Summary of Strattec Security Corp. Conference Call Company Overview - **Company Name**: Strattec Security Corp. (NasdaqGM: STRT) - **Founded**: 1908, became public in 1995 - **Industry**: Automotive supplier - **Products**: Offers engineered solutions including power tailgates, frunk latches, and key fobs - **Customer Base**: Primarily North American OEMs such as General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, with about 8% of business in the aftermarket [2][3] Core Points and Arguments - **Strategic Initiatives**: The company is focused on four strategic initiatives aimed at transforming the business, including enhancing capabilities, culture, and alignment, driving results through a strong business operating system, and modernizing operations [4][5][6] - **Revenue Growth**: In the first quarter, Strattec reported sales of $152.4 million, a 9.6% increase year-over-year, outperforming the North American automotive production growth of 4%-5% [11] - **Margin Improvement**: Gross margin improved to 17.3%, up 370 basis points year-over-year, driven by increased volumes, restructuring savings, and pricing actions [12][14] - **Cash Position**: As of the end of the first quarter, the company had $90 million in cash and only $5 million in debt, indicating strong financial health [15] Future Outlook - **Product Focus**: The company is shifting focus towards security and authorization products and vehicle access business, while maintaining legacy products [7][8] - **Digital Key Technology**: Strattec is developing next-generation key fobs that integrate with smartphones, anticipating continued demand for these products over the next decade [9] - **Long-term Revenue Growth**: The company expects revenue to closely follow North American production trends in 2026, with a focus on long-cycle business strategies [10][12] Additional Insights - **Supply Chain Challenges**: The company is navigating supply chain challenges, including tariffs and logistics issues, but has not seen significant inflationary cost increases [19][20] - **Working Capital Management**: Current working capital is about 17% of sales, with a target of 15%. The company does not anticipate significant increases in working capital needs in the near term [22] - **Market Positioning**: Strattec is exploring opportunities in European markets and is focused on local supply for local manufacturing platforms [27] - **Investment Rationale**: The transformation story includes driving sales growth, improving operational efficiency, and maintaining a strong balance sheet to support these efforts [16][17] Conclusion Strattec Security Corp. is in a transformative phase, focusing on enhancing its product offerings and operational efficiencies while maintaining a strong financial position. The company is well-positioned to capitalize on future growth opportunities in the automotive sector, particularly with its innovative products and strategic initiatives aimed at improving margins and cash flow [30]

Company Overview - STRATTEC was founded in 1908 and went public in 1995[6] - The company's market capitalization is $334 million[6] - Institutional ownership is 80%[6] - Insider ownership is 34%[6] Financial Performance - TTM Q1 FY26 revenue is $5784 million[11] - Q1 FY26 net sales increased by $133 million, or 96%[40] - Q1 FY26 gross margin expanded by 370 basis points year-over-year[48] - Q1 FY26 net income was up 130% year-over-year[53] - Q1 FY26 adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 310 basis points year-over-year to 102%[59] - Cash and cash equivalents totaled $905 million as of September 28, 2025[61]

Core Insights - U.S. stock markets are experiencing significant growth in 2025, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite up 12.6%, 16.7%, and 22.1% respectively, following a strong rally over the past two years [1] - The potential cut in the benchmark interest rate by the Fed may further support this rally, alongside strong personal spending expected to boost economic growth [1] Stock Performance - Several stocks have shown notable price strength, particularly those on a recent bull run, indicating a high chance of continued momentum [2][7] - The following stocks have been identified as potential winners: Owlet Inc. (OWLT), Pangaea Logistics Solutions Ltd. (PANL), Dycom Industries Inc. (DY), Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (SHIP), and Strattec Security Corp. (STRT) [2][7] Screening Parameters - Stocks must show a percentage change in price greater than zero over the last four weeks and greater than 10% over the last twelve weeks to indicate sustained momentum [4] - A Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and an average broker rating of 1 are also criteria for selection, along with a current price above $5 and trading near 52-week highs [5][6] Individual Stock Analysis - **Owlet Inc. (OWLT)**: Stock price increased by 57.7% over the past four weeks, with an expected earnings growth rate of 79.7% for next year and a 27.3% improvement in earnings estimates [8] - **Pangaea Logistics Solutions Ltd. (PANL)**: Stock price rose by 23% in the last four weeks, with an expected earnings growth rate of 30% and over 100% improvement in earnings estimates [10] - **Dycom Industries Inc. (DY)**: Stock price climbed 22.8% recently, with an expected earnings growth rate of 42.3% and a 36.9% increase in earnings estimates [12] - **Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (SHIP)**: Stock price surged by 22.2% over the past four weeks, with an expected earnings growth rate of 39.1% and a 30.9% improvement in earnings estimates [13] - **Strattec Security Corp. (STRT)**: Stock price advanced by 17.4% recently, with an expected earnings growth rate of -2.6% for the current year but a 23.3% improvement in earnings estimates [15]

Core Viewpoint - The comparison between Strattec Security (STRT) and AB Volvo (VLVLY) indicates that STRT is currently a more attractive option for value investors due to its stronger earnings outlook and favorable valuation metrics [1][3][6]. Valuation Metrics - STRT has a forward P/E ratio of 15.04, while VLVLY has a forward P/E of 16.73, suggesting that STRT is undervalued compared to VLVLY [5]. - The PEG ratio for STRT is 1.50, indicating a better balance between price and expected earnings growth compared to VLVLY's PEG ratio of 8.58 [5]. - STRT's P/B ratio stands at 1.29, significantly lower than VLVLY's P/B ratio of 3.54, further supporting STRT's position as a more attractive investment [6]. Zacks Rank - STRT currently holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting positive revisions to its earnings estimates, while VLVLY has a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell), indicating a less favorable outlook [3][6]. Value Grades - STRT has received a Value grade of A, whereas VLVLY has a Value grade of C, highlighting STRT's superior valuation metrics and earnings outlook [6].

Core Viewpoint - Strattec Security Corporation will participate in two upcoming virtual investor conferences, showcasing its position as a leading provider of smart vehicle access and security solutions for the automotive industry [1][5]. Group 1: Investor Conference Details - The iAccess Alpha Virtual Best Ideas Winter Investment Conference will take place on December 9 and 10, 2025, with a presentation scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on December 9 and one-on-one meetings on December 10 [5]. - The Sidoti Year End Virtual Investor Conference is set for December 11, 2025, featuring a presentation at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and one-on-one meetings [5]. - Live audio webcasts and accompanying slides for both events will be available on the STRT Investor Relations website, with archives accessible post-conference [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - Strattec Security Corporation is a prominent global provider of advanced automotive access, security, and authorization solutions, primarily serving vehicle manufacturers in the U.S. [3]. - The company has over 110 years of history and has evolved from mechanical to integrated electro-mechanical systems in vehicle security [3]. - Strattec's product offerings include power access solutions, latches, vehicle start systems, keys, fobs, locks, and door handles, among others [3].

