Question-and-Answer SessionThomas MollStephens Inc., Research Division So this conference is intended for both specialists and generalist investors. And with that in mind, I'll start with some introductory questions for the generalist in the audience who maybe aren't yet familiar with Cognex and then we'll move to some of the more specific questions. If at any point you want to ask a question directly by all means show up a hand and ask 1 or more than 1 question that might be on your mind. But just to kick ...

Summary of Zebra Technologies FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Zebra Technologies (NasdaqGS: ZBRA) - **Event**: FY Conference Call on November 18, 2025 - **Key Speakers**: Nathan Winters (CFO), Mike Steele (VP of Finance and Investor Relations) Core Industry Insights - **Industry**: Technology and Automation Solutions for Frontline Operations - **Vision**: Transition from "Enterprise Asset Intelligence" to "Enabling Intelligent Operations" to reflect the company's evolution and current offerings [4][6] Key Points and Arguments 1. **Resegmentation of Business**: Zebra has resegmented its operations into two new segments: Connected Frontline and Asset Visibility and Automation, to better align with its current strategy and offerings [6][8] 2. **ELO Acquisition**: The $1.3 billion acquisition of ELO aims to enhance the frontline experience by integrating mobile computing with point-of-sale solutions, expected to generate $400 million in revenue and provide immediate accretive benefits [9][10] 3. **Demand Environment**: The company is experiencing uneven demand across regions, with strong performance in North America and Asia-Pacific, while Europe shows tepid demand, particularly in Germany and France [12][14] 4. **Customer Capital Planning**: Zebra maintains a two- to three-year roadmap with strategic customers, indicating a stable outlook for project deployments, although uncertainty remains regarding the timing of capital expenditures [15][16] 5. **Growth Projections**: The company anticipates a long-term compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%-7%, driven by market leadership in mobile computing and expansion into new markets [25][26] 6. **RFID Technology**: Zebra sees RFID as a significant growth opportunity, with double-digit growth in recent years, emphasizing its role in inventory management and theft prevention [46][48] 7. **Machine Vision**: The integration of machine vision technologies is expected to enhance Zebra's competitive positioning, particularly in high-end inspection markets [52][53] 8. **Healthcare Market**: Adoption in healthcare is slower due to the nature of the industry, but Zebra remains optimistic about long-term growth opportunities, especially with the ELO acquisition [61][63] 9. **Omnichannel Retail**: The company has fully absorbed capacity constraints from previous years and is seeing a return to normal business levels, with ongoing discussions about technology refreshes and new applications [65][67] Additional Important Insights - **Tariff Mitigation**: Zebra has successfully reduced the expected gross profit headwinds from tariffs from $70 million to less than $25 million through proactive pricing and supply chain diversification [31][32] - **AI Integration**: The company is leveraging AI to enhance internal productivity and develop customer-facing applications, focusing on frontline worker solutions [35][39] - **Market Challenges**: Manufacturing remains subdued, with muted growth due to economic uncertainty, particularly in Europe and automotive sectors [57][59] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during the Zebra Technologies FY Conference Call, highlighting the company's focus on innovation, market adaptation, and long-term growth potential.

Core Insights - Kyocera Corporation has developed a Triple Lens AI-Based High-Resolution Depth Sensor for close imaging [1] - The new sensor utilizes three lenses and proprietary AI technology to detect semi-transparent, thin, and fine line-shaped objects [1] - This technology improves the accuracy of measuring distance and size of objects that are difficult to detect with traditional methods [1] Company Overview - Kyocera Corporation is led by President Hideo Tanimoto [1] - The company is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under the ticker 6971 [1] Industry Implications - The introduction of advanced imaging technology like the Triple Lens AI-Based Depth Sensor may enhance applications in various fields, including robotics, medical imaging, and manufacturing [1] - The ability to accurately measure previously hard-to-detect objects could lead to innovations in product design and quality control processes [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record quarterly sales, non-GAAP earnings per share, and free cash flow, with sales increasing by 6.7% year-over-year and non-GAAP earnings rising by 9.2% [4] - Free cash flow reached a record $314 million, and total new orders also set a quarterly record [4] - The full-year sales outlook was raised from $6.03 billion to $6.06 billion due to strong performance [4][5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Digital Imaging segment, sales increased by 2.2%, with growth in Teledyne FLIR sales and modest increases in legacy DALSA and e2v businesses [8] - The Instrumentation segment saw a 3.9% increase in total sales, driven by marine instruments and environmental instruments [10] - Aerospace & Defense Electronics segment sales surged by 37.6%, primarily due to acquisitions and organic growth [11] - Engineered Systems segment revenue decreased by 8.1%, but operating margin increased by 30 basis points [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that sales related to the U.S. government could