Core Points - Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter urgently traveled to Washington to negotiate with the Trump administration to reduce the recently announced 39% tariff on Swiss goods [1] - The U.S. President Trump emphasized the significant trade deficit between the U.S. and Switzerland, particularly highlighting the wealth generated by the Swiss pharmaceutical industry [1] - The Swiss government is under pressure to respond to the tariffs, with potential negotiation focuses including gold, agriculture, aircraft, pharmaceuticals, and energy [2] Trade Negotiation Challenges - Keller-Sutter and Economic Minister Guy Parmelin face political risks in making concessions, which may not effectively address Trump's criticisms regarding the trade deficit [3] - Agriculture is the only sector where Switzerland retains tariffs, and any concessions in this area could provoke backlash from farmers [3] - The trade deficit in gold is significant, with two-thirds of the deficit in the first quarter attributed to gold bar transportation [3] Strategic Recommendations - Former Swiss diplomat Thomas Borer suggested purchasing oil, weapons, and liquefied natural gas, and making concessions in agriculture while pressuring Swiss pharmaceutical companies to lower prices [4] - Switzerland is currently negotiating the purchase of 36 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, but there are disagreements over the contract price [4] - Trade policy researcher Stefan Legge proposed creative approaches, such as symbolic gifts to Trump, to improve diplomatic relations [5]

Group 1: Cryptocurrency Market Overview - The cryptocurrency market experienced a significant decline, with Bitcoin dropping nearly 2% and Ethereum falling below $3600, down 2.16% [1][2] - Over 120,000 traders were liquidated, resulting in a total liquidation amount of $339 million [1][2] - The liquidation amounts included $52.05 million in the last hour and $102 million in the last four hours, with a total of $218 million liquidated in the last 12 hours [2] Group 2: Market Data - Bitcoin (BTC) is priced at $112,971.4, reflecting a decrease of 1.92% [2] - Ethereum (ETH) is currently at $3,570, down 2.16% [2] - Other cryptocurrencies such as Solana (SOL) and Dogecoin (DOGE) also saw declines of 1.17% and 2.99% respectively [2]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales and revenues decreased by 1% year-over-year to $16.6 billion, primarily due to unfavorable price realization, partially offset by higher sales volume and financial products revenue growth [26][8] - Adjusted operating profit was $2.9 billion, with an adjusted operating profit margin of 17.6%, both exceeding expectations [27][9] - Adjusted profit per share was $4.72, down from $5.99 in the previous year [27][9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Construction Industries sales decreased by 7% to $6.2 billion, with a profit of $1.2 billion, a 29% decrease year-over-year [31][33] - Resource Industries sales decreased by 4% to $3.1 billion, with a profit of $537 million, a 25% decrease year-over-year [34] - Energy and Transportation sales increased by 7% to $7.8 billion, with a profit of $1.6 billion, a 4% increase year-over-year [36] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America saw a 3% increase in sales to users, driven by growth in residential and nonresidential construction [10] - EAME region sales increased primarily due to growth in Africa and the Middle East, but overall growth was below expectations due to weakness in Europe [10] - Asia Pacific sales declined slightly, with China being flat compared to the prior year [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains optimistic about top-line expectations, driven by strong order rates and backlog growth across all segments [14][42] - Caterpillar is considering various options to mitigate the impact of tariffs, including cost controls and dual sourcing [61][62] - The company plans to focus on long-term profitable growth and is preparing for an upcoming Investor Day to discuss strategic priorities [24][25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the environment remains dynamic, with tariffs expected to be a significant headwind to profitability in 2025 [7][14] - The company anticipates moderate sales growth in the third quarter, driven by higher volumes across all segments [15][47] - Full-year sales and revenues are expected to increase slightly compared to 2024, with services revenues anticipated to be flat [16][44] Other Important Information - The backlog increased by $2.5 billion to a record level of $37.5 billion, driven by strong order rates in all primary segments [7][13] - Free cash flow for the quarter was approximately $2.4 billion, with capital expenditures expected to be around $2.5 billion for the year [40][41] - The company deployed about $1.5 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends during the quarter [41] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the company planning to mitigate tariff headwinds in the medium to long term? - Management indicated that all options are on the table, including changing sourcing and pricing strategies, but more clarity is needed before making decisions [56][60] Question: Can the backlog be repriced to improve margins? - Management stated that there is flexibility on pricing in the backlog, and they will consider all levers to improve margins as they move into 2026 [68][70] Question: What is the impact of capacity additions on sales and margins in the Energy and Transportation segment? - Management noted that capacity investments are increasing throughput, and they expect to see more efficiency as capacity comes online [78][80] Question: Are orders being taken for expanded capacity in the solar segment? - Management confirmed that they are taking orders for solar capacity and are seeing strong interest in solar turbines [87][88] Question: What are the key tariff-related uncertainties to watch for? - Management highlighted that ongoing negotiations and investigations could impact tariffs, and the situation remains fluid [91][93]

