Key Takeaways SN's Q4 gross profit rose 18.4% to $1,012M, with gross margin expanding to 48.2%.SN posted 36% EBITDA growth and improved operating expenses by 280 basis points.SN sees 2026 EBITDA of $1.27B-$1.28B, aided by supply chain shifts outside China.SharkNinja, Inc. (SN) delivered a robust fourth-quarter 2025, underscored by meaningful margin expansion driven by sustained operating discipline and efficiency. Despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop, the quarter represented the third straight perio ...

Core Insights - Ichor Holdings significantly exceeded Q4 earnings expectations and provided optimistic guidance for future performance [1][3] Financial Performance - Ichor reported non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.07 for Q4, surpassing Wall Street's average estimate of a loss of $0.06 per share [3] - Sales for the quarter reached $223.6 million, exceeding the average analyst target by $2.76 million [3] - Year-over-year revenue declined by 4%, but demand in the semiconductor segment and growth in commercial manufacturing contributed to a strong earnings performance [4] Margin Analysis - The adjusted gross margin decreased to 11.7% from 12% in the same quarter last year, but management indicated that margin improvement initiatives are in early stages [4] - For the upcoming quarter, gross margins are projected to rise to between 12% and 13% [7] Future Outlook - Ichor anticipates continued growth in commercial manufacturing, potentially outpacing semiconductor sales growth [6] - The company expects Q1 sales to range between $240 million and $260 million, indicating a year-over-year growth of approximately 12% at the midpoint [7] - Adjusted earnings per share for the current quarter are projected to be between $0.08 and $0.16, suggesting earnings will remain consistent with the previous year's quarter despite increased growth-related expenditures [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company revised its fiscal 2026 sales guidance down to between $750 million and $760 million, impacted by approximately $50 million due to a large customer's store closures and distribution center consolidations [11][12] - Operating income is expected to be between $72 million and $79 million, with gross margin reported at 19.6%, down from 24.1% a year earlier, but showing a sequential increase from 18.0% in the first quarter and 19.3% in the second quarter [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The braking business is expected to see gains that will increase overall margins due to operating efficiencies and facility utilization [5] - The Heavy Duty business is experiencing increased demand for aftermarket parts, particularly in Mexico, where the vehicle population has grown to approximately 36 million, with an average age of 16.2 years [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The average age of U.S. light vehicles has risen to 12.8 years from 12.5 years in 2024, indicating a growing opportunity for replacement parts as consumers hold onto their vehicles longer [7][8] - The number of vehicles on the road in the U.S. climbed to 295.9 million from 291.1 million a year ago, suggesting increased demand for aftermarket parts [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on being the leading supplier of nondiscretionary automotive aftermarket parts, leveraging its strong liquidity and operational footprint to enhance market share [7][10] - Strategic alternatives are being explored for the EV Emulator business, which is considered a non-core asset, as the company aims to concentrate on its aftermarket focus [10][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about recovering sales from a large customer and highlighted the positive momentum in the overall outlook despite recent challenges [4][5] - The company remains committed to enhancing shareholder value through share repurchases and debt reduction, with a strong liquidity position of approximately $146 million [16][17] Other Important Information - The company generated cash of $23.7 million for the nine-month period, with net bank debt decreasing by $10.9 million to $70.5 million [16][18] - The company plans to provide guidance for fiscal 2027 during the year-end call in June [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of sales disruption from a large customer - Management indicated that the sales disruption was largely a one-time event, with a 15% reduction in store numbers for the customer, but they remain optimistic about future growth [25] Question: Market share opportunities due to competitor store closures - Management confirmed that they expect to gain market share as competitors close stores, and they are well-positioned to capture fair share in the market [26] Question: Guidance for operating income and gross margins in Q4 - Management expects gross margins to increase sequentially in Q4, alongside reductions in total operating expenses, which will help meet guidance [34] Question: Currency impact on operating expenses - Management acknowledged that the strengthening peso will have a non-cash impact on lease liabilities but will be accounted for separately [35] Question: Non-strategic asset divestiture - Management discussed the potential divestiture of the Electric Vehicle Emulation business, which does not align with their focus on the aftermarket [37]

