Core Insights - Symbotic (SYM) and Coherent Corp. (COHR) are prominent players in the Zacks Technology Services industry, with SYM focusing on AI-enabled robotics for supply chain operations and COHR on advanced optical and semiconductor technologies [1][2] Group 1: Symbotic (SYM) - SYM has a significant backlog of $22.4 billion, positioning it for substantial revenue generation in the near future [5] - The company reported a 26% year-over-year revenue increase, with expectations of revenues between $590 million and $610 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 [6] - SYM's partnership with Walmart is crucial, contributing significantly to its revenues, but poses customer concentration risks [8] - Despite revenue growth, SYM has a history of negative earnings surprises, with an average negative surprise of 78.3% over the last four quarters [7] Group 2: Coherent Corp. (COHR) - COHR experienced a 23% revenue increase in fiscal 2025, driven by AI datacenter demand and telecom recovery [9] - The company is advancing its product offerings, including new 1.6T transceivers, which are expected to contribute positively to revenues in fiscal 2026 [10] - COHR has consistently outperformed earnings estimates, with an average beat of 13% over the past four quarters [11] - COHR's valuation is more attractive compared to SYM, trading at a forward price-to-sales multiple of 2.1 versus SYM's 10.33 [14] Group 3: Market Performance and Valuation - Over the past month, SYM shares have declined over 5%, while COHR shares have seen a more significant decline [12] - Concerns regarding COHR's market share in datacom offerings have contributed to its stock performance [12] - COHR's attractive valuation and strong product portfolio make it a more appealing investment compared to SYM [16]

Group 1: Market Overview - Five stocks are highlighted for potential buying opportunities before November, driven by high short-interest and strong market fundamentals [1] - These companies are positioned within the AI revolution, expected to achieve market-leading growth and improved shareholder value over the next five to ten years [2] Group 2: SoundHound AI - SoundHound AI (NASDAQ: SOUN) has a current price of $12.38, with a 52-week range of $4.32 to $24.98 and a price target of $13.36 [3] - The stock has a high short interest of 33% of the float, despite a 7% decrease in short interest at the end of July [3] - The company has shown hyper-growth exceeding 200% due to expanding verticals and client counts, although growth concerns remain [4] - Analyst consensus is a Moderate Buy, with price target revisions suggesting a potential rise to the $18 range [5] Group 3: AST SpaceMobile - AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) is currently priced at $43.93, with a 52-week range of $17.50 to $60.95 and a price target of $48.41 [8] - The stock has a short interest of approximately 30% of the float, with bullish analyst trends supporting rising price action [8] - The price target has increased by about 100% over the past 12 months, with potential to reach an all-time high of $63 [9] - ASTS is positioned to become a global leader in mobile services, driving significant growth and profitability [10] Group 4: Symbotic - Symbotic (NASDAQ: SYM) is priced at $43.53, with a 52-week range of $16.32 to $64.16 and a price target of $42.69 [13] - The stock has a short interest of 30%, down 10% from the previous report, but still near record levels [13] - Despite a Hold rating, increased coverage and a bullish price target outlook suggest potential for a 20% to 25% upside [14] Group 5: NuScale Power - NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) is currently priced at $32.20, with a 52-week range of $6.88 to $53.50 and a price target of $34.44 [16] - The stock has a short interest of 22%, with a significant pullback following its Q2 release [17] - Analyst trends are bullish, with a price target expected to rise to $46, reflecting a more than 300% increase over the past year [18] - The MACD convergence indicates potential for a market rebound [19] Group 6: Tempus AI - Tempus AI (NASDAQ: TEM) is priced at $68.39, with a 52-week range of $31.36 to $91.45 and a price target of $67.64 [22] - The stock has a short interest of 25%, down 36% from the prior month, but still elevated [22] - Analysts rate Tempus AI as a Moderate Buy, forecasting an 80% revenue growth pace in Q3 [23]

Group 1 - Symbotic's third quarter results were weak, particularly in system starts and completions, following the acquisition of ASR from Walmart [1] - Narweena, an asset manager, focuses on identifying market dislocations due to misunderstandings of long-term business prospects, aiming for excess risk-adjusted returns [1] - The research process at Narweena emphasizes company and industry fundamentals to uncover unique insights, with a high risk appetite and a long-term investment horizon [1] Group 2 - Narweena targets smaller cap stocks and markets with less obvious competitive advantages, driven by the belief that an aging population and low growth will create new investment opportunities [1] - Many industries may face stagnation or secular decline, which could paradoxically enhance business performance due to reduced competition [1] - The economy is increasingly influenced by asset-light businesses, leading to a declining need for infrastructure investments and a large pool of capital pursuing limited investment opportunities [1]

Automation & Labor Displacement - Symbotic is automating warehouses, including all 47 of Walmart's warehouses, replacing human workers with robots [1] - Automation aims to improve speed, efficiency, and reliability with 24/7 operation [1] - Displaced workers need to find new employment opportunities [1] Job Market & Skills Transformation - Some displaced workers may find jobs in construction due to housing shortages [2] - Growing data centers create demand for electricians [2] - New jobs will emerge in maintaining and servicing robots, requiring specialized tech skills [2] - Automation leads to a shift from rote jobs to new, specialized roles [2]