Group 1 - The trade deficit in the U.S. narrowed significantly in June, reaching the lowest level since September 2023, with a reduction of 16% to $60.2 billion [1] - Total imports decreased by 3.7%, primarily due to the value of imported goods falling to the lowest level since March 2024, while exports saw a relatively smaller contraction [1] - Consumer goods imports hit the lowest level since September 2020, with declines in industrial goods and automotive imports, although capital equipment imports increased [1] Group 2 - The report indicates that U.S. companies had previously stockpiled goods ahead of significant tariff increases announced by President Trump on April 2, which may now be subsiding [1] - The U.S. economy showed an annualized growth rate of 3% in the second quarter, with net exports contributing 5 percentage points to GDP, contrasting with a nearly 5 percentage point drag in the first quarter [1] - The White House announced adjusted tariffs for countries that do not reach trade agreements by the August 1 deadline, with potential future tariffs on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and critical minerals expected to disrupt international trade further [2]

Financial Performance - The company reported net sales of $735 million for the third quarter, achieving adjusted EBITDA of $100 million and adjusted EPS of $1.63, with a 2% organic volume growth compared to the previous year [9][13][18] - Average selling prices declined by 12% year over year, primarily driven by PVC and steel conduit products, although there was sequential pricing improvement in steel conduit products [13][14][18] Business Segment Performance - The Electrical segment experienced compressed adjusted EBITDA margins year over year due to pricing declines in PVC and steel conduit products, while the S and I segment saw improved margins driven by volume growth and better productivity [16][18] - Year-to-date volume growth was observed in metal framing, cable management, and construction services, with low single-digit growth attributed to ongoing focus in these areas [15][16] Market Dynamics - The company noted a decline in imported steel conduit and PVC conduit volumes year over year, indicating a shift in market dynamics influenced by tariffs [10][20] - The Dodge Momentum Index indicated a slowdown in planning activity across several non-residential categories, with mixed construction sentiment observed [10][11] Strategic Direction - The company remains committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet and financial profile, focusing on operational excellence through the Atkore business system [24][25] - The management emphasized the importance of onshoring manufacturing and the potential to recapture market share from imports, particularly in steel conduit products [20][21] Management Commentary - Management expressed confidence in the company's strategy and the capabilities of its teams, despite the challenges posed by tariffs and pricing dynamics [7][11] - The outlook for FY 2026 anticipates headwinds from lower selling prices and broader tariff effects, with management actively evaluating measures to mitigate these impacts [11][23] Other Important Information - The company is maintaining its full-year adjusted EBITDA midpoint of $400 million and raising the midpoint of adjusted EPS to $6.5, reflecting improved visibility and stronger earnings leverage [11][18] - The company generated $192 million in cash flow from operations year to date and remains committed to returning cash to shareholders [17][18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Volume growth visibility for FY 2026 - Management acknowledged challenges in forecasting volumes but expressed optimism for growth in data centers and solar markets, indicating reasonable growth expectations for the upcoming year [33][34][36] Question: Demand trends in the water end market - Management noted mixed demand trends in the water end market but highlighted growth in municipal projects, indicating a focus on this vertical moving forward [38][39] Question: Impact of tariffs on steel conduit imports - Management confirmed that tariffs have significantly reduced the flow of steel conduit imports from Mexico, with both steel and PVC imports down significantly in the last fiscal quarter [50][52] Question: Earnings visibility and backlog - Management indicated that the backlog is approximately two weeks, with average inventory levels among distributors, suggesting a cautious approach to inventory management [55][57] Question: Pricing dynamics in the quarter - Management reported that pricing for PVC and steel was slightly better than expected, with two consecutive quarters of improved steel pricing [61][62] Question: Headwinds for FY 2026 - Management outlined that the anticipated $50 million headwinds for FY 2026 are primarily due to pricing declines experienced in FY 2025, with additional pressures from aluminum costs [70][72] Question: Capital allocation strategy - Management reiterated a commitment to a balanced capital allocation model, emphasizing share buybacks, dividends, and strategic investments [80][82]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net sales of $735 million, with a 2% organic volume growth and adjusted EBITDA of $100 million, while adjusted EPS was $1.63 [8][12][10] - Average selling prices declined by 12% year over year, primarily driven by PVC and steel conduit products, although there was sequential pricing improvement in steel conduit products [12][13][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Electrical segment experienced compressed adjusted EBITDA margins year over year due to pricing declines in PVC and steel conduit products, while the S and I segment saw improved margins driven by volume growth and better productivity [15][12] - Year-to-date volume growth was observed in metal framing, cable management, and construction services, with low single-digit growth in electrical cable and flexible conduit categories [14][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Dodge Momentum Index indicated a slowdown in planning activity across several non-residential categories, with mixed construction sentiment observed [9][10] - Imported steel conduit and PVC conduit volumes declined year over year, indicating a shift in market dynamics influenced by tariffs [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet and financial profile while pursuing strategic actions to enhance its portfolio of domestically manufactured electrical products [23][20] - The ongoing tariff environment is expected to influence market pricing dynamics and broader demand patterns, with a focus on onshoring manufacturing [19][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged several headwinds for FY 2026, including lower selling prices and broader tariff effects, estimating approximately $50 million of unmitigated headwinds [22][10] - The company remains optimistic about growth in key electrical end markets, despite near-term challenges [23][24] Other Important Information - The CEO announced plans to retire, emphasizing a commitment to a seamless transition and continued focus on the company's strategy and employees [5][6] - The company generated $192 million in cash flow from operations year-to-date and remains committed to returning cash to shareholders [16][10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Volume growth visibility for FY 2026 - Management noted that end markets like data centers are experiencing growth, but overall volume forecasting remains challenging due to macroeconomic dynamics [31][32] Question: Demand trends in the water end market - The company is focusing on municipal markets, which are showing growth, while residential-related markets are down [36][37] Question: Impact of tariffs on steel conduit imports - Tariffs have significantly reduced the flow of Mexican steel conduit, with both steel and PVC imports down significantly in the last quarter [48][50] Question: Demand visibility and backlog - The current backlog is approximately two weeks, with distributors holding lower inventories due to recent pricing dynamics [52][55] Question: Pricing surprises in the quarter - Pricing for PVC and steel was slightly better than expected, with two quarters of sequential improvement in steel pricing [59][60] Question: Headwinds for FY 2026 - The majority of the anticipated $50 million headwinds are due to pricing declines experienced in FY 2025, with additional factors like aluminum tariffs also contributing [67][68] Question: Capital allocation and share buyback strategy - The company plans to maintain a capital allocation framework focused on dividends, share repurchases, and M&A, with a commitment to spend $150 million this year [78][80]

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特朗普：下周会宣布药品关税，也将宣布芯片关税。将对制药业征收起初额度较小的关税，但最终将达到250%。外汇交易员 (@myfxtrader):特朗普：劳工统计数据非常政治化。如果欧盟不履行义务，将对欧盟征收35%的关税。下周内宣布药品关税。 ...

特朗普：劳工统计数据非常政治化。如果欧盟不履行义务，将对欧盟征收35%的关税。下周内宣布药品关税。 ...

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