Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved sales of $5.9 billion in the first quarter, exceeding guidance and reflecting a 5% increase year-over-year and sequentially [4][10] - Adjusted EPS was $0.84, near the high end of guidance [4] - Gross margin for the quarter was 10.4%, down 42 basis points year-over-year and 15 basis points sequentially [10][11] - Adjusted operating income was $151 million, with an adjusted operating margin of 2.6% [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Electronic components sales increased by 5% year-over-year and sequentially [10][12] - Farnell sales grew by 50% year-over-year and 3% sequentially [10][12] - The Americas region showed year-over-year sales growth for the first time since fiscal 2023, while EMEA sales were flat year-over-year [4][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales in Asia grew by 10% year-over-year, now representing over half of electronic components sales [10][11] - EMEA sales were flat year-over-year and down 6% in constant currency [10] - The book-to-bill ratio improved globally, with all regions above parity [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on balancing growth opportunities with inventory reductions and optimizing existing inventory [5][14] - There is an emphasis on strengthening supplier relationships and navigating market complexities [9] - The company aims to reduce leverage to approximately 3.0 times over the next year while maintaining a strong balance sheet [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about recovery in Asia and progress in the Americas, with stabilizing conditions in EMEA [8][9] - Geopolitical and market uncertainties remain, but the company believes its diverse customer base positions it well for recovery [8] - The company anticipates modest growth in the December quarter, particularly in Europe [31] Other Important Information - The company increased its quarterly dividend by approximately 6% to $0.35 per share [16] - The company repurchased approximately 2.6 million shares totaling $138 million during the quarter [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Exposure to AI applications in data centers - Management indicated that exposure to hyperscalers is relatively small, around 7% of Asia's business, with opportunities in storage, connectivity, and power [19][20] Question: Inventory days and cash flow - Management acknowledged that inventory days were flattish and indicated a trend of declines in the electronic components business, with expectations to improve inventory days over time [21][24][25] Question: Demand profile in EMEA for December quarter - Management expects modest growth in Europe, indicating that bookings have been positive for a couple of quarters [31] Question: Incremental margins and geographic mix - Management noted that the return to year-over-year growth in total business should provide operating leverage and expand operating margins [32][34] Question: Potential price increases from suppliers - Management mentioned that certain technologies are seeing potential price increases, particularly in memory and interconnect products [36][37] Question: Core segment margins and future expectations - Management indicated that achieving core margins above 4% in fiscal 2026 is possible depending on mix shifts and seasonal impacts [40][42] Question: Farnell margins and revenue impacts - Management stated that Farnell margins could continue to grow, depending on product mix and market recovery [43][44] Question: Demand creation revenues and IP&E margins - Management provided that IP&E accounts for 15%-20% of total components business, with demand creation contributing 28%-33% [46]

Summary of Avnet (AVT) Conference Call - August 12, 2025 Industry Overview - The semiconductor industry is showing signs of recovery, particularly starting in Asia, which typically leads cycles [1][2][3] - Avnet's Asia business grew approximately 12% in fiscal year 2025, marking four consecutive quarters of growth [2][3] - The company experienced a prolonged downturn prior to this growth, with six straight quarters of year-on-year declines in Asia [3] Company Performance - Asia now constitutes roughly 50% of Avnet's business, up from about 40% five quarters ago [6] - The company is seeing improvements in bookings, with a book-to-bill ratio above parity in Europe and Asia, and at parity in The Americas [3][4] - There is a notable increase in orders within lead times, indicating depleted inventories among customers [4][5] Demand Trends - Growth has been observed in the compute, communications, and transportation sectors, while industrial markets remain weak [15][16] - The company is optimistic about sequential growth in Europe and The Americas, despite modest expectations [5][6] Inventory Management - Avnet is currently managing approximately 94 days of inventory, with a goal to reduce this to the 80s [41][42] - The company aims to optimize inventory composition and reduce excess stock to align with customer demand [39][40] Pricing and Margins - Pricing has remained stable, with no significant downward pressure on average selling prices (ASPs) [43][44] - Gross margins are holding up well across regions, with some fluctuations [45] Tariff Impact - Tariffs have not significantly impacted financial results but have posed operational challenges [67][68] - The company has seen demand pull-ins in Asia due to uncertainty in the trade environment, amounting to $50 million to $100 million per quarter [68][69] Farnell Business Segment - Farnell, Avnet's high-service business, represents less than 10% of total revenues but contributes about 20% of operating profits [87] - The segment has potential for outsized growth due to its premium margins and operational improvements [84][88] - Farnell's gross margins were previously over 30%, and the company aims to restore these levels through operational efficiencies [84] Strategic Focus - Avnet is focused on dual sourcing and optimizing its regional footprint to mitigate tariff impacts [73][74] - The company is also enhancing its e-commerce capabilities to improve conversion rates and leverage synergies with its customer base [81][82] Conclusion - Overall, Avnet is positioned to capitalize on the recovery in the semiconductor industry, with a strong focus on inventory management, pricing stability, and operational efficiency in its high-service segment, Farnell. The company remains optimistic about future growth driven by demand across various sectors and regions.