Core Insights - Conestoga Capital Advisors sold 168,907 shares of Novanta for approximately $20.1 million in the third quarter, reducing its holdings to just over 1.4 million shares [2][3][7] - Novanta represents 2.3% of Conestoga's reportable U.S. equity assets under management as of September 30, with the stock price at $128.65, down 26% over the past year [3][4] - Novanta's revenue for the trailing twelve months (TTM) is $956.9 million, with a net income of $61.4 million [4] Company Overview - Novanta Inc. specializes in advanced photonics, vision, and precision motion solutions for medical and industrial markets, leveraging a diversified portfolio of proprietary technologies [6][9] - The company generates revenue primarily through sales of proprietary hardware and integrated systems to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) [9] - Novanta serves global medical and industrial OEMs, targeting sectors such as medical imaging, life sciences, industrial processing, and automation [9] Recent Performance - Novanta's second-quarter results showed flat organic growth and a decline in GAAP profit to $4.5 million from $13.8 million a year prior, although adjusted earnings remained steady at $0.76 per share [11] - Conestoga's decision to reduce its stake in Novanta reflects concerns over the stock's weak performance relative to the market, rather than a loss of confidence in the company's fundamentals [7][10] - The company is noted to be lagging behind cyclical and semiconductor names, indicating sector headwinds affecting its performance [10]

Core Insights - Novanta Inc. will host an ISO working group event for humanoid robot safety standards in Barcelona from October 27-30, 2025, aiming to establish a global safety framework for humanoid robots [1][2] - The initiative will gather 40 to 50 international experts to develop safety standards that ensure safe human-robot interactions in real-world environments [2][3] - The new international safety standard, ISO 25785-1, will address unique challenges in humanoid robotics, focusing on protecting operators, businesses, and the public [3] Company Overview - Novanta is a leading global supplier of core technology solutions for medical and advanced industrial OEMs, combining expertise in precision medicine, manufacturing, and robotics [4] - The company is committed to innovation and customer success, leveraging a team of professionals dedicated to solving complex technical challenges [4] - Novanta's common shares are traded on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "NOVT" [4]

Group 1 - Novanta Inc. is scheduled to present at the Baird 2025 Global Industrial Conference on November 11, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois [1] - Matthijs Glastra serves as the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Novanta Inc. [1] - Novanta is recognized as a leading global supplier of core technology solutions for medical and advanced industrial original equipment manufacturers [1]

Core Insights - Conestoga Capital Advisors reported that equity markets reached new all-time highs in Q3 2025, but their Small Cap Composite underperformed the Russell 2000 Growth Index, returning -1.4% compared to the Index's 12.2% gain [1] - The gains in the Index were primarily driven by low-quality stocks, particularly unprofitable, high-beta names [1] Company Performance - Novanta Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVT) experienced a one-month return of -6.45% and a significant 39.50% decline in value over the past 52 weeks, closing at $105.56 per share with a market capitalization of $3.797 billion on October 17, 2025 [2] - The company reported revenue of $241 million in Q2 2025, reflecting a growth of 2% but a 2% decline in organic revenue [4] Market Sentiment - Novanta Inc.'s stock underperformed due to disappointing revenue growth and a cautious outlook for med-tech capital equipment, which negatively impacted investor sentiment [3] - The stock's performance was further affected by skepticism regarding near-term acceleration, despite some results beating EPS expectations [3] Hedge Fund Interest - Novanta Inc. was held by 27 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q2 2025, a decrease from 31 in the previous quarter, indicating reduced interest among hedge funds [4] - While Novanta Inc. has potential as an investment, there is a belief that certain AI stocks may offer better upside potential with less downside risk [4]

Core Insights - Novanta Inc. will release its third quarter 2025 results on November 4, 2025 [1] - A conference call to discuss the results is scheduled for the same day at 8:30 a.m. ET [2] - The audio webcast replay will be available approximately three hours after the call and will remain accessible until December 29, 2025 [3] Company Overview - Novanta is a leading global supplier of core technology solutions for medical, life science, and advanced industrial original equipment manufacturers [4] - The company specializes in precision medicine, precision manufacturing, robotics and automation, and advanced surgery [4] - Novanta's growth is driven by a team of innovative professionals committed to innovation and customer success [4]

Core Insights - Novanta Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVT) is positioned as a trusted technology partner for OEMs, emphasizing its strong track record and recent growth potential [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Novanta Inc. is recognized for its role as a crucial technology partner to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) [1] - The company has demonstrated a sound track record, indicating reliability in its operations and partnerships [1] Group 2: Market Position and Growth - The company is noted for its premium technology offerings, suggesting a focus on high-quality products and services [1] - Recent growth trends are highlighted, indicating potential for future expansion and investment opportunities [1]

