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Friday, August 28, 2026

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@BrokenMoats

Broken Moats on X

Intensity and rapidness of recent moves is worth acknowledging. Not sure what to make of it. I understand the concept of oil/rates lower improving the backdrop for consumer discretionary but its not as if oil had not been trending lower for weeks, the deal always seemed more priced in versus priced out of markets *and china and us, Japan heavily released reserves to temper oil - so outside front month price movement - oil has been massaged lower for quite some time* Trying to understand what sets off names besides the incremental delta of lower rates.oil to send retail oriented names up 30-50% in a week or two? $ELF $CAVA $SHAK etc and some of these reported weak sales with lowered outlooks. Shak as recently as <2 weeks ago $MGNI - heavy insider selling past few days, stock is 30%+ in short time frame ELF $48-$70 in basically a week CAVA - $70-$92 in a few days -- $bros, shak similar moves $BIRK - pure short squeeze off float dynamics, but stock basically up 60% in a few weeks. Certainly a different market, but not sure its healthy to either see these names artificial pinned down in relation to the rest of the market narrative or react to slight incremental news with the some of the biggest runs in each individual companies entire trading history.....
@BrokenMoats

Broken Moats on X

$SLP buyout today ends an ugly few years for the company. The core simulation software business, even in this ai world, still presents lots of value as key models are used by the FDA in drug approval process. But the management team after the founder stepped back destroyed the company with one destructive acquisition after another. Diluted the software with a heavy concentration on commoditized services revenue and less differentiated software assets, all purchased at high multiples to show "revenue growth". Mgmt destroyed the free cash flow, decimated the share price over the tenure but did allow management to rack up steadily increased compensation for themselves by growing the "size" of the company. A good case study in how poor management can take a wide moat business and turn it into a lousy one pretty fast. I imagine the new PE owners can extract out the bad business and excessive costs and generate a good return focusing on the original assets.

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The Verra Sneerer (NASDAQ:VRRM)

Verra Mobility renewed Hertz tolling management for five years. AutoKinex lets rental customers buy tolling, fuel and protection products…

VRRM $505M
The Oak Bloke 6 clicks

The Junk (Mail) Merger Arb

Star Equity’s $5 per-share Harte-Hanks acquisition offers $2.50 cash plus 0.25 STRRP per share after proration, against a $2 break price.

STRR $38MHHS $34M
Triple S Special Situations Investing 8 clicks

Core Memory

Airbnb Experiences faces a supply bottleneck from manual approvals, while a farm host raised her price from $15 to $25 after stronger…

ABNB $90B
MBI Deep Dives 9 clicks
VSEC · long

Vse CORP

VSE Corp trades at $185, with a stated $246 fair value and 2027 estimated EV/EBITDA of 15x.

VSEC $4.9B
Value Investors Club 1 click

Walmart’s Evolution

Walmart says Medicare Maximum Fair Price rules will cut FY27 US comps by 125 basis points, while pharmacy margins and prescription volumes…

PYPL $45B
MBI Deep Dives 4 clicks

CCC Is in the Middle of the Wreckage

CCC, the dominant auto physical-damage claims estimator, connects 27 of the top 30 insurers with 31,000 repair shops as takeout rumors…

CCC $4B
scuttleblurb 17 clicks

NCLH or her grandma Saga?

Norwegian Cruise Line’s $15 billion debt and 2026-27 capex delay deleveraging, despite fuel-efficient new ships and stronger projected 2028…

NCLH $6.7B
The Oak Bloke 13 clicks

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