Core Insights - The article highlights the potential of mid-sized companies as solid investment opportunities, despite their lack of coverage compared to blue-chip stocks [1][2] Company Summaries PC Partner (SGX: PCT) - PC Partner reported a revenue increase of 28.5% year on year to HK$6.4 billion for 1H 2025, with gross profit rising by 19.8% to HK$669.5 million and net profit up by 29% to HK$250.4 million [3] - The launch of Nvidia's RTX 50 Series VGA cards has driven demand for gaming PC upgrades, which is expected to continue into 2H 2025, although supply chain issues with semiconductor chips may hinder sales growth [4] Hiap Hoe (SGX: 5JK) - Hiap Hoe's revenue increased by 5.6% year on year to S$62 million for 1H 2025, while net profit surged by 451.8% to S$5.4 million, largely due to a fair value gain in financial instruments [5] - The company generated a positive free cash flow of S$11.5 million, with hotel revenue rising from S$37.8 million to S$42.4 million due to higher occupancy rates [6] - Despite the resilience of the hospitality industry, the company cautioned about rising costs that could impact profits [7] Frencken Group (SGX: E28) - Frencken Group's revenue rose by 15.7% year on year to S$431.4 million for 1H 2025, with gross profit increasing by 10.2% to S$60.9 million and net profit improving by nearly 10% to S$19.9 million [9] - Free cash flow surged by 558% year on year from S$2.3 million to S$14.9 million, with expectations for stable revenue in 2H 2025 [10] - A new manufacturing facility is set to enhance the Mechatronics division, expected to be completed in 1Q 2027 [11] Golden Agri-Resources (SGX: E5H) - Golden Agri-Resources reported a 20% year-on-year revenue increase to US$6.2 billion for 1H 2025, with gross profit up by 29% to US$869 million and underlying net profit improving by 23% to US$232 million [12] - The strong performance was attributed to higher plantation output and crude palm oil price appreciation, with a capital expenditure target of US$350 million for expansion and replanting [13] Banyan Tree Holdings (SGX: B58) - Banyan Tree's revenue increased by 15% year on year to S$206.1 million for 1H 2025, with core operating profit rising from S$33.2 million to S$39.4 million [14] - Net profit reached S$9 million, up 45% year on year, with the signing of 10 new management contracts across various countries [15]

Shares of Figure Technology Solutions opened at $36 each in New York, 44% above their IPO price of $25 apiece, after a listing raising $787.5 million. Bailey Lipschultz reports on Bloomberg Television. ...

Summary of Xperi (XPER) FY Conference Call - August 27, 2025 Company Overview - Xperi is a technology and solutions provider operating in markets such as connected car, pay TV, consumer electronics, and media platforms, leveraging brands like TiVo, DTS, and IMAX Enhanced [2][4] Core Business Segments 1. **Pay TV** - Xperi provides software and services to cable operators, including interactive programming guides and personalized content discovery [2][3] - Revenue model primarily based on subscriber fees from cable operators in North America and Latin America [3] 2. **Consumer Electronics** - Focuses on audio licensing through DTS, one of the major audio licensors globally [3] - Revenue generated from per unit licensing fees for embedding solutions in various devices [3] 3. **Connected Car** - Offers HD Radio, the sole digital terrestrial radio standard in North America, with licensing fees on a per car basis [4] - Recently developed AutoStage for in-cabin entertainment, targeting advanced advertising and monetization [4][15] 4. **Media Platform** - Developed TiVo OS for smart TVs, focusing on content aggregation and monetization through advertising [5][10] - The TiVo One ad platform connects smart TVs and set-top boxes to monetize consumer engagement [9][10] Growth Potential - The media platform segment is expected to drive significant growth, with a goal of reaching 5 million monthly active users and a $10 average revenue per user (ARPU) [14] - IPTV subscriber growth over 30% in North America and Latin America, with a target of 3 million subscribers by year-end [16] - New product Clear Dialogue, an AI-based dialogue enhancement technology, set to launch in the first half of next year [17] Financial Performance - Revenue for Q3 showed a decline due to minimum guarantees from the previous year, but operating expenses decreased significantly, leading to a slight increase in adjusted EBITDA year-over-year [24][25] - Cash flow is expected to be neutral for the year, with a revenue goal set between $440 million and $460 million [26][27] - Adjusted EBITDA margin target revised to 15-17% due to macroeconomic impacts [27] Strategic Outlook - Xperi aims to build a durable competitive position through its technology-centric business model, leveraging decades of expertise and channel relationships [30] - The company is focused on driving growth in media consumption and enhancing advertiser reach through its platforms [29][30] Key Highlights - Xperi has signed new OEM programs for AutoStage, expanding its footprint in the connected car market [15] - The company has added 80 new broadcasters to support HD Radio, enhancing its automotive ecosystem [15] - Continued relevance of DTS sound technology with contract renewals from major brands like Sony and TCL [16] Conclusion - Xperi is well-positioned for future growth across its diverse business segments, with a strong focus on monetization strategies and technological innovation [30][31]

