Sign in

    John Lawrence

    Research Analyst at The Benchmark Company

    John Lawrence was a Senior Equity Research Analyst at The Benchmark Company, specializing in coverage of consumer-focused companies such as Freshpet, Hibbett, TravelCenters of America, PetIQ, Holley, and Driven Brands Holdings. He consistently delivered strong investment calls, maintaining a success rate of approximately 57% and generating triple-digit returns on several recommendations. Lawrence began his analyst career at Morgan Keegan & Co. after graduating from The University of Memphis, later earning an Executive MBA from Vanderbilt University before joining The Benchmark Company in New York. He was known for his industry expertise and respected within the finance community, holding relevant securities licenses and registration during his tenure.

    John Lawrence's questions to Holley (HLLY) leadership

    John Lawrence's questions to Holley (HLLY) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    John Lawrence requested more detail on the new product development and launch process that led to strong metrics, and asked if the associated development spending would need to ramp up.

    Answer

    CEO Matt Stevenson detailed the new process, which includes a phase gate system for development and a structured launch that provides distributors with data 60 days in advance to improve adoption. CFO Jesse Weaver added that these new efficiencies should not require increased development spending to hit targets, and any future investment would not alter the company's long-term margin structure.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    John Lawrence's questions to Freshpet (FRPT) leadership

    John Lawrence's questions to Freshpet (FRPT) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    John Lawrence inquired about the typical cycle time for retailers to review and approve the addition of second and third fridges, noting it can be a lengthy process.

    Answer

    Co-Founder and President Scott Morris acknowledged that the cadence can be long, sometimes tied to multi-year store remodel plans. However, he stressed that Freshpet is having productive conversations now for expansions in 2025 and 2026. He reiterated that media is the primary growth driver, creating strong same-store sales that build a compelling case for retailers to add more space.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    John Lawrence's questions to Freshpet (FRPT) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    John Lawrence asked about the typical cycle time for retailers to review and approve the addition of second and third Freshpet fridges into their store planograms.

    Answer

    Executive Scott Morris explained that the cadence can be very long, sometimes 12-18 months, depending on the retailer's remodel schedules. However, he noted they are in active and productive conversations for expansions in 2025 and 2026. He reiterated that media is the primary growth driver (over 70%), which fuels strong same-store sales, with distribution gains providing additional growth.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    John Lawrence's questions to Driven Brands Holdings (DRVN) leadership

    John Lawrence's questions to Driven Brands Holdings (DRVN) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    John Lawrence from The Benchmark Company asked about the performance of the top quartile of car wash locations, excluding storm impacts. He also inquired how system improvements in the glass business are enabling new contract wins.

    Answer

    COO Danny Rivera declined to provide quartile-level data for the car wash business but reiterated satisfaction with the overall positive comp trajectory. Regarding the glass business, he explained that the integration work from last year is now complete, and the new systems and processes are the foundation enabling the recent wins with large commercial and insurance partners.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    John Lawrence's questions to KIRK leadership

    John Lawrence's questions to KIRK leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Inquired about the timing of the Halloween product launch, the breadth of positive comps across the store fleet, plans for new store openings, and the level of newness expected in the fourth-quarter holiday assortment.

    Answer

    Halloween merchandise arrived about a week earlier this year and sold very well. Store comps are slightly positive across most of the fleet with consistent geographic performance. New store openings are largely pending capital, but a couple are being actively pursued. The upcoming holiday assortment will feature significant newness, similar to Halloween, with a strong focus on the gift category.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    John Lawrence's questions to KIRK leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Inquired about the consistency of the positive store comps across the fleet, the potential for profitability improvements in e-commerce through better systems and shipping, and the status of plans to relocate stores.

    Answer

    Executives stated that positive store comps were largely consistent across the chain. For e-commerce, profitability improvements will come primarily from optimizing the product assortment, with technology enhancements for shipping optimization also playing a role. Store relocation plans are in the early stages, pending improved liquidity, with a focus on historically strong markets in the Sunbelt.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    John Lawrence's questions to Citi Trends (CTRN) leadership

    John Lawrence's questions to Citi Trends (CTRN) leadership • Q2 2024

    Question

    John Lawrence requested a deeper explanation of the aged inventory write-down, asking about the age and nature of the inventory being cleared. He also inquired about the performance of the new Island Pacific ERP system, particularly its effectiveness for product allocation and ordering.

    Answer

    CEO Kenneth Seipel stated the aged inventory stemmed from an overly aggressive Q1 sales plan that was missed, causing goods to back up. He detailed a new, more systematic markdown process being implemented to prevent future build-ups. Regarding the ERP system, Seipel described its allocation module as overly complex and explained the team is simplifying its use by reducing store clusters. He also mentioned they are investigating bolt-on AI solutions to improve future forecasting capabilities, which the current system lacks.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    John Lawrence's questions to PETQ leadership

    John Lawrence's questions to PETQ leadership • Q1 2024

    Question

    Requested more detail on the Services segment optimization, particularly for mobile clinics, and asked if the Rocco & Roxie acquisition serves as a model for future M&A in terms of extending categories and financial performance.

    Answer

    The Services optimization involved closing underperforming stores, implementing better operational controls, running more profitable community clinics, and overcoming post-COVID labor issues. The Rocco & Roxie acquisition is a prime example of their M&A strategy: acquiring strong brands and leveraging their platform to quickly improve placement, product lines, and both top- and bottom-line performance, on which they are ahead of schedule.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    John Lawrence's questions to PETQ leadership • Q3 2023

    Question

    Asked about the criteria for closing service centers, the financial profile of the new service model compared to the old, and the drivers behind the significant gross margin improvement.

    Answer

    Centers were closed based on post-COVID performance, vet labor availability, and inability to convert to the new hygiene model, with the goal of reallocating the $6M in annual losses. The new service model is more about efficiently matching labor to demand, with a similar P&L but better operational structure. Gross margin expansion was driven by a combination of operational efficiency, favorable product mix, and scale.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI