Star Equity Holdings, Inc.
For the period ended Sep 30, 2025. Filed Nov 14, 2025.
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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Sep 30, 2025 · Filed Nov 14, 2025
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
In evaluating us and our common stock, we urge you to carefully consider the risks and other information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Risk Factors disclosed in Item 1A. of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as well as additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial, that could materially and adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition. In addition, various risk factors applicable to us and our business are described under the headings “Risks Relating to the Merger” and “Risks Relating to the Combined Company” in the joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on July 23, 2025, which forms part of our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-2888531), which risk factors are incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
Our business strategy includes acquisitions, and acquisitions entail numerous risks, including the risk of management diversion and increased costs and expenses, all of which could negatively affect the Company’s profitability.
Our business strategy includes, among other things, strategic acquisitions, as well as potential opportunistic acquisitions and strategic actions with respect to our existing investments, such as restructurings, strategic partnerships and collaborations, and activist activity. This overall acquisition and investment strategy entails several potential risks, including diverting management’s attention from other business concerns, incurring substantial legal and other advisory fees (including, in the case of activist activity, proxy solicitation fees), and financing such acquisitions with additional equity and/or debt. Additionally, to the extent that we are already invested in the entities that are the subject of our acquisitions and other activities, our actions may be temporarily disruptive to the value of the investments, which could adversely affect our financial condition.
In addition, once completed, acquisitions may entail further risks, including: unanticipated costs and liabilities of the acquired businesses, including environmental liabilities, that could materially adversely affect our results of operations. These include: increased regulatory compliance relating to the acquired business; difficulties in assimilating acquired businesses, their personnel and their financial reporting systems, which would prevent the expected benefits from the transaction from being realized within the anticipated timeframe; negative effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers; and loss of key employees of the acquired businesses. In addition, any future acquisitions could cause us to incur additional debt and related interest expense, as well as contingent liabilities and amortization expense related to intangible assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows, or the issuance of additional equity, which could dilute our stockholder’s equity interests.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to negotiate any pending acquisition successfully, receive the required approvals for any acquisition or otherwise conclude any acquisition successfully, or that any acquisition will achieve the anticipated synergies or other positive results. Overall, if our acquisition strategy is not successful or if acquisitions are not well integrated into our existing operations, the Company’s profitability, business, and financial condition could be negatively affected.
We may sustain losses in our investment portfolio, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
A portion of our assets consists of equity securities which are adjusted to fair value each period, as well as other investments. An adverse change in economic conditions or setbacks to such companies, their operations or business models may result in a decline in the value of these investments. Such declines in value are principally recognized in net income or loss in accordance with GAAP. Any adverse changes in the financial markets and declines in value of our investments may result in additional losses and could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
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We are subject to particular risks associated with real estate ownership, which could result in unanticipated losses or expenses.
Our business is subject to many risks that are associated with the ownership of real estate. Risks that are associated with real estate acquisition and ownership include, without limitation, the following:
the inability to purchase or sell our assets rapidly due to the illiquid nature of real estate and the real estate market;
leases which are not renewed or are renewed at lower rental amounts at expiration;
the default by a tenant or guarantor under any lease;
costs relating to maintenance and repair of our facilities and the need to make expenditures due to changes in governmental regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act or remediation of unknown environmental hazards; and
acts of God and acts of terrorism affecting our properties.
Operating results may be adversely affected by changes in the costs and availability of supplies and materials.
Our Building Solutions operating results could be adversely affected by changes in the cost and availability of raw materials. Prices and availability of raw materials used to manufacture our products can change significantly due to fluctuations in supply and demand. Additionally, availability of the raw materials used to manufacture our products may be limited at times resulting in higher prices and/or the need to find alternative suppliers. Both KBS’s and EdgeBuilder’s major material components are dimensional lumber and wood sheet products, which include plywood and oriented strand board. Lumber costs are subject to market fluctuations. Furthermore, the cost of raw materials may also be influenced by transportation costs. It is not certain that any price increases can be passed on to our customers without affecting demand or that limited availability of materials will not impact our production capabilities. The state of the financial and housing markets may also impact our suppliers and affect the availability or pricing of materials. The inability of KBS or EdgeBuilder to raise the price of their our products in response to increases in prices of raw materials or to maintain a proper supply of raw materials could have an adverse effect on their our revenue and earnings.
Trade tariffs or other factors affecting the commodities and materials we use in our business could have a material and adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The recently imposed trade tariffs have caused disruptions in global trade, which could negatively impact the costs of materials we use in our business and the demand for our products. Many of the commodities and materials we use in our business are imported and exported. Existing and future trade tariffs, import duties and quotas could also materially increase our costs of procuring the commodities and materials we use and disrupt the markets for the products we handle, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
We spend considerable time and money complying with federal and state laws, regulations, and other rules which may fluctuate, and if we are unable to fully comply with such laws, regulations, and other rules, we could face substantial penalties.
Our Building Solutions businesses are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations. In recent years, a number of new laws and regulations have been adopted, and there has been expanded enforcement of certain existing laws and regulations by federal, state, and local agencies. These laws and regulations, and related interpretations and enforcement activity, may change as a result of a variety of factors, including political, economic or social events. Changes in, expanded enforcement of, or adoption of new federal, state or local laws and regulations governing minimum wage or living wage requirements; the classification of exempt and non-exempt employees; the distinction between employees and contractors; other wage, labor or workplace regulations; healthcare; data protection and cybersecurity; the sale and pricing of some of our products; transportation; logistics; supply chain transparency; taxes; unclaimed property; energy costs and consumption; or environmental matters could increase our costs of doing business or impact our operations.
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We maintain a compliance program to identify and correct any compliance issues and remain in compliance with all applicable laws, to train employees, to audit and monitor our operations, and to achieve other compliance goals. Like most companies with compliance programs, we occasionally discover compliance concerns. In such cases, we take responsive action, including corrective measures when necessary. There can be no assurance that our responsive actions will insulate us from liability associated with any detected compliance concerns.
If our past or present operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws, regulations, rules, or policies described above or the other laws or regulations to which we or our customers are subject, we may be subject to civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, or the curtailment or restructuring of our operations. Any penalties, damages, fines, curtailment, or restructuring of our operations could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our financial results. Any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses, divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business, and damage our reputation. Although compliance programs can mitigate the risk of investigation and prosecution for violations of these laws, regulations, rules, and policies, the risks cannot be entirely eliminated. Moreover, achieving and sustaining compliance with applicable federal and state privacy, security, and fraud laws may prove costly.
Our long-term results depend upon our ability to improve existing products and services and develop, introduce, and market new products and services successfully.
Our business is dependent on the continued improvement of our existing products and services and our development of new products and services utilizing our current or other potential future technology. As we introduce new products and services or refine, improve, or upgrade versions of existing products and services, we cannot predict the level of market acceptance or the amount of market share these products and services will achieve, if any. We cannot be certain that we will not experience material delays in the introduction of new products or services in the future.
We generally sell our products and services in industries that are characterized by rapid technological changes, frequent new product introductions, and changing industry standards. If we do not develop new products and services and product enhancements based on technological innovation on a timely basis, our products and services may become obsolete over time and our revenues, cash flow, profitability, and competitive position may suffer. Even if we successfully innovate and develop new products, services and product enhancements, we may incur substantial costs in doing so, and our profitability may suffer.
Our goodwill and other long-lived assets are subject to potential impairment that could negatively impact our earnings.
A significant portion of our assets consists of goodwill and other long-lived assets, the carrying value of which may be reduced if we determine that those assets are impaired. At September 30, 2025, goodwill and net intangible assets represented $7.8 million, or 6.6% of our total assets, and at December 31, 2024, goodwill and net intangible assets represented $8.2 million, or 15.6% of our total assets. In addition, net property and equipment assets totaled $18.4 million and $0.2 million, or 15.5% and 0.4%, respectively, of our total assets at those dates. If actual results differ from the assumptions and estimates used in our goodwill and long-lived asset valuation calculations, we could incur impairment charges, which could negatively impact our earnings.