Core Insights - ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC) reported adjusted earnings of $1.02 per share for Q4 fiscal 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 91 cents, marking a 28% increase from the previous year's earnings of 80 cents [1][8] - The company achieved net revenues of $813 million in the quarter, an 8.9% increase year-over-year, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $773 million [2][8] - For fiscal 2026, ScanSource projects net revenues between $3.1 billion and $3.3 billion, with adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $150 million and $160 million [9] Revenue Performance - Net revenues in the United States and Canada rose by 12.2% to $745 million, while international sales decreased by 17.4% to $68.2 million [2] - Specialty Technology Solutions' revenues increased by 9.2% to $789 million in Q4 fiscal 2025, driven by growth in North America [2] Profitability Metrics - The cost of sales for Q4 was $708 million, up 9.1% year-over-year, with gross profit totaling $105 million, an 8% increase from $97 million in the prior year [4] - Adjusted EBITDA rose by 13% year-over-year to $38.6 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 4.7%, slightly up from 4.6% in the previous year [5] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - As of June 30, 2025, the company reported cash and cash equivalents of $126 million, down from $185 million a year earlier [6] - Operating activities generated $112 million in cash for fiscal 2025, a decrease from $372 million in the prior year [6] Fiscal Year Performance - For fiscal 2025, adjusted earnings per share were $3.57, compared to $3.08 in the prior year, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.47 [7] - Total revenues for fiscal 2025 were $3.04 billion, down 6.7% year-over-year, but still exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.01 billion [7] Share Price Performance - The company's shares have declined by 8.7% over the past year, contrasting with an 18% growth in the industry [10]

Core Viewpoint - CSPI reported strong revenue growth in its fiscal third quarter, driven by the Technology Solutions segment and the AZT PROTECT cybersecurity solution, despite facing margin pressures and a modest net loss [12]. Revenue & Earnings Performances - CSPI generated revenues of $15.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, an 18% increase from $13.1 million in the same period last year [2]. - Product sales rose 29% to $10.2 million, while service revenues increased marginally to $5.3 million [2]. - Gross profit decreased to $4.5 million from $4.6 million, with margins contracting to 29% from 34% due to a higher mix of product revenues and increased component costs [2]. - The company reported a net loss of $0.3 million, or 3 cents per share, compared to a net loss of $0.2 million, or 2 cents per share, a year earlier [2]. Other Key Business Metrics - The Technology Solutions segment achieved a 20% year-over-year revenue increase, driven by strong demand for cloud services and activity in the maritime sector [3]. - The TS division secured a significant Microsoft Azure project for a Florida-based healthcare provider, highlighting CSPI's strength in managed cloud offerings [3]. High-Performance Products (HPP) - The AZT PROTECT cybersecurity solution saw momentum, with new customer deployments in the steel, concrete, and lumber industries, and follow-up contracts in South Africa [4]. - Management noted that reseller partnerships with leading Rockwell Automation distributors are transitioning from early adoption to revenue acceleration, setting the stage for broader penetration in fiscal 2026 [4]. Management Commentary - CEO Victor Dellovo emphasized a land and expand strategy, where initial deployments of AZT PROTECT serve as proof points for broader rollouts across enterprise networks [5]. - Customers reported measurable operational benefits, such as preventing system outages in critical industrial environments, indicating potential for recurring contracts as the installed base grows [5]. Financial Overview - CFO Gary Levine explained that gross margin pressure was due to product mix and higher costs, while operating expenses increased from higher sales and marketing expenditures [6]. - The company ended the quarter with $26.3 million in cash and continued share repurchases, reflecting financial flexibility despite near-term earnings softness [6]. Factors Influencing Performance - Revenue growth was strong, but profitability was limited by a higher weighting of lower-margin product revenues and additional engineering and consulting expenses for AZT PROTECT [7][8]. - Modest service revenue growth tempered the recurring revenue contribution that typically supports margin stability [8]. Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2025, noting momentum in both TS and HPP segments [10]. - There is accelerating interest from resellers and international partners, which could lead to larger contract opportunities [10]. Other Developments - CSPI was added to the Russell 3000 Index, increasing its exposure to institutional investors [11]. - The company authorized a quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share, reflecting a commitment to shareholder returns [11]. - CSPI repurchased over 19,000 shares for $0.3 million, with additional shares available under the 2021 repurchase program [11].