be affected by the ongoing government shutdown, potentially impacting about 25% of sales [5][6] - Sales to customers in China represented only 4% of total sales, with minimal expected impact from being designated as an unreliable entity [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on pursuing significant contract opportunities in defense-related businesses, despite the current government shutdown [5] - There is a strong emphasis on maintaining a robust balance sheet while being aggressive in M&A activities, with $770 million spent on acquisitions year-to-date [7][13] - The company is well-positioned in growing markets, particularly in unmanned systems and space-based electronics [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's resilience despite near-term challenges, citing a diverse portfolio that mitigates market volatility [12] - The ongoing need for new energy sources is positively impacting instrumentation businesses, and there is optimism for growth in defense spending in Europe [13][55] - The company anticipates a good year in 2026, barring unforeseen global events, with positive trends expected in defense and commercial domains [57] Other Important Information - Cash flow from operating activities was $343.1 million, up from $249.8 million in the previous year, with free cash flow also increasing significantly [14] - The company ended the quarter with $2.0 billion in net debt, indicating a strong financial position [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on growth across segments - Management noted a 6.7% growth across the portfolio, with marine businesses performing strongly and some variations in instrument businesses [20] Question: Digital imaging segment performance - Digital imaging saw a 3.4% growth in industrial and scientific vision systems, with expectations for margin improvement moving forward [22][23] Question: Digital imaging margins and future expectations - Margins are expected to recover in Q4 and 2024, with a focus on maintaining cost reductions [29][30] Question: Book-to-bill ratios across segments - Digital Imaging had a book-to-bill ratio of 1.12x, while Instrumentation was at 0.9x, and Aerospace & Defense Electronics was at 0.84x [34] Question: Potential large contracts in defense - Management highlighted near-term opportunities in unmanned systems and loitering munitions programs, with expected orders in the range of millions of dollars [40][41] Question: Concerns about critical minerals availability - Management indicated minimal exposure to critical minerals, with diligent measures in place to mitigate risks [46] Question: Future growth in unmanned systems - The company is currently at $500 million in unmanned systems revenue, with expectations for growth in the coming years [84]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the news is that Lingyun Technology's stock experienced a decline of 4.70% on October 10, with a trading volume of 898 million yuan, indicating potential market volatility [1] - As of October 10, Lingyun Technology's financing balance reached 719 million yuan, accounting for 3.56% of its market capitalization, which is above the 90th percentile of the past year, suggesting a high level of financing activity [1] - The company reported a net financing outflow of 35.57 million yuan on the same day, with a total financing buy amount of 121 million yuan and a repayment of 156 million yuan [1] Group 2 - As of September 30, the number of shareholders for Lingyun Technology increased by 5.02% to 28,000, while the average circulating shares per person decreased by 4.78% to 16,458 shares [2] - For the first half of 2025, Lingyun Technology achieved a revenue of 1.368 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year growth of 25.73%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 96.08 million yuan, up 10.10% year-on-year [2] - Since its A-share listing, Lingyun Technology has distributed a total of 92.28 million yuan in dividends [2]

Core Viewpoint - The company, Sytake (301568.SZ), focuses on the field of machine vision inspection equipment, specifically in 3D solder paste inspection (3D SPI) and 3D automated optical inspection (3D AOI) [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Sytake's core products are 3D SPI and 3D AOI, which are primarily used for quality control in the electronic assembly sector [1] - The company's business does not involve the production of AR glasses [1] Group 2: Industry Application - The products are applied in quality inspection processes for PCB SMT production lines and semiconductor back-end packaging processes [1]

Summary of Cognex Conference Call Company Overview - **Company Name**: Cognex - **Industry**: Industrial Automation and Machine Vision - **CFO**: Dennis Fear, in the role for about a year [1][2] Core Business and Market Position - Cognex specializes in converting real-world images into actionable data through machine vision technology, primarily for factory automation [3] - The company is recognized as a technology leader in both pre-AI and AI-enhanced machine vision [4] - The market is attractive due to factors such as cost optimization, reshoring of manufacturing, and labor shortages [4] Financial Performance - Cognex has historically maintained an adjusted EBITDA margin of around 28%, which has recently compressed [4] - The company is refocusing on profitability under new leadership, with optimism for future performance [5] Market Trends and Visibility - The largest end market for Cognex is logistics and warehouse automation, accounting for 24% of business [9] - Other significant markets include automotive, packaging, consumer electronics, and semiconductors [10] - Logistics has shown strong growth potential due to low penetration of machine vision technology [11] - Positive trends noted in packaging and early signs of recovery in consumer electronics due to reshoring [12] Margin Improvement Initiatives - Cognex has seen a year-over-year EPS increase and is trending towards a 20% adjusted EBITDA margin [14] - The company is focusing on operational efficiency and cost control, with a 3% reduction in operating expenses year-over-year [15][16] Growth Strategy - Cognex's growth strategy includes a focus on organic growth through market penetration and M&A [17][22] - The company aims for a 4% underlying market growth and 6-7% penetration growth through AI applications and reaching new customers [20][21] - M&A is considered a smaller component of the growth strategy, focusing on synergistic businesses with a clear path to 20-30% adjusted EBITDA [22] Product Development - The introduction of OneVision, a cloud-based training tool for machine vision systems, aims to enhance customer access to deep learning applications [24][25] - OneVision allows customers to improve their machine vision models using cloud computing while maintaining device-level performance and cybersecurity [26][27] Customer Base and Sales Strategy - Cognex is shifting its sales strategy to target a broader customer base, moving beyond high-concentration customers [43][44] - The company is hiring new sales personnel to penetrate the market more effectively, focusing on both new and existing customers [44][46] - The initiative aims to tap into different buyers within existing accounts, enhancing overall sales efficiency [46] Competitive Landscape - Concerns about smaller players and large tech companies entering the machine vision space are acknowledged, but Cognex believes its established accuracy and device-level optimization provide a competitive edge [32][33][34] - The company emphasizes its ability to maintain high accuracy and efficiency in industrial machine vision tasks, which are critical for success [35][36] Leadership and Execution - A new leadership team has been established to drive sales, growth, and innovation, with a focus on aligning strategic objectives [38][39] - The emphasis is on focused execution and disciplined cost management to achieve growth targets [42] Conclusion - Cognex is positioned for growth in the industrial automation sector, leveraging AI and machine vision technology while addressing profitability and market expansion through strategic initiatives and leadership alignment [5][22][42]

Valens Semiconductor (VLN) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company Name**: Valens Semiconductor - **Industry**: Semiconductor, High-Performance Connectivity - **Established**: Approximately 20 years ago - **Public Listing**: NYSE since 2021 - **Employees**: 260 - **Chipsets Sold**: Over 40 million - **Q2 2025 Revenue**: $17.1 million - **Total Addressable Market**: $5 billion - **R&D Investment**: $500 million with 125 patents [4][3][12] Core Business Segments - **Cross-Industry Business**: - **Verticals**: Professional audio/video, industrial, and machine vision - **Key Customers**: Crestron, Epson, Panasonic, Siemens, Medtronic [5][6][7][8] - **Market Opportunity**: Video conferencing expected to reach $350 million by 2029 [8] - **Automotive Segment**: - **Focus**: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) - **Key Customer**: Mercedes, with design wins from Mobileye expected to generate revenue from late 2026 [12][15][16] - **Market Opportunity**: Expected to reach $4.5 billion by 2029 [12] - **Industrial Machine Vision**: - **Market Growth**: Driven by factory automation and e-commerce [20] - **Market Opportunity**: Expected to reach nearly $500 million by 2029 [20] - **Medical Applications**: - **Focus**: Single-use endoscopy with potential revenue of $600 million annually [24][25] Financial Performance - **2019 Revenue**: $60 million - **2020 Revenue**: $60 million - **2021 Revenue**: $71 million - **2022 Revenue**: $91 million (peak year due to COVID-19 inventory buildup) [27] - **2023 Revenue**: $84 million - **2024 Revenue**: $58 million (decline due to inventory adjustments) [28] - **2025 Revenue Guidance**: $66 to $71 million, representing an 18% year-over-year growth [29][30] Key Financial Metrics - **Gross Margin**: 63.5% for 2025, with automotive at 50% [30] - **EBITDA Loss**: $4 million expected in 2025, with a forecasted loss of $6.8 to $7.4 million in Q3 [30][31] - **Cash Balance**: $103 million at the end of the quarter [31] Strategic Outlook - **Long-Term Revenue Target**: $220 to $300 million by 2029, with a growth rate of 30% to 40% year-over-year [33] - **Growth Drivers**: Recovery in professional audio/video, new revenue from machine vision and ADAS starting in 2027, and medical applications [34][35] - **Market Position**: Strong technological advantages in handling electromagnetic interference and high-resolution video delivery [14][19] Challenges and Risks - **Dependence on Mercedes**: Current automotive revenue is heavily reliant on one customer, with challenges due to tariffs impacting performance [41][42] - **Long Design Cycles**: Revenue from new verticals may take time to materialize due to lengthy design and evaluation processes [68][72] Additional Insights - **Product Development**: New chip (VS6320) aimed at expanding market presence in smaller video conferencing rooms [10][11][56] - **Acquisition of Acronym**: Aimed at enhancing USB connectivity solutions, expected to complement existing product offerings [60][62] - **R&D Strategy**: Focus on long-term investment with expected revenue generation from new markets in the coming years [67][69] This summary encapsulates the key points from the Valens Semiconductor FY Conference, highlighting the company's strategic direction, financial performance, and market opportunities.