We review our reporting units for potential goodwill impairment annually or more often if events or circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. In addition, we test the recoverability of long-lived assets if events or circumstances indicate the carrying values may not be recoverable. Recoverability of long-lived assets is measured by comparison of their carrying amounts to future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate. We conduct impairment testing based on our current business strategy in light of present industry and economic conditions, as well as future expectations. There are numerous risks that may cause the fair value of a reporting unit to fall below its carrying amount and/or the value of long-lived assets to not be recoverable, which could lead to the measurement and recognition of goodwill and/or long-lived asset impairment. These risks include, but are not limited to, significant negative variances between actual and expected financial results, lowered expectations of future financial results, failure to realize anticipated synergies from acquisitions, adverse changes in the business climate, and the loss of key personnel. If we are not able to achieve projected performance levels, future impairments could be possible, which could negatively impact our earnings.
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Due to the nature of our building solutions business segment, many of our expenses are fixed costs and if there are decreases in demand for products, it may adversely affect operating results.
Many of our building solutions business segment expenses, particularly those relating to properties, capital equipment, and certain manufacturing overhead items, are fixed in the short term. Reduced demand for products causes fixed production costs to be allocated across reduced production volumes, which may adversely affect gross margins and profitability.
Due to the nature of the work we and our subsidiaries perform, we may be subject to significant liability claims and disputes.
We and our wholly owned subsidiaries engage in services that can result in substantial injury or damages that may expose us to legal proceedings, investigations and disputes. For example, in the ordinary course of our business, we may be involved in legal disputes regarding personal injury and wrongful death claims, employee or labor disputes, professional liability claims, and general commercial disputes, as well as other claims. An unfavorable legal ruling against us or our subsidiaries could result in substantial monetary damages. Although we have adopted a range of insurance, risk management, safety, and risk avoidance programs designed to reduce potential liabilities, there can be no assurance that such programs will protect us fully from all risks and liabilities. If we sustain liabilities that exceed our insurance coverage or for which we are not insured, it could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Related to Indebtedness
Any indebtedness incurred by the Company could restrict our operations and make us more vulnerable to adverse economic conditions.
Any indebtedness we incur in the future could have important consequences for us and our stockholders. Our indebtedness could:
increase our vulnerability to adverse economic and competitive pressures in our industry;
limit our ability to borrow additional funds on terms that are acceptable to us or at all.
If we are unable to generate or borrow sufficient cash to make payments on our indebtedness, our financial condition would be materially harmed, our business could fail, and stockholders may lose all of their investment.
To the extent we incur indebtedness in the future, our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our obligations will depend on our financial and operating performance, which will be affected by economic, financial, competitive, business, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations to service our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. If we are unable to meet our debt obligations or fund our other liquidity needs, we may need to restructure or refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity or sell certain of our assets. We cannot assure you that we will be able to restructure or refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, which could cause us to default on our debt obligations and impair our liquidity. Any refinancing of our indebtedness could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations.
Risks Related to our Common Stock and our Company Preferred Stock
Payment of dividends on our common stock is prohibited unless we have declared and paid (or set apart for payment) full accumulated dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock, which also has a significant liquidation value.
Unless full cumulative dividends on our preferred stock have been, or contemporaneously are, declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods, no dividends (other than a dividend in shares of common stock or other shares of stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock (as defined herein) as to dividends and upon liquidation) may be declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment on our common stock, nor may any shares of common stock be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration by us. To the extent dividends are not paid on our preferred stock, cumulative dividends accrue as part of the liquidation value of our
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preferred stock, which has a liquidation value of $10.00 per share at issuance. Dividends on our preferred stock are payable out of amounts legally available therefor at a rate equal to 10.0% per annum per $10.00 of stated liquidation preference per share, or $1.00 per share of our preferred stock per year. Dividends on our preferred stock are only payable in cash. As of September 30, 2025, there were 2,690,637 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock outstanding.
If we fail to pay dividends on our Series A Preferred Stock for six or more consecutive quarters, holders of our Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to elect two additional directors to our board of directors.
To the extent dividends are not paid on the Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with their terms, cumulative dividends will accrue as part of the liquidation value of the Series A Preferred Stock. Whenever dividends on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more consecutive quarters, then the holders of those shares together with the holders of all other series of preferred stock equal in rank with the Series A Preferred Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, will be entitled to vote separately as a class for the election of a total of two additional directors to our board of directors. Holders of our common stock will not be entitled to vote for or against such additional directors.
As a smaller reporting company, we are subject to scaled disclosure requirements that may make it more challenging for investors to analyze and compare our results of operations and financial prospects.