Core Viewpoint - Alithya Group (ALYAF) is currently positioned as a more attractive investment compared to Symbotic Inc. (SYM) based on various valuation metrics and earnings outlook [1][3][6] Valuation Metrics - ALYAF has a forward P/E ratio of 8.77, significantly lower than SYM's forward P/E of 228.75 [5] - The PEG ratio for ALYAF is 0.63, indicating a favorable valuation relative to its expected earnings growth, while SYM's PEG ratio stands at 7.63 [5] - ALYAF's P/B ratio is 1.24, contrasting sharply with SYM's P/B ratio of 68.13, further highlighting ALYAF's superior valuation [6] Analyst Outlook - ALYAF holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting a positive earnings estimate revision trend, while SYM has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - The strong earnings outlook for ALYAF contributes to its Value grade of A, whereas SYM has a Value grade of F, indicating a less favorable investment profile [6]

Core Viewpoint - Symbotic (SYM) has experienced a significant stock price increase of 134.5% year-to-date, outperforming its industry peers due to the artificial intelligence trend and strong technical indicators [1][6]. Group 1: Stock Performance - SYM shares have outperformed industry peers, with Coherent Corp. gaining 21.9% and MediaAlpha declining 6.8% in the same period [1]. - Technical indicators show that SYM is trading above its 50-day moving average, indicating strong upward momentum and price stability [3]. Group 2: Financial Metrics - Symbotic has a backlog of $22.4 billion, with expectations to recognize nearly 11% of its remaining performance obligations as revenues in the next 12 months and 56% in the following 13-60 months [8]. - Revenues increased by 26% year-over-year, with expectations for fourth-quarter revenues in the range of $590-$610 million and adjusted EBITDA between $45-$49 million [9]. Group 3: Operational Efficiency - Faster deployment times suggest improved installation processes, leading to decreased labor hours per project and fewer rework incidents [10]. Group 4: Valuation and Risks - SYM's current valuation is considered stretched, with a forward price-to-sales ratio of 12.09X, higher than its industry peers [11]. - The company's reliance on Walmart as its largest customer poses customer concentration risks, despite Walmart's investment in Symbotic [13].

Core Viewpoint - Symbotic's transition to next-generation storage technology may lead to short-term revenue fluctuations despite strong earnings performance [1][5] Financial Performance - Symbotic reported revenue of $592.2 million, exceeding expectations and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 25.9% [3] - The company posted a net loss per share of $0.05, which was $0.04 worse than expectations [3] Future Guidance - For the upcoming fiscal fourth quarter, Symbotic guided revenue between $590 million and $610 million, indicating minimal sequential growth [4] - Management attributed potential revenue hiccups to the launch of a new storage technology, which is expected to temporarily impact revenue recognition [5] Market Reaction - Shares of Symbotic fell 15.7% following the earnings report, likely due to profit-taking after a significant stock increase of 124% year-to-date [2][1] - The stock's valuation is considered high, trading at over 14 times this year's revenue estimates and over 223 times adjusted earnings estimates [8] Industry Position - Symbotic is recognized as a leader in next-generation warehouse automation, with a focus on physical AI solutions [7] - Despite potential short-term challenges, the company is seen as executing well in its market [7]

