Ben Axler · activist-deck
U.S. Concrete Inc (USCR)
48 pages · 5 arc beats · 2 loops
U.S. Concrete Inc (USCR)
Ben Axler · 2018-05 arc beats above · slides in the middle · loops below · scroll → 2 LOOPS
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Deck intelligence map
5 coverage by narrative range · generated from this deck JSON
Narrative range 48 total
Metadata
Components
Metrics
Tools
Frameworks
Beats
Loops
Setup & Stakes 4 slides 100% 4/4 slides 100% 4/4 slides · 15 hits — 0/4 slides
50% 2/4 slides 25% 1/4 slides 100% 4/4 slides — 0/4 slides
Complication 6 slides 100% 6/6 slides 100% 6/6 slides · 34 hits — 0/6 slides
50% 3/6 slides 66.7% 4/6 slides 100% 6/6 slides 100% 6/6 slides Evidence 22 slides 100% 22/22 slides 100% 22/22 slides · 135 hits — 0/22 slides
4.5% 1/22 slides 77.3% 17/22 slides · 19 hits 100% 22/22 slides — 0/22 slides
The Monster 8 slides 100% 8/8 slides 100% 8/8 slides · 50 hits — 0/8 slides
— 0/8 slides
87.5% 7/8 slides 100% 8/8 slides — 0/8 slides
The Victory 8 slides 100% 8/8 slides 100% 8/8 slides · 48 hits — 0/8 slides
— 0/8 slides
50% 4/8 slides 100% 8/8 slides 100% 8/8 slides Slide inventory
48 every slide · same image gating as the playbook
01
The slide uses a visual metaphor of a person being buried in concrete to imply financial wrongdoing.front_matter
Open slide detailBeat · Setup & Stakes
03
The slide uses a table to establish credibility by showing a history of successful activist campaigns resulting in CEO departures.front_matter
Open slide detailBeat · Setup & Stakes
04
Features the Spruce Point Capital Management logo (pine tree).front_matter
Open slide detailBeat · Setup & Stakes
05
Uses a hub-and-spoke diagram to connect the target company to historical precedents.cite_precedent
06
The slide uses a structured list format to present a series of 'red flags' as a diagnostic framework for the short thesis.diagnose_problem
07
This is a classic activist short thesis slide, outlining multiple pillars of concern (growth, accounting, capex).diagnose_problem
08
The slide uses a list-based structure to present the core arguments of the short thesis.summarize
09
Includes a specific callout on Price / Adj Book Value and Estimated Organic Growth.analyze_data
10
Uses a red box and arrow to visually anchor the comparison between the 2007 baseline and the 2018 current state.diagnose_problem
12
Spruce Point Capital Management activist short report slide.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
13
Uses a dual-axis combo chart (bar for absolute values, line for percentage) to highlight the gap between guidance and reality.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
14
The slide uses a dual-chart layout to contrast acquisition growth with debt metrics, specifically calling out pre-crisis levels.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
15
The slide uses a table to build a narrative of poor corporate governance and questionable M&A activity.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
17
The table demonstrates that reported growth is driven by acquisitions and price hikes rather than volume.analyze_data
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
18
The slide uses a combination of bar and line charts to demonstrate deteriorating operational efficiency.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
19
Uses a waterfall-bridge framework to isolate organic growth from acquisitions.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
20
The charts highlight that management only reports growth figures when they are positive (green bars).expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
21
Uses a before-and-after comparison of corporate disclosure text to highlight a change in accounting methodology.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
23
The slide uses a callout box to emphasize the 'red flag' nature of the data.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
24
Uses a combination of a bar chart and a table to highlight the discrepancy between reported explanations and financial metrics.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
25
The slide highlights how capital leases can be used to inflate EBITDA and free cash flow, potentially to influence management bonuses.compare_peers
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
26
The slide uses a 'bad' to 'extremely bad' qualitative assessment of the company's forecasting accuracy.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
27
The slide uses a visual block to indicate where data is no longer disclosed.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
28
The slide uses a comparison table to highlight the discrepancy between USCR's depreciation schedule and its peers, followed by a historical table of USCR's own expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
29
The chart shows a massive divergence between capital expenditure and physical asset growth, supported by a data table.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
30
The slide uses red boxes to highlight USCR's outlier status in three different comparative tables.compare_peers
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
32
The slide uses a red box and arrow to draw attention to the specific line in the SEC letter mentioning 'nine boxes of records'.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · Evidence
34
The slide uses a 'revolving door' narrative to imply management or oversight failure.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · The Monster
35
Uses a 'villain critique' style to undermine CEO credibility.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · The Monster
36
The slide uses a table to profile three specific board members, highlighting negative associations to argue for a lack of committee depth.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · The Monster
37
Uses red arrows to visually highlight trends in the table.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · The Monster
38
Uses a combination of a stock price chart with transaction markers and a bar chart showing ownership percentage decline.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · The Monster
39
The slide uses a bar chart to correlate fee spikes with auditor changes, and includes biographical callouts to cast doubt on the auditor's credibility.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · The Monster
40
Uses red boxes to highlight the name 'Kevin Leroy Greene' in both documents to establish identity.expose_contradiction
Open slide detailBeat · The Monster
42
The slide uses the contrast between analyst 'Buy' ratings and the activist's bearish thesis to frame the market as misinformed.preempt_rebuttal
43
The slide uses a before-and-after comparison to illustrate the 'passive investing' thesis.compare_peers
44
The charts compare current valuation multiples against a historical average line, suggesting the company is overvalued.diagnose_problem
45
The slide uses a peer benchmarking table to argue that USCR's seemingly attractive valuation is misleading.compare_peers
46
Uses scatter plots and bar charts to demonstrate USCR's outlier status in negative performance metrics.compare_peers
47
Uses red arrows to indicate downward revisions and a green arrow for a slight revenue increase.expose_contradiction
48
Includes detailed footnotes explaining the overcapitalization adjustment methodology.show_valuation_bridge