Core Insights - Western Digital Corporation (WDC) has significantly improved its gross margin performance in the first two quarters of fiscal 2026, reporting a gross margin of 46.1% in the fiscal second quarter, which is an increase of 770 basis points year over year and 220 basis points sequentially, exceeding the company's guidance of 44-45% [2][11] - The improvement in gross margin is attributed to a transition to higher-capacity drives and effective cost management across production and supply chain [2][5] Financial Performance - The company reported an incremental gross margin flow-through of approximately 75%, driven by stable pricing and a decline in costs per terabyte [3] - In the fiscal second quarter, Western Digital shipped over 3.5 million latest-generation ePMR drives, supporting capacities of up to 26TB CMR and 32TB UltraSMR, contributing to a total shipment of 215 exabytes, a 22% year-over-year increase [5] - For the fiscal third quarter, Western Digital expects a non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 47-48% and non-GAAP revenues of $3.2 billion, reflecting a 40% year-over-year increase at the midpoint [6][11] Competitive Landscape - Seagate Technology Holdings plc reported a non-GAAP gross margin of 42.2%, an increase of about 210 basis points quarter over quarter and roughly 670 basis points year over year, driven by the adoption of high-capacity products [7] - Pure Storage, Inc. reported a non-GAAP gross margin of 74.1%, up from 71.9% in the prior year, attributed to increased sales of high-performance FlashArrays and higher hyperscaler shipments [8] - For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Pure Storage expects revenues between $1.02 billion and $1.04 billion, indicating a 17.1% increase at the midpoint from the previous year [9] Market Performance - Over the past three months, WDC's shares have increased by 62.3%, outperforming the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry's growth of 40.4% [12] - WDC's shares are currently trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 22.43X, compared to the industry's 19.26X [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WDC's earnings for fiscal 2026 has been revised up by 17.3% to $8.95 over the past 60 days [14]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported meaningful progress in restoring growth and rebuilding margins that were pressured by tariffs, with expectations for sequential gross margin expansion and a return to earnings growth in the latter half of the year [4][5] - The first quarter saw robust cash generation, allowing the company to pay down over $100 million in debt and return nearly $28 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases [5][6] - The company anticipates over 300 basis points of gross margin expansion from Q1 to Q2, with an additional 300-400 basis points expected by year-end [5][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The transition of APS to the Energizer brand is expected to contribute over $30 million in organic growth, primarily in the third and fourth quarters [5][20] - The company sold approximately $65 million of Panasonic-branded products in Q1, which impacted gross margins but is not expected to recur [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer demand has stabilized, with a strong rebound in December volumes in the U.S., which remains the largest market for the company [11][12] - The company noted a slight increase in private label products at certain retailers, which has resulted in volume growth for those retailers but has eroded category value [39] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company’s strategy focuses on long-term value creation, restoring growth, and rebuilding margins while maintaining a balanced capital allocation strategy [4][6] - The company plans to prioritize debt reduction while also returning capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases [6] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a transitional start to the year due to softening consumer trends and elevated tariff pressures but expressed confidence in the underlying trajectory improving [10][12] - The company expects the category to remain stable, with positive volume growth anticipated due to weather-related demand in January [14][20] Other Important Information - The company is actively managing through elevated tariff pressures, which had a significant impact on gross margins in Q1 but is expected to improve as the year progresses [21][50] - Management emphasized the importance of flexibility in planning to adapt to market uncertainties [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the