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    Tony Bancroft

    Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst at Gabelli Funds

    Tony Bancroft is a Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst at Gabelli Funds, specializing in the aerospace, defense, and environmental services sectors with deep expertise in suppliers to the commercial, military, and regional jet aircraft industry as well as waste services. He covers a range of companies including Ducommun Inc, Curtiss-Wright Corp, Graham Corp, AAR, Aerojet Rocketdyne, AeroVironment, Astronics, Avio, CPI Aerostructures, Crane, Elbit Systems, HEICO, Kaman, Kratos, Mercury Systems, Moog, Park Aerospace, Textron, and Woodward, participating frequently in earnings calls and industry conferences with over 16 earnings questions across 7 companies. Bancroft joined Gabelli Funds in 2009 after a distinguished career as a Lieutenant Colonel and F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corps, and holds a BS in systems engineering from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA in finance and economics from Columbia Business School. He brings more than 15 years of experience in public markets research, with professional credentials reflecting his academic and military background, though no specific FINRA or securities licenses are listed.

    Tony Bancroft's questions to DUCOMMUN INC /DE/ (DCO) leadership

    Tony Bancroft's questions to DUCOMMUN INC /DE/ (DCO) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Tony Bancroft asked a high-level, strategic question about Ducommun's long-term vision beyond the current Vision 2027 plan, inquiring about the 'next leg' of growth and how management envisions the company's broader evolution.

    Answer

    Chairman, President & CEO Stephen Oswald responded with a 'go, go, go' mentality, stating the long-term strategy is to continue building the portfolio with a higher mix of engineered products and aftermarket content. He emphasized that this is a 'ten year play' that also involves continuous cost reduction and value pricing within its niche contract manufacturing business, with a new long-term vision to be presented in the future.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to CURTISS WRIGHT (CW) leadership

    Tony Bancroft's questions to CURTISS WRIGHT (CW) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Tony Bancroft of Gabelli Funds asked for an overview of Curtiss-Wright's M&A priorities across its various business segments.

    Answer

    President, CEO & Chair Lynn Bamford identified Defense Electronics as the highest priority for M&A, where the company can leverage its global reach and expertise for bolt-on acquisitions. Other priority areas include major naval and aircraft safety systems and commercial nuclear. She noted that commercial aerospace and industrial are lower priorities, emphasizing a focus on differentiated technology and the benefit of diversification in being selective.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to CURTISS WRIGHT (CW) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Tony Bancroft asked if the company's view has changed on pursuing a more transformational acquisition, given its strong balance sheet, positive outlook, and active M&A pipeline.

    Answer

    CEO Lynn Bamford responded that while the company remains open to larger acquisitions, any potential deal must be balanced against the management bandwidth required to execute on the significant organic growth opportunities already in front of them, particularly in commercial nuclear and defense electronics. This need to focus on execution slightly shades her thinking but does not take larger deals off the table.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to GRAHAM (GHM) leadership

    Tony Bancroft's questions to GRAHAM (GHM) leadership • Q1 2026

    Question

    Tony Bancroft of Gabelli Funds asked about the long-term outlook for submarine maintenance given dry dock backlogs and how Graham plans to compete and grow in what appears to be an environment of unconstrained secular demand.

    Answer

    President & CEO Matthew Malone outlined a strategy focused on execution of current programs, internal investment to enhance speed and efficiency, and leveraging the resulting capacity to absorb additional work. He emphasized that this positions Graham to augment its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of its customers and the U.S. Navy.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to GRAHAM (GHM) leadership • Q1 2026

    Question

    Tony Bancroft of Gabelli Funds asked about the long-term outlook for the submarine industrial base, particularly regarding dry dock capacity issues, and how Graham plans to compete and grow in that environment.

    Answer

    CEO Matthew Malone outlined a multi-faceted strategy focused on execution, efficiency, and expansion. He emphasized flawlessly executing on current programs, making internal investments to enhance speed and efficiency, and then leveraging that increased capacity and bandwidth to absorb additional work and meet the growing needs of the U.S. Navy and its prime contractors.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to GRAHAM (GHM) leadership • Q1 2026

    Question

    Tony Bancroft of Gabelli Funds referenced recent news about submarine maintenance backlogs and asked about Graham's long-term strategy to compete and grow in this environment, including potential transformative actions.

    Answer

    President & CEO Matthew Malone outlined a multi-phased strategy. He emphasized that the first priority is executing on the existing backlog. The second phase involves internal investment and creative solutions to enhance speed and efficiency. The final phase is to leverage this proven capability and capacity to absorb additional work, driven by the business development team, to meet the Navy's needs.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to GRAHAM (GHM) leadership • Q4 2025

    Question

    Tony Bancroft of Gabelli Funds asked for an update on the significant increase in U.S. Navy shipbuilding demand and whether Graham Corporation has the capacity to keep up with this growth.

    Answer

    President & COO Matthew Malone affirmed that Graham is prepared for the increased demand. He highlighted key investments in efficiency, such as automated welders, and noted that the new Batavia facility is designed with infrastructure for future expansion. Malone also mentioned the proactive acquisition of adjacent land at the Barber-Nichols location to ensure the company remains 'shovel ready' for additional capacity needs.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to GRAHAM (GHM) leadership • Q3 2025

    Question

    Tony Bancroft of Gabelli Funds asked about Graham's potential exposure to the large supplemental defense budget being discussed in Washington, as well as the potential downside risk from a continuing resolution (CR) and subsequent budget cuts.

