance. Topic: “The Fierce Urgency of Now” – A Presentation on the State’s Disparity Study on Feb. 8, 2024.

 

“As we move forward, we ask the Governor and his administration to also hold a statewide meeting, to discuss the results of the disparity study,” said Harmon.

 

“The Administration needs to establish a race and gender-based program with minority and woman-owned business utilization goals to end the discriminatory practices in its award of contracts,” said Harmon.

 

“Our mutual goal henceforth is to have a more equitable participation in every area of the public sector wherein economic opportunities exist.”

 

“The Study, as expected, revealed that African American businesses received little of the $ 18.5 billion the Murphy administration spent on contracts for construction, professional services and goods and services from 2015 to 2020,” said John E. Harmon, Sr.

 

“While expecting the worst, little did we know that the Study would document African Americans received less than one (1) percent of the $18.5 billion dollars the State awarded to contractors. African American businesses received a pittance despite the fact that we represent, 14 percent of the population, and over 10 percent of the businesses in New Jersey willing and able to contract with the State.”

 

For updates on events and actions related to the recent Disparity Study, please visit aaccnj.com.

 

About the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey

The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) performs an essential role in the economic viability of New Jersey. While providing a platform for New Jersey’s African American business leaders, to speak with a collective voice, the AACCNJ advocates and promotes economic diversity fostering a climate of business growth through major initiatives centering on education and public policy. The Chamber serves as a proactive advocacy group with a 501(c) 3 tax exemption, which is shared by the National Black Chamber of Commerce.

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Of 2,745 US adult TikTok users: The top 25% post 98% of public videos, typical user rarely posts, 40% find  For You interesting…

—  Around half of adult TikTok users in the U.S. have never posted a video themselves.  And a minority of users produce the vast majority of content

 

Samuel Bestvater / Pew Research Center:

 

A new Pew Research Center study matching the survey responses and on-site behaviors of U.S. adult TikTok users finds that a minority of avid posters create the vast majority of content on the site. And most users post seldom, if at all – instead using TikTok primarily to view and consume content made by others.

 

These findings come at a time when one-third of U.S. adults say they use the site and a growing share get news there. Among our key findings about how the American public is using TikTok:

 

A small share of users are responsible for producing the majority of TikTok content. The top 25% of U.S. adults on TikTok by posting volume produce 98% of all publicly accessible videos from this group. This is in line with the Center’s previous research on Twitter users, which found a similar ratio of highly active users creating the majority of content on the platform.

 

The typical TikTok user posts seldom, if ever. About half of all U.S. adults on the site have never posted a video themselves. And the typical user has not added any information to the “bio” field on their account.

 

The posting behaviors of younger adults do not stand out dramatically from other age groups.Users ages 18 to 34 are much more likely than their older counterparts to use TikTok in the first place. But around half of these younger users have ever posted on the site – similar to the share among users ages 35 to 49.

 

Users who have posted videos on TikTok are more active on the platform in general than non-posters. Posters typically follow more users, have more followers themselves, are more likely to have filled out their account bio and are somewhat more likely to find the content of their “For You” page extremely interesting.

 

TikTok users are more likely than not to find their “For You” page interesting.TikTok is defined by its algorithmically curated “For You” page, and users generally like the content the algorithm serves them. Some 40% of users say this content is either extremely or very interesting to them, far more than the 14% in total who say it is not too or not at all interesting.

 

The study began with a survey conducted in August 2023 of 2,745 U.S. adult TikTok users. It includes direct observation of the accounts and posting behavior of 869 respondents who volunteered to share their account handle for research purposes.

 

 

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— Techmeme