company viewing the consumer backdrop and category trends? - Management noted a softening in consumer trends at the start of the year but observed a strong rebound in December, indicating stabilization in demand [10][11] Question: What impact do recent winter storms have on guidance? - Management indicated that while the winter storms benefited point-of-sale volumes, it is too early to quantify the overall impact on business guidance [18] Question: Can you elaborate on the strength in December and market share gains? - Management confirmed that the category improved in December, and the company gained market share, expecting to increase distribution and quality in 2026 [31][32] Question: What is the leverage target for the end of the year? - The company aims to achieve a leverage ratio of around 5 or slightly below by year-end, continuing to prioritize debt paydown [41] Question: Are M&A opportunities being considered? - Management stated that they will always look at M&A opportunities, but any potential deals would be leverage neutral and not impact the debt paydown trajectory [42] Question: How are input costs affecting pricing strategies? - Management acknowledged some inflation in input costs but indicated that they have locked in a significant portion of their zinc requirements for 2026, which should mitigate some impacts [60]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reaffirmed its guidance for the fiscal year, expecting category growth to remain in the 0%-1% range for the back half of the year [10][15] - The company experienced a sequential improvement in performance during Q2, consistent with expectations, although market share was down [9][10] - Gross margins are expected to expand in the back half of the year after contracting in the front half, with a projected solid expansion in Q4 [32][36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The household segment faced negative pricing, particularly in the trash bag category, while the overall pricing for the company remained flat [31][39] - The company is focusing on innovation in its trash and litter categories, with plans for a full relaunch of its litter business and new product introductions in the back half of the year [57][102] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The competitive environment has returned to pre-COVID levels, with some categories experiencing heightened promotional activity [10][39] - Consumers are increasingly focused on value, leading to a shift towards larger and smaller pack sizes, impacting pricing strategies [11][31] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is advancing its digital transformation and enhancing execution through a newly modernized ERP system, which is expected to unlock long-term growth opportunities [4][22] - The planned acquisition of GOJO Industries is seen as a decisive step to expand leadership in health and hygiene [4] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about future performance, citing strong innovation plans and demand strategies for the back half of the year [4][29] - The company anticipates that consumer behavior will remain under pressure, but believes it has the right plans to support category and share growth [68][70] Other Important Information - The company is investing in digital capabilities beyond the ERP implementation to enhance overall efficiency and effectiveness [44] - There is a focus on balancing promotional activities with profitability, particularly in competitive categories [58][79] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the competitive environment and promotional activity? - Management noted that competitive activity is largely as expected, with some categories experiencing increased promotional intensity, particularly in litter and home care [10][39] Question: What is the expected impact of the ERP transition on shipments? - The company experienced higher than expected shipments due to the final phase of ERP implementation, which is expected to reverse in the third quarter [21][22] Question: How is the company addressing pricing and promotional strategies? - Management indicated that they are making selective price investments in response to consumer pressure, particularly in the trash bag segment [78][79] Question: What are the expectations for category growth and the Ignite strategy? - Management expects category growth to return to historical levels, which is necessary to achieve the Ignite strategy's target of 3%-5% net sales growth [69][70]

Key Takeaways CONMED reported Q4 adjusted EPS of $1.43, surpassing estimates on strong surgical segment performance.CNMD's Q4 revenue rose to $373.2 million, led by Orthopedic and General Surgery product line strength.CONMED's gross margin expanded 116 bps to 58.5%, reflecting improved profitability in Q4.CONMED Corporation (CNMD) delivered adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.43 in the fourth quarter of 2025, up 6.7% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.6%.The adjustments in ...

