Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q2 2026, net sales were $118.2 million, reflecting a 9% increase from $108.5 million in the prior year quarter, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year sales growth [12] - GAAP operating income was $9.0 million, or 7.6% of sales, compared to $11.7 million in the prior year quarter, which included a $5 million gain from the sale of a manufacturing facility [12][13] - Current quarter operating income increased 35% compared to adjusted operating income of $6.7 million or 6.1% of sales in the prior year quarter [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The increase in sales was primarily driven by higher unit volume in sourced soft seating products and pricing from tariff surcharges, partially offset by lower unit volume in made-to-order soft seating products and Homestyles branded ready-to-assemble products [12] - Sales order backlog at the end of the period was $82.4 million, which includes estimated tariff surcharges [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Industry demand remains uneven, with consumer behavior showing variability due to economic uncertainty and inflation concerns [8] - Feedback from retail partners indicates that consumer engagement fluctuates, impacting overall industry demand [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on agility, discipline, and long-term value creation, with a strong emphasis on new product introductions and strategic account growth [4][5] - Investments in consumer insights, product development, and innovation are aimed at improving the effectiveness of new launches and accelerating adoption across multiple categories [5] - The company is evaluating broader cost reduction opportunities and alternative supply chain options to strengthen its long-term position [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The external environment is expected to remain unpredictable, with tariff policies evolving and consumer demand patterns being inconsistent [17] - The company is confident in its ability to manage near-term volatility while continuing to invest in growth platforms that support sustained share gains [10][17] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with a cash balance of $36.8 million and working capital of $126 million, with no bank debt [13] - The increase in working capital was driven by higher cost inventory due to tariffs and an intentional increase in safety stock of top-selling products [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about unit volumes and pricing as far as how that impacted the quarter? - The tariff revenue in the quarter was approximately $9.5 million, with unit volumes relatively flat compared to the prior quarter, although some categories saw gains while others experienced declines [19][20] Question: What portion of your sales is now coming from new products? - Over the last 6-8 quarters, 30%-40% of overall sales have been derived from new products, which is a substantial driver for gaining market share [22] Question: Are there additional retailers that you think you may be underpenetrated in? - The company has strong relationships with 20 large independent retailers and sees significant growth potential with emerging relationships [24][26] Question: How do you expect to offset tariff impacts going forward? - The company has been able to mitigate tariff impacts through pricing actions and cost savings initiatives, but expects some margin dilution in the second half of the fiscal year due to higher cost inventory [27][30] Question: Was there anything unusual regarding the tax rate this quarter? - There was a slight impact related to foreign taxes, but the tax rate going forward is expected to align more closely with the full-year tax rate [31]

Summary of NowVertical Group Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: NowVertical Group Inc. (OTCPK:NOWV.F) - **Industry**: Data and AI solutions for large enterprises - **Core Business**: Transforming complex data environments into measurable business outcomes, focusing on increasing revenue, reducing costs, and generating operational efficiencies [4][5] Key Points and Arguments Shift in Business Strategy - Transition from a focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to organic growth, with structural improvements positioning the company for significant opportunities in the data and AI sector [2][5] Operational Momentum - Recent quarters have shown consistent operational momentum, although there was a setback in Q2 due to: 1. Transition to multi-year reseller contracts affecting revenue recognition under IFRS [9] 2. Delays in public sector contracts in Brazil impacting revenue timing [10] 3. Restructuring operations in Chile to build a unified brand strategy [10] - Strategic accounts have shown growth of 40% year-over-year, indicating strong wallet expansion among blue-chip clients [12][13] Client Engagement and Success Stories - Notable client engagements include: - The Economist: Unified data platform leading to a 9% increase in subscriber retention [6] - Palo Alto Networks: Improved partner attribution by 50% [6] - Naranja X: AI deployment to identify high-value clients for better engagement [6] - The company has 250 clients globally, with around 100 being enterprise clients [7] Strategic Accounts Program - The strategic accounts program targets large clients with over $500 million in annual revenue, focusing on data and AI transformation [14][15] - Growth in clients generating over $1 million in annual spend has increased from three to eight [15] Partnerships and Market Expansion - Strong partnerships, particularly with Google Cloud, have driven success in Latin America and are being expanded to the UK market [17][19] - Google Cloud Premier Partner status has facilitated significant project engagements, with a notable increase in partner marketing funds [20] Financial Health and Balance Sheet - Significant progress in cleaning up the balance sheet, including paying down debt and restructuring convertible debt [21][22] - New lender relationship with HSBC has reduced the cost of capital, allowing for organic and inorganic growth opportunities [24] M&A Strategy - M&A remains a core part of the business strategy, focusing on integration-led growth with targets in North America, the UK, and Central Europe [26][27] - The company aims to integrate acquired assets quickly to enhance operational efficiency [26] Future Growth and Investment - The company is balancing investments in sales capabilities with maintaining EBITDA levels, with a focus on partner-led growth strategies [30] - Opportunities for productization of projects are being explored, particularly around data classification and AI enablement [31] Additional Important Information - The company has a strong focus on customer and finance data, which is its competitive advantage [16] - The management team emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clean cap table to avoid unnecessary dilution [24] - The company is actively looking to leverage its partnerships to drive growth and efficiency in sales processes [30]