Small Cap Riding the Massive Buildout of Energy Infrastructure

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Wednesday, June 17, 2026

As utilities, data centers, battery storage projects, and renewable energy developments continue expanding across North America, demand for specialized construction equipment is growing rapidly. Labor shortages and rising project complexity are also accelerating interest in autonomous and multi-purpose machinery capable of improving efficiency while reducing operating costs on large-scale infrastructure projects.

Shares of Battery Mineral Resources Corp. (TSX-V: BMR) (OTCQB: BTRMF) are climbing Wednesday after the company provided a business update highlighting strong financial performance from its wholly owned subsidiary, ESI Energy Services Inc., operating under the Ozzie's brand, along with continued advancement of its next-generation Universal Carrier platform.

ESI designs and manufactures specialized equipment serving renewable and conventional energy markets. According to the company, first-quarter 2026 revenue reached $7.3 million, representing a 50% increase compared to the same period last year. Growth was driven by strong rental demand and equipment sales across the company's core product lines.

Income from continuing operations totaled $1.9 million during the quarter, compared to $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2025. Adjusted EBITDA improved 85% year-over-year to $2.8 million, resulting in an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 38%.

Management indicated the momentum has continued into the second quarter. ESI projects revenue of approximately $3.2 million for both April and May 2026 while maintaining EBITDA margins generally consistent with first-quarter performance. The company believes ongoing activity across utility-scale solar and broader energy infrastructure markets continues to support demand for its rental fleet and equipment sales business.

In addition to reporting strong financial results, Ozzie's announced that field testing has commenced on its Universal Carrier platform, previously known as the Omni Crawler. The modular tracked vehicle is being developed to address labor challenges facing utility-scale solar and other large infrastructure construction projects.

The Universal Carrier is designed to support multiple construction functions through interchangeable attachments, allowing contractors to perform a variety of tasks using a single machine platform. Management believes the technology could help reduce equipment fleet requirements, lower labor needs, and improve project execution efficiency across complex construction environments.

The company plans to unveil production models of the Universal Carrier at the 2026 RE+ Conference in Las Vegas this November, one of the largest clean energy and solar industry events in North America.

Looking ahead, management expects several key milestones during the remainder of 2026, including completion of field trials, expansion of manufacturing operations, and continued growth in equipment rentals and sales. Based on current performance, ESI is projecting full-year revenue of approximately $30 million to $32 million while maintaining EBITDA margins consistent with year-to-date results.

"We believe Ozzie's is well positioned to benefit from growing demand for specialized and autonomous equipment across utility-scale solar, battery storage, data center, and broader energy infrastructure markets," said BMR CEO Laz Nikeas.

In Wednesday action, shares of BMR are up 15.4% to C$0.15, while shares of BTRMF have jumped 18.5% to $0.11.

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