Core Insights - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (MMSI) is positioned for growth due to a strong product portfolio and optimistic performance outlook for 2025, despite facing macroeconomic headwinds and forex volatility [2][3] Growth Drivers - WRAPSODY CIE is a significant growth engine for MMSI, supported by favorable reimbursement dynamics and early signs of adoption among physicians [6][8] - The initiation of outpatient and ASC reimbursement under Transitional Pass-Through (TPT) in January 2026 could expand the addressable market [7] - New product launches and acquisitions are expected to enhance the high-margin product mix, supporting organic growth and margin expansion [10][11] Financial Performance - MMSI has a market capitalization of $4.8 billion and projects a 10.3% growth rate over the next five years [3] - The company has delivered an average earnings surprise of 14.1% over the past four quarters [3] - A long-term target includes generating over $400 million in cumulative free cash flow through 2026, driven by gross margin expansion [13][14] Challenges - Reimbursement and policy uncertainty remain key risks, particularly regarding the timing of TPT reimbursement for WRAPSODY [15][16] - Macroeconomic headwinds, especially in China, could affect growth consistency and lead to revenue volatility in the OEM business [17][18] Estimate Trends - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS has increased by 1.5% to $4.05 for 2026, with first-quarter 2026 revenue estimates at $379.6 million, indicating a 6.8% rise year-over-year [19]

Core Insights - AngioDynamics, Inc. (ANGO) reported breakeven adjusted earnings per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, an improvement from a loss of 4 cents in the same quarter last year, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 10 cents [1][2] - The company’s pro-forma revenues for the fiscal second quarter reached $79.4 million, reflecting an 8.8% year-over-year increase and exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.5% [3][10] - Despite the positive financial results, shares of AngioDynamics fell nearly 13.5% in the trading session following the announcement [4] Revenue Analysis - U.S. net revenues for the quarter totaled $67.6 million, up 7.8% year over year, surpassing the estimate of $62.3 million [5] - Pro-forma international revenues were $11.8 million, an 8.8% increase from the previous year, exceeding the projection of $10.2 million [5] Segment Performance - The Med Tech segment reported pro-forma net sales of $35.7 million, a 13% increase year over year, outperforming the estimate of $32.7 million [6] - Key drivers included Auryon sales of $16.3 million (up 18.6% year over year) and Mechanical Thrombectomy revenues of $11 million (up 3.9% year over year) [7] - Pro-forma Med Device revenues totaled $43.8 million, reflecting a 5.6% increase compared to the previous year, also exceeding the estimate of $39.9 million [8] Margin and Expense Analysis - AngioDynamics' pro forma gross profit rose 14% to $44.8 million, with gross margin expanding by 170 basis points to 56.4%, surpassing the projected margin of 54.2% [11][10] - Sales and marketing expenses increased by 4.4% year over year to $26.7 million, while R&D expenses rose by 20.7% to $7.8 million [12] Cash Position - The company ended the second quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $41.6 million, up from $38.8 million at the end of the previous quarter, with no debt on its balance sheet [13] Fiscal Year Guidance - AngioDynamics updated its fiscal 2026 sales guidance to a range of $312-$314 million, up from the previous guidance of $308-$313 million [14] - The company anticipates Med Tech revenue growth of 14-16% and flat to 1% growth for Med Device revenues [15] - Adjusted loss per share is projected to be between 33 cents and 23 cents, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate at a loss of 28 cents per share [16] Overall Assessment - AngioDynamics demonstrated strong execution in the second quarter, with revenue growth driven by the higher-margin Med Tech portfolio, which now accounts for 45% of total revenue [17] - Auryon continues to be a significant growth driver, achieving its 18th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth [18] - The Mechanical Thrombectomy segment showed mid-single-digit growth, with regulatory advancements expected to enhance adoption and clinical use [19]

Core Insights - Zumiez Inc. reported a significant increase in earnings per share for the third quarter, rising to $0.55 from $0.06 in the previous year, driven by strong sales growth and improved profitability [1][2][5] - Comparable sales for the third quarter increased by 7.6%, with North American comparable sales rising by 10.0% [1][2][5] - The company has seen a positive start to the fourth quarter, with comparable sales up 6.6% to date [1][5][6] Financial Performance - Net sales for the third quarter increased by 7.5% to $239.1 million, compared to $222.5 million in the same period last year [2][12] - Net income for the third quarter was $9.2 million, a significant improvement from $1.2 million in the prior year [2][12] - For the first nine months of fiscal 2025, total net sales increased by 4.5% to $637.7 million, with a net loss of $6.2 million, an improvement from a loss of $16.5 million in the same period last year [3][12] Cash Flow and Share Repurchase - As of November 1, 2025, the company had cash and current marketable securities totaling $104.5 million, up from $99.3 million a year earlier [4] - The company repurchased 0.3 million shares during the third quarter at an average cost of $18.61 per share, totaling $5.4 million [4][12] Fourth Quarter Outlook - The company projects fourth quarter net sales to be between $291 million and $296 million, representing a growth of 4.0% to 6.0% [7] - Expected consolidated operating margins for the fourth quarter are between 8.0% and 8.5%, with earnings per diluted share estimated at approximately $0.97 to $1.07 [7] Store Operations - Zumiez opened 6 new stores in fiscal 2025, including 5 in North America and 1 in Australia [7][10]