Brown Capital Management, an investment management company, released its “The Brown Capital Management Small Company Fund” second quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The small-cap US stocks rebounded in the second quarter following a challenging first quarter. The Small Company Fund returned 8.59% in the second quarter, lagging the Russell 2000® Growth index’s 11.97% return. The underperformance in the quarter occurred in the last few weeks of the period. In addition, ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong top-line growth of 6% core revenue, with significant contributions from pharma and CAM segments [4][8] - The guidance for revenue was raised by 25%, driven by broad-based growth, particularly in pharma and CDMO [4][6] - Gross margins were impacted by tariffs, leading to a 200 basis point decline year-on-year, with expectations for sequential improvement in the fourth quarter [12][14][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pharma QAQC grew mid-teens in Europe, driven by consolidation of supply chains and new capabilities [6][30] - The CDMO segment experienced a remarkable 20% growth, with bookings extending into 2026 [8][37] - The CAM segment also saw 10% growth in both chemicals and advanced materials, supported by a strong installed base and new investments [44][45] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The A and G segment showed stability with mid- to high single-digit growth in Europe and 20% growth in China, although the U.S. market faced challenges [26][27] - In China, the pharma and biopharma sectors are experiencing high innovation rates, with significant out-licensing activity [49][50] - The overall market for PFAS testing is estimated to be around $500 million, with the company growing 50% year-over-year globally [71][75] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on innovation and productivity improvements, particularly in the CDMO and pharma segments, which are expected to drive growth in the coming years [31][84] - There is a strong emphasis on maintaining close relationships with customers and enhancing service offerings, particularly in China [62][63] - The company is disciplined in M&A activities, looking for high-quality targets that align with its strategic goals [80][81] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in a gradual improvement in the operating environment, despite geopolitical uncertainties and tariff impacts [19][78] - The company anticipates a strong fourth quarter and is optimistic about mid-single-digit growth for the next year, while remaining cautious due to potential external shocks [78][79] - The management highlighted the importance of the Ignite program in driving cost efficiencies and enhancing value creation [85] Other Important Information - The company has seen a shift in customer decision-making processes, with site managers now approving CapEx budgets, indicating a positive trend in capital spending [34] - The BioVectra acquisition is performing well, with expected synergies contributing positively to growth [41][42] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for the fourth quarter and next year? - Management raised the implied fourth quarter organic revenue guidance to $5 million to $6 million, indicating optimism for continued growth [76][78] Question: How is the company addressing tariff impacts? - The company expects tariffs to remain high in the fourth quarter but anticipates a reduction in tariff costs by 2026, which will become a tailwind for the business [14][19] Question: What is the status of the PFAS market? - The PFAS market is expected to recover after a temporary slowdown due to regulatory changes, with long-term growth drivers remaining strong [71][73]

Core Insights - Seer, Inc. has appointed Isaac Ro to its Board of Directors, enhancing its leadership team with expertise in financial leadership and life sciences [1][2] Company Overview - Seer, Inc. specializes in deep, unbiased proteomics, providing insights with scale, speed, precision, and reproducibility [4] - The company’s Proteograph Product Suite integrates engineered nanoparticles, automation instrumentation, consumables, and analytical software to address challenges faced by traditional proteomic technologies [4] Leadership and Experience - Isaac Ro is a Partner at Catalio Capital Management, with a history of leading investments in life science companies and serving on various boards [2] - Ro has previously held significant roles, including Executive Chairman of Haystack Oncology and Chief Financial Officer at Sema4 and Thrive Earlier Detection, guiding these companies through key transitions and acquisitions [2]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of efficiency levels in assessing a company's potential for profitability, suggesting that higher efficiency correlates with better price performance [1] Efficiency Ratios - Receivables Turnover: This ratio measures a company's ability to collect debts and extend credit, with a higher ratio indicating better performance [2] - Asset Utilization: This ratio reflects a company's efficiency in converting assets into sales, with higher values suggesting better efficiency [3] - Inventory Turnover: This ratio indicates how well a company manages its inventory relative to its cost of goods sold, with higher values signaling effective inventory management [4] - Operating Margin: This ratio assesses a company's control over operating expenses, with higher values indicating more efficient expense management [5] Screening Criteria - The screening process included a favorable Zacks Rank (1 Strong Buy) alongside the efficiency ratios, narrowing down over 7,906 stocks to 15 strong candidates [6][9] Top Stocks Identified - The top five stocks identified for their efficiency include: - Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited (TEN) with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 46.7% [10] - 10x Genomics, Inc. (TXG) also with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 46.7% [11] - Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS) with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 45.2% [12] - Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (WWW) with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 39.1% [13] - Interface (TILE) with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 33.5% [14]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported sales of $771 million, reflecting a 9% increase as reported and an 8% increase in constant currency compared to the previous year [16] - Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) were $2.95, up 12% year on year, while GAAP EPS was $2.47 [19] - Gross margin for the quarter was 58.3%, and adjusted operating margin was 29.1%, impacted by regional sales mix and tariff surcharges [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Instruments grew in mid-single digits, led by high single-digit growth in the liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS) portfolio [7] - Recurring revenue grew 11%, driven by 9% service growth and double-digit chemistry growth [8] - Chemistry benefited from approximately $8 million in sales pull forward related to tariff dynamics, with overall constant currency growth rate at 7% and chemistry up 10% [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - By end market, pharma grew low double digits, industrial grew 6%, and academic and government declined low single digits [9][16] - In the Americas, growth was partially offset by weakness in the TA division, particularly in macro-sensitive polymer and materials testing applications [8] - Asia grew 14%, driven by double-digit growth in China, India, and Japan, while Europe grew 8% [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three strategic pillars: commercial execution, revitalizing innovation, and capturing long-term growth in high-growth adjacencies [11] - The pending combination with BD's biosciences and diagnostic solutions business is expected to accelerate entry into high-growth adjacencies and enhance the company's growth trajectory [26] - The company raised its full-year 2025 constant currency sales growth guidance to 5.5% to 7.5% and adjusted EPS guidance to $12.95 to $13.05 [15][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strong momentum of the core business and the positive impact of the upcoming combination with BD [26] - The company anticipates a gradual return to growth for BD's biosciences and diagnostics solutions business, with expected growth rates of 4.5% in 2026 and 5% in 2027 [31] - Management acknowledged ongoing industry headwinds in pharma drug discovery and academic funding but remains optimistic about the overall growth potential [30][97] Other Important Information - The company plans to use free cash flow to pay down $100 million of debt and increase cash reserves in the second half of the year [22] - The company expects to deliver $345 million in adjusted EBITDA synergies from the combination with BD by year five, with $200 million in cost synergies and $290 million in revenue synergies [33][37] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide an update on the replacement cycle in LC and competitive dynamics? - Management noted that the LCMS segment continues to grow high single digits, with strong replacement activity among large pharma customers and increasing growth in the CDMO customer base [55] Question: What is the timeline for bringing new products to market in microbiology? - Management indicated that it would take approximately three to five years to fully realize the opportunities in microbiology, with potential product introductions in two to three years [61] Question: How do you expect the margin to evolve in the fourth quarter? - Management expects progressive improvement in margins as volume leverage kicks in, with specific impacts from geographical mix and tariff remediation costs [80] Question: Can you elaborate on the $8 million sales pull forward? - Management expressed confidence in the $8 million figure based on order patterns and discussions with customers, indicating it may impact both Q3 and Q4 [84] Question: What is the outlook for the drug discovery business? - Management stated that the drug discovery segment remains slow, with no significant changes expected in the replacement cycle for this area [97]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted EPS of $0.56 for Q3, up from $0.48 in the prior year, while GAAP EPS was $0.14 compared to $0.31 last year [20] - Q3 revenue reached $316.2 million, reflecting a 6% organic growth year over year and a 4% reported growth [20] - Adjusted gross margin was 71.6%, slightly down from 71.9% last year, while adjusted operating margin improved to 34.9%, up 190 basis points from the prior year [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Protein Sciences segment achieved reported sales of $227.7 million, with organic revenue growth of 7% [25] - The Diagnostics and Spatial Biology segment reported sales of $89.2 million, with both reported and organic growth at 2% [26] - The GMP reagents business saw trailing twelve-month growth of over 13%, while the cell and gene therapy product line had a trailing twelve-month growth rate of over 30% [12][79] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America experienced low single-digit growth, driven primarily by pharma customers, while Europe saw mid single-digit growth led by academic customers [21] - China faced a mid single-digit decline due to challenging economic conditions, but the rest of Asia increased mid-teens [21] - The academic market in the U.S. was flat, impacted by NIH funding uncertainties, while the diagnostics reagents division showed year-to-date growth in the high single digits [15][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on balancing investments for future growth while driving operational efficiencies, maintaining industry-leading profitability [5] - The FDA's recent emphasis on reducing animal testing is seen as an opportunity for the company's organoid solutions, which are expected to accelerate growth [11] - The company is actively managing tariff impacts through optimization of its global footprint and supply chain adjustments [18][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating uncertainties related to NIH funding and tariffs, noting that past experiences suggest severe cuts to NIH funding are unlikely [28][66] - The company anticipates a temporary slowdown in growth momentum to low single digits in Q4 due to macro uncertainties [31] - Management remains optimistic about long-term growth prospects, emphasizing the alignment of their product portfolio with NIH research priorities [9][66] Other Important Information - The company returned $12.6 million in dividends and $100 million through stock buybacks during Q3, with a new share repurchase program authorized for up to $500 million [24] - The balance sheet remains strong with $140.7 million in cash and a total leverage ratio well below one times EBITDA [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of NIH funding uncertainties on guidance - Management indicated that while NIH funding uncertainties are a concern, they believe the impact on long-term growth will be immaterial, as historical trends show Congress often increases NIH budgets despite proposed cuts [66][68] Question: Clarification on pharma growth rates - Management clarified that pharma experienced double-digit growth in Q3, but they expect a step down in organic growth in Q4 due to tariff impacts and academic market slowdowns [36][38] Question: Local manufacturing footprint in China - Management confirmed that tariffs have not changed their strategy for local manufacturing in China, which is seen as beneficial for minimizing cross-border tariff impacts [51] Question: Expectations for fiscal year 2026 - Management stated that they will provide a soft guide for fiscal year 2026 in three months, anticipating more clarity on headwinds affecting end markets [42][63] Question: Biotech customer spending trends - Management noted that biotech funding is sensitive to capital markets, leading to more frugal spending, which was reflected in flat growth for biotech customers in Q3 [88]