Core Insights - The report highlights a significant gap between business ambitions and IT readiness, raising concerns about wasted investments and cybersecurity risks [1][4][5] - Organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of emerging technologies like generative AI and agentic AI for long-term success, with 73% of executives viewing agentic AI as critical [4][7] - Despite intentions to invest more in generative AI, only 36% of organizations feel prepared to support large-scale AI workloads [7][8] Investment Trends - 78% of organizations plan to increase their investment in generative AI, reflecting growing confidence in its potential [4][7] - 82% of innovation leaders are allocating over 6% of their IT budgets to generative AI-enabled data management [4] - Three-quarters of business executives are increasing investments in cloud, automation, and generative AI despite dissatisfaction with current ROI [7] Infrastructure Challenges - Many organizations are still operating on outdated infrastructure, which hampers the adoption of AI and quantum computing [5][6] - Only 36% of organizations feel confident in their ability to support large-scale generative AI workloads, with even lower readiness for quantum computing (32%) and edge computing (34%) [5][7] - The lack of alignment between business and IT priorities remains a significant challenge [5][6] Cybersecurity Concerns - 85% of organizations describe their cybersecurity posture as reactive, exposing them to serious security risks [8][9] - 17% of organizations experienced a breach in the past year, with downtime costs reaching up to $500,000 per hour [8] - Only 14% of business executives believe their systems are prepared for post-quantum cryptography, highlighting a critical vulnerability [8][9] Strategic Shifts - 62% of business executives are adopting or planning to adopt Zero Trust models, indicating a shift towards more proactive cybersecurity strategies [9] - 61% prioritize cyber recovery, while only 43% have implemented AI-based cybersecurity measures, suggesting room for improvement [9]

Core Insights - NORBIT reported a revenue of NOK 684.4 million in Q2 2025, marking a 63% increase compared to Q2 2024, with an EBIT of NOK 174.2 million and a margin of 25% [1] - Diluted earnings per share rose to NOK 2.06 from NOK 1.20 year-over-year [1] Segment Performance - The Oceans segment generated NOK 239.4 million in revenue, a 22% increase from Q2 2024, with an EBIT margin of 36% [2] - The Connectivity segment reported revenues of NOK 169.8 million, up 67% from the same quarter in 2024, with an EBIT margin of 32% [2] - The Product Innovation & Realization (PIR) segment achieved revenues of NOK 293.1 million, reflecting a growth of 118% from Q2 2024, driven by demand in the defense and security sector, with an EBIT margin of 20% [3] Management Commentary - CEO Per Jørgen Weisethaunet emphasized the company's commitment to delivering tailored technology across various segments, contributing to a well-diversified business model that supports profitable growth [4] - The company maintains a development-oriented mindset, focusing on preparedness and scalability to enhance growth opportunities [5] Outlook - The outlook for NORBIT is positive, with continued high activity across all business segments. The revenue target for 2025 has been raised to NOK 2.5 – 2.6 billion from NOK 2.2 – 2.3 billion, while the EBIT margin is expected to remain around 25% [6]

