About Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Our mission: Bringing practical business and technical intelligence to today's structured cabling professionals

For more than 30 years, Cabling Installation & Maintenance has provided useful, practical information to professionals responsible for the specification, design, installation and management of structured cabling systems serving enterprise, data center and other environments. These professionals are challenged to stay informed of constantly evolving standards, system-design and installation approaches, product and system capabilities, technologies, as well as applications that rely on high-performance structured cabling systems. Our editors synthesize these complex issues into multiple information products. This portfolio of information products provides concrete detail that improves the efficiency of day-to-day operations, and equips cabling professionals with the perspective that enables strategic planning for networks’ optimum long-term performance.

Throughout our annual magazine, weekly email newsletters and 24/7/365 website, Cabling Installation & Maintenance digs into the essential topics our audience focuses on.

  • Design, Installation and Testing: We explain the bottom-up design of cabling systems, from case histories of actual projects to solutions for specific problems or aspects of the design process. We also look at specific installations using a case-history approach to highlight challenging problems, solutions and unique features. Additionally, we examine evolving test-and-measurement technologies and techniques designed to address the standards-governed and practical-use performance requirements of cabling systems.
  • Technology: We evaluate product innovations and technology trends as they impact a particular product class through interviews with manufacturers, installers and users, as well as contributed articles from subject-matter experts.
  • Data Center: Cabling Installation & Maintenance takes an in-depth look at design and installation workmanship issues as well as the unique technology being deployed specifically for data centers.
  • Physical Security: Focusing on the areas in which security and IT—and the infrastructure for both—interlock and overlap, we pay specific attention to Internet Protocol’s influence over the development of security applications.
  • Standards: Tracking the activities of North American and international standards-making organizations, we provide updates on specifications that are in-progress, looking forward to how they will affect cabling-system design and installation. We also produce articles explaining the practical aspects of designing and installing cabling systems in accordance with the specifications of established standards.

Cabling Installation & Maintenance is published by Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

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Specialized Consumer Services Stocks Q2 Recap: Benchmarking 1-800-FLOWERS (NASDAQ:FLWS)

FLWS Cover Image

As the Q2 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the specialized consumer services industry, including 1-800-FLOWERS (NASDAQ: FLWS) and its peers.

Some consumer discretionary companies don’t fall neatly into a category because their products or services are unique. Although their offerings may be niche, these companies have often found more efficient or technology-enabled ways of doing or selling something that has existed for a while. Technology can be a double-edged sword, though, as it may lower the barriers to entry for new competitors and allow them to do serve customers better.

The 11 specialized consumer services stocks we track reported a mixed Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.9% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

While some specialized consumer services stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 3.1% since the latest earnings results.

1-800-FLOWERS (NASDAQ: FLWS)

Founded in 1976, 1-800-FLOWERS (NASDAQ: FLWS) is an online retailer of flowers, gifts, and gourmet foods, serving customers globally.

1-800-FLOWERS reported revenues of $336.6 million, down 6.7% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ EPS and EBITDA estimates.

“I’m excited to have joined 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. at such a pivotal moment. This is an iconic brand with products people love, but we haven’t fully lived up to our potential in recent years. Customer expectations are shifting, technology is moving fast, and competition is evolving. That creates real opportunity. We’re making the company leaner and more agile, putting the customer at the center of everything we do, and using data to make smarter decisions. We’re sharpening how we attract and retain customers, broadening our reach beyond our e-commerce sites, and modernizing the customer experience. At the same time, we’re driving operational discipline, efficiency, and accountability. These changes will position us to get back to growth, deliver a better experience for our customers, and create long-term value for shareholders,” said Adolfo Villagomez, Chief Executive Officer.

1-800-FLOWERS Total Revenue

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 10.6% since reporting and currently trades at $4.77.

Read our full report on 1-800-FLOWERS here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Best Q2: Matthews (NASDAQ: MATW)

Originally a death care company, Matthews International (NASDAQ: MATW) is a diversified company offering ceremonial services, brand solutions and industrial technologies.

Matthews reported revenues of $349.4 million, down 18.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 8.5%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and full-year EBITDA guidance beating analysts’ expectations.

Matthews Total Revenue

Matthews scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 2.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $24.76.

Is now the time to buy Matthews? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Weakest Q2: LKQ (NASDAQ: LKQ)

A global distributor of vehicle parts and accessories, LKQ (NASDAQ: LKQ) offers its customers a comprehensive selection of high-quality, affordably priced automobile products.

LKQ reported revenues of $3.64 billion, down 1.9% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a softer quarter as it posted full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

As expected, the stock is down 18.4% since the results and currently trades at $31.51.

Read our full analysis of LKQ’s results here.

Service International (NYSE: SCI)

Founded in 1962, Service International (NYSE: SCI) is a leading provider of death care products and services in North America.

Service International reported revenues of $1.07 billion, up 3% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. Aside from that, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded full-year EPS guidance topping analysts’ expectations.

The stock is up 10.9% since reporting and currently trades at $83.86.

Read our full, actionable report on Service International here, it’s free for active Edge members.

WeightWatchers (NASDAQ: WW)

Known by many for its old cable television commercials, WeightWatchers (NASDAQ: WW) is a wellness company offering a range of products and services promoting weight loss and healthy habits.

WeightWatchers reported revenues of $189.2 million, down 6.4% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 6.2%. It was a very strong quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS and EBITDA estimates.

WeightWatchers had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is down 29.2% since reporting and currently trades at $26.98.

Read our full, actionable report on WeightWatchers here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Market Update

As a result of the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has come down from frothy levels post-pandemic. The general rise in the price of goods and services is trending towards the Fed’s 2% goal as of late, which is good news. The higher rates that fought inflation also didn't slow economic activity enough to catalyze a recession. So far, soft landing. This, combined with recent rate cuts (half a percent in September 2024 and a quarter percent in November 2024) have led to strong stock market performance in 2024. The icing on the cake for 2024 returns was Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. Presidential Election in early November, sending major indices to all-time highs in the week following the election. Still, debates around the health of the economy and the impact of potential tariffs and corporate tax cuts remain, leaving much uncertainty around 2025.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

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