Group 1 - The company is responsible for the development of all transcript-related projects [1] - The company publishes thousands of quarterly earnings calls per quarter and is expanding its coverage [1] - The purpose of the profile is to share new transcript-related developments with readers [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue reached $241 million, representing reported revenue growth of 2% and organic revenue declines of 2% [7] - Adjusted gross margins held at 46% and adjusted EBITDA margin was 22%, both in line with expectations [8][29] - Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share was $0.76, up 4% versus the prior year [29] - Operating cash flow for the quarter was $15 million compared to $41 million in the prior year, primarily driven by timing of tax payments and increased inventory purchases [29][30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New product revenue grew by over 50% year over year, with a vitality index climbing to 21% of total sales [33] - Advanced surgery business experienced 17% growth year over year, driven by strong patient procedural growth rates [35] - Robotics and automation business unit revenue was up nearly 16% year over year, with a book to bill ratio of 1.05 [34] - Precision medicine business saw a 13% decline in sales year over year, but grew 10% sequentially [35] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales to medical device markets remained strong, driving sustained double-digit growth in advanced surgery [11] - Sales to industrial capital equipment saw declines year over year, but revenue has stabilized and bookings are rising at a double-digit pace [18] - Total China sales were up 15% year over year, despite challenges related to tariffs [80] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Long-term growth strategy focuses on markets with secular tailwinds such as precision and AI-driven robotics, minimally invasive surgery, and precision medicine [10] - The company aims to expand its portfolio into high-growth areas, increasing recurring consumables revenue to approximately 15% of sales [11] - The acquisition of Keon Technologies is expected to enhance the company's capabilities in RFID and AI-enhanced cloud-based software [30][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving $50 million of incremental new product revenue for 2025, mainly due to strong outlook for next-generation medical devices [12] - The company is optimistic about the growth in physical AI applications, expecting sales to double in 2026 versus 2025 [15] - Management acknowledged the impact of tariffs but indicated that mitigation strategies are in place, with a focus on regional manufacturing [37][40] Other Important Information - The company expects full-year 2025 GAAP revenue to be approximately $970 million to $985 million, representing overall revenue growth of 2% to 4% [41] - Adjusted EBITDA for the full year of 2025 is expected to be $225 million to $230 million, or approximately a 23% EBITDA margin [42] - The company has a strong balance sheet and credit facility, positioning it well for future acquisitions [47] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you break down your revenue guidance? - The full year guidance indicates reported organic growth will likely be down 1% to up 1% [53] Question: What is the FX implied impact for benefit? - The FX impact is expected to carry forward from the second quarter [55] Question: What are the biggest drivers of organic growth in 2026? - Key drivers include advanced surgery product ramps, physical AI applications, and strong design wins [60][64] Question: Have we seen the low point for the year in industrial and precision medicine? - Management believes the industrial business has reached its bottom and will improve sequentially [72] Question: What is the status of the $35 million held up due to tariffs? - This amount is factored into guidance, and recovery is not assumed yet [79] Question: Can you elaborate on the warehouse robotics win? - The technology involves sensing and fast, safe reactions, essential for advanced warehouse automation [90]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the second quarter reached $241 million, representing a reported revenue growth of 2% and organic revenue declines of 2% [6][24] - Adjusted gross margins held at 46%, while adjusted EBITDA margin was 22%, both in line with expectations [7][28] - Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share was $0.76, up 4% year over year [28] - Operating cash flow decreased to $15 million compared to $41 million in the prior year, primarily due to timing of tax payments and increased inventory purchases [28][29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Medical market sales represented 54% of total sales, while advanced industrial markets accounted for 46% [30] - Advanced surgery business experienced 17% growth year over year, driven by strong patient procedural growth rates [33] - Revenue from the robotics and automation business unit was up nearly 16% year over year [32] - Precision medicine business saw a 13% decline in sales year over year, but grew 10% sequentially [33][34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Customer orders grew 10% year over year and 20% sequentially, indicating a strengthening outlook [7] - Sales to medical device markets remained strong, with sustained double-digit growth in advanced surgery [10] - Total China sales increased by 15% year over year, despite uncertainties related to tariffs [75] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Long-term growth strategy focuses on markets with secular tailwinds, such as precision and AI-driven robotics, minimally invasive surgery, and precision medicine [8][10] - The company aims to expand its portfolio into high-growth areas, increasing recurring consumables revenue to approximately 15% of sales [10] - The acquisition of Keon Technologies is expected to enhance the company's capabilities in RFID and AI-enhanced software solutions [29][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving $50 million of incremental new product revenue for 2025, mainly due to strong outlook for next-generation medical devices [11][24] - The company anticipates that the advanced surgery business revenue will nearly double by 2026 [11] - Despite challenges in the industrial capital equipment market, bookings are rising at a double-digit pace, indicating stabilization [18] Other Important Information - The company is committed to delivering sequential revenue and profit growth driven by innovation and operational discipline [37] - Tariff impacts are being mitigated through strategic shifts in production and cost reduction plans [35][36] - The company expects full-year 2025 GAAP revenue to be approximately $970 million to $985 million, representing overall revenue growth of 2% to 4% [38] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you break down your revenue guidance? - The full-year organic growth is expected to be down 1% to up 1%, with the key driver being the Keon acquisition [52][56] Question: What are the biggest drivers of organic growth in 2026? - Key drivers include the continuation of advanced surgery product ramps, growth in physical AI applications, and strong design wins [57][61] Question: Have we seen the low point for the year in industrial and precision medicine? - Management believes both businesses have reached their bottom and expect sequential improvement moving forward [68][69] Question: What is the status of the $35 million held up due to tariffs? - This amount is factored into guidance, and recovery is not yet assumed due to ongoing uncertainties [74][75] Question: Can you elaborate on the warehouse robotics win? - The technology involves sensing capabilities and servo drives, essential for advanced warehouse automation applications [82][84]

Company Performance - Novanta reported quarterly earnings of $0.76 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.74 per share, and showing an increase from $0.73 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +2.70% [1] - The company posted revenues of $241.05 million for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.68% and increasing from $235.86 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Novanta has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped consensus revenue estimates two times [2] Future Outlook - The sustainability of Novanta's stock price movement will depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and the company's earnings outlook [3][4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.96 on revenues of $259.39 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.44 on revenues of $989.7 million [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Novanta was mixed ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Industry Context - The Electronics - Miscellaneous Components industry, to which Novanta belongs, is currently in the top 39% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]