Core Insights - Symbotic reported Q3 FY2025 GAAP revenue of $592 million, exceeding analyst estimates of $533.3 million by over 11% [1][2] - The company experienced a net loss per share of $(0.05), compared to the consensus estimate of $0.05 per share, due to ongoing spending on growth and integration activities [1][2] - Adjusted EBITDA reached $45 million, a significant increase from $3 million in Q3 FY2024, indicating strong operational performance [1][2][7] Financial Performance - Revenue (GAAP) increased by 26% year-over-year, driven by the systems segment capturing $559.1 million compared to $450.6 million in Q3 FY2024 [5] - Gross profit (GAAP) was $107.6 million, up from $55.0 million in Q3 FY2024, with gross margin improving to 18.2% from 11.7% [6] - Adjusted gross profit margin reached 21.5%, reflecting better project execution and increased recurring revenue from software [6] Business Overview - Symbotic specializes in automated warehouse solutions, utilizing autonomous robots, modular storage systems, and AI software to enhance efficiency and accuracy in warehousing [3] - The company holds over 700 patents and focuses on innovation in robotics and AI, expanding customer partnerships, and entering new market segments [4] Strategic Initiatives - The integration of Walmart's Advanced Systems and Robotics (ASR) business is expected to enhance capabilities in micro-fulfillment and automation for perishable goods [8] - Symbotic is expanding its GreenBox joint venture, a "warehouse-as-a-service" model, with a pipeline that includes sites on both U.S. coasts [10] Market Position and Backlog - The company's backlog was approximately $22.4 billion as of Q4 FY2024, primarily from major partners like Walmart and GreenBox [11] - Software gross margins exceeded 65% in Q2 FY2025, indicating high profitability as scale increases [11] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - Cash and equivalents were $778 million at quarter end, down $177 million due to operating and investing outflows, with free cash flow negative $153.2 million [12] - Total assets stood at $1.83 billion and equity at $443 million, providing a solid financial base despite cash burn concerns [12] Future Guidance - Management forecasts Q4 FY2025 revenue between $590 million and $610 million, with adjusted EBITDA between $45 million and $49 million, indicating stable performance [13] - The guidance does not account for potential new tariffs, but contract terms generally allow for cost increases to be passed to customers [13]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 26% year over year to $592 million, driven by solid progress across 46 systems in deployment and expansion of operational systems [12][10] - Net loss for the third quarter was $32 million compared to a loss of $27 million in the previous year [12] - Adjusted EBITDA was $45 million, significantly up from $3 million in the previous year [12] - Backlog remained strong at $22.4 billion, slightly down from $22.7 billion last quarter due to revenue recognized [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Software revenue more than doubled year over year to $8.1 million, while operational services revenue grew 54% year over year to $24.9 million [15] - System gross margin showed significant year-over-year improvement due to strong cost control and project execution [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company processed over 6.5 million cases in a single day, indicating strong operational throughput [6] - Customer response to the next-generation storage structure has been very positive, with projects signed in the fiscal third quarter [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on driving innovation across its technology stack, including the introduction of a next-generation storage structure that increases storage density and reduces on-site assembly parts by over 90% [9][10] - The new structure is expected to enhance scalability and accelerate deployment across various supply chain aspects [9] - The company aims to unlock higher margins and long-term value creation through its innovative product offerings [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management anticipates an adjustment in the timing of several previously planned deployments to support the transition to the next-generation storage structure, which may moderate growth in the near term [20] - For fiscal 2025, the company expects revenue between $590 million and $610 million and adjusted EBITDA between $45 million and $49 million [21] Other Important Information - The company has a healthy balance sheet with cash and equivalents of $778 million, down from $955 million in the previous quarter [16] - The transition to a new CFO, Izzy Martins, is set to take place on August 9, 2025 [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you quantify the next-generation storage technology in terms of installation times and retrofit opportunities? - Management does not expect Walmart to retrofit existing systems but believes the new structure will allow for smaller projects and additional capabilities [26][27] Question: What is the expected growth trajectory for new starts? - New starts are expected to step up again now that the design is commercially available, with a historical average of mid to high single-digit new starts [90] Question: What are the implications of the new storage structure on cost and margins? - The new structure is expected to save customers money due to reduced space requirements while allowing the company to achieve higher margins [37] Question: How does the company view the competitive environment? - Management is aware of new technologies but feels confident in their market position and expects to grow market share [69] Question: What is the expected impact of the new storage system on backlog and customer acquisition? - Most new systems going forward are expected to be associated with the next-generation structure, which is anticipated to accelerate customer acquisition [54][55]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 26% year over year to $592 million, driven by solid progress across 46 systems in deployment and expansion of operational systems [11][12] - Net loss for the third quarter was $32 million compared to a loss of $27 million in the previous year [11] - Adjusted EBITDA was $45 million, significantly up from $3 million in the previous year [11] - Backlog remained strong at $22.4 billion, slightly down from $22.7 billion last quarter due to revenue recognized [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Software revenue more than doubled year over year to $8.1 million, while operational services revenue grew 54% year over year to $24.9 million [13] - System gross margin showed significant year-over-year improvement due to strong cost control and project execution [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company processed over 6.5 million cases in a single day, indicating strong operational throughput [5] - Customer response to the next generation storage structure has been very positive, with projects signed in the fiscal third quarter [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on driving innovation across its technology stack, including the introduction of a next generation storage structure that increases storage density and reduces on-site assembly parts by over 90% [8][9] - The new structure is expected to enhance scalability and accelerate deployment across various supply chain aspects [8] - The company aims to unlock higher margins and long-term value creation through the new storage structure [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management anticipates an adjustment in the timing of several previously planned deployments to support the transition to the next generation storage structure, which may moderate growth in the near term [19] - For fiscal year 2025, the company expects revenue between $590 million and $610 million and adjusted EBITDA between $45 million and $49 million [20] Other Important Information - The company has a healthy balance sheet with cash and equivalents of $778 million, down from $955 million in the previous quarter [14] - The transition to the new storage structure is expected to allow for faster scaling over time [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you quantify the next generation storage technology in terms of installation times and retrofit opportunities? - Management does not expect Walmart to perform retrofits but believes the new system can run alongside the old structure, allowing for more efficient use of space [25][26] Question: What is the expected growth trajectory for new starts? - New starts are expected to step up again now that the design is commercially available, with a historical average of mid to high single-digit new starts [86] Question: What are the implications of the new storage system on customer acquisition? - The new structure is expected to accelerate new customer acquisition, with the highest level of customer dialogue ever [92] Question: How will the new storage structure impact backlog and installation timelines? - All new starts this quarter are associated with the next generation structure, and installation is expected to begin mid fiscal year 2026 [50][51] Question: What is the outlook for the ASR portion of the business? - Development revenues for ASR were up sequentially, and this level is expected to be maintained for the next couple of quarters [100][101]