Sign in

    Brian Lantier

    Senior Research Analyst at R.F. Lafferty & Co., Inc.

    Brian Lantier is a Senior Research Analyst at Zacks Investment Research, specializing in technology, software, consumer internet, and special situations, with a particular focus on small- and micro-cap stocks. He has provided coverage for companies such as Expion360 and has maintained a 100% success rate on his published stock ratings, generating an average return of over 91%. With over two decades of equity research experience, Lantier began his career at Lehman Brothers, later working at Commonwealth Associates and Fulcrum Partners before joining Zacks. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and a dual major in Finance and Operations Management from Pace University.

    Brian Lantier's questions to CBAK Energy Technology (CBAT) leadership

    Brian Lantier's questions to CBAK Energy Technology (CBAT) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Brian Lantier of Rosenblatt Securities inquired about CBAK Energy's production capacity expansion targets, customer confidence in cylindrical battery cells versus other formats, and whether portable energy clients were accelerating orders due to tariff changes.

    Answer

    CFO Thierry Li confirmed the Dalian facility's 2.3 gigawatt-hour target is unchanged but announced that the Nanjing facility's planned 3 gigawatt-hour capacity will now be split, with 1.5 gigawatt-hours being relocated to a new Southeast Asia plant to mitigate tariff impacts. CEO Zhiguang Hu asserted that cylindrical cells maintain a competitive advantage in home energy storage and e-scooter markets due to superior design for high-voltage applications and structural stability. Thierry Li added that the Southeast Asia expansion is entirely client-driven, and a formal agreement with a major customer is expected to be finalized soon.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Brian Lantier's questions to CBAK Energy Technology (CBAT) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Brian Lantier inquired about equipment supplier pricing for the company's capacity expansion, customer sentiment regarding the global economy, and the potential for divesting the Hitrans raw materials unit.

    Answer

    CFO Jiewei Li Thierry responded, explaining that while equipment pricing is standard, CBAK Energy receives more favorable payment terms, including delayed payments. He noted that customer concerns are more focused on geopolitical risks and tariffs than the broader global economy, which is driving the company's overseas expansion plans. Regarding the Hitrans unit, Li stated the company would not make new investments in the business due to the industry downturn.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Brian Lantier's questions to CBAK Energy Technology (CBAT) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Brian Lantier of R.F. Lafferty & Co., Inc. inquired about the sources of weakness in the battery business, the frequency of maintenance shutdowns like the one at the Dalian facility, the primary drivers of growth in the Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) segment, and details regarding potential overseas expansion.

    Answer

    Executive Zhiguang Hu and CFO Jiewei Li Thierry explained that the Dalian shutdown was a planned, one-time event for upgrading production lines to high C-rate cells and to mitigate high energy costs from continuous operation, not a recurring maintenance issue. They confirmed that strong LEV demand is primarily from Southeast Asian markets like India and Vietnam, where local production is lacking and the company's product stability is a key advantage. Regarding overseas expansion, management stated it is a client-driven initiative in its early stages, with the U.S. under consideration and a strategy to partner with local firms rather than operate independently.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Brian Lantier's questions to Viomi Technology (VIOT) leadership

    Brian Lantier's questions to Viomi Technology (VIOT) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Brian Lantier from Zacks Small Cap Research inquired about Viomi's expansion strategy, specifically their confidence in the U.S. market, details on the Malaysian partnership, and the go-forward strategy for Southeast Asia. He also asked about long-term gross margin targets for the different revenue categories and whether consumables are expected to have the highest margins.

    Answer

    Sam Yang, Head of Capital and Investment Department, affirmed the company's 'Global Water' strategy, highlighting a successful Kickstarter launch and subsequent Amazon sales in the U.S. as positive indicators. He confirmed a strategic partnership with the largest retailer in Malaysia to drive performance in Southeast Asia. Regarding margins, Mr. Yang stated that current gross margins are at the industry average and are expected to improve due to a better product mix, driven by the higher-margin Kunlun series and the 'decent' margin consumables business.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Brian Lantier's questions to Viomi Technology (VIOT) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Brian Lantier of Zacks Small Cap Research asked about Viomi's U.S. expansion strategy and its Southeast Asia plans, including details on its Malaysian partner. He also inquired about long-term gross margin targets for the company's different revenue categories.

    Answer

    Sam Yang, Head of Capital and Investment, affirmed the 'Global Water' strategy, citing a successful Kickstarter launch and subsequent Amazon sales in the U.S. He confirmed a strategic partnership with Malaysia's largest home appliance retailer to drive growth in Southeast Asia. Regarding margins, Yang stated that while current margins are at the industry average, he expects them to improve, driven by a better product mix featuring the higher-margin Kunlun series and a decent margin profile for consumables.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Brian Lantier's questions to TITAN INTERNATIONAL (TWI) leadership

    Brian Lantier's questions to TITAN INTERNATIONAL (TWI) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Brian Lantier asked for feedback from recent agricultural trade shows, whether an interest rate 'tipping point' could restart the market, and if there was any discussion of demand pull-forward ahead of potential tariffs. He also questioned if the sales pitch to the military focuses on efficiency or performance and requested guidance on the year-end share count.

    Answer

    CEO Paul Reitz stated that the end of OEM destocking will be a key positive catalyst for Titan in 2025, and that the company's innovations generate significant energy at trade shows as customers seek efficiency in downturns. He explained the military sales pitch leverages this new technology to regain business lost long ago, making it an accretive opportunity. CFO David Martin provided an estimated year-end share count in the 63 million range following recent repurchases.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI