Here is recent news on four portfolio holdings:

Apogee Enterprises

The Architecture Billings Index, a leading indicator for future non-residential building demand, posted three consecutive months of increasing demand for architecture designs, which bodes well for Apogee, the architectural glass maker. The score for the new design contracts index jumped to 54.3 in April up from 51.8 in March and 51.7 in February. Any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings.

Express

The company will report first quarter earnings on Wednesday, May 25, before the market opens. Its stock has dropped nearly 28% from $21 at the start of April, to $15.50 this week due to problems facing the company’s peers, including Macy’s and Gap, which both lowered estimates due to weak apparel demand. Express’ guidance for low single digit comp sales looks reasonable.. We still feel that Express’ new focus on young professionals will help it outperform peers who are trying to please teen to middle-age customers.

Integrated Device Technology

This week Integrated Device Technology introduced the Qi-based transmitter and receiver kit that will make wireless charging possible in devices that use less than 3 watts of power, such as smartwatches, headphones and fitness trackers. While Apple smartwatch users can buy a wireless charging pad for $79 at the Apple Store, wireless charging is not yet an affordable option for most wearable devices. Integrated’s new kit could change that and make wireless charging the new standard for wearable devices.

Wearable technology sales are expected to increase nearly 20% this year according to the International Data Corporation.

Dave Shepard, Vice President of Integrated’s Consumer Products Division, said that the company had delivered over 70 million wireless power devices to date. The company believes that wireless charging is entering the “mass adoption” phase, and it will ride that wave with its new products.

Supreme Industries

 New residential housing starts in April were up 6.6% from a month earlier to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 1.172 million according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. First quarter estimates were also revised upward signally increased health in the housing sector. Supreme’s small to medium sized truck bodies are used by electricians, painters, plumbers and other vocations that benefit from strong housing construction. Growth in housing starts means more work for construction-related jobs, which should lead to more truck bodies sold by Supreme.

 Earnings estimates for the second-quarter ending June look for 27% growth to $.33.