Currently, we are a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. As a “smaller reporting company,” we are able to provide simplified executive compensation disclosures in our filings and have certain other decreased disclosure obligations in our filings with the SEC, including being required to provide only two years of audited financial statements in annual reports. Consequently, it may be more challenging for investors to analyze our results of operations and financial prospects.
Furthermore, we are a non-accelerated filer as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, and, as such, are not required to provide an auditor attestation of management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting, which is generally required for SEC reporting companies under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Because we are not required to, and have not, had our auditor provide an attestation of our management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting, a material weakness in internal controls may remain undetected for a longer period.
Our stockholder rights plan, or “poison pill,” includes terms and conditions which could discourage a takeover or other transaction that stockholders may consider favorable.
On October 25, 2018, stockholders of record at the close of business on that date received a dividend of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of the Company’s Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”) for a purchase price of $3.50. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement, which has previously been filed as an exhibit to our public reports.
The Rights Agreement imposes a significant penalty upon any person or group that acquires 4.99% or more (but less than 50%) of our then-outstanding common stock without the prior approval of our board of directors. A person or group that acquires shares of our common stock in excess of the applicable threshold, subject to certain limited exceptions, is called an “Acquiring Person.” Any rights held by an Acquiring Person are void and may not be exercised. The Rights will not be exercisable until the earlier of ten days after a public announcement by us that a person or group has become an Acquiring Person and ten business days (or a later date determined by our board of directors) after a person or group begins a tender or an exchange offer that, if completed, would result in that person or group becoming an acquiring person. On the date (if any) that the Rights become exercisable (the “Distribution Date”), each Right would allow its holder to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock for a purchase price of $3.50. In addition, if a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person after the Distribution Date or already is an Acquiring Person and acquires more shares after the Distribution Date, all holders of Rights, except the Acquiring Person, may exercise their rights to purchase a number of shares of the common stock (in lieu of preferred stock) with a market value of twice the Exercise Price, upon payment of the purchase price.
The Rights will expire on the earliest of (i) October 15, 2027, or such earlier date as of which our board of directors determines that the Rights Agreement is no longer necessary for the preservation of our tax assets, (ii) the time at which the rights are redeemed, (iii) the time at which the rights are exchanged, (iv) the effective time of the repeal of Section 382 of the Code or any successor statute if our board of directors determines that the Rights Agreement is no longer necessary for the preservation of our tax assets, and (v) the first day of our taxable year in which our board determines that no NOLs or other tax assets may be carried forward.
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The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects, including potentially discouraging a takeover that stockholders may consider favorable. The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by the board of directors.
Changes in tax laws or regulations may have a material adverse effect on our cash flow, business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
New tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be enacted at any time. Further, existing tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be interpreted differently, changed, repealed or modified at any time. Any such enactment, interpretation, change, repeal or modification could adversely affect us, possibly with retroactive effect. For example, the U.S. government recently enacted legislation commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which (along with prior U.S. federal tax reform legislation) has resulted in significant changes to the taxation of business entities, including, among other changes, the imposition of minimum taxes and excise taxes, changes to the taxation of income derived from international operations, changes in the deduction and amortization of research and development expenditures, and limitations on the deductibility of business interest. Future guidance from the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities with respect to these and other legislation may affect us, and certain aspects of such legislation could be repealed or modified in future legislation or sunset in future years. In addition, it is uncertain if and to what extent various states will conform to federal law. We continue to evaluate the impact that these and other tax reforms may have on our business.
Risks Associated with the Shutdown of the United States Government.
The United States federal government has been shut down since October 1, 2025. When the government is not funded, non-essential federal employees are furloughed and services are limited or curtailed. A prolonged shutdown may lead to broader economic uncertainty and financial market volatility. These conditions could negatively affect our operations, and overall demand for our services and products.
A prolonged shutdown could slow permitting and regulatory approvals, reduce demand from contractors and public-sector customers, and result in hiring freezes or reduced hiring activity among clients that rely on federal contracts or are otherwise affected by economic uncertainty.
While we strive to mitigate these risks through contingency planning and industry government affairs efforts, the ultimate impact of any government shutdown is difficult to predict and may be outside our control. Any material adverse effects resulting from a government shutdown could have a negative impact on our business, financial position, and results of operations.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.