Core Insights - Investors prioritize businesses that consistently generate profits, with net profit margin being a crucial metric for assessing profitability and operational effectiveness [1][2] Summary by Sections Net Profit Margin - Net profit margin is calculated as Net Profit divided by Sales multiplied by 100, indicating a company's efficiency in converting sales into actual profits [2] - A higher net profit margin reflects better operational strength and cost management, which is essential for rewarding stakeholders and attracting talent [2] Pros and Cons of Net Profit Margin - Net profit margin provides clarity on a company's business model, including pricing policy and cost structure, making it a preferred metric for investors [3] - Limitations include significant variations across industries and complications arising from different accounting treatments, particularly for non-cash expenses [3][4] Winning Strategy - A healthy net profit margin and solid earnings per share (EPS) growth are key elements sought in a business model [5] Screening Parameters - Criteria for screening include a net margin of at least 0%, positive percentage change in EPS, and high broker ratings indicating bullish sentiment [6][7] Company Highlights - Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the largest provider of dredging services in the U.S., with a Zacks Rank of 1 and a VGM Score of A [9] - Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS) manufactures natural gas compressors, also holding a Zacks Rank of 1 and a VGM Score of A [10] - Strattec Security Corporation (STRT) designs and manufactures locks for automotive manufacturers, with a significant upward revision in earnings estimates [11] - Northrim BanCorp, Inc. (NRIM) is a full-service commercial bank, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 1 and a VGM Score of A [12] Earnings Estimates - GLDD's 2025 earnings estimate has increased by $0.08 to $1.10 per share, with an average surprise of 65.5% over the last four quarters [10] - NGS's 2025 earnings estimate has risen by $0.14 to $1.62 per share, with an average surprise of 28.9% [11] - STRT's fiscal 2026 earnings estimate has moved up by 23.3% to $5.24 per share, with an average surprise of 83.1% [12] - NRIM's 2025 earnings estimate has been revised upward by $0.15 to $2.50 per share, with an average surprise of approximately 19% [13]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying and sustaining trends in short-term investing to maximize profits [1][2] - A unique screening strategy, "Recent Price Strength," is highlighted as a tool to identify stocks with strong fundamentals that can maintain upward momentum [3] Company Analysis: Strattec Security (STRT) - STRT has shown a solid price increase of 11.7% over the past 12 weeks, indicating investor confidence in its potential upside [4] - The stock has also increased by 10.5% in the last four weeks, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact [5] - STRT is currently trading at 81.7% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout opportunity [5] - The stock holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises [6] - STRT has an Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7] Investment Strategy - The article suggests that STRT may continue its upward price trend, making it a candidate for trend-focused investors [8] - In addition to STRT, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen, providing additional investment opportunities [8]

Group 1: Holley Inc. (NYSE:HLLY) - Holley Inc. is trading at $3.62 with a target price of $2.20, indicating a potential downside of 39.35% [1][5] - The stock is excluded from coverage due to a pessimistic outlook from investment analysts [1] Group 2: Strattec Security Corporation (STRT) - Strattec Security Corporation is trading at $67.11 with a target price of $81.90, suggesting a growth potential of 22.03% [2][4][5] - The company has a market cap of $280.87 million and a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 13.42, indicating financial stability [2] Group 3: MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc. (MCFT) - MasterCraft Boat Holdings is currently priced at $20.13 with a target price of $14.42, facing a potential downside of 28.39% [3][5] - The company has a market cap of $328.85 million, but its P/E ratio of 43.41 suggests it may be overvalued [3] - The earnings per share (EPS) of $0.81 indicates limited profitability compared to peers [3]

Core Viewpoint - Strattec Security (STRT) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook driven by an upward trend in earnings estimates [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the correlation between changes in earnings estimates and stock price movements, making it a valuable tool for investors [2][3]. - Institutional investors often react to earnings estimate changes, which can lead to significant stock price movements due to their large transactions [3]. Company Performance and Outlook - The upgrade reflects an improvement in Strattec Security's underlying business, suggesting that investors may respond positively by driving the stock price higher [4]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Strattec Security has increased by 10.3% over the past three months, with expected earnings of $5.24 per share for the fiscal year ending June 2026, indicating no year-over-year change [7]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [6]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" rating, positioning Strattec Security among the best in terms of earnings estimate revisions [8][9].

Core Insights - Investors in the Automotive - Original Equipment sector may consider Strattec Security (STRT) and AB Volvo (VLVLY) for potential value investments [1] - STRT has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a stronger earnings outlook compared to VLVLY, which has a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) [3] Valuation Metrics - STRT has a forward P/E ratio of 11.95, while VLVLY has a forward P/E of 14.19, suggesting STRT may be undervalued [5] - The PEG ratio for STRT is 1.19, compared to VLVLY's PEG ratio of 7.28, indicating STRT's earnings growth is more favorable relative to its valuation [5] - STRT's P/B ratio is 1.02, significantly lower than VLVLY's P/B of 3.02, further supporting STRT's valuation attractiveness [6] Overall Assessment - STRT's improving earnings outlook and favorable valuation metrics position it as a superior value option compared to VLVLY [7]