Group 1 - The stock of Cognex is considered a buy due to a combination of underlying secular growth and the potential for improving cyclical growth [1] - The increasing adoption of automation and machine vision technologies is crucial for modern manufacturing, especially in reshoring from lower labor cost countries [2] - Cognex's machine vision technology enhances efficiency in assembly lines and logistics by performing tasks more effectively than human capabilities [2] Group 2 - The potential of deep learning through AI is significant for Cognex, as its software can learn from examples to identify production anomalies, positioning the company as a player in the AI evolution [3] - Cognex's growth is influenced by cyclical factors, particularly its exposure to capital spending in interest-rate-sensitive sectors like automotive and consumer electronics [4] - High interest rates have negatively impacted Cognex's growth prospects, but a potential decrease in rates could lead to increased capital spending from automakers and electronics companies, benefiting Cognex [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenues of $372 million for Q2 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of $21 million or 6% compared to Q2 2024, and a quarter-over-quarter increase of $14 million or 4% compared to Q1 2025 [15][18] - Net profit for Q2 2025 was $47 million, also $7 million higher quarter-over-quarter, resulting in earnings per share of $0.42 basic and $0.41 diluted [15][18] - Gross profit and operating profit for Q2 2025 were $80 million and $40 million respectively, each higher than the prior quarter by $7 million [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The RF Infrastructure business grew significantly, contributing over $90 million in revenues, which accounted for 25% of corporate revenues, up from 14% in the same period of 2024 [6][15] - The company has seen a fivefold increase in silicon photonics products moving from preproduction to production phase compared to the same period in 2024 [7] - RF SOI revenue increased over 20% from Q1 to Q2 2025 and is expected to grow close to 30% from Q2 to Q3 2025 [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing strong demand in the optical transceiver market, particularly for silicon germanium and silicon photonics technologies [5][6] - Utilization rates in various fabs were reported, with Fab two and Fab nine operating at about 60% utilization, while Fab three was fully utilized at 85% [12][13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is repurposing multiple factories to increase capacity for RF infrastructure, specifically silicon germanium and silicon photonics [4][5] - Continued investment in capacity and R&D is planned throughout 2025, with further growth expected in 2026 [5][19] - The company aims to achieve $2.7 billion in annual revenue at full loading of existing fabs, targeting $560 million in operating profits and $500 million in net profit [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in maintaining the number one market share position in the optical transceiver market, with strong customer qualifications and demand [5][6] - The company anticipates strong sequential growth throughout the second half of 2025, with Q3 revenues expected to be around $395 million [4][5] - Management noted that the increase in silicon germanium and silicon photonics capacity will align with customer demand forecasts [85] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with total assets of $3.2 billion and shareholders' equity reaching a record of $2.8 billion [18] - The company is engaged in various strategic partnerships and investments, including a $500 million allocation for fab equipment in Italy [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: What segments are expected to contribute to sequential growth in the second half of the year? - Management indicated that RF Infrastructure, particularly silicon germanium and silicon photonics, will be the primary contributors, with power management and RF SOI also expected to show strong growth [24][25] Question: Is the company fully booked through the end of the year? - Management confirmed that while there is room for immediate upsides, the focus remains on utilizing additional capacity for silicon germanium and silicon photonics [27][28] Question: Can you elaborate on the silicon photonics technology supporting receive functions? - Management explained that the new technology for the receive function could add approximately 20% to the served market and expects significant growth in silicon photonics shipments in Q4 2025 [38][39] Question: How is the improvement in RF mobile space characterized? - Management noted that the growth is attributed to inventory replenishment and share gains, with existing customers increasing their forecasts [42][62] Question: What is the outlook for operating expenses in 2025? - Management indicated that operating expenses are expected to trend flat to up on a year-over-year basis, maintaining a current run rate of about $40 million per quarter [78] Question: How is cash flow expected to trend with ongoing CapEx? - Management stated that cash from operations is expected to continue its positive trend, while CapEx levels are anticipated to remain stable [74][80]