Core Viewpoint - Neonode Inc. reported a decline in revenues primarily due to challenges in its legacy business, particularly in the printer and automotive infotainment markets, while focusing on expanding business opportunities and advancing its product roadmap for future growth [4]. Financial Summary for Q2 2025 - Revenues from continuing operations were $0.6 million, a decrease of 25.2% compared to Q2 2024 [6]. - License revenues were $0.4 million, down 34.2% year-over-year, attributed to lower demand from legacy customers [6]. - Non-recurring engineering revenues increased by 4.3% to $0.2 million compared to the same period in 2024 [7]. - Operating expenses rose to $2.7 million, a 5.3% increase from Q2 2024 [7]. - The loss from continuing operations was $2.0 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to a loss of $1.7 million, or $0.11 per share in Q2 2024 [8]. Financial Summary for H1 2025 - Revenues from continuing operations totaled $1.1 million, a decrease of 31.1% compared to H1 2024 [9]. - Operating expenses were $5.2 million, a slight decrease of 1.5% from the same period last year [9]. - The loss from continuing operations was $3.8 million, or $0.23 per share, compared to a loss of $3.4 million, or $0.22 per share in H1 2024 [9]. Cash Flow and Financial Position - Cash used by operations in Q2 2025 was $1.7 million, up from $1.2 million in Q2 2024, mainly due to lower net loss and reduced component purchases [10]. - As of June 30, 2025, cash and accounts receivable were $13.6 million, down from $17.2 million as of December 31, 2024 [11]. - Working capital for continuing operations was $12.1 million, compared to $16.1 million at the end of 2024 [11].

Core Insights - ePlus reported Q1 FY2026 results with GAAP revenue of $637.3 million, exceeding analyst estimates of $523.9 million, and Non-GAAP EPS of $1.26, surpassing expectations of $1.06, marking significant year-over-year growth [1][2] - The company set all-time quarterly records for gross billings and net sales, driven by broad-based revenue expansion primarily from services [1] - ePlus initiated its first-ever quarterly dividend and launched a new share repurchase program, enhancing its capital return profile [1][10] Financial Performance - Non-GAAP EPS increased by 24.8% year-over-year to $1.26, while GAAP revenue rose by 19.0% compared to the previous year [2] - Adjusted EBITDA reached $46.7 million, reflecting a 19.4% increase from $39.1 million in Q1 FY25 [2] - Gross profit was $148.2 million, up 16.8% from $126.9 million a year earlier [2] Business Model and Focus - ePlus provides a range of technology solutions including consulting, cloud, security, managed services, and IT infrastructure products, targeting commercial, healthcare, education, and government sectors [3] - The company has formed strategic partnerships with major technology vendors like AWS, Cisco, Microsoft, and VMware to offer multi-vendor solutions [3] Service and Product Performance - Services revenue surged by 48.8% year-over-year to $116.3 million, with professional services nearly doubling, increasing by 92.4% [5] - Cloud-related net sales climbed 50.8% to $206.996 million, while security product sales advanced by 27.3% [6] - However, networking and collaboration product sales declined by 7.0% and 43.7%, respectively, indicating a shift in customer demand [6] Strategic Actions - ePlus completed the sale of its financing business to focus on higher-growth technology solutions, marking its transition to a pure technology solutions company [4][10] - The company reduced inventory by 16.1% compared to Q4 FY2025, while trade receivables increased by 35.6% [10] Outlook - For fiscal 2026, ePlus raised its financial outlook, expecting net sales and gross profit to grow in the upper single-digit percentage range, with adjusted EBITDA projected to rise in the mid-teens [12] - Strong demand in cloud, security, and data center markets is anticipated to continue driving growth [12]

Core Points - ePlus inc. has declared its first quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per common share, to be paid on September 17, 2025, to shareholders of record as of August 26, 2025 [1] - The Board's approval of the dividend reflects the company's commitment to enhancing shareholder value and is supported by its cash generation capabilities [2] Financial Strategy - The company will continue its share repurchase program and consider organic investments and targeted M&A to drive additional shareholder value [2] - The declaration and payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors [4]