Question-and-Answer SessionToday's discussion is going to be a fireside chat. So maybe I'll kick it off with you, Ralph. You've done a ton to transform the company over the past few years. Maybe just talk a little bit about what are your -- what have you done? And what are your current areas of focus as we move into 2026?Ralph AndrettaPresident, CEO & Director Brian, thank you, and thank you for recognizing what we've done. And I think it's going to be more of the same. It's -- I've got a very boring answer ...

Summary of Twist Bioscience Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Twist Bioscience (NasdaqGS:TWST) - **Industry**: Biotechnology, specifically focusing on DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis - **Key Customers**: Academic researchers, clinical diagnostic companies, biopharmaceutical companies, industrial chemical companies [1][2] Financial Performance - **Q4 Revenue**: $99 million - **Annual Revenue**: $376.6 million - **Guidance Exceeded**: Exceeded initial guidance by approximately $7 million despite a challenging economic environment [8][9] - **Gross Margin Improvement**: Increased by 20 percentage points over the last two years, now above 50% [9] - **Agility Beta Break-Even**: Projected to reach break-even by Q4 2026, with a loss of $8 million in the last quarter [9][10] Market Dynamics - **Stock Performance**: Despite strong quarterly updates, the stock is down over 40% year-to-date, indicating a disconnect between market perception and company performance [2][3] - **NGS Segment**: - Revenue of $208 million last year, accounting for about 55% of total sales, with over 20% year-over-year growth. - Guidance for fiscal 2026 implies about 12% growth [25][29] - Addressable market for MRD liquid biopsy estimated at $2.2 billion [25] - Overall NGS opportunity estimated at $3 billion with less than 10% market share [29] Customer Dynamics - **Key Customer Transition**: One significant NGS customer transitioning from clinical trials to commercial ramp, causing short-term revenue fluctuations [10][34] - **Volume Growth**: Excluding the impact of the key customer, the business is growing at approximately 20% [34][36] Strategic Insights - **R&D Focus**: Shifted from gross margin optimization to revenue growth, with flat operating expenses from 2022 to 2025 while growing revenue by 85% [16][17] - **Market Adaptability**: The company is positioned to pivot based on market dynamics, with a blended R&D approach across segments [20][23] - **Emerging Opportunities**: Identified new revenue streams from AI companies, with over $25 million in order growth anticipated from 2024 to 2025 [21][22] Pricing and Sales Strategy - **Pricing Dynamics**: Average Selling Price (ASP) decreased by 11% in Q4, attributed to increased volume in therapeutics and competitive pricing strategies [53][55] - **Pharma Orders**: Significant pharma orders in Q4 are expected to provide visibility and revenue growth in the first half of the fiscal year [56][57] Future Outlook - **Growth Potential**: The company aims to leverage its technology and market position to explore new revenue opportunities, with a focus on maintaining a competitive edge in both NGS and DNA synthesis segments [20][24] - **Long-term Vision**: Emphasis on adaptability and customer proximity to capitalize on emerging market trends and demands [23][24] Conclusion - Twist Bioscience demonstrates strong financial performance and growth potential despite market challenges. The company is strategically positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the biotechnology sector while addressing short-term customer dynamics and pricing strategies.

Summary of Twist Bioscience Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Twist Bioscience (NasdaqGS:TWST) - **Industry**: Biotechnology, specifically focusing on DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis - **Key Customers**: Academic researchers, clinical diagnostic companies, biopharmaceutical companies, industrial chemical companies [1][2] Financial Performance - **Q4 Revenue**: $99 million - **Annual Revenue**: $376.6 million - **Guidance Exceeded**: Exceeded initial guidance by approximately $7 million despite a challenging economic environment [8][9] - **Gross Margin Improvement**: Increased by 20 percentage points over the last two years, now above 50% [9] - **Adjusted EBITDA**: Loss of $8 million in Q4, with a target to reach break-even by Q4 2026 [9][10] Market Dynamics - **Stock Performance**: Despite strong financial results, the stock is down over 40% year-to-date, indicating a disconnect between market perception and company performance [2][3] - **NGS Segment**: - Revenue of $208 million last year, accounting for about 55% of total sales, with over 20% year-over-year growth. - Guidance for fiscal 2026 implies about 12% growth [25][29] - Addressable market for MRD liquid biopsy estimated at $2.2 billion [25] - Overall NGS opportunity estimated at $3 billion with less than 10% market share [29] Customer Dynamics - **Key Customer Transition**: One significant NGS customer transitioning from clinical trials to commercial ramp, causing short-term revenue fluctuations [10][34] - **Growth Outside Diagnostics**: Strong performance in microarray conversion and new sequencer offerings [34][35] Strategic Insights - **R&D Focus**: Shifted from gross margin optimization to revenue growth, with a flat OPEX from 2022 to 2025 while growing revenue by 85% [16][17] - **Market Adaptability**: The company is positioned to pivot based on market dynamics, with a blended R&D approach across segments [20][23] - **Emerging Opportunities**: New revenue streams from AI-related services and antibody discovery, with significant order growth anticipated [21][22] Pricing and Volume Trends - **ASP Dynamics**: Average Selling Price (ASP) decreased by 11% in Q4, attributed to increased volume in therapeutics and competitive pricing strategies [53][55] - **Pharma Orders**: A record pharma order in Q4 is expected to provide visibility and revenue ramp in the first half of the year [56][57] Future Outlook - **Growth Projections**: The company aims for continued growth in both NGS and DNA synthesis/protein solutions, with potential for new revenue streams emerging from evolving market needs [19][20][22] - **Long-term Strategy**: Focus on maintaining high gross margins while pursuing aggressive growth strategies across various segments [18][24] Conclusion - Twist Bioscience is navigating a complex market landscape with strong financial performance and strategic adaptability. The company is poised for growth, leveraging its technological advantages and expanding into new market opportunities while addressing short-term challenges related to customer transitions and market perceptions.