    Answer

    CEO Daniel Thoren responded that while it's difficult to trace the direct impact of top-line budget changes, Graham feels well-positioned due to its involvement in high-priority, strategic U.S. Navy programs that are often funded years in advance. He reasoned that a supplemental budget would likely relieve pressure on all programs, whereas a CR would probably impact less strategic programs more severely, though he could not predict the specific effect on Graham.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to Crane (CR) leadership

    Tony Bancroft's questions to Crane (CR) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Tony Bancroft asked if the recently announced transaction between Baker Hughes and Chart Industries could potentially accelerate the closing timeline for Crane's acquisition of PSI from Baker Hughes.

    Answer

    EVP & CFO Rich Maue provided a direct response, stating that there is no change to the expected timeline. He confirmed that the company still anticipates the PSI transaction to close at the end of the year, around January 1.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to Crane (CR) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Tony Bancroft asked for management's perspective on how the broader geopolitical tariff situation might play out for the aerospace industry, referencing comments from China and France, even if the direct impact to Crane is mitigated.

    Answer

    Chairman, President and CEO Max Mitchell expressed optimism, stating that while it's anyone's guess, he believes the issues will get resolved. He emphasized that the global environment is too important for trading partners to disrupt long-term and that a resolution will be very positive for everyone moving forward.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to Crane (CR) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Tony Bancroft of Gabelli Funds asked about Crane's long-term strategy post-portfolio transformation, specifically questioning if the company would consider larger, more transformational M&A beyond its typical sweet spot.

    Answer

    Chairman, President and CEO Max Mitchell affirmed that the company's strategic planning considers all scenarios, including larger opportunities. While emphasizing that any deal must make strategic sense and be integrable, he stated they have looked at larger assets and would not rule out using equity as currency for the right opportunity. He concluded that they will continue to explore all avenues, including larger synergistic deals, to drive shareholder value.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to Crane (CR) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Tony Bancroft asked for an update on Crane's long-term 2028 plan to scale its two core businesses and also requested the latest thinking on a potential sale of the Engineered Materials business.

    Answer

    CFO Rich Maue confirmed there is no change to the long-term financial targets for A&E and PFT. CEO Max Mitchell added that the M&A funnel is 'very full' and activity has 'never been higher,' supporting the scaling strategy. Regarding Engineered Materials, he reiterated that the business is not strategic and that the company 'will not miss the next cycle' to sell it when the timing is right.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to HEICO (HEI) leadership

    Tony Bancroft's questions to HEICO (HEI) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Tony Bancroft inquired about HEICO's preferred areas for M&A and the thought process behind its successful acquisition strategy.

    Answer

    Co-CEO Victor Mendelson emphasized an opportunistic approach, seeking great businesses even in adjacent spaces. Co-CEO Eric Mendelson added that HEICO's decentralized structure and deep expertise allow it to evaluate and integrate acquisitions effectively, making it an attractive home for sellers who want to continue building their business.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS (CWST) leadership

    Tony Bancroft's questions to CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS (CWST) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Tony Bancroft of Gabelli Funds asked about Casella's broader M&A strategy, including its appetite for transformational deals outside its core business, the potential use of stock in transactions, and the remaining opportunities in the Northeast.

    Answer

    CEO John Casella affirmed that the company will stick to its core competency in the solid waste sector along the Eastern Seaboard, where it has a pipeline of about $500 million in opportunities, and is not currently considering transformational deals. Executive Ned Coletta added that while the company has $900 million in available liquidity for its near-term pipeline, it remains opportunistic about funding structures, including equity, for the right deals.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS (CWST) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Tony Bancroft of Gabelli Funds asked about the company's M&A strategy, including the possibility of transformational deals outside its core business, the potential use of stock in transactions, and the remaining pipeline of large operators in the Northeast.

    Answer

    CEO John Casella affirmed that Casella will stick to its core competency and is not pursuing transformational deals, instead focusing on its $500 million pipeline of opportunities along the Eastern Seaboard. Executive Ned Coletta noted the company has $900 million in available liquidity for its near-term pipeline but remains opportunistic about using a mix of debt and equity for the right deals. Casella reiterated that nothing transformational is currently being considered.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS (CWST) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Tony Bancroft of Gamco Investors asked for management's thoughts on the potential for larger, transformational M&A, given the company's recent success with rapid growth and integration.

    Answer

    CEO John Casella responded that while the company's primary strategy remains focused on tuck-in acquisitions along the Eastern seaboard, they would not rule out a larger opportunity if one became available. He and President Ned Coletta emphasized that their core focus is on enhancing their integration capabilities and maintaining a unified company culture through significant investments in training facilities and programs to support their substantial growth in headcount.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to REPUBLIC SERVICES (RSG) leadership

    Tony Bancroft's questions to REPUBLIC SERVICES (RSG) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Tony Bancroft asked about Republic Services' long-term growth potential, the possibility of transformational initiatives, and what concerns the CEO most in the current environment.

    Answer

    CEO Jon Vander Ark outlined a multi-faceted growth strategy based on gaining share in the Recycling & Waste and Environmental Solutions markets, supplemented by a third growth engine in sustainability innovation. He emphasized that growth will come from organic initiatives, pricing, and M&A. While the business is recession-resilient, he acknowledged that the macro environment is the primary external factor they monitor, but they remain committed to investing through the cycle.

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    Tony Bancroft's questions to REPUBLIC SERVICES (RSG) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Tony Bancroft asked about the potential for another transformational acquisition in the future, possibly in sustainability, similar to the successful Environmental Solutions deal.

    Answer

    CEO Jon Vander Ark stated that while the company evaluates all opportunities, its strategy is not dependent on a large, transformational deal. He emphasized that the primary focus remains on driving value through small- to medium-sized acquisitions and strong organic execution, though they would consider a large opportunity if one arose.

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