Core Points - Stewards Inc. will officially change its name and ticker symbol to SWRD on November 14, 2025, marking a significant milestone in its corporate evolution [1][2][3] - The name change aligns with the company's ongoing preparations for an uplisting to the Nasdaq Capital Market, which is currently under regulatory review [2][3] - The company emphasizes its commitment to responsible growth and disciplined governance, reflecting its heritage and future direction [3] Company Developments - Recent corporate developments include leadership enhancements, balance sheet strengthening, and strategic progress across various operating segments [4] - Stewards Inc. operates as a diversified financial platform focusing on private credit, real assets, and digital finance, providing scalable financing solutions to small and mid-sized businesses in the U.S. [5] - The company is building a portfolio of income-producing real estate and digital-treasury assets to enhance balance sheet stability [5]

Bank of America's Strategic Priorities - Bank of America aims to drive organic growth while managing risk and expenses to deliver industry-leading shareholder value through strong profitability and capital management[6, 64] - The company focuses on executing a customer and client-focused model leveraging industry-leading platforms across integrated world-class businesses[6] - Bank of America emphasizes technology leadership fueled by continuous investments in both high-tech and high-touch capabilities[6] Financial Performance and Targets - Bank of America's Consumer Banking segment reported $108 billion in net income in 2024 with a 25% return on average allocated capital[76] - The Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM) segment had $43 billion in net income in 2024 with a 23% return on average allocated capital[207] - The Global Banking segment's net income was $81 billion in 2024 with a 17% return on average allocated capital[320] - The Global Markets segment's net income was $56 billion in 2024 with a 12% return on average allocated capital[552] Growth and Innovation - Bank of America is investing over $100 billion in technology over the past decade, including $15 billion+ in data capabilities since 2021[43] - The company is expanding its footprint in growth markets, with plans for 6 additional markets through 2028[161] - Bank of America is leveraging AI to drive innovation and improve productivity, with investments in Erica and AI-enabled processes[43]

Core Viewpoint - Bank of America has announced key senior leadership appointments aimed at enhancing its global capabilities and driving long-term growth and returns for clients, shareholders, and communities [2][3]. Leadership Appointments - Dean Athanasia and Jim DeMare have been appointed as Co-Presidents of Bank of America, while Alastair Borthwick has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) [2][5]. - Athanasia and DeMare will oversee the company's eight lines of business and lead initiatives focused on market share and returns, AI-based tools, and operational excellence [6][7]. Experience and Achievements - Athanasia and DeMare bring nearly 60 years of combined experience in financial services, having successfully transformed businesses to focus on client needs and achieve industry-leading results [3][8]. - Under their leadership, Bank of America has reported significant growth metrics, including 26 consecutive quarters of net checking account growth and a 32% increase in deposits since 2019 [8]. Financial Stewardship - Alastair Borthwick has served as CFO for four years, strengthening the company's balance sheet and returning $7.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in the second quarter of the year [9]. - His role includes managing the global real estate portfolio and working closely with business leaders to enhance financial performance [9]. Strategic Focus - The company emphasizes a strategy of Responsible Growth, aiming to grow sustainably while serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients [4][10]. - The leadership team will focus on increasing market share, leveraging scale, and managing costs while continuing to innovate with AI tools [6][7].